Why Tennessee Titans Should Have Paid LeGarrette Blount, Not Chris Johnson

As the Tennessee Titans enter Week 12 of the NFL regular season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they are yet again reminded of what could have been.

In his fourth year, Titans running back Chris Johnson has played and started in all 10 games for Tennessee. Despite playing two more games than Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LeGarrette Blount, the second-year back in Tampa Bay has 32 more yards and two more touchdowns than C.J.

Without a doubt, Blount’s frame and mindset is geared toward a more lengthy career in the NFL, compared to Johnson’s lackluster effort and apparent lack of interest on the field. Unfortunately, the Titans had no idea what they had when they picked up Blount from the undrafted free agency heap in 2010.

With Johnson coming off a 2,000-yard season and LenDale White shipped off to the Seattle Seahawks, the Titans made a gamble on picking up Blount in an effort to find a complementary back behind C.J.

Once thought to be one of the top backs in the NFL Draft, Blount quickly fell due to a multitude of problems on and off the field. A post-game punch to Boise State defensive end Byron Hout topped a list of events that left him suspended for all but the final two games of his final year at Oregon.

The power back’s stock plummeted, and the draft ended without his name being called. Blount entertained offers from the San Francisco 49ers, but eventually settled on a deal with Tennessee. 

He was behind Chris Johnson, Javon Ringer and Samkon Gado on the depth chart, but continued to fight for a roster spot throughout the 2010 preseason.

The way Blount ran during his stint with the Titans made it hard to overlook the 247-pound back. He ran with a unique combination of speed, power and agility that is rare in runners his size. 

A tip for current and future NFL scouts: If your 6‘0” 247-pound back leaps over a defensive back, he needs to make the team.

The power runner from Oregon was one of the final cuts on the final 53-man roster to make room for two special teams linebackers. He was slated to return to the Titans' practice squad, but Blount instead decided to sign with the Buccaneers, where he would have an opportunity to play behind Earnest Graham and Cadillac Williams.

Blount went on to start seven games and play in 13 for Tampa Bay, as he muscled his way to over 1,000 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on the season. As the second-year back battles injuries, he has started all eight games he’s been healthy for on his way to 541 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

It’s hard to say Blount would have made an impact on the Titans' roster though. He most likely would have been buried behind Chris Johnson and Javon Ringer, much like the situation current back Jaime Harper currently is in. 

Signs were evident that Johnson’s small frame couldn’t handle the every-down beating in the NFL coming into the 2010 season, which makes it difficult to understand Tennessee’s logic. 

Teams began to stack the box and hit Johnson behind the line, taking away the space he had become so fond of, forcing his production to fall off and this year to become his worst season as a pro. 

If Tennessee had decided to keep the project that was Blount, a new contract for C.J. might not have been necessary, but instead, they could have allowed the strong-willed back that overcame adversity and was dedicated to his team an opportunity to shine.

Sunday, in a match up of brief, but former teammates, don’t be surprised when Blount runs angry against his former team, and C.J. is yet again held far below expectations.