Leonhard vs. Landry
So we've discussed the Ravens' most interesting offseason storyline - what the team should do with free agents Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott.
Now let's get into what I think is the second-most intriguing storyline of this offseason, the Jim Leonhard vs. Dawan Landry debate.
Here's the back-story, for those who need a re-fresher:
Landry was the Ravens' starting strong safety to start the 2008 season. A third-year man out of Georgia Tech, Landry is a big-bodied guy known for his heavy hitting and ability to stop the run. But just two games into the season, Landry went down with a spinal concussion and had to get carted off the field.
The team kept him on the active roster for nearly two months, hoping that he would be able to recover and return to the field this season, but he continued to feel a tingling sensation in his arms and legs.
The Ravens chose not to take any risks with his health and put Landry on IR in mid-November.
There's a saying in sports, and especially in football: With injury comes opportunity.
Leonhard came into Owings Mills on a two-day tryout back in April and impressed coaches enough to earn a one-year $520,000 contract. A career backup and special teams player who at 5'8 looks more like a high school student than a professional football player, Leonhard suddenly was a starter on the Ravens' defensive backline after Landry's injury.
He didn't miss a beat.
Leonhard was all over the field, flying up to the line to stuff the run and blitz the QB, and providing solid pass protection deep down the field. He also worked his way in as the Ravens' top punt returner mid-way through the season and averaged over 11 yards per return, good for sixth-best in the league among players with 20+ run-backs.
He had a hand in all three turnovers the Ravens forced in their AFC Divisional game against the Titans, and his work ethic and positive attitude made him a great locker room-presence as well.
OK, so we've got all the 2008 stuff recapped. Where do things stand now?
Landry said early this week that he still isn't cleared to play as of right now. He still has some tingling from time to time, but plans to be ready for contact drills when offseason minicamps roll around.
The 26-year-old is also a restricted free agent this offseason (meaning a team that signed him would have to give the Ravens draft-choice compensation), so it's a safe bet to assume that he'll be back with the team next season.
Leonhard, also 26, will be a more complicated issue. He is an unrestricted free agent this season, and likely has played himself into a nice payday. He said this week that this season was the most fun he's had playing football in a long time, and he would like to return to Baltimore for 2009.
"I would love to be back here," Leonhard said. "I had a great time here. I think anyone in the media that has talked to me can understand the type of season I've had and just how much I've enjoyed it. I would love to be back in Baltimore, and we'll see how everything plays out."
But with Landry (hopefully) returning healthy for next season, there might not be a starting job for "Little Jimmy Leonhard". I asked Leonhard if starting wasn't in the cards here if he would like to get that chance elsewhere.
"Potentially," he said. "It all depends. I have to look at my career and what path it's going to take me in and the opportunities that are given to me. I've enjoyed this year, that's all I can say right now. It's going to be a fun offseason for me."
One option to consider is keeping both Leonhard and Landry. Especially considering the lack of depth at cornerback, the team could go with some packages that feature three safeties. Landry's strength is the big-hit threat he provides over the middle, while Leonhard is more of a coverage guy. Their contrast in styles could allow both guys to be on the field at the same time.
But if Leonhard wants the opportunity to play full-time, that might be a luxury that the Ravens won't be able to realize.
So after all of this, let me pose the question to you:
Who would you like to see lining up alongside Ed Reed next season? Did Leonhard earn the job, or do you feel that Landry shouldn't lose his starting spot just because of an injury?
Additionally, do you think a three safety rotation would work?
Let's discuss.
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Categories (click for archive)Dan Kolko | Ravens News |
If we learned anything, we learned we need to have both. What is wrong with having both? If someone wants to give little jimmy Dallas Cowboys money than let him go cause we forget that Landry is a beast when healthy. You certainly do not let Landry go unless you are getting a first day draft pick in return.
If we cant keep both, than we draft a guy. In OZZIE we trust!
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JZ,
One factor that I didn't mention is that the Ravens also have Zibikowski and Nakamura waiting in the wings. They likely wouldn't need to draft any additional help because of those two, who both made great strides this season. That's something else to keep in mind...
-Dan
I think that Jim Leonhard earned his job. He stepped in, and I'm sure a lot of fans went, "Who is this Jimmy Leonhard kid?" He showed everyone who he was and what he could do pretty quickly. He finally got to show people how great of a safety he is. He never got that chance in Buffalo. He took advantage of the situation, and in doing so, he won that strong safety spot over fair and square. The Ravens should reward him for how well he did. If they don't, it could come back to haunt them.
I definitely think that Leonhard earned the job, he played at a spectacular level, that being said, I think it all depends on how much the ravens have to pay him. They should be able to re-sign Landry relatively cheap, because of injury concerns, and we also have two solid guys in Zbikowsky and Nakamura. If we can bring Leonhard back at a not too steep price I say do it but if we can't, then we need to move on.
I also had a question Dan, do you know what kind of hit we would take if we released McAlister?
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Holgash,
I don't know an exact number, but I know that it's not enough to keep him in Baltimore. C.Mac almost surely has played his last game as a Raven.
-Dan
I like that Jim can play special teams well. So i think we should keep him and use a three safety formation.
Considering the make-up of the team, I'd be shocked to see Leonhard back in Baltimore next year. He definitely played well enough to start somewhere, and I don't see the Raven's being able to afford him. We need money to sign some of FA linebackers, and address our need at WR & CB, whether thru free agency or the draft. We didn't have a lot of extra cap space this year, and with some pending raises for other players, I can't see the Ravens giving more money to Leonhard, when we've already got 4 safeties on the roster (Reed, Landry, Zibikowski & Nakamura).
That being said, I enjoyed watching Leonhard play this year and I would wish him luck on the rest of his career.
I loved having Leonhard this year. I feel he was perfect for our system and played great. That being said, Rex is gone, and even though we will promote from within, that doesn't mean everything will stay the same. I have a feeling a guy like Zibby can come in next year and play just as well if not better than Leonhard. Zibby is a big time hitter, has good speed and can return kicks. He seems to be a very good all around player, and I want to see him get a shot to play just about every down. Haruki seems to be more of the free safety type, and I love his potential as well. I, personally, was never very high on Landry. He is not very good in coverage, even though I realize he is supposed to guard closer up to the line. There was a reason he was a fifth round draft pick. Now Landry has generally fit well into our system, but I feel a guy like Zibby can be a better all around player for us.
Dan,
I almost forgot about Landry being on IR for most of the year. I love the idea of keeping both. I think that's a very realistic possibility. How about Leonhard on kick/punt returns full-time, instead of Figurs? Leonhard always did an outstanding job running back punts. As you said, packages featuring the three safeties would be great for them as well.
The way I see it, the more depth we have on defense, the more we can solidify that side of the ball. But between the two, I would say Leonhard. I agree with Landry being the hard-hitter over the middle while Leonhard is better on coverage. I just think a coverage guy is better than a hard-hitter.
I wouldn't say Landry deserves to lose his starting job because of an injury, and I would love to keep both. Many elite players have been discovered through players ahead of them on the depth chart being injured, unfortunately: Ben Roethlisberger, Tiki Barber, Tom Brady, and a some others. Not trying to set the bar too high for Leonhard, but I think now he deserves the spot if we had to go with one.
Little Jim, easily, although I doubt that will happen. The kid was just so impressive.
It would be interesting to have a three safety package, but between the two, I'd definitely pick Leonhard. And no, I don't think Landry should lose his job just because of an injury, and I did like him when we he was healthy and playing, but Little Jimmy showed us more this season than I've ever seen out of Landry. Sure, hard hitting is good, but we've got plenty of that interspersed throughout our defense. I'd really like to utilize Leonhard's do-it-all versatile style on Defense AND Special Teams - he would only make us stronger as a whole. I definitely say we need to keep him, he's much more of an asset to this team than anyone realizes - he flies so far under the radar. If we let him go, we won't realize how big of a mistake we've made until after we're already hurting deeply.
The best thing this team could do is keep both. What we lacked this season is an explosive return man, but Jim Leonhard brought us something better: a consistent return man. He has the big play potential, though not as much as some other return guys. But it is amazing how he can seemingly always get past the first two or three tackles and make a play. It's even better when those first two or three tackles come downfield.
At the safety position, I think it would be best to use a rotation, using, like you said, three safety alignments. We can also put someone like Leonhard into the nickel spot because he can blitz from there, he can bump the receiver at the line and jump into a zone, or he could probably play straight-up coverage even though I've never see him do it. And it's not like he's no slouch on the run. Seeing him take down Brandon Jacobs (that game as a whole was terrible, but this play was a football play), all 270 pounds of him, by a 5-10 Jim Leonhard, was nothing short of phenomenal. That being said, Dawan Landry is probably the better run-stuffer. We have two very good safeties. One is bigger on passing downs and is a better blitzer. The other is a big, strong guy who can stop rushers. Sounds like a perfect scenario for situational subbing to me. If we still had Rex Ryan, I could see us using those two guys as excellent bluffs as well.
If you keep only one, Leonard - All the Way!
On another note; will McAlister and Mcgahee have any trade value?
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John,
McAlister -- none. His injury history, age and off the field issues have left the Ravens with no trade options.
McGahee -- a tiny bit, but his contract situation significantly lowers his value.
Bottom line, expect McAlister to be cut, and expect McGahee to stay in Baltimore.
-Dan
Why not try making Landry a line backer, he does hit hard. Dont sign Scott, but keep Ray, and Suggs. Who knows, it could work. Ray Lewis was recruted as a quarterback out of high school by Tommy Tupperville.
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Anonymous,
It's an interesting idea, but Landry is probably 25-30 pounds too light to be an effective linebacker at the NFL level. The Ravens have shown they're willing to experiment with moving guys into new positions (switching both LB Edgar Jones and G Chris Chester to tight end at points last season) but Dawan's size would probably keep him at the safety spot.
-Dan