A FullBack Can Help Your Passing Game
Over the past two years or so FirstDown PlayBook has enjoyed Last of the Fullbacks over on Twitter/X. This dude loves to “Run the damn ball”. As a coach who has years of Tight End and Offensive Line coaching under my belt, I can say I immensely enjoy his social media posts.
However; today I want to take a completely different angle on how to use a Fullback in your offense. In my opinion, adding a Fullback to your football scheme can help your passing game. Granted maybe in ways that the Fullback doesn’t even touch the ball.
Now before you scoff at the idea of a fullback helping your passing game, hear us out for a minute. When we say fullback pass plays, we don’t necessarily mean to the fullback. There are plenty of good throws that can be dialed up to the Fullback at the right time. However; today I have a different thought.
Most offensive coaches would rather throw the football against a defense playing with the middle of the field closed. The hard part for a spread offensive coordinator is how do you get that defense? One way is to effectively run the football and force the defense to get one more man down in the box.
In the old days that meant the defense would drop a safety down pre-snap to create an overloaded box. That can still be the case, but the norm these days is to get there by playing quarters coverage. Regardless, both of these defenses are middle of the field closed by any other name.
Just Having A Fullback Listed On Your Roster Can Change A DC’s Thinking
Normally, if you’re a spread offensive coordinator who likes to throw it, you’re about to get a strong dose of cover 2. This is especially true if your quarterback is not a great runner. You may even get 2 man unless you can muster up a decent run game with your backs.
In today’s football, a Fullback can affect the defensive gameplan by just being on the roster. No defensive coordinator wants to be caught light in the run box vs 21 personnel.
This is why FirstDown PlayBook believes a head high school coach would do themselves a huge favor by taking one of their linebackers or defensive linemen and cross training them as a fullback.
Before you scoff, if Travis Hunter can play two skill positions full time, one of your linebackers can play enough snaps to create concern on your opponents defense. Once you run the ball inside, even a little, you are going to see safeties down on the box pre-snap.
Once you get that single high safety that all passing game coordinators love, you can dial up some cover 1 or cover 3 beaters. If you are a spread offense, your wideouts and slot are still threats. Now you have seven man protection and a chance to push the ball down the field.