Link: Leonhard on Kickoff Coverage Team
Rich Cimini of ESPN NY writes that Jets starting safety Jim Leonhard has been place on the kickoff coverage team by special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff.
Here’s an interesting note: Special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff has starting S Jim Leonhard on his kickoff coverage team. Westhoff may use starters in an occasional special-teams role this season. It’s risky, but he wants the best athletes on the field, if possible.
I have no problem with this. My only concern is the possibility of the starters injuring themselves…
That being said, the Jets struggled mightily last year on kickoff coverage, so to see them try to fix that is certainly not surprising to see.
28 Responses to Link: Leonhard on Kickoff Coverage Team
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It is necessary after some of the losses this offseason. Without guys like Leonhard and/or Scott, I’d be scared for our special teams this year after losing Wright, Izzo, Trusnik, and Murrell in the last year without replacing them with peopel as good. But Leonhard and Scott change that.
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i think on kickoffs where there is no TV timeout afterwards, it is not wise to use your starting safety on specials. he is going to be winded after sprinting down to cover the kick, and if the next play is snapped quickly, the defense would be vunerable
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the decision to release Wallace Wright in favor of keeping David Clowney continues to frustrate me.
you sacrifice an absolute standout on special teams and capable backup WR (Wright) for someone with no special teams value (Clowney) to be your 5th WR during the first four games and your 6th WR after Holmes returns?
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i agree – a lot of people seemed to annoint the Clown as our “gunner” on specials but he has shown nothing so far. he does not have the reputation as a physical player. tweaks to our special teams roster (losing feely, dearth and wright) that may be going under the radar could cost the team wins
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Maybe because Westhoff said so much? There’s nothing in that article that says Leonhard would be the gunner anyway.
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Last I checked, Brad Smith is our #1 gunner, and one of the top gunners in the league. As long as it isn’t Danny Woodhead, we should be fine.
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No doubt he’s a beast, but you’re always significantly better off with two great gunners on punts than one. Last year, the Jets were the rare team that could punt to either side with equally effective coverage, gives Mike Westhoff more options and makes it tougher for the guys he’s facing.
That’s actually why I prefer Allison to Clowney, he seems a more natural fit there thanks to his size.
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It wasn’t a decision to release him. It was a decision not to tender him an offer of over a million dollars, which is not close to being worth. Relax. Wallace Wright was not the key to the super bowl.
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in an uncapped year – paying a stud special teams player $1M is completely reasonable IMO
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who cares??! this is an uncapped year. are you glad Woody has that extra $500K in his pocket?
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Teams still operate on a budget. That million was spent on other players, perhaps 2 or 3 guys who can contribute.
You are totally overrating one guy who plays on 4 or 5 punt coverages a game.
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i realize there is an operating budget but this is not like cutting TJ or Faneca which are more signifiant in the grand scheme of things.
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CE brings up a fair point about money. but consider that those 4-5 plays a game now may be covered by a starter. so we have to factor in the added risk of injury to a significant player (hence the article above).
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Maybe I’m in the minority but I think it’s a terrible idea. Given Leonard’s importance to the defense, it’s way to risky. And to what benefit? We need to have our best “athletes” on the field because we lost Izzo, Trusnick, and Wright? Were those guys our best “athletes.” The whole premise makes no sense to me. Woodhead getting hosed on kickoff coverage last year had nothing to do with him not being a good enough athlete. It had more to do with him getting out of his lane, getting pushed to the inside, and being totally out of position. Being a great special teamer has much more to do with desire and coaching than it has to do with athletic ability. There’s a reason why nobody puts starters on specials. The risks are too high and the rewards are too low.
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great now brandon marshall is calling out revis in their is nothing we can do about.
because if revis isn’t signed before the dolphin game even more fins fans will be talking.
I wonder if this is even affecting revis at this point because since he been holding out plenty of reciever’s have been calling him out.
I mean if that dosen’t get him fired up to play this season i don’t know what will.
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This really feels like there’s a lack of confidence in the depth to even contribute adequately on special teams. When you can’t trust backup DBs and LBs to cover a kickoff, that’s a real problem.
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Leonhard is like another coach out there. Because of all the young guys on specials, Westhoff/Ryan might want a vet/teacher to get after the young ‘uns. Plus, with the Smiths and Leonhard, the coverage units, which were already looking pretty good, just got a lot better.
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Leonard is responsible for making all of the alignment calls for our defensive backfield. Exposing him to injury on kickoff coverage is a bad idea. Period.
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If he were returning punts/kicks, I’d understand the injury comments more. I don’t see it in coverage, unless he takes an illegal hit. He can’t be blocked in the back or below the waist. Also, he can see where he’s going. Return guys, even blockers, are far more likely to take blindside hits because they are stationary while engaging blocks. Football is a violent sport and injuries can happen any time, but coverage isn’t super high risk.
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Unless/until you are in the playoffs playing full time starters on special teams is a huge mistake, the risk does not outweigh the reward.
Especially a little guy that hits like a big guy such as Leonard, he can not help himself and will eventually hit some big guy moving way too fast and will end up missing games.
We have a lot of depth at safety so it’s not as big of a concern as other positions. The only problem is that Leonhard calls the defense, so I guess Harris would have to do that if he went down.