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Patriots Position Switch: Linebacker LeGarrette Blount

By Connor Fulton

Nov 23, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) moves between Buffalo Bills free safety Corey Graham (20) and Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Nigel Bradham (53) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) moves between Buffalo Bills free safety Corey Graham (20) and Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Nigel Bradham (53) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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As part of our New England Patriots Position Switch series, today we are picturing LeGarrette Blount not as a running back, but rather a linebacker.

From a size standpoint, Blount fits the bill as a linebacker. At 247 pounds, Blount weighs more than four of the Patriots’ eight rostered linebackers: Kevin Snyder, Elandon Roberts, C.J. Johnson and Ramon Humber. Additionally, his 6-foot stature equals that of Roberts and inches Humber.

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Several of Blount’s strengths as a ball carrier would serve him well at linebacker as well. These include his burst, north-south running style and bruising physicality at the point of attack.

Both running backs and linebackers need to have a quick burst. A running back must identify a hole opening up and beat the nearest defender trying to occupy the gap; Blount excels at this, jolting his step once he sees an opportunity the squeeze through the trenches. As a linebacker, Blount would translate that quick first step into stopping the opposing running back from breaking through a hole.

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Along those lines, Blount’s north-south, straight-line running style would be both a strength and a weakness at linebacker. On the one hand, you could depend on Blount to man his slotted around of responsibility against the run, but then again, his lack of lateral movement could become a hindrance, especially in passing situations.

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Of course, we can’t talk about Blount without mentioning the physical nature of his play. This is a ball carrier who just about always picks up an extra half-yard or yard in the process of being tackled. As a linebacker, Blount would turn the table and deliver crushing blows to running backs. Let’s go back to high school physics for a second; force equals mass times acceleration. Blount Force Trauma is derived from a large body mass (nearly 250 pounds) gaining downhill acceleration.

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So while Blount may not make as great a linebacker as Julian Edelman would make a cornerback, there are some translatable aspects of Blount’s ball carrying ability to the linebacker position; namely, his quick burst and physical style of play. If he were to switch to linebacker full-time, Blount would have to work on his lateral movement.

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Be on the lookout for another installment in our Patriots Position Switch series tomorrow when we ponder the thought of Malcolm Butler playing wide receiver.

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