New running backs coach Eric Studesville makes a point to Spencer Larsen during the first OTA on Monday. (PHOTO: MAXDENVER.COM)
It’s been a few years since the Broncos were one of the teams that most often used a fullback; the slot was gradually de-emphasized in Mike Shanahan’s final years as coach and was further marginalized last year. But the substantial work given to Spencer Larsen and tight end Marquez Branson at fullback Monday offered evidence that the position will have increased relevance to the team this year.
“We’re going to use a little bit more two-back sets,” McDaniels said. “We’re still going to be spread out and do some of the things that we’ve done before and we go through an evaluation every spring and come up with some new things. We watch some other teams that have been successful doing other things and we’ve liked some things and feel like we’ve got some personnel that can do some of them.”
The fluidity of the Weis/McDaniels/Patriots offense means that it is often hard to define the scheme in concrete terms — but that it offers ample strategic flexibility. You can run it without a fullback, or you can emphasize the fullback — as was the case in Carolina the last three years, where former New England assistant Jeff Davidson is the offensive coordinator. The Panthers relied on Brad Hoover, a converted tailback who provided the key blocks for many of the 4,601 yards gained by Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams the last two years.*
*(In spite of Hoover’s performance — and the discrepancy in the team’s performance with and without him last year (7-4 with him, 1-4 without), the Panthers cut Hoover; he was one of five players over the age of 30 cut within a four-day period. Hoover turns 34 during the season and battled back and ankle injuries in 2009. He remains unsigned but has said he wants to keep playing.)
Last week, we discussed the impact that Brian Wesbrook could have on the Broncos — and specifically, Knowshon Moreno — if Denver chose to sign him. A fullback’s presence could have an equally positive impact on Moreno; the success of the Panthers’ running game with its fullback-intensive philosophy offers evidence.
A FURTHER NOTE ON BRANSON: Using a tight end as a backup fullback was another tenet of how the Panthers used the position in their Patriots-influenced scheme; Carolina occasionally lined up tight ends Jeff King and Dante Rosario in the backfield the last two seasons. Branson was regarded as a candidate to be moved to fullback or H-back by draft pundits heading into last year’s draft; lining up in the backfield fits his skill set nicely, assuming he can make the transition.
NOTES: Racked by injuries, the first-team offensive line featured Dustin Fry at center, bracketed by guards Seth Olsen and Chris Kuper, right tackle Zane Beadles and left tackle Tyler Polumbus. Most of their day was spent in teaching drills. Rookie J.D. Walton also saw some first-team work at center … Four offensive linemen were out with injuries: Matt McChesney, Ryan Harris, Ryan Clady and Russ Hochstein … Rookie wideouts Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker remained sidelined with foot injuries; McDaniels said Thomas was closer to returning, but that the team would remain cautious with both, echoing the sentiments uttered at rookie orientation April 30 … Second-year cornerback Alphonso Smith worked as a first-team nickel back in seven-on-seven drills … Linebacker D.J. Williams and defensive tackle Jamal Williams were not on the field; they had excused absences, McDaniels said … Darrell Reid and J.J. Arrington were also sidelined with injuries … During the first seven-on-seven drill, Kyle Orton went 3-of-4, only missing on a deep pass up the right sideline to Eddie Royal, who’d burst past Champ Bailey into the open field. Brady Quinn went 1-for-4, but two of his incompletions were on long attempts that covered more than 50 yards. Tom Brandstater went 1-of-4 with an interception (Renaldo Hill) , while Tim Tebow went 3-of-3, completing one pass to Richard Quinn and two to Lance Ball. Both Brandstater and Brady Quinn fared better in a subsequent seven-on-seven period; Quinn in particular fired a perfect bullet to Brandon Lloyd across the middle.
Great stuff, all last season I was crying for more two back formations. Spencer was hurt for like the first half of the season, and MCD would never use Peyton Hillis. Then Larsen came off injury, and they used him a lot at FB against the Redskins, just watch the film, when they used a FB the running game was SO much better, I couldn’t believe McDaniels didn’t figure that out sooner. Then, after the ‘Skins game they got away from it a little again. The next game they used Spence as a FB a lot was against the Chiefs… we all remember what happened in that game! Watch the film on Moreno’s 20-yard TD, if not for Larsen, it never would have happened.
I’m excited they are [probably] going to use FB more this year, thanks for posting Andrew!
I agree about being excited at the prospect of having more plays with a fullback in. It seemed that we had the most success running last year when a FB was used.
I will admit, when I read some of the quotes yesterday about running more two back sets I thought about what a shame it was that Hillis is gone. I know some have said he wasn’t as good a blocker as Larsen, and that might be true, but he gave the Broncos the ability to run from the FB position, but more importantly would have given them a big time receiving weapon from the full back spot.
I wish Hillis all the best with the Browns
The afore-mentioned Brad Hoover noted that fullback can require a two-to-three-year learning curve to play decently in the NFL and an even lengthier time period to master. Le’Ron McClain is the exception to that rule, but when you look at the elite-level, Pro Bowl fullbacks of recent years, they’re names like Lorenzo Neal, Mack Strong and Tony Richardson — guys with double-digit years in the league at the time of their selections. Thinking out loud — I wonder if Hillis almost had too much asked of him in ’08 as a fill-in ballcarrier that he didn’t have time to learn the fullback slot as well as he might have wanted to, and then injury curtailed his season. Larsen, meanwhile, has operated in the shadows for the most part (except the ATL two-way start in ’08) and might have been in a better position to learn.
Don’t overlook pass protection, either. We all focus on the run blocking, but — just to use an example — when Hoover was hurt in Carolina last year, they put in Tony Fiammetta, a rookie with a decent pedigree (highest drafted FB in ’09), but who often got turned around and blown past in pass protect because he appeared slow to pick up the blitz. That’s just as important, and we probably won’t get a better idea on that with Larsen and Branson until contact cranks up during training camp and the preseason.
I admit to being a fullback advocate — and not just because some of the guys I’ve enjoyed talking to the most have played the position.
[...] fullback can pay large dividends in the Broncos’ scheme; in the Carolina Panthers’ version of the offense, run by ex-Patriots assistant Jeff [...]