Coach ,

One of my favorite player to watch is Kyle Juszczyk, the four-time Pro Bowler of the San Francisco 49ers. He embodies what we want from a fullback in today’s game: a real fullback, not a tight end aligned in the backfield. He will block, run the ball in short yardage and catch passes out of the backfield. Even his jersey #44 is a real fullback number.

He is a prime example that the fullback position is a species that has been saved from extinction when coaches joked that NFL stood of “No Fullbacks Left.”

What’s interesting though about the resurgence of fullbacks at every level of football is that they have come back as an evolved position.  

The days of the “extra guard” in the backfield are over. The position is used to add a dynamic to the offense that today’s spread defenses will struggle with. The position can provide explosiveness to the run game and pass game.

The epicenter of fullback and tight end play in college football is eight time FCS National Champion North Dakota State. They were National Champs for the 2021 season and runners-up in 2022. 

Offensive coordinator, and former NDSU/Seattle Seahawks fullback Tyler Roehl knows exactly how to train the position. His creative use of multiple fullbacks on a single play warms the heart of those who loved hard-nosed football.

Watching all levels this season, one thing that has trended is the incorporation of more tight ends, a fullback, and even under-center offense. That’s nothing new for NDSU and their offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl.

Coach Roehl built their strategy on a key analytic that he traced back to the early 2000’s at NDSU. The number is 50. If their rushes and completions total 50 their winning percentage is 98%+. That’s a strong correlation!

Coach Roehl said, “We talk about a softening process of the defense. Just being able to pound the rock and get, four, five, six then those runs will turn into ten, 12, 20.“

Coach Roehl is a former NDSU/Seattle Seahawks fullback so he knows exactly how to train the position.

In this video, he gives an introduction of how they utilize the fullback in their offense. (Click on images for video):

Video: Introduction to FB Play

Here’s a game example of the fullback on a kick out block with the emphasis on planting the foot for power:

Video: Kickout Block

The tight ends also play a big part in both the running and the passing game. Here Coach Roehl goes through some drills he utilizes to his tight ends to hit a moving target.

Video: Hitting a Moving Target

Both fullbacks and tight ends can become weapons in the passing game. In this example Coach Roehl illustrates a power pass with both the TE and FB in the route. As he notes, San Francisco 49er’s Trey Lance, NDSU alum, is the quarterback on this play.

Video: Play Action

Coach Roehl’s approach of being detailed and having specific drills to work every scenario his players will face allows him to utilize what amounts to less contact given the parameters that teams must work within today to make player safety a priority, but it’s proven to be very effective in today’s game. 

If you are looking to add these positions into your defense, then there isn’t a better coach to learn from than Coach Roehl.

Enjoy the AFC and NFC Championship Games this weekend, and imagine what your offense would be like with a dynamic fullback added in!

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski