Blount Already In The Falcons’ Heads
November 1st, 2010
Chatting with Bucs fans today around town, Joe is realizing that a lot of fans are not getting just how much better the Bucs are now that LeGarrette Blount will be carrying the ball 15 to 20 times a game.
The guy is a serious threat not only as an offensive weapon, but he’s in the heads of the defense. Few want to tackle the 250-pound manbeast. And on top of that, now defenses know he’ll go over them as well as through them, if he has to.
A reporter around Falcons camp asked Atlanta defensive tackle Corey Peters about Blount today, per CBSSports.com. Here’s what he had to say:
T Corey Peters on Tampa Bay RB LeGarrette Blount, who had 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Arizona on Sunday: “He’s going to be someone we have to bring our pads with and be ready to play.”
Now what would have happened if Peters was asked about Cadillac Williams?
Joe suspects the answer might have gone like this: “Caddy’s done a lot in this league and he had a big game against the Saints last year. I saw that on film. Don’t let his 2.5 yards a carry fool you; he’s a dangerous back.”
Joe can’t emphasize enough how much Blount changes the offense.
As Joe has written before, Blount might not pick up the blitz like Cadillac, but an effective running game also will go a very long way in protecting Josh Freeman.
November 1st, 2010 at 3:35 pm
I think the blitz pick up will come. One of the timeouts called by Free yesterday happened in part because Blount got confused, ran to the sidelines, and had to be chased back out for a play.
He is still familiarizing himself with the offense, so I could see some improvement over the next few games. More snaps, more good.
November 1st, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Joe
Can you or any other football expert(s) tell me why can’t Blount start and let Caddy be the 3rd down back, specially during passing downs? I think it would help Caddy’s career if he comes in after the defense is all bruised up because of Blount style of running, but what do I know right.
November 1st, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Of course he can start. What do you want Joe to say. Just put the guy in for the opening play and he’s a starter. Poof. It’s not complicated
November 1st, 2010 at 4:06 pm
I want to see EG out as FB and Lorig in as our FB 275 FB who is quick is a good thing to me.. no disrespect to Graham but I like the idea of a 500+ pound backfield. and thats just the RB throw in the QB and we are pushing close to 800 lbs.
November 1st, 2010 at 4:08 pm
I heard last week that Blount said he is up to speed on about 40% of the playbook and working every day on the other 60%. Now, I don’t know where he is on picking up the rest, but there are obvious reasons he’s part time, even with the great ability he’s shown. If our offense is limited to less than 50% of the playbook, it’s too easy for opposing defenses to read what we’re doing and stop it. It still has to be a mix of Blount and Caddy, that doesn’t mean Blount won’t get his share of time. He is the “featured” back, maybe not the starter. Picking up 40% in the 6 or 7 weeks he’s had to study is pretty good and he’ll continue to get better. We don’t want what happened to the Cowboys to happen to us (failed rookie blitz pickup leading to Romo’s broken collar bone). If Freeman goes down, the season is pretty much done. Be patient, enjoy the carries that Blount is getting. His time will come next year to be the full time starter, when he knows the full playbook.
November 1st, 2010 at 4:16 pm
Totally agree, BamBam.
November 1st, 2010 at 4:19 pm
What bambam said…
November 1st, 2010 at 4:28 pm
I dream of next year IF Huggins is healthy and playing ‘change of pace back’ and touching the ball 8-10 times a game.
Blount carrying 20+ then Huggins getting 10 touches. Could be awesome.
pound! pound! pound! C_YA!
Joe is right, the passing game has no choice but to open up even more for Freeman, Williams, Benn, Stroughter, Spurlock, K2…..
The makings of a GREAT offense could be happening before our eyes.
November 1st, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Agree Bam Bam. Besides, they don’t want to work him to death either. Caddy still needs 10+ carries and some catches out of the backfield if for no other reason than to rest Blount.
Still, can not wait for “Huggy Bear & the Blount!”
November 1st, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Ya gotta wonder what the Titans and their fans are thinking about now.
November 1st, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Dave,
Not trying to be negative, because honestly I think I was the biggest Huggins fan around outside of his parents, but he was an undersized, undrafted longshot that had speed and quickness. Now that he tore his ACL, his chances of coming back are slim and none. I’d love to be wrong on this one, but I think we need to move forward with the idea that we need a #2 and #3 RB to go along with Blount.
We might keep Caddie as our #3 since he knows the offense, but Huggins really isn’t likely to be part of any future plans.
I like two guys that are kinda no name long shots. One is Carolina’s #4 RB Tyrell Sutton, who is a free agent next year. The other is a Boise State RB projected to be a late round pick. His name is Doug Martin. They are both short, stocky guys with great vision, balance and quickness. Not real flashy, just strong little bastards that get the job done. Kinda Maurice Jones Drew type guys. They both have highlight videos on YouTube if you care to see them.
November 1st, 2010 at 6:26 pm
JDouble, I agree. Unfortunately a speed back coming off knee surgery that was iffy at best to be successful in the league will probably have no future now. We will need to look for another back in the draft, probably mid to late rounds. I’d love to think that Caddy might be resigned to an average deal to come back as the 3rd down guy. We also have Graham that can move back to tailback, now that Lorig is producing at FB.
November 1st, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Old man Graham is like 32. His time is coming. I know fans always say this about players, but I hope Graham sticks around as some sort of mentor/coach when he decides to hang up the cleats. If he could instill 10% of his work ethis and team player mentality into some of our players, he’d be worth his weight in gold.
November 1st, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Graham needs to be the #2 behind Blount. The last time our backfield actually had any long term excitement was when Graham was carrying the ball. Who cares how old he is? If he was the #1 then yeah age is an issue, but I’m talking about the #2 spot. Make him a running back again where he can still perform well and make Lorig the fullback. I hear he’s good at the position.
November 1st, 2010 at 10:31 pm
Huggy is probably done in Tampa. I liked the idea of possibly Lorig blocking for Blount.
As defenses move up more men in the box to stop Blount, it means less coverage for one of our receivers or tight ends. If Winslow don’t burn someone, our other receivers will, and Josh has the arm to deliver the deep ball. Tampa must be a nightmare to prepare for lately.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:47 am
I can just see the Bucs in passing situations with Lorig at FB and either Blount or Graham at HB and keeping a max protect in. Both Lorig and Blount/Graham is almost like having 7 linemen protect for Freeman with K2/Williams/Benn and/or Stroughter/Spurlock in. Someone’s gotta get open, or the field will be wide open for Freeman to run.
November 2nd, 2010 at 8:54 am
Raheem needs to give the Falcons a heavy dose Lorig blocking for LGB. Sprinkle in some field stretching passes.
If the D can hold up and keep Atlanta’s offense off the field. The Bucs can win this.