Jets' Leon Washington is small wonder at running back BY OHM YOUNGMISUK DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Thursday, October 30th 2008, 9:45 PM Sabo/News Leon Washington Leon Washington has pretty much heard it almost all his life. In fact, it might be the only thing he hasn't been able to outrun or shake. From the moment he put on his first shoulder pads, Washington has always been reminded about his size and stature and been labeled too small to play football. "When I was younger, a lot of times you would be playing Little League football and I'm 60 pounds and everybody else is 100 pounds," the 5-8 Washington said Thursday. "And I got to high school being 180 pounds and everybody else is big in stature. One thing I do know ... when you are a small guy, your heart doesn't pump Kool-Aid. That is one thing my dad always told me, having heart can overcome a lot of things. Being quick and having heart can overcome a lot of things." The Jets and Herm Edwards' Chiefs certainly became aware of that on Sunday. Washington was a green and white blur, scoring on an 18-yard catch-and-run and then a 60-yard touchdown run. But the special teams dynamo also helped set up the Jets' two other TDs in their 28-24 win over Kansas City. Washington squeezed out a first down on a third-and-eight at the Kansas City 10 when he took a short pass and got the necessary yardage to set up Thomas Jones' touchdown. And before Brett Favre's game-winning TD pass to Laveranues Coles, Washington nearly broke a punt return for a touchdown, returning it 37 yards and dragging Chiefs punter Steve Weatherford on his back a few yards to the Kansas City 46. Washington totaled 274 all-purpose yards on just 13 touches. Favre said he has never played with a running back as versatile as Washington, who has scored three TDs and set up three other touchdowns with significant returns or plays from scrimmage in the last three games. "I don't know that (anyone) would step into an offense and be as productive after returning kicks the way he does," Favre said. "He's dynamic. He's very smart. Versatile is an understatement with him. He's quick as a cat. He's just got great hands. Maybe about the one thing he can't do well or great, is block Adalius Thomas, but why would you want Leon Washington to block Adalius Thomas? That's a mismatch. If you get (Thomas) covering Leon, now (the Patriots) have problems. How you use him is so important. He's an unbelievable player." The Jets, who take on the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday, know the 5-8, 202-pound Washington is their best playmaker and that he makes the most out of every touch he gets. His mentality has always been to do a lot with little. While at Florida State, Washington shared carries in the backfield with Greg Jones and Lorenzo Booker so he tried to do most of his damage on special teams. And here with the Jets, he spells Jones. That's why Sunday's game felt like high school for Washington, who never came off the field while at Andrew Jackson HS in Jacksonville, Fla., as a running back, kick returner, cornerback, safety, punter and holder. Washington, 25, who set a team record with three kickoff returns for touchdowns last season, ranks third in the NFL with 27.6 yards per kickoff return, and fifth with 13 yards per punt return. He also has 155 yards rushing and two TDs, and 22 catches for 153 yards and a score. When he was asked if he was ever told to find another profession because of his size, Washington smiled, flexed and pointed to his left bicep, which was anything but small. "He is a little dude but he is strong," safety Kerry Rhodes said. "Probably one of the stronger guys on the team, pound for pound. With him being strong, elusive, and quick and little makes him really tough." GROUNDED JETS: TE Bubba Franks (hip), LB David Harris (groin), S Eric Smith (head) and OL Damien Woody (personal issues) did not practice Thursday. TE Chris Baker (hip), WR Laveranues Coles (thigh), WR Jerricho Cotchery (shoulder) and LB Cody Spencer (shoulder) all went through a limited practice. ... Buffalo QB Trent Edwards (ankle) was added to the injury report Thursday despite participating fully in practice. Bills WR Josh Reed did not practice for the second straight day.
" "I don't know that (anyone) would step into an offense and be as productive after returning kicks the way he does," Favre said. "He's dynamic. He's very smart. Versatile is an understatement with him. He's quick as a cat. He's just got great hands. Maybe about the one thing he can't do well or great, is block Adalius Thomas, but why would you want Leon Washington to block Adalius Thomas? That's a mismatch. If you get (Thomas) covering Leon, now (the Patriots) have problems. How you use him is so important. He's an unbelievable player."" Did BF actually say this? Hard to see this as anything but Favre lining up his sights on Suckenheimer.
Here's the indictment against schottinthefoot The offense should be keying off Washington, with him getting 15 offensive touches a game
How's that a further indictment? I thought the offense should be keying off of Favre? Or is it a by the week things like most things?
The offense should have been keying off of Washington last season. He's the only back we have that can make things happen when holes are not there. The only thing he lacks is the touches. The guy has a nose for the open field, and fights for yardage. An intelligent coaching staff would have realized this. I'd bet coaches like Belichick and Reid and Dungy would be frothing for a guy like this to become a FA. But moron Lil Schitt sits there and calls up-the-guts with Thomas Jones when the guy has been effective in that role exactly one game this season, against a horrible run defense that was defending the pass all day long. Anyone that defends that kind of playcalling should be drooling into a bib. Only a moron would sit there and say 'but last week you said we should key on the pass'. Intelligent OCs attacks the defense's weaknesses, instead of just playing the same gameplan all year. You play to the strengths of your roster and use them to attack the opposition's weaknesses. Some people just can't understand football.
Depending on your opponents strengths and weaknesses and how the game is progressing you should be doing different things to be successful. There is not one specific thing they should do at all times to be successful. It's entirely possible that passing 50 times is a good idea one week and running the ball 40 times is a good idea the following week. I'm not really saying anthing that isn't really obvious though ...
For the hundredth time: LEON NEEDS TO GET THE BALL IN SPACE AT LEAST 10 TIMES/GAME! He is not great behind the LOS but if we screen and dump off to him and he only has to beat a couple guys, he will break it big 1 in 10 times. Wake up already little Schit.
I've touted Leon since the Jets signed him. Saw him a lot at FSU, think the kid is great. I would love to see him get a few more touches a game, but really think that making him the "starting" RB would be counter productive. He wouldn't be able to do the other things he does, and carry the ball 20-25 times a game. Not without dramatically shorting his career. The guy had 274 all purpose yards last week. Take away the big run and he still had 210. That's a lot of yards. How long has it been since the Jets had a really good punt returner? Like I said I would like to see him get a few more touches, but I think he is being used wisely for his long term good, and the Jets long, and short term good. Don't want to use this guy up to quickly.
absolutely untrue imo. give leon 20-25 touches and allow him to get in a groove. he has better vision, balance, agility and is tougher to bring down than jones. i hope miller is healthy enough to takeover special teams full time and allow washington to take over feature back responsibilities.
Washington and Miller should both be back there on kickoffs, and maybe even punts. They are 2 of the best return men in the game. a reverse or lateral? I'm drooling at the possibilities already.
