Blount Shouldn’t Have To Be A Third-Down Back
March 7th, 2012
The mainstream media has produced stories recently placing importance on LeGarrette Blount’s possible transformation into a third-down back.
And it seems these reports have wedged under the skin of former Bucs quarterback Jeff Carlson, a regular analyst here on JoeBucsFan.com. Carlson checked in with Tom Krasniqi yesterday on WHBO-AM 1040 and blew off a little steam on the subject.
“I hate the fact that everybody writes that Blount has to become a three-down back, an every-down back. I think that’s the dumbest comment,” Carlson said. “Anybody that says that Blount has to be an every down back is, I just don’t understand it. What is a third-down back for? There are third-down back all around the league. Go back to Dave Meggett. [Darren] Sproles, and all these third-down backs. Why does LeGarrette Blount, a 260-pound back have to be an every down back?
“The whole game of pro football is substitutions; make substitutions to create mismatches. In 3rd-and-7, … you’re bringing in a quick shifty guy. Now the Bucs need one of those. Quit saying we need LeGarrette Blount to be a three-down back; he doesn’t have to be that. So we need to get somebody else to do that speciality.”
Joe agrees with Carlson, though Joe believes Blount is not the limited back many believe him to be, just a guy whose 2011 season was butchered by an inept offensive coaching staff that didn’t know how to use him.
Regardless of whether Blount can catch screens and mow down defenders, or block sufficiently, (Joe suspects he can both), the Bucs shouldn’t need Blount to carry the load on third down if they can finally score a good scatback type, or just a good third-down back.
Joe seems to remember the Bucs’ offense humming with Blount and Cadillac Williams as a third-down back during the second half of 2010.
March 7th, 2012 at 9:15 am
Chase Coffman, former Bengals TE, was just signed by the Bucs….he’s a big guy. Wonder if he fen make this switch to fullback?
I think Blount will be fine barring injury. I would like a faster back as well to complement him.
Of course, we need improved play on the offensives line before we se any real success.
March 7th, 2012 at 9:19 am
The running game starts with the line. Until the right side of the Buc’s line blocks better, there will be little effective run game.
March 7th, 2012 at 9:23 am
Joe, amen on the point. We don’t need Richardson.
Pete, there aren’t too many 6’5 FB’s, so I don’t share your curiosity.
March 7th, 2012 at 9:25 am
@The running game starts with the line. Until the right side of the Buc’s line blocks better, there will be little effective run game.
Which is why we need to sign Michael Bennett’s brother to be our blocking TE. Guy is possibly the best blocking TE in the league and yet no one is talking about him.
March 7th, 2012 at 9:27 am
Joe here,
@PeteDutcher – Please don’t cut and paste large chunks of copyrighted content in the comments. Also, please stay on topic, at least out of the gate. The Bucs signing training camp fodder at tight end is surely way off topic.
March 7th, 2012 at 9:29 am
@Fatmosh I am all about that. I have been talking to my circles about that possibility this entire offseason.
March 7th, 2012 at 9:32 am
Speed and Power. RB is no different we have the Power we need the speed. It’s exactly what’s missing at WR as well.
March 7th, 2012 at 9:34 am
Im not sure where all of this “we need an every down back” chatter is coming from. Dunn and Alstott were a pretty good tandem, being worked in @ various times during the game. Although Pittman wasn’t exactly a phenom, he also paired fairly well with Alstott, if ever so briefly. Point is, we don’t need 1 guy to carry the entire load. This league is a multiple back league now, get someone who has talent that can compliment Blount and let them do work.
March 7th, 2012 at 9:43 am
I am not at all concerned about this. If there is one thing I’m sure Schiano understands, it’s the run game. We need Doug Martin (every-down back) in the 2nd, Chris Rainey (specialty back/Percy Harvin type) in the 4th – yes, 4th because we’re going to trade down in the 1st, Evan Rodriquez (legitimate FB) in the 5th or 6th, and Darrell Scott (back-up for Blount) in the 7th. Blount will be situational back. Madu to the PS, Lumpkin, Lorig, and Graham on the bubble. By the way, we get 2 comp picks for Ruud and Caddy!
March 7th, 2012 at 9:53 am
Wait, you want to draft FOUR running backs?
March 7th, 2012 at 9:57 am
Is Blount is getting a prostate exam in this picture?
March 7th, 2012 at 10:00 am
Macabee whatever you’re on, I’ll take 2.
March 7th, 2012 at 10:01 am
Am I missing something here?
We couldn’t get him on the field DURING third downs. So is the argument, through whatever media sources, that since he couldn’t grasp the usual NFL third down load i.e blitzes and catching the ball out of the backfield (which I don’t necessarily agree with) he can’t develop to an everyday back in only his second full season? I understand the need for multiple backs, but cut the kid some slack.
March 7th, 2012 at 10:03 am
He also hasn’t had even ONE offseason with the Bucs.
March 7th, 2012 at 10:11 am
Meh, not going to happen, but trying to expose the gaps in our run game. Shows what happens when you ignore the position for so long. If we do trade down and get 2 extra picks and 2 comp picks, Yes, I could see 3 of those picks happening. The 7th pick could very well be an UFA!
March 7th, 2012 at 10:15 am
@Nice Day, the right side of our oline is our strength when it comes to running. Put it behind our ONE pro bowl player, Davin, and run all day!
You guys seem to be on track here otherwise. I think if we snag rainey in a late round it would be a great opportunity for a scat back. But that’s just the gator in me 🙂
March 7th, 2012 at 10:19 am
@fatmosh
You are right about Bennett. He is a beast of a blocker, only 25 years old, and 6’7″ and over 250 pounds. Not only should we bring him in to block but also to catch some damn balls. I would be happy with Bennett and Stocker as our TE, then put Winslow on the block.
ANYWAY, Blount is not the problem. The problem is that after Graham went down our “3rd Down Backs” could not run. People need to stop looking at Blount as the back that could not catch or block, when given the chance, I saw Blount have a few nice catches and was no worse than Lumpkin blocking. The problem was Lumpkin was a horrible runner and Madu did not get a chance. Blount will get better, pair him with another back we draft or a free agent and we will be good. What about Justin Forsett from Seattle, has kick return experience, third down back experience, and very little mileage on his legs.
Another guy is Mike Tolbert. Yes I know he is shorter but probably heavier than Blount, however he is one of the best if not the best blocking RB in the league. He is also a short yardage back, something Blount has struggled with despite his size. Blount, Tolbert, and James, Rainey, or Pead, I would be extremely happy with that coming out of the backfield for us next season.
March 7th, 2012 at 10:20 am
The POINT is if we can have Blount on the field on 3rd and 4 it would open up the playbook alot more.Having Blount in on 3rd and 1 is alittle more predictable on what we will do. Blount can be the featured back but we need another really good back and he is not on the roster now imo…
March 7th, 2012 at 10:25 am
Cannon
Na, that’s just Blounts move called “the nut roll and tea bag”!
March 7th, 2012 at 10:28 am
As for our running game, we need some blocking TEs! And I agree, I think our new coaching staff will help develop and figure out the rest.
March 7th, 2012 at 10:30 am
@Jrock I highly disagree.
March 7th, 2012 at 10:32 am
Nobody even knows what schiano and sullivan think of blount.
They may not be as impressed as some on here are.
No guarrantee he is the first and second down back let alone third. Has to earn it imo.
March 7th, 2012 at 10:36 am
Can the Bucs please sign Payton Manning?
March 7th, 2012 at 10:40 am
Bucs want Blount to be an every down back, not just a 3rd down back.
March 7th, 2012 at 10:40 am
No thanks Phil.
March 7th, 2012 at 10:44 am
You know Phil that annoys me. You can’t possibly be a Bucs fan if you want to sign Manning and get rid of Freeman. You can’t possibly be a football fan if you can’t spell Peyton.
March 7th, 2012 at 10:46 am
Phil
No thanks to Pey-him-a-ton Manning!
March 7th, 2012 at 10:52 am
I’m a Bucs fan and I’d bench Freeman in a heartbeat if Peyton were on our team. Freeman could learn a lot and Peyton is still one of the best.
March 7th, 2012 at 10:55 am
Good luck mr. Luck
Tough act to follow!
How bout jason campbell for frees back up?
March 7th, 2012 at 11:02 am
Why would anyone want one of the best qbs ever?
Matched with the qb coach who helped his brother win the super bowl.
If were sooooooo talented why not!
Count me in on that!
March 7th, 2012 at 11:02 am
@ eric
Steve Young and Aaron Rodgers had the luxury of an established team when they took over for a legend. Luck (or Griffin) has his work cut out for him.
@ Have A Nice Day
I would love Peyton over Freeman if Peyton was in his prime, and our team was ready to roll. We have a lot of building to do, and bulding around Freeman is very important.
March 7th, 2012 at 11:14 am
J2.0
I agree!
BTW first, Harrison is probably his Davin-Trueblood deal. So we would have to pay him too. Second, is Peyton even 100% healthy yet, or really going to be well enough to play again?
March 7th, 2012 at 11:16 am
The right side of the offensive line hasnt been the problem. Its the middle of it.
March 7th, 2012 at 11:18 am
I just think were gonna have a better runoff game with guru of Bob Vistas the offensive literacy and Byner the running bacs coach. Byner did awesome with Chris Johnson And MJD during his time with Titans and the Jaguars and they have gain 1,000 plus each of their seasons. So it will be a better offensive line that you have ever seen so stay tune for a ggreat year
March 7th, 2012 at 11:21 am
The people that don’t think Blount can carry most of the load must have been in a coma during the entire 2010 season. It was so obvious the second Blount took over the majority of the carries that we were a different team. Even on the very limited carries Blount had in that Steelers game I could tell that he was something that we had been missing for a long time.
March 7th, 2012 at 11:51 am
I ment to say Bob Bostad and line and backs
March 7th, 2012 at 11:58 am
Sure, let’s bring in Peyton Manning in the twilight of his career and build the team around him and set Freeman’s progress back several years in the process. Brilliant! You guys should run for political office. They make those kind of decisions all the time…..
March 7th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Blount doesn’t have to be a three down back, he just has to have the capability of being a three down back. Him being on the field when we run and off the field when we pass doesn’t help anyone but the opposing defense.
March 7th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Praise jesus it is other bucs fans that think the same. Blount has never been the problem. We just need a speed back someone who can change the pace of the game. And Naw we don’t need Peyton even though im a die hard fan of his. We’d hafta start over again. We don’t need that.
March 7th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
@Bobby
LOL. It makes me laugh that people would be serious about brining in Manning now. If it were 2004 I would have a different opinion, but now is ridiculous when we have a young QB with such a high ceiling.
March 7th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
I’d bring in Manning – if he came with a time machine.
March 7th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
I agree with those that believe Blount will be fine. Most of his areas of concern – fumbles(too me a lot of those were him giving everything he had to get the extra yard and losing his concentration on the ball), pass blocking and pass catching. All of which can be corrected with coaching and I believe Byner is as good as any to get this done. I’ve seen Blount catch the ball just fine.
We need a legitimate 3rd down/speed back like the others were suggesting, James or Rainey though I like Rainey better because of the SEC defenses he faced every year not to mention his special teams play. We need a home run hitter change of pace back that can spell Blount.
March 7th, 2012 at 5:08 pm
people keep mentioning Blount’s 2010 season. Zone Blocking. Just sayin.
They really do need another big load to compliment blount. Power running games are not just tough on defenses, they are also tough on running backs. If he goes down, then what? Need that second power back, and a speedster/plamaker for 3rd down and special plays.
March 7th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
If successful at trading back in first use 2nd round pick on David wilson.. if unable to trade back go for Rainey or James in the 3rd
March 7th, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Yes, fine. BUT he needs to be able to be on on third down & “passing downs” otherwise the offense is too predictable.