Blount Trade Talk Is Ludicrous
October 28th, 2012
Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud has tossed out silly rumor fodder for Bucs fans to consume today, citing the always reliable “speculation” that LeGarrette Blount is on the trading block before Tuesday’s deadline.
Joe finds that completely ridiculous, unless the Bucs are trading for a quality running back.
The way the Bucs have their offense constructed, they’d be foolish to part with their depth at the position. Blount has lost the fumbling that plagued him last season, so that cardinal sin of the New Schiano Order has not been violated. Blount is what he is, an inexpensive and very talented player backing up a better player at a key position. There’s no logical reason to ship him out, short of an incredible return, which won’t happen because of Blount’s soon-to-be-free-agent status.
October 28th, 2012 at 6:47 am
For the good of both the team and Blount himself, he needs to be traded.
He is not the kind of RB that can make a difference in 4-5 carries he gets. He needs to be fed the ball over and over to break out a big run or two. And once he does that, defenses lose morale and it snowballs into more offensive success.
But being given a carry here and there, it is just hindering the offense by wasting carries on him. He may be useful elsewhere on a team like say Green Bay who may make him the feature back for this season and feed him 10+ carries easily.
If the Bucs hold on to him and ultimately let him go once his contract expires, he will fetch us nothing.
October 28th, 2012 at 7:24 am
If they don’t trade him, at least quit playing him. I’m tired of his happy teet in the backfield as he plows into the line for 0 to 2 yards. It’s pathetic to watch.
October 28th, 2012 at 7:28 am
Don’t think the Schiano regime has figured out how to use LGB. He’s functionable and may be needed if/when Martin goes down. Hope it doesn’t happen, but in the NFL, you’ve got to plan for it.
October 28th, 2012 at 8:17 am
Put michael smith in, befind D.Martin
October 28th, 2012 at 8:23 am
Not necessarily in favor of trading Blount, but if the right offer was made I could see it happening. Would think the team would look to acquire another power back for short-yardage situations though. Wouldn’t be surprised if the team made Trueblood available due to his $4 mil salary for a backup OT. Overall, doubt we’ll actually see much movement at the dealine though I personally enjoy the speculation.
October 28th, 2012 at 8:24 am
Hey Joe… I don’t think Blount has enough carries to say he has gotten rid of his fumbling problem.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:09 am
I would think Talib may be traded if anyone. I don’t see what trading Blount would get that would really help the team.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:34 am
I just posted a comment and its no where to be found. What’s up with that Joe?
October 28th, 2012 at 9:34 am
I’m surprised we haven’t talked much about DJ Ware. He hasn’t touched the ball much, but he is averaging 7 yards per carry and has around 10 catches out of the backfield. Several have been for first downs.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:42 am
I don’t think Blount has figured out to use Blount. He has been terrible so far this season. He’s had 2 good runs on the same drive, but that’s about it. He can’t seem to figure it out and his vision of the field is pretty bad. I would trade him in a heartbeat if a decent offer was on the table. I think his days in the NFL are numbered and few.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:42 am
Blount proved two years ago that he is a very talented and productive back. Sullivan and Schiano are struggling to find ways to best utilize Blount with a stud like Martin in the stable. I firmly believe there is a major role for Blount on this team but coaches are having tough time figuring it out. To be fair, Blount has not wowed anyone in his few opportunities but as most of us can recognize, he is a momentum back that needs to be fed regularly to get going. I think this talented coaching staff will figure this out. Good problem to have!
October 28th, 2012 at 9:46 am
I love me some Blount when he gets rolling and would hate to see him playing for someone else. This Blount trade talk should be ludicrous. Lets hope it is.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:49 am
D.J. Ware is ok at best. He’s a Jack of all trade and master at none. He’s worth keeping on the roster. I think we would have seen more Bount in the last game more, But Martin was on fire. Blount in 1 year has more yards than D.J. Ware has in what 6 years. Trading Blount would be stupid.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:57 am
I think if Oakland offers us a 3rd or 4th rd. pick, Blount could be in the Silver and Black when we play them next week….this is his last year under contract I think and I am not sure Shiano likes his happy feet routine. I would like to see him stay tho
October 28th, 2012 at 9:59 am
We do not trade a 1000 yard back one who punishes defensive players everytime they tackle him. We should rotate him in for a set # of plays say a full set of downs. Nor just 3-4 touches over the whole game. I should like to have him come in during our first 2 drives. Pound on those defensive players early on, then bring in Martin a series or two, alternate from there. Martin is doing well but can he keep running all game every game effectively? Let’s use all our RB not just one, maybe we can even have them both on the field at the same time. I hope we do not trade Blount. I just bought his jersey.
October 28th, 2012 at 10:08 am
Personally, I love LGB, I think he has the talent to have a very good career, just not with the Bucs, we should keep him for the duration of the season, sign him to a cheap by comparison contract, then trade him during the draft, he cost us nothing to get and anything we get in return for him is a bonus. He deserves to be in a situation where he can thrive, but Tampa is not that place, not with Dougie who is proving to be a 3 down back.
October 28th, 2012 at 10:29 am
Just to be sure everybody is playing with the same facts. Blount is not an unrestricted free agent next year. He will be a restricted free agent meaning if the Bucs place a tender on him, any team interested in him will have to surrender a pick comensurate with the tender. I don’t think they would use a 1st round tender as they did with Bennett last year, but it could be a 2 or a 3. Point being, he is not free to walk without compensation.
October 28th, 2012 at 10:31 am
Nobody can figure out how to use him???? Its not schiano it wasnt olsen its blount…
October 28th, 2012 at 10:44 am
If there is a team desperate enough for a running back, I can see that happening. We have Ware, Smith & Madu as serviceable options to spell Martin.
Those who say trade Talib, I don’t see that because we need corners and like it or not, he’s our best corner (in my opinion).
October 28th, 2012 at 10:45 am
this would be a horrrible trade in a league where injurys always happen, especially the way doug martin runs the ball you never know what could happen. we need depth in that position and trading blount would be stupid. let him go after the season but for now we need him.
October 28th, 2012 at 11:12 am
Nfl.com stated there could be a lot of good players on Trade Block like Deangelo Williams from the Panthers, Steven Jackson from the Rams, Dwayne Bowe.
October 28th, 2012 at 11:18 am
@Pete – Madu didn’t make the team. Sorry to burst your bubble. Some of you are writing off Blount like you did Freeman a few weeks ago. He’s a good player, just not better than Martin.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
With as little as they use Blount… how can you find it ludicrous that they are shopping him around? I to think its unlikely but its absolutely a possibility. Up to this point he has done absolutely nothing this season except a few nice runs against KC. He’s barely seen the field.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Joe is this rumor about Eric wright soon to be suspended true? You got to be kidding me we are going to be doing a major rebuild this offseason… sheesh
October 28th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
E, Wright about to get a 4 game ban for adderall. MyLew is officially the luckiest guy ever
October 28th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Regarding the news that the Rams and Panthers are listening to offers for Steven Jackson and DeAngelo Williams, these teams are looking to clear cap space as these players are nearing 30 years old and approaching the end of the line for a RB. While there may be some gas left in the tank, they are paid 7mil and 5mil respectively.
Why pay this when there are RBs in the 2013 draft like Le’veon Bell, a Blount lookalike at 6-2, 245 that can be had for a 4th or 5th round pick (might be higher once he gets on the NFL radar screen).
Warning: Some may find the rap music offensive!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_NUFkRgUw8
October 28th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
@Macabee
He’s going to be a first rounder. The draft guys I’ve been following on twitter have been talking about him all year. Bell is a monster!
October 28th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
How bout for a cornerback since eric wright gonna be out four games. Whatta idiot
October 28th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
I’m sooo looking forward to next season when Blount will no longer a topic in Tampa Bay.
We’ve seen the future.
Embrace it.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Oh crap I have a Blount jersey too. I changed mind, he’s a keeper.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Eric Wright being suspended ? I’m on the Mike Jenkins train now.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
I think as defenses begin to spend more time planning on what to do about Doug Martin, the field will open up again for Blount. For the past year and a half, defenses have prepped for Blount, now with Martin’s different style, they will be less prepared to tackle the 250lb Blount.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Stroud’s “speculation” could be that he read Jason LaCanfora’s report on Sportsline:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/jason-la-canfora/20723343/the-nfl-today-panthers-changes-could-extend-to-ron-rivera-broncos-oc-mike-mccoy-a-potential-target
October 28th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
does anyone remember the Bucs backfiels when Blount and Graham were hurt, you gotta keep him just in case of injuries, depth in this league is crucial, I hope he doesn’t but if Martin goes down, you guys good with DJ Ware and Michael Smith who hasn’t even cracked the active roster (for a reason). You keep Blount unless you know there is something out there better.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Blount’s biggest problem seems to be that either he’s just not a confident runner, or he’s still developing his sense of timing within this offensive scheme. I tend to think it’s the former, but I’d love to be wrong about that.
Thursday night’s game allowed me to be able to compare Blount and Martin against each other better than I’d been able to previously, and what I noticed is that Martin stays in low gear when he takes the handoff and seems to have a better knack for being in the right place, at the right time, and going at the proper speed in the right direction when that hole opens up in front of him to burst through. Blount, on the other hand, seems to be starting a little too fast and then has to slow down a little as he waits for the hole to open in front of him. That often puts him in the right place at the right time, but NOT going at the proper speed. This is preventing Blount from being able to burst through the hole. Consequently, it closes in front of him and he’s lucky to get a yard or two on the same plays where Martin is routinely getting four to six yards.
I’d like to think it’s just a matter of Blount taking a little longer to become confident in this offense that’s messing with his timing. If that’s the case, once it clicks for him, look out. *crossing my fingers*
October 28th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
I think everyone, including Blount and his Agent, should have seen the future of the Bucs backfield when we drafted Martin and Smith. Then we brought in DJ Ware. I think for this kids future it is best for him to get out of Tampa before he gets too old. There is a ton of talent there and he deserves to play somewhere.
October 28th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Blount will not get traded. Not a chance in hell, especially since we’re still in the playoff hunt.
October 28th, 2012 at 11:07 pm
gotbbucs I agree with you. I think if we were going trying to trade him we would at least advertise his talents to make him more valuable. Call better plays when he is in, give him more touches etc. Seems like most of his carries are up the gut or on the right side of the line when everything is saying run left. Next year he will be a restricted free agent and that is an even stronger case not to trade him this year. I kind of feel bad because he has had his hands tied this year it seems. IMO.
October 29th, 2012 at 6:44 am
LGB is a momentum back that needs many carries to break a long run, problem is that in order to do that we would need to take those carries from Dougie. Thats minor addition by major subtraction, that doesnt work. All that Blounts doing now is essentially just producing an automatic loss of a down for no yardage every time he touches the ball. Also i would say that you cant really claim he has overcome his fumbling woes on the count that he hasnt touched the ball enough to actually conclude that. If we get offered the opportunity to trade for a CB we should do it.