Blount keeps putting it on the ground Stephen F Holder, The St.Petersburg Times, published 12 December 2011 LeGarrette Blount's punishing running style makes defenders leery about tackling him, a trait that would seem a good quality for a running back. But defenders have learned that, when unable to get Blount to the ground, there's a second option: strip the ball. Blount fumbled twice Sunday, losing one, giving him three lost fumbles in a span of three games. Blount lost two fumbles at Tennessee two weeks ago. "Once you get to the second level and these guys see they can't tackle you, their second thought is to go for the football because they know they can't get you on the ground," Blount said. "It's just fighting for all that extra yardage. "Being the kind of player that I am, that's what I do. I'm not going to (divert) from how I play, but at the same time, I have to learn how to hold on to that football and just continue to play the way I play. I have to be conscious that they're going to come and get the football." Blount's first fumble Sunday, in the second quarter, was recovered by G Jeremy Zuttah. But his second, coming with 7:59 left in the third quarter, proved costly, coming at the end of a 23-yard run. With defenders struggling to take down the powerful second-year back, Blount kept fighting for yardage, giving LB Russell Allen time to punch the ball out. "Defenses are going to go for the ball more so against guys who fumble it a lot," Blount said. "I don't want to get that label. … It's something that's creeping into a lot of people's heads, so I'm going to have to try and erase that memory, including for myself."