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-   -   5th round pick. Saints select DT - Rodney leisle (https://blackandgold.com/saints/4390-5th-round-pick-saints-select-dt-rodney-leisle.html)

SaintsReporter 04-25-2004 12:03 PM
5th round pick. Saints select DT - Rodney leisle
 
Quote:
Rodney Leisle
Position: Defensive tackle
College: UCLA
Height: 6-3
Weight: 309
Hometown: Bakersfield, Calif.

Analysis | Agility | High School | Personal

OVERVIEW
Mainstay on the Bruins defensive line who is regarded as one of the strongest players in the country … A blue-collar work ethic in a blue chip athlete, Rodney plays with great pad leverage, has outstanding strength and is excellent with his hands … He is a tremendously hard worker who sets an example with his efforts on the practice field and in the games … His ability to neutralize double teams allowed the other UCLA defensive linemen to get to the quarterback over the years … He started 40 of 43 games for the Bruins, recording 131 tackles (80 solos) with six sacks for minus-35 yards, 17 stops for losses of 61 yards, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, four interceptions for 58 yards in returns and a touchdown and three pass deflections.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a stout frame with a thick chest, broad shoulders, good bubble, well-defined arms and thick thighs and calves … Has an adequate quick move coming out of his stance (plays quicker than fast) … Shows good vision and awareness, as he quickly reads and reacts to blocks and movement to consistently be around the ball … Very tough vs. the run, flashing aggressiveness and strength at the point of attack … Plays with good leverage, using his club moves with force to hold his ground … Shows proper hand usage to ward off and separate from blocks, relying on his strength and toughness to defeat his man in one-on-one situations … Will move down the line and through traffic with good determination … Flashes explosion behind his tackles, but is more effective when he wraps and brings down the ball carrier inside the box (not as effective working in space) … Has the power to push the pocket … Body structure and attitude are perfectly suited for a two-gap alignment.
Negatives: Has marginal speed and works better in the box than in long pursuit or in space … Can be a dominating defender, but needs to show better dedication to his offseason conditioning (not a good detail guy in the weight room and needs better focus) … Relies more on strength and toughness rather than quickness and technique in his tackling … Lacks the speed to close on the quarterback (limited burst to finish) … Can push the pocket, but struggles to get upfield and separate when working in space.

AGILITY TESTS
5.11 in the 40-yard dash … Bench presses 225 pounds 31 times … 31 3/8-inch arm length … 11 1/8-inch hands … Right-handed.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Ridgeview (Bakersfield, Calif.) High, playing football for coach Bill Richardson and Steve Tucker … Lettered three years as a defensive and offensive lineman … Rated the No. 53 player in the nation by RivalNet and by Tom Lemming (The Sporting News.com) … SuperPrep All-American, ranked the nation's No. 26 defensive lineman and the No. 29 player in the California/Arizona/Hawaii region, PrepStar All-American (rated the No. 4 defensive lineman in the Western Region, Super 30 All-Western selection by PrepStar, ranked seventh (tied) among offensive guards by the National Recruiting Advisor, member of Tacoma News-Tribune Western 100, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West honorable mention (five votes) and first-team all-state selection by Cal-Hi Sports … Recorded 85 tackles (32 solos), including seven quarterback sacks … Selected to play in the annual California-Texas Shrine All-Star Game … Two-time all-league and all-area choice … Lettered four years in track (shot put and discus) for coach Brad Harris … Had best in shot of 58-foot-11½ and in discus of 170-foot-8 … Finished fifth in the state in the shot in 1997 and fourth in the state in the shot in 1998 … Lettered two years in wrestling for coach Lee Ramos … Placed seventh in the state in 1997 as a heavyweight … Finished first in his league in both 1996 and 1997 … Lettered his senior season in basketball for coach Otis Jennings … Team finished second in the league and third in the Valley.
PERSONAL
Sociology major … Earned spot on Director's Honor Roll in Winter 2001 (3.33 GPA) … Son of Kathy and Dan Leisle … Born Rodney Allen Leisle on Feb. 5, 1981, in Fresno, Calif. … Resides in Bakersfield, Calif.

iceshack149 04-25-2004 12:07 PM
5th round pick. Saints select DT - Rodney leisle
 
Big dude.
I think that most of us were hoping for the fullback pick here.
Not a bad pick for the fifth round, however.

Cadillac 04-25-2004 12:34 PM
5th round pick. Saints select DT - Rodney leisle
 
I love this pick. The only knock on him I\'ve been able to find really is that he isn\'t much of a pass rusher, but with Grant, Howard, Fresh Prince and Sully, we have enough pass rushers.

I\'ve been reading up on him since the pick, and most boards had him projected as a third round pick. Draftcrazy.com even had him as a late first - early second.

fjg 04-25-2004 12:46 PM
5th round pick. Saints select DT - Rodney leisle
 
call me a homer, but why didn\'t we use this pick to take lavalais if we\'re going d-tackle. they are seemingly the same players on paper, but after watching chad play, was there any doubt he was the best player on lsu\'s defense?


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