Ronald Leary has been a pleasant surprise

[JohnsKey19]

Im sure the different websites will post their statistical analysis and who knows what they will indicate. But to the naked eye, this guy has been a very pleasant surprise. He gave up a pressure but he was mauling and showing some impressive mobility in how he was able to reach his blocking assignments. We knew he had potential but it seems he has made significant jump in performance over the past season. Sure, that is the plan for all young players but it's never a given. With his measurables and performance, you could easily say he is playing like a 2nd-3rd round improving young player. That's 4/5 of a legitimate top 5 OL in the league at 25 years old and younger. Just want to give Leary some love because he is often overlooked and overshadowed by the 3 draft picks when discussing the development of the OL.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

he has been playing very well, as has the entire OL. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire OL get pro bowl consideration.

 

[sbark]

Yup, Callahan and crew has brought him along very nicely. Gotta love the way he stuffed JJ Watt enough last week that they moved him away from Leary. I remember some stories from his rookie year--he has some nasty in him.

 

[dbonham]

Hope he can stay healthy and remember who believed in him come contract time

 

[basstapp]

Honestly - 2nd and 3rd picks don't play as well as Leary. He is flat out dominant when he makes contact. He does have a couple of plays where he could be in better position, but all in all - I think he is one of the better guards in the league.

 

[mahoneybill]

Does he have some type of degenerative knee condition ? Seem to recall something like that.

Thanks for any responses.

 

[JohnsKey19]

Does he have some type of degenerative knee condition ? Seem to recall something like that.

Thanks for any responses.

Yes.I'm not sure of the particulars but his potential knee issue is a reason he dropped in the draft. But here we are 3 years later and no issue(knocks on wood).

 

[Silver Surfer]

Really impressed with his blocks on the Murray touchdown. First he fought over a defensive lineman to get to the next level and cut a linebacker. Then he had the presence of mind to reach out and block a third guy while laying on the ground just as that guy was coming up to hit Murray.

 

[speedkilz88]

Does he have some type of degenerative knee condition ? Seem to recall something like that.

Thanks for any responses.

It's a condition where he potentially could have a problem at any moment or not at all. Not a true degenerative condition since it may not get worse.

 

[cowboys1981]

Look at DeJuan Blair, when my spurs draftted him he had no cartilage in his knees. He's still playing like a beast fr Dallas.


If anything I'd make Wednesday a mandatory day off for him as well once he starts feeling discomfort.

I love how our whole Oline was drafted or brought in as a UDFA. As a matter of fact our whole starting offense was.

 

[Carolina Cowboy]

he has been playing very well, as has the entire OL. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire OL get pro bowl consideration.

You get a like for the RoMac get that weak _ss stuff outta here Crush-Tackle!!!

 

[conner01]

leary would have been a 2nd or 3rd rnd pick had it not been for the knee. not a real shock that he is playing very well but a very good thing for the team. now we have to sign him

 

[Displaced Cowboy]

Does he have some type of degenerative knee condition ? Seem to recall something like that.

Thanks for any responses.

Article from shortly after the draft:

http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...d-be-a-steal-if-troublesome-knee-holds-up.ece

From what I recall most teams/draft sites had him as a 3-5 round talent but the knee scared teams off.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Leary was great at Memphis, the only knock against him was that knee. I was shocked that he lasted past the fifth round even with the condition. That was just nuts!

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Hope he can stay healthy and remember who believed in him come contract time

I assume you mean he should give the team a hometown discount? I don't think he should. THIS....THIS....is how you build a team. And for too long we ignored this. I hope that he is playing at a level so high that he is WORTH a nice contract. We give out 50m dollar deals to Brandon Carr....we give up premium picks for Mo Claiborne....we give 45m to Roy williams AND.....AND.....a 1st and 3rd round pick. But we want the guys that are TRULY producing to not get what they deserve? The cap will be clean enough for Jerry to reward the players on this team that are MOST responsible for our success. And he can do that by paying them fairly. So the front office needs to adjust the way they have always done business and build this team with the resources dedicated to the players that EARN it....and the fans will need to do the same thing. No hometown discounts necessary.....he should get what he is worth!

 

[xwalker]

Does he have some type of degenerative knee condition ? Seem to recall something like that.

Thanks for any responses.

It's a condition where he potentially could have a problem at any moment or not at all. Not a true degenerative condition since it may not get worse.

Yes, it's more of an all or nothing condition than degenerative.

LB Jonathan Vilma was diagnosed with the same condition when he was in High School. He went on to 4 years in college and 10 years in the NFL.

 

[lqmac1]

Im sure the different websites will post their statistical analysis and who knows what they will indicate. But to the naked eye, this guy has been a very pleasant surprise. He gave up a pressure but he was mauling and showing some impressive mobility in how he was able to reach his blocking assignments. We knew he had potential but it seems he has made significant jump in performance over the past season. Sure, that is the plan for all young players but it's never a given. With his measurables and performance, you could easily say he is playing like a 2nd-3rd round improving young player. That's 4/5 of a legitimate top 5 OL in the league at 25 years old and younger. Just want to give Leary some love because he is often overlooked and overshadowed by the 3 draft picks when discussing the development of the OL.

Like most cowboy players when we draft them, I go and do a little research on them. I remember looking up Leary and was very impressed! If not for injuries, he was projected to be in the fourth round. Very solid player and hopefully we lock him in long term.

 

[xwalker]

Im sure the different websites will post their statistical analysis and who knows what they will indicate. But to the naked eye, this guy has been a very pleasant surprise. He gave up a pressure but he was mauling and showing some impressive mobility in how he was able to reach his blocking assignments. We knew he had potential but it seems he has made significant jump in performance over the past season. Sure, that is the plan for all young players but it's never a given. With his measurables and performance, you could easily say he is playing like a 2nd-3rd round improving young player. That's 4/5 of a legitimate top 5 OL in the league at 25 years old and younger. Just want to give Leary some love because he is often overlooked and overshadowed by the 3 draft picks when discussing the development of the OL.

I said during this past off-season that Leary was really good in the 2nd half of last season. I posted that the played better than Fred in some games near then end of 2013. Only a few people believed me. IMO, he is just fine tuning the skill that he had already developed last season. The difference is that this season the announcers have noticed and pointed him out on a couple of times during the games.

 

[slomoxn]

I assume you mean he should give the team a hometown discount? I don't think he should. THIS....THIS....is how you build a team. And for too long we ignored this. I hope that he is playing at a level so high that he is WORTH a nice contract. We give out 50m dollar deals to Brandon Carr....we give up premium picks for Mo Claiborne....we give 45m to Roy williams AND.....AND.....a 1st and 3rd round pick. But we want the guys that are TRULY producing to not get what they deserve? The cap will be clean enough for Jerry to reward the players on this team that are MOST responsible for our success. And he can do that by paying them fairly. So the front office needs to adjust the way they have always done business and build this team with the resources dedicated to the players that EARN it....and the fans will need to do the same thing. No hometown discounts necessary.....he should get what he is worth!

Very well said, were finally building a team with players proving their worth before getting paid and expect them to give a discount after spending years giving away millions to FA that are not worth even half of what we paid them. ERR ahhh what Jerry paid them.

 

[mahoneybill]

Yes, it's more of an all or nothing condition than degenerative.

LB Jonathan Vilma was diagnosed with the same condition when he was in High School. He went on to 4 years in college and 10 years in the NFL.

Thanks for that reference and insight. I like what I see of him, and glad we stuck with him.