Durability? How can you speak for something we haven't seen yet? Hell, if you want to go run the poor guy into the ground go ahead. I'm just saying be careful.
I know being a Jets fan leads one to believe that we're the ultimate, perpetual pessimist. Being a Jets fan means that everything that can go wrong, will go wrong, and things that look good on the surface are just too good to be true and only setting us up for failure and disappointment. With that being said, I do believe that Leon is an every down back. Have you all forgotten, or just refuse to acknowledge that there are 2 rookies on the o-line? That's 2/5 of our o-line, which is integral in a running back's success. Even with that being the case, Leon has still had success, more so than anyone else in that backfield. He'll be all right and he'll be our starter for years to come. For the people who don't want to accept that, deal with it and continue to be the pessimist that the rest of the league believes us to be. I'd rather just sit back and watch him make plays and our team win games.
People here can go back and forth all day as to whether Leon is a feature back or not, but one thing is pretty clear - right now Mangini and/or Schottenheimer don't think he is, since they keep calling plays for Houston and Barlow, even when they don't do well (especially Barlow, of course). Tiki didn't get his chance until a new OC came to the Giants (Sean Payton, as a matter of fact), and I think Leon will need something similar to get his shot (either a new OC, or some way for him to change Schottenheimer's opinion of him).
you guys can't bust leon for not RUSHING for a lot of yards, considering no running back on our team has ran the ball for a lot of yards this year. it's not always the RB's fault for not having big games running. our O-line struggles with run blocking, so no running back would be able to pile up yards in our current situation. cant' say he is or isnt' a featured back, because he hasnt' been very successful running the ball, cuz the fact is no one would be able to run successfully for this team at the current time.
I agree completely. I don't think there is anything wrong with giving him more carries, but he should not be the full load back. Let Cedric tote the rock when he gets back and let Leon be the change of pace.
Leon Neon great oll # 29........he was lights out yesterday..he literally f@#$ed miami himself yesterday with that impressive cath and run
I really like what Ive seen out of Washington this year, and for the record I think he could be a feature back with a lot of success. However, I strongly believe that Mangini likes to have a bigger more physical back in there as well to keep the defense a little off balance, and to wear them down. I think that a lot of people dont understand that even though Barlow wasnt productive in yards per rush, he did serve his purpose in wearing down the Dolphins defense, and providing Washington with oppurtunities to exploit their fatigue. Also want to note that I think Houston is better and more effective in the role Barlow played last night. It should be interesting to see if and what the Jets do in the off season to address this position. I'll be keeping a close eye on M.Turner
I love the fact that after the huge run to put us in position for the winning FG leon just gets up and jogs to the sideline. No stupid dance, no flipping out like he's never made a play before. He made the biggest play of the season and handled it with class like he does it on a regular basis. Thanks Herm!!!!!
Barlow Why do we even try with Barlow, once he's hit he drops to the ground..... Give up on him already.....
Someone needs to help Zach Thomas find his jock strap, Leon made him come right out of it. All hail Neon Leon and Mangenius COY.
yea i love leon. i remember the first time i really started noticing him was i think the first jets-miami game this year which i was at, he was turning runs that i've been used to see go for 3 or 4 yards into 10+ yards. now that we've seen what he is capable of in the open field, this guy is gonna be huge for us. still, i blaylock and barlow have to go, and i think they will. houston has had some bright spots, but i still think hes no more than a backup or possible trade bait. i think the coaching staff has done a pretty good job judging talent at skill positions not only in the draft (besides leon, brad smith as a playmaker) but with players already on the team(faith in chad, emergence of cotchery.) so i think they will notice this and get us a feature back. maybe we could even get somethin like a deuce/bush combo like they have in new orleans. (and by no means am i comparing washington to bush.) but if we could pick up a pure runner and then keep washington as a change pace guy who runs to the outside and can make people miss with short passes and screens, i think that'd be great.
The "change of pace" stuff and "3rd down back" stuff and "not an every down back stuff just irks me. None of you know that. He is a developing rookie. They said the same things about Tiki and Michael Westrbrook. The only things we know about him definitively at the time is that he is improving steadily and is an absolute playmaker in the open field. He may very well become our feature back and last night may have been a coming out party of sorts. He may well turn out to be only a change of pace guy, but they way people declare definitively, like they are final word, these things about Leon because of his shorter stature just is silly. We have a playmaker on offense and I expect Schott to maximize his contribution. Lets enjoy the ride.
well yea that is completely true.. everyones just judging him on based on what we've seen and the amount of touches he has gotten per game. he is a devloping rookie like you said, so we've still got a lot to find out about this guy. its just fun to speculate about rookies and on top of that, i think everyone including myself just cant wait til we know who is gonna be the replacement for martin. the guy on the team right now with the most potential is obviously washington. with that said, his game breaking abilities will definitely be a part of the jets gameplans in this week, and if we win, in the postseason, so we'll definitely get to see more of him than we're used to.
Who knows what Leon Washington's ceiling is? More importantly, we know what Kevan Barlow's ceiling is and it is low. What does Shottenjunior know that I don't? Every time I see Barlow out there instead of Leon, I cringe.
He was signed to an over-priced contract by a team that then felt compelled to take him out of his natural 3rd down role and over-expose him. He discovered pretty quickly that an aging and crumbling NY Jets line was not as good as what he was used to in KC and he began to cover up very quickly when contact approached. He went almost overnight from being an effective roleplayer to an overmatched every down option and predictably he lost his effectiveness. Will he resurface somewhere as a 3rd down back? Maybe but I doubt it. Too much exposure really hurts you in the NFL when you have weaknesses to be exposed...
I really like Washington and what he provides. Up until this week, I think his ability as a receiver has been under-utilized. What I do fear about Washington, is that I don't think he would hold up as a 20+ carry a game back. I think to many people look at that critique as a sign of disrespect, but I don't think it is. Being an NFL running back is very demanding and its not realisitic IMO to expect an RB to consistently run 20+ carries a game and stay healthy. This year only seven backs have 300 or more carries this year (20 per game). Only 20 backs have 225 or more carries (15 per game). I think you need at least two capable running backs in today's NFL. I'm definately sold that Washington is part of the solution at RB. Houston might be as well, though his injuries have me wondering at this point. I think they can use a compliment to Washington. You don't neccessarily need a first round back to accomplish this though. In my opinion the perfect fit to join the running back rotation with Washington/Houston is Brian Leonard. I know there are a wide range of opinions on him. From a matchup standpoint I think he is the best fit. His ability to block and play FB allows you to put him on the field with Houston or Washington at the same time. I think this could provide a great advantage in creating matchup problems. He is also a very good receiver and IMO a better goaline back than Houston is.
YOU said you thought we didnt need a RB. he disagreed. no need for him to 'keep it in the draft forum'. AND hes right. leons a great CoP back, but we need a RB and a FB from the draft....or with that 26 mil we will be under the cap next season.
Everyone keeps saying that Leon just can't handle 20 carries a game, how do you know? He's only gotten 20 carries twice, and both times he went both 100 yds. In all the other games the coaching staff has limited him, I have no idea why, he has proven he can be effective, yet barlow is still fed the ball. After leon comes in, gets a nice run, then they pull him and go right back to barlow to fall forward for a 1 yd gain. In every game, even with limited carries, leon has produced. Usually avg over 4ypc, and avg 4.4ypc on the year. There is no telling what he is capable of if given the opportunity to be a feature pack. He's got the speed, shifty moves, and the power, let him work with it. Start him and give him 20 carries a game. Let Houston have the rest (Houston is 100 times better than barlow as a power back, atleast Houston shows some power to gain 4-5 yds, barlow just falls forward for a yd).
