First off, we beat the fucking Pats!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! That said, is it me or does the secondary look better without Leonhard starting? I know, he's the QB of the D but he is very limited by his size (Especially vs TEs) and, now that more athletic guys like Lowery, Pool and Smith know what to do back there, I feel we're much improved. Also I think Harris is doing an excellent job being the new QB of the D (guy with the radio in the helmet). Congrats to the whole team (especially the D) for this Pats game! Let's go get this fuckin' AFC championship!
this is a terrible thread.. Smith especially stepped up and maybe he is playing to his full potential knowing how important he is now. But its pretty hard to say the team is better when you take a talent like Leonhard out of the mix. Pool and Lowery are playing above or at least to their full potential as well. Credit goes all around to the secondary the D as a whole played lights out today.
I think this is more of a case of the Jets safeties no longer being able to lean on Leonard's experience. They are now having to study the coverages more and make the secondary calls themselves rather then relying on Leonard to tell them what to do. Plus Pool has finally figured out this D, he has picked up his play so much, I am comfortable with him being resigned for next season.
What the hell... the best games we've had in terms of tightening up the secondary and playing precise football on the D side (Colts and Patriots) were without Leonhard. And in my opinion a large credit goes to the play of Smith, Pool and Lowery!!! I understand everyone loves a small white player (like my Woodhead fetish ) but not admitting we're not feeling Leonhard's absence one bit is absurd. Those three guys are more athletic than him on the football field and, now that they know what to do, it's showing... PS And I don't give a fuck that Leonhard can dunk, run god knows what shuttle time and blow himself all night long... on the field these other guys are playing better than he was for much of the season.
You are giving Leonhard WAY to much credit (imo). His strength was knowing Rex's D inside out... the more time goes on, the more other players learn it and the less important he becomes. Look at Pool, beginning of the season he didn't know where the fuck he was supposed to be... know he's always in the right place at the right time. I'm not saying he wouldn't contribute... but I feel much safer with Pool and Lowery than with having Leonhard out there.
I'd be more comfortable with Leonhard in there, but I'm happy with the way Lowery has filled in. It certainly didn't look like it was gonna pan out after the 45-3 drubbing, but the defense as a whole has stepped it up in the playoffs. Saying the defense is better without him is silly though.
Are you comparing Leonhard to Jenkins in terms of what he brings to the table?! Jenkins is a beast and a game changer, Leonhard is an above average SS that knows what his role is and plays his heart out. Of course I'd like to have both back and healthy but It's like comparing apples to oranges...
I don't think you're giving him enough credit. I'm not saying he's Troy Palamalu or anything but he is a talent nonetheless. I understand that a big selling point is his relationship to Rex and his defense schemes but I would take Leonhard over Lowery 8 days a week. How many times have you seem Leonhard come out of no where and make a play? Dude is all over the field and seems (before I get criticized) like he's involved in 85 - 90% of the plays. We are not better off without Leonhard in any way.
What di Leonhard do that was so special?! Someone please explain what Leeonhard did that these guys on the field aren't doing... run support? Nope, Pool is better pass coverage? Nope, Lowery is better tackling? Maybe, but E. Smith isn't a slouch not being out of position? Only Pool was out of position ONCE in two games...
1) Not many at all... but I've seen him get burned more often than not while trying to defend TEs this season. Last season yeah he was a game changer, this season not so much... teams got more aware of what his strong suits were and where he was lacking and took advantage of it. 2) Meant to say without him starting, of course it would be better if he could be able to contribute on some of those plays were we have 10DBs active.
