Nice Idea, Though Misguided
May 8th, 2011
It seems many are already jumping on the Allen Bradford bandwagon and to Joe’s knowledge, the man has yet to visit the Tampa Bay area since being drafted by the Bucs in the sixth round of last weekend’s draft.
Add Troy Ballard to the list who writes for something called NationalFootballAuthority.com. Ballard seems to believe the Bucs will become a bruising, smashmouth running team with Bradford on the roster.
With Tampa Bay drafting Bradford, that gives them two running backs that are over 235 pounds. The combo of Blount and Bradford has the potential to simply abuse defenses, as they both create size mismatches on nearly every run play.
Combine the weight and size advantage of Blount and Bradford and throw in the speed of Williams, coming off of the bench, and it is going to be a tough rushing attack to slow down. Morris has created a perfect monster in the backfield of size and speed.
Well, that sounds nice but it’s off the mark. Joe loves LaGarrette Blount but he’s not a power runner despite his size. If Blount was a power runner, the Bucs would have beaten the Dixie Chicks in Atlanta this past season.
Ballard may be on to something with Cadillac Williams coming off the bench. Williams seemed to be his best when he had spot running chances as teams were keying on Blount and Cadillac was able to exploit that.
Joe likes what Ballard is suggesting, even though it is not accurate. Just because a dude is huge like Blount doesn’t mean he will be the next coming of Mike Alstott.
May 8th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
blount was diffcult to take down once he got to the 2nd and 3rd level of the def. though. Bradford can handle spelling blount and short yardage, i mean spelling him in the 3rd and 4th quarters if the bucs have a lead.
May 8th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Blount is certainly a power back…. It just takes him a few yards to get there
Bradford is the unquestioned #3. Until he can start catching out of the backfield(his college stats suggest otherwise) he will stay behind Caddy until Caddy is gone.
May 8th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
the dagger will be not in the form of “another” big back…but in a speed back….RB position is extremely tenuous….without Blount last year history would be entirely different….FWD…without Blount this year we are without a RB….here’s hoping this impasse ends soon and FA/undrafted…starts ASAP !
May 8th, 2011 at 2:08 pm
How isnt BLount a power back? is that a joke? He powered his way through every little hole the bucs offensive line. Blount not a power back, HA!
May 8th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
kfc…reading comprehension
May 8th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Ok. Blount is not a Power Back .. I guess I will leave this one to the experts.
Blount just runs too high and hesitates near the Goal. To say he runs without Power … lol
May 8th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
I see what Joe is saying. Blount runs with power, but he is not a short yardage back, at least not yet.
May 8th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Just ask the 49er linebackers if they think Blount is a power back. I for one think he qualifies
May 8th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Is Blount a power back in the traditional sense in that he attacks the line of scrimmage? No. Is he a powerful running back in the sense that he is hard to tackle and runs over opposing tacklers? Yes. Since he has not had the benefit of a Buc training camp, it’s hard and perhaps unfair to categorize him at this point. Interestingly, the knock on Bradford at USC is that he did not utilize his power enough, instead opting to evade tacklers ie, Reggie Bush, and protect his knees. If we get a suitable training camp, this could however be a dynamic duo.
May 8th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
It depends on your definition of power back. Blount is not a prototypical power in that he can move the pile from 2 yards behind to 2 yards in front of the l.o.s.
He runs high and needs to much field/time to get up to speed / power. Blount is only powerful after the first level.
Alstott, for example, was powerful from virtually step one, E Graham breaks l.o.s. Tackles also, blount has not shown that ability and his coaches gm have admitted that. I agree with joe. Sorry joe.
May 8th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Thomas,
To, Too & Two
Figure it out…
May 8th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Blount has not shown he knows what he is doing…other than his God given talent…which every swinging dick on D next year will know about what he did in his rookie year.
If he tries that hurdle thing again…he is toast !
May 8th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
It seems we’re having an issue with word definition more than anything. Of course Blount runs with power… tacklers slipped off the guy like he was covered in Crisco.
He doesn’t, however, run “North/South” and with powerful pad level. He runs with hesitation. A huge man that runs like a little man aka Tampa’s very own Brandon Jacobs. Just so happens he’s country strong.
May 8th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
When u type from an iphone mostly, and contribute substantively, u are bound to make a grammatical error every now and again. I dontbproofread my comments, I am sure you were able to comprehend the meaning hiregreg, and your name makes no sense since greg olson was hired.
How about trying something more sensible, like: retaingregolson or promotegregolson or extendgregolson? We will know it is u buddy dont worry.
May 8th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
@ Joe, I haven’t seen a pic of my favorite Buc cheerleader in a while…..WTH ?
May 8th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
I find it funny you make fun of another article that talks about the Bucs in a positive way and then go and say Blount isn’t a power back.
Who’s wrong here?
Joe is.
May 8th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
blount was in an option zone blocking scheme in college and was allowed to pick his hole and make his cut. absolutely nothing wrong with that style, obviously. once he cuts and gets north and south get the hell out of his way.
May 8th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
@ Joe, I haven’t seen a pic of my favorite Buc cheerleader in a while…..WTH ?
see a mother now…my gawd it is Mothers Day…sweet mothers milk
May 8th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Talks in third person:
Power backs don’t get stopped by cornerbacks on fourth-and-one inside the red zone.
Or did you not watch the Dixie Chicks game in Atlanta? Or, did you not read the post?
From your comment, Joe would guess you did neither.
May 8th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
I think we should pick up Noel Devine once the CBA is resolved. Who agrees?
May 8th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@Gwchnoh…
Derrick Locke
for me
May 8th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
I agree. Noel Devine is who we should pick up when free agency starts up again. He was supposed to go much earlier in the draft and was considered one of the top backs but fell for certain reasons. I heard some things about a few character concerns (sounds like he could be another Blount UFA pickup).
May 8th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
@Joe: The more you talk in third person, the more you hurt your own image. Just stop it otherwise become a WWE wrestler, where talking is third person is allowed, but that is because the fan base is retarded. Just like you. Idiot.
May 8th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Not sure what your watching Joe but to suggest Blount is not a power back sounds like something Thomas might say. The fact he didn’t do well in short yardage only means he needs to change his approach when the team only needs a yard or two. I’m sure when given a chance to work on that with the coaching staff it will not continue to be an issue. But watching would be tacklers bounce off Blount like bowling pins suggest otherwise about Not being a power back.
May 8th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
Better than you:
Strange. Joe has always used third-person prose from the day he started this site, less than three years ago, yet Joe has become the most-visited Bucs-dedicated, news-only site on the Internet. Joe’s site has done nothing but grow from the day this site was launched. If anything, Joe image is enhanced each day.
If anyone is an “idiot,” it would be you sir.
Funny how jealous people are of success.
If this is such a horrible site, feel free to start your own Bucs site and see if you can pull in upwards of 10,000+ visitors in a day. Then come run smack with Joe.
May 8th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Brad:
Blount may be a power back someday, he isn’t now. He doesn’t run people over. Is he hard to bring down? Sure, so was Warrick Dunn. No one in their right mind would say Dunn was a power back.
Again, watch the critical fourth down play near the end of the Dixie Chicks game when Blount couldn’t pick up one yard when he was brought down on a solo tackle by a cornerback. Powerbacks destroy a cornerback in those situations.
Blount is not — yet — a Mike Alstott or a Jerome Bettis.
May 8th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Thank you for linking to our article and NFAuth supports its writers and their opinions on all topics that are published. Take care.
May 8th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
‘Better Than You’,
Kick rocks. Your postings are annoying.
Joe, keep up the good work. This IS the best TBB site and I check it all day, every day.
genocideD
May 8th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
National Football Authority:
Keep pumping out thought-provoking articles and Joe will highlight them. Thanks.
May 8th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Whatever Blount is, it is unique, and it gets the job done. Blount was also a rookie and an undrafted one at that. He ran for a Grand, and deserves major props in a shortened season for him. He didn’t sustain in major injuries and took some bumps and bruises flying through the air. He is a special kind of player and I look for him to get better each season. He reminds me of Mike Ford from Riverview High, then Sarasota High, & USF. Iremember when I first saw Ford play freshman high school ball and he was so much like Bount, only better, but at a lower level of play for sure. I can totally relate to the writer’s evaluation and belief but we’ll have to just wait and see what we’ve got. I hope it is very special all the way around, and I can’t wait to see Bowers healthy and tearing up the field.
May 8th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Im sure Manny Lawson will disagree with you about him not being a power back. Kerry Rhodes just stepped aside so he didnt get run over, so im thinking he feels Blount is a power back. Youre right he wasnt a power back on that one play but on that play he bounced outside and DeCoud wrapped up his legs……..also DeCoud is a safety 😉
May 8th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
This change-of-pace back phenomena that started with Darren Sproyles may be coming to an end. Small backs just can’t take the pounding they get in the Nfl. The reason that both Devine and Locke didn’t get picked is their injury history. Don’t be surprised if the Bucs bring in another bruiser like John Clay (Wisc) for the PS. If they do bring a smaller back, it will be a bowling ball type like 200lb+ Chad Spann.
May 8th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Whenever I hear the word “misguided” I can’t help but pray for Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children.
May 8th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
I was so upset when Mike Ford had to miss his final season @ USF. Holtz had just came in and wasn’t going to tolerate misconduct, and so Ford was cut for drug use I believe. He was such a good power-back that Leavitt never utilized enough until the last final games/bowl of the prior season.
May 8th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
personally, i could care less if blount ever turns into a great goalline back, i think he ultimately will, but he is so good at finding his way into the secondary and ripping off 20, 30, and 40 yard runs that i am more than happy with that.
May 8th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Blount is a power back in the sense that he can make exploit small creases that smaller backs can’t and is hard to bring down once he gets going. Short yardage is a lot about decision making and technique which I expect him to learn.
May 8th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Blount is indeed a power runner, it’s just that it’s not at the line of scrimmage…it’s once he gets going. I think it’s more accurate to say he’s not a short yardage back. He is quick, fast & elusive like a 200lb back but being such a load he’s hard to bring down once he’s past the line. Blount is nothing at all like Alstott. If you want an NFL back that Blount could be a clone of it would be Eddie George. He was built almost identical to Blount and his running style was similar. Truth is, I’d take Eddie George all day long over Alstott.
May 8th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
Blount is indeed a power back who needs to work on short yardage situations. Not a power back? LMAO!
May 8th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
I dont think Blount can be analyzed by that one play. Im pretty sure If Blount went up against the puny ATL cornerback, he would run him over 9/10 times. The corner was the second guy that had to come in to tackle Blount on that play. Blount has ran over enough people and bounced off enough tackles to be called a power back. I bet other players on D hate tackling him. Nuff’ said.
May 8th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Bradford will hopefully be the guy who can pick up that crucial 3rd & short or 4th & goal from inside the one yard line. We lacked that last year. Thats the only thing I can see this guy doing. Special teams as well, but we need to pick up a speed back. Derrick Locke would be great if this lockout ever ends!!!
May 8th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
And, I think Laurence Maroney will be a Free Agent this offseason. What about picking this guy up. The contract shouldn’t be too expensive and he would make a solid pairing with Blount and have Caddy come in on occasion. I’ve always liked his game and thought he never got enough carries in NE. And, last season in Denver doesn’t matter to me because that was just a mess over there all season. We definetly need another RB and signing Maroney and Locke would solidify our RB core with Blount and possibly a resigned Caddy.
We can get rid of Graham and let Bradford try to make this team because he isn’t guaranteed a spot yet and should have to work for it.
May 8th, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Watching Blount drag Troy Polamolu 5 yards in the Steelers game makes me say he’s more a power back than anything else. I don’t think Warrick Dunn could have done that, even though Dunn was difficult to bring down it was more because it was hard to get a hand on him than the fact that he could drag people.
I’d agree that he’s not taking on hits at this point. Coming from a zone run offense, his first instinct is to see the blocking and make a cut. That’s not conducive to short yardage situations. He can learn to be a North/South runner when the play calls for it, he’ll just have to go against some of his natural instincts.
Thing is, I don’t feel that “taking on defenders” automatically makes you a power back. I’d say one of the greatest backs ever that also took on defenders wasn’t exactly a power back, and that’s Walter Payton. He had elusiveness and speed, agility and some power. He never wanted to go out of bounds, so he’d take on a hit and get extra yardage. He was a great back, but I wouldn’t classify him as a power back, and probably wouldn’t classify Blount as one either. Blount is an every down back. He can carry on first and second down with the elusiveness to break big plays, yet willing to take on the hit and drag guys to gain extra yardage. He needs to work on his short yardage running. That does not mean he doesn’t run with power.
May 9th, 2011 at 12:47 am
please lord let thomas get his i phone takin away by his mom…for 2 reasons, 1 hes an idiot 2 if he is late to work none of us will get our big macs….heres a news flash thomas….. your football talk is babble…go press your uniform for a tough day at the drive through, leave the bucs talk to us big people!!! i will honk at you at the bus stop dude!!
May 9th, 2011 at 2:58 am
So if Blount isn’t a
Power back, what type of back is he?
May 9th, 2011 at 3:03 am
In general I think you have to say
Blount is a power back because you wouldn’t say he was a
Quick/elusive back, would you? I understand the goal line and short yardage plays argument, but I do wonder what blights numbers say about it? Maybe someone knows where to get that. Even still, there is no denying Blount runs with power, and has a powerful running style, contrasted with the fact that he doesn’t have elite speed suggests the only definition that could be made is that he is in fact a power back, just not a complete one.
May 9th, 2011 at 4:23 am
he is a power back… but bad at it… it isnt that he isnt a power back, its that he has trouble finding the holes, and suffers from the bigger they are the harder they fall weakness (see multiple times tripping by shoe-laces in the back field) he also has horrendous trouble finding the correct hole… therefore losing speed one of the things (in physics) directly corrolative to ‘power’. whihc is why in the back field he seems uncertain and… is overpowered. and at that goal line scenario from the falcons he dove and was met in midair by a corner back… but his knee never actually hit the ground he FUMBLED… (it was called poorly) he was never ‘down’ (unless you can be down if your knee goes down on another player, i cant remember im recovering from a pretty severe concussion)
in conclusion, he is tough runner, with good stability and athleticism, has power and CAN cutback (redskins game reversed the field for … i think first down) but needs to improve his backfield vision and confidence.
May 9th, 2011 at 4:29 am
i did love blount running over palamaloulal (spelled poorly on purpose) in his first few rushes… that was epic, if running defenders over is a prerequisite for being labeled a power back, i think that would be a credit to him, also i think he injured a few players this year by running them over, i will have to go back to the tape to confirm though
May 9th, 2011 at 4:42 am
Blount’s 1st nfl run
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZnFSv1fwF8
Blount trucking Haralson, a 49ers linebacker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYtIa8ehHgE&feature=related
and 3 runs here at :08 :56 and 1:00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZh9nlD3QTA&feature=related
May 9th, 2011 at 7:49 am
Blount is a power back who looks for daylight. He is smart.
Remember the days when warrick dunn, all 165 lbs of him, would run directly up the gut slamming into the line of scrimmage? I hated that style that Dungy taught. Horrible running offense.
Today, when I see Blount bouncing to get a better hole, he is looking to get through that line of scrimmage away from the beasts, as he should. Once through, he breaks arm tackles and bulls LBs and DBs over like no one else. Bount is a power back with just enough elusiveness to make him what he is, dynomite!
Add Kendrick Taylor and Bradford as blocking backs/ Bradford as secondary HB,while throwing the young TEs in the mix, and you got a recipe forf a power running game with TEs and HBs coming out of the back field on passing plays… cant wait for Madden 2012!
May 9th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Go back to ESPN, Pat…you wanna be sports writer.
May 9th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Personally, I don’t care if Blount is a powerback or not. He gets the yards…that’s all I care about.
I think when this town thinks of a power back, they picture Alstott…but he was an exception from the norm. There were plenty of players who said they’d never faced a harder hitter.
Probably, though, Blount is a mixture of the two. Just a tiny amount of finess, and above average power.
And I think Bradford was brought in to compliment the blocking game FOR Blount to reach that 2nd level (along with our new TE).
May 9th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Blount lead the league in Broken Tackles and Yards after contact last year.
Joe I think, you are confusing power back with short yardage back. Blount is absolutely a power back, he’s just not great at short yardage.
Totally different things.