Just some numbers... Tiki - 327 Rush Attempts/58 Catches (Jacobs 96/11) Westbrook - 239 Rush Attempts/76 Catches (Buckhalter 82/24) Dunn - 267 Rush Attempts/19 Catches (Norwood 89/9 plus Vick 120 "Rush Attempts") Leon - 136/23 Catches (Barlow 131/7 Houston 97/7) Leon is the only Jet RB to play all 15 games (Barlow suck/knee, Houston everything). I agree that he won't be THE GUY by means of taking all the carries, but I would love to see the Jets try to match his touches similar to Westbrook's. He shares the load, but for that offense he is THE GUY. I'm a big fan of using a second back as I think it's almost irresponsible not to considering the pounding a single back takes (Larry Johnson 383 Carries, the Herm/Martin era), but I think there are better uses for the 1st round pick. First, we need a big NT, big-play LB, or CB. Of course if Lynch is there at 32 (when we win the Superbowl =p) you have to take him... Of course, this is all speculative as we unfortunately haven't seen Leon get those 20+ carry games.
i also like this scenario. to me, leon washington seems like a more-talented-with-more-potential Kevin Faulk; he'll carry, catch, and even perform return duties, all the while with BIG PLAY capability. having said that, if Leon turns out to be more that that, and we somehow acquire someone like Lynch, it'll be hard to keep both of them around for the long haul. sometimes one guy wants to be the franchise back or he demands more money. hopefully, like NE, Pitt, Jax, it'll work and the RB's will buy into the system. right now, i think it's too early to decide. one thing i really like about Mangini is his teaching repertoire -- specifically, the players who can play get their time, but don't get overworked and thus overwhelmed; they're eased into action facilitating the whole acclimation process. you see this with Leon, Drew Coleman, Brad Smith, etc. once Mangini and Co. can take a step back to evaluate (probably right after we're eliminated), we'll have a better idea of who the guy is. cheers
the way i would go about the RB position as well as a few others on the roster is that it is upgradeable and if presented the opportunity then you have to do it. IMO, there are a few positions on the jets that are upgradeable from a talent standpoint but what team doesn't have these issues. OL - specifically the right side. RB DL CB not necessarily in that order but it doesn't take an expert to see what the team needs. to answer the original question - NO, LW should not be a feature back. in this day of the NFL - to have a feature anything is a risk because of injury and salary. i would rather have a 2 or 3 horse backfield with each player complementing the other. jil
I wouldn't mind seeing Leon in the backfield every game in the future. It would be great if he can get a just a little bigger. He has the speed, the moves, and power already. I think it's his size that the Jets Management is having some issues with. If Leon happens to be the future RB for the Jets, I sure hope Cedric Houston stays aboard too. 3rd Down back. He has the size, power, speed, etc.
Whatever the fans might think, it's obvious that right now the coaching staff doesn't think Washington can carry the load, since they keep giving the ball to Houston and/or Barlow. For Washington to be a feature back, the first thing he is going to have to do is convince the coaching staff that he is good enough to even warrant the chance.
Forgive the Newbie posting here but I"ve been a jets fan since around 1968 (I say around because I was only 6 or 7 at the time so I don't recall the EXACT moment I became a fan) that aside. I don't know if Washington can become the 'Franchise' Running back but I do feel he could be a very very good traditional Halfback (I know that phrase is out of vogue now but I'm a fan of the traditional old school game so bear with me). If you'll forgive me for using the Dolphins as an example here I think that Washington could be what Mercury Morris was for the Dolphins of the Early 70's if he was teamed with another bruising RB in the backfield. One for up the gut, one to spread the defense. I could have used the Jets combination of Snell and Boozer from the Great teams of the late 60's early 70's as well but I view Washington as more of a Morris type runner than a Boozer type runner. The difference with Washington is he can also catch the ball which futher spreads the defense and could be a substantial asset if the Jets can obtain a solid up the middle runner. Just an opinion from a non frequent poster.
After his performance the last few games, I think Leon can be a feature back. If the Jets want to invest in a bruiser RB late in the draft, that's fine by me. But I'm hoping they don't draft an RB early or make a play for Michael Turner. I'd rather see Leon get more opportunities.
I remember the same being said about Emmitt Smith; the question was "Is he big enough?", "Is he fast enough?". ONE season of off-season training and Leon will be even better. I believe that he is good enough right now to continue to develope.
That's certainly possible. Right now, I'd like to give someone else a chance to split time with Leon. Leon may well be good enough to start every game, but due to his size, you absolutely have to have a backup plan that's solid. It takes guys like Leon years to prove that they can stay healthy and handle a full workload because most guys that size can't. There are exceptions, but either way, we need to draft another back in the middle rounds to split with Leon. Houston doesn't look to be that guy, and Barlow and Blaylock clearly aren't.
He is def not the future RB. He is a solid #2 and 3rd down back. You are right he does have the speed and moves but lacks the power of the elite RBs in the NFL.
He can. But what you're missing is that, once you broaden your argument beyond Tiki Barber, you're arguing a different point. Dunn isn't a feature back, and and Parker wasn't a feature back until this year; he's also bigger. He's also not Emmitt Smith, folks. I love the guy, but he's not. Folks have been clamboring for Washington to get 20 carries. He got 15 today, and while he was good, he wasn't great. He's obviously shifty in open space, but I think he suffers when it comes to vision in the pile. Today's game basically bore that out. As was said by another poster, I think some folks are looking for Leon to be something that only the best backs in the league play at: an every-down rusher. That's contrary to what's becoming standard in the league, it's contrary to the way in which our head coach was raised, and it may be contrary to the what the team needs at the moment. Leon Washington can, possibly, be an excellent back in this league. I wouldn't bet on him being our every-down rusher, though, on account of system and physicality.
I agree--they said Tiki was too small to be an every down back. Ask the Washington Redskins about yesterday.
Barlow is the RB of the future. The power of Mike Alstott. The Speed of Reggie Bush. He is a God born from Zeus' loins.
I love Leonard, but FB is certainly not one of the Jets needs right now... I do think we do need another RB to replace Houston and Barlow, but I think we can find a grinder further into the draft than a flashy 1st rounder.
