Massive blocking fullback not new to Shula

[philw5289]

Would be cool if we still had Tyler gaffney. Stanford backfield

[Guest Barry McCaulkinor]

Well in fairness the ony thing new to Shula would be scoring points. 

[Mr. Scot]

he won't be a replacement for tolbert. he'd be a replacement for brockel. he won't do what tolbert does as a ball carrier and receiver, but as a blocker he'd likely be much more effective. tolbert is as someone above said, a short yardage specialist. this guy is a real FB in the sense that he's a blocker. i think he very well could be more effective than tolbert in that regard.

personally i would like to see both tolbert and this guy on the field at the same time and it's quite a likely that a guy playing in that capacity as a blocking FB could be a day one contributor much like a long snapper or kicker would be. his skillset isn't highly sought out by most teams which is why we were able to pick him up as a udfa. but, his skillset could be something that we want to add to make the run game more effective.

You're talking about a 'heavy jumbo' type of package for use in appropriate situations.

I like the idea.

[CatMan72]

Love how Ward finishes blocks... it's a lost art.

[Darth Biscuit]

Whoa, that guy is a beast.  

[PntherPryd]

anyone else watch that video and wonder how he did not get drafted?

 

pure blocker, tremendous effort and motor.

 

poor combine or forgotten position?

[Nick_81]

anyone else watch that video and wonder how he did not get drafted?

 

pure blocker, tremendous effort and motor.

 

poor combine or forgotten position?

I only watched the first two minutes, and saw nothing but pancakes... impressive.

[Bartin]

anyone else watch that video and wonder how he did not get drafted?

 

pure blocker, tremendous effort and motor.

 

poor combine or forgotten position?

 

Forgotten position. As a FB you have to be able to run the ball effectively and catch the ball out of the backfield to even have a chance at being drafted. Ward never got a chance to either in college. He had 1 rush attempt and 4 receptions in his 4 year career. I'd bet the entirety of his tryout was seeing if he could catch the ball.

[magnus]

kid's gotta watch where he puts his hands.  He has good technique but he gets his hands up high, and there are some plays in there where he's taking a guy down and has his hands outside.  Which, in college, kids get ragdolled sometimes.  In the NFL you don't see that, so it raises some flags.  A blocker that gets called for holding has less value. 

 

Other than that, he gets pop in the run game.  He pass blocks square.  He plays solid special teams, he comes from a pro style power system.  It's a good fit.

[MichaelNewtonII]

fug shula

[csx]

I never thought I would see the day that I disagree with Mr. Scot. Hoover did what he was called on to do. He blocked very well, in my opinion. I'm sorry Mr. Scot, please don't hate me. Please don't seek the parrott on me. They hurt.

Hoover was decent but not a great blocker.

[csx]

To have two FB's on the field, though? He has to be an incredible full back to make that happen. I much rather have a 3 WR set. If this other guy goes in the game, its obvious we are running. He is very single dimensional. That gives away a lot of information. That is only going to hurt your run game. I rather have Ginn on the field, so they can't stack the box, and still have the flexibility to throw a bomb, or pass. Maybe goal line this guy will contribute.... But outside of that, no.

Tolbert is a FB in name only. He's obviously more of a running back we have asked yo become a hybrid.

This guy would be a replacement for our other FB if he proves to be a better option. He could also be a Tolbert replacement at some point.

Where are you getting this 2 FB at once thing?

[KendrickPanther]

I was banging this drum last year. If you run an archaic offense you need the the focal point of that archaic offense. We have pass catching Tight Ends and Tolbert is a ball carrying Fullback. Our offense could use a mobile blocker, especially when Williams and Norwell are considered to be plodders. The 49ers would use one quite a bit under Harbaugh. 

[Jeremy Igo]

Hoover was a great Swiss army knife. Good at everything, but wasn't great at anything. High motor and work ethic made up for it.