Tag: Super Bowl

Detroit Lions: Five things to know about LeGarrette Blount on eve of opener

Winning more important than number of carries

ALLEN PARK >> LeGarrette Blount is happy to talk about the three Super Bowl rings he’s won in the last four seasons. It’s rare he’ll wear them in public and when he does, it’s the duplicates not the real diamond-encrusted bling. And, oh by the way, the Lions running back says he wears all three together.

However, when it comes to Monday’s season-opening game against the N.Y. Jets at Ford Field, Blount is all business.

“I’m really excited about it, just the opportunity to go out there and play a real game against a lot of different guys, against a really good defense. Obviously we know they’re a good team. I’m excited about it,’’ said Blount whose last game was for the Eagles in the Super Bowl on Feb. 4.

Five things to know about Blount with the regular season a few days away:

1. He’s one of four Lions’ running backs who should get touches in every game. He’s not concerned about his workload or lack of it. “We’re just worried about winning the games, we don’t care about the touches at this point,’’ Blount said on Friday. Last season he led the Eagles with 173 carries for 766 yards (4.4 yards per carry). He also scored a pair of rushing touchdowns. That’s about 18 carries a game. He was the Eagles’ top producing back. Jay Ajayi had 70 carries for 408 yards, while Corey Clement had 74 for 321 yards.

2. Blount loves the versatility among the Lions’ backs which should cause headaches for opposing defensive coordinators. “(There’s) an unlimited amount of mismatches, let’s just say that. Like I said we have a lot of different dynamics in our room. Obviously Theo (Riddick) is one of the most dynamic running backs in this league. AA (Ameer Abdullah) is also one of the most elusive guys in this league. We have a dynamic group and we’re excited to see what we all can do,’’ Blount said, also mentioning rookie Kerryon Johnson.

3. One reason Blount signed with the Lions is that he had a good relationship with Matt Patricia when they were both with the New England Patriots. It’s a mutual admiration society. “He’s been in a couple different programs, so he can really adapt pretty quickly to different structures, different schemes,’’ Patricia said on Friday. “Obviously a physical presence, he runs the ball with a good aggressiveness, a good nature of trying to get the ball vertical into the defense and with a good run attitude from that standpoint. But he really just does a great job. He’s a great teammate, he works extremely hard, he really cares. He cares about winning, he cares about competition, which is great and which obviously you can just keep pushing everything every single day, as far as that’s concerned, to get better, which is what we’re trying to do.’’

4. Blount seems to be a good fit no matter the team. Since his rookie season in 2010 he has played for Tampa Bay (2010-12), the Patriots (2013, 2014-2016) , the Steelers (part of 2014) and the Eagles (2017). “One thing I can say is I just get along with everybody. I bring a lot of energy and joy to wherever I’m going, I think that’s part of it,’’ Blount said. “I never go into any situation with that thought (that I won’t fit in) in my head. I always make my decisions based on what’s best for me whenever I choose to go to a team — what’s best for me, what’s best for my family. I pray over it and I make my decision. I haven’t been anywhere where I was like, ‘I don’t think this is going to work.’’’

5. Even though he’s a short-timer, he’s aware of the Lions’ sad history in the run game since Barry Sanders retired and the 68-game stretch since a back (Reggie Bush) has run for at least 100 yards in a game. “Our group, we want to step up to any challenge that’s presented to us. I wouldn’t say since Barry, I would say since Reggie. I think Reggie was one of the most dynamic backs this league has seen in a long time. He’s one of the good running backs who’s come through here also. I give props and respect to him. I’ll just take full responsibility on how good our room plays. I want to make sure we’re in the best place possible, the best position possible to win the football game and make sure our group does everything possible to put us in that position.’’ Running for 100 yards in a game isn’t the goal, winning games is.

 

Lions training camp: Five thoughts from veteran RB LeGarrette Blount

Blount has won 3 Super Bowl rings in last 4 seasons

ALLEN PARK >> If you’re expecting LeGarrette Blount to be the savior, to resurrect a Lions’ run game that has been dormant for too long, take a deep breath and step back.

Blount, who is 31, should provide a boost to the Lions’ run game which was the worst in the NFL last year. However, he will just be one factor.

Much emphasis has been placed on running the ball effectively, including signing Blount who has won three Super Bowl rings in the past four seasons. Last year with the Eagles and twice with the Patriots. Last season he had 173 carries for 766 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

His work ethic and straight-forward approach seem to fit right in with coach Matt Patricia who knew him from their Patriot days together.

Blount was asked on Wednesday if the run unit was going to work to develop swag and he provided the perfect answer: “We’re going to worry about the swag later. We’re going to worry about football right now.”

Here are five thoughts from Blount:

1. He’s serious about being serious. He’s not going to boast about the run game potential at this point one week into camp. “It’s early. We’ve only done drills against each other like we’ve been doing the entire offseason. It’s pretty tough to gauge at this point,’’ Blount said. “We’ll just continue to work hard, we’ll continue to grind, fix all the mistakes that we have, pay attention to all the details we have and do everything we can to improve the running game and our play of offense all together.’’

2. Patricia demands physicality and has placed a huge emphasis on it through drills at camp. “You practice being more physical, you practice hitting more, you practicing tackling live, you practice getting in situations where you have no choice but to play downhill and either make a stop or make a play. We’re continuing to try to get better with everything, all aspects of the game,’’ Blount said.

3. While he is starting his ninth NFL season, he is working beside Kerryon Johnson, a rookie with potential. “He’s a good runner, he’s a really good runner. He does a lot of things well, he does a lot of things exceptional,’’ Blount said. “He can catch the ball, he can run the ball, he has great vision, he picks up on the offense well. He’s going to be a good player, he’s a good part of our team.’’

4.  Age isn’t probably his favorite topic, but he sad he feels great and doesn’t think he is slowing down. He makes sure to take care of his body.. His offseason program hasn’t really changed much. “Work out, run, lift and eat,’’ he said with a hearty laugh. It appears to be working. In the last five seasons he has missed just four games (all in 2015).

5. Blount has played with quarterbacks Tom Brady and Carson Wentz in recent years. He doesn’t see himself as a quarterback evaluator since he’s never played the position, but thinks highly of Matthew Stafford. “I think Stafford is a great quarterback, he’s been doing wonderful things over the course of his career. A lot of amazing games, a lot of comebacks, he’s done a lot of good things in this league,’’ Blount said. “He’s somebody that I definitely have a lot of confidence in , that can do what we need him to do, we have a lot of confidence in him to make sure our offense is running smoothly.’’