Blount needs to watch some old tape

The comparison to Maroney seems accurate. (At least in the sort term.) Let's hope someone straightens him out.

I'm wondering how much of this is a result of the OL struggles? I don't remember a point heading into week 13 where we only had one 100 yard rushing performance all season (Blount vs WAS) from all of our backs total, unless I'm forgetting someone.

Did he get injured last night? How and why did the coaching staff shut him down?

If it's as simple as form, shouldn't the coaches be on top of that? I've read here that his stance is too upright.. doesn't seem like a hard fix.

edit:

Mid-game Stork was put in at center -- this lead to a 9 yard run by Blount. The change makes me wonder which center was in on the run plays and what the yardage gain was. Is there any place to find this information? I'd rather not re-watch the game.. it's too soon.

his vision is also lacking...

there were holes last night but no back was taking them...primarily to the outside...its like they had direction to stay within the hashmarks...

DEN obviously didnt constrain themselves to that

He doesn't seem to have the anger he once had...as well. I'd like to see Bolden more on all downs against the Eagles to see if he has more success.

vuudu said:

Did he get injured last night? How and why did the coaching staff shut him down?

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I'd hazard a guess that they simply weren't getting squat on the ground. OK OK both he and Bolden pushed ahead for like a 7-8 yard run a piece but that seemed to be the extent of it. Dude spends the vast majority of his runs getting 2-3 yards a pop. And he has been miserable on third and short.

Now I know the guy hasn't done anything at all w/the Jets coming off his injury but Blount makes me miss Stevan Ridley...or the pre-injury Ridley. At the very least he hit the gaps hard and quick unlike Blount. He was better than Blount is now. And Ridley was better on the goal line IMO. I just want a guy with some quickness who doesn't tap dance behind the line. Blount doesn't run like a big power back.

Kdo5 said:

I'd hazard a guess that they simply weren't getting squat on the ground. OK OK both he and Bolden pushed ahead for like a 7-8 yard run a piece but that seemed to be the extent of it. Dude spends the vast majority of his runs getting 2-3 yards a pop. And he has been miserable on third and short.

Now I know the guy hasn't done anything at all w/the Jets coming off his injury but Blount makes me miss Stevan Ridley...or the pre-injury Ridley. At the very least he hit the gaps hard and quick unlike Blount. He was better than Blount is now. And Ridley was better on the goal line IMO. I just want a guy with some quickness who doesn't tap dance behind the line. Blount doesn't run like a big power back.

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i do still like blount on the goal line. definitely not on 3rd on shorts, though.



it's tough. when we get blount going, there's nothing i like more. the offense is absolutely unstoppable when he's going. he's so fun to watch, too. violently dragging defenders across the field. it just hasn't been like that for a while... he never gets going

Too much River Dancing, not enough running...

I think Micheal Flatley might be a better RB then Blount. Atleast he keeps those feets moveing.

Kdo5 said:

I'd hazard a guess that they simply weren't getting squat on the ground. OK OK both he and Bolden pushed ahead for like a 7-8 yard run a piece but that seemed to be the extent of it. Dude spends the vast majority of his runs getting 2-3 yards a pop. And he has been miserable on third and short.

Now I know the guy hasn't done anything at all w/the Jets coming off his injury but Blount makes me miss Stevan Ridley...or the pre-injury Ridley. At the very least he hit the gaps hard and quick unlike Blount. He was better than Blount is now. And Ridley was better on the goal line IMO. I just want a guy with some quickness who doesn't tap dance behind the line. Blount doesn't run like a big power back.

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Despite being listed 25lbs lighter, Ridley runs with more power than Blount.

Blount never really been great cutting thru traffic in the trenches. His thing was being a 250lbs back in the open field with his speed.

Something tells me that Blount will run wild this weekend vs the Eagles - their run D is the type you want to face when you're looking to get back into form.

I dunna know about the Blount bashing. He had been running pretty well. I don't think much was there. He ran fwd a ton and tried not to take negative yards.

He always needs to try to run lower, agreed. He's never been a great short yardage back, but he should be a decent one, he needs to work on it.

You know, I've been Blount's greatest Detractor, hereabouts: I've always considered him a PowerBack ~ based on'is Size ~ without Power: He's all Upper Body Strength and not enough Core Power.

In EarthSpeak, that means that while he looks great once he's gotten through the Line, it's precisely that far more crucial Aspect ~ getting through the Line in the first place and Moving The Chains ~ that he is consequently far less adept at than one might expect, looking at'm: He's no Jerome Bettis.

And his Pass Protection and Receiving skills've always been mediocre at best.

Even so...He's been growing on me.

I still wouldn't choose'm for my Team ~ there are far too many Backs that I prefer at various Price Points ~ but in watching The Tape, ere the last Year or so, it seems to me that he's being coached on how he prioritizes his Time in the Weight Room ~ to focus on Core Power ~ and is actually applying the Coaching.

I cannot imagine that Core Power will ever become a particular Strength of his, but it seems to me that he's become far more formidable at The Point of Impact than he previously was.

And of course: he's incredibly agile for a PowerBack.

Not a Fan...but no longer a rabid Detractor.

Sometimes I wonder if he's always mentally in a game like that, where he knows the gameplan doesn't involve him much. They clearly weren't going to test the Bronco's run defense, and I think Blount is at his best when he knows he's going to get 15-20 carries and can wear some guys down.

I could be mis-reading it (and Denver's run D is very fast, so that makes people look sluggish by comparison), but he just didn't look into it Sunday night to me.

The good thing is there will be plenty of RB's available even one of those two guys who gashed us in Denver. Here's a name that could be add in a possible Trade Trey Mason RB St Louis they now have Todd Gurley who is the man for them and he's already a two way player both running and receiving. Blount is now complacent he knows he has no one behind him on this roster...he will be getting his walking papers at the end of the year. Blount runs too small for a Big back he has no power to speak of he's also not a Back who can make something out of nothing, sometimes the good ones do that.

Sicilian said:

Sometimes I wonder if he's always mentally in a game like that, where he knows the gameplan doesn't involve him much. They clearly weren't going to test the Bronco's run defense, and I think Blount is at his best when he knows he's going to get 15-20 carries and can wear some guys down.

I could be mis-reading it (and Denver's run D is very fast, so that makes people look sluggish by comparison), but he just didn't look into it Sunday night to me.

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This is a VERY good observation. When it's a run-based game plan and/or they are salting away a big lead, he runs way different than when they are in the midst of a Josh Pass-a-Thon and he just gets a few tokin' (couldn't help it) carries.

He definitely seems to with a different energy when he knows he is part of the game plan. And his involvement or lack thereof obviously affects his mindset/attitude given the Pitt situation. I'd hazard those emotions are still present albeit he just knows better than to outwardly manifest them in NE.

PatsFan2 said:

The good thing is there will be plenty of RB's available even one of those two guys who gashed us in Denver. Here's a name that could be add in a possible Trade Trey Mason RB St Louis they now have Todd Gurley who is the man for them and he's already a two way player both running and receiving. Blount is now complacent he knows he has no one behind him on this roster...he will be getting his walking papers at the end of the year. Blount runs too small for a Big back he has no power to speak of he's also not a Back who can make something out of nothing, sometimes the good ones do that.

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Don't see how you can say that Blount doesn't run with power when he was second in the league last year in yards after contact per rush. Only person that did better than him was Marshawn Lynch.