I am sold. Marshawn Lynch at #12.

[PIZ]

Take Lynch at 12 and move up a little to guarantee David Harris or the top OLB left.

 

USA Today article on Lynch

[DrDawkinstein]

sounds like the McGahee article

[Dr. Trooth]

Do I have this right? Just becuase Chris Colston writes an expose' on this guy, you think he shoudl be drafated at #12? If I've got this right, P.T. Barnum was a great prophet.

[apuszczalowski]

Take Lynch at 12 and move up a little to guarantee David Harris or the top OLB left.

 

USA Today article on Lynch

i just read an article about how Harris could be the next Demeco Ryans and could be a canidate for Rookie of the Year. The Bills had him in for an interview and they seem to like him. He said he also was in NO and enjoyed his visit there. It was an article about 5 picks that could make a GM look good, basically the top 5 guys that could go late 1st or 2nd round

 

It could end up Lynch at 12 and then they trade up back into the 1st and go for Harris

[Steely Dan]

Take Lynch at 12 and move up a little to guarantee David Harris or the top OLB left.

 

USA Today article on Lynch

 

Pick #1 Posluszny (sp?)

 

Pick #2 Brian Leonard-I hope.

 

Nice article but doesn't sway me. The best all around back in the draft is Leonard. I'd rather have him than Peterson or Lynch. I hope he's there when Buffalo picks.

[Albany,n.y.]

The only RB I'm sold on is Peterson. Trade up to 5 or 6 and get him if Cleveland passes on him.

[Steely Dan]

i just read an article about how Harris could be the next Demeco Ryans and could be a canidate for Rookie of the Year. The Bills had him in for an interview and they seem to like him. He said he also was in NO and enjoyed his visit there. It was an article about 5 picks that could make a GM look good, basically the top 5 guys that could go late 1st or 2nd round

 

It could end up Lynch at 12 and then they trade up back into the 1st and go for Harris

 

If Buffalo had him in then they aren't going to draft him, if last year is any gauge.

[BillsCelticsAngelsBama]

The Bills had him in for an interview and they seem to like him. He said he also was in NO and enjoyed his visit there. It was an article about 5 picks that could make a GM look good, basically the top 5 guys that could go late 1st or 2nd round

 

It could end up Lynch at 12 and then they trade up back into the 1st and go for Harris

I was shocked to hear that Harris enjoyed his visit there. I expected him to say that he would go Canada if he was drafted by the Saints.

And to the guy who said Leonard was the best all-around back in the draft... We all have the right to our opinion but IMO you've got to take Peterson, Lynch, Pittman and Irons ahead of him, if you are serious about a Running back and they are all on the board. Not a personal attack, just my opinion. If Lynch played on the East Coast and his games weren't starting so late, I don't think there would be much debate about who the two best Running backs are.

[Steely Dan]

I was shocked to hear that Harris enjoyed his visit there. I expected him to say that he would go Canada if he was drafted by the Saints.

And to the guy who said Leonard was the best all-around back in the draft... We all have the right to our opinion but IMO you've got to take Peterson, Lynch, Pittman and Irons ahead of him, if you are serious about a Running back and they are all on the board. Not a personal attack, just my opinion. If Lynch played on the East Coast and his games weren't starting so late, I don't think there would be much debate about who the two best Running backs are.

 

What Leonard has on Peterson is that while he's just as big he's a lot more durable. He's slower but that doesn't bother me nearly as much as Peterson's injuries do. He has size over Lynch who I still have character questions about. He's more durable than Lynch too.

 

Everything I've read has Leonard rated the third back in the draft.

 

Pittman is smaller, Irons would be a good pick too. I could live with him but, the stuff I've seen has Tony Hunt rated higher. He'd be ok too. The thing that I really like about Leonard and that I think Buffalo likes too is that he's very high character and very smart. He's probably the best all around back in the draft.

[BillsCelticsAngelsBama]

What Leonard has on Peterson is that while he's just as big he's a lot more durable. He's slower but that doesn't bother me nearly as much as Peterson's injuries do. He has size over Lynch who I still have character questions about. He's more durable than Lynch too.

 

Everything I've read has Leonard rated the third back in the draft.

 

Pittman is smaller, Irons would be a good pick too. I could live with him but, the stuff I've seen has Tony Hunt rated higher. He'd be ok too. The thing that I really like about Leonard and that I think Buffalo likes too is that he's very high character and very smart. He's probably the best all around back in the draft.

Fair enough. If we pick him, I hope you are right. If the Patriots draft him, I hope he misses a key block and P. Willis or David Harris get by him and send Brady to I.R.

[Buffaloed in Pa]

What Leonard has on Peterson is that while he's just as big he's a lot more durable. He's slower but that doesn't bother me nearly as much as Peterson's injuries do. He has size over Lynch who I still have character questions about. He's more durable than Lynch too.

 

Everything I've read has Leonard rated the third back in the draft.

 

Pittman is smaller, Irons would be a good pick too. I could live with him but, the stuff I've seen has Tony Hunt rated higher. He'd be ok too. The thing that I really like about Leonard and that I think Buffalo likes too is that he's very high character and very smart. He's probably the best all around back in the draft.

Too stiff for me. That`s why he wasn`t the halfback last year. Catches the ball well,but isn`t a fluid runner.Can you say Tim Tindale.Sorry no great white hope for me.

[Steely Dan]

Too stiff for me. That`s why he wasn`t the halfback last year. Catches the ball well,but isn`t a fluid runner.Can you say Tim Tindale.Sorry no great white hope for me.

 

While the fullback position has evolved over the years, Leonard's hard-nosed, aggressive style is reminiscent to that of former Green Bay Packers great, Jim Taylor. Not since Purdue's Mike Alstott (1991-95) has a collegiate fullback been able to determine an outcome of a game on such a consistent basis as Leonard did throughout his career. Whether breaking free for a long run, powering his way into the end zone in goal-line situations, providing a devastating block for halfback sensation Ray Rice or making the clutch catch in traffic, Leonard is the type of player defenses always need to account for.

 

Leonard was a standout running back and linebacker at Gouverneur High School (New York), where he led the team to a 9-1 record and the Class B Section X championship as a senior. He was a two-time all-state selection and the Watertown Daily Times Athlete of the Year, in addition to being named All-Northern Conference Most Valuable Player three times. He closed out his career as the state of New York's all-time scoring leader with 696 points, totaling 107 touchdowns while rushing for 5,854 yards.

 

As a senior,(In high school) Leonard rushed for 2,398 yards on 234 carries (10.2 avg) and 47 touchdowns, adding seven two-point conversions; he also caught 23 passes for 529 yards and produced nine consecutive 200-yard rushing games that year. As a linebacker, he recorded 64 tackles, including 41 solo stops, one sack and two interceptions. He rushed for 354 yards and four touchdowns in the Wildcats' 28-22 win over Ogdensburg Free Academy in the title game and scored eight touchdowns in the Wildcats' victory over Cornwall High.

 

Leonard was also a standout basketball player. He garnered First-Team All-League recognition and Prep Star All-American honors. In track, he competed in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the long jump. He posted impressive wins in both the 100 and 200 at the Section VII/X Track and Field Championships. Leonard was a four-time honor roll student.

 

The younger brother of former Scarlet Knight linebacker Nate Leonard (1999-2001), Leonard enrolled at Rutgers in 2002 and spent the year as a halfback on the scout team while his brother served as a graduate assistant.

 

Brian Leonard exploded onto the collegiate scene in 2003, earning Freshman All-American honors as he was also named Big East Conference Freshman of the Year. He started 10 of 12 games at halfback, leading the team in rushing with 880 yards and nine touchdowns on 213 carries (4.1-yard average). He also led the Scarlet Knights with 53 receptions for 488 yards (9.2 avg) and five scores. He ranked fifth in the Big East with an average of 114.0 all-purpose yards per game and scored 84 points. He also had two solo tackles and a fumble recovery.

 

 

Leonard shifted to fullback in 2004, earning Pro Football Weekly All-American honors. The first-team All-Big East Conference pick missed the Syracuse game with a leg bruise, but he still led the conference with an average of 125.0 all-purpose yards per game. He led the team with 199 carries for 732 yards (3.7 avg) and seven touchdowns and ranked second on the squad with 61 catches for 518 yards (8.5 avg) and two scores to finish with 54 points. Leonard also had three tackles (two solos).

 

In 2005, Leonard was again named to Pro Football Weekly's All-American team, in addition to picking up All-Big East Conference accolades. Taking on a more traditional fullback role with the arrival of halfback Raymell Rice, Leonard still finished second on the team with 173 rushes for 740 yards (4.3 avg) and 11 touchdowns. He led Rutgers with 55 receptions for 568 yards (10.3 avg) and six scores. His average of 8.5 points scored per game ranked fourth in the Big East while his average of 4.58 catches per game ranked second. He scored a career-high 102 points and averaged 109.0 all-purpose yards per game.

 

As a senior, Leonard was again named a First-Team All-American and landed on the All-Big East Conference second-team. He was used more as a blocker, producing 14 touchdown-producing blocks. He carried 93 times for a career-low 427 yards (4.6 avg) and five touchdowns. He caught 38 passes for 294 yards (7.7 avg) and totaled 667 all-purpose yards with 30 total points and two solo tackles.

 

In 47 games at Rutgers, Leonard started 45 times. He holds the Big East record with at least one reception in 47 games. He holds the school record with 207 career receptions, on which he gained 1,868 yards (9.0 avg) and scored 13 touchdowns. He rushed 678 times for 2,779 yards (4.1 avg) and 32 scores. He holds the school record with 272 points scored and recorded seven tackles (six solos) and a fumble recovery. Leonard holds the Rutgers record with 5,961 all-purpose yards, averaging 129.59 yards per game.

 

 

 

 

 

Analysis

 

 

Positives: Solidly built with above-average strength, thick thighs and calves, good bubble, tight waist, broad shoulders and good arm-muscle definition...Has excellent speed for his position, showing the upper-body strength and leg drive to create and maintain a rush lane as a lead blocker...Has a good short area burst through the creases and the change-of-direction agility to make the initial tackler miss...Shows the plant-and-drive agility to make precise cuts...Has very good balance and body control throughout his stride, demonstrating fluid flexibility and quickness getting to top acceleration...Has good vision to locate and neutralize the blitz and an excellent feel for the soft spots in the zone, consistently getting there, to make the underneath catch...Comes out of his stance quickly and with good urgency, running at the proper pad level with legs churning to push the pile...Has the quickness to explode through the holes and the cutback agility to make the initial tackler miss...Generates the speed to pull away from linebackers and safeties after the catch and is quick enough in his stride to be a valid deep threat...Has the loose hips to elude and makes sharp cuts to separate in his patterns...Displays good field vision, showing patience setting up his blocks when carrying the ball...Alert to stunts and blitzes, showing good slide to neutralize edge rushers...Has the strong base and balance to bounce off of tacklers and maintain his stride...Bruising runner between the tackles with the loose hips to change direction quickly...Picks up his feet nicely to get through traffic and is nimble enough to redirect and cut back outside when the inside hole is clogged...With his sharp cutting agility and burst, Leonard has had good success separating after the catch...Holds the ball secure to his chest when running inside and in the outside hand when turning the corner...Shows very good hands on toss plays and, even when he gets erect in his stance, he is conscious of protecting the ball...Has the speed to separate after the catch and the power to obliterate the smaller defender that tries to get in his path...Is especially effective on swing and middle screens, flat and wheel routes...Has good hip snap maintaining blocking position to protect the pocket and shows urgency facing up...Good cut blocker who shows alertness picking up the blitz.

 

Negatives: When he gets too erect in his stance, he will lose some base and get pushed back through the rush lane...While Leonard has had success bouncing outside to gain yardage in the past, he was used mostly on runs between the tackles as a senior...Seems to have the speed to get outside, make the cut and turn it up the field, but he tends to lose his body lean and get too high in his stance, leaving his feet exposed for shoestring tackles...Runs with good forward lean between tackles, but must learn to keep the same pad level on cuts to the perimeter...Effective lead blocker, but despite his strength as a runner, he fails to generate much pop on contact with his hands...Flashes good speed cutting on the edge, but must generate a stronger kick-out and hand technique in attempts to sustain.

 

Compares To: JUSTIN GRIFFITH, Atlanta Falcons (Mississippi State)...Leonard is not the physically imposing blocker Tampa Bay's Mike Alstott is but, like Griffith, he generates excellent quickness out of his stance, precise cutback agility and natural hands to be a legitimate receiving threat. He made strides as a lead blocker, but might be best utilized as a halfback in a one-back offense.

Runner, receiver, blocker, what's not to like?

[BillsCelticsAngelsBama]

Runner, receiver, blocker, what's not to like?

I guess the only thing not to like is the "Compares To: Justin Griffith"

 

The rest makes him look like a keeper

[Steely Dan]

I guess the only thing not to like is the "Compares To: Justin Griffith"

 

The rest makes him look like like a keeper

 

Yeah, I don't quite get that.

[Kelly the Dog]

Yeah, I don't quite get that.

The reason is because they list him as a fullback, and they do the "compares to" compared to other players at that position. Griffith is one of the only fullbacks in the league that is a little undersized and catches well out of the backfield, and is the most like Leonard in the style of play. It doesn't really mean he will only be as good as Justin Griffith.

[Steely Dan]

The reason is because they list him as a fullback, and they do the "compares to" compared to other players at that position. Griffith is one of the only fullbacks in the league that is a little undersized and catches well out of the backfield, and is the most like Leonard in the style of play. It doesn't really mean he will only be as good as Justin Griffith.

 

Good point but I think the FB designation is a misnomer. He's really a RB IMO. I think most teams will look at him that way too. One thing that might be a clue that the Bills are looking at him is that Levy said recently the Bills wouldn't be using the FB in the traditional way anymore.

[CarolinaBill99]

I can see the Bills taking Leonard. We are going to run a one-back offense without a true fullback. He can pound the ball in the Buffalo cold. I think that Lynch is overrated because of the lack of great running backs this year and durability is a concern. I am still for a linebacker in the 1st either Willis or trading down. If Leonard is around in the second, I give him a long look or take the best CB available if a first rounder happens to fall. I think that all running backs after AP and Lynch are pretty much around the same.

[Brandon]

Good point but I think the FB designation is a misnomer. He's really a RB IMO. I think most teams will look at him that way too. One thing that might be a clue that the Bills are looking at him is that Levy said recently the Bills wouldn't be using the FB in the traditional way anymore.

 

If they're being truthful, I'm not sure they're that interested in Leonard. Modrak concluded his statement by saying that Leonard is a player who makes the 45 man roster every week due to his versatility. That's nice, but to sum up a player with that statement doesn't seem to lend support to the idea that he's a player the Bills feel they can feature in an offense, but more of a guy who is used in a secondary role.

[The Dean]

Take Lynch at 12 and move up a little to guarantee David Harris or the top OLB left.

 

USA Today article on Lynch

 

 

Decent article. Real nice photo gallery. Thanks.

 

The whole character thing is a NON issue, AFAIC. The questions are, IMO:

 

Is Lynch good enough to be a big-time NFL player? I think the answer is yes, and due to his versatility and attitude, I expect him to have a better NFL career than Peterson.

 

Is he worth taking at #12? Well, I think he's a great value back at #12...but, I also think the Bills have bigger needs than RB and you can adequately fill RB in Rd #2 or Rd #3...or trade for Turner. If we take him, I will be happy, though.

 

If this kid becomes a Bills, I can almost guarantee he will be a VERY popular and productive player.

[Kelly the Dog]

If they're being truthful, I'm not sure they're that interested in Leonard. Modrak concluded his statement by saying that Leonard is a player who makes the 45 man roster every week due to his versatility. That's nice, but to sum up a player with that statement doesn't seem to lend support to the idea that he's a player the Bills feel they can feature in an offense, but more of a guy who is used in a secondary role.

It does if they were serious about RB by committee. I think Leonard is a very possible pick by the Bills. And if they don't trade for Turner, I could easily see them still signing Chris Brown, drafting Leonard and splitting the carries between them and A train, and I really wouldn't be all that unhappy with that backfield. It wouldn't give us a workhorse but there are only three available (Peterson, and two possibles in Lynch and Turner). If we want to go LB in round one, I would like Leonard as much or more than the other backs.