Buccaneers running back LeGarrette Blount was late so often during his two years playing for head coach Raheem Morris that the team had to arrange for him to hire a car service to get him out of bed and to practice on time. That has led to speculation that Blount won’t last with Greg Schiano, a more demanding coach than Morris.
But Schiano thinks things will be fine with Blount.
Schiano told Jim Rome on Rome that from what he’s heard, he doesn’t think the issues with Blount’s tardiness were as bad as they’ve been made out to be, and Blount has had no issues at all during the Bucs’ offseason work this year.
“I think that probably got blown out of proportion a little bit,” Schiano said. “He probably had some troubles -- I’m not really familiar with the facts -- but that’s all behind us. LeGarrette has been great. We’ve had workouts here, we’ve had OTAs, minicamps, and he’s been on time for everything. It hasn’t been an issue at all and I don’t foresee that being an issue.”
The Bucs traded up to take running back Doug Martin late in the first round of this year’s draft, which was a strong sign that Schiano didn’t think he could count on Blount as his starting running back. But Schiano said he does have confidence in Blount.
“I have a lot of faith in LeGarrette,” Schiano said. “LeGarrette has bought into what we’re doing, he’s working incredibly hard, and if you watch and you see the things he does from time to time, it’s great -- really great running back play. It’s just we need to put those things together consistently.”
If Blount can be consistent and punctual, he’ll get along with Schiano just fine. If not, he probably won’t play for Schiano for long.