Am I the only one...

[PantherBrew]

Who is extremely concerned about possibly losing Brad Hoover for a long period of time?

He is just as valuable to our run game as any starting offensive lineman.

We need him against the Saints.

[neverlosethefeeling]

I sure hope he's available. You're absolutely correct about how much he means to this offense. Sometimes he gets lost in the shadows of Williams and Stewart, but he's been great for us.

Here's to hoping he can get healthy quick.

[Brooklyn Bully]

He really is our MVP. 75% of the time, D-Lo and J-Stew simply follow him before the break out. It's almost as if he's running a route himself rather than becoming a battering ram. Fiametta is nowhere near his talent level and as we've seen, the run game suffers when Hoov ain't in there. But...Hoover isn't getting any younger. Hopefully he can train Fiametta properly.

[ChucktownK]

Yeah since Fiametta has so little playing time. As long as we have TF there, I think we should play up to his skills. Wasn't he pretty versatile at Syracuse? Teams won't be expecting him for checkdowns and what not.

http://suathletics.com/news/2009/4/26/FB_0426094727.aspx

"Fiammetta played in 44 games at Syracuse, as a fullback and on special teams. In 2008, he was a receiving threat out of the backfield and is the third-leading receiver (16 receptions for 127 yards). In his four years at Syracuse, Fiammetta had 16 carries for 89 yards, including a career-long 58-yard run at Cincinnati in his final game for the Orange, and 28 receptions for 202 yards and one touchdown."

[Brooklyn Bully]

Yeah since Fiametta has so little playing time. As long as we have TF there, I think we should play up to his skills. Wasn't he pretty versatile at Syracuse? Teams won't be expecting him for checkdowns and what not.

http://suathletics.com/news/2009/4/26/FB_0426094727.aspx

"Fiammetta played in 44 games at Syracuse, as a fullback and on special teams. In 2008, he was a receiving threat out of the backfield and is the third-leading receiver (16 receptions for 127 yards). In his four years at Syracuse, Fiammetta had 16 carries for 89 yards, including a career-long 58-yard run at Cincinnati in his final game for the Orange, and 28 receptions for 202 yards and one touchdown."

I know he's a rookie but he's dropped two important passes this year already. I know he has to get groomed for his eventual take-over as starter but he scares me right now.

[Sword]

hoov's xrays were negative so at the very least we dodged the season ender bullet..i'm sure fox will say he is day-day

[capfolly]

This could be his last year. His back has been a problem for a while and it really doesn't seem to be getting better. You can't mess with back issues.

[Udogg]

Nope your not the only one concerned.

[weyco2000]

I hate to see injuries, but we ran the ball well with one back sets.

[Mr. Scot]

Definitely not the only one.

[Urrymonster]

Anyone else concerned that Fiammetta was also out due to a concussion? I appreciate he is no where in Hoover's league, but that leaves us with a gapping whole at FB if neither clears up. For a power running team that is kinda important...

[pantherdad]

If hoover can't go against the saints, and being that fiametta suffered a concussion(which means he probably can't play for a few weeks) who in the hell is gonna play fullback? we joked around last night that stewart could play the fullback position for a couple weeks.....imagine the blocks he would get! but we know that won't happen.

[pantherdad]

Anyone else concerned that Fiammetta was also out due to a concussion? I appreciate he is no where in Hoover's league, but that leaves us with a gapping whole at FB if neither clears up. For a power running team that is kinda important...

you beat me to it....sorry.

[PantherBrew]

This maybe extremely premature, but maybe we need to look into signing a veteran free agent fullback for a week or so rental, til we know when hoov can go.