Moose Johnston talks about the Eagles fullback situation

by JasonB on Nov 12, 2008 11:03 AM EST in News Comment 9 comments

This week Domo caught up with Daryl "Moose" Johnston, the former Cowboy fullback who will be doing color commentary for this weekend's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The main topic of conversation was the Eagles almost comical merry go round of fullbacks this year.

"[Playing fullback] is a skill you develop," Johnston said. "It's very hard to ask a guy like Dan to do things and anticipate things a guy who's been playing that position for years can do.

"The other thing is, it takes time to get into a rhythm with how your running back runs. It took me a season-and-a-half to really get in sync with Emmitt. I would sit with him in the film room and find out why he did what he did on a play. What he saw. Why he ran that way instead of this way. Dan doesn't have that with Westbrook. He can't. Not in this short a time span. Not with as little experience as he has at that position."

Whatever the reason, there's no doubt that the running game is significantly less effective this year than it was last year. Certainly the loss of Andrews hasn't helped, Westbrook's many injuries haven't helped, but clearly neither has the lack of a real fullback.

Like the punt/kick return situation last year are we going to have to wait a full year to do something as simple as get a legitimate fullback?

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So that leads to me this question…

Since 2004, this team has had a new fullback every year but one (2007 was Tapeh’s 2nd year). There was Ritchie, Parry, Tapeh, and now Hunt/Klecko.

If it takes a “season-and-a-half” to for a fullback and running back to get in sync … why have we never had this serious of a problem before?

The Hunt/Klecko dynamic duo has contributed to the problem, no doubt. But I’m not even sure that’s the biggest problem.

SportsDork.com

by BFH on Nov 12, 2008 11:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think what he was getting at is Dan Klecko is not an experienced full back. The other 3 guys you mentioned were Ritchie actually being a pro bowler the year before we got him. Moose is saying that Klecko does not even have the instincts to fake it.

Full back is the problem westbrook didn’t get back to the line on 4th because Klecko got blown up by a safety. And unfortunately the problem is 2 fold because the D line is better with klecko in there . klecko leads our DTs in sacks with less games than any of them unless you consider Howard a DT

by 0sirys on Nov 12, 2008 12:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t want to argue over a single play too much with you, but if you watch that replay again… you could replace Klecko with Lorenzo Neal and it wouldn’t have mattered.

Runyan got pushed backwards but Justin Tuck, and Klecko had 2 guys to block. He didn’t do a very good job, but Westbrook had no chance either way. The Giants had more people there than the Eagles had blockers.

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by BFH on Nov 12, 2008 1:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What’s it going to be next year? A long snapper that andy didn’t address in the off season?

by Joe_D on Nov 12, 2008 11:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Where is Eckel? I thought he´ll be on the active roster at least after the seattle game!

by daveG10 on Nov 12, 2008 12:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

We should get Earnest Graham to play FB for us.

Destroyer of Subject Lines :3™

by yomjoseki on Nov 12, 2008 1:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

2nd Year in a Row

The facts are that Reid has ignored two key positions two years in a row. Last year it was the punt return game. He put all his stock in an Olympic star and cut him in preseason. But he didn’t replace him with anyone. It cost us the first game against the Packers and set the tone for the season. Remember, we win that game, our season is much different. Now, the fullback position has been ignored. And these two positions are not glamour positions but vital to any team’s offensive success.

If you were at your job and you made a big mistake you may be fired or closely scrutinized from that point on with a probable reprimand. If you make another huge mistake, odds are your responsibilities will be curtailed or you will be let go.

Reid also doesn’t coach with confidence anymore. He isn’t sure when to challenge a play, he is calling the same failed plays in key situations two times (vs Giants) or 4 times (vs Bears). He has never been considered an in-game coach, ever. His main strengths have been getting the team ready to play but now, he is not even doing that. How do you just not have a real plan for any situation? His lack of confidence is at a critical state and you don’t want the captain of the ship who steers the ship forward not have any confidence in his ability.

by Kwasi23 on Nov 12, 2008 2:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Fullback a Key Position?

Really, since when?

The Fullback is on the field maybe 10% of the time in this offense. If he’s lucky, McNabb targets him on one or two passes, and he gets to run block on 4 or 5 plays per game. The Eagles have long run mostly out of single back sets with either 2 TE/2 WR, 3 TE/1 WR, 1 TE/3 WR.

How can someone who is not on the field be at fault for a slumping running game?

It seems more likely that the running problems center on Westbrook himself, who is definitely proving he was not worth the extra bonus thrown at him this offseason as the downslope of his career takes a serious hold of him.

Hasn’t anyone noticed that Buckhalter has gone more yards on fewer passes than Westbrook? Hasn’t anyone noticed that Buckhalter has mostly outgained Westbrook per carry, or that almost 60% of Westbrook’s production was in the Falcons and Rams games? Buckhalter has gone over 4 yards per rush in the 3 games he’s had more than 10 carries – Steelers, Bears, and 49ers. Westbrook has had 6 games with over 10 carries and has broken 4 yards per carry just twice – Falcons and Rams.

Sorry! Crying about Fullbacks isn’t going to make Westbrook any younger or take any of the past burden of playing off of his body. This is just what happens in the NFL. Father Time is catching up to the knees and ribs of Westbrook

by Andrew B on Nov 12, 2008 5:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs