The Facts: With Tom Brady out the first four games, the importance of having a running game is that much more significant to help minimize the pressure on Jimmy Garoppolo and keep defenses honest. The value of having a guy who can pick up those tough yards in a pinch is magnified even more. Can Blount still be that guy? He's going to have to prove it before the season starts or else HC Bill Belichick might have to find someone else. That's especially true if Dion Lewis still isn't quite 100 percent. "I'm going to do whatever Bill needs me to do to make sure we're successful," said Blount, when asked if he was prepared to carry more of a load.
Diehards Line:
On Wednesday, running backs coach Ivan Fears basically said the Patriots were putting the ball in Blount’s hands and it was up to him to sink or swim. “I want to see the LeGarrette I know that can be a dominant player when he’s playing up to his stuff. I want to see him get back to that. He’s been hurt. He’s been away from us. There’s a lot of opportunity there for him. Let’s see what he can do,” Fears said. “There’s gotta be some consistency to his play. There’s got to be production. ...” On Day 1, Blount looked fit, didn’t seem slow hitting the holes in a noncontact practice, and caught the ball pretty well out of the backfield. Blount carried the ball 165 times for 703 yards with six touchdowns in 12 games last year. He wasn’t quite as good as he was the year before, but neither was the blocking up front. Whatever the case, Blount has much to prove before we should start buying in.