LeGarrette Blount as the Patriots kick returner (KR)

[PATRlOT]

Am I the only one who hates this? This is pretty much a sure way of guaranteeing we'll return the kick no further than our 25 yard line.

Let's face it, this guy is NOT going to return a kick for a TD or even make it to around the 40yard line or midfield, to give us decent field position - something we should really value and go after considering our offense at this point.

*Blount had one extremely lucky play in the pre-season that he took for like 50 yards, but that's it.

Thoughts?

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Blount as our kick returner (KR)

He must be sure handed enough. Leon was injured so maybe once he is healthy he will take them.

 

[Sciz]

I'll be worried long-term if this is still the case after the next game, when Washington has had time to back up to speed and healthy.

 

[supafly]

He must be sure handed enough.

It's actually quite the opposite as Blount historically has fumbled on average once every 43 touches.

I'm not getting this move either, and yes--I think he's terribly overrated. I didn't fall for the love for one second in the preseason.

As Sciz said--it may be a case of just doing it for a couple of games until Washington is up to speed. Let's hope so.

 

[Fencer]

*Blount had one extremely lucky play in the pre-season that he took for like 50 yards, but that's it.

He's no Dan Connolly.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Blount as our kick returner (KR)

It's actually quite the opposite as Blount historically has fumbled on average once every 43 touches.

I'm not getting this move either, and yes--I think he's terribly overrated. I didn't fall for the love for one second in the preseason.

As Sciz said--it may be a case of just doing it for a couple of games until Washington is up to speed. Let's hope so.

Wow never knew that. Kinda scary then.

 

[supafly]

Wow never knew that. Kinda scary then.

Yeah, he is definitely prone to cases of fumble-itis.

I remember questioning the move and bringing it up during preseason, as Ridley's fumbles per carry were 1/76 touches (prior to the season) compared to Blount's 1/43.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Blount is Fred Taylor 2.0 he should not even be on the roster yet he still has 11 rush att for a amazing 2.4 yards per att and more KR then any 250lbs RB should ever have in he's whole career. at lest he will be a help this week with some info on the bucs

 

[supafly]

We can cross off McCourty and Edelman (too important to the starters for real reps), and also Blount (just not a good match for a KR...maybe not even a RB).

Most of us didn't imagine Josh Boyce being active too much this year aside from injury, but I guess that issue resolved itself now--so it's possible that Boyce may be a potential candidate for KO return duty. He's got good speed, and could make himself useful in the meantime.

So really it comes down to either Washington or Boyce, but either one are expected to do too much at the moment on the field, which makes their case even more likely. Of course that may change moving forward as Belichick claimed that it was "just the way it worked out" in terms of Boyce not seeing many snaps Thursday.

 

[supafly]

at lest he will be a help this week with some info on the bucs

Yeah, right...

Blount's info on the Bucs will be like this-- "I wasn't really paying attention."

Maybe the statement of: "Coach worked us too damn hard. He was rough."

Talib may be able to offer something a little more useful, but the real familiarity will come from the joint practices, even though either side likely showed too much in prep for their week 3 matchup a month or so ago. It may be better than nothing though.

Really it comes down to--stop the run with Martin, and cover VJax. Simple as that. On offense it's another story of course.

 

[supafly]

What happened to leon washingyon

He's here again, but may not be fully up to speed yet.

 

[ausbacker]

He may as well just take a knee in the end zone as his returns don't strike me as dynamic or with the potential to considerably improve starting field position.

 

[doesntmatter1]

He seems to have pretty good vision and that is sometimes more important than pure speed. If you don't believe me, just ask Slater. Washington should probably be our kicker but I am intrigued to see this continue. I see countless speed guys go down from arm tackles and I want to see if blount can run through this and he probably will never take it all the way but maybe he can consistently get to the 25 or 30 yard line range.

All around the league guys are barely returning kicks and when they do they often don't even make it to the 20. As long as he gets to the 20 I am not going to complain.

 

[DarrylS]

The NFL and its rules committee have pretty much negated the kick off game...

 

[UK_Pat37]

I'm not that fussed. Our return game sucked anyway.

A team I played for once put a D Lineman back with a returner. The returner would catch it, hand it off to him and we'd see who had the guts/could manage to bring him down...we had some of our most successful returns doing that.

Blount has broken impressive runs throughout his career...no reason why he can't break one on a kick return.

 

[condon84]

I don't understand why they don't have Boyce back there returning. He can't be any worse.

 

[yukon cornelius]

the kick return game has diminished in importance


blount may not give you break away potential.....but i think he also limits the down at first contact inside the 15 potential



considering how few are taken out these days, might they be playing the odds and taking a guy who consistently gets you the 18-25 vs the guy who might break one and who might also fall victim to an arm tackle at the 12?



i assume he's just there until leon wash is healthy enough - but they may be looking at the return game differently, too

 

[fnordcircle]

Demps > Blount

I get why BB did it though, you don't want to spend time developing someone who doesn't have football as a priority in their life. But still...

 

[BrickPat]

I don't get it either. Is Blount just being used as a sure handed cannon fodder ? He is a truck with no third gear...

 

[Froob]

The NFL and its rules committee have pretty much negated the kick off game...

huh?