Usually I am content to just sit back and let the more experienced and knowlegable posters educate the rest of us and the idiots entertain us, but I just had to put my pennies in on this one... Here it is: 21 Tiki Barber, RB Height: 5-10 Weight: 205 Birthdate: 04/07/1975 Birthplace: Roanoke, VA, USA 29 Leon Washington, RB Height: 5-8 Weight: 202 Birthdate: 08/29/1982 Birthplace: Jacksonville, FL, USA OK, so they weigh about the same, AND our boy is 2 inches shorter. That makes him even more desirable as a running back. A shorter man of the same weight means that he has more muscle-and therefore more power and stamina. He is also a smaller target for tacklers, which means less wearing and jarring hits. If Tiki can still do it at 31 without wearing down over the course of a season, then Leon should be able to pull it off with flying colors-green and white ones, that is! Let's just stop this too small for an every down back crap and let the kid play...
People said the same thing about Tiki Barber, and TIKI BARBER is an EXCEPTION. I hope Leon can play, and he's showing flashes, but right now he's running DRAWS only. Anything else he does not run nearly as effective. I'm not saying he can't play, but his size does limit a little.
I have no doubts about Leon Washington's ability. I do have questions about how durable he is playing against NFL-caliber defenses. Players with his frame that get hit too often by D-linemen and linebackers and safeties tend to take more punishment (and more significant punishment) than the bruisers. Like JI04 said, Barber and other elite players that are comparable are exceptions, we can only hope that Leon is another exception.
He's small enough to need a back up plan. Giants drafted Ron Dayne and Brandon Jacobs for that purpose. You always need to compliment speed with power.
Warrick Dunn Position: RB Height: 5-9 Weight: 180 Born: 01/05/1975 College: Florida State NFL Experience: 10
I believe those 2 were brought along slowly though...Kind of like how Leon is, he is not the featured back and splitting time with K-Bar... Look how much dividends it has payed off for Tiki and Warrick, they're still running as if they're 26 since they weren't worn out early in their career. It'd be great to have Leon here a long time.
Another guy who played the role of 3rd down back for 1/2 of his career. Also, another guy who is not really adept at running between the tackles, and will need a caddy around the goal line.
#36 Brian Westbrook Position: RB Height: 5-8 Weight: 203 College: Villanova Experience: 5 Birthdate: 09/02/1979
Barry Sanders # Born: July 16, 1968 in Wichita, Kan. # Height: 5-8, Weight: 200 lbs. # College: Oklahoma State. # Drafted: Third overall pick of 1989 draft (Detroit Lions). # NFL Career: 10 years, all with the Detroit Lions.
westbrook is the guy he reminds me the most of ... except leon runs better between the tackles .. westbrook is probable better in space ...
Is it just me, or do Tiki and Barry Sanders appear considerably thicker than our boy Leon? Tiki espically. His legs are trunks. Leonls legs look way way thinner to me.
people said the same of l tomlinson when he was coming out. too small so the saints took deuce and chargers got lt. go neon.
Whos been saying hes too small? What about Warwick dunn? The guys just about the same build as me lol
Not to go too off topic, but you know things are going pretty well when people are nit picking about the size of a young and productive running back. Leon should get 20-25 touches a game, and disappear for short yardage. Whats the problem?
He does? You can tell this is the few games Leon played? Leon runs the draw play great, and shows tons of promise, but I wouldn't go around saying he runs better between the tackles than anyone really. It may be a product of the line's blocking, but I'm not terribly impressed yet with his inside running. If you noticed in the Detroit game, 75% of his rushes were draw plays. Right now, that's where he's best suited.
