Fullback (gridiron football)
A fullback (FB) is a position in the
Many great runners in the history of American football have been fullbacks, including Jim Brown, Marion Motley, Bronko Nagurski, Jim Taylor, Franco Harris, Larry Csonka, John Riggins, Christian Okoye, and Levi Jackson. However, many of these runners would retroactively be labeled as halfbacks, due to their position as the primary ball carrier; they were primarily listed as fullbacks due to their size and did not often perform the run blocking duties expected of modern fullbacks. Examples of players who have excelled at the hybrid running–blocking–pass catching role include Vonta Leach, Mike Alstott, William Henderson, Daryl Johnston, Kyle Juszczyk, John Kuhn, Le'Ron McClain, Lorenzo Neal, Marcel Reece, Larry Centers and Tom Rathman.
History
In the days before
Before the emergence of the
As the game evolved and alternate formations came in and went out of fashion, halfbacks (reduced to typically just one rather than two) emerged as the offensive backs most likely to run the ball. "Halfback" came to be synonymous with "running back". Formations began to favor placing the fullback—the back most entrusted with blocking for the running back—closer to the line of scrimmage than the running back. These blocking backs retained the name "fullback" even though they were closer to the offensive line than the halfback. The term "halfback" declined in usage, replaced variously with the more descriptive term "tailback" or the generic term "running back".
In the modern game, when the quarterback is under center, the fullback most often lines up directly behind the quarterback and in front of the halfback or tailback. The fullback position has seen a decline in recent time, with only 17 full-time fullbacks playing in 2016. The trend can be traced back to teams choosing to pass more, the use of "11 personnel" (one running back and one tight end), and the use of hybrid H-backs.[4]
Characteristics
Fullbacks are typically known less for speed and agility and more for muscularity and the ability to shed tackles. In 2010s NFL, fullbacks, while occasionally deployed as ball carriers, are often primarily a lead blocker to allow
, or backup running-back in the role.Prominent fullbacks in the NFL as of 2022 include C. J. Ham, Andy Janovich, Jamize Olawale, Reggie Gilliam, Patrick Ricard, Alec Ingold, Bruce Miller, Cullen Gillaspia, Anthony Sherman, Kyle Juszczyk, and Keith Smith. In spite of their usually infrequent carries, some fullbacks have led their teams in rushing – among the most notable ones were Le'Ron McClain who was the rushing leader for the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 and Tony Richardson who led the Kansas City Chiefs in rushing in 2000. In 2010, Peyton Hillis led the Cleveland Browns in rushing yards with 1,177 yards as a fullback before being converted into a halfback.
Blocking
Although technically running backs, typically fullbacks are primarily valued for their blocking in most 21st century offenses. The most common and simple runs—the dive and the blast—both employ the fullback as the primary blocker for the halfback. In the flexbone formation, however, the fullback (sometimes referred to as the B-back) can often be used as the primary rushing threat.
In many other offensive schemes, the fullback is used as a receiver, especially when the defense
Substitutes
Most teams in the
Canadian football
The fullback position is less frequently used in Canadian football, which focuses more on passing than running the ball.
References
- ISBN 1-59467-669-0.
- ^ E.g. Clarence Herschberger.
- ISBN 9780874134551.
- ^ Lee, Edward (27 December 2016). "In a league with fewer fullbacks, Ravens' Juszcyzk continually shows his worth". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
External links
- Media related to American football fullbacks at Wikimedia Commons