Apparently no more H-Back in Skins Offense

[thinker]

http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=16606

In the above story on Nemo's second year in the NFL, there's a throwaway type comment that indicates that Al Saunders will not use an H-Back and instead will use a fullback. It also indicates that Sellers, Manuel White, and Nemo will be the fullbacks. It's not clear but that would seem to indicate that Cooley will be more of the pass catching TE.

I'd be interested if anyone else has seen specific references to this.

[tossoan]

http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=16606

In the above story on Nemo's second year in the NFL, there's a throwaway type comment that indicates that Al Saunders will not use an H-Back and instead will use a fullback. It also indicates that Sellers, Manuel White, and Nemo will be the fullbacks. It's not clear but that would seem to indicate that Cooley will be more of the pass catching TE.

I'd be interested if anyone else has seen specific references to this.

Cooley will be Tony Gonzales of the Skins....

[Slacky McSlackAss]

looks like we might run some dual TE with cooley and fauria. i cant wait til opening day.

[jrockster21]

Saunders uses more of a pure TE, but he still uses him like an H-Back. Just look at Gonzo the past few years. He was always in motion, and lined up all over the field, similar to an H-Back. The only difference was that Gonzo never lined up as a full-back (not 100% on that statement). However, he would start out at TE, then split out wide, move to the slot, whatever; all to try and exploit matchups. So while Saunders may be getting rid of Gibbs' version of the H-Back, he isn't eradicating it altogether; just tweaking it (like the rest of the offense). :2cents:

[tr1]

Sounds like the playbook has been distributed.

[CowboysForLife]

Does it worry you guys that Cooley was mainly an H-Back, but now he's gonna have to adjust?

Just wondering...

[santanaistheman]

Does it worry you guys that Cooley was mainly an H-Back, but now he's gonna have to adjust?

Just wondering...

not at all. In fact i think playing H-Back will help him in his development as a tight end in saunders offense. Having played H-Back for 2 years he is very familiar with multiple positions and other players and their roles. He is also a pure pass catcher who can block well on the end spot as well. He's gonna have a hell of a year.

[Neerajk4]

man I liked the H-back. Cmon who doesn't like cooley knocking people off their ass.

[PresidentClinton07]

Cooley is gonna be doing alot of similiar things to Tony Gonzalez. He's gonna be in motion alot and is gonna be lined up at almost everyspot on the field.

.......He's gonna be asked to do alot of blocking on the edge of the line.

[Slacky McSlackAss]

id rather cooley rackin up TDs

[santanaistheman]

id rather cooley rackin up TDs

who said he won't be

[iheartskins]

Very interesting thinker. I wonder how this will play out though I'm not sure I agree with your read of the article.

If there is a move from HB to FB, I wonder whether Cooley has the size to function as a true tight end full time. He's clearly got the hands.

[RedskinInExile]

Cooley's still gonna be knocking people on their asses. Remember the Cowboys game last year?

[GoDannyBoy]

I don't think the H-Back goes away completely. It just give Saunders more to work with. These guys know those plays and when the opponent least expects it. POW!

[zoony]

If anything, this plays more to Cooley's strengths. He'll be more of a receiver in Saunders' offense... if history is any indication.

Cooley was never much of a blocker... Sellars usually picked up those duties.

[PCS]

Does it worry you guys that Cooley was mainly an H-Back, but now he's gonna have to adjust?

Just wondering...

Nope. C.C. came out of Utah St. as a Tightend/Fullback, ( now there's another option for Saunders), so playing T.E. won't be a big adustment if at all. He lined up all over the place the past couple of seasin. Though playing primarily in the HBack position, ( which when watching the Redskins offense the past few years, means you could be just about anywhere on the field by the time the ball was snapped), he did spend time lining straight up as a T.E. at times, ( as well as in the slot and split wide), so he never really got away from the position. He can block, ( one of his strengths coming out of Utah St. ), run very good routes, and obviously catch very well. Just the kind of guy you don't mind playing T.E. .

As for the Hback position, I don't think we've seen the last of it. Al Saunders may be running the offense, but I'm betting that along with bringing in his own "style" of O, he'll be incorperating some of Joe's stuff in there as well. Or is that the other way around? Saunders has not only players to bring into his offense, he also has the previous playbook and Joe Gibbs to bring into his "style" of offense.

[Lil Kenzo]

If anything, this plays more to Cooley's strengths. He'll be more of a receiver in Saunders' offense... if history is any indication.

Cooley was never much of a blocker... Sellars usually picked up those duties.

I agree. I too think that this plays more into Cooley's favor because he does have the hands but is not really a blocker. Cooley is too much of a finesse player to be playing fullback.

[jivelikenice]

It might enable Manuel to make the transation to the Pro's. He was struggling in the H-Back role.

[thinker]

Very interesting thinker. I wonder how this will play out though I'm not sure I agree with your read of the article.

I'm not sure myself. But the article does toss in the fact that our h-backs White and Sellers would be fullbacks this year as will be Nemo. Since we didn't have that position before and we have a bunch of TE's and RB's I don't see how we can have rb's, fb's, te's AND h-backs on the roster with a 53 man limit.

[terpfan]

Told ya. Drafting another TE would be silly with Cooley, Fauria, and Johnson on the roster.

[Stew]

If anything, this plays more to Cooley's strengths. He'll be more of a receiver in Saunders' offense... if history is any indication.

Cooley was never much of a blocker... Sellars usually picked up those duties.

And man does he make me smile when he blocks. I really like Sellers.

[jtyler42]

Cooley is one of my favorite Skins but what worries me about him being a full-time TE in the Gonzales mold is that he isnt the most atheletic TE although he is good after the catch...

[iheartskins]

I'm not sure myself. But the article does toss in the fact that our h-backs White and Sellers would be fullbacks this year as will be Nemo. Since we didn't have that position before and we have a bunch of TE's and RB's I don't see how we can have rb's, fb's, te's AND h-backs on the roster with a 53 man limit.

That's a valid point--and partially bolstered by this, "Last year, the Redskins' offense included H-backs, sort of a hybrid tight end and fullback. Players like tight end Chris Cooley, Sellers, White and Broughton give Saunders plenty of versatility, no matter where they line up." The inclusion of "last year" and "no matter where they line up" could indicate that the HB position is antiquated, and that the players may line up in different players this year. And you're right that the 53-man limit has to come in here. As well as the generation of a comprehensible play-book.

All will be revealed in due course, I guess.

[Peregrine]

The difference with Saunders and the playcallers we DID have, is Saunders doesnt like to stick to one thing. We wont see Hback as much, but I would be surprised if he didnt stick it in there from time to time.

[PCS]

Okay. 2 things. One. Technically, there hasn't been, nor is there, one "HB", listed on the roster since Joe's return. Don't get caught up in labels. Two. Cooley is not a small guy. He's not the tallest tightend you'll see,but he's still a big guy. Think about his primary blocking responsibilities as a T.E.. He's not undersized for that by any means and he is a good blocker.