Why Bucs Need Blount

Why Bucs need Blount

LeGarrette Blount just ripping another defender off of him as he rumbles for another touchdown.

   




  I want to start by saying that LeGarrette Blount did make his fair share of mistakes and had his share of problems under Raheem Morris. But Blount was a revelation for the Bucs as an undrafted rookie free agent picked up on the waiver wire after being released in the preseason by the Titans. He assumed the starting role at midseason for an ineffective Cadillac Williams and finished the season with 1,007 rushing yards and six touchdowns while averaging an impressive 5.0 yards per carry. 

 As was reported by Rick Stroud, Staff Writer for Tampa Bay Times,

 "His lack of commitment was startling to coaches from the day he was claimed off waivers from the Titans an undrafted rookie in 2010. For the first two weeks after being acquired by Tampa Bay, Blount, who was suspended at Oregon for punching a Boise State player, never made it to work on time and compiled fines of more than $15,000. Exasperated, then-coach Raheem Morris and general manager Mark Dominik ordered him to hire a car service with a driver to wake him up in the morning and transport him less than 3 miles from his apartment to One Buc Place. After a few weeks, they canceled the car service for one day. And Blount was late. He continued to need a driver to get to work in 2011. But his poor preparation habits also spread to the meeting room, where coaches said he would sometimes fall asleep. On the field, Blount struggled to hold onto the football. He has fumbled nine times in two years, losing six, and rarely played on passing downs. A knee injury at San Francisco prevented Blount from playing in two games last season, and he finished with 781 yards (4.2 per rush average) and five touchdowns."

Yes as much as everyone else wants to absolutely vomit from even hearing any kind of report like that. The kid was young and did make horrible mistakes but  it seems to be Blount has changed his ways. Even coach Schinao thinks Blount is now more of a professional 

“I think that probably got blown out of proportion a little bit,” Schiano said. “He probably had some troubles — I’m not really familiar with the facts — but that’s all behind us. LeGarrette has been great. We’ve had workouts here, we’ve had OTAs, minicamps, and he’s been on time for everything. It hasn’t been an issue at all and I don’t foresee that being an issue.”

  And it has been noticed around everyone in Tampa a change in Blount's demeanor  Ever since the Great Schaino Era Blount seems much more dedicated and driven now; and  two things that are must to even survive to be on this guy's team. He is an extreme talent and after he is still an undrafted free agent and for some reason he is is still getting overly disrespected for what he has done on the field. The kid has out played his worth, but however everyone see's the potential for so much more.

    My belief is that we all see his potential  in 2012 with this new coach and coaching staff to help him grow up and be more consistent on a weekly basis on and off the field. Also he will have the the rookie Doug Martin nipping at his heals. This will all make him the player he should be, and that we all expect.


Written By: Chris Anderson