INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots’ wrecking ball could be back for more.
Source: Source: LeGarrette Blount, Patriots have mutual interest in reunion | Boston Herald
Interesting. I’ve been thinking the Pats would let LeGarrette Blount walk this offseason because we’ve kind of seen what his ceiling is. In a complimentary role, where he can come on late in the game and finish an opponent off (usually the Colts) he’s pretty good.
However, he’s not going to be one to soften up a defense in the first quarter of a game. He takes a while to get going, or at least needs the defense to be at or near the breaking point where they’re getting lazy with their tackling.
He’s broken 100 yards just four times with the Pats in 38 games, twice were against the Colts (including the ’13 AFCDG & ’14 AFCCG). Obviously those were important wins, but outside of those he’s usually invisible in big games (Nine carries, 27 yards vs. Broncos ’15).
I’m not against him coming back, but I still think the need for a back who can grind out the early yards remains a bigger need. I think that lead back (rookie/FA), Lewis and White, and then Blount is a pretty good group, but Blount can’t be the lead back and he especially can’t be paid like one.
My preference would just be to put the money they’d spend on Blount into an FA who could compete to be the starter and the finisher, and then let training camp determine who plays with Tyler Gaffney and a rookie or two in the mix.