Kuharsky: FB not much help

Written by Todd Smith | 29 December 2011

Paul Kuharsky points out that despite putting a fullback on the field more often this year it's not provided a great deal of help in the run game:

But a fullback alone hasn’t been sufficient to make a difference in the run game. Indianapolis’ average run this season has been 4.6 yards without a fullback and 3.7 yards with one. 

Finding the right recipe to run most effectively -- with a fullback, with an H-back or with the field spread with three wides -- may sound easier than it is. But it should have been priority one for the Colts as soon as Manning wasn’t at quarterback. 

I'll point out that in order to effectively evaluate FB play we'd have to also consider pass protection and situational running like third and short or goal line scenarios. Still, it's eye-opening to see that the FB doesn't seem to impact yards per carry in a positive way.