http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/scorecard/12/29/truth.rumors.mlb/?cnn=yes As the Jets enter the preliminary stages of their off-season plans to acquire a featured running back for next season via the draft, trade or free agency, the question the organization is wrestling with is whether it already has that player in rookie Leon Washington. -- Newark Star-Ledger
I saw that, and I'm surprised nobody has found the NSL article in question. The problem with a guy like Leon, it seems to me, is that you're going to have a hard time relying on him for hard yards. His survival will depend upon speed, but one of these days a speedy DE or a craft OLB is going to catch Leon in an unfavorable position on a screen and absolutely destroy him (and no, it won't be Pennington's fault). Season over, Jets screwed. My guess is that this is something of a moot question - there won't be a feature back in New York. I believe Mangini and Schottenheimer are going to replicate the system presently in place in New England, which makes the most of Maroney and Dillon. We'll see little of Houston, we'll see a healthy serving of Washington, and we'll see a mid-1st RB about 45-50% of the time. You could even wait until the 2nd round to draft your back, in that system. Much more flexibility.
that's basically true. Leon doesn't have the strength or endurance to be a #1 guy, but you don't need one to win in the NFL. Just look at the Patriot formula. Mix in an average runner (Houston) with a good all purpose speedster (Washington) and you've got something. NE won with Antowain Smith and Kevin Faulk. You could win either way really, if you're lucky enough to draft Tomlinson then there is your franchise back. But much like a bullpen in baseball can be pieced together without a closer, so can a running game in the NFL. You just gotta know which guy to use and when.
Tough question. Honestly, right now, it's impossible to answer. I was against him all year, until the past couple weeks. Lately he's been tearing it up. (Though it seems that is usually on passing plays, and he is not a NFL WR.) IMO, with the right blocking, to give him at least a 3 yard head start, he's got super-star potential. The problem is, can our unit run-block well enough for him to get that head start? If I'm in the FO, I wait on the RB position for another year, unless the opportunity at a bona fide star comes up, or we have the opportunity to bring in someone on the cheap. Let Leon and Cedric split the carries next year, and see what happens. If I have to make the choice between our OLine taking time away from practicing good pass-blocking technique, to learn proper run-blocking, simply to serve Leon, I have to side with staying with the pass protection. Regardless of the QB, whether it's Chad, Kellen, or someone else, they need time to throw. If our guys can do both though, then Washington and Houston are probably good enough to get us through. I'd much rather worry about upgrading the CB position, and getting some more youth and/or athleticism into the OLine. Getting a younger end to replace Kimo wouldn't be a bad idea either.
This kid can take it, he's the future RB of this franchise. Give him 20+ carries a game and watch it tear it up for years to come. He's got the speed, power, and shifty moves to get it done.
I just wish they would have given him a chance for those 20+ carries in a few games more than those that were well out of hand. To those that say he would break look at Warrick Dunn (another FSU back), Brian Westbrook, Maurice Jones Drew, and Tiki Barber. Size is overrated... Keep Houston or look for another runner a few rounds into the next draft to give him some relief and to power it, but as elusive as he's looked lately I think he just might be capable of being that guy. To those that mention the O-Line, most of us have already addressed that as being a position that needs to be upgraded, particularly run-blocking and I think we will see that next season making it even more attractive for a runner like Leon.
If Leon is considered our back of the future, then give him carries like he is that guy. He hasn't gotten the ball enough out of the backfield, so how can he be that guy at this point? He may very well be that guy, but he hasn't shown anything as the feature back yet at this point.
I believe that Leon Washington is the type of player that can be a real X-Factor for the Jets. A speedy Runner with extra cuts and twists that leads him to the endzone. The Jets never had someone like Leon to give the extra mile and find it when he makes a big cut and makes the defense look silly. Losing him would be a major mistake. I truely believe he has potential.
He's got the start tomoroow of course. He's got today to prove it. And I'm interested to see what he does in the post season. personally I hope he suceeds. But I'd like him to share more time with Houston than Martin ever did with anyone else.
What is the difference between Leon and Tiki? Im not saying they are at the same level but what does tiki have that leon lacks to become as good as he is
Leon is so elusive that I dont feel he needs to have that extra bulk to avoid trouble. Even when he is tackled its normally a desperation tackle. Also he took a huge hit in the Miami game and was up and moving before the Fins player could start celebrating. Little guys are tough, Wayne showed that. I think though that we really need to see leon get given 20+ carries and see what he could do with it. With a quality blocking FB and some improvement to the right side of the line i think he would be even harder to stop. He has the moves and speed, with this and some good blocking I just dont think he needs to be big. Give him a chance, i dont think we would regret it.
guy is walking glass.. he is injured every other week. i agree with some of you other guys.. you won know what you have in leon till you give him the carries.
Weights and heights, for comparison: Westbrook, Brian: 5'8, 203 lbs. Jones-Drew, Maurice: 5'7, 212 Barber, Tiki: 5'10, 205 Washington, Leon: 5'8, 202 Dunn, Warrick: 5'9, 180 There's a problem with your thesis, however. With the exception of Tiki Barber, the tallest of the bunch, none of these guys are the feature backs in their respective offense. They're productive all-purpose backs, with Dunn being the purest runner in the bunch, but they're not feature backs. They're complemented heavily by Buckhalter, Taylor, and Norwood, respectively.
i think jones -drew is the exception.. his lower body is 2nd to none to any rb in the game.he looks like feature bak to me. 154 carries 895 yards 12 tds 5.8 avg.
Yet Taylor has 1100-someodd yards this season. I'm not saying Leon can't haul the mail. Folks here have made an accurate case that backs of his size and determination have been tremendously productive. The argument I'm making, and others might be as well, is that the "feature back" days of the New York Jets are over; Leon might be the predominant guy in a RB cycle, but neither he nor any other individual will be The Guy. Actually, envisioning such a system makes me more inclined to draft a guy like Marshawn Lynch. We'd have the option of making a defense run around the field trying to stop Leon, get their brains bashed in by the powerful Lynch, and freshly on their heels as a result of our running game, said defense can enjoy getting picked apart by Pennington-to-Coles/Cotchery/Baker/McCareins. Can I help you?
Agree that it remains to be seen whether Leon can be a featured back.... we won't know unless he gets the chance. Curtis was 5-11 and 210 as listed. That's less stout of a build than 5-8 202. First, 8 lbs is nothing. Second, Leon is more compact. If he can/ can't be a featured back will have nothing to do with size and more to do with running style and ability to stay healthy. I wonder if he could take 25 carries and 3-5 catches per game and still have that same "pop" and explosiveness he's got now?
