Ever since the Orange County Otters selected running back Erlich Burnsman in round two of the season two draft there has been a lot of speculation about the role of power back Leroy Jenkins in the Orange County Offense. Following a record-setting season two rookie campaign where Burnsman led the league in touchdowns scored, many writers and fans hypothesized that there had been a falling out between Jenkins and the Orange County leadership, and that there was bad blood between the veteran and the rookie speed back. But they couldn’t be more wrong.
Erlich Burnsman saw 151 carries in season two compared to Leroy Jenkins 123. A significant difference when considering how little the Otters rush the ball, but nothing to read into too much. The real statistic is harder to dig up, but the fact is that Leroy Jenkins saw significantly more snaps and field time than Burnsman did. The reason for this is that Leroy Jenkins also played at fullback, and was on the field for almost every single play. One could easily argue that without Leroy’s lead blocking abilities Burnsman’s goal line carries, usually the result of a deep pass to Phelps or Westfield, would have been stuffed far more often.
And then we have to consider the passing game. The Orange County Otters love to pass the ball, this is not lost on anyone. But one of the lesser known statistics is that the Otters pass to their tight ends and their backs more than the wide receivers. These guys see a lot of work over the middle of the field. Leroy reeled in 46 catches last season, leading all running backs and tying San Jose sabercats wide receiver Darren “Checkers” Smallwood. He managed to take those 46 catches for 387 yards, averaging 10.6 per catch, and finding paydirt three times.
And after this excellent performance through the air, on the ground, and crashing into middle linebackers in the hole, Jenkins was met with only criticism this season. He decided to retire shortly after the beginning of the offseason, citing personal reasons as he felt it was time to move on from his professional football career and begin to live his personal life off the field. Conspiracy theories abound, writers were looking for a different reason on why he left. Some thinking that the rookie’s presence signified the end of Leroy’s run in Orange County, but after catching up with Burnsman he told us a very different story:
“As his counterpart, the lightning to his thunder, the news of this struck me harder than anyone. Leroy Jenkins taught me more about the game of football and how to succeed on the ground than I would have ever expected. His enthusiasm for the game and his competitive nature was contagious in the Orange County Locker room. In this, our final season together, both Leroy and I are leaning on each other in hopes to accomplish the same goal, to beat the Arizona Outlaws this season and to bring home the trophy for the fans of Orange County.”
There is still work left for these backs as they prepare for the season four kickoff. Slaying the giant in Arizona has proven to be too difficult a task for three seasons in a row. But with improved blocking from young blood on the offensive line we expect to see the dual threats in the backfields of Orange County giving it everything they can in their last run together. This season they bring home a championship. For Leroy Jenkins, for Erlich Burnsman, for Mike Boss, for Bradley Westfield, for Angus Winchester, and for everyone else in Orange County who has worked as hard as these young men to succeed in the game they love.
GRADED
Erlich Burnsman saw 151 carries in season two compared to Leroy Jenkins 123. A significant difference when considering how little the Otters rush the ball, but nothing to read into too much. The real statistic is harder to dig up, but the fact is that Leroy Jenkins saw significantly more snaps and field time than Burnsman did. The reason for this is that Leroy Jenkins also played at fullback, and was on the field for almost every single play. One could easily argue that without Leroy’s lead blocking abilities Burnsman’s goal line carries, usually the result of a deep pass to Phelps or Westfield, would have been stuffed far more often.
And then we have to consider the passing game. The Orange County Otters love to pass the ball, this is not lost on anyone. But one of the lesser known statistics is that the Otters pass to their tight ends and their backs more than the wide receivers. These guys see a lot of work over the middle of the field. Leroy reeled in 46 catches last season, leading all running backs and tying San Jose sabercats wide receiver Darren “Checkers” Smallwood. He managed to take those 46 catches for 387 yards, averaging 10.6 per catch, and finding paydirt three times.
And after this excellent performance through the air, on the ground, and crashing into middle linebackers in the hole, Jenkins was met with only criticism this season. He decided to retire shortly after the beginning of the offseason, citing personal reasons as he felt it was time to move on from his professional football career and begin to live his personal life off the field. Conspiracy theories abound, writers were looking for a different reason on why he left. Some thinking that the rookie’s presence signified the end of Leroy’s run in Orange County, but after catching up with Burnsman he told us a very different story:
“As his counterpart, the lightning to his thunder, the news of this struck me harder than anyone. Leroy Jenkins taught me more about the game of football and how to succeed on the ground than I would have ever expected. His enthusiasm for the game and his competitive nature was contagious in the Orange County Locker room. In this, our final season together, both Leroy and I are leaning on each other in hopes to accomplish the same goal, to beat the Arizona Outlaws this season and to bring home the trophy for the fans of Orange County.”
There is still work left for these backs as they prepare for the season four kickoff. Slaying the giant in Arizona has proven to be too difficult a task for three seasons in a row. But with improved blocking from young blood on the offensive line we expect to see the dual threats in the backfields of Orange County giving it everything they can in their last run together. This season they bring home a championship. For Leroy Jenkins, for Erlich Burnsman, for Mike Boss, for Bradley Westfield, for Angus Winchester, and for everyone else in Orange County who has worked as hard as these young men to succeed in the game they love.
GRADED
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