What does ISU do with LJ?

[CTAClone]

I said this earlier but I think it's pretty valid. I think it all depends upon your perspective of the hit. Was it intentional? Was it targeted to hurt someone? Was it just playing too aggressive? Is it more severe because is was against a QB? Or because it was after a TD? etc. etc.

I agree with Angie's sentiments about it is embarrassing for an ISU fan. The last thing I want is a team committing cheap shots.

And what about the PF the UNLV lineman got after the play was dead for at least 5 seconds. Should that player be kicked off the team for throwing a guy down to the ground?

I think LJ's PF is so much in the spotlight because it was after a TD and against the QB. That type of hit/play is commited numerous times throughout the season but isn't so blatantly visible because it happens in the middle of the field or against some other player besides a QB. I'm not justifying it at all. It was wrong, especially after picking one up earlier in the game.

[capitalcityguy]

And what about the PF the UNLV lineman got after the play was dead for at least 5 seconds. Should that player be kicked off the team for throwing a guy down to the ground?

Since he doesn't represent the team I cheer for, I guess I don't really care once the game is over. I'm concerned about how we play and win.

[clonerules]

I voted for one game after KU...and thats being nice!!

I firmly believe that IF (and thats a big if) he sees the field again this year, it will ONLY be after he proves to the coaches that he can play WITH emotion and CONTROL it!!!

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO PLAY BUSH LEAUGUE

[San Francisco Cy]

I would put this in the game thread, but this is really a topic that goes beyond just the UNLV game.

I don't think LJ is a bad person. I think he's a very talented player. But he has GOT to learn how to play football instead of just hitting, and he's going to have to learn his lesson when it comes to personal fouls.

That cheap shot in the endzone is inexcusable. It goes well beyond being aggressive. It's a lack of respect for the opposition, the game of football, the ISU football team, and Iowa State University.

He embarrassed our entire program and university with that play, and he hurt his team.

I honestly don't think it's too far to kick him off the team, but I think giving him a chance to lean from his mistakes is important too. After all, he's a young kid who has a lot to learn beyond just about the game of football.

That being said, what do you guys think?

Without reading the rest of the responses, here's my answer. Leonard Johnson is without a doubt (in my mind, at least) the best cover corner we've had in years. He's got the Bob Sanders mentality of hitting at all costs. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

Let's take a look back at his last three personal fouls. The one against iowa was pretty much a crock, in my mind, at least. He may have ended up with some violent contact on Moeaki, but that was not his intention, until the TE lowered his head, and caused them both a lot of damage. His first personal foul tonight was pretty weak. He swung at the guy, who pulled a Duke BBall player flop, drawing the PF. Obviously, the cheap shot on the QB was pretty intentional and uncalled for. And he should definitely be punished for it.

Loooong story short, he's suspended for this game and next anyway. Should he be suspended for anymore? Hell no. This suspension is entirely acceptable for what he did. Was it the biggest cheap shot ever? Hardly. It was probably the best hit we made all day as a team. Although it was entirely cheap. And we paid the rest of the game by not having a sure tackler out on the ends the rest of the game.

I think that Leonard Johnson is just a hard nosed football player, that is just learning how to play the game. As Chizik has said, it's hard to teach kids how to tone it down in a game situation. They've been taught their entire life how to make the big hits. At what point do you have to teach them to back off and not make those hits. There's a fine line. I think that LJ's going to learn his lesson and will possibly end up being one of the best DB's that we ever see at ISU. He's already lightyears ahead of any DB we've had in the 20+ years I've watched ISU football. At least in his first few games...

[San Francisco Cy]

After reading some of these responses, I just have to LOL. All of these same people will blah blah blah about wanting a winning program. But, when a guy gets a personal foul, they want him off the team. I'm sorry guys. But without guys like Leonard Johnson, you may as well bring back Walden and hope to hell that we get some onside kicks recovered or we'll never win another conference game.

LJ is not a bad person or a bad representative. He's simply a guy that plays balls to the wall at all times and is going to make some bad decisions due to over aggressiveness sometimes. And if you can't deal with that, start cheering for Navy or Duke. If you want guys that are going to play with great sportsmanship and that care more about making the nice play than the hard nosed play, then don't expect ISU to do anything in football anytime soon. Stop giving. Stop buying season tickets. That's D1 football. Whether you like it or not...

[clonerules]

Without reading the rest of the responses, here's my answer. Leonard Johnson is without a doubt (in my mind, at least) the best cover corner we've had in years. He's got the Bob Sanders mentality of hitting at all costs. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

Let's take a look back at his last three personal fouls. The one against iowa was pretty much a crock, in my mind, at least. He may have ended up with some violent contact on Moeaki, but that was not his intention, until the TE lowered his head, and caused them both a lot of damage. His first personal foul tonight was pretty weak. He swung at the guy, who pulled a Duke BBall player flop, drawing the PF. Obviously, the cheap shot on the QB was pretty intentional and uncalled for. And he should definitely be punished for it.

Loooong story short, he's suspended for this game and next anyway. Should he be suspended for anymore? Hell no. This suspension is entirely acceptable for what he did. Was it the biggest cheap shot ever? Hardly. It was probably the best hit we made all day as a team. Although it was entirely cheap. And we paid the rest of the game by not having a sure tackler out on the ends the rest of the game.

I think that Leonard Johnson is just a hard nosed football player, that is just learning how to play the game. As Chizik has said, it's hard to teach kids how to tone it down in a game situation. They've been taught their entire life how to make the big hits. At what point do you have to teach them to back off and not make those hits. There's a fine line. I think that LJ's going to learn his lesson and will possibly end up being one of the best DB's that we ever see at ISU. He's already lightyears ahead of any DB we've had in the 20+ years I've watched ISU football. At least in his first few games...

Although I agree with 90% of what you are saying, the fact is that WAS a cheap shot! There is absolutely no way around it. LJ made an incredibly boneheaded play, and it wasnt his 1st, 2nd or even 3rd... Love the potential and intensity he brings, but that is INEXCUSABLE!!! As a team trying to piece things together and get their first road win in 3 years, you just cant make that kind of play. Especially when your supposedly the lock down corner!!

[Swanson10]

Where is the dont do anything choice? Sorry, but at this point we cant afford to have him sit out right now. Whether it was a cheap shot or not, add a couple more to the loss column if he is out and i am not ok with that.

[cyclone432]

LJ reminds me of a safty for Oklahoma a few years back. Brandon Everage. He had some of the most vicious hits ive ever seen in college football. I remember multiple times, he would have a chance for a pick, but would turn it down to completely destroy the unprotected reciever. Sometimes knocking them out of the game. Most of the hits were clean, some not-so-much. Everage just loved hit hit/hurt people, and LJ seems to be turning into a young Everage. His late hit tonight was totally uncalled for and wrong. Make him run til he vomits, and when he does tell him next time... smoke him before he scores. Personally, I was embarrassed that he laid the hit, but so thrilled and proud that he WANTED to lay the hit. I believe that the extensive number of personal fouls is due to a team that has totally changed their game-time attitude, and is having trouble adjusting their actions accordingly. Its a very exciting time to be a cyclone...we finally are getting players that want to punish the other team just for showing up.

Oh yeah, Everage got a ring...and I believe is now playing on Sundays. Not saying but just saying.

[clonerules]

LJ reminds me of a safty for Oklahoma a few years back. Brandon Everage. He had some of the most vicious hits ive ever seen in college football. I remember multiple times, he would have a chance for a pick, but would turn it down to completely destroy the unprotected reciever. Sometimes knocking them out of the game. Most of the hits were clean, some not-so-much. Everage just loved hit hit/hurt people, and LJ seems to be turning into a young Everage. His late hit tonight was totally uncalled for and wrong. Make him run til he vomits, and when he does tell him next time... smoke him before he scores. Personally, I was embarrassed that he laid the hit, but so thrilled and proud that he WANTED to lay the hit. I believe that the extensive number of personal fouls is due to a team that has totally changed their game-time attitude, and is having trouble adjusting their actions accordingly. Its a very exciting time to be a cyclone...we finally are getting players that want to punish the other team just for showing up.

Oh yeah, Everage got a ring...and I believe is now playing on Sundays. Not saying but just saying.

While I know who you are speaking of ( and its a GREAT comparison IMO) we arent exactly OU. With that said, I DO love his attitude, just wish he would control it, and learn to harness that nastiness LJ has a great future if he just listens and learns from GC and our other fearless leaders

[capitalcityguy]

After reading some of these responses, I just have to LOL. All of these same people will blah blah blah about wanting a winning program. But, when a guy gets a personal foul, they want him off the team.

If that is what you really think some people here are saying, I'd suggest you go back and read the comments again.

i.e...."...a personal foul,..."

We're talking more than one personal foul. We're talking two IN ONE GAME....IN ONE HALF OF ONE GAME. The second being a flagurant foul.

You may want to win at any cost (ie..our team's reputation be damned) , but I don't think that is where most fans are at this point.

[San Francisco Cy]

While I know who you are speaking of ( and its a GREAT comparison IMO) we arent exactly OU. With that said, I DO love his attitude, just wish he would control it, and learn to harness that nastiness LJ has a great future if he just listens and learns from GC and our other fearless leaders

And we won't be an OU, or anything close to an OU unless we have players that make plays. And LJ is one of those guys...

[San Francisco Cy]

If that is what you really think some people here are saying, I'd suggest you go back and read the comments again.

i.e...."...a personal foul,..."

We're talking more than one personal foul. We're talking two IN ONE GAME....IN ONE HALF OF ONE GAME. The second being a flagurant foul.

You may want to win at any cost (ie..our team's reputation be damned) , but I don't think that is where most fans are at this point.

Watch his first one. The guy is baiting him, and then dives to the ground when LJ reacts. Just a weak call. He's got to learn not to get baited into that, though. What I'm talking about are people that want him off the team. These are the same people that will cry that we don't have a winning team in a couple of years if guys like LJ and tossed aside. And I can promise you that if we throw guys that play aggressively, like LJ does, off the team, we won't win many games ever. At least not in the Big XII. We may be able to do a heck of a job in the MAC, if that's what you guys are hoping for....

[gharris]

I didnt read this thread but its pathetic...hes a talented player that plays till the whistle, enough said. I loved the hit, quit over-analyzing everything that happens in a football game.

[clonerules]

Watch his first one. The guy is baiting him, and then dives to the ground when LJ reacts. Just a weak call. He's got to learn not to get baited into that, though. What I'm talking about are people that want him off the team. These are the same people that will cry that we don't have a winning team in a couple of years if guys like LJ and tossed aside. And I can promise you that if we throw guys that play aggressively, like LJ does, off the team, we won't win many games ever. At least not in the Big XII. We may be able to do a heck of a job in the MAC, if that's what you guys are hoping for....

Hard to argue your point... Because we DO need his talents!!! But at some point you have to draw the line. I do hope LJ is around for a while and has an outstanding career, but please no more boneheaded plays We, being a "lower" caliber big 12 team simply cant afford to lose our best defensive player for 3/4 of a game

[cycloneman003]

Doesn't matter. Do you recall the video that was posted about Mitch King being a dirty player? He is a good player. No matter how great LJ turns out to be, he's still going to be known as a dirty player, and frankly, he's kinda earned it. That hit on the quarterback was absolutely inexcusable, and I wouldn't have a huge issue with a game or two suspension after his mandatory suspension. Yes, emotion is involved, but someone running on pure emotion without something between their ears is a liability.

some the best players are dirty players. rodney harrison is known as probably the dirtiest player in the NFL but hes been all pro forever. you guys are blowing this whole situation wayyyy out of proportion