Fullback Effect

[Galian Beast]

If you look back at DeMarco Murray's season, he really only had three really good games. All of those games came running behind Fiammetta. There appears to be a relationship between the games where Fiammetta did not play, and a precipitous decrease in DeMarco Murray's performance.

The outliers include the Philadelphia game where we didn't have much chance on offense.

Then Fiammetta goes out after the Buffalo game. He doesn't return until the Giants game, where unfortunately Murray is injured.

Felix Jones on the other hand has 100 yard rushing days against the Giants in place of Murray, and again against Tampa Bay.

He didn't really run against Philadelphia. And then only got 11 carries against the Giants in the final.

I think there is enough evidence to support the hypothesis that our offensive line and running backs benefited greatly from the addition of a capable fullback.

Our running game flourished in nearly every game when Fiammetta was involved. I'm not sure about his direct involvement on running plays however. I do remember seeing some pretty good blocking.

I think the best part is to look at what the running game did for Romo.

From St. Louis onward Romo had a 100 qb rating or higher in every game until we played Miami. Fiammetta did not play in Miami and our running game did not do well either.

The same in Arizona.

Fiammetta returns, and Romo's numbers return to 100+ until he was hurt in Philly.

Those numbers return to 100+ for the finale, despite our running game not being great.

 

[28 Joker]

Tony Fiammetta was a non-factor in Felix Jones' performances against the Cardinals, Giants, and Buccaneers. I have the break down of the Giants game from Brian Baldinger (NFL Playbook). Here are Felix's numbers with and without a FB (Giants game):

Without the FB: 9-80 (8.9 YPC)

With the FB: 7-26 (3.7)

You will not read about that on DallasCowboys.com. That is for sure.

It should be noted that Jones' first 12 totes went for 99 yards in the Giants game (8.25 YPC).

Felix has been successful running with or without the fullback during the past 4 seasons. However, in this game, Jones torched the Giants without the FB. Again, if John Phillips (F-back) is the trap blocker (on the 2nd and 5 bend zone), Phillips most likely gets a decent trap block on Pierre-Paul. Felix Jones is going to end that game right there. Phillips had already put a decent trap block on Pierre-Paul earlier. As a result, Jones was able to stiff-arm Pierre-Paul through the hole and gain 10 yards. In fact, Phillips came from his F-back position and put a nice trap block on Justin Tuck (the very play before; 1st and 10). The Cowboys ran the same play (bend), but they changed the formation and trap blocker (on 2nd and 5).

With the NFC East on the line, Tony Fiammetta wasn't nearly physical enough with Jason Pierre-Paul, and Pierre-Paul took advantage of that and tossed the FB aside. It was a very poor effort by the fullback, and Dallas had the play blocked. Free and Austin had their blocks on the edge and second level. Dez Bryant was winning his battle with the CB. There is no telling how far Felix Jones runs on that 2nd and 5 bend, but the key trap block on the DE was executed very, very poorly. That spoiled the play, and the Cowboys missed a golden opportunity to TKO the Giants. As a matter of fact, Felix hung a 56 yard bend on the Giants (in 2009). Unfortunately, they missed another golden opportunity on the next play.

DallasCowboys.com should have broken that play down, because Fiammetta demonstrated very poor physicality on an extremely critical play, and the NFC East was on the line. They should have looked at the Tampa Bay game, too. I don't have those numbers, but I watched it. I knew the Giants numbers, and I wanted Fiammetta out of the way during that game.

Felix torched the Buccaneers (22-108; 4.9 YPC; LG 38) by running behind Tyron Smith and the right side. I'm pretty sure that Jones torched Tampa Bay by running out of a single back set and by running to his right. That includes Jones' 38 yard run on a stretch play (single back set).

Nevertheless, the Cowboys have a new fullback now, and that pretty much says it all. Tony Fiammetta wasn't the same player when he came back in December. The Cowboys re-placed him, too.

 

[28 Joker]

Note:

Fiammetta didn't play against the Cardinals, and Jones went 6-36 (6.0 YPC). Felix went 16-77 (4.8 YPC) against Arizona in 2010, and he did that behind a significantly deteriorated offensive line. Jones went 4-24 (6.0 YPC) against the Eagles before he was pulled.

I don't care if your fullback is named Johnston. If the 2010 versions of Davis and Colombo are out there, you are going to have major, major problems getting the ball outside (on the left or right). Dallas used the screen game to get Jones outside in 2010.

Tyron Smith re-opened the entire field last season in the running game. Overall, Smith hasn't received his due for that key aspect of his game. Rafael Vela (Cowboys Nation) has been all over it, though. Smith is an elite run blocker, and his presence and impact, in the running game, was huge in 2011.

I'm glad Lawrence Vickers is in Dallas, because he should be able to blast that DE if the NFC East is ever on the line, again.

 

[birdwells1]

Tony Fiammetta was a non-factor in Felix Jones' performances against the Cardinals, Giants, and Buccaneers. I have the break down of the Giants game from Brian Baldinger (NFL Playbook). Here are Felix's numbers with and without a FB (Giants game):

Without the FB: 9-80 (8.9 YPC)

With the FB: 7-26 (3.7)

You will not read about that on DallasCowboys.com. That is for sure.

It should be noted that Jones' first 12 totes went for 99 yards in the Giants game (8.25 YPC).

Felix has been successful running with or without the fullback during the past 4 seasons. However, in this game, Jones torched the Giants without the FB. Again, if John Phillips (F-back) is the trap blocker (on the 2nd and 5 bend zone), Phillips most likely gets a decent trap block on Pierre-Paul. Felix Jones is going to end that game right there. Phillips had already put a decent trap block on Pierre-Paul earlier. As a result, Jones was able to stiff-arm Pierre-Paul through the hole and gain 10 yards. In fact, Phillips came from his F-back position and put a nice trap block on Justin Tuck (the very play before; 1st and 10). The Cowboys ran the same play (bend), but they changed the formation and trap blocker (on 2nd and 5).

With the NFC East on the line, Tony Fiammetta wasn't nearly physical enough with Jason Pierre-Paul, and Pierre-Paul took advantage of that and tossed the FB aside. It was a very poor effort by the fullback, and Dallas had the play blocked. Free and Austin had their blocks on the edge and second level. Dez Bryant was winning his battle with the CB. There is no telling how far Felix Jones runs on that 2nd and 5 bend, but the key trap block on the DE was executed very, very poorly. That spoiled the play, and the Cowboys missed a golden opportunity to TKO the Giants. As a matter of fact, Felix hung a 56 yard bend on the Giants (in 2009). Unfortunately, they missed another golden opportunity on the next play.

DallasCowboys.com should have broken that play down, because Fiammetta demonstrated very poor physicality on an extremely critical play, and the NFC East was on the line. They should have looked at the Tampa Bay game, too. I don't have those numbers, but I watched it. I knew the Giants numbers, and I wanted Fiammetta out of the way during that game.

Felix torched the Buccaneers (22-108; 4.9 YPC; LG 38) by running behind Tyron Smith and the right side. I'm pretty sure that Jones torched Tampa Bay by running out of a single back set and by running to his right. That includes Jones' 38 yard run on a stretch play (single back set).

Nevertheless, the Cowboys have a new fullback now, and that pretty much says it all. Tony Fiammetta wasn't the same player when he came back in December. The Cowboys re-placed him, too.

Good insight, I didn't think that Tony F. was as effective when he returned last season and I'm glad that we went in a different direction.

 

[Galian Beast]

It's interesting that we had attempted to resign him, before talks broke down, his tender was rescinded and we went after Vickers.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

is good lead blocker is a plus in the running game and should also be an excellent blitz blocker--how's Vickers as a pass catcher?

 

[casmith07]

is good lead blocker is a plus in the running game and should also be an excellent blitz blocker--how's Vickers as a pass catcher?

He's pretty much only a blocker, which is fine. As long as he has hands and can catch a little out on the goal line, I'm not overly concerned with his pass catching.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Funny how the big rushing fullback days happened to occur against the worst rushing defenses like St Louis and Buffalo.

And was the bad day against Miami because we didn't have Tony Fiammetta, or because the one thing Miami does well is run defense?

 

[Doomsday101]

Funny how the big rushing fullback days happened to occur against the worst rushing defenses like St Louis and Buffalo.

And was the bad day against Miami because we didn't have Tony Fiammetta, or because the one thing Miami does well is run defense?

Does not hurt to have a lead blocker who can open holes. Sure I expect vs weaker defense the running game will be more effective but does not change the fact if you can get a good blocker leading the RB into the hole it can benifet the running game.

 

[LOBO7]

28 Joker, nice post man, magizene worthy.

 

[AbeBeta]

Funny how the big rushing fullback days happened to occur against the worst rushing defenses like St Louis and Buffalo.

We have a winner!

 

[Idgit]

Funny how the big rushing fullback days happened to occur against the worst rushing defenses like St Louis and Buffalo.

And was the bad day against Miami because we didn't have Tony Fiammetta, or because the one thing Miami does well is run defense?

For sure. Murray was getting past the LoS pretty easily on some of those plays, with a blocker who was really good in space in front of him. Realistically, that's not going to happen all that often, and I don't believe Vickers would be an upgrade in that regard, anyway.

Where Vickers should shine is in short yardage and goal line. Hopefully, he's a significant upgrade at the line, too. I think he probably will be.