LeGarrette Blount to Visit Steelers

[CISGS]

Report: RB LeGarrette Blount to visit Pittsburgh Steelers - ESPN Boston




No idea why, but I have a hunch they will sign him. He meets the Steeler's old school philosophy on running backs (which they haven't really embraced since The Bus).

 

[borg]

There goes our speed return game

 

[Rob0729]

Rotoworld say the Pats told Blount to set his market and come back to them after he has an offer. I wouldn't bet on him going so quickly.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I really want him back

 

[oldrover]

Me too. Let's not have another Steve Smith situation.

 

[BradyFTW!]

As much as I'd like for the Pats to re-sign Blount, at the same time the season that he just had is a perfect example of why it's foolish to invest a lot in RBs. Reclamation projects like... well, LeGarrette Blount last year... can often be found for very little investment. If his offer is even a little high, given the Pats' current cap situation, then it may be better to go find the next Blount than to pay this one.

 

[Jimke]

Rotoworld say the Pats told Blount to set his market and come back to them after he has an offer. I wouldn't bet on him going so quickly.

This is a hell of a way to do business. Blount's agent will call the
Patriots to tell them he's leaving.

 

[Sicilian]

As much as I'd like for the Pats to re-sign Blount, at the same time the season that he just had is a perfect example of why it's foolish to invest a lot in RBs. Reclamation projects like... well, LeGarrette Blount last year... can often be found for very little investment. If his offer is even a little high, given the Pats' current cap situation, then it may be better to go find the next Blount than to pay this one.

Not only are reclamation projects relatively easy to find, but I find the running game is more about the team mentality than it is the actual guy carrying the ball. Of course you need someone with some skill, but what's more important is the O-Line having a little bit of nastiness, the tightends being good blockers, the wide receivers being at least willing to block, and the coaching staff and coordinator using the running game to its own advantage (not just running for running's sake). Having a good FB helps too.

All of those things are as important if not moreso than the running back himself (with the exception of transcendent talents like AP).

 

[Sicilian]

This is a hell of a way to do business. Blount's agent will call the
Patriots to tell them he's leaving.

He's a terrible agent then.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Not only are reclamation projects relatively easy to find, but I find the running game is more about the team mentality than it is the actual guy carrying the ball. Of course you need someone with some skill, but what's more important is the O-Line having a little bit of nastiness, the tightends being good blockers, the wide receivers being at least willing to block, and the coaching staff and coordinator using the running game to its own advantage (not just running for running's sake). Having a good FB helps too.

All of those things are as important if not moreso than the running back himself (with the exception of transcendent talents like AP).

I agree, but I also do believe that Blount has an unusual combination of burst, elusiveness, and size. Once the Pats taught him to run with power and keep his pads down, he came a lot closer to his ceiling, which I believe could be "top 5-10 RB in the NFL" potentially. But even with all of that having been said, I'm still not a fan of matching the Steelers' offer if they want to give him more than, say, Ben Tate got from the Browns.

 

[Sicilian]

I agree, but I also do believe that Blount has an unusual combination of burst, elusiveness, and size. Once the Pats taught him to run with power and keep his pads down, he came a lot closer to his ceiling, which I believe could be "top 5-10 RB in the NFL" potentially. But even with all of that having been said, I'm still not a fan of matching the Steelers' offer if they want to give him more than, say, Ben Tate got from the Browns.

Oh yeah, all other things being equal I would rather have Blount in that RB rotation than not. I just, like you, don't think we should devote a high amount of resources to him, and I won't feel "worried" if he leaves.

 

[Brady6]

I agree, but I also do believe that Blount has an unusual combination of burst, elusiveness, and size. Once the Pats taught him to run with power and keep his pads down, he came a lot closer to his ceiling, which I believe could be "top 5-10 RB in the NFL" potentially. But even with all of that having been said, I'm still not a fan of matching the Steelers' offer if they want to give him more than, say, Ben Tate got from the Browns.

I would not classify him as a top 5-10 RB, even with his improvements. He is a one speed back, if the hole is open he can hit it and pickup significant yardage, he can also run over some players. To be honest though for a player his size he does not run over as many players as you would expect and if there is not a hole as we saw in the game against the Broncos he could not manufacture yardage.

I agree with your first post, a player like Blount is great when he is here on his last leg making $680K, I am not sure he has the same value as a $2M - $3M APY RB.

Ultimately on some level it comes down to do you want Blount or do you want Ridley, because if you go all in on Blount this season it is unlikely that you will be able to retain Ridley in 2015.

 

[JayNM]

I still think that Ridley is our best RB. But for his fumbling issues, he would be in the Top 15 of the League IMO, easily.

I still want Blount back though, he's unique in the team, brings another set of skills. But if we lost them, i'll not be that upset (especially if MJD replaces him).

 

[chasa]

I still think that Ridley is our best RB. But for his fumbling issues, he would be in the Top 15 of the League IMO, easily.

I still want Blount back though, he's unique in the team, brings another set of skills. But if we lost them, i'll not be that upset (especially if MJD replaces him).

People keep talking about Riddleys explosiveness, and his speed, and yada yadda yadda.

All i saw last year was Riddley continuing to do what he does(be average at best) while blount would break off 40-50 yard runs every couple of games, while matching and often times having a higher YPC.

If we wanted someone who could hammer out a steady 4 ypc and not much more we could have kept lawfirm, at least at that point he could hold on to the ball.

 

[Jimke]

He's a terrible agent then.

Agents can't wait forever for a team to offer their client an offer.
The Patriots seem to be ignoring most of their own free agents.

 

[PP2]

People keep talking about Riddleys explosiveness, and his speed, and yada yadda yadda.

All i saw last year was Riddley continuing to do what he does(be average at best) while blount would break off 40-50 yard runs every couple of games, while matching and often times having a higher YPC.

If we wanted someone who could hammer out a steady 4 ypc and not much more we could have kept lawfirm, at least at that point he could hold on to the ball.

This thread thanks you for giving it a 300-page life.

 

[n8wood]

I think someone like Moreno would be more of an asset to this offense. He's a 3 down back who wouldn't tip off the defense.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I think Blount is perfect for our team. He split the carries with Ridley and they both had the same amount of yards (by 1 yard). Blount is perfect for those cold months to wear down those defenses. I hope we sign him, he was a beast last year. 5 yards a carry, and 4.7 yards per carry his whole career. I think he's perfect for 150 carries a year.

 

[wrangler]

I still believe Ridley and Vereen as our major backs. jmo

 

[JayNM]

People keep talking about Riddleys explosiveness, and his speed, and yada yadda yadda.

All i saw last year was Riddley continuing to do what he does(be average at best) while blount would break off 40-50 yard runs every couple of games, while matching and often times having a higher YPC.

If we wanted someone who could hammer out a steady 4 ypc and not much more we could have kept lawfirm, at least at that point he could hold on to the ball.

Well,in 2012 Ridley was a beast. 7th in the League with Rushing Yards and actually less fumbles per carry than Jamaal Charles, for example.

He may lack in Big Plays, but steadiness score as many points as a big burst, but chewing the clock more, so is as important to have a relieble RB as a guy like Blount.

It's imperative for him to stop fumbling so much, i agree with you there.

On Blount, he was being pretty lethargic on the Bucs before being traded and in the first games, he was being pretty mediocre too. Was only in the final stretch that he evolved and against DEN in AFCCG he was unable to break through.

My point is, he's a good RB, very good in the comitee system, but , if we end up losing him, it wouldn't be the end of the world, specially if there's a big offer for him somewhere else.