How Comfortable Are You With LT?
by John B on Mar 26, 2010 8:11 AM EDT
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PrintWe're running into a bit of a delay with the mock draft. It's nothing major, though. The two picks should be up some time this afternoon or evening.
In the mean time, I would like to take a look at something Rex recently said about Leon Washington's role. I haven't been able to get it out of my mind.
"I said he's a third-down back and a Pro Bowl returner," Ryan said. "I mean, that's a pretty big thing. Do we expect him to come back from the surgery he had ... and you're going to put him in there instead of Shonn Greene or LaDainian Tomlinson? Maybe you would. I'm not comfortable with that.
That implies Rex is comfortable with an expanded role for Tomlinson. I'm not going to question how great of a player LT used to be, but his numbers have gone down for three straight years. His average was 3.3 in 2009. He's also 30 years old and has run it 2,880 times in his career.
You could argue the offensive line the Jets help make him productive again, but even LT's biggest backer has to be honest. There's a chance he is finished. The trends of backs with the numbers described above is pretty clear. Leon may be a question mark, but so is Tomlinson.
I'm starting to feel more and more like the Jets should seriously consider targeting a back in the mid rounds if not the early rounds. It's fine to carry four halfbacks since two are major question marks.
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We’re still in March. There’s like half a year before the season starts. He could say Chauncey Washington was gonna be the starter and get 25 touches a game right now. The only thing I’m gonna read into with this is that he’s putting Leon in his place.
But why does he feel the need to put Leon in his place? He’s the only one making an issue out of Leon.
Preach it JB.
Don’t forget he basically committed to giving LD 15 carries a game (WTF). But I think its all about PSL sales and justifying the contract LD got. I also think their trying to make Leon seem a little more “available.”
But Im with you as far as getting another back (preferrably a big one). If we’re giving another back 10+ carries it bettr be somebody thats (1) effective and (2) is a load to bring down.
LD’s yards after catch decreased significantly last year as compared to the year prior, and has been steadily declining over the last few years. That has nothing to do with the o-line. And with all the vertical passing that the Bolts did last year those numbers should not have decreased for LD. With more space to work with, his production dropped. That tells me he not only lost a step, but he lost the ability to avoid tackles. Not a good sign. And not what we want/need from our backs.
Whether Leon comes back or not I would still prefer we end up getting a RB in the draft.
Darrelle Revis once won a game of Connect Four in three moves.
I’m comfortable with LT getting 10-15 carries a game, don’t really have a reason, just think that things got stale in San Diego for LT. He will have a new lease of life here, he will be a little fresher, as regardless of what they say, I’m still convinced Greene will be the feature guy. We have a great run blocking line, especially on the ride hand side which is where LT likes to go, and we have excellent blocking wide receivers, who do work down the field, which IMO will improve his yards after the catch.
I’m not against picking up another back, in fact I want to pick up two running backs, one drafted and one as a UDFA. I’m not concerned about this at all, it’s as early as can be, if Leon leaves, which I think he might and I won’t be crying myself to sleep if it happens, then I like bringing in a couple other players, but am I happy and comfortable with LT…..absolutely I am.
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What the coaches have said recently...
Brian Schottenheimer has talked about LT’s ability to catch the ball and mentioned possibly putting 2 backs in at the same time. If you recall, they’ve tried to do that with Leon and TJ before Leon was injured. They also tried some packages with Danny Woodhead moving either from an RB position to WR and vice versa. I’m thinking Schotty has some crazy schemes in mind for LT that he couldn’t really do with TJ.
As for RB coach Anthony Lynn, he has mentioned that the draft deep when it comes to talented backs, so I think it’s certainly possible that they take a running back in the draft. At this point I think they’ll just take the best player available, whatever position it is.
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Remains to be seen how LT will fare. What we do know is that the Jets want more production and less talk out of their players. Rhodes was sent off and now they want to send Leon out as well. He has not shown a love for the game or any passion for the position. I think LW is just another talented player that wants to be famous for who he is instead of what he is done.
Leon Washington is an underachiever and is better if he goes to another team, that way the Jets can pick up somebody with passion in the second round.
Jets green since 1997
I’m not sure we can question his love or passion for the game, the only thing I would question Leon on is the commitment to the 2010 New York Jets. Always been a stand up guy who has done his job, and I have always liked him, but nobody comes above the team, and right now I don’t think he is doing what’s right by the team, and we can argue back and forth about whether he has any responsibility to do what’s right by the team or not, but I believe he does as a player who’s rights are still held by the Jets. I think the bottom line is that both the team and especially Leon are coming into this sitution at the wrong angle, and Leon’s angle is being manipulated by his amateur agent.
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by David_Wyatt on Mar 26, 2010 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
+1
How can Leon be called an under achiever? The issue isn’t Leon, it’s Leon’s broken leg, coupled with the possibility of getting a premium pick in a loaded draft.
"Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring; besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls. It's more democratic."
- CRASH DAVIS
I have a feeling it won’t be like that the whole season. He said he just doesn’t want to rush Leon back to the role he was playing last year. With the magnitude of his injury, that sounds like a smart move. I think over time, as Leon comes back to his old self, his role will expand also, and LT will take over the spot that Leon had at the start of the season.
A good sign
Not sure if you guys saw, but yesterday they said LT still has gas in the tank and Jets had to put in 8 in the box to stop him. A very good sign. It was in Manish’s article in the Star-Ledger.
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Interesting fact. With the exception of the Bears from the mid 80’s only one team has rushed for more single season yards than our Jets from this season. Personally I don’t give as much credit to the Falcons due to the fact that Vick rushed for almost 1100 yards that year. So IMO this team is within shouting distance of a HOF running game and I refuse to believe that it was only TJ that we have to thank for that. This O-line is Hall Of Fame Caliber. Im not concerned about LT in the slightest. Im not concerned about Greene’s health or fumbling issues. I would like to see Leon come back for nostalgia and a possible comeback but It has little bearing in the grand scheme of things for me.
The Proof is right there for everyone to see. We can run the train on any defense with this O-line and any of the talented Backs we have on the team as it stands right now. In fact I would bet that this teams front office has bigger plans to add depth to the line then they do with the Backs. I think they are happy with what they have now and so am I.
by colinyoung on Mar 26, 2010 3:07 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
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