Submitted for your approval: a 6' 1", 250 pound man with a history of smacking folks around, provided with a 20 yard cushion to build up speed - one can't see anything but hurt feelings and deep tissue bruising for the opposing kick coverage team in that scenario, but that's what you get with the more versatile than given credit for Blount...
...and together with rookie speed merchant Josh Boyce, they provide the Patriots with a sort of "Thunder and Lightning" approach to kick off returns - but beyond that, Blount's very presence in the New England Patriots' backfield defines the mentality of the entire offense - and, indeed, the entire team.
It's about running over people, running through them - pounding the opposition's front seven and throwing over the top of them until they are so thoroughly beaten down that they start to look like they don't know where the next salvo is coming from.
That's Patriots' football, and that's what this stable of young greyhounds bring to the field.
Stevan Ridley leads a group that remains largely intact from 2012 - save the defection of Danny Woodhead to San Diego - spurring a running game that was ranked the seventh best in yardage gained, and with a year of full time experience under their belts and the addition of the multi-faceted Blount, they figure to be even more productive in 2013.
Ridley is a mortar shell, taking the handoff from Brady and exploding through the hole - and though his full gallop isn't going to find him taking many 50 yarders to the house, he is pure electric hell in the hole. His lack of an extra gear and perceived fumbling issues aside, his only real weakness is in finishing a run through the defender.
More often than not, Ridley will get big after making it through the initial resistance, running more upright and taking the shot from the tackler instead of delivering the blow, not always falling forward, and this was never more evident than when he got knocked cold by Bernard Pollard in last season's AFC title tilt - a disastrous end to an otherwise excellent season, one that he is primed to build upon.
If Ridley needs a blow, first year Patriot LeGarrette Blount is a more than capable change of pace.
One would think looking at Blount the he would be the short yardage, human tank type that would plow his way into the end zone, and while he's capable of doing so, that's not really his game - Blount is a glider. Despite rumors to the contrary he is quite nimble gliding through seams, and is sheer holy terror once loose in the open field...
...and he finishes runs, lowering his shoulder and giving linebackers and defensive back a taste of being punished by a 250 pound tank - and now he's discovered the joys of returning kickoffs, and another chance to throw his weight around. Other than that, it will be fun to see what other ways Belichick can find to use him.
Blount isn't known for his hands, but second year back Brandon Bolden is. A glider like Blount, he's faster and with better hands, but injuries, a suspension and putting the ball on the ground in have hurt his candidacy for being anything more than a third down back - unfortunate for him, because that job is taken by the multi-talented Shane Vereen.
Vereen is so much more than "just" a one down passing back. Between the tackles, Vereen is surprisingly explosive through the hole and has an extra gear to shift into once loose on the second level and, unlike the rest of the backs, is a threat to take it to the house anytime he has the angle...
...but what he's best known for are his hands and wide receiver type skill set. Brady will send Vereen out into the pattern lined up wide, in the slot or curling out of the backfield regardless of down and distance, and has every confidence that the University of California product will come down with the ball when targeted.
Having four backs that could conceivably be starters on other teams gives us a hint of what kind of balance that Belichick is expecting from his offense and, perhaps more importantly, what his philosophy might be...
...because with Brady having the luxury of a featured quality runner behind him in the formation, no matter who it is, and with being the master of setting up the play action, keeping the opposing defense back on their heels and forcing them to defend the entire field is an expectation that isn't too high to grasp.
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