Considering the state of our roster last year almost every position (save punter, kicker,safety and ILB) were NEED positions. It's the later rounds that reflect the FO drafting strategy. They took a safety (see above for positions we didn't need) and an inside linebacker VERY high in the draft regardless of the fact we had much more pressing needs. Then they grabbed a QB/WR in the 4th round. How on God's green earth can you argue these guys were drafting by need? The only thing I'll give you is the Mangold pick, but even that was more about him being a slam dunk pick with great character than about need. Lets not forget we got that flop out of Buffalo to start at center.
As usual with this board it always comes down to the lovers vs. the haters. Very rarely a voice of reason. obviously I have a bias towards the Jets picking Leonard but the response is of course bias to the point of not making sense. Find me something on the net that puts leonard in the 6th/7th round and I'll show you an review that you wrote yourself.
It's highly unlikely that we will draft Leonard as we simply have far greater needs than at the fullback position. Management will not simply draft the best player available throughut the draft. They have a strategy and will fill needs where they see fit. Us as fans don't even know one tenth of what management feels are the weaknesses of the team, and to say that in last years draft we were drafting BPA is simply illogical. The coaching staff and management decide where our weaknesses are based on a number of factors (skill, salary, future contract, potential free agents, etc.) and then they make an educated decision. No team goes into the draft and simply drafts BPA. What if the BPA was always the same position as it came up? I am a Rutgers fan and like Leonard a lot, but I don't think that the team needs him.
Ummm, great character wasn't the overall reason we drafted Mangold and it was an ABSOLUTE need to grab him, with Teague, an unproven journeyman as our only backup. Rather, Mangold was drafted because, and in this order: 1) We had a huge void at Center following Mawae's departure. 2) He was an established force on the Ohio State line and one of the best Center prospects in recent years. 3) He played well with the other children in school and never stole a thing in his life.
I already lost it.. but that doesn't matter. You are right, he probably will go in the 3rd.. Should he?! NO WAY. I don't want him.. in round 7 I'd pass. I could be dead wrong.. wouldn't be the first time, but that's my opinion of the player. I really don't think he's an NFL calibur player. I don't get pumped up by RU stats... they play Hampton and the Buffalos of the world all the time.
Too bad Clark Harris sucks. BTW, Brian Leonard has had more receptions than Clark Harris this season. And the season before that. And the season before that. And the season before that. Not bad for a "fullback."
Here's a review I found on a New England Patriots fan site about Leonard at the Senior Bowl. "Leonard, or ?Mr. Patriot? as I like to call him, is a versatile player who lined up at both running back and fullback in college. This is a guy who does everything well. He?s a tough inside runner, can get to the outside, blocks well and is a tremendous receiver out of the backfield. Unlike Hunt, Leonard is a very good practice player. He really turned some heads last week and is shooting up the draft boards. Considered a RB/FB hybrid, Leonard shed 15 pounds before the Senior Bowl to show NFL scouts that he could be a primary running back at the pro level. While I don?t agree with his strategy, it didn?t seem to bother Leonard during the game. He converted two short runs into first downs by driving back both Willis and Florida State?s Buster Davis on separate plays, two of the top inside linebacker prospects in this draft. Leonard also showed quick feet in the open field when he caught a pass on fourth down, made a defender miss, and got beyond the chains to keep the drive alive. If there was ever a time to use the phrase ?A Patriots-kind of player,? this is it. Leonard has the versatility to play running back, fullback and special teams. Those kinds of skills will make the Rutgers standout a very sought after commodity come draft day." link ...http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=23974&pcid=46
But hes a fullback?!?! fullbacks dont get drafted!!!! just kidding. Theyre gonna be narrow minded simply because hes labeled a fullback. We can say he'll have 80 receptions for 800 yds and they still wont care.
I heard he tried slimming down to be seen as more of a running back and has not shown the quickness needed to be a tail back. If he was gearing up to be a true NFL fullback I would give him more consideration but I want more of a blocking fullback.
No, just fact ... find me a something that lists Leonard as a possible 6/7th round pick ... that seems a little biased without any justification. Pretty much all the draft prognosticators have him between 1st and 4th round. I was looking for some interesting comments as to why he would or would not fit as a Jet pick in the first 3/4 rounds. Not just "he's a fullback" or "I wouldn't take him until the 7th just because". Somebody who's thinks he'd be a bad pick should at least give a significant reason why.
