Whatever Happened To Using Fullbacks?

[bap1331]

I haven't seen any team use a fullback as effectively since Mike Alstott retired with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I think they are the most effective players when trying to get that short yardage on a first down. They are way stronger than a quarterback or runningback. Unless you have a Giants runningback. What do you think? It would be a great aaddition in the offseason.

[ReMeDy]

It starts with the draft. Teams don't want to draft FB's. They're needing to field faster players to compensate for the increased passing game. Even today's HB's must learn to catch and pass block, but even HB's taken early in drafts are a dying breed.

Nowadays, it's all about the spread, shotgun, and "my guys are faster than your guys." Passing records are being broken every season. It's insane.

Regardless, we've seen the effectiveness of FB's with Vonta Leach paired with Arian Foster. They ran I-Form on the Colts nearly all of game 1 last season and the Colts had no answer for it.

[Go Blue Horseshoe]

I agree. I like seeing a big fullback barrell through the line to pick up short yardage gains. Smashmouth football. That's what I'm talkin bout.

[chad72]

It kills the no huddle that most teams have adopted. Pats flex in 2 TEs, most teams go 3 WR, 1 TE in no huddle situations. The RB or HB or FB is in mostly for protection reasons. If it is a FB that can catch, then yes, that FB will be drafted. If not, you won't see at least the elite teams with good QBs drafting FBs till the last round or sign them as an UDFA for very limited downs.

[bap1331]

What a fullback does is increase put chances on 3rd down, which is really important on short yardage. Leaving it to the runningback is usually a gamble. A 50/50 chance.

[ViriLudant]

Green Bay uses Kuhn, but that's the only major example that I can think of.

(null)

[The Peytonator]

They aren't as obsolete as some make them out to be. Bmore uses Leach quite a bit. Houston uses Vickers. Atlanta uses Mughelli. The thing is they just aren't used to carry the ball anymore. Alstott came from a different era, where the passing game wasn't quite as proficient. Now they're used as lead blockers in a lot of teams base offensive package. When teams go to the no huddle, they aren't running the ball as much, so the fullback comes out. Teams do use fullbacks, they just like them to be multipurpose. Gotta be able to catch out in the flat for an easy five yards, lead block into the hole and take on the first would be tackler, and also make a contribution on special teams.