More from Richt on the deployment of Bruce Figgins this season:
“When you have a fullback that can play that position legitimately and tight end legitimately, it gives you some diversity when he’s in the game.” Richt said. “What it does is defenses, they like to know who’s in the game. By personnel, they want to know what’s going on, and if you have guys who can be more than one thing then when that personnel group is in the game, they’re not sure exactly how you’re going to line up, what it’s going to entail. It gives them less of a clue.”
Judging from this quote from Arthur Lynch, it may be that there’s more than lip service being paid to the idea.
… Lynch said the thought crossed his mind to ask to take on an H-back/fullback role like Figgins.
“I think that’s where offense is kind of going right now, that hybrid kind of thing,” Lynch said. “I think that was great for Bruce. He had a great spring last year and expected more and now he’s excited about his role. He obviously did a good job in bowl practice and some games during the year when he did play.”
When I first heard the news about the move, my reaction was that Figgins was being Tripped by the coaches, who really didn’t have a place for him in the offense. But now I’m starting to think they’ve backed into something which may pay a few dividends this season. We’ll see.
Get The Picture 
As Public Enemy would say, “Don’t believe the hype … Boyyyyy”
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Agreed.
CMR & CMB’s inability to make use of this position of plenty is beyond frustrating.
Donnan probably tears up a bit at the site of so much under used talent at TE.
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The mention of Donnan brings back memories of McMichael against Tech. He couldn’t be covered.
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Of course UT couldn’t cover him with Richt calling the shots in ’01 either, so I wouldn’t say CMR hates throwing to TEs.
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Cautiously optimistic.
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Tripped – new Lexicon entry?
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Actually, it’s an old one. 😉
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D’oh!
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Having a 272lb fullback coming at you with speed can ruin a linebacker’s day…and pretty much equalizes most defensive ends. And the versatility of rolling him on out for a short pass/run is appealing. I know Murray does’t mind that big guy to hide behind. Go Dawgs, GATA!!!
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Frankly, I don’t know why we haven’t thought of this before, perhaps we have never had the depth of talent at TE we have now. Like you, I am very pleased to have a big body near the QB but am especially intriqued about what it can do for our passing game, especially near the goal line and on screen passes. That is another big target in a congested area. Also glad to see our OL get additional help. I don’t blame Lynch for being excited, he is another mobile tank that could fit this role very well.
I doubt we see much of this in the Spring Game. There is a lot of room for creativity, no need giving SOS any extra time to prepare.
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Remember though, if you are not running the football well, h-backs and tight ends suffer in catches. The TE feeds off the LBers sucking up to the line. Same with FB flat catches. If the outside LBer aint worried about the run, that pass is not going to be open, in fact it becomes a TD run back opportunity for the LBer.
The reason our TEs have not had as many chances is because those LBers are not sucking up to the line to help with the run. See a good consistent running game and our stable of TEs will just kill the opponents running down the middle of a cover 2 with nary a LBer in site.
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True, but moving Figgins around will force the D to move, especially if you split out another TE. Anything to keep the D from just stacking the box will open lanes for the backs to run through. I don’t think you bulldoze D linemen like ‘Bama has even if you have the Steelers O line of the late seventies.
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Right, I was just saying that people complained we did not use the TEs effectively. All I was saying is TEs thrive on a good running game, without it they have a harder time.
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Like I said before, if they don’t figure out a way to use multiple tight end sets to show all that talent and versatility, somebody ought to catch it hot!
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I’m not gonna lie. My favorite two positions on offense are fullback and tight end.
Yes, the Dawgs have been predictable, uncreative, dull and frustrating the past few years on offense, but this gets me fired up in spite of myself.
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Gotta love a fan who loves the FB and TE most! I hear you man, but you may be the only person I have ever seen say that. UGA has to use these positions well if we are to succeed running a pro style offense. Declining numbers from these spots the past few years have contributed to our decline in production.
I realize the poor OL performance and lack of defense are the more visible targets but we were supposed to be loaded at FB and TE the past 3 years and I didn’t see much happening there at all. Perhaps this new strategy is just what we need.
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FB + TE = man sh-t.
I think I like them most because they’re the closest things to defensive players on offense, and, brother, I love defense… also Macallan. 😉
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I am catiously optimistic about this. I love the idea of being able to come in with a package like this, King out at WR, White and Charles at TE, Figgins at FB and Crowell at TB. Looks completely like a big set, one that we could run power plays out of in short yardage situations, say a 2nd and less than 4. Running out of it would be a good idea, no complaints from me at all. But the defense sends in a big package to counter. Then White and Charles split out wide into a 3 wr set, Figgins shifts up to the line as a TE and Crowell as the lone back. The defense spreads out with Charles and White either matched up on an undersized DB trying to cover them or a LB that is too slow to match up with them and we have a great chance to throw the ball. But also the minute we shift the defense would be thinking pass and we can hand it off to Crowell with the defense spread out. Or with defense spread out figgins can work the middle of the field in the passing game. There are tons of options. I just hope that we decide to use them, if not a lot at least a few times a game to give other teams something to have to prepare for during the week.
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Hope springs eternal…. Until I see it happen this is lumped with the Wild Dawg or the Grayhound packages that were presented for our spring and summer amusement but come fall were no where to be seen.
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When I first heard of the position switch I only thought of how he should be albe to bust some LB heads as lead blocker on the stretch play and TB runs. I still love the fullback in the flats play of CVD. So I am optimistic as usual.
And lets all stop the negative vibes.
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