Joe Bergeron Gives 'Horns Option At Fullback
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 26, 2010 1:39 PM CST
in Texas Longhorns Recruiting
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PrintInstant analysis -- In some ways, the commitment of Joe Bergeron is about much more than acquiring the services of a true fullback. It's about luring running backs like powerful Malcolm Brown and shifty Aaron Green, who has repeatedly stated that he wants to play in a "pro-style offense." It's hard to tell exactly what that means, but it's safe to say that it probably includes a lead blocker and a head start from seven yards deep instead of next to the quarterback.
The proliferation of spread offenses has almost removed the fullback from the high school game in Texas, making Bergeron a rare find. A lifelong Texas fan, Bergeron was considered a Texas lock throughout the process and became one of the first commitments on the morning of the first Junior Day. Like many other prospects who are locks throughout the process, Bergeron isn't a sexy take in a class with limited numbers, but he will be a crucial part of Longhorn success on the ground in the coming years.
Instant scouting report -- It's been some time since the Longhorns have had a legitimate fullback. Former Marine Ahmard Hall was the last and the Longhorns didn't use a fullback often in the 2005 season. The last fullback to play extensively was Cedric Benson's personal lead blocker, Will Matthews, in 2004. As the Longhorns attempt to resurrect the running game, Bergeron will be a major part of the effort as a fullback, H-back, and possible short-yardage specialist.
At around six feet tall and 230 pounds, Bergeron has remarkable feet for a large back and quickness similar to Cody Johnson. Watching him run, it's hard to believe that he is a 230-pound running back because he moves like someone much lighter. Timed at 4.6 in the 40 at the NUC ($) before his junior season, Bergeron drew interest from power-running teams like Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Michigan State and will be able to play a variety of positions and even split out as a receiver to take advantage of his solid speed and soft hands. Described as a solid blocker by his head coach ($), it would be interesting to see some film on Bergeron as a blocker because his highlight film does not include any tape of him as a lead blocker.
He's also incredibly strong, reporting a max bench press of 375 pounds and a squat of 560 pounds. After dropping some weight during the last year, Bergeron has a college-ready body and could contribute during his freshman season, though having a player like Barrett Matthews in front of him on the depth chart could keep him from playing right away.
Overall, versatility is the name of the game for Bergeron and he provides with the capability to play numerous positions at a high level.
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Can someone give a quick synopsis of the h-back position?
All I can gather is that it’s somewhere between a fullback and a halfback. But even the wikipedia entry doesn’t help me much.
How do we see an h-back being utilized for Texas (beyond an obvious change in some of our schemes)?
It is a cross between tight end and fullback
except instead of lining up on the line of scrimmage like a tight end or right in front of the tailback like a fullback, the H-back will often line up behind a tackle. It’s a position that has gained popularity in spread offenses because it’s hard to find pure tight ends and because all the spread passing teams began to realize that they couldn’t run the ball with four wide receivers.
H-backs are now a major part of spread attacks like those employed by Urban Meyer (think the shovel pass option everyone loves now), Gus Malzahn, and Rich Rodriguez. Basically, an H-back can be a lead blocker in the hole or easily go out for a pass pattern.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 26, 2010 1:51 PM CST up reply actions
Dave Thomas was an H-Back
When he was at Texas, and has lined up that way sometimes this year with the Saints.
I think of PP as a slot back that blocked well
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.
Piggy Backing off of GoBR
Think of Aaron Hernandez (Florida), Chris Cooley (Redskins), and Dallas Clark (Colts). While Clark spends more time split out he often lines up as a wing (next to tackle, off the LOS) and then is put in motion to be used as a lead blocker. I’m personally a huge proponent of the H-back. It adds a dimension of versatility that can give defenses fits.
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
Question from a schematic standpoint
Does the H-back offer better run blocking options than a flex TE/equestrian casanova? It would seem to, but that’s just my intuition based on the geometry.
proud to swim home
by learned hand on Feb 26, 2010 3:15 PM CST up reply actions
It depends on the running play
and the ideology of the OC. IMHO as a former lineman, I always thought blocking in tight quarters was much easier than blocking in open space because it limits where the defender can go thus making your aiming and striking point much bigger and increasing your chances of locking on.
For instance, with a TE flexed out he is either going to have a safety or LB on him. If they were running a stretch play to his side his job would be to gain either inside or outside leverage on the defender and let the RB cut off of him. What makes this difficult is that with the increased amount of space you either have to deal with the quickness the safety presents and lock on quick, which is difficult, or deal with more bulk and strength from the LB in trying to seal him off.
If I were using an H-back in this formation, I would motion him across the formation in to a wing on the other side and run the stretch that way. This gives the H-back outside leverage on the OLB to begin with and lets you keep your play outside, which is where you want to be. In the perfect world where everyone else is blocked this is where you have your one on one with the RB and safety which I will take everytime as tackling in open space is no easy task.
I said all that to say this, unless that flex TE is coming in to crack block everytime on a LB I don’t think there blocking on the perimeter is the preferred way to go about it because there will still be a force player to replace them. I am a huge fan of blocking from the H-back position.
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
Sounds like Mack is of the same opinion
He mentioned during the press conference that they would use the H-back as a player “who motions back and forth like you see in the NFL”. I’m pumped about this, I’ve wanted to see this for a while.
Barrett Matthews, Dominique Jones, Cody Johnson, Chris Whaley, probably Adam Shead and now Joe Bergeron. There will certainly be no shortage of H-backs on the depth chart, albeit some of them cross-trained. Looks like Mack is really sold on the concept.
You can use the same concept with the fullback in motion out of the I, no?
"If worms carried pistols, birds wouldn't eat 'em"- Darrell Royal
by SpiritOfTheFedora on Feb 26, 2010 4:17 PM CST up reply actions
Absolutely
The main difference you see between a true FB and an H back lies in the versatility of that player. There are not too many true FB’s that you can motion out into the flex. However, with an H-back, you can motion him into the I and use him as a lead blocker. This is where the advantage of using one comes in. Defense coordinators will usually call their defense based off of personnel, who is coming on and off the field. With the H-back, you can keep the same people on the field and run a variety of formations, motions and plays.
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
I remember Christenson
using H-backs extensively in his offense when he was at Missouri. He’s now HC at Wyoming. I don’t remember enough of the Wyoming game to recall whether the offense in that game looked the same. Obviously he’s working with more limited personnel at Wyoming than he was at Mizzou.
Thanks
This is a welcome wrinkle. Perhaps an indication UT will have more than 3 running plays?
proud to swim home
by learned hand on Feb 27, 2010 11:59 AM CST up reply actions
Maybe in terms of having good feet for his size
But I think Bergeron is a much more instinctive runner and will be able to stick at the position. He’s also quite a bit shorter and has a more prototypical build for a running back/fullback.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 26, 2010 1:59 PM CST up reply actions
Seems like Whaley is more like Melton
Of course, I think I recall Will Matthews as about the same size as Whaley.
I have beat wholesale ass for a whole lot less.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 26, 2010 4:43 PM CST up reply actions
Not quite as fast
but bigger. As a receiver, the comparison is probably reasonably valid. Bergeron will be a much better blocker than OG.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 26, 2010 1:58 PM CST up reply actions
I welcome the idea of a true fullback
When I was young, it was common to see a fullback/running back combo. It always seemed to provide a number of options (like a true option play) in the rushing game. I am not much of an Xs and Os guy – why has this fallen out of favor in recent decades?
Right on! (Right on the bubble, that is.)
Just because of wanting to spread the field more
Teams that run the true I-formation have only two receivers on the field and most of the defense in the box. That strategy just doesn’t take advantage of all the space on the field and forces everything to happen in close quarters, while also putting a premium on offensive linemen winning one-on-one blocks at the line of scrimmage.
Teams with less talent started to look to spread the field to help minimize the disadvantage that they had in talent. Think teams like Purdue about 10 years ago and the rise of the Airraid offense. Tech has never had a great deal of talent in the receiving corps, but began to stretch teams vertically and horizontally to gain an advantage and became incredibly hard to stop.
In high school football, the rise of 7-on-7 in the summer began to give quarterbacks and receivers many more game-like repetitions throwing the football.
I think another factor is that it’s hard to find true tight ends who can not only block but also stretch the field vertically up the seam and to counter that teams started using as many small, fast players as they could find because 5-9 guys who are fast are much easier to find than guys who are 6-5, 260 pounds and can run.
In many ways, I think the spread opened up football for much smaller players. Wide receivers in I-formation offenses that wanted to throw the deep ball tended to be much larger and the slot receiver wasn’t even used particularly often because there weren’t a ton of three-wide sets.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 26, 2010 2:06 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks for the reply
So if a team (say, Texas) was able to recruit the larger players with the particular skills, could the traditional fullback/running back set not take advantage of smaller defenses used to covering the smaller spread attacks?
Right on! (Right on the bubble, that is.)
There's some speculation
that there could be trending back in that direction to take advantage of spread-oriented defenses, but I think most teams will still have so much trouble finding athletes in the secondary and linebackers who can both take on blockers and range from sideline to sideline that there won’t be a seismic change back towards I-formation teams. I think spread teams with H-backs are here to stay for some time, but I think I believe that partly because I don’t care for the pure I-formation with only two receivers on the field. We shall see.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 26, 2010 2:57 PM CST up reply actions
Single back
I really hate the so-called “empty” backfield, so third downs need to be one-back sets. And a good fullback is just what you want there — someone who can block well, catch outlet passes, and still be a threat to run. Larry Centers of the St.Louis Cards is the prototype.
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.
defenses
It will be interesting to watch. The Big 12 has recruited their defenses to stop the spread. What happens if a team like Texas or Turbev. at Tech (I know he says he will keep it wide open but…) does commit to a H-back/fullback offense? Look what Standford did last year in a wide open conference with their run and passing game. They had an exceptional back but I get the feeling Harbaugh was committed to that offense with or without Gerhart.
What's the deal with Kenny Williams?
Does anyone know if Kenny Williams from Hendrickson is on The Longhorn radar? I think in four or five years we will be talking about Kenny WIlliams as one of the top three backs in this crop of Texas running backs. Will UT offer him a scholarship?
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