Fullback injuries

[nosuchthingasapanther]

the only time a fullback has been an absolute necessity in the past has been in the redzone...

...and even this season, that has proven to not be the case since both backs have had to improvise at times to get into the endzone

[Native93]

Hoover is key to our running game being successful.

You can say that again.. Not enough people do.

I hope he can play the Saints.

[Native93]

Why don't we just throw in another receiver or tight end and run plays without a fullback. We did in the Arizona game after hoov and fiammeta went out and it worked well enough

Well enough to keep the lead, but not well enough to take a lead.

It could, if Fox and Co. bang out some new plays for such a scenario.

But our teams built to run the gut behind Hoov.

If Brad doesn't play and we lose badly, I'm sure it will be because we tried to play the same game without him.

[52!]

Rosario can't block worth of poo.

[rainwater]

The only game Hoover missed, the Panthers couldn't run the ball effectively at all. When Hoover went out against the Cardinals, the running game slowed down as well. This does not bode well for Hoover being out for a while.

[Rononoa3000]

Put Moose at FB, he can block pretty good.

How good is Barnidge at blocking?

[House]

Probably won't happen because there is just not enough time in the course of one week to implement it but I would like to see Carolina run more out of 3 WR sets. With Smith, Moose, and Jarrett we have some good blocking WR's.

I know that Oregon loved to run with 3 WR's when Stewart was there. With the ability of our RB's it would work to our advantage becuase it is going to force the D to do one of three things.

Take a man out of the box to cover the 3rd WR, leaving 6 with 2 safety help over top.

Bring a safety down and leave 7 in the box but only one safety up top it leaves all 3 WR singled up.

Or they would have to play a true nickel which would leave only 6 in the box 2 deep and DB's manned or zoned. Either way I think it would be effective for our team. Teams have been having trouble stoping us with 8 in the box. It would be an effective way to spread the field and negate the loss of a FB.

[Brooklyn Bully]

It's not panic mode that our two FBs are out, but it's certainly troubling. Here's a VERY far-fetched impossible idea though...

Last season, LeRon McClain and McGahee were the RBs in Baltimore while Ray Rice was still learning. McClain was actually outplaying McGahee. The all the sudden, their FB went down and McClain stepped up to fill in. Now he is their FB full-time, if I'm not mistaken.

Hoover is 245 pounds. J-Stew is 235. Why not, on a play or two, have Stewie blast through the line (cue Chris Berman's sfx) and have D-Lo follow?

Crazy, I know. But I'd rather Stewart make a hole than King, Barnidge, or Rosario.

[rainwater]

Crazy, I know. But I'd rather Stewart make a hole than King, Barnidge, or Rosario.

That's good except all of those players spend their time learning how to block except Stewart. Stewart has never done that in college or the NFL and could be seriously injured. I'd rather let a TE that knows the basic blocking schemes do the job instead of Stewart who doesn't have the technique to even try it.

[Delhommey]

Probably won't happen because there is just not enough time in the course of one week to implement it but I would like to see Carolina run more out of 3 WR sets. With Smith, Moose, and Jarrett we have some good blocking WR's.

I know that Oregon loved to run with 3 WR's when Stewart was there. With the ability of our RB's it would work to our advantage becuase it is going to force the D to do one of three things.

Take a man out of the box to cover the 3rd WR, leaving 6 with 2 safety help over top.

Bring a safety down and leave 7 in the box but only one safety up top it leaves all 3 WR singled up.

Or they would have to play a true nickel which would leave only 6 in the box 2 deep and DB's manned or zoned. Either way I think it would be effective for our team. Teams have been having trouble stoping us with 8 in the box. It would be an effective way to spread the field and negate the loss of a FB.

Know what OC used to luuuuuv running out if 3 receiver sets?...

[Hairless Cat]

We have any smallish quick o-line men or someone on special teams we could use or is that a dumb question?

Just dont want to see any more of our TE's get busted up -

[scpanther22]

High ankle sprains can keep guys out from two to three weeks to much longer, depending on their severity. Running back DeAngelo Williams missed a month with the same thing in 2006 (three games and the bye week). The injury occurs when the ligaments that hold the lower leg bones together are stretched, as opposed to some of the simple rolls that are classified ankle sprains.

http://www.heraldonline.com/247/story/1723787.html

[Snake]

i forsee lots of single back sets versus the saints

No way around that if you dont even have a FB on the roster. IDK maybe we can use a LB. Got plenty of them.

[rayzor]

lorenzo neal is available.