If Brad Smith gets hurt returning a punt, you pretty much have lost the ability to run wildcat for the rest of the game. Return men take big hits.
I'm pretty sure Leonhard is back there because he has big play potential and very good hands. When he went down last year the Jets put Cotchery back there for the hands. They really don't want to give up anything after they have shut the other team down on defense. It's a typically conservative play, and we know that Ryan likes to play conservative on everything but defense.
Leonhard is 4th in the league in yds/punt return and 3rd in total yards on punt returns. Not to mention he doesn't fumble.
Uh...what? Leonhard 4 returns averaged 11 yards per return. Long of 15 Wilson 3 returns averaged 12 yards per return, long of 17. Not too shabby. Smith cannot do EVERYTHING and there is something to be said about being smart on returns and sure handed, which Leonhard is.
brad smith does so much right now... he is mr. everything, but uhh you know he can't actually do EVERYTHING. we should play him as a safety!
THIS! He is the only player in the history of the Jets that I don't get nervous when he's returning the punt. Even yesterday in the rain, he was running up 5 yards fair catching balls and I never felt nervous. With everyone else I'm was or would be afraid they'd try to do too much, not call a fair catch and get blasted. Something like that. The stability is nice, especially looking around the league and seeing it happen quite a bit this year. I'm sure Brad would do fine, but he's doing quite a bit now.
I just got to thinking...What else can Brad Smith do? Linebacker? Nose Tackle? Secretary of State? Ambassador?
I feel pretty confident when Cotch is back there too. Only problem is that it usually means nothing on the returns.
close this thread. we all know why you dont put him back there. INJURY RISK. dude is too important to be returning punts
You guys are all forgetting that Wilson was back there on returns as well yesterday, working in conjunction with Smith.
I wish Brad Smith would get more Screens or shovel passes....I don't why the Jets never those plays with the lines we have had and since we motion guys inside to block all the time. I like Brad and I think he should be rewarded for what he does. Punt Returning isn't his thing though, he is more fast(and power alittle bit) then he is shifty and quick.
That is exactly why he's not a punt returner. The elusiveness to make the first guy miss is all important (besides safe hands like Leonhards) in punt returns and Smith lacks it. Speed and one cut running make him dangerous in both kick returns and the wild cat, punt its a different skill set than punt returning.
Brad Smith already does everything else. Yesterday he threw a TD then was on the next play covering the KO. I'm sure he can return punts but the guy does need a breather.
That makes no sense. If anything, Leonhard is more important to us than Smith. I like Smith a lot, and he's great out of the Wildcat, but he's not too important to us. Leonhard's our starting safety. But he's also got great hands, and he's a really smart player who always makes the right decisions. He's got 2 punt returns in his entire career in 5 seasons. And he's an average kick returner. I'd like it if Mcknight or Wilson could become the guy, but they need to earn the coach's trust first. Leonhard isn't a big play guy, but on punt returns, the chances of a disaster are possibly more than the chances of a big return.
Why isn't Brad Smith used on defense? He's already our KR, RB, QB, and WR. He clearly needs more time on the field, I could see him at safety, he is 6-2 ya know.
