LeGarrette Blount is coming to town.
For real this time.
Blount, the running back who caused a brief stir in Ninersville when he spurned San Francisco after the NFL draft, is flourishing in his rookie season with the Buccaneers, who will visit the 49ers on Sunday.
In his past four games, the undrafted free agent from Oregon has collected 329 yards, averaged 5.1 yards a carry and scored three touchdowns.
After agreeing in principle to a free-agent contract with the 49ers
after the draft in April, Blount reversed directions. After speaking
with Titans coach Jeff Fisher, who had just traded power back LenDale
White during the draft, the 6-foot, 247-pound Blount signed with the
Titans instead.
The move upset a segment of the Niners faithful, but Mike Singletary
said he wasn’t irked by Blount’s change of heart, noting that he’d
called Singletary to inform him of his decision.
The Titans waived Blount on Sept. 5 and the Buccaneers signed the Florida native the following day.
After getting just 10 carries in the season’s first five games, Blount
has played a prominent role. He rushed for 120 yards on 22 carries and
scored two touchdowns in a 38-35 win against Arizona on Oct. 31. He
hasn’t started a game — Cadillac Williams is the starter — but he leads
the Bucs in rushing with 359 yards.
“He loves being here,” Tampa Bay coach Raheem Moris said. “He’s a hard
worker. He’s really a student of the game. He sits with his coaches
extra. He’s in the building all the time. You can’t get rid of him. He
has that infectious smile.”
There were serious character concerns with Blount, who was famously
suspended for 10 games last year after punching a Boise State player.
Oregon coach Mike Belotti has denied a report that Blount inadvertently
hit him during college, a punch that was allegedly intended for a
teammate. In training camp with the Titans, Blount punched defensive end
Eric Bakhtiari, who was waived by the Niners last week, in the
facemask. Fisher brushed off the altercation as a typical training-camp
skirmish.
Morris said the Bucs did plenty of background work on Blount. Their
research included contact with Oregon wide receivers coach Scott Frost, a
former defensive back in Tampa Bay.
“All I can speak about is what he’s done since he’s been here,” Morris
said. “And he’s trying to get over that. Every time he puts up a big run
or any time he does anything, everyone wants to (talk about) the punch.
And that’s not what he’s about. And that’s not who he is. He’s got a
fresh start.”
Blount has clearly used some questionable judgment in the past, but his
decision to not sign with the 49ers appears insightful.
On Sunday, he can ask Brian Westbrook about life as Frank Gore’s backup.
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