The Status Of The Fullback Position In The NFL
We’ve been hearing for a long time now that football is changing. It seems like most teams are going with the shotgun quarterback with a spread look on offense, and throwing the ball close to 40 times a game. An under center quarterback utilizing a power run game is starting to go out of style - and so too is the fullback. There are currently 25 active fullbacks in the NFL. The notable names are Kyle Juszczyk, CJ Ham, Derek Watt, Patrick Ricard (who also plays on the defensive line), and Alec Ingold (pictured above but is now with the Dolphins). Now this may sound like a lot, but most of these guys don’t play that much or may just be practice squad players. We’ve seen two types of fullbacks as of late. The traditional big power blocker that can knock a defender out, and the modern day smaller more athletic blocker who can also run routes and catch the ball.
Notable NFL Fullbacks
Mike Alstott was an absolute force as was Larry Csonka. One other name I wanted to mention is Brian Piccolo, who spent his career blocking for Gayle Sayers. You don’t have to go that far back in time to remember guys like Mike Tolbert, John Kuhn, James Devlin, Lorenzo Neal, Tom Rathman, and Daryl Johnston. They were all critical to their teams success at that time. That can’t be said all too often in the NFL today.
Power Football Is Becoming Obsolete
More and more, it’s all about throwing the ball. Even teams that have a history of a heavy ground game don’t use a fullback. Derek Henry in Tennessee is usually the lone member of the backfield. Seattle will occasionally use one, maybe that will change with Wilson gone as they lean on the run more. It’s a quarterback league. Teams are looking for the next Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen so they don’t need to run to win. An I formation is called either 21 or 22 personnel depending on how many tight ends are in the formation. Those alignments are becoming extinct in professional football with the introduction of the McVay system and the Air Raid. Even in college, Wisconsin and the military academies are the only programs left that consistently lean on the lead blocker.
Why This Is Bad For The Game
An offense needs balance or it becomes predictable. Look what the Saints have done these past few seasons. They throw so many personnel groups at you, so teams have to stay on their toes. Give the defense something else to take into consideration. Teams that don’t often use a fullback will occasionally bring one in as a change of pace. On top of that, eliminating one position from the game isn’t a smart idea. It’s like if we were to take defenseman out of hockey and replace them with two forwards. It wouldn’t make sense and it wouldn’t work. Fullbacks can still contribute to the game in a positive way, and those who actually play the position take it seriously and are good players. A little fullback dive for a touchdown every now and again is good for the soul - and that is honestly my favorite play in football.
Going to need to take a hiatus for the next few days, but coming up:
The wild wild AFC West
Where the Browns went wrong with Baker Mayfield
More content is on the way!