Was Brian Leonard a bust?
by Ryan Van Bibber on May 8, 2009 11:00 AM CDT
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PrintMike Sando had a post up yesterday using the Rams second round choice from the 2007 draft as an example of why the bust label doesn't always fit. From Sando:
The very best players transcend coaching staffs and schemes. Quite a few others need to find the right fit. Leonard's injury last season probably hurt his standing. But the Rams have changed more than Leonard has changed since St. Louis made him a second-round choice in 2007. The fit apparently wasn't right any longer.
Leonard, for most of us, doesn't represent a "bust" in the Ryan Leaf sense of the word. Leonard is more emblematic of the franchise's lack of vision and dysfunction. More to the point, this is a player that should not have been a second round draft pick for a team with severe holes elsewhere on the roster. I'm not going to revisit the second round of that draft through hindsight, wishing we would have drafted one player or another, though we could have emerged with CB Eric Wright in that draft rather than CB Jonathan Wade.
Leonard then got lost in an offense that never had any kind of cohesion. Through game after game, you got the sense that Linehan and his staff didn't know what kind of offense they wanted to run, some hybird of the Turf's glory days meets a run-first offense. At one point, it seemed like maybe they'd just be a nice well-rounded offense, but that didn't prove to be the case either. And with Leonard, that confusion really manifested itself. For awhile, the Rams didn't want a traditional fullback, so they let Madison Hedgecock go, only to realize they needed a fullback. Leonard never had the stuff to be an NFL level blocking FB, but after a season of thinking of him as more of a running back, Linehan et al went back and asked him to bulk up in order to become more of a blocking FB. After the draft, Leonard was going to be a special teams ace. That didn't happen either.
Leonard's story became the perfect summation for the Linehan era, and a reminder of why the Rams had to play it safer with their picks this year as they finally get the chance to rebuild under a cohesive vision.
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Rams release Pisa Tinoisamoa
why?? he was good when he wasn’t hurt and he is healthy
Seriuosly?!?
That move puzzles me. If he doesn’t fit into Spags D that he is looking to implement, then fine, I have no reason moving on from Pisa. BUT – why release him and get nothing in return? Doesn’t make sense to me.
The reason the Leonard trade worked is because we traded a piece that didn’t fit in the scheme/plans for something that will/might (DT). Pisa is a servicable LB that led the team in tackles – there had to be a team willing to trade something that would help for depth at a position of need….
We need a pitcher...not a DL itcher!
*Seriously - sp
Should read:
I have no problem moving on from Pisa.
Damn – I should probably proofread…
We need a pitcher...not a DL itcher!
Not a bust.
You’re comments are right on. Leonard did not have the chance or the right team formula to be successful. He has great potential, but needs to have a defined role that fits within his strengths—which are many. and I’m not just talking about character.
His original 2nd round pick was not thought through by Linehan
The next Darren Sproles?!
Hahahahahahahha. Cmon, bro.
Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.
by 3k on May 8, 2009 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Bust.
That was a second round pick the Rams threw away. A nice player in college who didn’t have a true position in the NFL. Not quite a fullback, not a true short yardage back, clearly not a change of pace guy and not starter material.
You cannot discount where he was picked when rating his performance, injury or not.
www.stlouisgametime.com
There really isn't enough to tell
He had a decent rookie season wasn’t too impressive but it was his first year and last year he was on IR for most of the season.
Valid point
BUT, I don’t see him having the skill set to establish himself as anything more than a part-time player and special teams contributor.
www.stlouisgametime.com
Lenard was a Linnehan pic what did you expect
and he sure was a bust
by james535 on May 8, 2009 6:48 PM CDT reply actions
His Rams career was a bust because of his injury
But, maybe he’ll shape out in Cincy and hopefully Orien harris will shape out in S.T. Louis
When you go back
and look at all the draft picks Linnehan and crew made in 2006 & 2007, it was a disaster. No team can prosper in the NFL if they don’t keep adding good new talent through the draft. It’s no wonder the Rams have been so pathetic the last couple of years.
Why yes I am.
I have been a season ticket holder since they came to town. Thank you so much for asking.
What's up with all these "are you a fan" questions?
Even the most ardent fan of the team has to admit that the Rams sucked big time over the past few years. Being a fan doesn’t mean you have to close your eyes or shut down the logical part of your brain. In fact, a big part of being a fan is not only wanting the best for your team, but demanding the best for your team.
"Attaway to stomp 'em. Stomp the piss out of 'em. Stomp 'em when they're down. Kick 'em and stomp 'em. Attaway to go boys. Pound that old Budweiser into you and go get them tomorrow." -- Joe Schultz
You hit it on the head with Leonard.. Lack of vision on offense
Brian leonard is a tuff SOB..But in the NFL ..four or five against eleven doesn’t give you much of a chance to express that. This guy is not a tailback and probably is to small to play FB…
But if you put him in a situation where a defense fears your offensive capability to spread the ball.. He can be a Bulldozer. Cincy will swing pss this guy down someones throat on third down .
They get their QB this season.. Unfortunitly we haven’t had one for 5 yrs.. I hate to see Leonard go.. Maybe he doesn’t fit in St Louis with the new scheme. We haven’t had a scheme for quite a while……
.BL will probably be Ickey Woods in Cincy….A few more waiver moves and this guy Harris will be somewhere else to.. We should have tried to unload Bulger on em
Bulger wasd a pro-bowler a couple years back
He just hasn’t had a line to protect him. Give him a little bit to adjust to the new toys and with him not eating turf all the time he can get back to his ‘04-’06 form.
Leonard was a good FB
I liked Leonard – he had good speed, decent blocking skills… hopefully he has a good career in Cincy.
Welcome to Baseball Heaven.
Huge bust!!!!
Who the hell drafts a white running back with an early second round draft pick. How many good white running backs has there been in the last ten years or so???? Mike Alstot was a running fb and thats the closest thing I can think of. This guy was a bust from the moment they called his name at the draft. Typical Rams draft the white guys; Cris Long, Adam Charicker, Joe Klopenstien,Vobora, Chamberline, All bust in my eyes. The most recent bust Laurenitis… Ray Maluega will be a way better nfl player than him. Another draft where they pick the white guy over the better player. When will they learn.
Let's wait a couple of years
before declaring Laurenaitas a bust and Maualeuga a “way better” player. Come back to us after the 2010 season and tell us how your prediction worked out. You could be right, but it’s way too early to tell yet. It’s also way too early to declare Long a bust. He had a decent rookie year and should be even better this year. Klop is clearly a bust and the other two were 7th round picks. What do you expect from them? How many 7th rounders from the other teams even made the roster, let alone did something really good?
2010?
If we’re trying to compare The Disease (early nickname for Laurinaitis) and Maualuga, I would suggest we give them 3 years. As for Klop, I would hope we all agree that for a 2nd round pick, he has turned out to be a ridiculously disappointing pick, especially considering who came after him. I’d rather have Maurice Jones-Drew, Cedric Griffin, Ashton Youboty, Leonard Pope, Eric Smith, Owen Daniels or even Leon Washington.
Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.
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