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geauxJaguars · 08-29-2017, 04:36 PM

Hi guys, just wanted to share my opinion on LF27. I grew up a Jags fan and then moved over to Baton Rouge several years back to go to LSU, so I've seen a whole lot of Leonard and some of the Jags as well.

Basically, what you see is what you get. The kid is a hard worker, cares a lot for his family and state, and is an incredible athlete. As a football player, he's a mismatch nightmare and can bust a long one anytime. He's an upright runner until just before contact where he'll lower his head and drive ahead. He hits a hole harder than anyone I've ever seen, runs downhill, and always seems to fall forward. This is going to lead to a lot of 4 and 5 yard runs when another back might just get a couple yards.

The issue with this is that he sometimes misses opportunities to find the outside lanes, where, instead of going toe to toe with linebackers, he could be going up against cornerbacks and safeties (and often past and through them as well, see the Auburn game). This was also the issue with Alabama the past couple years. He didn't really have much room to run as it was because Alabama was practically living in the backfield, but when he did, he'd run right into the teeth of the Alabama defense. He is most dangerous imo when you can get him holes to the outside via pitches, but that obviously takes away the threat of play action as well, so you have to pick and choose.

If you do get him going in the open field, look out. He's fast enough to outrun most d-backs and big enough to run over them if he so chooses. Even last year, when a nagging high-ankle sprain had him at obviously less than 100% all season, he still could break 70 and 80 yard runs with some regularity (see Ole Miss). Speaking of injuries, in three years at LSU, he really only had one injury as far as we know. It just happened to be a nagging high ankle sprain lasting an entire season, which was also his final season before the draft. So I don't think he's injury prone up to this point, but time will tell. Was not a really fumbling risk either. Very protective of the ball.

Fournette is also underrated as a receiver due to the system he played in at LSU. He caught the balls that were thrown to him, but those plays were very rare because of Les' old-school I-form to set up deep play action type of offense. The Jags need to try to get him matched up against linebackers running outs, wheel routes, and seams, because it's very unlikely linebackers are going to be fast enough to keep up. As far as pass protection goes, I never saw any glaring issues, but I was often not completely sober for LSU games as well and wasn't specifically looking for that kind of thing.

So to sum it all up, he's an incredible athlete who tries to run over you first, and run around you second. Probably the best running back to ever come out of LSU. If he can be a little more patient in certain situations and spot the holes to the outside, he will be the complete back Jacksonville needs. At the same time, the Jags need to find ways to get him the ball in space, whether that means pitches, mismatches in the passing game, or just good ole-fashioned blocking fundamentals. (And also having enough of a passing game to not give opposing defenses a reason to stack the box. Looking at you, Blake.)

Season Predictions: I'm not the best at this kind of stuff, but... ~20 touches per game, a whole lot of hard, physical 3-4 yard runs, some 15+ yarders, and a few taken to the house. I don't think he'll set the world on fire due his straight-forward running style and the Jags' iffy O-line and quarterback situation, but I think he'll have a better-than-average season in his 1st year. He'll miss a few opportunities to get a bigger gain here and there, but all-in-all he'll be a reliable and bruising starting running back with breakaway potential.

Here's to a successful and injury free season... geaux Jags.