2015 Patriots Player Preview Series: RB LeGarrette Blount
As we begin the final stretch before training camp, here’s a daily look at some Patriots on the roster where we’ll individually preview them heading into the 2015 season. In this edition, Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount.
It's funny how sometimes things work out, and LeGarrette Blount has a million reasons to smile after the way last season ultimately unfolded for the veteran running back.
His midseason return to New England ended up being one of the key reasons the Patriots managed to win it all in Arizona earlier this year, even becoming a threat on special teams and in the kick-return game. He now returns in 2015 with what should be another opportunity for him to become a repeat champion given the talent that they'll still be fielding on that side of the football.
2014 RECAP:
Blount's story in 2014 is one that you can't help but shake your head at, especially considering how his career had seemingly come to an end in Foxboro. After a loss in the AFC Championship Game in Denver in January that year, the Patriots' run was over and Blount left for Pittsburgh and signed a two-year deal on March 28, 2014.
That left New England to put their trust in Stevan Ridley, who was in a contract season with plenty to prove. Ridley actually ran fairly well through the first five weeks of the season before going down with a torn ACL and MCL in week six against the Bills, leaving the Patriots in tough shape at the running back position.
With Ridley lost for the year, Jonas Gray got the lion's share of the carries through the next few weeks, including a 37 carry, 201-yard performance in Indianapolis that seemed to be a breakout game for him. But ironically one day later, it would be another event that would ultimately change the course of things for Gray for the rest of the season.
In a Monday night game between Pittsburgh and Tennessee, on November 17, 2014, Blount left the field early during the Steelers win over the Titans after he seemed to be frustrated by his lack of playing time with fellow running back Le'Veon Bell. That evening Bell racked up 204 yards on 33 carries along with a touchdown, while Blount didn't register a carry. That lead to a contentious situation in Pittsburgh, who subsequently released him.
It ended up being good news for New England, who was able to get him back after the veteran ended up clearing waivers, which opened the door for a reunion in Foxboro.
After Gray overslept and showed up late to the stadium following his performance against the Colts, Blount got more of the playing time from that point on and finished the season with 60 carries for 281 yards and three touchdowns, but it was the postseason where came up big yet again. He tortured the Colts for the second straight year, carrying 30 times for 148 yards along with three touchdowns in the AFC Championship Game during New England's 45-7 destruction of Indianapolis. He then followed it up with a productive 14 carry 40 yard performance that gave the Seahawks enough of a threat to open up New England's passing game.
Very few players fall out of favor with their team only to go on to win a Super Bowl ring, but that's exactly how things worked out for Blount. Now he'll return in 2015 looking to see if he can't add a second ring to his collection.
DID YOU KNOW?
Blount has ingrained himself in the record books here in New England during his short stint thanks to his performance against the Colts in the AFC Championship, which gave him seven career postseason touchdowns, giving him the franchise record.
Blount's three postseason touchdown total was also the most in the NFL in the playoffs this year, ahead of the Colts' Dan Herron (2), Seattle's Marshawn Lynch (2), Dallas' DeMarco Murray (2).
2015 OUTLOOK:
Heading into this season Blount will be a spectator in Week 1, with the veteran currently suspended without pay for the season opener following a suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. But as it stands right now, he should be in contention to resume his role as the lead running back, with Jonas Gray among several players who will be looking to back him up when training camp opens.
It should be an interesting camp and if Blount remains healthy he's a bulldozer that makes the Patriots offense extremely dangerous. Tom Brady has been in need of a bruising back and someone to keep opposing defenses honest since the days of when Antowain Smith and Corey Dillon carried the ball during their first three championships.
They may have lost Blount the first time, but after getting him back it's clear that he's a good fit here in New England. Hopefully that success continues in 2015.
