The Fullback

[Illini88228]

All the recent talk about Deon Anderson (arrest) and Moose (Emmitt) has got me wondering. Considering how cyclical football tendencies are, how long do you guys see it being before the fullback becomes a significant position again?

I know some of you think its a dinosaur in this pass-happy league, but those are just the kinds of comments that people were making about the TE position just a few years ago.

I could see some teams that have multi-talent tailbacks like Reggie Bush or Brian Westbrook (a few years ago, maybe), moving towards the fullback position to take some of the carries and to take on the first linebacker when these smaller, slighter, halfbacks run between the tackles.

 

[Future]

I think a bruising fullback is valuable to have. As long as they aren't a liability to catch and/or passblock, they are good to have around. I would almost always prefer to run with a lead blocker, especially in tight situations, so it's good to have a guy like Deon around.

Like the league, fullbacks need to evolve. Teams need to find guys that are big, and now, that can move and catch. They can no longer be one-dimensional, but tough fullbacks are still valuable IMO.

 

[Aikmaniac]

With the success of Mike Alstott, I thought more teams would take chances on the more "athletic" FB's to come out. Greg Jones, imo, had that talent but has been hidden behind a solid stable of backs since he came into the league with Fred Taylor and Jones-Drew. Jones grew into the FB he is now...which I believe is pretty decent. Rob Konrad was in that mold in college, but really fizzled out in the pros down with the Dolphins.

Guess it shows how special of an athlete Mike Alstott was during his playing days. Yes, not the prototypical fullback, but a fullback nonetheless.

It'd be nice to see another in the Keith Byers or Alstott mold, but the fullback will always be the Daryl Johnston's and Lorenzo Neal's of the world.

 

[dmoore]

It seems like the games evolved and the position has been forgotten. I never really understood why. It would be nice for short yardage situations if you had a big bruiser already on the field. You don't need to bring in a 2 TE set if you're just going to run it up the gut. Having a short-yardage back wouldn't be necessary. You could keep the smaller back out there and the defense would still have to watch him if you faked it to the fullback and pitched it outside.

I think there has to be a guy that will come along eventually that revolutionizes the position. It happened with TEs, some smart coordinator is going to realize that FBs can be weapons as well. I think it'll take a big guy who can do it all, pass protect, lead block, carry, and catch for it to happen. The problem is most of the real physical specimens want to be RBs. A guy like Brandon Jacobs would be a nightmare at FB if he embraced the blocking.