Baltimore Ravens should sign running back LeGarrette Blount

One of the Baltimore Ravens’ biggest weaknesses last season was a lack of a run game. Free agent LeGarrette Blount would be the answer to that problem.

The Baltimore Ravens are in need of help in the running game. They addressed it to an extent with their signing of Danny Woodhead this offseason, but Woodhead isn’t a guy who can handle the ball every down, and Terrance West has been less than impressive.

One very viable solution to the Baltimore Ravens running game problem is current-free-agent LeGarrette Blount. Blount is 30 years old and will be entering his ninth season in the NFL, and he’s shown himself to be a powerful bruiser of a running back – something the Ravens sorely need.

Over the years, the Ravens have shown time and time again that a balanced offense leads to success. In the nine seasons that John Harbaugh has been with the Baltimore Ravens, the team has reached the playoffs every season that they’ve ranked in the top-half of the NFL in rushing.

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In fact, in Harbaugh’s first five years with the Ravens, all of which ended up in playoff runs, only one team in the entire NFL ran the ball more than the Ravens did, and that was the New York Jets. Between 2008 and 2012, the Ravens gained over 100 yards rushing 70 percent of the time. Since then, they’ve only had over 100 yards rushing 41 percent of the time.

The Baltimore Ravens finished last season 28th in the NFL in total rushing yards with 1,463. For reference, that’s only 224 yards more than league-leader David Johnson had on his own last season. They also set a franchise record for the fewest rushing attempts in a season with 367.

Blount isn’t exactly a stud running back, but he’s a big, powerful runner, a style of running back the Ravens sorely need. Terrance West hasn’t impressed much, Kenneth Dixon is suspended for four games, and Danny Woodhead is a receiving back more than anything.

Blount played in all 16 games for the New England Patriots last year and ended the season with 1,161 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. That’s something the Ravens offense could seriously use.

We won’t hear any word on who Blount will sign with until after Tuesday, as he’s an unrestricted free agent, which means any team that signs him before May 9th would have it counted against him in their compensatory draft picks.

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Signing Blount would fill a major need for the Ravens and really help them get on track to a more balanced offense. Sure, they still have holes on the offensive line and a need for a playmaker at wide receiver, but signing someone like Blount would be a step in the right direction for the Ravens’ offense.

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Baltimore Ravens Should Sign LeGarrette Blount

By Ben Palmer | May 8, 2017

One of the Baltimore Ravens’ biggest weaknesses last season was a lack of a run game. Free agent LeGarrette Blount would be the answer to that problem.