Leon Washington - This Does Not Compute

[mgteich]

I applauded the signing of Washington. After all, it was a 2-fer. We got a top returner and a 3rd down replacement for Woodhead (or a strong back for Vereen in that role).

After all, I "know" that Belichick wouldn't use a roster spot on a kick returner if he didn't do anything else. This is similar to punt returner. Edelman is our #5 and backup receiver. The team is fine with using him as needed.

Have I missed something? I haven't seen much written about him running the ball. I also haven't seen him as anything but a roster lock.

This does not compute.

 

[JMC00]

I think Washington was signed to return kickoffs, backup Edelman on punt returns (Welker is gone and Edelman does have a history of missing games) and be a backup 3rd down/receiving back.

Although at the time they signed him Edelman coming back wasn't a sure thing. So that might have played a factor.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

I think Washington, and Edelman, are here because of their A+ ability in the return department. The fact that they also are capable to serve, in a backup capacity, in the running and passing games respectively, is simply icing on the cake.

 

[lurker1965]

So far he has been automatic touchback version 2. Personnel changed and results still are unacceptable. Makes me wonder about coaching.

 

[Ive_Killed_People]

He is our backup 3rd down back whats so hard to figure? Maybe you need to upgrade that Commodore 64.

 

[JMC00]

automatic touchback?

I think i'm going to give the #2 (AVG RET) kickoff back from last year the benefit of the doubt after 3 returns in the preseason, one of them which he brought out to the 27.

The #1 guy last year was Jacoby Jones at 30.7, Washington was 29.0

 

[Rob0729]

Washington is the only RB on the roster who can fill Vereen's role if he goes down.

 

[scout]

One of the analyst for the Football Network (think it was Mariucci) said we should not get too excited about long kick-off returns as the special team coaches are trying new players out, and it does not compare to regular season games. Having said that, I did like the speed factor of Washington and one of the rookie wide receivers.

 

[DarrylS]

BB knows what he has in this guy, so taking unnecessary risks in KO's may be the reason why there seem to be a lot of touchbacks...

 

[Brady6]

I applauded the signing of Washington. After all, it was a 2-fer. We got a top returner and a 3rd down replacement for Woodhead (or a strong back for Vereen in that role).

After all, I "know" that Belichick wouldn't use a roster spot on a kick returner if he didn't do anything else. This is similar to punt returner. Edelman is our #5 and backup receiver. The team is fine with using him as needed.

Have I missed something? I haven't seen much written about him running the ball. I also haven't seen him as anything but a roster lock.

This does not compute.

I think Washington is a goner; we will go with Boyce/Vereen returning kicks, and Edelman returning punts. There is no place on this roster for a guy who is going to return 2-3 kicks per games and contribute nothing else, and based on Bolden seeing the backup reps as the 3rd down back they don’t view Washington as much of an offensive player.

 

[Brady6]

Washington is the only RB on the roster who can fill Vereen's role if he goes down.

Not true at all; Bolden is seeing the reps as the backup 3rd down back, actually there were 3-4 plays last night when Bolden was to the right and Vereen was to the left of Brady in the shotgun on 3rd and long plays.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Not true at all; Bolden is seeing the reps as the backup 3rd down back, actually there were 3-4 plays last night when Bolden was to the right and Vereen was to the left of Brady in the shotgun on 3rd and long plays.

I think he meant not where he lines up, but being elusive in space, shifty, low center of gravity, with change-of-direction burst, and hands to catch quick screens and quick outs.

Bolden strikes me as being less than Washington at all of that, but better at power runs and maybe one cut runs.

 

[Lamanai]

Not true at all; Bolden is seeing the reps as the backup 3rd down back, actually there were 3-4 plays last night when Bolden was to the right and Vereen was to the left of Brady in the shotgun on 3rd and long plays.

Also, don't rule out Julian Edelman as a possible backup 3rd down back. I think he has done in the past, albeit in a limited capacity. He brings a different skill set to the role vs. Bolden.

I am starting to come around to the idea of going without Washington, but still not sure what we do at backup/sure handed PR. (actually, I don't KNOW how sure handed Washington is either)

 

[AzPatsFan]

I applauded the signing of Washington. After all, it was a 2-fer. We got a top returner and a 3rd down replacement for Woodhead (or a strong back for Vereen in that role).

After all, I "know" that Belichick wouldn't use a roster spot on a kick returner if he didn't do anything else. This is similar to punt returner. Edelman is our #5 and backup receiver. The team is fine with using him as needed.

Have I missed something? I haven't seen much written about him running the ball. I also haven't seen him as anything but a roster lock.

This does not compute.

Sure it computes.

The new Kick Off rules, moving the kicker closer, reduce the number of potential KO returns, but Washington remains among the elite in the League in that specialty. One which BB craves, and always has.

BB now has the league leading KO returner, the best PR in Patriot history, and the best ST gunner in the league, along with the highest % Kicker in Patriot history eclipsing Adam Vainatieri and others. Zoltan punts them high and deep, not outkicking hsi coverage, not allowing many runbacks and frequently pinning the opposition behind their 20 yard line.

Plus BB is close to discarding almost all his ST-only players as blockers and tacklers. He is replacing them with good regular players, who can also play ST. BB is doing this as the talent level on the Team has increased, and this is pushing the ST-only guys off the team.

The transition, while doing this, shows in the uneven blocking and tackling, while BB is doing this transition in training camp. BB, Scott O'Brien, and Joe Judge will have it reorganized by the time the season starts. It is also affecting Julian Edelman's Punt Returns too, for that matter.

 

[Danger Zone]

automatic touchback?

I think i'm going to give the #2 (AVG RET) kickoff back from last year the benefit of the doubt after 3 returns in the preseason, one of them which he brought out to the 27.

The #1 guy last year was Jacoby Jones at 30.7, Washington was 29.0

And on that run to the 27, he was that last tackle away from taking it all the way back for 6... and it looks like the guy was just lucky to have gotten a piece of foot from behind.

 

[Lamanai]

Sure it computes.

The new Kick Off rules, moving the kicker closer, reduce the number of potential KO returns, but Washington remains among the elite in the League in that specialty. One which BB craves, and always has.

BB now has the league leading KO returner, the best PR in Patriot history, and the best ST gunner in the league, along with the highest % Kicker in Patriot history eclipsing Adam Vainatieri and others. Zoltan punts them high and deep, not outkicking hsi coverage, not allowing many runbacks and frequently pinning the opposition behind their 20 yard line.

Plus BB is close to discarding almost all his ST-only players as blockers and tacklers. He is replacing them with good regular players, who can also play ST. BB is doing this as the talent level on the Team has increased, and this is pushing the ST-only guys off the team.

The transition, while doing this, shows in the uneven blocking and tackling, while BB is doing this transition in training camp. BB, Scott O'Brien, and Joe Judge will have it reorganized by the time the season starts. It is also affecting Julian Edelman's Punt Returns too, for that matter.

I agree with most of what you say, except about BB having always craved a top KR. Especially since moving the kickoff. Aside from the (very) brief cup of coffee with Demps, when has BB invested in a primary return specialist? Possibly Tate, but that ended when he couldn't contribute at WR. Rather, history suggests BB experiments with capable 45-man roster players, but without extensive KR experience (Woodhead, McCourty, Hobbs, Maroney, etc...) Despite not having a dedicated specialist, over the years BB has gotten good results on kickoff returns. I suspect it has less to do with the returner themself, and more on the supporting cast.

Again, I agree with most of what you say about BB valuing ST, but KR is one aspect that has taken a back seat.

 

[jefmblrd]

I like the signing of Washington who still looks like he has speed. He hasn't shown too much yet--seems like we're always starting from the 20, but our special teams haven't looked too stellar to this point, so it's hard to make a determination.

 

[ausbacker]

Let's not make something out of nothing. The Patriots have been showing vanilla looks in all 3 facets of the game. Come week one against the Bills, I'm sure BB has something installed to go with the KR/PR game.