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.

---

That's a pretty strong first post. Bravo.

---

My guess would be 180 carries for 700 yards and 7 touchdowns.

---

As they say in NYC, facts son, facts. Nice name as well and welcome. Glad to have Fournette on board, looking forward to his game.

---

Success is a journey, not a destination.  Go all out Mighty Jaguars.

As they say in NYC, facts son, facts. Nice name as well and welcome. Glad to have Fournette on board, looking forward to his game.

Thanks for the nice welcome guys.  Cheers.

Just curious, do you have any ties to Jax or is your fandom mostly a result of us playing in London so much?

---

Welcome to the board, great first post

---

I'd like to see 1000-1200 yards and 8-12 TDs.

---

1150 APY
7 TDs

That's my expectation unless this O-Line has significantly more to show us than we've seen.

---

Everything in the OP makes plenty of sense from everything I've learned about 4net so far.

One thing I'm loving about him is his focus on being the best player he an be, and you can pick up on this in his interviews and watching him play. I totally see where he's getting an extra three yards on downs where other RBs are falling early, and that alone is going to stack up. What caught my eye in a recent interview was him talking about watching tape of his opponent looking for what players might be more easily run over. It sounds like there's more that goes into his game than meets the eye. 

---

'02

900 yards 8 TDs. 40 catches 300 yards (lots of dump offs)

---

Given the state of our O-Line, I'm not expecting a monster season. If he gets close to 1,000 yards and averages over 4 yards per carry, I'd be happy. Give this kid a solid O-Line and then we can see what he is really capable of doing.

---

My guess would be 180 carries for 700 yards and 7 touchdowns.

180 carries?  This team wants to run the football.  I'm thinking around 300 carries

---

Anything less then 1,000 rushing yards will be a major disappointment.

---

I stated in another thread that I think his rookie year will play out like Todd Gurley's 2nd year did with the Rams. I think he'll eclipse 1,000 yards in all purpose but this line won't create enough space for him to really break off big gains as much as we would love to see.

He'll make a few plays in the receiving game every once in awhile. But this team just doesn't scare anybody at QB. So it's going to be tough sledding for him all year. I am also concerned with this foot injury. And I could see him getting dinged up early and often just from being piled up on with the box being loaded.

---

"What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie? I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky. The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing; Rush in and die, dogs - I was a man before I was a king."

I'm so impressed with 4net that I expect him to set the Jaguars rookie rushing record despite running behind this OL. 4net makes at least a few yards where other RBs are getting none, and a dedication to the run should help him put up numbers routinely. This alone puts him over 1000, but then on top of that I'm picturing quite a few breakout type runs that should give him maybe 300 more. ...and this is just his rushing yards as I seem catching quite a few passes too.

---

'02

My guess would be 180 carries for 700 yards and 7 touchdowns.

So 11 carries a game?

---

"Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he's a mile away and barefoot."

My guess would be 180 carries for 700 yards and 7 touchdowns.

180 carries?  This team wants to run the football.  I'm thinking around 300 carries

My guess would be 180 carries for 700 yards and 7 touchdowns.

So 11 carries a game?

Yes.

I expect that he'll miss at least a couple of games from injury due to his past and how bad our line is.

I also expect that Ivory and Yeldon will take some carries from him.

It is also difficult to get 300+ carries if you have very little success running the ball.

---

My guess would be 180 carries for 700 yards and 7 touchdowns.

So 11 carries a game?

More likely it would be 18 carries a game for 10 games. 

Although, my prediction is 250 carries for 900 yards and 6 touchdowns.

---

The Jaguars rushing leaders the last 3 years have been 135 carries, 182 carries, and 130 carries. Like I said, I expect him to miss a couple of games and split carries with other backs. Unless Fournette is miraculously averaging 4.5 yards per carry or more behind this line, I don't see him breaking more than 200ish carries.

---

With the Oline the way it is as of now, I'm hoping he just passes the eye test this year. There's really not a set number, I just hope he makes the most of the tiny holes he'll be given.

---