Leon to get offers? What to do?
by nrmax88 on Mar 9, 2010 7:48 PM EST
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PrintSo, Leon Washington has been a popular topic over the last few weeks, with many differing opinions on what to do here. Well, Adam Schein reported that the 49ers are preparing an offer for Washington in the next couple days. My question is, what do we do?
Leon is wonderful, he is dynamic, and we all love him, I know, but that broken leg is worrisome, and it seems like more and more smallish yet explosive and elusive running backs have been coming into the league in the middle rounds in the last 5 years. We have Leon, we have Jamaal Charles, Sproles, Slaton, Bradshaw, Choice, Mccoy, Forsett, etc. It seems like there are 2 or 3 guys like this available in the 3rd and 4th rounds every year. While I love Leon, I would have to let him walk for a 2nd round pick in this draft. I would then sign a guy like Kevin Faulk for a year, a smart veteran who is a great receiving threat and also a capable runner, and has been on winning teams. The last 4 years, Faulk has rushed for 1230 yards (5.3 yards per carry), and he has also caught 185 passes for 1526 yards over that same span. I feel like he could step in and fill Leon's shoes for a year, until we can draft another scat back type next year.
Regrettably, I would let Leon go, and take the pick. When you combine the uncertainty after his injury, with the depth of this draft class, I wouldn't be able to pass this up. We could pick either a S/OLB/DE in the first, and adding another pick about 12 spots higher then our own second rounder, would greatly improve our chances of drafting at least of one Shipley or Gerhart.
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While Leon is a player that I like, rate and appreciate. San Francisco’s pick is a low-mid 2nd rounder, and like most have said, that in this year’s draft is too hard to turn down, especially for a player who is coming off a serious leg break, and who will be turning 28 this year.
1st, 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th…..in this draft I have to take the picks. Maybe people would be more open to Darius Marshall from Marshall in the 6th or 7th round (if we picked one up somewhere) if we let Leon go….especially as he is a guy we can work in like Leon.
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100% Agree. Gotta let Leon go for a 2nd.
Hughes, Gerhart, Shipley and I’m in Draft Day Heaven. Whoever we get after that is gravy.
If we drafted those three players, I would have a 2010 jersey dilemma.
Writer/Assistant editor
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New York Jets
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I like Faulk as a 3rd down guy btw. And Westbrook is still out there. And like you said, you can always gett a scat back in the mod-rounds if need be.
Something about Faulk
I love that guy, Pats and all. What a great player, he is so smart, such a good receiver, great running back anytime you line up from the shotgun, excellent draw runner. It’s nothing personal against Leon, it’s just business, and passing up a 2nd rounder in this draft for a scat back coming off a broken leg is just bad business.
"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
+1
Agreed with both. I know a lot of fans have a problem with the idea of losing Leon, but a 2nd round pick this year, especially one so high. Can’t turn that down, no way, no how.
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
what worries me
I only have one real problem with letting leon walk. Don’t get me wrong, this draft is very deep and an additional second rounder would be great but I think we would lose more than just Leon. With Jones and Leon gone, we would be turning over the best part of our offense (our league leading rushing attack) to a second year player, an unproven rookie and probably an older vet. I just don’t feel quite comfortable giving the keys to Greene or Sanchez yet. I think Sanchez needs more time before we can depend on to carry our o. Greene on the other hand is still unproven to me. Don’t get me wrong I think he had a great run to end the season but he’s never had to carry a full season’s pounding. What if he has fumble problems again? He is far from a sure thing. I think Leon gives us that veteran leadership at running back that a running team needs. I’d love the pick but not at the cost of leadership.
Greene could get the fumbles, but what if Leon isn’t what he used to be? As it is, he won’t be ready around the start of the season. How long will it take him to get into football shape and find his timing? What if he’s reluctant to plant that leg and cut it back against the grain?
As much as i like Leon, Im not comfortable going into the season with him. You say that with Jones and Leon gone we’re tunring over the best part of our offense to Greene and a rookie. But Leon missed most of the season last year and Jones disappeared down the stretch. It was Greene who carried us through the most important games last year. The key to our running game is our o-line. Ive think that with the depth of this year’s draft we can get a good RB and he would be every bit as effective as Jones ever was. Leon is tough to replace, but I don’t think that even he can be what he was 2 yrs ago.
Im not doubting that Jone’s numbers did slide at the end of the year, but he was a work horse all season long. And honestly that really isn’t what I’m concerned with. Im concerned with everything else. Jones was a leader and Washington is greatly respected on this team too. I know Leon is coming off a terrible injury and he might not come back to form but I think he we would be the leader this ground attack needs. I just think that turning to a young set of backs has a drawback in terms of leadership and experience. Don’t get me wrong, I do want a back in the draft but I think some veteran leadership among the group is underratedly (if thats a word) important.
i would only agree
to letting washington go if we sign sproles… if we sign sproles i would be happy being he is basically leon washington… having another 2nd round draft pick would be nice and i think with the first we go de… i really think we will sign adalius thomas and then i say we go for shipley and gerheart in the second and then use our remaining picks for line depth both offensively and defensively…. i think we should go for otogweye or (pool is it?)… then i would be totally satisfied with our off-season and look forward to our season… hey… i can dream right?
sproles got a 1st and 3rd round tender. no chance anybody goes for sproles.
by TheSanchize6 on Mar 11, 2010 10:07 PM EST up reply actions
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