FOXBORO, Mass. — LeGarrette Blount again credited the men blocking for him after being selected as the AFC’s Offensive Player of the Month for September.
“It’s an honor, man, but it was a group effort,” the New England Patriots running back said after Wednesday’s walk-through. “It wasn’t all me. I know I get a lot of the recognition — I know I get most of the recognition right now. But it was a group effort. It trickles down from the offensive line to the tight ends to the fullback to the wide receivers. They all play a part in how I’ve been able to play.”
Blount leads the NFL in both carries and rushing yards through three games and is tied for first in rushing touchdowns with four. This strong start on the ground represents a drastic change from last season, when the Patriots finished 30th in the league in team rushing yards and 29th in yards per carry.
“We practice together, and we work together every day,” Blount said. “We’ve had each other from the beginning of OTAs and camp, and everybody’s been able to stick around. We jell together like a family, man. That’s what it is here.”
Asked how he can sustain this type of production, Blount had a simple answer.
“Listen to Bill,” Blount said with a smile, referring to Patriots coach Bill Belichick. “Simple as it gets.”
Blount has been the bell cow this season for a Patriots offense that has been without starting quarterback Tom Brady and No. 1 running back Dion Lewis, but one cannot expect him to carry this heavy a load until February.
Blount has carried the ball 75 times through three games, putting him on pace for 400 rushing attempts over 16 contests. That would be nearly double Blount’s single-season career high of 201 and the sixth-most by any back in NFL history.
Luckily for the Patriots, Brady is set to return next Sunday, and they could have Lewis, who currently is on the physically unable to perform list, back as early as Week 7.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
