Eye Formation
July 30th, 2016
Telling look at Friday’s practice?
Yes, there were some old school looks from Dirk Koetter’s offense at practice Friday, Day 2 of training camp.
Many Bucs fans are frantic wondering who will play fullback in Koetter’s offense, which actually utilizes the fullback. Koetter developed Patrick DiMarco in Atlanta into a Pro Bowler, and Jorvorskie Lane got his share of snaps last year for the Bucs.
This year, will it be seventh-round pick Danny Vitale, the fullback/superback/tight end, or will Luke Stocker or Austin Seferian-Jenkins throw their share of lead blocks. All the tight ends, even ASJ, are cross-trained at the position.
It was Luke Stocker, yesterday, who Joe saw lined up in the eye formation with Charles Sims behind him. Stocker stands 6-6 and just under 270 pounds, and absolutely loves his fullback time. Joe would bet he’s the guy who will command the position early this season, and not Vitale. Joe talked to Stocker about fullback last month. It’s all here.
July 30th, 2016 at 10:07 am
Lead blocker out of the backfield…FB…seems to be a position where we actually have a lot of depth.
I expect to see Vitale on the practice squad this year unless Myers gets moved..or perhaps knocked out by the moron Major Wright.
July 30th, 2016 at 10:10 am
Great to see stocker enjoying and embracing his role.
July 30th, 2016 at 10:28 am
I can’t see using the FB unless they will catch & carry more….I think last year we either ran or caught 3 times out of that position.
July 30th, 2016 at 11:25 am
Love it.
A 6’6″, 270lb. fullback.
RB’s could look invisible behind that…
July 30th, 2016 at 11:28 am
@Tamapabaybucfan… That’s the beauty of it. With guys like Stocker/Vitale running the FB they’re more versatile than they seem. Stocker is a bruising blocker, but the second defenses ignore his ability to run a good rout and catch is the moment he’s dancing in the end zone. A red zone I formation with ASJ on the line, Luke in the backfield with Martin and Evans and V-Jax outside? That sounds like a defenses worst nightmare.
July 30th, 2016 at 11:40 am
BigPoppaBuc
absolutely nailed it… total nightmare for defenses and that is versatility at its finest.
July 30th, 2016 at 11:43 am
It’s actually called the I-formation, not the “eye formation”, which is a subject they taught us in medical school, but I digress. Yeah.
July 30th, 2016 at 1:37 pm
Ufff…that’s a relieve, Joe. At first I thought you were going to say they were running the “bend around” play, I said oh God please don’t! ….lmao
July 30th, 2016 at 2:26 pm
Joe i must say that you dropped the ball on this article. The content is great but I think you could have used anouther headline and let Ira Kaufman have this one.
July 30th, 2016 at 3:55 pm
I remember what a freakin’ stud Jim Kleinsasser was as FB/H-B for the Vikes at 6’3″ 270, and how difficult the Vikes running game was to stop because of him.
I’m seeing the same thing develop with Stocker & Vitale…
July 30th, 2016 at 10:26 pm
Danny Vitale will make the final roster as the starting Fullback. Mark my words.
July 30th, 2016 at 10:32 pm
Not only is Stocker not a good FB, but he has not had a full season in 4 years. A blocker is no use if he doesn’t get on the field.
He’s no help catching the ball at all, and he NEVER runs it.
Stocker will be lucky to make the team at all this year. He might even get traded.
July 31st, 2016 at 4:35 pm
@ Bonzai, I agree that Vitale with make the roster as the starting fullback. I went to the Bucs practice on Friday (Military Day) and Vitale looked like a special athlete. He’s got a powerful build, his movements are silky smooth, and he showed great hands. He reminded me a lot of Mike Alstott as a rookie.