FB... should we finally get one?

Chad Diehl, Clemson projected as a 5th rounder or later, nothing but a blocking FB
Any other recommendations? Not sure if our "new" oc will utilize a FB or not, but a FB has been on my wish list for awhile.

 

Some of the best "all-around" fullbacks in the league are still not really all that dangerous with the ball. I'd personally rather have one that's a crushing blocker, than a "jack of all trades, master of none."

 

Yes.I would love the Steelers to get a bruising,crushing blocker.We need somone to help open up holes for our running game.

 

Completely agree. We had a jack of all trades named Carey Davis, and he helped us in exactly zero ways. We need a big, bruising blocker, and we need to not give a crap how well he can catch or run with the ball. We already don't give a crap about that with our current FB David Johnson, and he can't even lead block.

Yes, we need to get a fullback. I don't care where he comes from.

 

I do not see why we can not turn #38 into a fullback. The man is 6-1 250 ...He wants a spot on our roster....Learn how to block(which Im guessing he can already do)....Our FB is already on our team!!..And Id guess he could catch a ball..being a HB all through collage.Im guessing the conversation would go like this....

STEELERS PD..."John we want you to play FB. Your a big guy who can run and catch the ball having played tailback in collage.We will teach you your blocking assingments from the FB position.Are you interested in playing FB for THE STEELERS??

John Clay..."Ah yeah...DUH"

Our FB is already on our roster.No need to waist a draft choice for one.

 

C'mon, it may sound easy to be a lead blocker, but this is at the highest level in the world. You can't expect that moving Clay moving FB will automatically make him some great lead blocker.

If it were that easy Carey Davis and David Johnson would be blowing people over, because they had more size than Clay does.

 

I see no reason Clay can not be turned into a legitimate FB!!

 

"I do not see why we can not turn #38 into a fullback." I cringed when I read this, because it was someone uttering that sentence that got Dan Kreider kicked off the team and cut the knees off of our running game.

SBD is exactly right. Picking guys that aren't fullbacks to be fullbacks is exactly what got us into this mess. There is nothing wrong with Carey Davis or David Johnson's size or athletic ability for the job, and yet they both stunk/stink! It is a skill. You can't just ask any guy who runs a 4.4 to be a WR, can you? They even drafted Frank Summers (a running back in college, not a fullback) especially for the role, then just assumed he could do it, and then cut him.

I'm not saying Clay can't do it. But you say you see no reason to think he can't, and so you must know something about him personally that I don't. Because size alone doesn't make you a fullback, or else we wouldn't need one. See what he's got, sure, but don't expect anything.

If there's anyone who is on the roster who I'd look at, it's Redman. If he could take over for Johnson, then he and Mendenhall would both be in th game at the same time all the time. Redman could lead block or get the ball. Both would be a threat out of the backfield. The only real problem is who to put at FB when it's short yardage and you want Redman at RB. If they have a lineman they're comfortable with (Legursky wasn't terrible, I guess) maybe they could do that. I don't know if Redman has the chops to be a true fullback, but he's big enough, way more athletic than Johnson, a better receiver and far better with the ball in his hands, and he has better football instincts than DJ (who doesn't?). So I don't know if he'd be good enough because I haven't seen him do much lead blocking, but I'm positive he'd be better than Johnson.

 

I think there is also something intellectual involved in being that lead blocker as well. It isn't just slam in there and create a lane. You have to hit the hole and make the instant call on which guy to lay the block on and which guy your RB should be able to handle. Best instance I can give to illustrate this was during the Panthers game two years ago, BA's famous two TE set with Johnson motioning into the back field as the lead blocker and Miller tight on the line left. Ball is snapped with Johnson leading the way into the gap between the guard and tackle and runs into Miller who is running his pattern over the middle to seal the ILB. Johnson decides that Miller needs help with his block(he didn't) and fails to pick up the OLB who flows to the hole and stops Mendenhall for a minimal gain. If it had been a true FB in there they would be coached to know that their assignment is to seal the outside while Miller seals the inside and allow Mendenhall to work into the second level where he can make some moves on the safeties. A tight-end just doesn't have that mindset to know what guy to block. Can it be taught? Sure but I haven't seen anyone picking it up for the Steelers lately.

 

Yes, there is intellect and instincts involved. Half Johnson's problem is his blocking ability. He can't sustain blocks and rarely actually pushes someone out of the way. He usually just stalemates for a moment before letting the guy slip by. The other half is knowing who to block, and he messes that up constantly. He picks out a guy to block before the play, and doesn't change a thing after the snap, regardless of circumstances. Um, hey DJ, you wanna block that guy running full speed ahead right by you? We've all seen him whiff on Clay Matthews, who did not put any kind of move on him, in the Super Bowl, and we know where that got us. And you're right, it has happened many other times on the goal line and in other short yardage situations. Mendenhall and Redman have been this guy's victim long enough.

 

I dont see Mendy doing much for us next year. Injury came to late in season....As history notes it takes a minimum of 2 years to come back(fully) from a ACL injury.That being said I see no way Red becomes our FB, we need him as are lead RB next season......

So..Lets move Clay to FB..Red and Moore,Batch,Dwyer as our RBs...Thoughts....

 

I think it becomes entirely dependent on what moves have to be made in order to get under the cap. While I wouldn't mind giving Clay a shot at learning the position I would still like to see a real fullback on the team. I don't think they will have the money to sign a FA not at the position and I think using a draft pick could be a reach. So it maybe Redman, Batch, Dwyer with Clay at FB and Mendenhall on the PUP to start the season just because of the cap. I think Moore is done.

 

OK 58..I feel you... But Moore aint done....I see us cutting NO rbs...pre draft!!!!!

 

Love Moore, I really do, but it's him or Batch.

 

I say we draft a dedicated, experienced FB. We're talking 5-7th rounders here, most 5-7th rounders don't make the team, so if a position of need can be filled with a wasted draft pick, why not do it?

Bring him into camp and let him compete against Clay, and let's see who wins. I'm not talking about using a 1-4th pick on a FB, but rather a 5-7. Seems like a no brainer to me.

 

i like memo too, but i also like batch. they will work it out and batch will be cheaper. the one thing i'm concerned about is saunders. if we do get a FB, what will we do about the TE spot? someone will have to go at either RB or TE. we only have so many spots. if we swap out DJ for a FB, we can't run 2 TE sets until game 5. saunders is suspended. another guy that is going to limit us is mendy. will he be able to go that early in the year and be effective at all? again adding a FB takes a spot. we could actually start out two men down with the addition of a FB.

we either keep mendy and a FB and we are down to heath as the only TE or we keep 3 TE's , a FB and mendy and most likely two other RB's to start the season with.

 

Of all the fullbacks in this draft, there's only one that I really like, and I think he's a 6th rounder at best, maybe even undrafted...

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/ds ... &genpos=FB

 

Hey, that's the one in my original post. On paper he looks like about the only "true" fullback.

 

Would love to dedicate a roster spot to an hammerhead fullback. But no way no how would Clay make a good FB; he has a RB mentality.

 

Like this!!

 

No fbs are a thing of the past we need fast wrs and rbs that can catch the ball

 

SO SO Wrong...bsf please rid yourself of the BA offense We need a FB!!!!CASE CLOSED!!!!

 

a te that can block and receive would be better or a fullback that can do both things

 

Not that I hate DJ, as he has improved...but yes I would welcome a true FB back on the team. DJ can still be kept as a TE and I'm fine with that.

 

taylor gentry #47 nc st. born to be a steeler FB.