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Jets sign DT Leki Fotu


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Arizona Cardinals need to give up on the Leki Fotu experiment

 

The fourth-year defensive tackle has accomplished very little for an Arizona Cardinals organization that drafted him back in 2020.

By Jim Koch | Aug 12, 2023

 

Arizona Cardinals v Las Vegas Raiders

 

Arizona Cardinals v Las Vegas Raiders / Michael Owens/GettyImages

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Three years ago, the Arizona Cardinals added a defensive tackle out of the University of Utah with one of the club's two fourth-round draft picks. The squad needed help stopping the run, and there was hope that the 114th-overall selection could assist the Redbirds defense with that particular problem.

Unfortunately, Leki Fotu has been a colossal disappointment. In his three campaigns with Arizona, the former Ute has appeared in 45 games, and has been credited with 12 starts. Fotu has racked up just 61 tackles during that time, and has one measly quarterback sack on his NFL resume.

The startling lack of production didn't stop the Cardinals from listing Fotu as a starter on the team's first official depth chart of 2023. Surely, the first-year coaching staff is looking at the 6 foot 5, 330 pounder with rose-colored glasses. Is defensive coordinator Nick Rallis really willing to have Fotu out there with the first-string unit when the season gets underway on September 10th?

The Cards can do a whole lot better at the nose tackle position than the painfully-mediocre Fotu. The 24-year-old, at best, has proven to be nothing more than backup material. Frankly, it wouldn't be surprising in the least if Fotu fails to make it past final cuts on August 29th.

Was hurt mostly last season.  Depth i guess.

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1 minute ago, rayzor said:

Arizona Cardinals need to give up on the Leki Fotu experiment

 

The fourth-year defensive tackle has accomplished very little for an Arizona Cardinals organization that drafted him back in 2020.

By Jim Koch | Aug 12, 2023

 

Arizona Cardinals v Las Vegas Raiders

 

Arizona Cardinals v Las Vegas Raiders / Michael Owens/GettyImages

facebooktwitterreddit
 

Three years ago, the Arizona Cardinals added a defensive tackle out of the University of Utah with one of the club's two fourth-round draft picks. The squad needed help stopping the run, and there was hope that the 114th-overall selection could assist the Redbirds defense with that particular problem.

Unfortunately, Leki Fotu has been a colossal disappointment. In his three campaigns with Arizona, the former Ute has appeared in 45 games, and has been credited with 12 starts. Fotu has racked up just 61 tackles during that time, and has one measly quarterback sack on his NFL resume.

The startling lack of production didn't stop the Cardinals from listing Fotu as a starter on the team's first official depth chart of 2023. Surely, the first-year coaching staff is looking at the 6 foot 5, 330 pounder with rose-colored glasses. Is defensive coordinator Nick Rallis really willing to have Fotu out there with the first-string unit when the season gets underway on September 10th?

The Cards can do a whole lot better at the nose tackle position than the painfully-mediocre Fotu. The 24-year-old, at best, has proven to be nothing more than backup material. Frankly, it wouldn't be surprising in the least if Fotu fails to make it past final cuts on August 29th.

 

This a fan article or something?

Dude is a 340lb NT who is a former 4th round pick. And this goof is whining about sack totals?

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Anyone who expected the Organizations real focus to shift from Defense to Offense was and is (IMO) fooling themselves.

JD and Saleh have shown, time and again, that they believe an elite defense, supported by a just-adequate-enough offense, is their planned key to success.

They also have shown (again, IMO) that they, like many fans, have a "Rodgers will fix it all" belief about the Jets offense.

So seeing what so far has been a slight bias to Defensive signings over Offensive signings at key need positions (OT, WR) is not a surprise.

On the bright side, we have an adequate backup QB now, even if his health is a bit unreliable.  

And it's very, very early, so OT and WR may still be coming, in what remains of FA, or more likely, in the draft.

Personally I'm still hoping a good OT falls to us, and that we can steal Johnny Wilson the big, tall WR from Florida State in the 3rd.  And maybe a QB prospect late in the draft too.

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Run stuffing DT is a sneaky need this off-season. If there's anything the Jets judgment can be trusted with right now it's the defense, which has become a factory. Hope Fotu plays up to his size and helps stop the run next year

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5 minutes ago, Barkus said:

This guy replaces woods who is over 10yrs older and coming off a torn Achilles 

Rich Cimini @RichCimini
#Jets are signing former Cardinals DT Leki Fotu, source confirms (per media reports).

🏈6-5, 334. Fits the Al Woods mold for the DL. Joins Javon Kinlaw as interior depth
🏈Former 4th round pick in 2020, Utah. Turns 26 in Aug
🏈Played 298 snaps in '23, primarily first and second down run defender. 28 tackles, 5 TFL
🏈Career: 3.5 sacks, 56 games, 21 starts.

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1 minute ago, Green Ghost said:

I’m going to enjoy watching the Sunshine Boys here put lipstick on this pig.

pigs piglets GIF by The Dodo

How about we needed DT's? No one is saying he's great but you do have to man the position ffs.

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