The running game has improved because the whole team has improved at the run game. Even the WRs have improved the intensity of their blocking. So what has changed for Blount, his ypc are virtually identical in 2014, 2015 and 2016. It really is the number of carries and the committment to the run game. Funny thing is if you look at stats, 2015 was one of his best season since his rookie season when he was a 1000 yard rusher. If he had played in all 16 games he would have had over 900 yards rushing. His yards per game was 2nd best ever. In 2016 he is on pace to have 1500+ yards per game. That is elite status. That is what committment to the running game does. His carries is way up and because his carries is up his yards per game are up.
Blount is a very good RB. His failures have more to do with poor blocking and lack of playing time. This has been a pass first, run second kind of team and Blount's stats have suffered because of it. Poor blocking and no holes to run through makes him tend to run upright and dance behind the LOS which usually ends in failure. It's going to be interesting to see how committed the Patriots will be to the run game when Brady gets back. My worries about Blout is how much punishment can he take. He may dish out blount force trauma but it has got to wear and tear on his body to do that.
