Fullback isn’t exactly the sexiest position in football. It’s pretty much a glory-less job save the occasional fourth and long or goal line plow. There are some great ones in the league, like Tony Richardson and Lorenzo Neal, but there aren’t many that make a name for themselves. I think even offensive linemen are getting more credit than fullbacks anymore. Couple that with the fact that a lot of teams are using single-back sets, and it’s easy to see how the position isn’t en vogue.
It’s for all these reasons I’m not surprised no one is talking about the non-controversy going on at fullback right now. Shanahan appears to still be deciding between Cecil Sapp and Kyle Johnson. It might seem like no big deal, but in our offense the fullback is used just like a tight end. We really lean on them in the run and passing game in pass protection and also as a receiving threat.
Let’s not forget that at the start of camp Cecil Sapp was the starting fullback and only lost the position because of injury. Let’s also not forget that Kyle Johnson was Reuben Droughns’ backup and only gained the starting spot because it was vacated by Droughns in 2004. Cecil is healthy again and Shanahan has noticed.
In the Chiefs game Sapp got a few snaps, but I wrote that off as letting Kyle catch his breath. Then the Patriots game rolled around and he started rotating Sapp into downs on a more regular basis. Cecil was responsible for plowing some of those big runs for Tatum against the Patriots and even caught a pass. It appeared to be more than giving Johnson a breather at that point.
The Ravens game was the most revealing. The Broncos were in single-back sets and spread formations for most of the first half save a few plays. In the second half the fullback was used more frequently with Kyle Johnson playing the position. At the end of the third quarter Cecil Sapp replaced Johnson and played the rest of the game except for two plays. Shanahan even felt confident enough to give Sapp the ball on two run plays in the fourth quarter, when the game was on the line, the ball very slick, the score close and facing a turnover hungry Ravens defense.
It would appear Cecil has won over his coach and Shanahan is making moves to implement him into the offense. Sapp is getting more and more playing time each game, and each game he is delivering. Right now it is unclear if that means that Johnson is looking at losing his spot, if Shanahan is simply just pleased with Sapp or some combination of the two. It will be one more thing to watch develop on this offense that is currently in transition as we go deeper into the 2006 season.
