re: 4th Round: Rick Leonard, OT, FSU

He's Zach Strief 2.0

Why are we selecting F/A projects in the 4th round?

My mistake. They only flashed the graphic once and never talked about the pick at all.

Lol Nah, just wondering why it's hard for the Saints to select a LA product once in awhile, it won't hurt them. They'd rather draft a fricking Rick Leonard. Lol

From cbssports.com:

quote:

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Draft Prospect Outlook:
Great size, length for the tackle spot. Slow in his kick slide and has a nasty demeanor but it often leads to him waist-bending to initiate contact. Will stay on his blocks if beat at the point of attack. Limited athlete.
College Recap:
FSU targeted Leonard, a lacrosse player in high school, when he was an unheralded prep prospect in Middletown, Md. The Seminoles were one of the first Power Five programs to offer him a scholarship. The plan, originally, was to utilize Leonard’s length (6-foot-7) and foot speed as a strong-side defensive end behind DeMarcus Walker and transition him into a starter as an upperclassman. He played four games as a true freshman, was recognized by coaches and teammates for his strong performance the following spring, and then saw a slight uptick in playing time his sophomore season as he posted five tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
However, FSUs staff thought Leonard had better upside on the offensive line and moved him to right tackle ahead of his junior season. Leonard had the frame to support extra weight, but it took nearly a full season to get comfortable playing at 305 pounds. He began 2016 as the starter, but was benched after some struggles before reentering the lineup at the end of the year. Leonard’s best performance came in the Capital One Orange Bowl as he contained Michigan's premier pass rusher Taco Charlton. Leonard made strides as a senior, and while not spectacular, was the most consistent player on a unit that struggled to protect its quarterback. He started 12 games in 2017. -- Brendan Sonnone

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quote:

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Height: 6-7. Weight: 306. Arm: 32.25.

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Very short arms for an OT

I was a little concerned in the 1st round. But after looking at the situation more, a long with our other picks, I feel pretty good about the draft so far. SP and Ireland have done a GREAT job at rebuilding this roster over the last couple of years.
This has given SP the flexibility to target some high upside potential. The difference is that he’s not just targeting “Athletes” anymore........ each of the picks are high motor guys that have shown more than just testing well.

Overview
Leonard is a top-heavy tackle with decent athleticism but lacking in consistency and fundamentals at this stage of his development. There is enough athleticism and potential to work with, but he is still a project with a lack of body control and balance that creates challenges in landing anywhere but a practice squad early in his career.
Strengths
Former defensive end with upside as he is still learning the position
Good quickness coming out of his stance and into his pass sets
Shows quickness to meet speed along the edge
Uses direct path in his pass punch and puts some pepper on it
Plays with inside hands and solid placement
Has strength to punch and extend
Choppy settle steps into targets as run blocker
Shows ability to get to second level targets
Has athletic ability that can be worked with by a coaching staff
Weaknesses
Consistently on skates
Base is inconsistent and balance is erratic
Spends a majority of his run blocks playing too far over his skis
Has to rely on hand strength and sheer will to sustain blocks
Lacks body control and falls off of run blocks in space
Over-strides on run blocks and struggles to redirect and catch inside moves
Can't bend effectively to create leverage point as run blocker
Pass sets lack patience and balance.

I'll trust the Saints on this pick. Great size, power and decent athleticism to the offensive line. Coach 'em up, then turn this big man loose!

After the luckiest draft of all time last year. The Saints return to form.