Triumphant Return of the Full Back

[Real fan 02]

No doubt and a favorite of mine but Alstott was in a league of his own. Would love to see how guys like Riggins, Csonka and Brown would look in the modern day NFL. They all are studs without question.

The FB in SF is also a beast. All pro. Don't forget about Lorenzo Neal in SD who was also a beast too!

 

[rkarp1]

I don't see a dedicated FB for the roster.
much prefer 4 or 5 wide outs and 2-3 TE's on the roster
with Maye in shotgun most of the time, and with some RPO's mixed in, other than very few situations, no need for the FB.
when needed, Sow filled in last season, right?

 

[RobertWeathers]

Vrabel made it clear. They want to be a game plan offense and attack the defense in a multitude of ways and with different running schemes.

I absolutely believe they will be adding some kind of a fullback.

 

[rkarp1]

Vrabel made it clear. They want to be a game plan offense and attack the defense in a multitude of ways and with different running schemes.

I absolutely believe they will be adding some kind of a fullback.

do you think they will roster a FB? or do you think they will have a handful of plays that the FB position is utilized, but from a player that plays other positions?

 

[turkeyneck]

No doubt and a favorite of mine but Alstott was in a league of his own. Would love to see how guys like Riggins, Csonka and Brown would look in the modern day NFL. They all are studs without question.

Let's not forget our own Jim Nance, 6'1", 260...

• AFL MVP (1966)
• 3× All-AFL (1966, 1967, 1969)
• 2× AFL All-Star (1966, 1967)
• 2× AFL rushing champion (1966, 1967)
• AFL rushing touchdowns leader (1966)
• Boston Patriots All-1960s Team
• New England Patriots 35th Anniversary Team
• New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team
• New England Patriots Hall of Fame
• Most rushing yards, AFL season: 1,458 (1966)
• First-team All-East (1964)

 

[gobesmug]

That's what the Bills needed to do instead of having Allen charge it

 

[Real fan 02]

Vrabel made it clear. They want to be a game plan offense and attack the defense in a multitude of ways and with different running schemes.

I absolutely believe they will be adding some kind of a fullback.

Yes! What a total 360 from last season.. where you had a bunch of YMCA volunteers on the staff.. what- do- ya do McAdoo... .. under Vrabel this is how a coaching staff in the NFL should look.. competency from the HC on down. I expect rham to have some real blocking in front of him. The OL projects to be much better as well. Adding a FB.. I think bell should take reps there.

 

[RobertWeathers]

do you think they will roster a FB? or do you think they will have a handful of plays that the FB position is utilized, but from a player that plays other positions?

I do but not sure if they'll find them which is why I said "some kind" of fullback.

Getting a player who can run, catch, pass block, run block and line up as a quasi- TE like James Develin would be very difficult to find.

Josh likes his FBs. Historically, a FB in Josh's offense sees about 300-350 snaps a year. For instance in the two years Jakob was in OAK he didn't run at all and only caught a couple of balls. Played STs though.

They also need a 3rd down back. Might be more important, actually.

 

[Headcase]

A picture is worth a thousand words but this clip is so much more. You cant teach this......they either have it or they dont.

That is a vid of a guy that doesn't get the ball alot, and wasn't going to waste one of his few chances.

 

[Real fan 02]

I would bring Johnson back because we knew he liked to hit. I dont know if Bell would want to do that dirty work and he is a little under sized at 6'2 240lbs. But Devlin was 6'3 255 lbs and the best to ever do it Mike Alstott was 6'1 248lbs........so maybe.

Just shows what a freak Ricard is as he is the same height as Devlin but 50+ pounds heavier...wow!

I think bell has talent and ability.. we stand to have much more play makers this offseason.. so having bell on the back field or even lined up there at FB just gives the offense so much more ability.. and options.

 

[Patsfan1645]

The FB in SF is also a beast. All pro. Don't forget about Lorenzo Neal in SD who was also a beast too!

Lots of great full backs...Its a position that if you suck you wont be doing it long.

 

[patfanken]

This thread has got me to thinking about going back to 2 RB's in the backfield again after about 50 years. We are starting to see it see it coming back with the use of motion backs being used as potential runners going counter to the flow in the last couple of years,

Going back to the days of the Delaware Wing T it featured lots of counter action in the backfield. In the decades we've had using single back running systems or I formation approaches, we have seen generation after generation of LB's and Safeties that have seen nothing but instant keys to the direction of most running plays. It seems the play action pass has now become today's best method to use a "counter play".

I think the best and easiest way to throw a defense into questioning what they "see", is the use of motions and counters (and some trend busters). When you can make a D question what they've been taught all week, you slow them down and make them less effective. But this is NOT simple and takes time. You cannot just wish it were so and it suddenly happens. You need a QB who can handle all the LOS adjustments, a group of players who are familiar with each other enough to execute the adjustments, and a OC who is on the same page. THIS does not happen overnight. Before it can reach the kind of offensive execution that can bring into championship contention, the QB et al need to develop to an experience level more than what we will see from Maye next season, IMHO. And while I see the offense improving a lot next season, it will be now where near its full potential.

BUT as we haves seen so often (especially as you approach 80, whatever has become very old becomes the next great thing eventually. Just look at the revival of so many single wing concepts, some of which are over 100 yrs old. This will become even more apparent as teams start to us QB's as a distinct running threat more and more within their offenses.

That was ALWAYS the thing that kept me so interested in football all these years. You can never stop learning and developing no matter how many years you are closely involved with the game

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think bell has talent and ability.. we stand to have much more play makers this offseason.. so having bell on the back field or even lined up there at FB just gives the offense so much more ability.. and options.

Bell does not have the blocking toughness to play FB.

Bell is unplayable as a blocker by NFL standards right now. He lacks the physical demeanor you want, and he far too often gets blown up at the point of attack. Bell has some use as a moving blocker in space, but he can not be a point man in any run scheme.

Jaheim Bell NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for Florida State TE

HEIGHT: 6'2" WEIGHT: 244 HAND: 9 7/8" ARM: 32 7/8" WINGSPAN: 79 3/8" 40-YARD DASH: 3-CONE: SHUTTLE: VERTICAL: BROAD: POSITIVES — Good speed in the open field.…

bleacherreport.com

 

[Real fan 02]

Lots of great full backs...Its a position that if you suck you wont be doing it long.

Absolutely agree!! I'm trying to think who did we have played FB before meat head Devlin??

 

[JohnJH]

Jakob Johnson? He's 30 years old now... Surely there are younger guys out there who can fill the FB role... if not, at least hes a sfa... won't cost anything to bring him in, see if he has anything left...

Yep. Not interested in Jakob.

 

[Real fan 02]

Bell does not have the blocking toughness to play FB.

Jaheim Bell NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for Florida State TE

HEIGHT: 6'2" WEIGHT: 244 HAND: 9 7/8" ARM: 32 7/8" WINGSPAN: 79 3/8" 40-YARD DASH: 3-CONE: SHUTTLE: VERTICAL: BROAD: POSITIVES — Good speed in the open field.…

bleacherreport.com

Possibly.. but you can learn to become a good blocker.. he's still an undeveloped player.. it's really hard to say what he can't or can do well at this point. I know that he showed flashes of potential in camp but really hasn't been on the field much.. so in sure Josh Wil put him in positions to succeed.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Possibly.. but you can learn to become a good blocker.. he's still an undeveloped player.. it's really hard to say what he can't or can do well at this point. I know that he showed flashes of potential in camp but really hasn't been on the field much.. so in sure Josh Wil put him in positions to succeed.

Sure. Every draft analyst killed him on his inline and on the move blocking. Called out a lack of willingness. Maybe all he needs to do is commit himself to it and improve technique/fundamentals. If he doesn't he won't last here.

 

[Pape]

Yep. Not interested in Jakob.

I am sure we can find a decent prospect in the late rounds of the draft... or in the undrafted prospects... all the backs left over after the draft to develop... im sure full back is not a position that is highly sought after in the draft...

 

[Real fan 02]

Sure. Every draft analyst killed him on his inline and on the move blocking. Called out a lack of willingness. Maybe all he needs to do is commit himself to it and improve technique/fundamentals. If he doesn't he won't last here.

agreed with you.. goes back to that word again. "Development ".. big reason why Mayo's no longer here. Bell has potential like all late round picks do.. he has no excuse now.. whatever talent he possess Vrabel and Josh will get it out of him. He's an intriguing player becuase you'd like to see him carve out a nice role here.

 

[Patsfan1645]

Possibly.. but you can learn to become a good blocker.. he's still an undeveloped player.. it's really hard to say what he can't or can do well at this point. I know that he showed flashes of potential in camp but really hasn't been on the field much.. so in sure Josh Wil put him in positions to succeed.

I don't mind trying the idea out if he is open to the idea. I'm also open to the idea of drafting around the 5th round for one. Like Kaden Feagin from Illinois who did not want to move to the defense and wanted to continue to play running back. He only got 67 carries this year and averaged 4.6 yards a carry but he is 6'3 250lbs and thats the typical FB size and he has ball handling experience. IMO its worthy of a late round pick.