As far as we can tell, the
"Church Van" hasn't
scheduled any meetings
with any teams
Leonard Weaver, universally thought to be the top rated fullback in this year's class of free agents, has so far been left out of the headlines on the first day of free agency.
Chris Sullivan of SA points out that the Niners, a team on the market for a fullback, has already signed one. The Niners know first hand what Weaver possess, after he torched them for 129 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns week 8.
To Continue...
Here is what we previously wrote about Leonard Weaver concerning free agency.
Leonard Weaver
RB Franchise tag: $6.6 million
FB free agent rank: 3
This one may be difficult to call. Weaver is one of the top ranked free agent fullbacks, but then again he is a fullback. Many teams have phased out the importance of the position, but many west coast offense teams will find value in Weaver, such as San Francisco who could be looking for a new fullback once free agent hits.
Weaver had a breakout season in 2008, scoring a pair of touchdowns against the 49ers in what turned out to be the best game of the season. While his running and catch-and-runs improved drastically, his blocking, while getting better, lagged behind. One of the biggest responsibilities of the fullback is blocking, and if you can’t excel at it, then you’re really just a running back. The Seahawks drafted Owen Schmitt for a reason, and he is probably the future starter for the team. Because Weaver accumulated some attractive statistics, his value may have risen over what the Seahawks are willing to offer.
Schmitt is one helleva bruiser, and was often utilized in short running situations where he would pave the way for T.J. Duckett, successfully most of the time. He also showed signs of being a decent downhill runner. I would like to see a lot more of Schmitt in 2009, and I think the ‘Hawks coaching staff would too.
Chances of being a ‘Hawk: 30%
