Current / Past fullbacks who would make good Running Backs / Ball carriers ?

[sprintstar]

curious at the 6:55 mark was that Julien Edelman he deked out? Oops it was at 6:48 and it wasnt Edelman Great great quickness and afterburner jets...

 

[El Gringo]

This is a must watch Alstott video. Its a shame he had to spend half of his playing time blocking for inferior tailbacks. His ability to cut at his size was unbelievable. If you compare his highlights to Jerome Bettis, who was picked over him in the same draft by the Steelers in my mind there’s no comparison. Jerome was a was a great back, but he also never had to take a snap at fullback and didn’t have Alstott’s agility. https://x.com/FullbackWatch/status/1836789835429798157

 

[Don Wassall]

No question Alstott could have led the NFL in rushing multiple times. He was better than John Riggins imo. Rob Konrad could have too but he wasn't allowed to run the ball at all, just block for Jimmy Johnson's Dolphins.

 

[El Gringo]

No question Alstott could have led the NFL in rushing multiple times. He was better than John Riggins imo. Rob Konrad could have too but he wasn't allowed to run the ball at all, just block for Jimmy Johnson's

Weird thing was that Konrad was bigger and faster than cowboys fullback Daryl Johnstone who was under utilized, but received far more carries and receptions than Konrad under Jimmy Johnson, and Norv Turner in Miami

 

[El Gringo]

This is a must watch Alstott video. Its a shame he had to spend half of his playing time blocking for inferior tailbacks. His ability to cut at his size was unbelievable. If you compare his highlights to Jerome Bettis, who was picked over him in the same draft by the Steelers in my mind there’s no comparison. Jerome was a was a great back, but he also never had to take a snap at fullback and didn’t have Alstott’s agility. https://x.com/FullbackWatch/status/1836789835429798157

It’s my opinion that if you put Jerome as a blocking fullback in front of Jon Witmam and Dan Kreider those two white men could’ve put up similar numbers to Jerome.

 

[Warhawk_46]

It’s my opinion that if you put Jerome as a blocking fullback in front of Jon Witmam and Dan Kreider those two white men could’ve put up similar numbers to Jerome.

Kreider was a powerhouse of a lead blocker. He would have been unstoppable as a runner. A human tank.

Alstott was one of the most talented runners I’ve ever seen.

 

[backrow]

No question Alstott could have led the NFL in rushing multiple times. He was better than John Riggins imo. Rob Konrad could have too but he wasn't allowed to run the ball at all, just block for Jimmy Johnson's Dolphins.

I'm a big fan of A-Train but he wasn't as fast as Riggins. Very elusive for a big guy but I don't know if he was better.

 

[Don Wassall]

I'm a big fan of A-Train but he wasn't as fast as Riggins. Very elusive for a big guy but I don't know if he was better.

Riggins was faster, at least early in his career, but then again I never heard of Riggo training by pushing a Jeep up hills. Alstott was probably the strongest running back ever and as you mentioned very elusive. If Alstott had played a generation earlier when Riggins was the last of the great White RBs before the Caste System was fully implemented, he'd have been better than Riggins, but of course it's always just unprovable opinion.

 

[sport historian]

Riggins was faster, at least early in his career, but then again I never heard of Riggo training by pushing a Jeep up hills. Alstott was probably the strongest running back ever and as you mentioned very elusive. If Alstott had played a generation earlier when Riggins was the last of the great White RBs before the Caste System was fully implemented, he'd have been better than Riggins, but of course it's always just unprovable opinion.

View attachment 4624

John Riggins, as we noted a long time ago, was among those White athletes of the early 70s who didn't always play with full intensity. Mike Alstott had the mental attitude Riggins didn't have for much of his career. But Alstott wasn't "allowed" to be a team's Number One ball carrier.

Riggins was on his way to a well over thousand yard season in 1972 when he had a knee injury. He held out in 1973 and did little that year, not much more in 1974, then gained a 1000 in 1975 while playing out his option.

Riggins signed with George Allen's Redskins in 1976. He signed for "more money" instead of a team which would have enabled him to gain big yardage and thus even "more money." The Redskins already had a good RB, Mike Thomas. George Allen made Riggins a blocking FB, too close to the line of scrimmage. In 1977 he injured his other knee. Also, George Allen's Redskins didn't have a good run-blocking OL.

When Jack Pardee became Redskin coach in 1978 he utilized Riggins and he had two thousand yard seasons. Then he held out the whole 1980 season. Finally in the 1982 playoffs, Riggins was able to shine, winning the MVP for Super Bowl XVII. And a few more good years.

 

[Don Wassall]

John Riggins, as we noted a long time ago, was among those White athletes of the early 70s who didn't always play with full intensity. Mike Alstott had the mental attitude Riggins didn't have for much of his career. But Alstott wasn't "allowed" to be a team's Number One ball carrier.

Riggins was on his way to a well over thousand yard season in 1972 when he had a knee injury. He held out in 1973 and did little that year, not much more in 1974, then gained a 1000 in 1975 while playing out his option.

Riggins signed with George Allen's Redskins in 1976. He signed for "more money" instead of a team which would have enabled him to gain big yardage and thus even "more money." The Redskins already had a good RB, Mike Thomas. George Allen made Riggins a blocking FB, too close to the line of scrimmage. In 1977 he injured his other knee. Also, George Allen's Redskins didn't have a good run-blocking OL.

When Jack Pardee became Redskin coach in 1978 he utilized Riggins and he had two thousand yard seasons. Then he held out the whole 1980 season. Finally in the 1982 playoffs, Riggins was able to shine, winning the MVP for Super Bowl XVII. And a few more good years.

Very good summary of Riggins. White athletes in the '70s could afford to be flakes and many were, partly because the times were "hey man, let's get high and do our own thing" flaky and they could get away with it. Now White athletes can't afford any slip-ups or non-conventional behavior that strays from the black-oriented zeitgeist in the league. Compare Riggins to Matt Jones -- finished in the league after being caught and jailed for drinking a beer while on probation -- for a great example of how much things have changed for Whitey.

 

[backrow]

Riggins was (allegedly) a party animal whereas Alstott was a VERY hard working guy. I definitely think Alstott would pull better numbers but in terms of raw talent I would think number 44 had the edge. I loved how Mike got his SB ring and even scored the first TD of the game back then.

 

[Phall]

Surely countless members of the NFL's "fullback" class.

I like this highlight from Ben "Bench" Mason's college film - he is currently wallowing amongst various practice squads in purgatory.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1320164628182097920

Mason also put three in against Nebraska in 2018

 

[Warhawk_46]

John Riggins, as we noted a long time ago, was among those White athletes of the early 70s who didn't always play with full intensity. Mike Alstott had the mental attitude Riggins didn't have for much of his career. But Alstott wasn't "allowed" to be a team's Number One ball carrier.

Riggins was on his way to a well over thousand yard season in 1972 when he had a knee injury. He held out in 1973 and did little that year, not much more in 1974, then gained a 1000 in 1975 while playing out his option.

Riggins signed with George Allen's Redskins in 1976. He signed for "more money" instead of a team which would have enabled him to gain big yardage and thus even "more money." The Redskins already had a good RB, Mike Thomas. George Allen made Riggins a blocking FB, too close to the line of scrimmage. In 1977 he injured his other knee. Also, George Allen's Redskins didn't have a good run-blocking OL.

When Jack Pardee became Redskin coach in 1978 he utilized Riggins and he had two thousand yard seasons. Then he held out the whole 1980 season. Finally in the 1982 playoffs, Riggins was able to shine, winning the MVP for Super Bowl XVII. And a few more good years.

He shot himself in the foot more often than not. Imagine if he was dedicated like Alstott? He essentially missed almost two years of playing time, spent time as a blocking back and in his early 30’s finally became the running back he should have been in his 20’s.