Fullback situation

[Swarly]

Browns FB Lawrence Vickers is apparently going to be a free agent next year.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/40330/vickers-surprised-browns-drafted-a-fullback

I'm not sure how everyone feels about Fiammetta, but Vickers is a beast blocker and would really help our run game. Thoughts?

[SirPanther]

I think Fiammetta is one of the best young FB's in the game.

I wonder if he fits Chudz offense though.

[teeray]

Does Chud use the FB a whole lot?? Seems like there was a lot of one back stuff in San Diego and Cleveland. I may be wrong though.

[Lumps]

If Rivera wants to 'get back to running it' like he says he does, a solid fullback is a must.

[Jackofalltrades]

Fiametta is fine AND can catch out of the backfield.

[mountainpantherfan]

In Turner's style of the Air Coryell system, the fullback position is not used in that traditional blocking back style. Remember when Turner came to San Diego and the next season they let Lorenzo Neal go? That wasn't just because Neal was getting older.

In Turner's version, the h-back or TE is more likely to lineup in the backfield than the fullback. Turner's offense usually will feature a 3rd WR more often than not and there will always be at least one TE. The running game has to be a power running game based on the the running back and the offensive line. And instead of the TE and WR being asked to be overly aggressive in run blocking, their speed and and the threat of big plays in the passing game pulls defenders away from the line of scrimage.

Fiametta came out mainly known as a great run blocker. Don't really remember what his pros and cons were coming out but I would say Rosario now has a better chance of being the starter at fullback than Fiametta. Thats the type of fullback Chud probably covets.

[Mr. Scot]

I'm honestly not as big a Fiammetta fan as others.

Maybe he'll change my mind this year.

[teeray]

In Turner's style of the Air Coryell system, the fullback position is not used in that traditional blocking back style. Remember when Turner came to San Diego and the next season they let Lorenzo Neal go? That wasn't just because Neal was getting older.

In Turner's version, the h-back or TE is more likely to lineup in the backfield than the fullback. Turner's offense usually will feature a 3rd WR more often than not and there will always be at least one TE. The running game has to be a power running game based on the the running back and the offensive line. And instead of the TE and WR being asked to be overly aggressive in run blocking, their speed and and the threat of big plays in the passing game pulls defenders away from the line of scrimage.

Fiametta came out mainly known as a great run blocker. Don't really remember what his pros and cons were coming out but I would say Rosario now has a better chance of being the starter at fullback than Fiametta. Thats the type of fullback Chud probably covets.

Thanks :thumbsup: :)

[Ricky Spanish]

rivera did say we had to get back to running the ball, especially with cam under center. I wouldn't be surprised if we used the FB more than we use to.

[DaveThePanther2008]

This year will tell with Tony. Rookie year he was lost, last year an average year. Hopefully year 3 he iwll have it down and be a Hoover part 2,

[Catalyst]

Fiammetta will be fine. Needs to develop some more, but he's versatile enough to fit into Chud's offense.

[JawnyBlaze]

Fullbacks generally take a while to fully develop. Look all the best fullbacks of the past 10 or so years, they've all been in the league 5 or more years, seems like any time you hear of a good fullback it's a guy that's pushing 30. I think Fiametta is more than adequate for what we need. I remember a few times this past season when commentators actually took it back to replay to point out something good Fiametta did. It's not often you see a rewind to praise a FB.

[bleys]

Fiametta is fine AND can catch out of the backfield.

this..

he's got a little speed to for a FB.. he'll fit in just fine.

[mountainpantherfan]

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2009-04-24/scouting-report-syracuses-tony-fiammetta

http://www.nfldraft101.com/draft/profiles/player/789/Tony_Fiammetta.jsp

Here are a couple of scouting reports that I was able to find on Fiammetta. It does appear that he may be athletic enough and a good enough pass catcher to play in a Norv Turner style Coryell Offense (if that is what Chud is going to run). However, I continue to believe that between Fiammetta and Rosario (a more true H-Back who played fullback in college), Rosario is the better option as a starter at fullback in Chud's system.

Fiammetta really has only ever been asked to be a road grader in Davidson's offense so we really haven't ever seen what he could do in more of a H-Back role. But I think Fiammetta and also Jeff King are the kind of players who fit perfectly in Fox/Davidson's style of offense but may not in Rivera/Chud's. It would not surprise me to see Fiammetta cut in order to keep another H-Back/TE or another WR. Remember how Fox use to always say the nickleback is a starter, well look for Chud to look at the slot reciever as a starter in that same mindset. So having a minimum of 6 WR going into the season would probably be more of a norm for Chud.