I’m not crazy about the fit of LeGarrette Blount in Philadelphia. Rushing touchdowns, yes. The rest of the stuff, not so much.
Strictly for rushing touchdowns, I think he’s got a good chance to finish the season in the top 10. He’s a decent enough short-yardage runner – a big body who can move the pile. And the Eagles have one of the league’s best offensive lines. Andy and I were just debating this and settled on them at No. 4 – they’ve got the nice pair of tackles (Jason Peters, Lane Johnson), and the two high-priced guys on the interior (Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks).
Philadelphia has scored 15 and 16 rushing touchdowns the last two years. I think they can do that sort of thing again, making Blount look like a pretty good choice for double-digit touchdowns.
But as you look at the rest of the field, it’s not as good. Philadelphia has a lot of other running backs, and they’ll get those guys involved. Wendell Smallwood and Darren Sproles for sure, and maybe fourth-rounder Donnel Pumphrey. Pumphrey is about the same size as Tavon Austin, but he’s really quick and ran for over 6,400 yards at San Diego State.
Blount is really slow. He’s also a notoriously bad receiver. The Patriots somehow made that work, but Philadelphia’s coaches might prefer to more often has a faster, more versatile back on the field. (I’m thinking Smallwood will finish with more total yards than Blount.)
For receiving, Blount isn’t just a lesser back, he’s terrible. Over the last three years, 109 running backs have been the intended target on at least 30 passes. Of that group, Blount ranks next-to-last in average yards per target (3.6). (Thank God for Andre Williams.)
Blount can't blame his receiving woes on the quarterbacking. He's played with Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger the last three years.
| RUNNING BACK RECEIVING (2014-16) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Pct | Avg |
| Matt Jones, Wash. | 33 | 27 | 377 | 81.8% | 11.4 |
| Jamize Olawale, Oak. | 31 | 26 | 329 | 83.9% | 10.6 |
| Spencer Ware, K.C. | 48 | 39 | 452 | 81.3% | 9.4 |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 39 | 32 | 363 | 82.1% | 9.3 |
| Roy Helu, Was.-Oak. | 63 | 51 | 552 | 81.0% | 8.8 |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 51 | 33 | 435 | 64.7% | 8.5 |
| Tim Hightower, N.O. | 39 | 34 | 329 | 87.2% | 8.4 |
| Bruce Miller, S.F. | 39 | 28 | 324 | 71.8% | 8.3 |
| Lance Dunbar, Dall. | 69 | 55 | 554 | 79.7% | 8.0 |
| Joique Bell, 2 tm | 80 | 57 | 606 | 71.3% | 7.6 |
| David Johnson, Ariz. | 177 | 116 | 1,336 | 65.5% | 7.5 |
| Charles Sims, T.B. | 129 | 94 | 941 | 72.9% | 7.3 |
| Eddie Lacy, G.B. | 90 | 66 | 643 | 73.3% | 7.1 |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 225 | 182 | 1,606 | 80.9% | 7.1 |
| Duke Johnson, Clev. | 148 | 114 | 1,048 | 77.0% | 7.1 |
| Pierre Thomas, Wash. | 66 | 54 | 462 | 81.8% | 7.0 |
| Danny Woodhead, S.D. | 120 | 91 | 824 | 75.8% | 6.9 |
| James White, N.E. | 145 | 105 | 984 | 72.4% | 6.8 |
| Trent Richardson, Ind. | 34 | 27 | 229 | 79.4% | 6.7 |
| Damien Williams, Mia. | 87 | 65 | 578 | 74.7% | 6.6 |
| Bobby Rainey, T.B.-NYG | 73 | 56 | 484 | 76.7% | 6.6 |
| DeAngelo Williams, Car.-Pit. | 80 | 63 | 529 | 78.8% | 6.6 |
| Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 89 | 68 | 588 | 76.4% | 6.6 |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 176 | 131 | 1,157 | 74.4% | 6.6 |
| Travaris Cadet, N.O. | 65 | 49 | 427 | 75.4% | 6.6 |
| Arian Foster, Hou.-Mia. | 97 | 66 | 632 | 68.0% | 6.5 |
| Dion Lewis, N.E. | 74 | 53 | 482 | 71.6% | 6.5 |
| Melvin Gordon, S.D. | 94 | 74 | 611 | 78.7% | 6.5 |
| Fozzy Whittaker, Car. | 54 | 42 | 350 | 77.8% | 6.5 |
| Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 69 | 50 | 447 | 72.5% | 6.5 |
| Ty Montgomery, G.B. | 75 | 59 | 484 | 78.7% | 6.5 |
| Theo Riddick, Det. | 216 | 167 | 1,384 | 77.3% | 6.4 |
| Rex Burkhead, Cin. | 45 | 34 | 288 | 75.6% | 6.4 |
| Branden Oliver, S.D. | 60 | 49 | 383 | 81.7% | 6.4 |
| Ryan Mathews, S.D.-Phi. | 52 | 42 | 330 | 80.8% | 6.3 |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 200 | 157 | 1,265 | 78.5% | 6.3 |
| Matt Forte, Chi.-NYJ | 231 | 176 | 1,460 | 76.2% | 6.3 |
| Benny Cunningham, L.A. | 111 | 87 | 693 | 78.4% | 6.2 |
| James Starks, G.B. | 107 | 80 | 666 | 74.8% | 6.2 |
| Zac Stacy, St.L.-NYJ | 35 | 27 | 217 | 77.1% | 6.2 |
| Jonathan Grimes, Hou. | 57 | 45 | 353 | 78.9% | 6.2 |
| Shaun Draughn, Cle.-S.F. | 71 | 54 | 438 | 76.1% | 6.2 |
| Todd Gurley, L.A. | 84 | 64 | 515 | 76.2% | 6.1 |
| C.J. Anderson, Den. | 104 | 75 | 635 | 72.1% | 6.1 |
| Jeremy Langford, Chi. | 69 | 41 | 421 | 59.4% | 6.1 |
| Marcel Reece, Oak.-Sea. | 101 | 72 | 607 | 71.3% | 6.0 |
| Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 78 | 63 | 468 | 80.8% | 6.0 |
| DeMarco Murray, 3 tm | 186 | 154 | 1,115 | 82.8% | 6.0 |
| Antonio Andrews, Tenn. | 31 | 23 | 185 | 74.2% | 6.0 |
| Jordan Howard, Chi. | 50 | 29 | 298 | 58.0% | 6.0 |
| Bishop Sankey, Tenn. | 46 | 32 | 272 | 69.6% | 5.9 |
| Charcandrick West, K.C. | 68 | 48 | 402 | 70.6% | 5.9 |
| Devontae Booker, Den. | 45 | 31 | 265 | 68.9% | 5.9 |
| Rashad Jennings, NYG | 123 | 94 | 723 | 76.4% | 5.9 |
| Ahmad Bradshaw, Ind. | 62 | 48 | 364 | 77.4% | 5.9 |
| Andre Ellington, Ariz. | 107 | 73 | 628 | 68.2% | 5.9 |
| Doug Martin, T.B. | 80 | 60 | 469 | 75.0% | 5.9 |
| Shane Vereen, N.E.-NYG | 177 | 122 | 1,036 | 68.9% | 5.9 |
| Kyle Juszczyk, Balt. | 132 | 97 | 769 | 73.5% | 5.8 |
| Lamar Miller, Mia.-Hou. | 148 | 116 | 860 | 78.4% | 5.8 |
| Mike Tolbert, Car. | 55 | 40 | 319 | 72.7% | 5.8 |
| Fred Jackson, Buf.-Sea. | 131 | 98 | 758 | 74.8% | 5.8 |
| Matt Asiata, Minn. | 123 | 95 | 707 | 77.2% | 5.7 |
| Khiry Robinson, N.O. | 31 | 25 | 178 | 80.6% | 5.7 |
| Travaris Cadet, N.O.-N.E. | 52 | 39 | 298 | 75.0% | 5.7 |
| Chris Ivory, NYJ-Jac. | 92 | 68 | 526 | 73.9% | 5.7 |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 152 | 116 | 868 | 76.3% | 5.7 |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 154 | 125 | 869 | 81.2% | 5.6 |
| Dexter McCluster, Ten.-S.D. | 88 | 64 | 493 | 72.7% | 5.6 |
| Knile Davis, 2 tm | 35 | 23 | 196 | 65.7% | 5.6 |
| Ameer Abdullah, Det. | 43 | 30 | 240 | 69.8% | 5.6 |
| LeSean McCoy, Phi.-Buf. | 144 | 110 | 803 | 76.4% | 5.6 |
| Javorius Allen, Balt. | 66 | 48 | 368 | 72.7% | 5.6 |
| Darren Sproles, Phil. | 217 | 147 | 1,202 | 67.7% | 5.5 |
| Donald Brown, S.D. | 54 | 37 | 299 | 68.5% | 5.5 |
| Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 45 | 35 | 248 | 77.8% | 5.5 |
| Patrick DiMarco, Atl. | 41 | 29 | 224 | 70.7% | 5.5 |
| Latavius Murray, Oak. | 119 | 91 | 639 | 76.5% | 5.4 |
| Leon Washington, Tenn. | 30 | 22 | 159 | 73.3% | 5.3 |
| Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 91 | 63 | 482 | 69.2% | 5.3 |
| Frank Gore, S.F.-Ind. | 124 | 83 | 655 | 66.9% | 5.3 |
| Chris Thompson, Wash. | 117 | 90 | 616 | 76.9% | 5.3 |
| C.J. Spiller, 3 tm | 79 | 59 | 414 | 74.7% | 5.2 |
| Alfred Blue, Hou. | 50 | 42 | 262 | 84.0% | 5.2 |
| Jay Ajayi, Mia. | 46 | 34 | 241 | 73.9% | 5.2 |
| T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | 114 | 86 | 591 | 75.4% | 5.2 |
| Terrance West, Cle.-Bal. | 63 | 49 | 321 | 77.8% | 5.1 |
| Brandon Bolden, N.E. | 40 | 23 | 203 | 57.5% | 5.1 |
| Jalen Richard, Oak. | 39 | 29 | 194 | 74.4% | 5.0 |
| Darren McFadden, Oak.-Dal. | 113 | 79 | 557 | 69.9% | 4.9 |
| Alfred Morris, Wa.-Dal. | 45 | 30 | 221 | 66.7% | 4.9 |
| Jordan Todman, 3 tm | 41 | 25 | 198 | 61.0% | 4.8 |
| Reggie Bush, 3 tm | 76 | 51 | 362 | 67.1% | 4.8 |
| Jacquizz Rodgers, Chi.-T.B. | 59 | 43 | 281 | 72.9% | 4.8 |
| Denard Robinson, Jac. | 66 | 47 | 310 | 71.2% | 4.7 |
| Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 73 | 49 | 340 | 67.1% | 4.7 |
| Tre Mason, St.L. | 51 | 34 | 236 | 66.7% | 4.6 |
| Robert Turbin, Dal.-Ind. | 42 | 31 | 194 | 73.8% | 4.6 |
| Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 123 | 91 | 563 | 74.0% | 4.6 |
| Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 64 | 50 | 284 | 78.1% | 4.4 |
| John Kuhn, G.B.-N.O. | 34 | 26 | 149 | 76.5% | 4.4 |
| Chris Johnson, NYJ-Ari. | 48 | 30 | 209 | 62.5% | 4.4 |
| Ronnie Hillman, 3 tm | 84 | 52 | 343 | 61.9% | 4.1 |
| Chris Polk, Phi.-Hou. | 31 | 18 | 125 | 58.1% | 4.0 |
| Kenneth Dixon, Balt. | 41 | 30 | 162 | 73.2% | 4.0 |
| Justin Forsett, 3 tm | 127 | 95 | 501 | 74.8% | 3.9 |
| Christine Michael, 3 tm | 32 | 24 | 121 | 75.0% | 3.8 |
| LeGarrette Blount, Pit.-N.E. | 37 | 23 | 135 | 62.2% | 3.6 |
| Andre Williams, NYG-S.D. | 42 | 19 | 137 | 45.2% | 3.3 |
—Ian Allan