Why Doesn’t “Bounce-Back” Take Find Blount?
April 7th, 2012
Joe’s really grown weary of the relentless LeGarrette Blount bashing and doubting running rampant among Bucs fans and many in the media.
One thing that really gnaws away at Joe is that it seems everyone is sooooo quick to embrace the notion that Josh Freeman will bounce back to top form in 2012. But somehow, the concept that LeGarrette Blount will boune back to his stunning 2011 form, let alone improve with his first legitimate offseason and a new running backs coach, is somehow inconceivable to so many Bucs fans and pundits.
Why?
Now Joe likes Freeman and believes he’ll bounce back on some level this season. Don’t misunderstand Joe. However, we’ve often heard of Freeman’s great work ethic and how the Bucs needed to put more talent around him. Even rockstar general manager Mark Dominik has offered up those two comments. But it’s funny how nobody mentions how adding a true No. 1 receiver, the best guard in football and better coaches, might bring Blount back to 2010 form.
NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas’ live chat on ESPN.com is what set Joe off this morning. There’s all kinds of takes on Blount in there, including Yasinskas saying, “I think it’s pretty obvious and will become more obvious going forward what Schiano thinks of Blount. I think there will be significant moves at RB for Tampa Bay.”
Joe’s just shaking his head. And Joe’s going to lift a cold beer tonight hoping the Bucs draft Morris Claiborne.
April 7th, 2012 at 11:06 am
All slates are clean, right Schiano??? Hit the reset button and start fresh at training camp….sure Blount put the ball on the ground a few times, but I’m pretty sure Freeman led the team in turnovers….
April 7th, 2012 at 11:12 am
Trent Richardson.
Worst case, Lamar Miller in 2nd round.
April 7th, 2012 at 11:21 am
I’m with you Joe.
April 7th, 2012 at 11:24 am
@bucbeliever,
Lamar Miller is a good case, reminiscent of #28 with more speed
April 7th, 2012 at 11:35 am
Draft Trent & our Offense is feared by most teams, Freeman has good year, Stadium is full, Freeman signs long term extension.
Lamar Miller is a Zone RB.
April 7th, 2012 at 11:37 am
I think the reason the ‘bounce back’ mantra doesn’t find Blount is because many believe he doesn’t have the intelligence to fully develop at the RB position. He’s had 2 years to pick up pass protections and still hasn’t done it. Now he’s going to learn a new offense and subsequent pass protections.
I don’t think anyone argues his physical potential and that his other issues can’t be corrected, maybe, with coaching. It’s a pass happy, blitz happy league and it doesn’t matter what down it is, you have to be able to recognize your role, audibles, and protections as they get changed on a moments notice. THAT is why he is limited. Fisher put him on the practice squad for a reason, not for his physical ability, but for – in all liklihood – his intelligence.
I like Blount, but we’re severly thin at RB, as are the Browns.
If T Rich is at #5, though the Browns will probably take him, I think the Bucs pick him.
April 7th, 2012 at 11:39 am
The Bucs are in good shape at #5. I bWelieve they take Richardson with #5, or if he’s gone, they take Claiborne and draft a RB later, say round 2.
Win-Win.
April 7th, 2012 at 11:43 am
I hear you Joe and am with you 100%
April 7th, 2012 at 11:43 am
Joe. Again you remain one of the few voices of sanity!
The rest of these guys are just embarrassing lately.
April 7th, 2012 at 11:45 am
My money is on Morris Claiborne being a reincarnation of Aquib Talib. That low Wnderlich score combined with his ebonic text / Twitter rant is just too much. Too much. Burn me once shame on you…burn me twice shame on me. Lets see if YOUR riock star GM learned a lesson.
April 7th, 2012 at 11:48 am
Why? Because Josh Freeman HAS shown that he can easily be an elite QB, and do everything a QB is asked to do. LeGarrette on the other hand has not. He has absolutely not shown that he can block or receive. That means he only has 1 out of 3 steps (running; needs blocking and receiving) down to being an all around RB. And if you’re also wondering difference between Richardson and Blount, Richardson ALREADY has all 3 of those steps down and is an immediate Pro Bowl player. Also, Claiborne is NOT, and probably will never be an elite CB. Pro Bowls? Probably. But not elite. If I’m not mistaken, isn’t the Bucs’ top priority on defense TACKLING. Well, if it is, Claiborne doesn’t fit, because he is a very soft tackler as well.
April 7th, 2012 at 11:51 am
I’m with you Joe and further more yack is D. Bag. Let’s see whatynar can do with Blount, I don’t like what Blount said the other day tho.he needs to just focus on himself and be a team player!
April 7th, 2012 at 11:53 am
PEAD!!!
April 7th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
There is no way on earth that the Bucs EVER let Blount go in the next 5 years. Absolutely no way. Anything else is either a smokescreen or an attempt to light a fire under Blount. Guys with his talent at RB don’t come around very often, and it’s WAY too soon to be talking about replacing him. A ton of promise is still there.
Stop thinking the grass is greener on the other side. It isn’t.
Blount stays a Buc and is the feature back. Mark it down.
April 7th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
What does Blount need to bounce back from? He still had a 4.1 ypc average, put together another nice highlight reel in 2011, and was our best most consistent offensive player. So he had 4 fumbles late in the season…he still had a good year. He of course needs to work on route running, pass blocking, and ball security….but that is needed to improve, not to bounce back.
April 7th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
The reason the same thought process isn’t extended is because one of the two is a top prospect QB that showed flashes of brilliance, the other is a one dimensional RB that has punched teammates, sucker punched players at he college level, and failed to pick up on the subtler aspects of the game.
Freeman failed last season because he tried too hard to carry the team, not because he showed such major shortcomings in his game that most sports analysts assume his position is a team weakness. Put down the pom poms and open an objective eye. Blount is a poor man’s Jacobs.
April 7th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
If we can add Doug Martin in the 2nd round, and Joe Martinek late in the draft….we will have a very nice backfield.
April 7th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Blount will be just fine especially, following the blocks of future Hall of Fame tackle Matt Kalil.
April 7th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Poor man’s Jacobs? Lulz. Jacobs couldn’t carry Blount’s jock strap.
April 7th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
I agree with Mark and Miguel, Claibourne scares me, at number 5. I think he is going to fall in the draft, and not just because of his Twitter Rants.
I don’t recall him facing any future super star receivers. I like the pick of Kalil at number 5, IF he is there for the taking.
That pick will give us THE Best O Line in the NFL, and any decent RB can run behind that for years.
Blount is a special RB, and with run blockers to open holes to get him into the secondary, or one on one with a linebacker, look out!
April 7th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
I’m curious to see what a tight ship and better coaching can do for Blount. I took notice when he was in on passing downs & watched only him. On a few rare situations, he did pass protect well & seems to pick up the right guy. We’ll know after the upcoming season.
Same with Quincy Black. He has the talent, but can the new regime change his attitude?
April 7th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
I guess when Blount has success next year, this group of anti-Blount fan club, will say he only did it because of the offensive line and this will be partly true, but watch how fired up the line is for blocking for him. I still don’t know how you can criticize his blocking and receiving when he hasn’t been given a full off season nor opportunities on game day.
April 7th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Well, let’s all hope LaGarrett has a great year. Better for some of us to be wrong than to have a bad season on offense.
I do think we need another RB or two to compliment him and certainly would not boo a Trent Richardson pick either.
April 7th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
There was one reason Blount had a down year, that reason is he didn’t get enough carries. If Blount would of gotten 250 more yards and surpassed the 1000 yard mark nobody would be bashing him. The reason Blount didn’t pass block or catch many balls was because he was not given the chance. End of story.
April 7th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
@Rrsrq….
Miller reminiscent of #28, like Warrick Dunn #28?? Thought Miller is about 3 inches taller, and 15 lbs heavier, no?? Both shifty though.
@MikeWilliamsLiver…
Miller’s use at Miami is one thing. Usage here with holes opened everywhere, is another, plus with Earnest Byner leading. One thing a RB can’t create, is natural size, weight, NFL type running (to some degree)…. ??…
(p.s. for those going “Martin, Martin”….he’ll be gone, to Giants)
April 7th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
You can never be mad with Trent on your team. That said, the pick is Claiborne if for other reason than the Talib trial is in June. If this team hits the field with Biggers, Barber and Wright, this gets real ugly, real quick.
April 7th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
You know it kills me sometimes how we as fans think that we can judge a players intelligence by the performance that we see on television! There are many factors that are often involved in a players production or lack thereof on the field. The players on the other team are paid to stop the bucs as well. Legarrette is a guy that will be given every opportunity to compete but may play better in a two back system. Just saying there are alot of factors that we are unaware of but we just love to speculate don’t we?
April 7th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Martin is a stud he prob gone but i like Polk too
April 7th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
I love how people say Blount can’t catch or block……how the hell do you know he can’t???? He looked deadly catching the few balls thrown to him last year and was never let on the field on 3rd down. So you say he can’t because Olsen and Raheem thought Lumpkin was better…..ha ha ha where are Rah, Olsen, and Lumpkin now????
Deductive reasoning….if you think Blount can’t Block or Catch…than you agree with the coaching of Raheem and Olsen…..a shame we can’t fire fans too.
April 7th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
I don’t like what Blount said the other day tho.he needs to just focus on himself and be a team player!
April 7th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
There’s no honest reason Blount can’t catch screens and checkdowns. He has been given very little chance and when he has he did well. Joe will come out shining on this — hopefully with Blount as a Buc.
April 7th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
You do know the odds of miller having as good of a career as Dunn are virtually nil?
April 7th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
It’s a smokescreen and it’s working. They know what RB they want in the later rounds. Richardson will not be drafted here.
April 7th, 2012 at 1:24 pm
With you @Jessup, on both posts. While you’re correct Joe that people have touted Freeman’s great work ethic, we haven’t heard the same regarding Blount’s. Have heard mostly that he’s on the opposite end of the work ethic scale actually. Not about to doubt the guys intelligence though, as I’m not a fan of anyone who goes there. In the end though, it really doesn’t matter how we all feel about the Blount. If Schiano sticks to his “competition at every position” principle, Blount should have the opportunity to beat out whoever the team brings in at RB to fight for the job. Always kills me that even though NO is a pass-first team, they are stacked at RB with Ingram, Thomas, Sproles and Ivory. Can never have too many good backs.
April 7th, 2012 at 1:37 pm
I like Blount. I think he will get better. Then again I’m still piss they drafted Dunn and dumped Rhett.
April 7th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
with all thats being said about blount, isnt this his first offical off season with the bucs and not to mention rah wasnt able to(like gruden) develope a player…with our new and , imo, and improved running back coach I think Blount will EXPLODE
April 7th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Richardson is sharking these waters.
He’s twice the back Blount could be.
April 7th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
I’m all for letting Blount prove himself this year. Would be great to get him some second round competition that could push him to be better though. I honestly think there will be at least 3 of this years premium backs left when we pick in the 2nd. Take Claiborne if he is there, if not trade back for Kuechly, can’t pull that? Trade back even further and grab Barron…oooh nobody has mentioned Barron, even though Safety is as big a need for the Bucs as Corner and MLB is…..
April 7th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
I am with Joe on this, reading all this crap is maddening sometimes. Another example of a double standard is McCoy (who I really really like as a player), the same people bashing Blount just assume McCoy will have a great season if he is not hurt.
Also why would the Bucs send Blount to model their new nike uniforms if he was so unliked by the coaching staff? Almost all those players were the Franchises best player or best FA signing.
IMO all this TR talk and Blount bashing is nothing but a ploy to get someone to move up for the 5th pick OR for someone to trade up to the #4 or #3 spot to take TR and allow a Kalil to fall to the Bucs at #5
April 7th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
off subject, but what happened to our cheerleaders?????
April 7th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Joe,
You simply can’t pass on a “Trent Richardson” talent in the draft, period.
BPA.
We passed on Adrian Peterson, and everyone can say, “yeah we should’ve grabbed the RB”.
I don’t want to hear that “should’ve” crap.
I am all about Claiborne of Richardson is off the board.
April 7th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Trent Richardson is the best position player out there, if he’s at #5 buc’s take him if not it will be Clairborne either way it’s a good deal. If Clairborne, they will look for a rb in the second round either a Martin,Wilson or Miller. Lastly, I now have this feeling the Browns will take QB Ryan Tannehill with the 4th pick and maybe Doug Martin with their second first I believe this would be their best selections. In Tannehill they will finally have their Franchise QB granted potential wise but look at the kid he’s 6′ 4 225 runs a sub 4.6 has a arm better than Luck has the intelligence to be a surgeon some day and he looks to be a leader. Looks to me he might be one of the best if given time to cultivate with the right coaching. Then with real solid back like Martin or Wilson I think the Browns would be most proud of those selections as apposed to taking Richardson or Blackmon and with their second first a Weeden or Cousins. I don’t believe we will be calling them Franchise QB’s anytime soon. As you know JBF followers, you need a FRANCHISE QB in the pass happy offensive league…
April 7th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
King Androc, I was thinking the same thing after watching a video on the new bucs cheerleaders. Maybe they think they’ll get hotter during the game as we are a couple beers in. Lol
April 7th, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Your good friend on a certain afternoon radio show and a former player on that same station in the morning are part of the media that constantly bash Blount. Ive never understood the criticism this guy gets. With his spectatacular runs you would think he would be a fan favorite with the fans and media not a scapegoat.
April 7th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
jessup, blount couldn’t bjacobs jock strap either,he’d probably fumble that 2!!! lol
April 7th, 2012 at 4:55 pm
I too think it’s simple, take Richardson if Claiborne is off the board. Vice versa, either way.
We want blue chip BPA and either player fits the bill and will immediately be a big part of the team. All good!
April 7th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
BTW, liking Richardson on this team does NOT mean not liking Blount on this team.
Having BOTH WOULD BE A GOOD THING!!!!
There, I shouted.
April 7th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
One has to wonder with the minimal talents of Lumpkin yet he was considered better than Blount on 3rd down? Could the RB coach and head coach be that unwise? or was it obvious that Blount was not as good as a very average at best RB…
April 7th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Freeman’s play was garbage last year.
Blount’s play wasn’t.
Joe, you’re right.
April 7th, 2012 at 6:21 pm
TRUST. Do they?
April 7th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
http://twitpic.com/96jeny
For the Trent Lovers… T. Richardson him self tweeted that picture yesterday… Seems the Browns are heavily considering him a #4.
April 7th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
@ ClayBURN94 – nah, our cheerleaders have ALWAYS been hot and I never needed beers to enjoy… must of been a change at the top
April 7th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
I read a couple of comments about the cheerleaders this year so I went to the Buc’s official website to check them out. I actually checked out the 2011 squad a couple of weeks ago when I was researching some stats, they were incredibly hot. This year’s group, incredibly not.
We all knew if the Buccaneers were to actually pay real money for free agents, they would have to scrimp somewhere. I don’t want to go off on some tangent about these girls because I know they have families, boyfriends, children and husbands that are incredibly proud of their achievement but, my first impression was, coyote ugly. Maybe it was the lighting, maybe it was the make up but holy cow, what a drop off in talent. Maybe it’s a rebuilding year.
April 7th, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Joe,
Please do some homework on Blount’s willingness to listen to coaches and show up to meetings. From what I have heard, no bueno…
April 7th, 2012 at 7:47 pm
I just watched some game film on Bobby Wagner from Utah and this kid is a beast. he is the real deal. he would instantly become our best linebacker. I hope we draft him because you guys would not be disappointed. he should be priority number 1.
April 7th, 2012 at 8:15 pm
Does Blount own a share of this site?
April 7th, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Blount doesnt get the same respect because the little dog on 620 has told everyone than Blount is a thug piece of crap that has no proffesionalism and doesnt take his job seriously. You compare him to Alstott just shows how desperate the media is to get hits on their blogs or sell papers.
Im not aginst having blount but dont want to have to rely on him either.
April 7th, 2012 at 8:43 pm
for the Trent lovers out there, I’m sure if he where to be taken at 4 they will find it very amusing when he runs over and around Claiborne…and of course he is heavily considered at #4 for the Browns, is that anything new? There are probably 2 or 3 other options they will heavily consider too…
April 7th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
oh btw 941-Bucs, that twitter acct. is not Richardson’s..Totally Bogus baby…
April 7th, 2012 at 9:30 pm
I am not bashing Blount at all, I’m just stating the obvious. As of right now, he is not an all around back. He wasn’t in college, and he hasn’t been in the pros. Perhaps he can improve and become one, or perhaps he will just be great at what he does now. He can still be a tremendous asset to this team by just continuing to do what he has done. There’s no reason for anyone (ahem, Joe) to get hurt feelings about it. Hell, I have 2 Blount Fathead’s in my house, so I’m obviously a big fan. Either way, it doesn’t change my opinion on who I would want to draft. RB’s can’t stay healthy all year, it just almost never happens. Depth is absolutely critical at that position, and to have two elite backs would be a wonderful thing. If Richardson is the best player available at #5, then take him and never look back. He will help our offense tremendously, as will Blount. They absolutely can co-exist. In fact, I think they will benefit each other and make each other better (and also probably extend each other’s career).
April 8th, 2012 at 7:52 am
I’m more concerned with the play of #5 Freeman than I am with Blount ability to get yards.
We don’t need Trent Richardson with a #5 pick
I don’t trust Clairborne with a pick #5
Best/safest pick would be an O-line.
April 8th, 2012 at 9:40 am
@Garv Says Yea that would be called a two headed monster. Pass happy would be replaced with pound the rock again.
April 10th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Poor pass blocker? Not really, #10 in pass blocking efficiency:
http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/03/30/2011-pass-blocking-efficiency-running-backs/