Leon's tenure with the Seahawks was relatively short (2010-12). He wanted to stay longer, but despite his astonishing return skills, he proved a poor fit for Pete Carroll's run offense. Our O-Line has been a work in progress for several seasons. Our offense needs big hosses to lug the rock, beasts who can bull through defenders and make their own holes. Washington is not that guy. He's small and shifty. And fast.
Of course, Leon's true forte is returning punts and kickoffs. He is tied with Josh Cribbs for the most return touchdowns in NFL history (8), a record likely to stand for awhile, since neither Cribbs nor Washington look likely to play again.
No Diehard could ever forget the home game against San Diego in 2010, a game we surely would have lost had Washington not returned two kickoffs for touchdowns (setting a Seahawks record and tying the all-time NFL record). Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgrIFZqRYeM
If I remember correctly, Washington didn't do too bad after he left Seattle...he was still picked up by another pro team where his return skills were useful.
ReplyDeleteThat Lockette kid has looked good this preseason.
Yeah. Leon had brief stints with New England and Tennessee. The other thing that hurt his value--and that of other return specialists--was the 2011 rule change moving kickoffs up from the 30 to the 35. The rule has worked as intended, reducing injuries by increasing touchbacks and making kickoff returns rarer.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am psyched to have a new return threat in Lockett. Bryan Walters was good at securing possession, but the only person who got scared when he fielded a kick was his mom.
"Bryan Walters was good at securing possession" may be the nicest compliment I've heard anyone have for the guy. Really.
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I wasn't trying to slam him in that part of the sentence. I hate turnovers so viscerally that I'd rather have a Bryan Walters who reliably secures possession than a dynamic returner prone to muffs and fumbles.
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