flv":n1bueudh said:
By your metric, Trent Richardson is a rushing threat. We can all play that game.
So...he had problems learning the playbook, somehow gained 1700 yards, and THEN the Jaguars cut him? If the Jaguars had cut him in 2018 when he had the issues you mentioned you'd have a point, but they didn't. They cut him in 2020 after he'd cleaned up his act.
https://www.bucsnation.com/2020/9/4/21422301/opinion-no-concerns-here-for-leonard-fournette-tampa-bay-buccaneers-2020
He wasn't a $6M player. Every team turned him down at $4.2M. The Buccaneers almost cut him during 2020.
https://www.nfl.com/news/buccaneers-almost-cut-leonard-fournette-before-epic-playoff-run
Derrick Henry, Chris Carson, and Nick Chubb are high quality performers. Fournette is not. Fournette is a limited, old-fashioned, bruiser - like CJ Anderson was in 2018. He can fill a role in certain offensive systems, and he's good at that, but that's it. Maybe he gets another $3M type contract in 2021. Maybe he'll go unsigned.
By what metric that I referenced, would Richardson and Fournette be comparable? Here are their best seasons.
Trent Richardson: 1317 Yards / 4.1 Y/T
Leonard Fournette: 1674 Yards / 4.9 Y/T
Let's dispel this notion that Fournette is an "old-fashioned" RB. First, he ran a 4.51 at 240 pounds. For perspective, that's faster than Henry, Carson, Chubb, Gurley, and 0.3 seconds slower than McCaffery, who was 203 pounds for his 40. Second, your statement is not backed up statistically. This is your 2019 list of RBs with the most 20 and 40-yard runs. Keep in mind, he had fewer carries than every RB on that list besides Cook, and he had the highest percentage of runs against 8-man fronts, and only Henry is near him in that category.
Nick Chub - Total 20&40+ runs: 15
Derick Henry - Total 20&40+ runs: 12
Leonard Fournette - Total 20&40+ runs: 11
Christian McCaffery - Total 20&40+ runs: 10
Chris Carson - Total 20&40+ runs: 9
Dalvin Cook - Total 20&40+ runs: 9
Zeke Ellioit - Total 20&40+ runs: 4
Furthermore, in 2017 he had the fastest play of the season against Pittsburgh, clocking in at 22.05 MPH.
[youtube]BqgfJuclZWE[/youtube]
I'm willing to believe teams didn't want him at $4m for off-the-field issues, his ability to grasp the offense, or even health issues; however, if the explanation is that he's "limited" by his style, I have no idea what you are watching. I'm watching his 2019 highlights. He looks explosive and agile. He makes guys miss in the open field. He runs guys over. If this is a "plodder" that is not worth $4M, sign me up.
[youtube]OGKXO9vWrtc[/youtube]