Good question...let's go to the measuring tape: Name - Height - Weight - '08 Carries Leon Washington: 5'8" - 202 lbs. - 76 carries Brian Westbrook: 5'10" - 203 lbs. - 233 carries Warrick Dunn: 5'9" - 187 lbs. - 186 carries Darren Sproles: 5'6" - 181 lbs. - 68 carries So Leon and Westbrook's weight is almost identical with Leon packing it into a smaller frame, presumably meaning that he has less hittable area while packing a more dense punch. Dunn's smaller in both categories, yet he has averaged 222 carries per season over his career. Sproles is significantly smaller, but has almost the same amount of carries! Based on size, there is no reason to believe Leon can be a feature back, especially with a bruiser as his compliment. I think his pass blocking may be the only thing holding him back, albeit a big one.
Would be great to have a Michael Bush in the mix. hes got good size and looks like hes got a solid future.
Leons pass blocking seemed a lot better to me this season. Any blocking scheme that lines him up on Adalius Thomas (sp) is an epic fail to begin with though. Add Tiki Barber and Barry Sanders to that list for size comparisons.
He would definately start for the Pats. Maroney is always injured, and even when he was healthy this season, he lost the bulk of his carries to Sammy Morris, Lamont Jordan, and Heath Evans.
Yeah, I could definitely see Belli liking a back with Jones' stamina. All their guys are hurt for a portion of the season.
I was discussing Darren Sproles in comparison to LW with my supervisor (who's an old time Pats fan) after the Chargers/Colts playoff game. He also thinks LW is too little to be a feature back, which I completely disagree with. Then we starting comparing LW, Sproles and even Chris Johnson, which I think should also be thrown in the mix. But I came up with the same tale of the tape Bromoose got. Here's Titans Chris Johnson measurables which I think should also be added to the mix. Chris Johnson - Height: 5'11, Weight: 200, Att: 251. So I'm with those who don't understand why LW should only stick with being a 3rd down back.
Take a look at the teams. On Philly, Westbrook is their entire offense, Sproles is playing the same role I will agree with that, and Dunn would not have nearly the carries this year if not for the rash of injuries the Bucs had at running back. That being said, with a runner like TJ racking up big numbers and breaking off some huge runs, either way, the jets got plenty of yards on the ground, regardless of who was carrying the ball.
What does the fact that Westbrook is Philly's entire offense have to do with Leon's ability to be a feature back? If anything it is even a stronger argument in favor of Leon. As for Dunn, he average 222 carries/season over his entire career with both Tampa and Atlanta, last year's RB situation notwithstanding. I am not advocating getting rid of TJ for '09. I am just saying that a transition plan involving Leon as the feature back is altogether plausible. Even a 50/50 split with a bruiser would be acceptable. This feature part is for when it really is time to let TJ go. In the meantime, some more carries would be nice.
I am so down with this post. As an aside, he runs straight and rarely cuts. However, you're not 'only as good as your line', but your line HELPS. Rolling off (forget who it was) during the Denver debacle and scoring a TD, that was a thing of beauty. Give him some credit there.
Some more numbers to ponder.... Jets ranked 9th in the NFL in rushing but 19 in attempts. So the theory posed by others that the Jets did not run enough I think has some merits looking at the stats. So consider if the Jets did average another 4-5 carries a game, giving those carries to Leon, what would Leon's numbers be? Keeping in mind he is in a platoon with a Pro Bowl RB? Let's see... Before adding carries he averaged almost 5 carries a game, 76carries 448yards 5.9ypc lets make it 9 per game... 140carries 826yards 5.9ypc Not bad for a backup to a guy that ran for 1300 yards and scored 15 tds. Leon also scored 8 tds on offense with 47 catches as well. Not to bad, but the only thing I can see is bumping up his carries a little. The bottom line is, the Jets could have ran the ball a little more, then the cries for Leon to get the ball would have been less. As it was he touched the ball 123 times on offense.
You are comparing Leon to guys like Westbrook, I am just showing that the situation these players are in dictates they are the starter, the teams have no choice. I am sure the Eagles would love to find a complementary back so Westbrook doesn't get hurt all the time, as he does every year.
I'd love to see Leon get 10 carries and another 3 or 4 pass receptions per game. That in addition to his KR return duties. Make him a multi-threat player. I think he definitely has the talent for it.
Taking receptions into account: Name - Height - Weight - '08 Carries - '08 touches Leon Washington: 5'8" - 202 lbs. - 76 carries - 123 touches Brian Westbrook: 5'10" - 203 lbs. - 233 carries - 287 touches Warrick Dunn: 5'9" - 187 lbs. - 186 carries - 233 touches Chris Johnson: 5'11" - 200 lbs. - 251 carries - 294 touches Tiki Barber: 5'10" - 205 lbs. - 327 carries - 385 touches (2006 stats) Darren Sproles: 5'6" - 181 lbs. - 68 carries - 90 touches Including receptions into the mix, Leon is still underutilized as compared to RBs of similar stature. The point of my post was not to say that the Jets didn't run enough, nor to say that we need to get rid of TJ. It was just to show that Leon is completely capable of being a feature back once TJ does move on, and that he could use a few more touches.
I bet he hoped Hunt would work out. Buckhalter was worked into the mix a little more than usual this year, but coaches tend to go with a sure thing, so I'm not really sure how much that would change anything. Reid wants Westy in there on as many plays as possible.
Reid wants him in there for sure, can't blame him. Buckhalter, isn't he injury prone too. Hunt never got started. At least the Jets backs were healthy this year.
