LeGarrette Blount, Brandon Bolden on RB Competition
If it were up to me, the New England Patriots would keep five running backs on the 53-man roster and not have to worry about cutting either LeGarrette Blount or Brandon Bolden. Both are talented running backs who can bring something different to the table, and I have been impressed by both backs throughout their careers to this point and in August. This is one heated position battle with the thought being that only one will get the job, but I am of the mind that both should be kept due to their talent. I believe that, at some point, you choose the most talented players overall to make the roster, and these are two of the most talented players on the bubble. It seems like whenever either Blount or Bolden has a big week and gains momentum, the other ups their play; that’s exactly what you want to see out of a position battle.
New England Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow (5) goes to hand off to running back LeGarrette Blount (29) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. The Patriots defeated the Eagles 31-22. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Bolden echoed the same sentiment of making each other better through competition, via the Boston Herald, “We take it and feed off each other. He goes and makes a great play and I try and go out and make an even better play. (Then) he goes out and tries to make an even better play. We just feed off each other. We push each other to be better.”
Blount was the star of Week 1 with over 100 rushing yards, and he took full advantage of his elusiveness against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that just cannot tackle. But last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was Brandon Bolden who shined with 38 yards on six carries. Bolden is the more consistent rusher of the two and is actually the better goal-line back, because Blount’s size is very deceiving. He looks like he should be a good goal-line back, but he isn’t. Where he lacks in vision, Blount makes it up in agility and overall rushing talent.
Here’s what LeGarrette Blount had to say about the competition against Bolden, “You’re just accustomed to working hard. You’re just accustomed to trying to do more than everybody else. Or you’re out there trying to show more than everybody else and trying to have the flashy plays. You’re accustomed to it and you just have to continue to be able to do it.”