Yep'. He very much reminds me of the great Barry Sanders for some of the cuts he makes. Even when Sanders was on all those junk teams, he was a human highlight reel, much like Leon.
I've always wondered why football teams don't rotate RBs on a game by game basis rather than by series. Just give TJ the ball all game and then next week give Leon the ball all game. Why is this idea so stupid no one does it? Just curious.
Then prepare to never sign an NFL player ever if you were a GM... its a business and agents play a role in that mentality.
Or I could pull the fast one on them with backloaded contract, with every intention to release them before the bloated side kicks in.
Umm, Leon had a little over 150 carries in 06, that's like 10 carries a game. So I'm not sure why you're being sarcastic with the guys opinion.
Leon is a great back but why kill him when he is an all around back for us.. he can do punts, Kickoff returns and be the change of pass back.. i mean some games he can be the feature back with screens and lining up at slot etc... if he is fulltime he cant do all that other stuff that is so important to the game as well... and as far as the barry sanders and walter payton comparisons those guys played in a different era... even though they werent crybabys back then they played in a totally different era and a good era at its time... but the nfl has evolved totally and everyone is faster stronger and more likely to have injuries...
He signed a 4yr 20 million dollar deal, do you really think he "only making" $900k? I like Washington. I don't think he can be our #1 RB. I DO think he can carry the ball 10-15 times a game. They can make all the Barry Sanders and Walter Payton references they want. Those two didn't play against players like Leon is. Today's Defensive Players are bigger, faster and stronger.
Yeah, that's right, lets release the top RB back in the AFC for nothing, that I'll show him. You betcha tough guy. I am officially logging off until 1 week before the draft. Between TJ and Cutler, they are all coming out. BYE
This is fair article but i just think Leon is most effective when given 15 touches on offense per game to be the game breaker on screens, draws counters etc. Just anytime he gets the ball in his hands he usually does good things with it
I think he would only be successful in a rotation type system. If Leon wanted to be a full time runner, then he would need to pack on a little more weight and forgo the ability to out run every man on the field. One thing is for sure; Leon can be a special player and dominate at his position for years to come. We lucked out with this guy!!!!!!
How many TDs did Devin Hester have once he was turned into a full-time WR last year? Exactly zero. There are repercussions from adding touches and plays. That being said, I think his touches should increase, but he should not be a full time back.
The best way to get the most out of any player is to use his particular talents most effectively. Leon is probably the most elusive, most difficult to tackle, most unpredictable RB in the entire NFL right now. Give him a little room to juke and he's off to the races. But send him into heavy traffic and you won't get the results you're looking for... no room to juke. That's why he should never be an every down back. When most people (including myself) hear the name Leon Washington, they usually light up with memories of how many times he has evaded and juked people in the open. It's almost laughable at how successful he is. But I also remember the many times (and there have been many... just think about it), where, on some plays, Leon was sent up the middle into heavy traffic, surrounded by linemen stumbling and bumbling to block people, falling over, can't get out of the way, with Leon behind them looking for any kind of hole to get through to where he can do his magic if he gets a little wiggle room. And on most of those occasions, he got very little yardage. You can't use a guy like Leon on every down, you just can't. That's not where his talent lies. That's why you need a Thomas Jones or a Tony Richardson to alternate. Use Leon as an every down, all-purpose ground pounder and he'll wind up like Westbrook, knee damage and unable to finish 16 games in any season in his career.
I do think leon can be a feature back but Walter Payton isn't a great example simply b/c while they may have similar physical characteristisc we can't forget that players were much smaller in the 70s and 80s than they are today. I think a better comparison is Warrick Dunn and leon is a little bigger than Dunn.
