Expert: Eran - dolphinsinfo.com - 5/12/2005

Question
Let me go back a little bit to the running back questions.

The questions I'm about to ask are not concerning the Dolphins specifically but are concerning American football in general.

You wrote, "The FBs on the team do a specific role of blocking and RBs, though perfectly capable, stick to running."

1) You're talking about the NFL here, right?

2) If your answer is "yes" to number 1, then does it mean that fullbacks in the NFL usually block and usually don't carry the ball in running plays?

2) How about in college and university level American football?

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Followup To
Question -
Thank you for being so willing to help.  Well, since you don't mind the questions, can you explain why people were so angry about Texas getting to Rose Bowl?  Don't get me wrong, I wasn't happy either, cuz I'm a Cal alumni.  But then I looked at the BCS rules, and it seems like Texas had a more rightful claim to play the Rose Bowl, since they finished one rank above Cal.  So what was all the complaints about, like Aaron Rodger's?

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Followup To
Question -
Sorry that I keep asking for clarifications, but I want to clarify.  When you wrote, "So, while still grouped as RBs, FBs have a different position," you're talking about the NFL in general and not the Dolphins specifically, right?

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Followup To
Question -
Just to clarify: when you said, "RB do block and play on passing downs but you will hardly ever see a designed play that a RB blocks for another runner," you're referring RBs in American football in general and not just in the Dolphins, right?

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Followup To
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...).

I hope I helped

Eran
http://www.dolphinsinfo.com

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.

Eran
http://www.dolphinsinfo.com

Answer -
Hi Michael

Of course. You will often see that FBs are brought out all togehter in favor of an extra offensive lineman or TE in order to block a certain defender.
A RB technically can play the FB role (and it even looks the same in the formation, both are begind the QB and you can't really tell who is who until the play starts) but you will not see (and it doesn't matter if you watch every game of the 2005 season) a RB used as a blocker (meaning used as a FB) for another RB.
The FBs on the team do a specific role of blocking and RBs, though perfectly capable, stick to running.
Remember also that RBs make a lot of money while FBs usually make the league minimum and there are injury considerations also.

So, while still grouped as RBs, FBs have a different position. In today's NFL the emphasis is put on special role players, and FBs have become, in a sense role players.

Eran
http://www.dolphinsinfo.com

Answer -
Hi,
Yes of course, it's in all of pro football in general.
Feel free to ask as many questions as you like.

Eran
http://www.dolphinsinfo.com


Answer -
Hi
The rules of college football are beyond understanding, I still don't understand why the BCS ranking is necessary. Why can't college football have a normal playoff season ? Sure they will have to play three more games but so what ? they do it in the pros and between us half the games they do play end up with a 30 point differntial. There is a reason why every year a few teams go undefeated. I think that as long as the current system is in place someone will always feel like they deserved more, and some of them will probably be right even though not according to the system.
There is a lot riding on luck in football anyway, like the schedule teams get, the conferences and divisions they are in etc. In my opinion, some things you have to sort out in a regular one on one game like championship games (joint national chanpionship in 2003 ? couldn't they just play each other ?).

Eran
http://www.dolphinsinfo.com


Answer
Hi
1.Yes
2.Yes
3.Usually, college plays similar to the NFL, but lesser known universities sometimes play different and you can see FBs who not only block and catch but carry the ball as well. But again, most of the time they stick to blocking.

Eran
http://www.dolphinsinfo.com