RB LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots

HT: 6-1, WT: 241, Born: 12-5-1986, College: Oregon, Drafted: ---

2013 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of May 6th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: J Cameron (219), LeGarrette Blount (221), J Jones (223)
Position: M Tolbert (195-RB71), I Redman (201-RB72), LeGarrette Blount (221 - RB73), R Jennings (224-RB74), C Benson (229-RB75)
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PPR Average draft position

Current as of May 6th. [Full PPR ADP list]

Overall: T Graham (246), D Bess (247), LeGarrette Blount (248), R Streater (249),
Position: C Michael (241-RB81), P Hillis (243-RB82), LeGarrette Blount (248 - RB83), B Bolden (255-RB84), K Davis (256-RB85)
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Outlook

When LeGarrette Blount hit the league in 2010, he looked like he might be a diamond in the rough. However the more he ran, the more he looked one dimensional—a big back who doesn't quite run as big as he should, isn't as fast as you'd like and isn't getting the tough yards. The Patriots made a draft day trade for him perhaps in the hopes that, like so many retreads they've acquired in the past, that Bill Belichick could work some magic and get more out of him. He's buried on the depth chart and it doesn't seem likely he makes his way out barring injury to someone ahead of him or a stunning effort in training camp. Blount might not even be on the roster come Week 1, but if he is, he'll likely only get brought in on occasion for short yardage work if that.

2013 Schedule

2012 Game Summaries

Week 1 - The forgotten back in Tampa Bay did not see action until the second quarter, but looked sprightly on his couple of carries before he left with an injury, or at least it seemed that he had gotten hurt. The Buccaneers did not mention an injury for Blount after the game.

Week 3 - Blount received four carries in relief of Doug Martin but only had one strong run, an 11 yard gain around the left end for 11 yards. Otherwise, his carries came on runs up the middle as the Buccaneers tried to loosen up the middle of the field for the passing game. Blount appears to run with good leg power but he is clearly the backup to Doug Martin in the running game.

Week 4 - Blount bowled his way into the feature back role for the Buccaneers in 2010, only to play fairly uninspired football in 2011 and cause Tampa Bay to spend a first-round draft pick on Doug Martin. The Buccaneers used Blount in short yardage situations against the Redskins on Sunday afternoon, and he ended up with seventeen yards on six carries. He crashed through the Washington defense in the end zone early in the fourth quarter for a touchdown. Jets running back Shonn Greene is much maligned in the football community for his glacial, plodding style of running, but Blount is essentially the same style of runner as Greene, if Greene came in contact with the ooze from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. Blount carried Redskins defenders on his back in attempts to get extra yardage, which was impressive, but his speed was simply non-existent. 



Week 6 - Blount was used almost exclusively in pass blocking situations until the final drive of the game. By this time the Buccaneers had a huge lead and the Chiefs defense looked tired and disinterested. His 35 yard rumble came because of good vision at the line and perfect timing with his cutback. His touchdown was much of the same, and he actually looked a little bit quick, it just took his 5 yards past the line to get up to full speed.

Week 7 - Blount was used on play-fakes a few times, before receiving his first carry in the second quarter. Blount tried to run off left tackle, but he was met by Saints defenders at the line of scrimmage. Blount's second carry came on a slow developing run play when he was forced to hesitate and wait for a hole to develop infront of him. While he was waiting he was hit by two defenders in the backfield. Blount was given three goalline carries after Vincent Jackson's long reception, but on each occasion his offensive line got no push and he was hit in the backfield.

Week 8 - Despite the comfortable win for Tampa Bay, Blount did not see the field much this week. When Blount did get a carry, he was indecisive and routinely stuffed at the line-of-scrimmage. He danced in the backfield as well as making more headway horizontally than north-and-south. The biggest indicator that the Minnesota defense was completely gassed by the end of the game came on Blount’s most successful play of the game. In the closing minutes, Blount reversed his field for a big gain. It looked as though the Vikings were completely dialing it in at that point. Given that it took a complete defensive breakdown for Blount to succeed in this one, his fantasy value is minimal going forward.

Week 9 - Blount's first carry came midway through the second quarter as he plowed into the defense for three yards. Blount was brought in to close the game out in the fourth quarter, but on his second carry of the drive, Josh Freeman lost the football before putting it in his chest. Blount received a lot of criticism at the time, on social media that is, but it really wasn't his fault.

Week 10 - Blount had just one carry in the game, as it has become quite apparent over the last few weeks that Doug Martin is the team’s best option in just about all scenarios.

Week 14 - With Doug Martin’s continued monopoly on the workload in Tampa Bay, Blount was on the field for just one touch. He carried the ball on second-and-short, which he did not convert. He was immediately substituted for Martin on the ensuing third-and-short snap.

Week 15 - Blount led all Tampa rushers, with 25 yards on only four carries. All of Blount’s carries came on the Bucs’ final drive, as both teams looked to drain the clock.