[Blogs] ‘Just Another Game’ For Leach

[BR News]

It speaks to Vonta Leach’s personality.

Despite reporter after reporter asking the Ravens’ fullback about his emotions heading into Sunday’s meeting with his former Houston Texans team, about how much he’s looking to hit them, how much he’s looking to prove that they let the wrong guy go, Leach just shook his head and literally sighed.

The hard-nosed Leach has moved on, both physically and, now quite obviously, mentally, from his former team. He’s a Raven, and that means winning this Sunday is the only thing on his mind.

“It’s no different than any other game for me,” Leach said. “I’m not studying film any more than I normally would. I’m not beating my head against the wall.”

In one way, it’s not surprising that Leach doesn’t have too many emotional ties. He has moved into four different locker rooms in eight years.

The former undrafted free agent spent his first two seasons in Green Bay. In 2006, he bounced between the Packers, New Orleans Saints and finally landed with the Houston Texans.

On the other hand, Houston is where Leach’s career took off.

He started 12 games in each 2007 and 2008, got his first carries and his first touchdowns. Last year, it all came together blocking for the NFL’s leading rusher, Arian Foster, and Leach was named to his first Pro Bowl.

But when Leach’s contract ran out at the end of last year, the Texans had tough decisions to make. Texans Head Coach Gary Kubiak said Wednesday that he wanted to keep Leach, but at the end of the day, Houston didn’t make as competitive an offer as Baltimore.

Less than a week after the lockout ended, the Ravens showed their interest and scooped him up with a three-year deal.

“There were no hard feelings when I left there,” Leach said. “I would say that obviously they had other needs and I wasn’t important enough for the team. I wasn’t high enough on the totem pole. I was the odd man out. You can’t pay everybody.”

Leach is happy with how it all turned out.

“I liked it there,” he said. “But I think here is a better fit for me. Here we use the fullback and we like the fullback.”

Leach instantly fit in just by virtue of the kind of player he is, someone who takes pleasure in physically punishing his opponent. The Ravens signed him to consistently bang heads and open up holes for running back Ray Rice, something he has done without fail.

The Ravens have gotten more than just that though. Leach also seamlessly fit into the locker room, says his teammates and coach.

“He’s a character guy who’s also quite the character, we’ve come to find,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said. “We’ve had lots of laughs. He’s on me all the time about being too nervous and stuff like that.”

“He’s a perfect fit,” running back Ray Rice added.

“He came in a leader. He’s one of the guys that we look to. When things get going, you’ve got to have somebody speak up. I’ve been one of the guys, Anquan [Boldin] is one of the guys, Joe [Flacco] is one of the guys, Mike [Oher], us small group of leaders have to, when things get rough, we have to put this thing together. And Vonta fit right in that mix. He’ll be the first to grab a group, put us together on the sideline, put us together in meetings, whatever.”

Leach isn’t the only Raven facing his former team. Safety Bernard Pollard also wasn’t re-signed by the Texans this past offseason after spending the last two years as their starting safety. It was reportedly because of troubles in pass coverage.

The Texans know Pollard well and could look to attack him in the passing game.

“Can he hang with me?” Houston tight end Owen Daniels said. “He’ll probably get the assignment to cover me. We’ll see. It’ll be fun.”

Pollard has fit in with the Ravens, drawing praise for his physical play and winning a starting job.
Both Pollard and Leach will be Ravens team captains before the game, Harbaugh said. But don’t expect too much beyond the usual handshakes.

“It’s not about me. This game is bigger than me,” Pollard said. “We want to go for a win and Houston is in the way. … I couldn’t care less about who they are.”

[url=http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2011/10/13/just-another-game-for-leach/]View the full article[/url]

[bpytnjr58]

Leach may say it is just another game but we all know that he wants to put on big show on Sunday against his old team as does Mason.

[DieHardBMoreFan]

I just love how harbs made them both Capts for the game!

[Legendary Ravens]

Leach is going to clean some clocks and knock a lot of cats on thier back pockets. He is going to do some damage.

[cobrajet]

Leach was a great pickup by Ozzie, he will open a lot of holes for Ray Rice. I can't wait until Sunday.

[Ed_Reezy]

Pollard is going to light mason up over the middle...can you dig it? I can!

I am soo pumped for this game. I think with Torrey and Lee burning up the outside lanes... My BOY Anquan is going to do WORK on sunday. You all just wait!

Oh and all you Flacco haters... get ready to eat your words. This is the week he puts all of it together.

CAW CAW BABY!

[respecttheRaven]

Yes ... We do like the fullback!!!! Leach and Pollard are beast!!!! Can't wait till 4:05 Sunday,argh! It seems sooo far away.

[Peej]

I like the fact that Leach is described as a character guy and a new leader in the locker room.

The Ravens will do well on the field, but with a bunch of leaders, it means that the team will not get too high or too low.

Having said that, I like the fact that Leach and Pollard are hitting people - and hitting them HARD!

[WNC-Raven]

While looking for Pollard, Owen Daniels is going to have his clock cleaned by Ray over the middle Sunday.

[WeCanDoAllThings52]

It actually wont be fun for Owen Daniels. Anything underneath Pollard will come up and crack him, anything over the top Ed will take that away, anything over the middle Ray will Dustin Keller him.

[Bernie Mc1953]

What a weekend to come? Iknow what kind of game it suppose to be .but I am a little strange about this game heck lets just blow them out and get it over with go ravens

[DarthSizzle55]

Houston got less physical by releasing these 2 guys. Vonta and Pollard light people up when they hit.

[Bernie Mc1953]

Thanks houston for Pollard AND lEACH THY ARE A BIG PART OF US WINNING THE SUPER BOWL.So Thanks again.

[mettro79]

To be honest, that Owen Daniels Bernard Pollard matchup is the only one in this game that kind of worries me. But I'm sure Chuck has already got a plan for that.

[F4113N]

Offense - Find a way to get Leach a TD this week!

[stixfix69]

Pollard, and Leach aren't fooling anyone, they have some pay back on their minds....I expect some serious hate from those 2 this weekend.......

[TheCityThatReeds20]

This might be the only place in the nfl that the fans care about the fullback just as much as the running back.

[Tpham231]

i love Leach. I see at least 3 impact blocks this game :)

[mark0408]

Lee Evans Ben Grubbs Tom Zibikowski and Chris Carr did not practice today

[crickitt]

Yes Sirrr!!! We like the FULLBACK!! We like the SAFETY!! GO RAVENS!! Hit 'Em HARD!

[BigBullyDefense52]

OK we have to be the loudest stadium in the NFL now. Theres no way Seattle is still louder than us. Lets all get even LOUDER this Sunday! Lets make M&T Bank the loudest stadium in the NFL. The loudest stadiums in the league have the best home records.

[crickitt]

Hey..that's right...It's not personal..This is business!! It's about the Team! GO RAVENS!!

[jrs034]

i want him to run over Brian Cushing like he did against KC in the pre-season

[Militant X 1]

Ray should have a monster running game due to Vonta smacking up his former defense. i can't wait to see it!

~Mili

[kuhl_ravens]

excited to see leach blow someone up!

[RavensRockinRings]

Leach is like a snow plow paving the way for rice and ricky. He may be the best weapon for controlling the clock, and his energy is apparent. As for pollard....I hope he gets a pic 6 to shut them up about his covering skills.

[RabidRavensfan]

I'm already excited!! I can't wait for these two guys to play with that gigantic chip on their shoulder. Everyone speaks of Mase trying to give them our scheme, but everyone forgets about our new additions giving us theirs. Kick some butt Ravens!!!!!

[Kruml31]

Leach is a beast i just wish we still had Leron in the backfield with rice but hey williams seems to be working out nicely

[ravenomics]

Pollard man, how can you not LOVE this guy.

[coreyadams]

Leach give us the secrets!
Tell the defense what to expect.