I think that Brian Leonard is a much better choice for the Jets than Turner: 1. He is younger 2. His 2nd round contract will be much less than the franchise RB type money Turner will demand 3. It will protect our first round pick which will likely be the price of Turner judging by AJ Smith's track record in trades More importantly I think he is a better fit for the Jets: 4.We do not want to minimize the contribution of Leon. He is an exceptional open field runner, showed the ability to run between the tackles, and improved stadily as the year went on especially at pass blocking. His receiving skills are good and need to be worked on. I feel he can be our "feature back", but I also dont think you want to give him 25 carries a game. He needs help in run blocking, and needs better FB support to reach his potential 5. Leonard is a tweener. A RB/FB hybrid that wants to run more and not be a full time FB. That is a weakness for many teams. With us, it is a strenght. Our offense, and Leon as the other back, provides the perfect set up for using his dual capabilities. He can get 10-15 carries a game and be lead blocker for Leon on 20 carries 6. Leonard gives us tremendous flexibilty, especially in 2 back looks. Defenses would never know who is going to run- Leon with an LT bounce outside set up by the Lorenzo Neal type lead of Leonard OR Leonard up the middle with Leon in motion wide to take a linebacker OR initial 2 back set, Leon moves to split end -is it a pass or throw. Linebacker or safety has to come guard Leon opening the middle, and if he doesn't you have a quick pass option to Leon. T This combo would give us so many options to beat opposing defenses. It would protect Leon and allow him to function as a dynamic "feature back" without the feature back load that we do not want to give Leon With Turner, he is just a feature back and does not offer as many options as Leonard. He may be great, but I live in SD and see all the Charger games and I think he is tremendously overrated, and his success is due to his contrast with LT. Turner will minimize the contribution that Leon can make and I do not think you want to do that. He single-handedly won the Miami game for us, and improved steadily. Regardless I think we should go Leonard, not Turner becuause: He is younger He is cheaper and protects our first pick Provides much more flexibilty to the Jets offense, and the Jets offense will be better with a Leon/Brian combo than a Turner/Washington combo. Also: I live in San Diego and am not a Rutgers fan but have been studying him as we get ready for the draft
If he makes it to Round 2, Pick 2, I think he would be a great pickup. Any sooner would be too high as he does not have tremendous upside. He has potential to be a very good role player as a FB/TB hybrid and could line up as a tight end. A very good utility player in the Patriots mold. A very intellegent player as well. Ran a 4.49 at the combine, and benched 225 more than all other RB's at the combine. Nice thing about the pick - fills needs and a quality individual with real nfl ability. (yeah im a Rutgers fan ... sue me)
http://forums.theganggreen.com/forumdisplay.php?f=34 ......................................................................................
Why are you bitching in the first place? It is a very good thread and great opening post. ******** By the way i completely agree with picking brian leonard instead of trading for turner. Good Post
you make some good points. I still like Turner, but its a really good option if we find out Turner is too expensive
I'm guessing like most on this site, you will never quit bitching. Why even open the thread if you are only going to bitch about what section he put it in? Anyway, good points, but I don't want Leonard at all. He tested very well, but I think he's going to be picked up by someone about a round earlier than he should be. I do have a strange feeling that on draft day, he will end up with us-- and it wouldn't shock me to see him taken with our first pick. We reached on guys like him last year with Schlegal, and E Smith, and I could see it happening again. Anyway, I want Tony Hunt so bad it's stupid. I've seen every game the guy ever played in, and he's amazing.
Whether of not you're a Leonard fan, I'd rather get some type of power back compliment to Leon than Michael Turner be it Bush or Hunt or whoever. Also, Leonard is nothing like Schlegal. Leonard's stats at the combine have been impressive thus far while Schlegal is slow as shit.
nobody wants leonard outside of you rutgers fans. no one wants to pin the Franchise Runner on a player who was a fullback last year. When there is true tailbacks out there with much better talant.
I think leonard could be a great full back/H back...w/ that said, I agree that the Rutgers fans of this site and of jet nation in general...have severely overyped his potential.
If that was directed at my comment regarding Schlegal, then I must justify-- they reached on Schlegal and Smith because they were smart, tough, blah blah blah-- which is what I could see us doing again with Leonard. I would hate it, just like I hated picking those two guys over KO Simpson, and Mark Anderson- who I was screaming for on Draft Day by the way, not after their seasons.
Disregard this if you don't want to read any Rutgers fan rara-b.s. I'm not thinking Leonard as a feature tailback ala C-Mart, he does not have that kind of potential and he will not go in the top 40 picks. He has very good NFL potential as a FB/RB hybrid in the Alstott mold. I dont think any Rutgers fans are expecting alot of spinning and juking and 70 yard runs out of this guy. That has never been his game. He has excellent hands out of the backfield, runs a 4.49 40 (see nfl combine), incredible leadership/work ethic/team first mentality. Don't think Schlegel, who has below average physical ability and was graded a 6-7round pick by everybody. Think of a Offensive Mike Vrabel/Tedi Brusci. Plus he also brings a signature move ... The Leonard Leap.
