BY DAN BEGNOCHE
At this time last year, the Buffalo Bills' special teams squad was a force to be reckoned with. A year later, it's just a force waiting for a chance to prove it's still got it.
Led by some head-strong runs from cornerback Leodis McKelvin, Buffalo's return game was no joke last season, averaging nearly 19 yards on punts and 28 yards on kickoffs. The team as a whole had three total return touchdowns, including one in prime time during a divisional bout with the Miami Dolphins.
What a difference a year can make.
Showing posts with label Jim Leonhard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jim Leonhard. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Leonhard defends Bills' struggling punt coverage
BY DAN BEGNOCHE
Jim Leonhard knows a thing or two about the philosophy and execution of a special teams unit. He's been immersed in it for nearly a decade.
So while it may be easy to look at Buffalo's struggling punt coverage squad and say it's needs a personnel change — players or coach — the veteran return man isn't ready to jump to conclusions.
"It’s not like we can say we’ve got the wrong guys out there or we don’t have the right personnel. That’s not the case. Every kick is different," Leonhard said this week, via Chris Brown of buffalobills.com. "If you get one or two guys who make a mistake on a kick it can be out the gate."
Jim Leonhard knows a thing or two about the philosophy and execution of a special teams unit. He's been immersed in it for nearly a decade.
So while it may be easy to look at Buffalo's struggling punt coverage squad and say it's needs a personnel change — players or coach — the veteran return man isn't ready to jump to conclusions.
"It’s not like we can say we’ve got the wrong guys out there or we don’t have the right personnel. That’s not the case. Every kick is different," Leonhard said this week, via Chris Brown of buffalobills.com. "If you get one or two guys who make a mistake on a kick it can be out the gate."
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Jim Leonhard back in Mike Pettine's system
BY NICK ST. DENIS
Jim Leonhard could only get away from Mike Pettine for so long.
Leonhard, who worked under the defensive coordinator Pettine for three years when the pair was employed by the New York Jets, signed with the Buffalo Bills Monday.
Pettine led the Jets' defense the past four seasons but joined the Bills at the beginning of this year. Leonhard, meanwhile, was with Gang Green from 2009 to 2011 before spending last season with the Denver Broncos.
Jim Leonhard could only get away from Mike Pettine for so long.
Leonhard, who worked under the defensive coordinator Pettine for three years when the pair was employed by the New York Jets, signed with the Buffalo Bills Monday.
Pettine led the Jets' defense the past four seasons but joined the Bills at the beginning of this year. Leonhard, meanwhile, was with Gang Green from 2009 to 2011 before spending last season with the Denver Broncos.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Leonhard the answer for Bills' depth issues at safety
Photo: Marianne O'Leary, Flickr
Defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt has been reconstructing the Bills' defense since his arrival this past offseason. And with ex-Buffalo safety Jim Leonhard back in town for a second day of meetings, he just may have found his final piece to put it all together.
Leonhard was on the sidelines of Buffalo's practice Thursday and will continue to meet with the team today, according to buffalobills.com. He will likely be checked out by team doctors today, as reports have stated he has yet to do so. As a Jet, Leonhard suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee last season, the same injury the Bills saw corner Terrence McGee go through, though the seven-year vet has been adamant about his recovery.
“The knee is feeling great and I am ready to go,” Leonhard told a Wisconsin television station last month. “I am kind of getting antsy ready to get back on that field. You just keep working, you keep grinding and good things are going to happen.”
Lack of depth on the defensive side of the ball was a major concern for the Bills coming into this season, an issue that received a lot of attention on draft day and in free agency. General manager Buddy Nix and coach Chan Gailey have both expressed concerns with the depth at safety since the start of training camp, and Leonhard may just be the fit they're looking for.
Leonhard was on the sidelines of Buffalo's practice Thursday and will continue to meet with the team today, according to buffalobills.com. He will likely be checked out by team doctors today, as reports have stated he has yet to do so. As a Jet, Leonhard suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee last season, the same injury the Bills saw corner Terrence McGee go through, though the seven-year vet has been adamant about his recovery.
“The knee is feeling great and I am ready to go,” Leonhard told a Wisconsin television station last month. “I am kind of getting antsy ready to get back on that field. You just keep working, you keep grinding and good things are going to happen.”
Lack of depth on the defensive side of the ball was a major concern for the Bills coming into this season, an issue that received a lot of attention on draft day and in free agency. General manager Buddy Nix and coach Chan Gailey have both expressed concerns with the depth at safety since the start of training camp, and Leonhard may just be the fit they're looking for.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Transactions and injury news roundup: 7/19 edition
Photo: Marianne O'Leary, FlickrBY NICK ST. DENIS
Quick notes and links regarding AFC East teams' recent transactions activity and injury news:
Jets
Safety Jim Leonhard says the recovery of his knee has been successful, but the Jets reportedly don't plan on bringing him back.
Safety LaRon Landry is expected to be limited in training camp while he nurses an injury he's been trying to shake the past two years.
Free agent receiver Plaxico Burress said Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was "battling with some injuries last year, shoulder-wise that a lot of people didn't know about."
Gang Green signed undrafted free agent tackle Paul Cornick, who participated as a tryout player in rookie camp.
Patriots
Tight end Daniel Fells missed all of New England's offseason program, and that's because he reportedly is nursing a leg injury.
New England inked first-round linebacker Dont'a Hightower to a four-year contract.
Projected starting cornerback Ras-I Dowling, coming off hip surgery, was full-go in OTAs.
Bills
Buffalo signed third-round receiver T.J. Graham to a four-year deal.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Leonhard expects full recovery, hopes to be a Jet
Photo: Ed Yourdon, Flickr BY NICK ST. DENIS
Jim Leonhard expects to be fully recovered from a knee injury by the start of NFL training camp in three months. The free agent, most recently a Jet, hopes he'll have a team he can prove it to.
Leonhard, coming off his second season-ending knee injury in consecutive years, spoke with members of the media Saturday at an autograph signing at a Verizon store in Lake Grove, NY.
"It's hard right now because there's only so much you can talk about when you know you're not 100 percent and everyone else knows you're not 100 percent," Leonhard said of his conversations with various teams this offseason, according to ESPN New York.
The 29-year-old broke his tibia in practice in early December 2010 and tore his patellar tendon in mid-December 2011.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Jets sign former 'Skins safety Landry to 1-year deal
BY NICK ST. DENIS
The Jets needed help at safety, and they got it Monday.
New York signed former Redskins free agent LaRon Landry to a one-year deal worth $4 million, according to Michael Lombardi of NFL.com.
“After spending time with the organization as a whole, I just felt that signing with the Jets was the right thing to do,” Landry said, according to NewYorkJets.com. “When you factor in that Rex coached my brother and the family-oriented demeanor, it just felt like home. It made the decision real easy for me.
The Jets needed help at safety, and they got it Monday.
New York signed former Redskins free agent LaRon Landry to a one-year deal worth $4 million, according to Michael Lombardi of NFL.com.
“After spending time with the organization as a whole, I just felt that signing with the Jets was the right thing to do,” Landry said, according to NewYorkJets.com. “When you factor in that Rex coached my brother and the family-oriented demeanor, it just felt like home. It made the decision real easy for me.
"They have a top-notch support staff and facility and I really feel that I can prosper here.”
Landry has 383 combined tackles, 31 passes defensed, four interceptons, 5.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in five seasons with the Redskins.
Landry has 383 combined tackles, 31 passes defensed, four interceptons, 5.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in five seasons with the Redskins.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Jets suffer huge blow with Leonhard lost for season
BY NICK ST. DENIS
The New York Jets confirmed Monday that safety Jim Leonhard will miss the remainder of the 2011 season to injury.
Leonhard, who acquired a torn patella tendon Sunday in the Jets' 37-10 victory over the Chiefs, will watch Gang Green fight for a playoff spot down the home stretch for the second year in a row. Leonhard suffered a season-ending leg injury late last season. He is in his final term of a three-year contract with the Jets.
Leonhard likely lost for season with leg injury
By Nick St. Denis
For the second straight year, the communicator of the New York Jets' defense may be lost for the season with a December injury.
Safety Jim Leonhard, who is responsible for much of the Jets' pre-snap adjustments on defense (particularly in the secondary), was carted off Sunday during New York's 37-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
For the second straight year, the communicator of the New York Jets' defense may be lost for the season with a December injury.
Safety Jim Leonhard, who is responsible for much of the Jets' pre-snap adjustments on defense (particularly in the secondary), was carted off Sunday during New York's 37-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
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