Question From what I understand a fullback is technically grouped under the "running back" category. So, in today's NFL, if a player is labeled simply as "running back" in the depth chart, is he usually expected to play the roles of all kinds of backs (like fullback and halfback,) or is he usually expected to play the role that a halfback plays?
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Followup To
Question -
This isn't a question about Miami Dolphins but about American football in general. I've read that American football teams use the hole assignments for planning running plays. Are the hole assignments being used for planning running plays in American football teams that don't have players specifically named "halfback," but that only have players known simply as "running backs" and "fullbacks?
Answer -
Hi Michael,
I am not sure I understood your question but I'll give it a try.
The term "halfback" is really just another name for a running back, it used to be a kind of running back. Now team have all kinds of running backs with diffrent sizes, some for passing downs, some for running downs. Some fulbacks can also play running back and the other way around. Former Buccanears FB Mike Alstot was used also as a running back. The Dolphins current 2nd overall pick in the draft RB Ronnie Brown can and did play FB in college as part of a "two half back formation". In half of the plays today the FB doesn't even play anyway but a WR or another TE plays for him.
In general, I wouldn't make a difference on what kind of "runner" the team uses and the kind of formations as far as assigments/planning is concerned, there realy is no difference between them (to take it to the extreme, can you really say a pulling guard is not like a FB ? not to mention the second TE, think about it if he goes backwards enough...).
Answer Hi Michael,
It's true that a FB is technically gouped under the "Running backs" but in today's NFL of greater specialities it's a different position as a FB is a much bigger back that specializes in blocking and catching passes out of the backfield.
A team usually won't risk their high priced RB for blocking for another back and in today's game he is also not suited to play FB (which earn considerable less money) . FBs are usually slower because they are intended for blocking assignments and don't have to run further than 10-15 yards past the line of scrimmage.
In the 70s the fulbacks did carry the ball much more than today (Dolphins hall of famer Larry Csonka was a FB). Today most teams use FB as strickly a blocker/catcher or for short yardage situations where size makes a difference.
RB do block and play on passing downs but you will hardly ever see a designed play that a RB blocks for another runner.
When a RB "can play FB" it means he is a big enough runner and he could line up at FB and catch passes, but you won't see a team's star RB block for another RB simply because he is big enough. The Dolphins 1st round pick RB Ronnie Brown is big enough to play FB and he did at college but believe me you won't see him in September blocking for another Dolphin runner, he will play RB. They aren't risking a 15 million signing bonus for a FB which in running plays is basically an offensive lineman that can run.
