Full back, the game has passed you by...kind of

[FirstDownHawkeyes]

Power running teams like Iowa, WI and even AL very effectively use the FB position. BUT, the direction of the position itself is moving away from the traditional FB athlete. It's happening in the NFL and in CFB. Using a scholarship for a traditional power running game fullback that is in that 6'-6'2" 240# tweener range and limited to only blocking w maybe a rare short catch and run in the flat, may become a thing of the past even at Iowa.

The more modern approach is to use an H-back/TE type to motion in and out of this spot. If you want to just line up and smash the ball, you can put in an athletic but huge lineman like Wirfs. I wonder if that may be why Iowa is loading up on so many TEs. You can have multiple TE types (blocker, receiver, h-back) just like you do receiver types (slot, wide, burner).

 

[ibahawkeye]

Makes sense to me especially with Brian's experience with the Pats and their use of the TE.

 

[FirstDownHawkeyes]

It gives you so much flexibility. Now with motion you can go from a power I look w Wadley/Butler and a hybrid TE (Beyer) at FB into a no back shotgun set and vice versa. What about spot use of a guy like Plumb blocking from an offset power formation? These are not huge departures from what KF wants to do.

 

[trj]

Makes sense to me. Iowa will never go to 4 and 5 wr sets just to spread people out and create running lanes.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Look what the 49ers did by paying a truck load to sign Juscheck (however you spell it) That's exactly what he is. He's a swiss army knife. He can run the ball hard like Mike Alstott did (well close to it) and run routes like TEs can and block like a fullback. There's a reason why there's so much value to a guy that's the best at doing that combination of things. It doesn't sound like Iowa is going to be phasing out the FB position if you were to listen to the coaches. But ultimately BFs playcalling and how they recruit going forward may dictate that. Iowa has like 5 TEs that are all deserving of PT. Having more off set multiple TE formations would be the quickest way to get them that. You want your best players/weapons on the field. FBs in Iowa's offense are nothing more than an extra lineman that gets a 3 step head start to hit someone. The TEs that Iowa has are so much more than that.... Just having them on the field will make defenses have to account for them. There's certainly a value in that

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Does Lew Montgomery have the most rushing yards of any Iowa fullback? I would think he does. He was fun to watch. Leeeeeeew! Leeeeeeew! Leeeeeeew!!

Iowa doesn't really recruit a FB, per se. Iowa will evaluate their talent and manufacture a FB out of some players. They may have been recruited as a TE or a LB or something and may be made into a FB, especially if have good hands.