All it takes is a quick internet search or picking up a news paper to read Bucs fans and reporters in the Tampa Bay area hating on running back LeGarrette Blount for a number of reasons. Complaints such as he isn’t smart enough to learn the playbook or how to pass block, he can’t catch, he dances in the hole, fumbles too much and the list goes on. Now, I have no intention of defending these issues because I’ve made the same complaints. With that being said the guy can be a very productive back and has been.
People saying he can’t catch or be productive in the passing game are basing that on how he was used and not on what he can do. In 2011 Blount was able to catch 15 passes for 148 yards which isn’t going to turn any heads but of those 15 passes 6 were converted for first downs. That’s a better first down average than the Bucs main pass catching running back Kregg Lumpkin who converted 13 of his 41 receptions into first downs.
Another complaint about Blount is how bad he is in short yardage situations. He dances looking to bounce outside rather than blasting through the hole. It’s true and I’ve seen and complained about it as well. However, last season Blount averaged 2.9 yards per carry after contact, so he has the ability to break tackles and make people miss. It’s pretty clear that the previous coaching staff didn’t run a tight ship with the numerous reports of players arriving to meetings late (and some even sleeping) it’s possible with solid coaching Blount can become a better short yardage running back.
Blount obviously has a fumbling issue. As a professional running back you can’t fumble the ball every 45 touches and expect to be trusted. Some of Blount’s fumbles come on the second effort where he has the ball stripped away. No fumble is acceptable and as Bucs Coach Greg Schiano has already said anyone who can’t protect the ball won’t get touches. Other running backs in the past have had fumbling issue and have found ways to correct the issue. For example Adrian Peterson over the first three years of his career fumbled every 49th time he touched the ball but since has fumbled only twice. That’s a fumble for every 272 touches. It’s conceivable if the proper attention he placed on ball security he could improve this area of his game. If Blount doesn’t cut down on the fumbles the Bucs could lose one of their best offensive weapons.
With Greg Schiano repeatedly saying he wants to run the ball and go over the top with play action passes it would be hard to imagine not having Blount get the majority of the carries for a Bucs team that lacks depth at the running back position. Maybe Blount will never be an every down back or the fantasy leader in running back receptions but he doesn’t need to be. If Blount can run full steam ahead and limit his fumbles he is clearly in for a big year running behind a good offensive line.
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