LeGarrette Blount becomes first Patriots 1,000-yard rusher since 2012

Charles Krupa/AP

A year after people clamored for the Patriots to improve at the running back position, it looks like they never truly had to fix anything there.

LeGarrette Blount's career year continued last night, as he hit the 1,000-yard mark last night against the Ravens for the first time since his rookie year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010. Blount now has 1,029 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. The latter ties Curtis Martin for the franchise record set back in 1995-96.

This is also the first time the Patriots have had a 1,000-yard rusher since Stevan Ridley in 2012. When one considers how often the Patriots use different running backs in a multitude of situations, it makes Blount's accomplishment even more impressive. And he just turned 30 years old.

As an afterthought after a few down years in Tampa post-2010, no one really had any expectations for Blount when the Patriots traded for him in 2013. All he's done since then is provide the Patriots with a power running game and was the lead back for the Super Bowl XLIX-winning team.

There is no denying he has been excellent this year, and Bill Belichick agrees.

MassLive:

"He's been really consistent for us all year," head coach Bill Belichick said. "He's been there every day. A lot of his yards are tough yards but he's also had some explosive plays through the course of the year, gained some yards for us in the passing game as well, which those aren't runs but they're kind of the same as runs if you will. He's been very durable, very dependable. Ball security has been great so we have a lot of confidence giving him the ball. He's done a good job for us."

Blount will surely continue to add to his brilliant season in the coming weeks. He may be in line for a big day against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, who boast the 29th-ranked run defense in the NFL.

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