50-50? i don't think so. i think it would probably have been better at 80-20, of course in the other direction.
Leonard just does so much more than rice, in every facet of the game. he excites his team and the crowd in much the same way Alstott does for the Bucs.
Leonard is faster, bigger, and better than rice. PERIOD. this game makes you wonder how the season would have turned out if Leonard had been the featured guy in the backfield... especially their loss to Louisville.
it's a great video, but it proves all of my points. look at it again, and notice that Leonard
runs away from people when he's not
running over them. rice, on the other hand, never outruns the angle, blows past people, or looks like a break-away threat. in fact, he routinely gets caught from behind.
he's a good back, and may be a little shiftier than Leonard. but there is NO WAY that Brian should have lost carries to this guy. instead, rice should have spelled Leonard when the Leap was tired. that's the only time Leonard shouldn't have gotten the carries.
Edited by: Jimmy Chitwood