Who’s Got It Better Than Jim Harbaugh’s Fullbacks?

Submitted by UMProud on

Michigan’s football coach has an odd fascination with the game’s least interesting position

"Harbaugh was infatuated with fullbacks long before he shook up college football by returning to his alma mater last season. Harbaugh’s first head-coaching position—before Michigan, before the San Francisco 49ers and before Stanford—was at the University of San Diego in 2004. One of the first things Harbaugh did after taking the job was to seek out legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler for some advice. Schembechler gave him an idea that turned out to be indispensable: He told him to find a good fullback.

Harbaugh took the advice quite literally. He has found good fullbacks everywhere and has used them in every way possible.

The result is a position room that could be the most fascinating collection of players in the country. Henry Poggi, for example, came to Ann Arbor as a four-star defensive tackle. Harbaugh thought he would be more valuable on offense. Now he may be the starting fullback for a darkhorse College Football Playoff contender.

“It’s like a sixth sense,” Poggi said. “He knows what guys are going to be best at what positions.”"

Source:  Max Cohen, WSJ, 8/30/2016

http://www.wsj.com/articles/whos-got-it-better-than-jim-harbaughs-fullbacks-1472591215

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dragonchild

August 31st, 2016 at 9:30 AM ^

To football fans with the mentality of kids who think concerts are for watching pretty people dance, sure.

My understanding of football itself drastically improved just trying to understand fullback play.  It seems everyone's trying to get rid of the position, but a good fullback adds a dimension to offenses that will confound defenders who aren't students of the game.  When Stanford obliterated VT in the Orange Bowl, at one point the safeties keyed on Owen Marecic since he so reliably indicated where the hole was going to open up.  The RB cut back on an iso for fifty yards.

To be fair, WSJ is writing to those casual fans who think a "skill" position is a 6'3" wide receiver with rocket boots.  Not to say it isn't, but "interesting" is in the eye of the beholder here.

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atticusb

August 31st, 2016 at 9:47 AM ^

I think Harbaugh's fullbacks are just one of the "blocky-catchy" types that are his prototypical "football player".  I mean, what's a "fullback" to Harbaugh? Just another of the big, strong, agile, quick, good hands and aggressive mindset guys (dudes?) that Harbaugh wants on his team.  Sure, he needs burners, and man-mountain OL/DT types, and kickers, and long snappers, too, but he loves putting defense on their heels with these blocky-catchy types!

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DonAZ

August 31st, 2016 at 9:54 AM ^

As I recall Harbaugh relating it in some interview once:

Schembechler: "You gonna have a fullback, Jimmy?"

Harbaugh: "Yeah, coach ... I'm going to have a fullback."

Schembechler: "And tight ends?"

Harbaugh: "Yeah coach ... I'm going to have tight ends too."

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SeattleChris

August 31st, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^

Takes the most marbles - ISO and power blocking of DE and LB

Takes great hands - screens, wheel routes, outs and stab routes

Need to be an RB that runs w/out a lead blocker - trap, counter and dive

Needs to understand pass pro and blocking assignments like a center - fronts, coverages and blitz packages

THEY DESERVE SCHOLARSHIPS BRIAN!!!!

 

 

 

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Hornsgoblue (not verified)

August 31st, 2016 at 8:42 PM ^

I would say the Tight Ends have it as good or better. Will all of the wide open offenses and large number of catches by WRs some coaches sometimes forget about the TEs. Not Harbaugh. He looooves using the TEs to full effect.

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