Newest Jet.. does this mean the end of Leon Washington? Explosive guy, can help with returns too.. adding a breakaway threat to the ground and pound. Intriguing choice.. what do you guys think? on edit: i meant to post this in the New York Jets section, not the draft.. if a mod can move it that would be nice.
Liked the first two, don't like this one. Was always a tease and disappointment at USC. He's no Leon Washington. Brittle too.
I find it hard to question our front office based on the results over the past 4 years. However, why would they trade up for Joe McKnight? Granted the price was pretty cheap, only a 6th rounder, but what happened to our other needs? Do they really feel like Jason Taylor for 1 year is worth passing on someone like Ricky Sapp? Or what about Cam Thomas in the 4th as more beef in the middle?
"The Jets just picked up Joe McKnight. A very talented third-down, change of direction back from USC. He'll help Sanchez in the play-making department. I know the backfield is crowded, but you can always find room for a playmaker." - Mike Mayock http://chat.nfl.com/front/index/883 Personally, I've always liked McKnight's playmaking abilities. His ceiling is very high and we are the perfect team to groom such talent with our already crowded backfield. However, trading up and having only a 7th round pick left is a tough pill to swallow. Our DL needs to add some talent.
This is what Scott Wright has to say about him... Plenty to like as a situational runner! But it's really too bad Leon is gone essentially Strengths: Amazing athlete --- Explosive with terrific speed and a burst --- Great quickness and agility --- Excellent vision --- Patient runner --- Very elusive and a terror in space --- Can start and stop / change directions on a dime --- Able to get outside and turn the corner --- Soft hands and runs superb routes --- Offers value as a return man --- Still has upside. Weaknesses: Underachiever --- Doesn't have the size you look for --- Not very strong or powerful --- Is not much of a threat between the tackles --- Will dance around too much --- Some issues with ball security --- A sub par blocker --- Probably not an every-down player --- Durability's a concern. Notes: Just a one-year starter for the Trojans --- Garnered Honorable Mention Pac-10 notice in 2008 and 2009 --- Brother, Jonathan, is committed to play football at Arizona in 2010 --- Sister, Johanna, was on the basketball and track teams at Richmond --- Averaged 7.9 yards on 32 punt returns and 25.0 yards on 2 kick returns during his career --- A very highly-touted, sought after recruit and was even one of the key figures in a book (Meat Market by Bruce Feldman) on the subject --- Also a state champion track star in high school --- Was hampered by an assortment of maladies to his knee, toes, fingers, elbow, ankle, thigh and illness the past few years --- Held out of the 2009 Emerald Bowl because he was being investigated for a possible NCAA rules (extra benefits) violation --- Hailed as "The Next Reggie Bush" before ever playing a down but never really lived up to the hype --- A very talented prospect with a lot of potential who could turn out to be a better pro than college player --- Versatile playmaker whose best fit at the next level will likely come as a complimentary weapon and return specialist.
disappointed in this move. I would have liked Cam Thomas for the Dline. LW better get us a pick now or BT.
Chauncey Washington and Danny Woodhead don't count.. we only had 3 running backs. One of which is coming off a serious leg injury. Another is 31 years old, and the starter has durability concerns and has never carried a full load. I was a little surprised McKnight only ran a 4.47 40 yard dash though, not that it really matters. Very explosive player.. he will help us.
You're right. McKnight actually has enough size to play receiver. I love how you say he was an underachiever at USC, yet he rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season in a crowded backfield. Let's look at this player: McKnight was the best player in the entire country when he committed to USC. He's been a major contributor to one of the best programs in the country since his freshman season. The kid's got a ton of talent and upside. Good move. It sucks that we don't have many picks and that we haven't addressed the defensive line...but this is a good pick.
With all the talent on USC anyone could run for 1000 yards it would be different if he had to work for it
Agreed everybody is so upset with who we didn't take (who are still on the board at this moment) that they aren't even looking at the kid we got. He is going to be a big time playmaker for us, and nobody cares because they are pissed we passed on defense. This happened last year with Gilbert, we were all so upset we passed Gilbert it took months for most of the board to get over it and realize that Greene is a superstar in the making. Will Mcknight be that kind of star? I dunno, but you can not deny that he is something special. Everybody proclaims trust in everything the Jets FO does lately, but knock the kid because they didnt draft defense. I for one am glad to see Mcknight in Green and White
If he can put the injury-bug (had 4 injuries below the waist; for a RB, that's not too good) behind him, then this may very well turn out to be another R4 steal by the Jets.
So we basically now have the QB/RB combo of USC in 2008. Pick is most definitely the end for Leon in green, but I was really hoping we could get more than a 5th rounder for a player of his talent.
Maybe we drafted him to be a slot receiver.... Good receiving RB, explosive play maker....He adds depth at RB and could possibly fill in at the slot. Thoughts?
For those who haven't seen a lot of USC football, McKnight is basically Leon Washington with more height and the potential to play at approximately 210 (currently 6' 0"/200) without losing any of his 4.4's speed, so he should offer a little more between the tackles. But like Washington his game is mostly predicated on outstanding accelleration and agility (AKA Jukes) ... the ability to cut on a dime (multiple cuts if necessary) without slowing down. Can make would-be tacklers look REAL BAD as they grasp for air in open space. I've seen him a ton and he's a very exciting player when healthy. In fact I drafted him in the TGG 7 RD mock draft. In closing, we basically swapped a 28 Y/O Leon coming off a compound fracture for a slightly bigger and much younger (22) version of the same player. Like Leon, I think he will be a better pro than college player if he avoids the nagging injuries that haunted him at USC I hate to sound repetitive, but McKnight is essentially an Ohh's and Ahh's player, meaning he'll make plays that has the crowd uttering Ohh's and Ahh's hmy:, but he's not a 20+ carry feature back. He's a Leon'esque sactback. Same kind of weapon in the passing game and in space as well.
Right on, Jabba. Before today, if someone asked if I could have Leon or McKnight as the 3rd down COP back on the Jets, I'd go with McKnight.
