Can the Washington Redskins Eye LeGarrette...

The era of Robert Griffin III got off to a good start in the first preseason game but the questions around the Washington Redskins running backs aren't clearing up. Could the team call the Tampa Bay Buccaneers about LeGarrette Blount?

Washington hasn't had a proven runner since Clinton Portis retired and with RG3 in town the time has come to find one. While most think the rookie quarterback won't need one based on his early showing in the preseason, the truth is even the best rookies will struggle without a consistent ground game. The Redskins have spent most of the offseason trying to find one but have instead settled on three promising but unproven players. Veteran back Tim Hightower hasn't returned from a knee injury yet, leaving youngsters like Roy Helu and Evan Royster to battle for the job. The opener preseason game against Buffalo didn't offer any answers though. Royster managed only three yards per carry while Helu did better pass protecting than running. Head coach Mike Shanahan likes his offense built on balance and given the injuries piling up on his offensive line that won't get any easier. If the trio of running backs can't step up to take pressure off Griffin, Washington may have to go find help. Might they find some to the south?

All hopes for proven backup Jonathan Stewart leaving Carolina got squashed by a new five-year deal. That leaves one other back with a solid history and not too much mileage on his body. LeGarrette Blount hasn't had the greatest start to his NFL career with problems off and on the field. Still he is one of the most consistent players the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have on offense. Some fear the power runner would cause havoc when he heard his team drafted Boise State back Doug Martin in the first round. So far the somewhat unpredictable Blount has had nothing but good things to say. He believes they can form a dominant one-two punch for Tampa Bay as shown in their fast start to the preseason. Whether it stays that way is anyone's guess. Blount has a temper that is hard to control and if he feels his carries starting to dip in favor of Martin, he may push his way out through a trade. A team like Washington could make great use of him especially with the smaller, faster backs they already have.

The Washington Redskins will stick with Evan Royster and Roy Helu for now but the LeGarrette Blount saga is not over by any means. One big push from Doug Martin and he could become out of a job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Comments: 8

Big Daddy Aug 13, 2012, 10:58am UTC

Are we just trying to stir up trouble? This article isn't written by anyone with any knowledge of the situation. First off, Blount can't BLOCK! A key requisite for a Skins runner. Second, look at the yards per carry for the two! Evan is 5.9 and Roy is 4.2! Is Blount's numbers better? No. Both of these young men were rookies last season and while they are listed as playing several games they were only leaned on for eight games. In those games they posted much better numbers then Blount both in rushing but also in receiving, another skill that Blount can't perform. Reload and try again Erik Lambert. Picking up Blount is a worst move then getting Ced Benson, which the Skins correctly passed on...

Erik Lambert Aug 13, 2012, 11:12am UTC

Have you stopped to think he probably can't block because he had bad teachers down in Tampa Bay? Shanahan is one of the best at it. And forgive me if I don't put much faith in yards per carry. But if you prefer it that way then Blount averaged 4.2 per carry last season. He is big, strong and surprisingly athletic. If the Bucs had bothered to feed him the ball more he would have scored more than five touchdowns, something neither Evan nor Roy accomplished last year, leaned on or not. You're telling me the Redskins wouldn't love having Blount in short yardage with either of them changing the pace? I don't need to reload and try again because Blount is not Benson. He is younger and not nearly as used up. If you're so dead set on pass blocking, then it's quite easy to substitute players in and out of games.

Big Daddy Aug 13, 2012, 11:45am UTC

@Erik : And what happens when Griff is forced to audible to a pass with protection responsibilities for LB? Just deal with it because he's less used up then Ced? Because he has a season under his belt where he was pretty much it on offense for the Bucs so he has some numbers? What about his lack of hands? A back with hands is very important to Shanny's brand of offense. Yeah bud, you need to reload and pick another team to aim this stuff at. Yards per carry say a lot about a back. It tells you what that back does with the ball when he has his opportunities. On the TD's, we didn't have many opportunities for either of them inside the 5 where we ran the ball. Don't know (can't remember) if that is because of audibles, opportunity or poor play calling but that's how it happened. Short yardage is probably the only facet of his game that I would give LB over the backs that the Skins have, he's much heavier (Evan is taller but lighter at 6'-1" 215lbs to LeGarrette's 6' 247lbs) so he should be better in short yardage.

Otherwise it's a net loss versus what we have right now. Can't pass block, can't catch. His need to be taken out on passing downs would be a dead give away on what we will be running...

You may want to look at the Packers. They probably need a back...or maybe the Patriots can use him...

Erik Lambert Aug 13, 2012, 1:02pm UTC

If it's an obvious passing down then how is it a dead giveaway? You bring in a back who can pass block and catch so you still keep the element of surprise. Will this back come out of the backfield or stay in to block? Hell, why not use LB and one of the others at the same time? I'd bet with that body he could play fullback or be a good decoy on play action. Trust me, Shanahan would find plenty of uses for him. The Packers took Benson, which makes me laugh as a Bears fan. The Patriots wouldn't use him. I think RGIII would love to have him.

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Big Daddy Aug 13, 2012, 2:20pm UTC

If you don't know why a back never being in on passing downs is a dead give away then you never played. Or at least on defense anyway (Linebacker here).

Well, I can't speak to Griff but I can tell you that the coaches probably won't go for it just because of the liabilities that LB presents. Honestly, it sounds like your trying to sell me on LB like he's a used car. Suggesting that we rework our entire philosophy for one back that you guys are trying to get rid of...come-on man! I'm not buying!

I personally like LB...if I don't have a more versatile back but I do. If LB is so awesome answer for me why they went and drafted your Rook so high? Swapping two picks in two rounds to grab the RB at pick 31?? I'm not in Tampa but the league consensus is that LB is not what you guys want and your Rook is supposed to take his spot. Is that why your trying to sell him to us?? Don't worry Erik we have FOUR good backs (Alfred Morris, R). The only question in the DMV is who starts for us, and as you probably know that doesn't matter when your talking Shanahannigans. All three of the guys that you boys out of the DMV know about have us very excited. I'm sure that you will get to taste some of it this week when we go to Chicago. Oh, and Ced may surprise you, especially with that offensive attack around him. Remember, he never had anything like it in Chicago or Cinci. He should have GAPPING holes to run through this season...

Erik Lambert Aug 13, 2012, 4:29pm UTC

If your philosophy about Green Bay is true then why hasn't James Starks had those gaping holes? The Packers don't want to run. They want A-Rod to throw but their backfield is so shredded with injuries Benson was the only option. I'm also not sold on their offensive line which has problems staying healthy.

I understand your confidence is these FOUR backs you have but looking from my perspective I see four guys who have never reached 1,000 yards rushing (or receiving). The only stance I'm taking here is that adding Blount can only help your team. He can score short. He can score long. Big backs like him wear a defense out. Even a linebacker like you can't argue that. If your offensive line can stay healthy (which looks dicey at the moment) I can only imagine the openings RGIII will have in play action and bootlegs.

Either way it doesn't matter. I don't care if your four guys run roughshod over my Bears on Saturday. At the end of the day all that matters is if we're ready for the NFC North while your guys get the warm embraces of the NFC East. God help us.

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Big Daddy Aug 13, 2012, 5:57pm UTC

I guess we will agree to disagree. Your saying that we need proven and I'm saying that the proven that you say we need is a liability in the areas that are important to our offense while the guys we have fit our offense. No problem. My point was that we don't need him and the article was designed to stir up conversation.

Starks isn't running thru those same holes that I see every time I watch them play because he doesn't have very good vision. Think of Barber, they see things very similarly.

The key to our whole season is going to be upfront on both lines. Our front 7 is one of the best in the league so I feel good there but the O-line is what I'm watching. And if the O-line is a problem then it won't matter a whole lot who we have running because the run game will be very inconsistent.

Don't worry about us in the east. All we needed to compete with our counterparts was a QB. I believe that we are developing that component now. Hopefully your coach, when he is done cleaning house, will be able to get your squad back on the winning path...

Erik Lambert Aug 13, 2012, 6:22pm UTC

We filled a lot of our roster holes but it will take another offseason before we're really ready. I think we're good enough to win now but a lot depends on our two lines. If they play well we're dangerous. Same goes for your Redskins.

Hope your faith in the running backs is validated.

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Can the Washington Redskins Eye LeGarrette Blount from Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

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