Jump to content
  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Dear NFL: Bring Back the Fullback


Jeremy Igo
 Share

Recommended Posts

While true, most FBs are RB converts and OL/TE tweeners who just want to play ball in any form. 

When I played rec league football when I was younger, we had a guy that was huge for our age group. I'm not talking fat either, just a solidly built kid. Couldn't make weight to play RB so had to play on the line sometimes. Basically every play we ran was hand the ball off to me and I grab the back of his jersey while he cleared a path. Scored like 25 tds in a season doing that. 

  • Pie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The biggest reason to have a bruiser fullback would be to take advantage of the tendency for defenses to be smaller and faster making them susceptible to bigger bruising linemen and a big fullback.  Over time this should wear down defenses and allows you to run at the end of the game when you are trying to run out the clock and dominate the defense.  Plus it really ties into our philosophy and our personnel.  Gettleman seems to favor bigger more physical guys with a nasty streak.  That is perfect for shoving the ball down the opponent's throat and demoralizing them.

  • Pie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It would be nice to have a guy on offense, in addition to the dozer,  that is out there punishing people. If we lined up Tolbert behind a real full back, there could be some real carnage. Alsom the way they handcuff defenses, this might be the only time we get to see big hits.

Those big blocks was one of my favorite things about 89.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Similar to the way the post up Center has disappeared from the NBA. Problem is, kids growing up these days would rather be the one scoring the touchdowns instead of blocking for the man that does. 

Kareem was the all time best center. Duncan's the last elite true center in the league and he's pretty much done at this point. I really like Andre Drummond who's a true post up center, but he's young and has a lot of work to do before he's a game-changing player. They certainly don't dominate the game like they used to, but they haven't completely disappeared. And I agree with you on the kids one. All the kids I work with want to be the star putting up the points. Instead of blocking in football or playing defense. And in basketball instead of being the guy getting the rebounds, playing the defense, getting the blocks and steals, getting the assists. I think it has a lot to do with this young generation and their entitlement and the "everyone is special" narrative. I still don't understand why people take photos of themselves all the time. Blows my mind.

  • Pie 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

Not necessarily.  You would still have two wide receivers, Olsen, and your running back on the field.  That's four options right there.  If the FB has any ability to catch a pass, you win.

But you would rather have three wide receivers, Olsen, and your running back on the field. Five viable receiving options is much, much better than four. The benefit the blocking fullback gives is completely wasted because he has to be there every play except the most obvious passing situations. 

I'm not saying I don't like blocking fullbacks; I grew up with a Panthers team that used them and that played in a system that needed them. In systems that are run-heavy, they are very, very good. Adrian Peterson wouldn't have had 2,000 yards and a 6.0 YPC average without Jerome Felton blocking for him. But that offense was designed entirely around Adrian Peterson. Felton is useless if Peterson isn't on the field.

Edited by TN05
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

But you would rather have three wide receivers, Olsen, and your running back on the field. Five viable receiving options is much, much better than four. The benefit the blocking fullback gives is completely wasted because he has to be there every play except the most obvious passing situations. 

I'm not saying I don't like blocking fullbacks; I grew up with a Panthers team that used them and that played in a system that needed them. In systems that are run-heavy, they are very, very good. Adrian Peterson wouldn't have had 2,000 yards and a 6.0 YPC average without Jerome Felton blocking for him. But that offense was designed entirely around Adrian Peterson. Felton is useless if Peterson isn't on the field.

I see what you're saying, but I still feel like it would be advantageous.  We already run two deep in the backfield w/ two wide quite a lot.  Normally, it's Tolbert, but with him being hurt a lot last season, we had to run with Dickson, Williams, etc. lead blocking.  They weren't looking to pass much out of those formations either.  You put a guy like Ward in there, and your run game is instantly improved.  Defenses aren't currently built to handle a guy like that, and he's easily going to clear out most LB's.  That instantly eliminates another level of the defense, and we all know it's not easy for a DB to take Stew out 1-on-1.  

To me, it's the same thing we've been doing, so it makes sense to have a punisher in when we run those sets.  Plus, from what tidbits I've heard, he's been catching pretty well out of the backfield.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share


×
×
  • Create New...