Taylor to get reps at FB

[Porky]

Hmmmm. Okay, not so sure about that one. Discuss.

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by Porky

Hmmmm. Okay, not so sure about that one. Discuss.

The staff is trying to figure out how to keep 4 running backs on the 53 man roster- If Taylor can be the backup FB, then that problem is solved.

[Hervoyel]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

The staff is trying to figure out how to keep 4 running backs on the 53 man roster- If Taylor can be the backup FB, then that problem is solved.

And I'm betting that Darius Walker is out of a job regardless.

[nunusguy]

I dunno, just what if any are Taylor's qualifications to play FB except that he has relatively good size for a running back ?

[Señor Stan]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

I dunno, just what if any are Taylor's qualifications to play FB except that he has relatively good size for a running back ?

Qualification #1 - He is not Jameel Cook.

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by Hervoyel

And I'm betting that Darius Walker is out of a job regardless.

He's still P.S eligible. Though, it's likely that he'll be claimed off waivers.

Walker has a shot to make the team... if one of the other backs suffers a serious injury (not unlikely), then he would likely make the team.

[Porky]

Sorry, I just don't see Taylor as a FB. But, that's just me.

[mariokickssacks]

Taylor was beginning to get reps at FB last year before his injury. I couldn't find the direct quotes from kubiak, but I do remember him saying he liked Taylor's prospects at FB. He said he was coming along nicely in his blitz recognition, and has the size necessary for the position. He also has decent hands so he could be used in the passing game from the FB position. Of course, the injury derailed his progress, but the plan was to have him on the roster as a FB/HB hybrid last year, so this is nothing new. I hope he can make it as backup FB, because i'd really like to see what he could do should the need arise for him to get significant work.

[painekiller]

He would be an emergency FB only. If Leach was to get hurt the team then would be able to still use the complete playbook, not just a part of it. By the next game a real FB would be on board.

Assumption made: Leach is the only true FB, Cook gets cut due to a numbers game.

Also IIRC the Broncos usually run with a back that is both a FB and a RB, sometimes he is more of a FB, and sometimes he is more of a RB.

[GuerillaBlack]

Good. He can be a good FB for us and still play RB if we need him to.

[TexanSam]

I think I'd rather have Taylor at FB even though he is inexperienced over a Jameel Cook who has been unimpressive the last two seasons

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by painekiller

He would be an emergency FB only. If Leach was to get hurt the team then would be able to still use the complete playbook, not just a part of it. By the next game a real FB would be on board.

That makes sense.
And the previous poster indicated he thought Taylor was a descent receiver,
which of course is something Kubiak expects from his FBs.
But surely he's still got to have some abilitys as a blocker, both as lead for the tailback and in some passing situations ?

[pappy]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

The staff is trying to figure out how to keep 4 running backs on the 53 man roster- If Taylor can be the backup FB, then that problem is solved.

I expect if taylor is going to be a fullback he will be all that is needed ! That is my opinion because a back of any kind who is not a ball carrier is a dead weight . Besides if this team is running the zone blocking scheme then it is often a single back set with four wide outs or double tight ends . A fullback of vonta's sort is more suited to the power scheme .

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by pappy

Besides if this team is running the zone blocking scheme then it is often a single back set with four wide outs or double tight ends . A fullback of vonta's sort is more suited to the power scheme .

I can't think of many WCOs where FB wasn't an important position. Howard "The Human Plow" Griffith was used extensively during the Terrell Davis years in Denver. And while double tight end sets will be used, I doubt the Texans run much out of 4 wide sets.

I can see the Texans going with more double TEs if Duane Brown has problems picking up outside blitzes. And I could envision Joel Dreessen in a H-back role, where he lines up at FB and goes into motion to the weakside. But, I can't see Gibbs, Kubiak, and Shanahan turning the FB position into "dead weight".

[Maddict5]

Originally Posted by TexanSam

I think I'd rather have Taylor at FB even though he is inexperienced over a Jameel Cook who has been unimpressive the last two seasons

hes a good ST'er though... giving him a big edge over taylor and everybody else as backup fb

[Rex King]

Originally Posted by painekiller

He would be an emergency FB only. If Leach was to get hurt the team then would be able to still use the complete playbook, not just a part of it. By the next game a real FB would be on board.

Assumption made: Leach is the only true FB, Cook gets cut due to a numbers game.

Also IIRC the Broncos usually run with a back that is both a FB and a RB, sometimes he is more of a FB, and sometimes he is more of a RB.

I think that has to be kept in mind. Cook isn't your prototypical lead blocker either, but he was signed because they though he would fit the Denver style of offense. When they went to or were forced to emphasize the power game more, Leach was a far more effective option. Like the Jonathon Wells experiment before him, I wouldn't expect Taylor to lead block much. But I could see him occasionally lining up with Slaton in a two-back set, like McCallister and Mr. Kardashian.

Cutting Abbate was another indication to me they're only going to carry one "true" FB.

[ChampionTexan]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

The staff is trying to figure out how to keep 4 running backs on the 53 man roster- If Taylor can be the backup FB, then that problem is solved.

Ding Ding Ding - we have a winner!

[gary]

If the Texans were to cut Cook and I hope that they do but if Taylor or Leach gets hurt that only leaves them with one FB and Taylor has not been a FB where Cook has been. Doesn't it? Correct me if I'm wrong.

[pappy]

Originally Posted by Lucky

I can't think of many WCOs where FB wasn't an important position. Howard "The Human Plow" Griffith was used extensively during the Terrell Davis years in Denver. And while double tight end sets will be used, I doubt the Texans run much out of 4 wide sets.

I can see the Texans going with more double TEs if Duane Brown has problems picking up outside blitzes. And I could envision Joel Dreessen in a H-back role, where he lines up at FB and goes into motion to the weakside. But, I can't see Gibbs, Kubiak, and Shanahan turning the FB position into "dead weight".

So how many times did vonta carry the ball last year ? One maybe two carries ? If so then the other team is never going to play a fullback as a threat and that makes them useless as no back is simply going to follow a fullback today (and did not last year). A fullback to be useful needs to be a short yardage back something vonta has not been used for hence he is dead weight . that is and will stay my

[ObsiWan]

Originally Posted by pappy

So how many times did vonta carry the ball last year ? One maybe two carries ? If so then the other team is never going to play a fullback as a threat and that makes them useless as no back is simply going to follow a fullback today (and did not last year). A fullback to be useful needs to be a short yardage back something vonta has not been used for hence he is dead weight . that is and will stay my

You were right about his carries: two all last year (one for a TD). But he caught 25 passes (108 yds, 2 TDs).
So unless young Shanny changes the offense, our FB is used for blocking and a couple of swing/outlet passes each game. And I wouldn't mind seeing Taylor catching those just because Taylor has more speed. Leach always looked for someone to run over.