Rashan Gary at fullback?

Submitted by OldDad67 on

On a lighter note  (i. e. notTennessee related) in the discussion below about the S.I. article on Rashan Gary, it was suggested that it would be interesting to see Gary at TE or FB. I'm not sure about TE, but I must admit that Gary at FB sounds tantalizing. (Think Sione Houma at 300 lbs.) 

As much as Harbaugh loves to use players at different positions, I can see him lining up Gary at FB, especially at MSU and OSU,  at the very least as a lead blocker or  (I know, I know Purdue - I was at that game) even a ball carrier. Thoughts? 

s1105615

February 17th, 2016 at 8:50 AM ^

Seriously though...think Refrigerator Perry...I would love to see Gary in the backfield for goal line or high value short yardage situations where a yard or two are critical to success for the game, not just the drive.

bacon

February 17th, 2016 at 8:56 AM ^

I'd love to see him get the ball on the goalline and see someone try to stop a Harbaugh offense with a guy that big carrying the ball. That's a heavy set. It probably won't happen. I'd also like to see a backfield of Jourdan Lewis at 5'10 176 at RB and 6'4" 325 lb Bryan Mone at FB, but mostly for the size disparity.

LSAClassOf2000

February 17th, 2016 at 9:19 AM ^

As a minor aside, the theory that I always held back in late 2014 was that no matter how many "CC" threads we had, no matter how far into the ranks of the NAIA we went to discuss coaches, the correct answer would have always been "Jim Harbaugh". Had we failed to get Jim Harbaugh, the CC threads would have continued despite the hiring of a new coach because people would - for the most part - refuse to accept a reality other than the one which involved Jim Harbaugh. 

The depression would have led to an elaborate alternate reality on this site, concocted from the rich football imaginations of the people who inhabit this virtual space. 

BornInAA

February 17th, 2016 at 9:46 AM ^

A DT is a demanding physical position. 

He won't be able to even play every down of DT, that's why they rotate them.

So playing both sides of the ball is not going to happen.

It's not like a corner that can basically be a non-factor in 75% of the plays that don't come to his side of the field.

Blau

February 17th, 2016 at 10:26 AM ^

I mean I'm all for sending our 1st year top recruit D Lineman to go run goal line packages but maybe we should let the kid we brought in to do that exact same thing do that thing.

nb

February 17th, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^

I thought Eddie Vanderdoes was quite good at UCLA doing this as a freshman. Also Henry Melton at UT.

That said, not all big athletic guys can do this. It is very hard to hit the hole hard as a FB. You have under two yards to get yourself moving with some dangerous authority. You can say d-linemen have 'get off' as a pass rusher, but as a FB you have to react and pick up your blocking assignment. A lot of d-linemen can't get that burst through the hole. At 6'5", he may get stopped before he gets going.

Don

February 17th, 2016 at 12:20 PM ^

Obviously it's on the DL.

Which means if he sustains an injury playing on the DL in college that hampers or ends his dream of playing DL in the NFL, it will really suck for him and for Michigan, but that's football.

However, if he sustains an injury at FB that hampers or ends his dream of playing DL in the NFL, everybody in the world will be screaming at the coaching staff for idiotically jeopardizing Gary's football future playing at a position he's not needed at or recruited for. Including me.

It'd be like putting a B-52 to work on a low-level strafing mission in mountainous terrain. You could probably try it, but when you've got a squadron of A-10s, why would you risk the larger aircraft?

DMack

February 17th, 2016 at 12:19 PM ^

I would be happy to see Gary become the greatest D Lineman to ever play at Michigan. That in and of itself is going to require a lot of work and dedication which I dont think affords him time to work at FB

I agree with others. lets teach him to be a Heisman winning D.L. who will be remembered as one of the greatest at Michigan and not some gimmick used for hype. He has a bright future at DL lets help him achieve his goals. 

Durham Blue

February 17th, 2016 at 12:47 PM ^

No thanks.  A FB runs straight into the line with helmet down.  Any 240lb + dude with good leg strength and 4.9/40 speed can do that.  Why cheapen the most highly sought after recruit in the country?  Gary needs to master the DL, nothing more.