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In 1989 the 49ers won the Super Bowl.
A Super Bowl winning team with Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig (& Steve Young), Walsh said his FB was the most critical piece.
Sure enough, FB Tom Rathman was #2 in receptions with 73, #2 in rushes & tied for #1 in YPC as a rusher.
A Super Bowl winning team with Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig (& Steve Young), Walsh said his FB was the most critical piece.
Sure enough, FB Tom Rathman was #2 in receptions with 73, #2 in rushes & tied for #1 in YPC as a rusher.
But that was ages ago.
The rules changed.
The game changed.
FBs are no longer valuable, right?
Last year, of the 8 personnel groupings used 100+ times, the #1 most efficient personnel grouping was 21 personnel:
• #1 in yards/play
• #1 in EPA/play
• #1 in success rate
The rules changed.
The game changed.
FBs are no longer valuable, right?
Last year, of the 8 personnel groupings used 100+ times, the #1 most efficient personnel grouping was 21 personnel:
• #1 in yards/play
• #1 in EPA/play
• #1 in success rate
Still skeptical?
Let's look at the teams that used the highest rate of FB snaps in 2019.
Wonder how that turned out?
1. 49ers: Super Bowl
2. Vikings: Playoffs
3. Ravens: Playoffs*
4. Broncos
5. Patriots: Playoffs
6. Saints: Playoffs
*best regular season record in the NFL
Let's look at the teams that used the highest rate of FB snaps in 2019.
Wonder how that turned out?
1. 49ers: Super Bowl
2. Vikings: Playoffs
3. Ravens: Playoffs*
4. Broncos
5. Patriots: Playoffs
6. Saints: Playoffs
*best regular season record in the NFL
You have the best offensive mind ever in Walsh talking about the FB’s value then
You have one of the best offensive minds now in Sean Payton answering why FBs are going the way of the dodo:
“We’re going to have that dodo bird on the field a lot. We’ll let the others be dodos”
You have one of the best offensive minds now in Sean Payton answering why FBs are going the way of the dodo:
“We’re going to have that dodo bird on the field a lot. We’ll let the others be dodos”
You have arguably the best overall coach in history in Bill Belichick talking about his FB, James Develin:
"To his coaches & teammates, he is one of the most appreciated & respected players we ever had. Of the 5 seasons he appeared in every game, we won 3 Championships"
"To his coaches & teammates, he is one of the most appreciated & respected players we ever had. Of the 5 seasons he appeared in every game, we won 3 Championships"
Fullbacks...
help dictate defense
create mismatches as receivers
are better in pass pro than RBs
are completely unselfish
act as queens on a chessboard
Example: watch Juszczyk play 50 snaps without a single touch & make a massive impact via @BaldyNFL
help dictate defense
create mismatches as receivers
are better in pass pro than RBs
are completely unselfish
act as queens on a chessboard
Example: watch Juszczyk play 50 snaps without a single touch & make a massive impact via @BaldyNFL
Better than nearly any other skill player on the field, fullbacks understand:
- leverage
- angles
- balance
- timing
Their physicality, power and craftiness are huge assets.
And if you find one that can catch, which is the key factor, it opens up so much in your offense.
- leverage
- angles
- balance
- timing
Their physicality, power and craftiness are huge assets.
And if you find one that can catch, which is the key factor, it opens up so much in your offense.
using a FB, as so many of these playoff teams did, doesn’t mean you have to be conservative...
it means you can be creative... and unpredictable.
And even if you don’t care about efficiency...
and even if you don’t care about making the playoffs...
how fun are FBs to watch?!
it means you can be creative... and unpredictable.
And even if you don’t care about efficiency...
and even if you don’t care about making the playoffs...
how fun are FBs to watch?!
