Leon Washington as a Steeler?
by SteelerBoy86 on Mar 4, 2010 12:40 AM EST
Email
PrintThere has been a fair amount of discussion on the boards here lately about the RB position. The focus of the discussion has centered around: Should we or shouldn't we go after... LT or Westbrook or just keep FWP? Well, the news out of the NY Jets camp this afternoon should have someone asking: what about Leon Washington? And for my first post, I figured, "hey why not me?"
Word is the Jets made only a 2nd round tender on Washington despite news earlier this week that they are releasing Thomas Jones. The second round tender was for a mere $1.759 on a one year deal which means a team interested in Washington would only have to give up a 2nd round pick if signing him to an offer sheet.
Washington is coming off a compound tib-fib fracture sustained in Week 7 last season. Such an injury typically takes 6-12 months to heal. Having recently fractured my tibia and gone through a similar surgery, I would have been cautious about his prospects, but the doctors say he's 2 months ahead of normal recovery. For anyone else who has had this type of injury, you'll be able to join me in thinking, "are you frickin' kidding me?!?" Washington must be a beast.
So here's the skinny: He made the Pro Bowl in the 2008 season as a return man. His career rushing average is around 4.8 yards per carry so he can obviously run as a complement to a bigger back. He can definitely catch the ball out of the backfield, unlike FWP.
The Steelers have the 52nd pick in the draft. Should they give up that pick to acquire Washington? It would mean allowing FWP to walk. But it would also mean they would have an extremely versatile RB who can not only run, but return and catch as well. Plus he's only 27. Personally, I'm not a fan of taking a chance on LT and definitely not Westbrook. However, I do like the idea of taking a run at Washington. He could serve as a great complement to Mendenhall and may force BA to consider throwing more to his RBs.
So let me know what ya'll think.
47 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I'm on board
Is NY unloading the whole backfield or what?
Brian: Face it Peter, you get competitive about everything.
Peter: I am so not competitive. In fact, I am the least non-competitive. So I win.
by SoCalSteelerFan on Mar 4, 2010 12:55 AM EST reply actions
Deep draft
This is a pretty deep draft as far as RB goes. I would be surprised to see them sign a big name back in FA. Then again who knows what the FO is thinking, tender Gay looks like we might be running a 3-6-2 next year unless last years rooks have taken a magic pill that turns them into starters
Deep draft?
I wholeheartedly disagree. CJ Spiller appears to be the only high end running back. After that Jonathon Dwyer is probably a 2nd round choice and everyone else falls to the third or fourth
This draft is about Lineman, and DB’s. Other than that it’s not very talented in other departments.
Brian: Face it Peter, you get competitive about everything.
Peter: I am so not competitive. In fact, I am the least non-competitive. So I win.
by SoCalSteelerFan on Mar 4, 2010 3:50 AM EST up reply actions
Well you have some quality 3rd or 4th rounders. I doubt Jahvid Best falls that far, he’s a second rounder right now. I like Hardesty out of Tennessee in the third or fourth. Could provide with a real nice compliment to Mendenhall.
BTSC Obituaries
OldManSteeler, ominously died two days before Superbowl 123 where the Ravens are set to attempt their 7th superbowl win, facing the Detroit Lions on Sunday. He was 86. His last words are believed to be "MALOR CAN SUCK IT!!!". Like friends and family, we can only guess what this could mean.
by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Mar 4, 2010 6:46 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
would a guy like Best not be comparable to Washington though?
His primary contributions would be as a returner but Best is capable of flourishing in that role.
Yeah
but he’d be cheaper, likely, younger and not coming off a nasty leg injury.
"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'
it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.
I mean if your worried about injury concerns why would you take a chance on Best instead of Washington? He missed half of last year too and really doesn’t seem to be durable at all!
Cause he's younger, likely cheaper
and not coming off as nasty of an injury.
"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'
it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.
Also I'm not saying I would take Best
just that it would make more sense to draft an rb than send a second round pick for an old one coming off an injury who probably wasn’t worth a second round pick when he was younger and healthy.
"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'
it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.
There might not be a lot of super stars but there are quite a few who are capable of playing a supporting role, which is all we are looking for. We have our #1 and yes you always have to worry about injury but if we are spending FA money it better be on defense. Our picks from last year might have some promise but nothing I saw last year said they are ready to start. So we have half a backfield right now because it looks like we may lose Clark and well don’t even get me started on Gay or why we tendered him.
i'd love it
if we go defense first round then
by Bleed-Black&Gold on Mar 4, 2010 6:20 AM EST reply actions
Yeah I don't have an issue with the idea of Washington
I wouldn’t give up a 4th round pick for him. Not with how easy it is, or at least seems to be for most teams, to find contributing running backs in the bottom rounds of the draft and not at his age, he’ll be 28 when the season starts which is geriatric for a running back, coming off that awful leg injury.
"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'
it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.
Yes, but...
He’s way ahead of schedule on recovery from the leg injury. He’s also a proven commodity, having made the Pro Bowl the year before. And having suffered a similar injury, I can tell you it’s really that bad once you make it past the initial 4 months of recovery.
For the money
Jones may be a better aquisition.
I wasn’t pleased because we didn’t win - Mike Tomlin (after the 2009 week 2 loss to Chicago).
Not a second round
we don’t need Running backs, we need
1. Saftey
2. Offensive Tackle
3. Inside Linebacker
4. Outside Linebacker
5. Defensive End
6. Nose Tackle
7. Saftey/Corner Hybrid
Steelers football is 60 mins.
I wouldn't worry so much about the Safety position as long as Troy is 100%
He still needs some help out there though.
So
in your opinion what would you list as number 1, plus if Clark is gone then I’m worrying but thats just me. :)
Steelers football is 60 mins.
by tannofsteel84 on Mar 4, 2010 3:50 PM EST up reply actions
No but he's renewed......
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
Maybe I was born in Missouri…
To try and fail may be unacceptable, but failing to try, is accepting failure.
Maybe I was born is Utah
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
So many possibilities
To try and fail may be unacceptable, but failing to try, is accepting failure.
So little time
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
There is always time for one more
To try and fail may be unacceptable, but failing to try, is accepting failure.
I am resisting the urge that I know you are trying to get started here.....
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
I'm not trying to start a wave
Just enjoying the understated conversion.
To try and fail may be unacceptable, but failing to try, is accepting failure.
That's good because waves can make people think he are jacking their poast
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
My apologies SteelerBoy86
end threadjack
To try and fail may be unacceptable, but failing to try, is accepting failure.
Me too
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
hakuna matata?
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
I have worries
but they don’t concern this post.
I may be old but I... oh d*mn, I forgot what I was going to say.
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Mar 4, 2010 6:42 PM EST up reply actions
I personally like Gerhat
Could probably pick him up in a later round as well. Im not a huge believer in needing a “small and big” back both can be large downhill runners. just used to give the other a breather when needed. As well, i think Gerhart is a monster runner with smarts and vision.
Should have, could have, but didn't
Okay, guys, if we're going to talk RBs
I’m going to put in another plug for my man Toby Gerhart. He had a great combine, andhis 40 time was a 4.53. You can see the whole article here
Here’s some more infor from the NFL combine site:
“He runs with a good pad level and consistently breaks through first contact and gets a lot of his yards after initial contact. He seems to get stronger as the game wears on and defenses visibly grow weary of trying to take him on in the latter parts of the game. He knows how to follow his blockers and is patient as he waits for the hole to open up. He is an effective receiver out of the backfield.”
So you can see that he not only fulfills my criteria for a RB, but he is a studly choice for the Steelers. Gerhart in Black and Gold! Woohoo!
"You learn more in failure than you do in success." - Mike Tomlin
I'm going to give you props
I think you were the first to bring him up and I’m going to say he has good chance to have much success in the NFL.
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
T. Gerhart
He would be tough to pass up if he were available. Like the way he runs with the ball.
5 words you may never hear.."Bungals win the Super Bowl"
He won't last long with that running style.
by StoneColdSteel on Mar 4, 2010 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
Didn't seem to shorten St. Jerome's career much, if at all...
"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods
Different running style
You should know that no back that big has ever had the footwork of Jerome Bettis. He was able to avoid a lot of big hits due to his feet.
Gerhart is not that guy.
by StoneColdSteel on Mar 4, 2010 3:52 PM EST up reply actions
I say yes!
Apply the Rooney Rule and draft a white running back! Seriously, I like Gerhart, the only problem is he looks like he’ll be a second rounder and that would probably be a bit high considering the more pressing needs we have in the secondary.
Consider it unleashed!
not worth a second rounder
this draft is perfect for our needs. verryyy talented at the top on the OL and verryyy deep defensively. our second round pick would be much better served bringing youth to our defense not a change of pace back/returner for mendy.
by steel.curtain.number2 on Mar 4, 2010 6:10 PM EST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
"Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history."
Art Rooney Jr.
"Level-headed thinking." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
