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  #1  
Old 11-08-2018, 01:15 PM
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Default Just go read this Indy Star story on Darius Leonard.

It's great.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...medium=twitter
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  #2  
Old 11-08-2018, 02:59 PM
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Fantastic article on a fantastic player.
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Old 11-08-2018, 03:42 PM
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“When the ball is in the air, I want it. When I play football, whoever got the ball, I want it. That’s my ball. I’m taking it from you.”

That attitude, and the fire he's shown week in and week out, is what this defense has been missing for some time. I've hesitated to say this throughout the season, but this kid just keeps getting better and better: Ballard may have found the next Ray Lewis.
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Old 11-08-2018, 04:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dam8610 View Post
“When the ball is in the air, I want it. When I play football, whoever got the ball, I want it. That’s my ball. I’m taking it from you.”

That attitude, and the fire he's shown week in and week out, is what this defense has been missing for some time. I've hesitated to say this throughout the season, but this kid just keeps getting better and better: Ballard may have found the next Ray Lewis.
I read another story about hos Ballard was buisy with the Frank Reich Hire and the fallout from Josh McDaniels shit and he arrived in the draft room and his team had Leonard in the second round. Ballard was very hesitant and watched film and became convinced.

I cant seem to find the original article. My bad.

It's brilliant that many balked at getting him in the second and in several stats he leads all rookie LBs as well as all NFL LBS.


PFF did not even rate him in their top 28 linebackers pre-draft. Last week they ranked him behind vander Esch, but also said this:

"Leonard currently ranks sixth among the 120 linebackers who’ve seen at least 50 defensive snaps this season in terms of overall grade, and he’s the only linebacker in football who owns a grade of at least 75.0 in both coverage and run defense. Much has been made about Leonard’s lofty tackle totals, but if you look a bit deeper into that total it’s even more impressive: Leonard leads all linebackers with 34 total stops and his 4.4 missed tackle percentage ranks seventh-best among the 68 linebackers who’ve made at least 20 tackles this season."

Ballard allowed his people to do their jobs, confirmed their assessment and pulled the trigger.
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Last edited by Pez; 11-08-2018 at 04:44 PM.
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Old 11-08-2018, 05:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dam8610 View Post
“When the ball is in the air, I want it. When I play football, whoever got the ball, I want it. That’s my ball. I’m taking it from you.”

That attitude, and the fire he's shown week in and week out, is what this defense has been missing for some time. I've hesitated to say this throughout the season, but this kid just keeps getting better and better: Ballard may have found the next Ray Lewis.
He needs to put some weight on if you want Lewis. If he turns into Derrick Brooks, then look out.
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Old 11-08-2018, 06:55 PM
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He needs to put some weight on if you want Lewis. If he turns into Derrick Brooks, then look out.
I honestly think that he's got a chance to better than both of them.
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Old 11-08-2018, 09:46 PM
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That was a great read, thanks for the link. It is nice to find such a talented athlete, that has so much drive and focus. He is going to be very good for a long time.
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Old 11-08-2018, 10:04 PM
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He needs to put some weight on if you want Lewis. If he turns into Derrick Brooks, then look out.
The comparison there is more in the productivity, leadership, and mentality than it is in the body type, though I believe Lewis was 6'2" 240, which is right about the weight at which Leonard plays. Brooks was never the leader of the Bucs defense, that was Sapp. One of Leonard's best traits is his leadership from everything I've read on him. That's why the comparison to Lewis makes more sense to me.
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Old 11-09-2018, 12:11 AM
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There were a handful of players I wanted the Colts to draft before Leonard, mostly because I never really heard of him. Glad I don't make the decisions for the Colts. He's the best 2nd round pick the Colts have made in ages.
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Old 11-09-2018, 01:30 AM
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There were a handful of players I wanted the Colts to draft before Leonard, mostly because I never really heard of him. Glad I don't make the decisions for the Colts. He's the best 2nd round pick the Colts have made in ages.
It is almost like you do not have a bunch of scouts that spend all their time watching games and film, talking to coaches and players full time. Slacker.
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