The Death of the Toughest Man on the Field

When I was a junior in high school, my school's team had its first winning season in almost a decade. We had a quarterback with a decent arm, a 1,000-yard running back who scored about 13 touchdowns, and an experienced, large group of offensive linemen for the high school level. But when we sat down and voted for team MVP, I don't think anyone was surprised that it went to our fullback, a rock of kid who was probably the best pure athlete on the team, and as I can attest as a season-long member of a maligned "scrub D," a punishing lead blocker. Add in the handful of touchdowns he scored himself and solid play at linebacker (and the fact that the RB was a dick), and it was no surprise that he was chosen as our best player.

We ran what used to be referred to as a pro-style offense--basic formations that have existed since the beginning of the game that rely merely on execution, not gimmicks, to be successful. But now, a "pro-style" offense would be increasingly defined by a spread offense with four receivers and one running back, or a "wildcat" formation where the running back takes a direct snap and the QB splits out wide. In these formations, our team MVP would've been standing right next to me--on the sidelines.

Everyone loves a fullback. Whether it's a punishing blocker like Lorenzo Neal, Mack Strong, or Daryl Johnston, a safety valve receiver like Larry Centers, Keith Byers, or Kevin Turner, or a bulldozing runner like Mike Alstott, Bam Morris, or Craig "Iron Head" Heyward, we enjoy the X factor of what that big man in the backfield brings to the offense. They've given us much. They gave us the Ickey Shuffle and current man crush Owen Schmitt. Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer true fullbacks to give us our weekly dose of laying out an over-matched cornerback on a sweep.

There are currently seven fullbacks in the NFL Hall of Fame. Among them are famous names like Larry Csonka, Bronco Nagurski, and Ernie Nevers. There is also probably the best football name ever, John "Blood" McNally, a 1920s star for the likes of the Duluth Eskimos and Pottsville Maroons. The last of them elected was Csonka, the '70s Dolphins star who was enshrined in 1987. After Neal gets his due (which I fully expect in a couple years), there is no saying when or if the next fullback will get elected.

Last year, LeRon McClain led all fullbacks with 902 rushing yards, good for 20th in the league. However, despite being listed as a fullback, McClain is more of a hybrid back, who spent plenty of time being featured while Willis McGahee was busy upsetting fantasy owners league-wide. The next fullback to appear on the list? The Seahawks Leonard Weaver, ranking 91st with 130 yards. This season, McClain again leads all "fullbacks" with a measly 31 yards in two games and has been passed over by McGahee and second-year back Ray Rice in the pecking order. There are, of course, other large, physical backs like LenDale White and Brandon Jacobs. But since they are usually the ones receiving the handoffs and not used as lead blockers, neither can really be considered a fullback.

There is no telling what could happen. God willing, a few years from now, the spread offense and the wildcat will be solved by some defensive mastermind, and teams will trend back to a more conventional "I" or "Power I" formation. Until then, you all can enjoy your speedy backs stretching the defense 50 yards across, and I'll just continue fondly remembering my three feet and a cloud of dust.