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Re: Seriously, Do The Ravens Need Vonta Leach?
I love watching Leach play but it's hard to justify that cap number for a fullback. The position just isn't on the field all that much. If you are going to pay a fullback I think it's better to have one who can also be a very effective short yardage runner.
John Kuhn of the Packers is a pretty good blocker, though not in the league of Leach, but he also has 8 rushing TDs the past 2 seasons while Leach has just 2 in his entire career. They are about equal as receivers. Kuhn is significantly cheaper than Leach. As great of a blocker as Leach is I'd rather have the short yardage ability of Kuhn and the contract.
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Re: Seriously, Do The Ravens Need Vonta Leach?
They also give Kuhn the ball a lot more than Leach. Kuhn is well below average as an actual run blocker, he isn't what I'd call a true FB though. He is more of a hybrid in that system, so you can't compare them. Personally I'd take Leach blowing up huge holes for Rice to run into, with a good back up RB who can do an even better job than Kuhn at getting the short yards on a rookie contract.
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05-29-2012, 05:20 PM #28Veteran Poster
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Re: Seriously, Do The Ravens Need Vonta Leach?
No. He is best blocking full back in the league without a doubt but the Ravens have a mediocre rushing attack with him. He has zero value outside of blocking the run. I personally don't think he and Ray Rice are complimentary. Rice is not a good power running back between the tackles. He is good but he is better in space. If they spread out the offense I believe Rice would be more effective running the ball. Too many little to no gain runs on 1st and 2nd down for an offense with a full back like Leach. With Rice as the running back I think the Ravens would be better using an H-back for someone that has value in the passing game.
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05-29-2012, 05:27 PM #29
Re: Seriously, Do The Ravens Need Vonta Leach?
I find it funny how almost every discussion about a player on offence for us ends up being about Cam's offense and how someone isn't a good fit in it. Cam is a bad OC for this team and should have been fired. That was the worst decision they made this year IMO
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Re: Seriously, Do The Ravens Need Vonta Leach?
Again, it all goes back to the type of offense you operate out of. Kuhn works in the Packers' offense because he's a pretty versatile player and they're whole thing is about putting as much versatility onto the field at one time. With Kuhn on the field, you're guessing because he's a good runner, a good blocker, and a good receiver. With Leach on the field, you pretty much know what his role is going to be: blocking.
IMO, Marcel Reese is the ideal full back in the NFL right now in the league. He's an outstanding receiver and a good blocker. He can pass block as a TE and he can run block from the backfield.Disclaimer: The content posted is of my own opinion.
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05-29-2012, 05:33 PM #31Legendary RSR Poster
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Re: Seriously, Do The Ravens Need Vonta Leach?
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05-29-2012, 05:44 PM #34Veteran Poster
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Re: Seriously, Do The Ravens Need Vonta Leach?
How do you define best year? I would argue that he and the Ravens had a more productive rushing attack in 2009. He average 5.3 ypc vs 4.7 ypc this past year. He had 5 less TDs but McGahee picked up 12 as a backup running back. Statistically he may have higher numbers because he was on the field more but the Ravens offense was far less productive. Total team rushing yards was 2200 to 1996. Rushing TDs were 22 in 2009 vs 15 in 2011.
It was still a fullback led offense in 2009 but at least leRon had some value as an offensive weapon outside of just blocking. We have never seen Rice in an offense that utilizes TEs or H-backs instead of a FB.
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Re: Seriously, Do The Ravens Need Vonta Leach?
I've said it before, Rice IMO would be just as effective, maybe even more so, in a single back spread offense. He's just that type of back. He doesn't routinely follow Leach's blocks anyway. So all that being said, no I don't think we need him. Is it nice to have the best blocking FB in the league? Sure. But Rice, and our O-Line for that matter are built and structured for a singleback 3wide set. Add in we have 3 very apable receivers, and factoring in splitting Dickson out who's useless with his hand in the dirt anyway and I'd say he is expendable.
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05-29-2012, 05:54 PM #36Veteran Poster
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Re: Seriously, Do The Ravens Need Vonta Leach?
Not sure how the line for heavy load gets set at 275.
McCoy averaged 4.8 on 273 Carries.
McGahee averaged 4.8 on 249 carries.
Mathews and Forte averaged 4.9 on 200+ carries but missed some games.
More importantly the Ravens averaged 4.3 ypc which was the average ypc for all teams. 11 teams were higher and two teams were tied with the Ravens. Hardly a stellar rushing attack for a team that deploys the best blocking full back and a run first mentality.
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