This site has exploded with the coronation of Leon Washington. I'm amazed that so many people are ready to jump on his back and call him a franchise back. I like watching Leon play, and think he's a very exciting player to watch, but how can anyone call him anything but a good rookie with solid upside? Leon has 2 games that he ran for 100+ yards....the first against Jax, where 3 D lineman including both starting DT and Wiley were out. When a defense is missing a player like Marcus Stroud, it's going to show. That being said, even though Leon ran for the century mark, none of those yards were beneficial. They were garbage yards. Then he has a hell of a game today, running for 129 against....Detroit. While Detroit is missing their starting NT Shawn Rogers. Thats a 345 pound hole in an already mediocre defense. Yes, you still have to play, and he did and did it well today. But calling him a franchise back due to these 2 games? Seriously? I see way too many people with these silly posts about this, and I'm in shock. I know most of us are dissillusioned (we are after all rooting for futility with the Jets) and love the guys that they say can't, yet they do. Look at Chrebet and how he stole almost every Jet fans heart. But so many people are drinking the Leon kool-aid, and you need to put it down, take a breath and realize that he's a rookie who has yet to even play half the year. When he starts to put solid numbers up against better teams and defenses, maybe then start to buy in. If he plays this well agaist the Bears, I'll be the first to swallow my words and say that maybe he can becom a featured back and be our guy. But I think you guys are really setting yourselves up for a huge dissapointment...buyer beware....and don't drink the kool-aid.
Hey after experiencing the Blaylock Experiment and the Barlow's ineffectiveness outside of the five yar line in the first few weeks any RB showing something was going to be lauded here. However, there is a good reason to be excited. It is not like Washington is running through gaping holes all day. He ran inside with some wiggle, made some people miss, bounced runs outside and even showed some interior toughness putting his hand down. Also, Shotty seems to be designing good schemes in which Leon can be successful. Jet fans were spoiled with Curtis for so long that the lack of the running game the end of last year and first few weeks this year was not only glaring, but shocking.
You are right about Leon needing to have this kind of performance against the Bears or Pats to really establish himself. However, using him and Barlow together looked good today. Barlow pounding it inside and then Washington bursting for 10+ yards. The one thing I found astonishing was all the Curtis Martin comparisons. Give him a few games before comparing him to a future hall of famer
But one thing you fail to mention is that two of his biggest runs came outside where a 345 NT would not have been a factor. He hits the hole quickly, never stops moving his legs, is explosive and has the ability to bounce outside and turn a 4-5 run into a big gain. What more do you want?
I just don't see why you wouldn't back this guy. He's been efficient enough to be starting rb, maybe not enough to be tagged franchise rb, but still. I've been really impressed with him so far and I'm excited to see what he brings the 2nd half of the season and so forth.
The 11th defense against the run out of 32 teams is mediocre???? Even without Rodgers, that does not instantly make them 32nd?
I don't understand why anyone, especially a Jets fan would not be a little stoked about LW. He has shown ability to run inside with some power, sure he's no Bettis, but still, neither are some other small backs like T Barber and W Dunn. He has as far as I am concerned, established his ability as a playmaker. Sure, he'll always need to share time with a bigger RB, but there is nothing wrong with that. He's easilly the fastest RB this team has had since the days of Bruce Harper. I just wish Houston was healthy.... I honestly believe that those two are good enough in a combination for a Super Bowl contender. What people still seem to forget is that we have 2 rooks at the two most important positions on the O line. The right side of the O line is still pretty weak, but Washington has the wiggle to find lanes anyway. KOWIE.... you been hangin with C69? BTW, how long will it be before we see his sorry arse here? We won! :rofl2: PS: It aint Kool aid anymore.... it's Mangini Yoo-Hoo!
I'm not one of those guys calling him a franchise back just yet, but he's looked good in more than just those 2 games today and against the Jags. He's been our best back all year. Only thing is he wasn't getting as many carries earlier on. He always manages to squeeze through a hole and get positive yardage. He's breathing some life into what has been looking like a disaster of a running game, and so people are excited. Obviously some people are going to jump the gun but that's expected IMO. I don't see the reason to call anyone out.
I don't judge players off of one game, but I will sometimes do so after seven games. I have seen enough to say Washington will be a very good backup and spot starter. He may even be good enough to be a feature back. Like Warrick Dunn, Washington manages to find a way to avoid big hits. That's key. Also, you cannot teach speed. He reminds me an awful lot of Dunn. Both are FSU products, by the way. By the way, today you all got to see Kevin Jones. Did you notice how he is very un-Dunn and un-Curtis Martin-like in that he takes a pounding? Jones will not have a long career. The guy is just not elusive enough. He's going to get beat up like former league MVP Larry Brown.
All I know is that whenever I see Leon run, I instantly think of Warrick Dunn. And it's not like he hasn't had success against good run defenses, it's just that it's only the past 3 weeks where he has gotten a real chance to be a featured guy.
you don't need to dominate NE and Chi to be considered a franchise back. he just needs to show up and play good every week, take 20+ handoffs, and gain 75+ yards a game. Thats my loose definition of the minimum.
Maybe I came across that I'm down on him, but I'm not. He's a fun player to watch,k and he has a lot of talent. But saying we found our future only 7 games into his career is way too premature. I personally think he needs more size to become an every down type player, along with getting better at picking up the blitz and blocking on passing plays. But I see people saying forget Adrian Peterson, and calling him a franchise player and it's just nuts. I like him, but he has to be given a chance to be consistant, which he will because he has earned the opportunity. As for the Lions being 11th against the run, they ere missing Rogers, as well as 2 other guys that play in the box. I think he has to put up numbers against better teams like the Bears and the Pats. Then he may very well start to show he is for real. Leon and Brad Smith are the 2 most exciting players we have on offense, and it's been great watching them. I hope they both continue to produce, because it will make the Jets better each week.
nobody said dominate, but he need to produce against good teams with good defenses like Chicago and NE. That's what I was saying.
Wiley isn't the starter, and John Henderson started and played the whole game. While there was a dropoff without Stroud, Rob Meier had 6 sacks and 35 tackles, in two total starts in 2005. It wasn't that much of a dropoff. You're really grasping for material if you're telling us that Marcellus Wiley missing was the reason Leon had such a good game. If anyone noticed, the reason he's looking like a franchise back is the way he's getting these runs. He makes a lot out of nothing, and drives the defense into the ground because he doesn't go down on first contact. I understand that you can't judge a player based on two solid performances, but there's a spark whenever he's in. We know he can catch the ball too, and he looks like a decent blocker. He's learning from one of the best vision backs ever, so I really think that he can be something special. If you don't see something great in him, you're crazy.
There's a big difference between a franchise back and a starter. Washington is showing that he can be a successful starting RB in the NFL. You do not need a HOF RB to win in the NFL. In fact, look at the past few SB winners and you don't see any "franchise backs" until you go back to the Rams or Ravens. The Steelers, Patriots, and Bucs had no "franchise back." What this all means is that it is quite possible that the Jets don't need to use their first round pick on a RB next year. Washinton and Houston can handle the job. Instead, the Jets can concentrate on more pressing needs, like a pass rushing DE or a run stuffing NT.
well until we play those teams we will not know, so just chill and enjoy his peformances and the win, not a lot of people run for a ton of yards against Chicago, so it shouldnt matter especially if we win.Thanks Leon 2 TD's helped me in fantasy football today.
Are you sure Henderson played that game? I swear I remember them carrying on about Stroud and Henderson not playing....I think they even showed them both on the sideline. No, I wasn't saying that Wiley was a huge part of Leons success in that game. I was merely stating they were missing 3 starters on the D line. I wouldn't give Wiley that much credit....I may say something dumb from time to time, but not that dumb. :wink: I'm not down on Leon, and I agree with everyone about how much fun the guy is to watch, and that he has a lot of talent. The thing about it is that he's only played in what, 5 or 6 NFL games? and only in the last few weeks has he seen any real game action. The guy is good, I can't argue that. But gushing over him at this point is just premature...he definately needs to continue to play, and produce against the better teams. his numbers per game from week 3 on.... @ Buff---7 carries-25 yds-2 rec-52 yds. IND------9 carries-33 yds-1 rec-8 yds @ Jax----23 carries-101 yds-1 rec-8 yds Mia------11 Carries-58 yds Det------20 carries-129 yds-2 tds--1 rec-8 yds his numbers aren't mind blowing by any stretch of the imagination. no matter how exciting he has been to watch, it really hasn't translated into points until this week. he touched the ball once against NE for no gain and didn't play in the opener. So instead of going nuts, how about we wait and see. His numbers are far from stellar, and are no where near that "franchise back" tag more than a few of you have slapped on him.
