Is The Clock Ticking On LeGarrette Blount?
March 3rd, 2012
Joe reads virtually every day readers pining for Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik to draft Alabama running back Trent Richardson.
Joe just shakes his head when he reads these comments and hears people barking on sports radio for Richardson. There are many reasons Joe is against this, but the main reason is the Bucs already have a running back.
LeGarrette Blount averages nearly 4.5 yards a carry, which is damned good in the NFL. But to hear talk from his former assistants, Blount can’t pick up blitzes, can’t catch balls and ugly rumors have surfaced about his lack of knowledge about his playbook, among other things Joe will not get into.
For the aforementioned sins, Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune believes Blount has scant time to prove his worth to Greg Schiano and his new coaching staff, or Blount could be let go.
Though Blount has yet to prove during his two seasons in a Bucs uniform that he can block and catch well enough to earn regular snaps on third down, the team is willing to give him another chance.
Time, though, is not on Blount’s side.
Even with a new head coach on board, Tampa Bay cannot begin its offseason workout program until April 2. That will leave less than a month before the draft starts April 26 to determine whether they can successfully expand Blount’s role.
Joe just can’t believe these words. Do people not forget the coaches Blount had last year? The same football savants who gave him the ball a grand total five times in the season opener — FIVE!
Joe is firmly of the belief that Blount’s former coaching staff had no clue or simple grasp in how to utilize his talents. Every one of the ills that are cited about Blount are all coachable obstacles.
And, if all the bad things said about Blount are really true, then why the hell was he on the active roster?
As irresponsible as it would be to draft Richardson with the fifth pick when the defense has more holes than a fish net, it would be equally irresponsible to just let Blount walk away.
The last time the Bucs gave away a productive running back who Chucky said couldn’t block was Thomas Jones. Don’t think the Bucs could still have been able to use Jones to this day?
Don’t make the same mistake Mr. Dominik.
March 3rd, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Well he is lacking we certainly saw that last year. Can trade down, pick up an extra pick and still try to get trent if that’s what they really want. Or just hold fast and pick up like the rb from cincinatti later and pull in some depth from free agency. There are still smart ways of addressing this area.
March 3rd, 2012 at 3:37 pm
“Joe is firmly of the belief that Blount’s former coaching staff had no clue or simple grasp in how to utilize his talents.”
Completely disagree Joe. The rumors emanating from the media are one thing but riddle me this: The coaching staff KNEW they were on a short leash near the end. They were desperate to save their jobs yet they STILL trusted the incomparable Kregg Lumpkin more than Blount. Why? Is it more likely that they forgot how to coach or is it more likely that Blount simply couldn’t/can’t handle anything more than what he was given?
March 3rd, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Would be a huge mistake to let Blount walk away.
March 3rd, 2012 at 3:39 pm
“And, if all the bad things said about Blount are really true, then why the hell was he on the active roster?”
RB #2 – Kregg Lumpkin
RB #3 – Mossis Madu
March 3rd, 2012 at 3:44 pm
It’s obvious we need another RB to compliment Blount but i would go for some veteran in FA like Tolbert.. heck why not LT or bring back cadillac (who reads defenses and can protect freeman on passing downs).. Remember Blount was one of Raheem’s boyz (that means he can slack off when he wants) I doubt he will get that sort of treatment from Schiriano..
March 3rd, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Ok .. SO the Bucs #1 focus will be a power blocking physical scheme … and they are releasing their only running back that is a Freak of Nature at 250 Lbs.
GENIUS !!!!
This writer should be in the Hall of FAME!!
March 3rd, 2012 at 3:48 pm
good point SensibleBuc , but I would say the coaching staff wasn’t having much of a say of who was active and who wasn’t as well as who on the roster to begin with. Blount was still about the only chance of getting a sportscenter highlight. Will be a very telling sign with the new staff in this upcoming year of who gets yanked, pulled, and cut and how quickly. I would even go and say, Raheem pulling Brian Price out of that game because of his penalty was the first nail in his coffin because he did it on his own.
March 3rd, 2012 at 3:48 pm
unreal … what is he on the toilet taking a crap and he gets this idea … Blount will have 2 weeks to prove what he can do or They wil RELEASE HIM !!! YEsssss !!! I am on to something (SPlash) …. Come here kitty cat rub on my legs while I poop .. I HAVE HAD A VISIOONNNN!!!
March 3rd, 2012 at 3:49 pm
How do we know that he can’t block or catch other than Greg Olson says he can’t?
March 3rd, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Joe,
The Bucs are obsessed with deception and rope-a-dope. It is a wonder anyone Bucs employees are even married.
March 3rd, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Releasing Blount isn’t even a remote option. Who in the hell thinks up this sh!t? Seriously, people put way too much effort into trying to out think themselves.
Blount rushed for 1000 yards in 2/3 of a season, last year when he actually got the ball when games weren’t completely out of hand he looked great, and the guy still hasn’t had a full offseason with the damn team and strength and speed program. Get off him already.
March 3rd, 2012 at 4:10 pm
OMG, i’m so sick of hearing this “he can’t block” bull*h!t! The guy has been a hell of a running back for us for two years now! and he’s had a pretty $h!tty team around him to top it off.
Tell me, why do they always want to get rid of good players, but yet they keep garbage like Clayton and Black on the roster for YEARS?
The Buccaneers have become a joke of an organization, hate to say it.
March 3rd, 2012 at 4:10 pm
I’m not worried due to confidence in Coach Schiano’s ability to judge and utilize talent. He’ll know pretty quickly if LaGarrett can play in his system or not.
Personally I feel he most definitely can but that’s another story. I’m not in the position to matter much beyond buying tickets!
An off-season? OFF-Season? All RIGHT!!!
March 3rd, 2012 at 4:17 pm
I read the Cummings article over again and I never got the opinion that the issue was to release Blount or keep him. I thought the issue was whether he could be an every-down back for the Bucs. And that’s a legitimate question to ask. The NfL seems to favor a tandem of backs to carry the load – hence the term – third-down back. Backs like AP are becoming rare. Even Foster has a Tate. I think Blount needs a complementary back to provide the versatility that Blount cannot do alone. But, IMO, Blount has a place and a function in the Bucs backfield.
March 3rd, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Joe, NOWHERE in that article does it say the Bucs would “let Blount go.” The whole article is about whether he can grow into the 3rd down role and become a complete back, and that the clock is ticking for him to prove he can be a 3rd down guy.
This post is TERRIBLY MISLEADING and the numerous commentators here reaching for their pitchforks, are evidence that you have purposefully mislead us with this article. There is no way in the world they would just cut Blount.
A rare step in nonfactual blogging from you guys, and I hope we can attribute this erroneous on all accounts post to a few too many Saturday afternoon pops while watching the beginning of march madness.
March 3rd, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Lmao! Blount is, and will be, the Bucs starting RB for a couple more years
He was signed as an undrafted free agent! Cheapest salary possible. He will remain our RB until he ask for more money.
What he can or can’t do Is irrelevant
Good thing he didn’t waste his time on the playbook last season. We won’t be using that one ever again.
Blount can catch and block. He has never had an offseason to learn the system. Ernest Byner will get him up to speed with the new offense, and he’ll do great!
Til he ask Dim for more money!
March 3rd, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Agree Macabee & Big Picture. When talking RB’s I always look at the Saints, who have Ingram, Thomas, Sproles and Ivory. THAT is RB depth. Prefer not to look at it in terms if Blount is a three-down back or not, rather than if Blount goes down, who steps in for him. Would like to see the team add Tolbert or another FA back and grab a RB in the draft. Get them all in training camp with Blount, Lumpkin and Madu and let the competition begin, may the best RB start and the worst put on the street. Before the season’s over, they’ll probably all get used at some point in the season.
March 3rd, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Brees got the franchise tag. Nicks Watch 2012 is on!
March 3rd, 2012 at 4:57 pm
@Capt.Tim Can you please explain the resigning of Joseph and Penn to lucrative contracts if they are so cheap.
March 3rd, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Now way no how do they release him. Come on now. They never let him play on third down to let him get the reps. There was defineately something going on though between him and Greg Olson to limit his playing time. It didn’t help when graham went down, but they were predictable from day one on offense last year anyway.
March 3rd, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Cummings should be embarrassed. He’s the same guy selling all year long that the young Bucs just needed an offseason, OTAs, blah, blah, and now he’s out there claiming Blount has 20 days to prove stuff to his coaches when they’re only able to watch him through windows at One Buc Palace and offseason practices don’t start until AFTER the draft. What a joke.
NONE of the coaches still here were dumb enough to limit Blount’s role. He’s one guy that should be evaluated as a true No. 1 back. The question is whether the Bucs want to find 2 of them.
March 3rd, 2012 at 5:06 pm
Blount is a talent and is just a good coach away from being elite. Dominik is one screw up away from joining the Saints GM on the unemplyment line. I would hope he couldn’t screw up seeing this guy has what it takes.
March 3rd, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Let’s sign Carl Nicks!
That would really let the O-Line be elite.
March 3rd, 2012 at 5:28 pm
Clayborn94- certainly, glad to accommodate a fellow Buc fan.
7 years- lowest payroll and lowest paid coaching staff in the league!
That pretty self explanatory for ya
And they signed Joseph and Trueblood( why?), along with the useless Lawn ornament, Quincy Jane Black.
And they refused to resign two team captains. Caddy and Ruud. Both of whom they deliberately slandered- using their flunkys in the media!
Caddy was a good 3rd down back, and great team leader. No one could replace him, or do his job, last season! It was a gaping wound of loss.
Despite what glazer lackey Ian Beckles said, Ruud was the only good LB we had! Not to mention being invaluable at calling the defense. Once he was lost, we had the worst LBers in the history of the NFL. They ran from tackles, hid from RBs, couldn’t cover, and quit on the team. They are the worst players to ever disgrace a Buc uniform.
And Foster, who had never called a defense in his life, and had no training camp, was stuck trying to outsmart Brees, Ryan, Rodgers, etc.
He failed horribly at setting the defense, had no idea where he should be, was too slow to cover, and eventually quit- just like his mentors!
All this, to save the puny amount our two captains wanted!
That is so pathetically cheap, in a pathetic history of cheap, that it might match the wretched Hugh Culverhouse for cheap
Malcom Glazer wanted to bring this town a Winner. God bless him.
His kids want maximum profit, at minimum expenditure.
The fans, the players, the town deserve better.
Any questions?
March 3rd, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Carl Nicks should hit the market now and the Bucs have the Bucks, which would improve the run game instantly…… minus one Jeff Faine.
March 3rd, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Capt.Tim so whats going to be your excuse after they sign Nicks, Lofton, VJ, and tolbert to big contracts? Schiano made an offer to the glazers to spend money in FA they couldn’t refuse?
March 3rd, 2012 at 6:02 pm
I’ve been saying that Blount is not an every down back. That was a REAL problem last year. He can’t block…period. He doesn’t know his playbook very well and yes, when he DOES decide to run hard he is dangerous but on third down they knew we were going to pass because they had to take Blount out. I don’t think we need Trent Richardson but I do think we need a guy like Doug Martin who, if he is in on third down, may run or may pass block…the defense doesn’t know. Don’t think that they didn’t use Blount because they didn’t want to. It was because they didn’t trust him to know or execute his assignment.
March 3rd, 2012 at 6:03 pm
SensibleBuc Says:
March 3rd, 2012 at 3:37 pm
“Joe is firmly of the belief that Blount’s former coaching staff had no clue or simple grasp in how to utilize his talents.”
Completely disagree Joe. The rumors emanating from the media are one thing but riddle me this: The coaching staff KNEW they were on a short leash near the end. They were desperate to save their jobs yet they STILL trusted the incomparable Kregg Lumpkin more than Blount. Why? Is it more likely that they forgot how to coach or is it more likely that Blount simply couldn’t/can’t handle anything more than what he was given?
_____________________________________________
It was because of the fumbling…which is a great example of Olson not knowing how to coach. He trusted Parker more…and Parker fumbled much more.
Why? Because Olson wanted to pass. Nothing else, just pass. And they used Lumpkin because they needed to see what they had in him. Remember, they were being pressured to run the ball, and because he didn’t want turnovers (instead of coaching Blount through it like he should have done) he used Lumpkin. Lumpkin not producing justified him passing more, which is what he wanted.
March 3rd, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Isn’t Blount a free agent this year?
@Capt.Tim
I don’t think Foster quit…I think his lack of knowledge and coaching left him in a spot where he just didn’t know what to do. Raheem Morris may have been a decent enough head coach on some level some day, but he is a terrible defensive coordinator. Terrible.
I was supportive of him, but I pointed out time and again that there was no defensive coaching on the sidelines. With no off season training program, this was something our young team needed badly. Half were rookies or second year players, and the veterans all sucked.
One think on Ruud…he reused to accept a 1 year contract here in Tampa. And that was all he was worth to us.
March 3rd, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Blount is an incomplete running back….he is a highlight film one trick pony…….I would have ZERO problem if the Bucs took Richardson @ 5…..I really don’t care who they pick
March 3rd, 2012 at 6:29 pm
Clayburn94- um, last year was the biggest FA class ever. The Glazers had more money than any other team. They had the exact same problems then,as they do now- horrible LBers, horrible secondary, RT,LG, speed and depth at RB.
And they did nothing- NOTHING- to adress the exact same crap as this year.
Go back in joes Archives and read my post this time last year! I was optimistic, also
But facts are facts. They have spent the least money of any owners for almost a decade. We have had( and still have) the cheapest coaching staff in the league.
I personally hope you are right.
But you aren’t. Expect a few scrubs to sign, an Allpro longersnapper, a few young( translate- Cheap!) players for depth- that’ll be about it. Dom sign some more undrafted Free agents- tell us they will be stars, and continue to do his masters bidding- “cheap, Dom, Cheap! Feel the power of the Scrooge! Become Cheap as Hell, young Dom, and your journey to the darkest side of tightwaddedness will be complete!”
Kinda works for me- I could see the Glazers as an odd mix of “the Emporer” from “Star wars”, and Scrooge Macduck.
March 3rd, 2012 at 6:34 pm
@ Pete
You’re making my point for me.
Lack of ball security, inability to consistently hit the proper hole, inability to consistently pass block, lack of success running short yardage, etc. = reasonable reasons to stop handing Blount the ball and not having him out there on 3rd downs. He’s a one-dimensional gadget back right now. Blount’s fumbling was a Blount/RB coach issue more than an Olson issue.
Olson is not blameless. There is no reason that we should’ve been 32nd in the League in rushing attempts where we were 13th in 2010. That’s unacceptable. My argument is that despite the need to have a balanced offense/use Blount more to save his job he still couldn’t do it because he didn’t trust Blount to execute. That’s pretty damning evidence.
March 3rd, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Pete- the only difference in personal, from the 10-6 year, to the 4-12 year- was DUH! Ruud and Caddy! That was the difference, no matter what Glazer lackey Ian says. Same Players otherwise. Same coaches. BAM- we can’t win!
In the last game, an RB ran past a flat footed Foster. He turns, and watches the back fight for more yardage. Never moved a muscle to pursue or assist.
That was an example of quitting. Same examples that Derrick Brooks spoke of, and found so disturbing.
March 3rd, 2012 at 6:43 pm
“But to hear talk from his former assistants, Blount can’t pick up blitzes, can’t catch balls and ugly rumors have surfaced about his lack of knowledge about his playbook…”
Exactly. I don’t mean to slam Blount, but you can’t coach intelligence. You either understand the offense and pass pro or you don’t – he doesn’t. We have nobody behind him. The argument that “you can find a RB in the later rounds” holds true for every position. The fact of the matter is, all players are graded for a reason and Trent Richardson has a high grade because he’s THAT good. Claiborne won’t be available. TR is the choice.
March 3rd, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Pete, Blount is an ERFA (Exclusive Rights Free Agent) meaning he is only free to negotiate with the Bucs. The Bucs are only obligated to offer him the CBA minimum for a player with 2 years of accrued service. They may offer more, but he is only free in the sense that he is free to leave the NFL if he rejects their offer.
March 3rd, 2012 at 6:48 pm
100% agree Joe, we must find a way to make Blount a focal point. Watching Jones on the Jets
made me sick.
March 3rd, 2012 at 6:54 pm
@SensibleBuc
No, I’m not making your point. Blount has not been coached through an off season yet. All of his faults are repairable.
@Capt.Tim
Clayborn, Bowers, Foster…and that’s just on defense. I would think rookies on the line, second year players on the line and a rookie at MLB is what played the biggest role in the fall of the defense…and the fact that the rookies did not have the benefit of being properly prepared for the season like every other year.
And even if you are right about Foster quitting toward the end…everyone else did except maybe Freeman and Clayborn.
Foster will make a fine MLB if they keep him there…once he is trained for it. Or, he can make a good OLB if they switch him there. Or both at various times.
I said before last season started, back when everyone was bragging about how good our defense would be after the draft in the coming season (last season) that fans were expecting too much too soon. I was right.
There was just no way an offensive line with two rookies, a rookie MLB and two 2nd year players was going to do well in less than a season. NO WAY.
And yes…it would have been great if they had kept Ruud another year. But we had drafted his replacement and there was no way he would settle for a one year contract from the Bucs. He had his own reason. Maybe he thought he could get better elsewhere.
Just another example of the grass appearing greener on the other side of the fence. He learned differently. The Bucs moved on and he had to settle for a one year contract anyway.
I don’t blame Dominick for that at all. People seem to think Ruud was innocent of all that. He wanted what he wanted. He didn’t get it so he left instead of taking that one year deal here.
March 3rd, 2012 at 6:57 pm
@Macabee
Thanks 🙂
March 3rd, 2012 at 7:33 pm
NEWS:
Drew Brees got the franchise tag!
I suspected this was going to happen this weekend. The Saints likely wanted to use it before Goodell took it away.
So Nicks is open for us now!
March 3rd, 2012 at 7:34 pm
Even with his faults, he is still one of the best RBs in the NFL.
March 3rd, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Also…the deadline is Monday as well.
March 3rd, 2012 at 8:29 pm
The reason I believe that Blount will either NOT be our STARTING rb this year or atleast will share a ton of time with somebody else isn’t his lack of skillset. I think that with Shiano.inc in town, they really need a RB that specializes in running behind an offensive line that is StraightLine blocking. The reason that LB failes in short yardage situations, is because he is a ZONE blocking scheme runner. Look through his college days and then in our 10-6 season. He did all his good running behind zone blocking schemes and back up offensive lineman because that year they ran zone blocking.
This year they went back to straight forward blocking and he wasn’t his normal self and anybody who watched it could see it. I’d love it if he was our number 2 punch behind someone line Michael Bush or Peyton Hillis.
Drafting some speedster who can score any time like Chris Rainey(sp?) would be amazing for screens and some special plays as well.
March 3rd, 2012 at 8:33 pm
@Brian
Wrong. The reason Blount fails in short yardage situations is because our oline sucks. That’s also why Freeman was hit so much.
March 3rd, 2012 at 8:40 pm
So glad none of this is the great Freeman or the lines fault. Freeman sucked as bad so we should get rid of him. But OMG, all the cry babies say that was coaching. BS. The receivers could not catch. Let’s get rid of all them too and the line. After all, they let Blount get hit as soon as he was handed the ball. You cry babies make me sick. When players play great they are the best there ever has been. When they don’t play to your EXPERT way is, they suck. Always have and always will. Until the next great game they have. Then you will be singing how good they are again.
None of the backs got a real chance to do anything or show anything. So Experts, how many times in all the games did Freeman try to pass and check down to K2 out of how many plays. Pass, Pass, Pass. Play from behind all the time. So how much did he play anyway?? Or any of the backs for that matter.
March 3rd, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Lol Brian I have never heard that excuse for a running back before. Hes a zone blocking running back?!?! Cmon Man!! The bucs best running play that they use over and over again is the power run to Joseph and truebloods side of the line. That play works almost everytime but Ollie prefered the the “bennd-around” instead.
March 3rd, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Blount is solid. He should be the main back. We just need a change of pace.
March 3rd, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Everyone who blames Blount for not being sound in pass protection yet are idiots. Most RBs don’t get solid in it until their 4 th season. Caddy wasn’t solid in it until his final season as a Buc.
March 3rd, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Who is the last Bucs RB to average 4.6 yds per carry over 2 seasons??? But we should cut him right because our demoted fired ass old staff couldn’t figure out how to use him.
March 3rd, 2012 at 9:22 pm
No, Blount should not be the main back. He cost us a win against Atlanta in 2010 when he decided to break the run to the outside on 4th and goal just as the hole opened up where he was supposed to take it. He is constantly trying to find the big run instead of just hitting the hole whether it’s there or not and picking up a yard or two with his ability to move the pile. Once he gets to the second level he is dangerous but it has to be a massive hole for him to get there. Go back and watch the tape and see how many times he gets the handoff and then just stops at the line looking for a hole instead of running hard and getting what he can get. Heck, Sammy Straughter can bring down Blount when he decelerates. He need to run hard every down. He’s big enough to make his own hole if he would just accelerate to the line. He is not a finesse runner. We most definitely need another RB to make it a 1-2 punch. Hopefully Blount will learn and my guess is that Schiano will demand that he run hard every down or he’ll be on the bench a lot this year too.
March 3rd, 2012 at 9:27 pm
@jvato…we’re not talking about not being sound. We’re talking about flat out not knowing how to pick up a blitz …. not knowing who to take when the blitz comes. That can get Freeman hurt and they care a lot more about Freeman than they do about Blount so don’t look for him to be the every down back for this team unless he shows that he suddenly joined MENSA or something and gets the playbook down.
March 3rd, 2012 at 9:39 pm
Not throwing out excuses. There’s a difference between zone blocking (one cut runners) and straight ahead blocking runners. FACT.
Freeman got hit so much this year because nobody was open and he held the ball too long.
March 3rd, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Just to back up Bobby’s points:
http://www.buccaneers101.com/2011/09/14/tampa-bay-buccaneers-have-trust-issues-with-rb-legarrette-blount/
I think I speak for most fans when I say that I hope that Blount can one day be that every down back that we need but — at this point it’s more likely that he be relegated to 10-15 touches a game b/c of his limitations in pass pro and the playbook. Running backs are one of the few positions that you pretty much know what you have early on so if you’re good you can hit the ground running as a rookie and keep on improving. Blount seems to be trending downward.
March 3rd, 2012 at 10:04 pm
The guy averages 4.5 yards a carry, had some of the longest and most exciting runs in Buc History!
And you guys are bitching about him?
Lmao at the clueless lil fish, that bit on Joes baited post!
If Blount was on any team, not coordinated by olsen, he would be getting the ball 20-25 times a game. And would be feared in this league.
He showed some decent hands last year, on the few occasions that those idiots threw to him.
I don’t give a damn if he is a poor blocker or not! If he was used properly, a fake to him would freeze the defense, far more effective than blocking a single LBer! Make Friggin Lorig block- that’s his job! Plus, as a former TE, kid should be a threat outta the backfield already! Another unused Weapon by our former” throw til ya die” OC!
As Aaron Rodgers told him( a guy a lot smarter than some of you chowderheads!), Blount can diminate this league with his freakish speed/size combo. We just gotta work around that not so sharp tool in his tool shed
Mr. Ernest Byner, meet Mr Blount. He is in sore need of your assistance
A full off season wouldn’t but either! If he ain’t real smart, repetition son, repetition!
March 3rd, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Wow…Capt and I actually found something to agree on 😉
March 3rd, 2012 at 10:11 pm
And to those of you who bit on joes lil fish hook, and are saying stupid remarks about Blount-
WAKE FRIGGIN UP, GET A CLUE, woulda you?
I post here too! When you guys get baited inta looking that bad, it reflects badly on all of us!
March 3rd, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Blount will be fine. This is the same coaching staff that struggled in all phases of the game. The Bucs should pick up another good running back to help take all the burden off Blount. But to act like the one productive guy on the roster could possibly be let go is absurd.
March 3rd, 2012 at 10:45 pm
Pete- other than Taliban, we are usually in the same ballpark! 🙂
March 3rd, 2012 at 10:53 pm
Ummm since when did Chucky feel that Thomas Jones couldn’t block? As I recall Jones “hit the lotto” as Chucky put it when Jones got a big money deal from the bears after his one year in Tampa. Chucky loved Jones (like he loves all players publically) but the bears put out a better offer than the Glazerhouse’s were willing to match. For some one who reads a ton on the bucs you Joe are fairly woeful with recent bucs history. It’s amazing you even remember Jones was a buc.
March 3rd, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Yeah, let’s cut the guy that rushed for a thousand yards, two years ago! Still can’t stop laughing at this one.
One of the best “Bait “post yet, Joe!
Some of these guys will turn on ANYONE, if they think someone else says they should!
Can ya find us an article, that praises either Raheem or McCoy?? That should give me a couple dozen “smack” post on Thomas , and his new found faithful!
March 3rd, 2012 at 11:06 pm
Gonna be a rainy Sunday- gonna need me some debate time on JoeBuc, lol
March 3rd, 2012 at 11:46 pm
@ Capt. Tim
“I don’t give a damn if he is a poor blocker or not!”
LOL. Glad you’re not running the team then Tim. Free would be in a body bag by Week 3 running your offense. Exhibit A as to why pass blocking matters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_FNVkntALA&feature=related
March 4th, 2012 at 12:02 am
Joe, Ben Mcdaniels will not be the QB coach. Thank god
March 4th, 2012 at 12:23 am
Blount isn’t going anywhere and I don’t think the article linked said anything about Blount being released? If Dom for some how decided to release Blount I’m pretty positive that would be his last straw. Blount’s talented enough to either dominate here, or dominate for a different team once he’s in the perfect system. I actually think the opposite and bet that Schiano is drooling over the though of possibly pounding the duo of Trent and Blout into opponents hearts and down their throats.
March 4th, 2012 at 12:37 am
I agree with Capt.Tim! Out of all the problems on this horrible team, we’re bitching about Blount?!
If not for him, we would’ve had NO OFFENSE last year! None! Him and Clayborn are the only ones on this team that earned their dough last year!
I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened, this team has let several good players go in the past before.
I’ll be damned if Blount got released, and that bum Black stays here.
March 4th, 2012 at 5:18 am
Joe… I love you, but stop using Blount’s carries week one as some blanket argument that he is all the sudden is some complete back. You rely on that far too much.
March 4th, 2012 at 7:28 am
Okay, a slight change of topic. The NFL and the players are once again working on the CBA. Why?
Because the salary cap is too low this year. That’s why the new cap number has not been released yet.
The players want a higher number, the teams NEED a higher number, and the NFL does not want the players to feel they got a raw deal with the new CBA. A player strike is the LAST THING anyone wants.
I understand this, but from a more selfish point of view, wouldn’t it benefit the Bucs more if the cap was lower this year?
It would mean more players cut from other teams as they struggle to get under the number. So we could get better choices in free agency.
Of course, a higher number means more money to spend this year, but we’re so far below it that we might have to over pay.
March 4th, 2012 at 7:48 am
Will the Rams fire Gregg Williams?
I think it’s possible for two reasons…
1) He could face a 6-8 game suspension. As a newly arriving DC this is very hurtful to the Rams offense.
2) Player respect. His new players will not have it for him. I personally do not see how they could play for a man who might, by the end of March, have brought down two teams (Saints & Skins) and been responsible for their friends being injured.
March 4th, 2012 at 7:51 am
PS…
God, please give us Nicks, Colston and 1-2 good LBs in free agency. And a CB.
March 4th, 2012 at 7:53 am
BTW, it seems Williams might bring down the Bills as well.
March 4th, 2012 at 8:03 am
Correction: hurtful to the Rams defense
Typing in the dark here!
March 4th, 2012 at 8:50 am
Yes Blount is limited. Yes he doesn’t cost us much. Yes he makes splash plays and he served us for what we needed when we acquired him. He may have reached his course IF he cannot evolve and start to show some signs of development. Simple as that. He has talent but the aptitude and attitude must become more evident.
As far as FA’s go, you will not see any splash signings. Maybe Tulloch but the Bucs will not overpay to recruit superior talent. Think about what happen with Doug Free last season. He preferred to stay in Dallas and make good money versus coming here for more. Nicks is elite and why again does he want to come to a rebuilding project with a college coach and offense with no identity? Same for VJ. Now, I can see B or C rated FA’s coming here for a payday but not elite players. So temper your enthusiasm. IJS.
March 4th, 2012 at 8:55 am
Ask yourself this, who would you rather have manning a starting position next season, Blount?
or Biggers / Myron Lewis / Hayes / Black, etc. ?
Imo, there are bigger fish to fry immediately. Blount is no doubt incomplete, but, he has flashes. Give him a speed back compliment, and see if he responds to coaching. If not, get your main back next season.
If the Bucs don’t shore up the back 7, it won’t matter who runs the rock, because Freeman will be passing all game.
March 4th, 2012 at 9:18 am
Alstott was not complete when he came to Tampa either.
IF Blount works hard and stays out of trouble, he will be elite. Anyone that thinks otherwise is wrong. Period.
I really do not see why some are hard on him. Is it because he threw a couple punches?
I mean, he isn’t even being given a chance by some of you. He was undrafted and he has tried to make the most of his opportunities. He had a couple fumbles, but nothing near Timi Barber numbers…or Preston Parker’s.
He’s only been here 1 1/2 seasons and he has yet to go through any Bucs OTAs or mini-camps.
His only training camp here camp after the lockout, and it was more about player evaluation then training.
He had Olson calling plays…very few for him.
He is accused of not being able to catch the ball, but when given the opportunity he did well.
I think some people here never wanted him to be a Buc and will never have anything good to say about him.
Meanwhile, other than me, not one person has come down on Parker, who had more opportunities and more screwups last year.
It bottles the mind!
March 4th, 2012 at 9:26 am
I also agree with the Captain, Alsottsmart, and the mostly pro-blount crowd. He is young and still learning but the least of the problems. Add speed at WR and RB to open it up a little. I do like LaMichael James and if the Bucs can land Carl Nicks it will help Blount to the 2’nd level where he shines.
March 4th, 2012 at 9:30 am
RB’s in the NFL now are situational players and Blount is an excellent situational player! He’s one of the most physical RB’s I’ve seen who has also shown the speed to pull away from defenders. Is he great at catching the Ball? No; he probably never will be either! That’s where third down backs come in. You have to understand that there are no longer one back teams unless you are talking about Jones Drew or someone of that nature. Teams with recent success count on multiple backs who all specialize in different area’s of the running game.
March 4th, 2012 at 10:42 am
I think Blount is a good back today, who has not had enough coaching to help him with his short falls, Blocking, Pass catching, game awareness. We hired a great coach who has taken good RB’s and made them shine, not sure what coach Byner says or does with these guys but they produce with his tutelage.. Do we need a back-up/ complement back to go with Blount, YES we do! The Lumpkin experiment should be over. He did less than average. Give Blount and Madau and another Back (FA or Draft) a season with coach Byner and we will know what we have.
I am looking forward to having better Oline play this season, I think we dropped the ball when we canned coach Mangurian, huge mistake IMO. We lost several of our better players and coach Mangurian brought up the 2nd and 3rd string players who played well, what did the old /new coach that replaced coach Mangurian do? One of the things I remember from the canning of coach Mangurian was the players saying they where glad Mangurian is gone because he was always b!tching and on their a$$es every practice/game.. Well from the look of it from my view here in flowery branch ga the entire Oline needed coach Mangurian on their a$$es every day..
With our new Oline coach we should not be surprised to see vast improvement and some shiny new faces.. JMO
@ Capt.Tim LOL new found faithfull LOL LOL LOL
March 4th, 2012 at 11:22 am
Nobody here is saying that we are going to get rid of Blount. What I’m saying is that he is going to share the load with another back until he developes his blocking skills. He is a good RB back BUT he is one dimensional and you CANNOT be an every down back in the NFL if you are one dimensional. This article isn’t saying anything new about Blount. Anybody who had eyes can see that Blount doesn’t run hard all the time and he has poor vision at the point of attack. Like I said, once he gets to the second level and has momentum, he is very hard to bring down. I believe with good coaching Blount will develop but don’t expect to see him in on third down until he does.
March 4th, 2012 at 11:49 am
Blount is a talented RB.
FA:
OG Carl Nicks
CB Cortland Finnegan
CB Aaron Ross
S: TyVon Branch
WR: Piere Garčon
Either draft Grent Richardson, or trade back?
March 4th, 2012 at 12:06 pm
It pained me to see Blount go out every 3rd/passing down. This made the offense WAY too predictable. I did see times, when LGB did stay in to block and caught the ball out of the backfield. I thought he did a good job on those limited opportunities. I see no reason why LGB will improve those skills under good coaching.
March 4th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
If Earnest Graham is healthy, I think we have a pretty good offensive backfield. Blount as #1, Graham as #2 (utility) and Mosis Madu as #3 change of pace/scatback. Maybe pick up a late rounder with lots of upside and developmental stock. Lumpkin has to go! Richardson could be great but it’s not what we need right now. I get the “Best Player Available” vibe but is he truly the best player available for a team with GLARING needs at that draft position?
March 4th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
@Stevek,
Like the list and agree with the idea of trading down, only problem is Branch got franchised by the Raiders the other day. Wouldn’t be surprised to see the team sign a vet like Madieu Williams or Bryan Scott and draft a safety to develop behind them. And I’d add a LB or two to that list as well.
March 5th, 2012 at 10:25 am
great article, i the bucs HAVE a top ten back in blount and if they give him the ball, maybe #3 or 2 back in the nfl. i don’t believe anyone would argue with that after watching the tape. we don’t know that about richardson.
March 5th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Cummings didnt say Blount might be let go. He said the team had a limited time to decide if he could be the team’s 3rd down back. There’s a big difference!
March 5th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
I say we get a new fullback, and move earnest graham back to halfback. he did damn good while blount was injured this year. 5+ avg ypc is really good.