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Ford to play Fullback

srrono

srrono

All Pro
Houston will give Althoff grad Jason Ford a chance to play in NFL
BY STEVE KORTE

Former University of Illinois running back Jason Ford hopes a switch to fullback will lead to a career in the NFL.

Ford said he's agreed to terms on a contract as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans on Saturday night.

"Yes, I'm a Houston Texan," the Althoff High School graduate said.

Ford said he went into the draft process as both a running back and a fullback to increase his options.

"I went in as a running back and a fullback, and they've got a vacant spot at fullback," Ford said. "I come in as one of the only fullbacks they've got, so I have a chance to make their roster and get some playing time."

Ford played in 48 games during his career with the Illini. He rushed for 1,962 yards and 26 touchdowns (second most in Illinois history).

Ford had 155 carries for a career-high 600 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

Ford doesn't see the move to fullback as being a tough transition.

"Not at all," Ford said. "At Illinois, I did a little bit of both. In some packages, I go to fullback. I don't mind blocking at all, and I feel like I have pretty good hands coming out of the backfield."

Ford said he watched the 2012 NFL draft, but he wasn't upset about not hearing his name being called.

As undrafted free agent, he was able to pick the place where he wanted to play.

"I'm not really disappointed," Ford said. "Of course, you always want to get drafted, but in free agency you have the chance to put yourself in the best situation. I had other teams call seeing if I wanted to come there, but the best situation was in Houston. I'm just glad of where I am at right now. I have a great opportunity, and I want to take advantage of it.

http://www.bnd.com/2012/04/29/2158566/houston-will-give-ford-a-chance.html
 
yeah....if Dressen was still here.....Casey might be our fullback...but since Dressen left......Casey probaly takes his spot and Ford comes in and learns fullback.....of course that is just speculation.....
 
Doubt they ever leave themselves with just Casey at FB, the dude seems very situational and also its important that they have the option of using him at TE. I reckon whether its Ford or someone else, they definitely want a true FB on the roster as well as Casey.
 
Jason Ford 6' 1" 235
James Casey 6' 3" 243
Vonta Leach 6' 0" 260

Go squat and stout or don't bother with a FB. Or use Brooks.
 
If Jason gets his neck surgically fused to a fire hydrant it should add 20 lbs in steel, and the extra muscle he'll build up carrying it around will put him at 260.
 
I think it would give us a pretty interesting look at fullback, similar to what the Ravens did for a few years
 
I just think we can make a versatile playbook by including the fullback in tosses out of the backfield. I think back to how the 9ers used Rathman out of the backfield in the West Coast. I can't think of many teams that have really taken advantage of a versatile fullback.
 
Texaninlild said:
I just think we can make a versatile playbook by including the fullback in tosses out of the backfield. I think back to how the 9ers used Rathman out of the backfield in the West Coast. I can't think of many teams that have really taken advantage of a versatile fullback.
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I think that stuff has it's place, but I'd rather foster and Tate be the ones toting the rock. I'm not opposed to a wrinkle here or there though.
 
TimeKiller said:
Is this the wrong Jason Ford? 5'10'' 250 with much better combine numbers than what Leach put up coming out of college?

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=82640&draftyear=2012&genpos=RB

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=58944&draftyear=2004&genpos=FB
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I posted this in the "Undrafted" thread. Ford does not weigh 235 lbs.

Jason Ford (RB)
Pro Day: Ford weighed in at 251 pounds and ran a 4.70 40-yard dash but showed decent burst, posting a 4.43 in the 20-yard shuttle. His broad jump of 9-foot-5 is particularly strong for a back of his size.
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LINK

Click on the link above and see what he looks like in the flesh at Illi Pro Day which was held on March 6:
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
I posted this in the "Undrafted" thread. Ford does not weigh 235 lbs.

LINK

Click on the link above and see what he looks like in the flesh at Illi Pro Day which was held on March 6:
Click to expand...

Man, that cat is chiseled & ripped. Looks like he could clear a hole for Arian to me!
 
I saw huge potential for Ford to be a fullback. They run a fairly college style triple threat, with double fake gives and a lot of misdirection. Watch Ford's highlights, everytime he picks up an edge rusher they almost always end up on the ground. Dude is a very qualified blocker/fullback candidate.
 
TimeKiller said:
Is this the wrong Jason Ford? 5'10'' 250 with much better combine numbers than what Leach put up coming out of college?

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=82640&draftyear=2012&genpos=RB

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=58944&draftyear=2004&genpos=FB
Click to expand...

I got the wrong one. This is more interesting. 250 plus is what you want. The Texans addressed every area of need in the last couple days. Everything hinges on keeping the starting QB upright. Probably seen the last sneak done by Schaub.
 
just some photos of our new fullback..

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4f9cab0b5d57c.preview-620.jpg


dkopp%252520il%252520v%252520wi%252520fb%25252011%25252011.jpg



anyone know if he can catch...
 
I watched Ford alot when he played with the Illini, good player...will be a transition to him to switch to FB but I believe he could do it. He'll have the vision of a running back, he just needs to learn to blow up people and take on blocks around the line of scrimmage.
 
TEXANS84 said:
I watched Ford alot when he played with the Illini, good player...will be a transition to him to switch to FB but I believe he could do it. He'll have the vision of a running back, he just needs to learn to blow up people and take on blocks around the line of scrimmage.
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I really don't think it will. Watching his blocking versus run plays, he tends to absolutely level people as a blocker, but for some reason likes to avoid contact as a runner. I think he'll thump some people, time will tell though.
 
I couldn't help but notice the one fullback I wanted, Bradle Ewing went four picks before the Texans took Bullock in the 5th. It was one player missed who actually deflated me somewhat after that I didn't want the Texans to draft a FB.

Bradle was 5116 & weighed 239. Not sure about all these numbers floating around but my stats indicate Jason Ford is 5103 238. That's plenty stout, like a fireplug. Texans will work to develop his blocking skills, otherwise he is everything the Texans could hope for as a undrafted FB. Another excellent choice :)
 
I want our FB to block & clear the way. If he can occasionally catch a pass, gravy for the chicken!
 
If you have a player with versatility and talent with his hands, take advantage. Of course blowing up linebackers is what he has to do because no one carries the rock like Foster.
 
badboy said:
I want our FB to block & clear the way. If he can occasionally catch a pass, gravy for the chicken!
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I don't know if I would go that far. Yes, I want the FB's primary skill set/role to be a load as a lead blocker and elminate the first defender every snap; but when the FB can be a pass catching threat from the backfiled a handful of times a game it's just another wrinkle that the opposing D has to be aware of. Kubiak has shown a knack for when to call teh FB pass play too, sadly Vickers dropped his share of them.
 
lookin at fords measurables in 2008, he came into Illinois weighing 209, looks like he packed on a good 40 pounds of muscle since then.. kinda looks like ray rice tbh.. body, height, face and everything..
 
From an interview at his Pro Day:

Scout: What are the strengths of your game?

Ford: "Blocking, catching passes and being versatile. I can play some running back or West Coast fullback. That will help me out a lot. I can definitely do some different things."

Scout: Is there an NFL player you emulate?

Ford: "A lot of people say I remind them of Mike Tolbert of the Chargers. I can catch it out of the backfield. I've got a nose for the end zone."
Click to expand...
link
 
Hoth-Boy said:
I don't know if I would go that far. Yes, I want the FB's primary skill set/role to be a load as a lead blocker and elminate the first defender every snap; but when the FB can be a pass catching threat from the backfiled a handful of times a game it's just another wrinkle that the opposing D has to be aware of. Kubiak has shown a knack for when to call teh FB pass play too, sadly Vickers dropped his share of them.
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Agree here, I posted in a thread about Vickers vs. Casey where I said you won't make an NFL defender hesitate at the thought of taking a big hit of an FB, but you can make them hesitate if you plant a seed of doubt in their mind about your FB breaking out into a route and hurting them for a big gain uncovered.

That then helps out your rushing attack.

I think thats why Kubiak tried to get the ball to Vickers now and again even though he was terrible catching, he wants to have a Casey type and a true blocking type, but he doesn't want to tip his hand too much just by what personnel he's got on the field, he still relies on defenders having to account for a FB reception.
 
Hoth-Boy said:
I don't know if I would go that far. Yes, I want the FB's primary skill set/role to be a load as a lead blocker and elminate the first defender every snap; but when the FB can be a pass catching threat from the backfiled a handful of times a game it's just another wrinkle that the opposing D has to be aware of. Kubiak has shown a knack for when to call teh FB pass play too, sadly Vickers dropped his share of them.
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That's what I said. chuckle
 
If we get a good blocking FB that can also run and catch out of the UDFA pool, I'd be just totally ecstatic. I hope it happens.
 
He has a chance to make the roster if we don't sign a vet TE/FB. I think it'll come down to if Kubiak wants Casey at TE or FB, if FB, Logan Brock might be the man to make the roster, but TE, I expect Ford to be the man to make the roster.
 
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