Brad smith was drafted w/ the hopes he'd become a WR, he was a QB in college and they drafted him to be a jack of all trades type of player w/ the hope of him developing into a WR. That's very different than drafting Mcknight to fill the many roles of Leon washington.
Smith was also drafted in 2006 when we were compiling QBs any way we could because Chad was coming off shoulder surgery and the position wa a huge question mark. They also drafted Clemens and signed Patrick Ramsey to go with Chad and Bollinger. Smith of course could make it without being a QB but that likely factored into the pick.
Last year we didn't have Santonio Holmes. Look at the the difference in number of rushes the Jets have this year compared to last year. Almost every game there is consensus that either LT or Greene or both could have gotten more carries. You want to take away more of their carries to give a rookie 5 touches a game? No thanks.
Im confused by this junc. Why are you harping on him being Leons replacement. We went out and signed LT and had Greene. I truly believe the Jets knew that Mcknight was a gamble. Every NFL team knew he was a gamble....hence the 4th round. You cant even look at this guy and what he will be for another year. I think Jet fans are getting a bit spoiled by our success in the 4th round. Leon Washington was a pro bowl returner.
Because LT replacing Leon is a truth unbearable. It HAS to be McKnight, and its because they are 4th rounders. And the Jets are Lucky!!!!!! :grin: You're next two paragraphs are perfect. But I personally prefer gamble to be changed to project.
We need both LT and Greene fresh down the stretch, if we had a RB they had any faith in they would be getting a few touches a game to prevent some extra wear and tear on our RBs. We didn't have Holmes the first 4 games- how come the only touches he saw(the only game he was active for) were in garbage time against Buf?
He was drafted to be Leon's replacement. The fact that LT is taking on dual roles(Green '09 and Leon) is irrelevant, that is why Mcknight was drafted as high as he was and why we gave Leon away. Every draft pick is a gamble. I don't think they expected him to be as good as leon but i think they expected he'd come in and do many of the things leon did. So far it hasn't worked out, I hope it does in the future.
Thats where I disagree with you..how you put it. You say he was drafted to be Leons replacement. I look at as the Jets drafted him...in the 4th round...and hoped he could do some of the things Leon did. And maybe..just maybe...he might even be as good. Any way you look at it..it was a 4th round pick. Bottom line is the verdict is still out. Not looking great right now but it was a 4th round pick...not exactly a "high pick" as you put it...for a running back.
Wasn't Greene hurt early in 2009? was Mcknight hurt early this year? he definitely would get a ton of laughs on this board but he wouldn't be laughing at my posts. he'd be laughing at those that wanted to gte rid of Brad Smith 3 years ago, those that thought Kellen Clemens was better than Chad pennington, those that thought Brett favre was a great move, those that think Mcknight is coming around, etc...
good organizations find talent in every rd of the draft. We haven't missed often and when they draft McKnight and trade leon at the same time and tell us how McKnight can do many of the same things it's pretty clear what they expected. That doesn't mean it had to happen this year but he has shown us ZERO this year, it has been a complete waste of a year. Again, I hope he turns out to be 80% of what leon was for us b/c he'll be very productive for us if that is the case but I wish he would have shown us something.
I'm a big McKnight fan and I think he'll be like a Reggie Bush-type guy for us. I'd like to see him get some carries in a game.
I hate the Reggie Bush - McKnight comparison. Its really unfair to the kid. He's going to have to live up to a great player's expectations no matter what level he's at. First it was Reggie, and there is no other Reggie Bush out there right now. College or NFL. His athleticism is unmatched. When McKnight is ready to contribute, LT will be gone. He's had legends' shoes to fill everywhere he goes. Its unlucky and unfortunate. The kids a talent in his own right, but he can't be compared to amazing players.
HUH? Can you guarantee that? Woodhead was not in our plans regardless of what you are saying. REX obviously did not want him for whatever reason. He is the HC. To dump on McKnight because you liked another player is err rather funny. I trust the talent evaluators on the Jets a bit more then I trust fans opinions.
Unfortunately athleticism doesn't always translate to results, Bush was never worth a top 10 pick and has only played up to his potential for about half a year. Leon has had a better career and we got him in rd 4. The only area he was more productive than leon was catching the ball and his avg. is less than Leon we just didn't utilize him enough. YPC: leon 4.7 Bush 3.9 PR avg.: Leon 10.2 Bush 8.0 We drafted him to do many of the things Leon did so how is it unfair to compare him to Bush but not to Leon who has been a better player?
I'm pretty sure the draft status played a role. Obviously they drafted him that high for a reason, if he was a 7th rd pick and showed us what he did in the offseason and TC he would have been cut w/o a doubt.
Please let's not turn this in a Bush vs Leon thread! That said it's good to know McKnight's development is pointing in the right direction... let's see where this brings him when we'll need him.
I'm not surprised that junc of all people would take the short-sighted and ignorant stance to support his argument from another thread, so I'll just henceforth ignore this small heap of digital horse shit above. I think we can tell just by watching Hard Knocks as if for confirmation of the obvious, that almost all players we've drafted round 3 and below since we hired Mike Westhoff have to run through the STs gauntlet and make the team that way before they can really sniff any significant playing time with one of the other 2 squads. My example is not so much to compare the 2 players' draft situations as it is to compare how they developed and how one player can take some time to develop into an impact player who wins games. And both drafted in the 4th, as in the post that I had been responding to. By the way, I don't think anyone in their right mind thinks that the Jets expected to get immediate Leon Washington production out of a 4th rounder. They are using Brad Smith to bridge the gap. McKnight isn't going to be Leon. But I have a feeling that this CS will be able to get some solid contributions out of him in multiple roles. That's all you can realistically ask from a 4th round pick.
..... Leon was better? Wow. No. That just isn't true. Throw every stat on the planet at me. Its just not true. No NFL player, coach, GM, scout, former personnel employee or analyst will agree that your opinion is true. Bush is far more dynamic and does beyond more for the Saints offense that you care to know or admit. This is an argument only for Jets fans that can't let go of Leon. I'm not having this debate for the 8th time in 10 months.
