“Stop Saying That LeGarrette Blount Is Good”
December 27th, 2011
Back on the WDAE-AM 620 airwaves after a Christmas vacation, former Bucs guard Ian Beckles came out swinging today with a barrage of uppercuts for Bucs players, coaches, and management.
One jab particularly interesting to Joe was directed toward LeGarrette Blount, who Beckles thinks is a second-rate football player.
“Let’s stop saying that LeGarrette Blount is good,” Beckles said. “You can’t be a one-dimensional running back that fumbles.”
Beckles also defended his statement saying Bount’s off the field on third down, can’t block and isn’t good in short yardage.
There’s no denying Beckles is on the money with the fumbling take. That’s never acceptable, and Blount couldn’t blame a wet ball Saturday in Carolina. At least that’s correctable.
However, Joe disagrees with Beckles overall because Joe believes Greg Olson simply hasn’t figured out how to use Blount. He’s shown he can catch the ball and do damage in space, yet they don’t dial that those calls very much. Blount’s got more yards per catch than Kellen Winslow.
And Joe surely doesn’t believe the Bucs offense would get worse with Blount playing more on third down. His mere presence should soften the defense. Every time Blount jogs off the field Joe swears he can hear the happy sighs of defensive players.
Blount’s legitimately a dangerous weapon that the Bucs didn’t use or develop nearly as much as they should have this season.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Name one time this year Blount screwed up his blocking assignment. Now, try to only point out on both hand the times Lumpkin has screwed up his blocking assignment.
Blount isn’t one dimensional…. the coaching staff is.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Other than the fumbles and possible off field issues, Blount is fine. If he can correct the fumbling and we get a good 3rd down back (Lamichael James) we’re fine at RB.
And I am surprised he brings up blocking, Blount has made HUGE strides in his blocking this year over last year. Same with catching. He’s caught the balls thrown his way pretty well. Olson doesn’t use Blount very well at all, but that isn’t Blount’s fault.
Really, the fumbling is the only major problem with Blount. He can correct that if he works at it.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
Pro , gotta agree with you . I don’t wanna give up on Blount until we get an OC that actually has a clue . Bring in a coach that has some creativity and then we’ll see how Blount and the offense does .
December 27th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
Hey Ian, stop saying that Raheem Morris is good.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
A back is only as good as the line he works with. Notice how Blounts production declined along with the offensive line.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
Blowhard.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
trent richardson
December 27th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Lets just say Ian Beckles is good. Without Diaz the one dimensional Beckles is boring.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
No good.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Chill Ian, I listen to you nearly every morning, but you are wrong about Blount.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
These radio Jockeys suck … LGB has one of the best runs in football … and he sucks ?? More like misused.
Blount needs a compliment to maximize his abilities. I see the calls for Lemichael James. I was on board with until I saw how small he actually was. The Bucs need a back that can catch with quick feet and also runs with some Power in case they need to be a #1 for a few weeks if LGB goes down. James is just too small.
Trent Richardson and Doug Martin from Boise would be a fit.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
Ian Beckles does not matter. He does not go to practices and is out of touch.
He thinks he’s funny and that’s what he and Ron do, try to be funny.
But, unfortunately for them, repeating yourself over and over again and taking things personally and spewing opinions based of that is not funny, it;s boring.
Even though the Buccaneers should and will become more pass orientated with Josh as time goes on, there is still plenty of room for LaGarrett Blount and his power running. And hell yeah, he needs to work on holding on to the ball like Tiki Barber once successfully did with the Giants.
Happy New Year!!!
December 27th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Thanks, Joe, for pointing out some simple facts. I’ve seen Blount catch the ball and chew up yards. I’ve seen him do some amazing runs.
Beckles has little expertise about anything except his clothing line.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
This offense would have been alot better this year if we would have had a helluva lot more BFT, ‘Blount Force Trauma ‘. That’s right, I’m coining that phrase just in case Raheem tries to steal it from me.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Ian is right, most of you get misled by an exciting run – even though that happens just once or twice a game.
Blount doesnt block, is not a reliable pass catcher is a bad short yardage runner – graham is better.
The ultimate decision on blount being in or out of the game is the head coaches.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
No reason to bash beckles just because you disagree with him people.
I disagree as well. blount is very good and the quicker they get a change of pace back (maybe it is Madu) to split time (70-30) with him, the better.
I think he will also block better and catch more next year.
The fumbles HAVE to be addressed though.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
General Motors kept Cadillac, and we should have too.
We should have not allowed our old O Line Coach to get away by firing him because he did not get along with Olson.
Tampa should have kept Ruud, until we had someone actually ready to replace him.
To be a power running team means you need a great defense, to keep it close.
Hard to be a power running team when you are 21 points behind, if ya know what I mean.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
I totally agree with Beckles on this one. Blount has had two friggin’ years to learn blocking assignments and can’t get it down. He’s a one dimensional back who runs hard when he feels like it and tip toes to the line when he doesn’t feel like it. He also has problems with putting the ball on the ground. Best thing that could happen to Blount is we draft Trent Richardson and make him work his ass off to get reps. Look how hard the RB’s from New Orleans run when they get in. The competition is fierce and they want to show their stuff every time they touch the ball. Blount COULD be good but he doesn’t seem to have the work ethic to be an every down back. Olson doesn’t use Blount more because he can’t trust Blount in a lot of situations.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
The list of good on either side of the ball is very, very short.
As compared to other teams we are supposed to be lastingly contending with and “dominating” using the “most physical team in bucs history”.
We gotta rebuild the rebuild, if we ever recover from it.
Starting with getting a guy under roof at One Buc Place that has some proven expertise and success in the field of professional football.
Dang sure isn’t there now.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
there’s so many things that need to happen to this team and staff before any rb stands a chance in tampa. o-line, no deep threat, no offensive scheme, defense to keep games close just to name a few.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
If Greg Olson thinks that Blount can’t block, then I’m going to assume Blount is probably the best blocking back in the league. Olson is the worst o-coordinator in the NFL and that’s probably being generous. Go into college and high school and pop warner and he’s still probably bottom 10 at best.
This is ALL ABOUT making this “Josh’s team”. If Blount makes plays, fans want more Blount. Blount isn’t Rah and Greg’s guy. He’s just some dude they picked up who is wickedly talented. If Blount is the star and Josh struggles, Rah and Olson can’t have that.
Blount is fine as a third down back and catches the balls that Josh actually puts on him (running a dig route and reaching back with one hand is not Blount’s fault). He can block fine.
The problem isn’t Blount, it’s the coaches. With how horrible Lumpkin has been, what’s the worst that could happen with Blount?
December 27th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
@Bucfan34 — Standing ovation for that. Couldn’t agree more.
@Thomas 2.2 — You think Blount can’t catch? That’s nuts.
December 27th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
You’re only as good as your last carry or your last game. I happen to agree with Ian at this point in time. Last year I would have to disagree, but right now, especially since the Packer’s game (but really all year) Blount has not been good. He hasn’t even been mediocre, but as Joe pointed out, neither has the O line or Greg Olson, or anyone else on the team. They have all sucked together from top to bottom. I believe Blount has the potential to be great and hopefully next season he will be, but it is going to take a better coaching staff and much hard work. The potential is there, but right now the numbers aren’t.
It is hard to defend any player or any coach on this team right now. Thomas says they are the worst team ever, and on this point, I am forced to agree with him. About 50% of the players on the team have potential and are keepers, but the rest have demonstrated that they either don’t have the heart or the desire to play in the NFL. The Snowbirds are back and BestBuy is hiring.
December 27th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
How much of LGB’s misuse on the field is due to avoiding incentives in his contract? Why else would a team be so quick to pull a dangerous and productive running threat off the field?
December 27th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
@jvato
Doug martin is where its at. I think he is going to be a great RB in this league, and can be a number one or number two back. we dont need just a third down back, we need a 1b to blounts 1a. I want a guy who can do it all just with a little bit more speed.
December 27th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Good point crazy.
December 27th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
@Crazy…..that’s a seriously stupid post..
December 27th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Beckles and Shawn King should do a critique of each other’s broadcasting skills, or lack thereof.
December 27th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
When I look at Blount, I see Brandon Jacobs. He needs a complimentary back to push him and split carries with. Ahmad Bradshaw and Jacobs make for a good pair, especially when they are both healthy (obviously), but even when one goes down, the other can carry the load for a while. Blount is big and bruising, but we need a guy like Bradshaw to change pace and be a good receiver out of the back field. I say use Blount the way we used to use Alstott and bring in a guy with skills similar to Warrick Dunn. Now THAT was a good tandem.
December 27th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
@bobby, Allen and Gruden did it.
December 27th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
@bobby, Allen and Gruden did it.
Did what??
December 27th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
crazy probably isnt far off, would anyone really put that past the glazers, how bout this one for you, lagarrette is a free agent next year if he plays on passing downs he is a complete back and would have to be paid as such. If we take him off the field, that makes him less valuable when it comes time to re up his contract. We have the worst cheapest owners on the planet and it wouldnt surprise me at all if it was all a scheme to keep blounts overall value down.
December 27th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Man…there has got to be something in the water….
December 27th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
@jarrett & crazy
Blount was an undrafted rookie free agent and he’s still on that contract. I can promise,without even seeing his contract, that the incentives (if there even are an) are minimal
December 27th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
He’s never been good in short yardage situations, that’s my biggest gripe about blount. You’d think a big guy like him who leaps around the field could get you those few tough yards but his running style is slow to start and tough to stop when it gets going.
December 28th, 2011 at 12:26 am
“Stop saying the Ian Beckles and/or Ron Diaz are relevant!”
One of many ex-listeners tired of their ego driven, self centered and boring drivel. Pretending to be an “expert” doesn’t make you one. Not that being an “expert” really matters anyway.
Happy New Year!!!