Leonard Fournette Is Too Valuable To Let Escape
March 25th, 2022
Jason Licht explains.
Yeah, the Bucs wanted to bring back Playoff Lenny in part because Tom Brady wanted him back.
And we pretty much all know that whatever Tommy wants, Tommy gets. As it should be.
But in an interview this week with popular national sports radio and television personality Adam Schein on “Schein on Sports,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM, Bucs general manager Jason Licht said Playoff Lenny is a rare NFL bird, a three-down back.
“He’s been a very valuable player,” Licht said of Playoff Lenny. “It’s hard to find a true three-down back. And that is what he has done for us with his production, not just running the ball but catching the ball out of the backfield, which you know our quarterback loves having that outlet from the running back position.”
Licht also lauded Playoff Lenny for developing a winning mentality during the 2020 season, taking the No. 1 running back position from Ronald Jones and never letting it go.
Joe also noticed how Playoff Lenny is a vocal leader. Though he is very popular in the locker room — the guy is full of one-liners — Playoff Lenny is not afraid to step up, tell Brady he will take over and demand the ball so he can put the team on his back.
Compare that to a dude who has a kindergarten mentality, a guy who when he isn’t stroked enough by coaches rips off his shoulder pads and does topless jumping jacks in the end zone.
March 25th, 2022 at 9:16 am
And yet there are a few idiots who think he’s nothing special and should have been allowed to sign with someone else. These morons make me scratch my head.
March 25th, 2022 at 9:23 am
Lenny was and is vital to this offense
March 25th, 2022 at 9:27 am
I wasn’t sold on him at first but he’s far exceeded my expectations and I’m glad they brought him back. That one handed catch last season was spectacular. We always knew he could run the ball but what I liked last year is it seemed like he made every blitz pickup. You could say that is the most important job in this Offense, keeping Brady standing.
March 25th, 2022 at 9:30 am
Good signing and key to set up the play action. Good team mate too. But most important signing was Chris and now I’m waiting on Gronk.
March 25th, 2022 at 9:33 am
That last paragraph, I thought for sure Joe was talking about Rojo until the punchline. LMAO.
March 25th, 2022 at 9:36 am
Glad to have Lenny back. Any word on Gio?
March 25th, 2022 at 9:38 am
The RB room should be filled with three down backs. Why tip your hand with RBs who don’t catch or carry the mail well?
March 25th, 2022 at 9:42 am
Lenny is a great player. He can run, can catch and can block well. What else do you need in a RB? Great signing
March 25th, 2022 at 9:52 am
I wonder if Brady is taking Lenny to Miami with him…..
March 25th, 2022 at 9:58 am
@Goatfarmer
A special RB in this offense would easily run for 1,200-1,500 yards.
Fournette is:
“Valuable” Yes.
“Special” No.
Big difference between a RB with value and a RB with special traits.
Derrick Henry is special.
Christian McCaffrey when healthy is special.
Alvin Kamara is special.
Those guys get yards and make plays on their own.
Leonard Fournette gets the yards that are schemed for him, usually nothing more. Will he occasionally break a decent run? Yes. He is valuable to a QB like Brady that wants to be methodical on offense.
March 25th, 2022 at 9:59 am
Just saw an Article that said that they would not be surprised if Tom went to Miami. First of all that is a ridiculous take because he literally said that hes coming back to TAMPA BAY for his 23rd season. Hes bringing people back to the bucs and has said to multiple teammates that hes coming back to TAMPA. Plus if he wanted to go to another team why would he restock one team on purpose?
March 25th, 2022 at 10:03 am
we need to draft a running back in the draft
March 25th, 2022 at 10:19 am
The Bucs are the only respectable team in the state. If Tom has any connections to Miami, it might be to be a part-owner if Ross is forced to abandon ship.
Is there any updates on his scandal with Flores? Or still an ongoing investigation by the NFL mafia?
March 25th, 2022 at 10:20 am
Obviously, he wouldn’t be a part-owner of another team while still playing for the Bucs, but he could be doing his due diligence. This is waaaay far-fetched. But it actually seems more legit than Tom stocking the cupboard and jumping ship.
March 25th, 2022 at 10:29 am
And All that on Ab’s to “Injured” to play ankle. Glad we had his services in the Super Bowl season. I don’t find myself missing him now. Thanks, Gage! I do hope Ab figures out whatever it is that drives him to do some questionable things.
Glad to see Fournette back aboard. Draft a solid Rb and we can roll with Fournette and Vaughn, and a solid rookie.
Go!!!! Bucs!!!!
March 25th, 2022 at 10:30 am
National sports media has been concocting “stories” for years. Why not? The lame stream Media does it too without consequence.
March 25th, 2022 at 10:37 am
Anyone who actually believes that TB 12 will be playing for Miami this year is the biggest moron on this planet.
Only way that would happen is if he is traded and the Bucs aren’t trading him to Miami. If in the off chance it were to happen Miami would owe Tampa a boatload of #1’s and 2’s and players.
Tom Brady ain’t going anywhere!!
March 25th, 2022 at 10:38 am
Agree with Smashsquatch. Tip off the play when a back is one demensional. That has been a pet peeve of mine too.
March 25th, 2022 at 11:20 am
Lol like said it’s Shadys team and better watch it Shady might go to Miami lol
March 25th, 2022 at 11:43 am
Lenny’s tha man- becoming a favorite Buc w his winning attitude
March 25th, 2022 at 11:50 am
gotbbucs … ‘A special RB in this offense would easily run for 1,200-1,500 yards. Leonard Fournette gets the yards that are schemed for him, usually nothing more.’
You might be under-valuing Lenny’s contributions in THIS OFFENSE in your assessment because his stats don’t bear out those conclusions. He’ll never get enough touches RUNNING THE BALL to gain 1200-1500 yards in BA’s offense. Last year was his best YPC average (4.5 YPC) so to get that number of yards he’d need 267-333 touches on the season. Assuming that he plays in all 17 games, that’d be 16-20 carries per game. Nobody gets that in BA’s offenses. Last season Lenny got 180 rushes in 14 games (an average of a tad less than 13 rushes/game). BA just doesn’t run the ball that much.
Another issue on his rushing the ball is the impact of using him in short-yardage situations (goal line to punch it in, 3rd down short yardage situations, etc). Lenny got 8 TDs last year & rushed for 45 first downs. I’d guesstimate that the average for those 53 touches was considerably less than 4.5 YPC.
Fournette’s primary value in THIS offense IMO is that he’s an all-around back who can run-catch-block. His pass-catching is especially valuable in this offense since he was targeted 84 times last season with 69 catches (82%). His 6.6 yds/catch was particularly impressive IMO. If you look at his Advanced Receiving stats, Lenny had 0.1 Yards Before Catch per Reception (meaning he was catching almost all passes right near the LOS?), and 6.5 Yards After Catch per Reception. Kinda tells me that he was doing most of it on his own, since he wasn’t the primary target on most of those. And his total yardage (rushing & receiving) was 1,266 yards in 2021 playing in 14 games (he accounted for slightly over 90 combined yards/game average). Had he played in all 17 games, that would’ve been a tad over 1,500 combined yards on the season. THAT impresses me.
March 25th, 2022 at 12:07 pm
Great breakdown Defense Rules. I don’t think it’s fair to judge based on our offense. Fanman will go to his grave exclaiming we don’t run enough!!!
That said, I see gotbucs point. The problem is that “bellcow backs” are so few and far between nowadays. Teams value RBs differently. Dare I say, Lenny would have some pretty good numbers in the same offense as Henry.
March 25th, 2022 at 12:22 pm
Love Lenny, Hate paying RB’s big $$$. But I get it.
He definitely adds value to this OFF & given TB12’s window chasing SB’s…You might pay more than you would otherwise on a short term deal.
Still need to draft/find a RB to complement Lenny & Vaughn…RB room needs Quality Depth for 2022 & Beyond.
March 25th, 2022 at 12:42 pm
@Defense Rules
All valid arguements. I’m not questioning Fournettes value. He is a bell cow type of running back. He gets the yards that he is supposed to get when he’s asked to get them.
My gripe with Fournette has always been that he basically limits his own ceiling as a runner willingly. He gives up on plays early, and I get it, you can’t earn money if you’re injured, but he isn’t the same runner in the NFL that he was in college, and it all has to do with purposely making a NFL career of longevity. And I understand the thought process behind that, I really do, still doesn’t mean that I have to like it.
Many of us grew up watching Mike Alstott lay it all on the line every run, and that’s why we loved him and that’s why he got his own train horn in his home stadium. How many of his incredible runs never would have happened had he given up and played dead in defenders arms? Most of them.
I know the stats support that Fournette is a good enough running back to get the job done, but I just appreciate a hard runner and Fournette’s approach irks me.
March 25th, 2022 at 9:11 pm
He’s popular in the locker room. Brady likes his pass catching ability and wanted him back. That’s all it took.
As a running back, he is average to modestly better than average on a good day, with blocking. Not powerful, not explosive, vastly overrated and overhyped throughout. Even after being exposed as a Jags bust, image only took a small hit. There are many far better running backs in football, all over the place, and I hope we do not all regret this for three years.
March 25th, 2022 at 10:28 pm
Steele — keep digging. You need a bigger shovel. Listen to yourself — and compare what you are saying to what the people who get paid for a loving to evaluate these guys think. And what most knowledgable football fans think.
When everyone thinks you’re wrong but you………..um……………..
?
March 26th, 2022 at 12:55 am
I think that James Wilder is the best running back that we have ever had and Warrick Dunn is a close second. Lenny will probably be in the conversation for number three by the time his contract is up.