Wednesday Notes: Jim Schwartz Sheds Some Light On Fullback Position
by Sean Yuille on Jul 7, 2010 11:32 AM EDT
in Detroit Lions Notes
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Print- Jim Schwartz had some interesting things to say about the fullback position and how it is changing so much.
"Traditionally, fullback, it's a position that's -- I don't want to say it's a little bit of a dying breed, but teams are just looking for ways to use players a little bit more and looking for the multidimensional ability of fullbacks," coach Jim Schwartz said. "No disrespect to (running backs coach and former fullback) Sam Gash, but that player doesn't exist very much in the NFL anymore because it's not just about lead blocking. It's about catching the ball. It's about playing special teams. It's about all those kind of things."
Schwartz went on to say that the Lions' fullbacks "are a little bit of a transition." Specifically, Jerome Felton is getting carries as a running back on top of playing fullback and Jake Nordin is getting snaps at fullback and tight end. According to Schwartz, Matt Clapp, the undrafted free agent from Oklahoma, is the only "true fullback" on the roster, as the others have multiple roles on offense. - This year the Lions aren't going to worry as much about the direction of their kickoffs. Instead they will just let Jason Hanson try to kick it as far as he can, which should hopefully add a little bit of distance to them.
- John Niyo wrote a great article on Gunther Cunningham's journey from Germany to becoming a United States citizen.
- Jon Jansen answered a few questions from fans in a Q&A for the Free Press.
- The Lions came in as the 112th team in ESPN's Ultimate Team Rankings, which is an improvement from past years.
- The deal safety Oshiomogho Atogwe received from the Rams is not as great as it appears at first glance.
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I like the concept for Jason..
Here’s how I envision the instructions in the huddle will sound.
“Jason, kick the ball as far as you can. If they take a touchback, great. If they run it out of the endzone, Zack, clean their clock. Any questions?”
Millen will be a little confused when the ball goes through the uprights on the kickoff because it won’t count for 3 points.
I say
we use Millen’s actual face…
Maybe, just once, someone will call me "sir" without adding, "you're making a scene."
by HireMattMillen on Jul 7, 2010 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
We know
that his head is full of air, so it should work.
by Detroitfantc on Jul 7, 2010 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
We'd get flaged for using an illegal ball.
Millens head was so far up Fords ass that his head is now full of shit!
How many lumps you want Doc?
you sure that Willie's head wasn't shoved up Millen's ass???
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
Is Follett still on special teams?
If Follett is going to start, can they afford to keep him on special teams? Do a lot of other starters play on special teams? I didn’t think so, but correct me if I’m wrong.
by Big Z in Orlando on Jul 7, 2010 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Fullbacks certainly complicate the fantasy football equation
One more guy to share the ball with, and every once in a while they start regularly stealing touchdowns, similar to the way Lions fullbacks would get the call at the 1 yard line back in Barry Sanders’ day.
I’m curious to see how far this fullback evolution goes. Does it go to a point where the fullback essentially becomes a second feature back, with the athletes manning that position getting leaner and faster as a result of their new responsibilities?
(I guess my point of comparison is the tight end position, which Kellen Winslow revolutionized in the Air Coryell system…these days, there are a few overgrown wide receivers making waves at the tight end position, but the majority of tight ends are still, essentially, linemen with hands.)
And, if that happens, how soon before a coach makes a huge splash by converting a tight end to a blocking back and reintroducing the power running game? 20 years?
Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!
I think there is an ebb and flow to the NFL
I think a lot of the true innovation is over. What we are left with is teams trying to match personnel to current schemes… both offensively and defensively. I think right now we are seeing the era of the quarterback, spread offenses and multiple running back offenses. Defenses are trying to counter this by running more 3-4 base defenses to disguise blitz packages… which is all about getting pressure on the quarterback. You see this in the draft… hybrid players are all the rage.
Sooner or later though, the tide will shift as schemes catch up to each other. You saw it with the Tampa 2. Offenses caught up with the scheme and found a way to get good match-ups and exploit areas of the field to beat the coverage. You’ll see the same with these spread offenses soon. Teams are trying to draft more athletic corners and safeties, while finding good hybrid players that can cover and rush. Once defenses start to catch up personnel-wise (the Jets are a good example of this), offenses will start to evolve again back to more of a ground attack to set up the pass.
I think this almost occurs in a divisional way. The Lions must contend with both the overall themes of the NFL, but more importantly, what the Bears, Packers and Vikings are doing… and right now that is pass-first offense. That’s why the secondary is such a concern. I think you’ll get different looks pressure-wise from the Lions in 2010, though. They had to address both pass rush and coverage, but it wasn’t all going to happen in one season. Now they should have a decent pass rush while being able to take guys like Peterson and Follett and get creative at the line of scrimmage by giving different looks.
Sorry for the long-winded response, but it was a great topic to discuss!
with all the rule
changes helping offensive players we on’t se many great defenses ever again. there will be some but not any true great defenses.
I have a 9" personality
by Waitingfortheroar on Jul 7, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Very true
"Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind." - Pride Leader, Sean Yuille, wielder of the Ban Hammer.
2010 Wests Tigers : Current record - 7-5 : Current Position - 5th : Last game - Defeated the Canterbury Bulldogs 19 - 12
by Hyperion Ecta on Jul 7, 2010 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
It's funny that you wrote that Waiting.
Because some of the most dominant D’s in the history of the game have been in the past decade, the Ravens/Steelers/G-men; etc.etc.etc. If you have talented players on 1 side of the ball that can tackle and run, you will have a great D reguardless of what an Offence is trying to do.The problem with what you said is I think you ment decade wise in terms of dominant D’s and with all these players being so physically fit and so (juiced up) strong, is that they keep hurting each other, and you just don’t see teams being able to stay HEALTHY for more than a year or 2. And another key item as to why you just don’t see decade of dominances’ from teams is this is now a FA driven league instead of players staying with the team that drafted them for the majority of their playing days. These players all see $$$$$$$ in their eyes instead of team concepts like it was back when I was a kid (70’s 80’s). And even with all these distractions there is at least 1 team every year (it seems) that is close to breaking a record for fewest points allowed every year in the recent past. the Steelers of the end of the 90’s and into the beginning of this decade right into the Ravens and now the Vikes with a sprinkling of this team or that team.
How many lumps you want Doc?
Exactly...
and to add..
Dominate defenses, change the game. One could argue that the Ravens D made offenses spread the field more and run less.
At least the Wings made the top 10
Tigers #33 and Pistons #93… Sean it is okay to talk about other Detroit teams on this site, just curious b/c i was given a warning for writing RIP Probert on BYB i guess it wasn’t a Tiger issue.
You were warned?
That’s the stupidest most disrepectfull think I’ve ever heard.
"If nobody invites you to their party, start your own f#$%ing paty"---Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society
by Enforcer on Jul 7, 2010 12:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, well what can i say the guys a douche.
I love the Tigers but there site sucks ass (BYB) Thank god Sean isn’t possing like he’s the Editor of the New York Times.
Kurt just banned me from BYB for calling him a douche
but really think its about me calling him out on the whole RIP Probert issue some people take there jobs way to seriously. Maybe he can come to the POD game and cheer on the Lions with us, i’ll save him a seat. lol
by SmittyJ on Jul 7, 2010 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Is that seat on the end of your foot?
"If nobody invites you to their party, start your own f#$%ing paty"---Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society
by Enforcer on Jul 7, 2010 1:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Did he ban you for calling him a douche on POD...
or did you call him one on BYB? Not a member, so I don’t know how that site is run.
POD is more fan friendly than BYB those guys are all politicans or some shit.
POD = Blue Collar Sports Fans
Wow. That guy must be a real douche
- Probert died. Everyone in Detroit should have a moment of silence regardless of your favorite team. I don’t like baseball, but if Sparky Anderson died I would be OK with people saying RIP in POD.
- Ban a guy for saying something about you on another forum? Super douche move. I want to join BYB just so I can call the guy a douche.
+1 internet points for your SmittyJ for being honest and calling a douche a douche.
Oh, i'm sure your banned already.
It’s tough to be a Tigers fan over there, good luck and watch out for the one they call Kurt.
I have my own message board I run like that
I would tell you all about it, but since I pre-banned everyone you can’t join.
Still I dont go over the BYB either for the same reason...
Props to you and the RIP Probert.
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
Kurts a Sharks fan
he tries to keep baseball as the only topic on that site
In life, a man is either the hammer or the anvil. Ndamukong Suh is both
OK I'm trying to be funny here
I sure hope the border patrol has a moment of silence for him, and now there’s 1 less picture on they’re board of people to watch list. All kidding aside Mr. Enforcer you left us way to early in our lives and you will be missed be ALL die hard Red Wings fans across america and canada. Smitty I thought POD=Pretty Ordinary Dudes! Pissed Off Diehards!
How many lumps you want Doc?
They have always seemed wayyy to serious over there on BYB.
… some people just can’t appreciate a good penis joke.
"Pride of Detroit -Top 25 FanPost Commenter"- Winner.
by Slum Village Allstar on Jul 7, 2010 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
STUPIDEST STUPIDEST STUPIDEST
Need me to go on?
"If nobody invites you to their party, start your own f#$%ing paty"---Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society
by Enforcer on Jul 7, 2010 1:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
please do
need some more entertainment at work.
Maybe, just once, someone will call me "sir" without adding, "you're making a scene."
by HireMattMillen on Jul 7, 2010 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I hear ya there
But I’d rather not. So you want Millen to be hired? To clean toilets right?
"If nobody invites you to their party, start your own f#$%ing paty"---Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society
by Enforcer on Jul 7, 2010 1:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
haha
nah i want to hire him to BE the toilet. I think he shit on us enough times, revenge would be nice.
Maybe, just once, someone will call me "sir" without adding, "you're making a scene."
by HireMattMillen on Jul 7, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah like the idea of taking a shit on Millen...
just think it would be creepy when he announces that he is giving “Free Mustache Rides”
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
How many warnings before I'm out?
Because STUPIDEST STUPIDEST STUPIDEST STUPIDEST STUPIDEST STUPIDEST
"If nobody invites you to their party, start your own f#$%ing paty"---Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society
wow
I didn’t realize this would get this funny.
"If nobody invites you to their party, start your own f#$%ing paty"---Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society
by Enforcer on Jul 8, 2010 5:39 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I enjoyed the article on "Gunther"
He is a part of NFL history just being associated with names like John Madden and, George Seifert before they were known nationally. His roots are well grounded.
well he is my favorite German..
well, actually second favorite. Forgot about “The Hoff”. Ich liebe da Hoff.
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
LMAO...why not. Feels like we have already had this conversation though...lol
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
Interesting on Hanson
The idea that he can just go for distance without worrying about position seems strange. You run the risk of outkicking the coverage. If the ball gets there too fast, the returner has a chance to gash the coverage.
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
by DownTownJax on Jul 7, 2010 12:49 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I think that's more of a punting issue....
Kickoffs are the same distance every time.
A punter can definitely over kick the coverage… on a kick off its called a Touch Back….lol.
I kind of agree with keeping it Lions....
I slipped up a couple times and talked about the pistons and it just wasn’t the write place to be talking about them….But we should for sure be able to honor a past Detroit athlete no matter who he played for… But the only reason why I think that we should keep it Lions on this page is because the fans on this page are actual diehard non-bandwagon jumping fans and we need as many Lions fans talking about Lions as we can….Im gonna be pissed when the Lions start winning and this website gets flooded with new fans trying to talk about the Lions when they didn’t even care about them till they started winning…I hate that worse than anything, a fair weather fan!!!
by LionsAreMySpouse on Jul 7, 2010 1:10 PM EDT reply actions
are you saying.....
Its less douchey than other sites?
by CLF on Jul 7, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
douchey (isn't he that guy on fox news) lol
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
I agree
"Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind." - Pride Leader, Sean Yuille, wielder of the Ban Hammer.
2010 Wests Tigers : Current record - 7-5 : Current Position - 5th : Last game - Defeated the Canterbury Bulldogs 19 - 12
by Hyperion Ecta on Jul 7, 2010 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Very excited about the idea of the Old school FB returning
I think many teams would have issues with guys like felton comming out of a I or split formation. Simply because no one does it anymore.
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
Woo Hoo the 1-5-5 Defense is on the NFL Horizon
Or maybe the 0-0-11 we can call it the Clusterfuk if you see a team keep 22 DB’s on it’s 53 man roster you know it has arrived. LB’s are a dying breed LOL
Somewhere Dennis Green is drooling over this idea...
that or a porkchop.
"Pride of Detroit -Top 25 FanPost Commenter"- Winner.
by Slum Village Allstar on Jul 7, 2010 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions
The 1-5-5 is extremely effective in Madden
Pride of Detroit, for Lions fans | SB Nation Detroit, for Detroit-area sports fans
It truly is
I used to kill it with tiny little Sims as my DE. A above-average LB turns into a beast DE. I have started running a 3-4 with 1 DT, 2 LBs as DEs. I can see replacing one of the MLBs with a safety to make it a 1-5-5.
Man I need the NFL to start.
I use a 0-6-5 zone blitzing scheme...
It actually works.
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
sounds like rex ryan
he has that many DBs on his roster lol
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
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