Blount & Lumpkin Had Nearly Equal Playing Time
January 30th, 2012
Joe does not fall into the rather large camp of Bucs fans, local pundits and former Bucs coaches that thinks LeGarrette Blount is a one-dimensional running back incapable of being effective on third down.
Joe sees absolutely no reason why Blount shouldn’t catch 40+ balls a year and rack up good yardage. All he needs is an offensive coordinator that has a clue how to use his versatility and ability in open space.
Therefore, the latest stats from BSPN on NFC South running backs is yet another reason for Joe to bang his head against the wall repeatedly. Per BSPN, Blount was on the field for 38.4 percent of Bucs offensive snaps in 2011. Kregg Lumpkin had opportunities on 35.9 percent of snaps.
Sure, Blount missed a couple of games because of injury, but Lumpkin’s role was very limited early in the season when the Bucs were winning with Earnest Graham as third-down back.
Regardless, the thought of Blount essentially getting as much playing time as Lumpkin is astounding.
Joe still swears he can see the smiles on opposing defenses when Blount trotted off the field on third down.
January 30th, 2012 at 8:07 pm
That stat is for losers… which the Bucs most definitely were.
January 30th, 2012 at 8:14 pm
^ lolol
January 30th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
Blumpkin is really bad, never understood why he was in there….if claibourne is gone take Richardson or the big OT from Stanford…….Obviously our coaching staff was clueless…
January 30th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
Speaking of Graham , will he back next year ?
January 30th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
They could try to use Madu like sproles???
January 30th, 2012 at 8:39 pm
Blount was frequently late to meetings (per reports) out of shape and did know the playbook completely especially pass blocking assignments and checks. He also has a serious fumbling problem, hence, he is not an every down back.
January 30th, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Ridiculous! Blount is the real deal! This guy has potential to be one of the best ever. The Bucs have never had a superstar RB, now we’ve got one and they muck it up! They being Olsen and Rah. Maybe he’ll get used the right way now, and you’ll see this guy lead the league,talent like his is rare USE IT!!!
January 30th, 2012 at 8:43 pm
Blount is a thumper, but we need Richardson, he is an every down back.
January 30th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott might have something to say about that.
Richardson and Blount could be WD-40 2.0.
January 30th, 2012 at 8:46 pm
Madu and Lumpkin are not backs, or depth. We need a horse, a reliable horse.
Richardson is that, and we need to get this guy here. He is Just what Freeman needs.
January 30th, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Also,
James Wylder was our other “star” RB
January 30th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
As the 5th selection overall even Caddy had to develop into a receiving, every down back. The Juggs machine & some coaching had a huge impact on his career.
January 30th, 2012 at 8:52 pm
If LGB was out of shape,and played the way he did, look out when he is in shape! The fumbling I don’t see as a problem, partly because they were out of effort, trying to get more yards usually with a couple dudes on him. I think structure and disapline will benefit him tremendously. He can be an every down back.
January 30th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
Don’t know what all the fuss is about Blount. He doesn’t hit the hole with any authority. Too lazy to learn the playbook. Will only try if there is a whole big enough to drive a truck through otherwise he stops and looses yards. He’s good when he gets through the line but that’s not very often. Maybe new coaches can get him to run hard every play but right now he’s not a complete running back, can’t count on him for much.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:08 pm
Thomas…how do you explain Tiki Barber who averaged something like 8 fumbles per year for 4 years? Was Tiki an every down back?
Newsflash!:
Blount does not have that many fumbles. He didn’t come close to Barber’s number of fumbles.
Are you one of those people who think Preston Parker is a good player? He HAD 8 fumbles, didn’t he?
Fumbling is a minor fault that can be corrected. Blount just needs to spend time fixing it, and hopefully he will this off season.
Just curious though…how many drops did Blount have last year? From pass catching?
As many as Lumpkin? As many as Winslow?
The kid was asked to become a pass catching back without training for it in the off season. He, along with all the young players, were forced to learn on the fly…and it wasn’t like the coaches were “teaching” them. (except Milliard on dline)
Only during one game last year did I see Olson going over plays with his offense, trying to help them learn…and that was near the end of the season.
And Morris NEVER worked with the defense on the sidelines. NEVER.
So without an off season training program, when were they supposed to get better? During the week, between games, they were going over game plans. If fact, the players consistently commented that they were trying plays for the first time IN GAMES, because they were not learning them in practice.
I pointed out this issue LONG before the season ended.
I was supportive of Morris (not so much of Olson) but I never made excuses for him. When he screwed up, I called him out on it. The two things I did say on his behalf were:
1) he had the potential to be a great head coach
2) he was learning on the fly, just like the players were
I STILL think he can take what he’s learned and one day become a good head coach. HE should have never been allowed to wear 2 hats while he was learning, that’s for sure.
But Olson plain out sucked as OC.
Raheem should have never been DC.
Frankly, I think Millard would make a decent DC. I liked his attitude.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Speaking of Caddy…he’s a free agent as well. Funny how his new team did not hold onto him either.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:11 pm
I guess the fuss is, he didn’t play a full season and still gained over 1000 yards his 1st year, basically saving the season. If anyone remembers we had NO running game Caddy wasn’t exactly tearing it up! Teams had to respect the running game. Also made Caddy better, he had a new role as the 3rd down back.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:22 pm
But that was when he was still trying.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:25 pm
I disagree… All this proves is Lumpkin was terrible. Using Blount anymore would have been just as stupid. We need another RB and a player like Richardson doesn’t come around too often. The dude is an absolute monster. Bucs need to finally take some initiative, draft a playmaker for #5, get the offense rolling, and pump some life into this team.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:29 pm
@Thomas 2.2
…pretty sure you just get on here to throw bulls**t against the wall to see what sticks….your facts are crap…your knowledge of the game…isn’t….and I’m thinking that if your math is that bad your girlfriend might be right about size mattering….first of all Blount has NO fumbling problem…385 carries with 6 fumbles is 1 every 64 carries… Alstott’s career carries were 872 with 15 fumbles…..that’s one every 58 !!…not as good as Blount, and I don’t think anyone had a problem calling #40 a complete back…Blount caught 15 balls last year for a 10 yard average….not exactly an INCOMPLETE back….that’s more than Ray Rice…Brandon Jacobs…Lesean McCoy AND Darren Sproles…when you have Radio as a head coach and Gump Olsen calling plays, Emmett would look like crap !…not sure why JOE let you back on here because you bring no game there Skippy….do your homework or go home ya tool…
January 30th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
Blount had 780 yards and a 4.2 average with 5 fumbles lost and 14 catches for the season 14.5 games. Before injury, Graham had 206 yards and a 6.5 average (109 yards vs the Saints, Blount Had 72 vs the Saints) and 26 catches in 6 games (really 2 as RB).
There is virtually no drop off from LB to EG except potential for more potential for breakout run but also more potential for a negative play.
Fumbling is never “minor.” Tiki did have a problem but the most he ever lost in 1 season was 5 (twice) with approximately 300 carries while Blount lost 5 this year with less than 200 carries.
Tiki was a hard worker, Blount is lazy.
Stop with Rah talk, praising him after what happened to him is almost as stupid as your suggestion of moving McCoy to MLB in a 3-4. Rah is a disaster, he is not capable of head coaching in the UFL or even high school. He will never get another chance.
Greg Olson is a much better coach than RahRah, Olson was hampered by undisciplined and unprofessional players like blount, Williams and Winslow that RahRah protected instead of disciplined.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Any word, even rumors at this point, of any coordinators being pursued by us. I got ants in my pants. I want Butch.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:56 pm
Noleriff:
Please dont bring false stats here, you will be exposed. Alstott had 1359 (not 872) carries and 23 fumbles about the same as Alstott. – and most will say that Alstott had fumbling problems.
Nobody who understands football will argue that RB’s receiving talents are judged by his yards per catch. Why? Because, for example, if you catch one screen pass and gain 15 yards but drop the next 10 passes you will have a 15 yards per catch average but you will be a horrible pass-catching back.
Also, the more catches you have your average will go down. To argue that Blount is a better receiving back than Rice and McCoy bc he had a 10 yard average over such few catches – is one of the dumbest and weakest arguments ever on JBF (sounds like a Pete Doucher special).
Rice has averaged about 70 catches and 700 yards receiving for the last 3 seasons. That is over 200 catches and 2000 yards for those 3 years. Blount has 20 catches and 162 yards over 2 seasons (less than 10% of the production).
Blount’s coaches didn’t trust him as a receiver, blocker or short-yardage back.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:57 pm
About the same fumbling average as Blount. . .
January 30th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
LMAO, look at Thomas calling Winslow and Blount lazy. Hold on playa. We talk facts around here, you got any sort of proof to the claim that they’re lazy and Blount was over weight? Ohhhh wait, you’re gonna hit me with the “Oh Kellen never practices, he should practice more so his knee issues get worse and he’s not able to play Sunday!” What about Blount? Yeah dude, he sure looked outta shape when he was hurdling defenders and running cats over. Definitely outta shape. What Thomas, are you buddies with Richard Simmons or something?
Didn’t BOTH of these dudes show up to Freemans camp in the offseason?
Nothing better than a guy who’s never set foot in One Buc talking about the goings on within without ANY sort of evidence to back it up. Classic Thomas.
But hey dude, keep talking down to Pete. Real classy.
January 30th, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Pertaining to this stupid argument on Blount, both sides are wrong. Blount made multiple big plays off catches this season (SF, Indy, TN, ATL), and didn’t have an outrageous amount of drops. He may have had 2 or 3 maximum. I’m not sure if somebody actually said it, but there is no way he’s a better receiving back than Rice or Mccoy just based off his average. Not an appropriate way to judge a player.
Blount CAN be an every down back, it was one of Olsons great downfalls to not get him out there more; any athlete knows you learn the most when you’re actually on the field playing, but Olson believed having Lump out there was a better choice. We know how that worked out. Blount COULD have been learning and at the same time would have still been better than Lump. This is why drafting Richardson would be incredibly stupid. We don’t need a number one back, we need depth and a nice compliment.
January 30th, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Keep Blount, sign a guy like Mike Tolbert or Ryan Grant in the offseason if they’re not looking for ridiculous starters money, and draft a 2nd tier RB in the middle rounds to have waiting in the wings. Someone like Cyrus Gray from Texas A&M would be a good back to use in a commitee with Blount.
We don’t need to use a top 5 freaking pick to improve our running game, especially if the purpose is to use him in a commitee.
January 30th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
EXACTLY gotbucs. A top 5 pick on a running back in the first place is stupid unless he’s Adrian Peterson. Let alone when you already have a nice running back like Blount. Gimme Lamichael James in the 2nd or 3rd.
January 30th, 2012 at 11:30 pm
rutgers had a nice back combo of ray rice and leonard at one time…..schiano might have and idea to draft richardson, and with blount they can be highly effective and really open up things for freeman and the receiving corps…just saying….
adam from ny
January 30th, 2012 at 11:35 pm
schiano wants a bunch frew new linebackers as well….we gotta get a thumper in the middle and move foster and let him develop….sign geno hayes for next to nothing because thats what he is wort….sprinkle him in sparingly as he does have nice sideline to sideline speed….and maybe just maybe he will develop…dump black and his huge contract…..and why was zack diles given like no play time at all?
adam from ny
ps keep heyward as well – solid back up and special teams….and gotta get geno hayes (if signed) to be a special teams demon….if it’s even possible…lol
i would sign hayes for 1 year if he will take it at low money
January 30th, 2012 at 11:36 pm
schiano should seriously think about contact me:
adam from ny
about a positions job as well….i can only help this team…..ask joe he knows
adam from ny (close to rutgers)
January 30th, 2012 at 11:44 pm
schiano and staff need to really figure out what to do with some of these guys….there are a bunch….and i mean a bunch of guys on this team who have almost written their ticket right out of the nfl….however, a few of those guy, if coached up correctly, can be salvaged as decent second unit players…..schiano need to be wise in talent evaluation here and see if they are pieces for his system….some guys on this team that are almost ready to get dumped can turn into solid system players…..
look at vilma…mangini almost ruined his career in ny….he was a young stud linebacker for the jets…..mangina changed the system on him and i swear the dude got lost in the shuffle….then went to the saints to only establish himself as one of the better linebackers in the league again
think carefully schiano
adam from ny
January 30th, 2012 at 11:46 pm
@Thomas
…NOBODY “drops the next ten”….so if that’s your answer, then that’s some weak ass s**t….and not sure where you got your stats but mine are legit…and to argue that because Blount had so many fewer catches than the others is infinitely weaker dude…he had no play over how often Olsen Gump threw the ball his way…point being is that he made more of his percentage than those guys…neither the weakest nor dumbest arguments as you so eloquently put it…a player has no control over the call…he has every bit of control over the opportunity…and Blount was better with his opportunities…no denying the math..
January 30th, 2012 at 11:49 pm
blount and richardson might be a nice 2 prong attack….add in a speedster like that freaky free agent troublemaker jackson from philly and your receiving corps are good….i swear briscoe or parker could easily be a number 2 or 3 receiver…leaving mike williams as the question mark…is he another michael clayton or will he bounce back….bounce baby bounce!!
go bucs
adam from ny
January 31st, 2012 at 12:00 am
“Kregg Lumpkin had opportunities on 35.9 percent of snaps.”
All of this Lumpkin love this past season is what officially made Mark Dominick a joke!! It really pisses me off. Kregg Lumpkin was the ultimate example of cheapness and their refusal to go out and get a REAL NFL caliber running back to compliment Blount!
January 31st, 2012 at 12:18 am
@AdamNY, haven’t read anywhere where Schiano has said he wants a lot of new LB’ers, but he definitely NEEDS a few, that’s for sure.
And @gotbbucs, agree the team needs to sign another RB in FA and grab one in the draft, but Tolbert and Grant are basically the same type of back as Blount. Team could ideally use a few backs with different skill sets, much like the depth New Orleans had this year with Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, Chris Ivory and Mark Ingram.
January 31st, 2012 at 12:27 am
yes they need a few new backers….lets say three (3) of them….2 new starters and slide foster over to his natural spot.
adam from ny
January 31st, 2012 at 12:46 am
Agree Adam, like to see Foster slide over to SLB, maybe bring Vilma in to take over at MLB if he’s released and and maybe Tulloch at WLB. Draft another LB or two in the draft for depth and you’re ready to rock. A LB corp of Foster, Vilma and Tulloch would be amazing.
January 31st, 2012 at 1:20 am
@FlBoy84
I would prefer to have a couple backs with similar builds but slightly different skill sets. Tolbert for example is a bigger back that happens to be a good reciever and a great goalline back. You can put him in on 3rd and short/medium and not lose the illusion of running the ball unlike when we would put Lumpkin in there and the jig was up. You don’t have to have a 190 pound speed back to pair with a 250 pound power back. The idea is to not lose the ability to run or pass on any given down with any set of personnel on the field. That’s just how I look at it anyway.
Tolbert might be a bad example because I think his asking price will be starters money somewhere, but you get the idea. Earnest Graham would fit the bill, but his career is over.
January 31st, 2012 at 1:55 am
Last time I heard the guy was it; was suh, and before that was megatron, draft Richardson and put butts in the seats!
January 31st, 2012 at 4:36 am
SMH. Everyone calling for Richardson need to sit your backsides back down and listen to two very simple truths:
1) As it stands, heading into the draft, Elbert Mack will be the best corner on our roster.
2) I don’t care if Richardson IS a complete back. The most complete back in the league is Adrian Peterson. The Vikings have the #3 pick.
The running back position is slowly dying. There is no such thing as an every-down back, that role is as extinct as the full back who sees every offensive snap. The passing game is dominating the league, because teams like Green Bay and New Orleans have shown the blueprint for scoring – namely, that your third and fourth receiver is better than the opponent’s third or fourth corner. The reason the Giants are in the Super Bowl and the 49ers aren’t is NY has Nicks, Cruz and Manningham. SF has Michael Crabtree.
When the league adapts to this, and suddenly every team has three of four starting-caliber corners on their roster, THEN teams will adapt by returning to the run game, and maybe then we’ll see the return of the every-down back. But that’s still a good ten years away. If you’re pounding your chest for Richardson over Claiborne, either you have no understanding whatsoever of the strategy of football, or you’re just some fantasy football junkie who cares more about winning your fantasy league than how your team does in real life. In which case, do us all a favour and f*ck off play dungeons and dragons, that’s basically all you’re doing anyway, just with football players instead of wizards or whatever. Use your heads, people.
January 31st, 2012 at 8:29 am
If Geno Hayes is a Buc next year I am going to admit myself to the psychi ward. That dude is a quitter and I dont like how he gave up last year. He’s not overly talented and he is small. Let him walk and get some legitimate LB’s in here. Have you not got enough of a sample of his complete body of work to see he is decent at best.
Blount can catch it but that has nothing to do with his work habit. Lets see what he does under a disciplined and structured environment. I have a feeling if he has a good OC featuring his skills we can see a explosive threat on every down but Olsen could not get any rhythm to his playcalling. It was skiddish and inconsistent at best. Williams and all of these young guys are a victim of having no competiion. If you are handed a position this is what I expect to happen. When you have someone breathing down your neck and waiting for a slip up you are going to stay on your game. Thats not Raheem fault, that falls on Dominik. But the defense and tackling is on the players. Slow starts for two seasons, lack of preparation, discipline and other things fall squarely on Raheem because of the lack of attention to detail.
January 31st, 2012 at 8:29 am
Great post GurS
January 31st, 2012 at 8:31 am
Noleriff:
The reason why Blount didnt get the calls or opportunities on passing downs is because his coaches (and yes rahrah) determined that he was not suited to play on most passing downs – his coaches made that decision.
Why? Per reports he was late, out of shape and did not show in practice thst he was capable. What do you think Rah and Olson wanted to go with Lumpy? Hell no, Blount was not able to handle it.
The Ravens wouldnt go to Lumpy over Rice – therein lies your answer.
January 31st, 2012 at 8:48 am
First thing in the morning and now I’m furious after reading this article. I can’t handle seeing stats like this…I’m way too agitated about it.
Raheem and Dom decide that we’re gonna load up on big backs to be ohysical and run some power football, yet we end up going shotgun and needing a 3rd down back for half the game, only we don’t have a good 3rd down back because WE SPECIFICALLY DIDN’T ACQUIRE ONE. UGA fans laughed at me when I said Kregg Lumpkin was our 3rd down back and getting significant carries, cause catching the ball and being in space is what he’s worst at. Only in Tampa…
BANG MY HEAD THROUGH A ****ING DOOR
January 31st, 2012 at 9:43 am
Lumpkin smoked Blount.
January 31st, 2012 at 9:43 am
I said this all last season. Blount should be the check down leader of the NFL. Hit him in stride. He hasn’t been that effective with finding holes in the line. Blount is best when he is full speed. Look at the play where he was injured. No brainer. Hopefully with some offensive coaches with imagination and experience they can easily use him as he should be used. If he cant pass block who cares then Freeman should roll out of the pocket. These bucs can instantly be dominant. 6-6″, 260 pound QB, 6-2″ 260 pound RB, 6-4″ 280 pound FB. Child please.
January 31st, 2012 at 9:44 am
Friends don’t let friends vote for Mitt Romney.
January 31st, 2012 at 12:53 pm
I’m not saying Blount couldn’t be an every down back with some hard work but as of last year he is not. He needs competition badly.