Fullback Will Have Bigger Role In 2012
July 29th, 2012
From the limited reps thus far seen in training camp, it seems the Bucs are planning to use a more traditional blocking fullback this season. Joe had a chance to talk to FB Erik Lorig, who confirmed that more fullback play is likely. Lorig also talked about transforming his body and Earnest Byner.
JoeBucsFan.com: How would you tell the typical Bucs fan how the fullback’s role in the offense will be different versus last season?
Erik Lorig: I think the fullback’s role will have more responsibilities, more of a role with the offense. I think you’ll see the fullback more, and I think you’ll see an empahisis with the fullback in the run game. I think you’ll see it more involved.
Joe: How has your position coaching changed?
Lorig: It’s definitely different. You get a different coach, coming from a different perspective and experience. This year we have a great coach. A great, great running backs coach in Earnest Byner. He’s a former player, 14 years. He’s a phenomenal coach both with the playbook, as well as on the field. I couldn’t ask for anything better for me, especially, coming into my third year here. That’s exactly what I need and what I want.
Joe: You look like you’ve lost a significant amount of weight. What’s the deal there?
Lorig: I’ve leaned out a lot more. I’ve really focused on my diet. The staff here has come at us really at a hard angle with diet. Our [Bucs] nutritionist, I’ve been working with him all offseason to lean out and be stronger, faster and then ultimately lighter.
Joe: Did you approach this offseason differently outside of the diet?
Lorig: I got some experience under my belt. So I think about different things in the offseason when it comes to the game as a result. Instead of thinking about camp and getting ready for camp all offseason, I’m thinking about little things in camp, like what kind of technique I’m going to use on [a specific] play.
July 29th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Lorig….Can you hurt the other team…with sneak carries ?…I don’t care about everything the current position calls for….will coach put you in situations to HURT the opponent and i don not mean blocking….
July 29th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Blocking is good to me. We only had Neal, what? One year? That was the year we had a really dominant running game. We need a fullback that can plow the field for us.
Whether Lorig is it remains to be seen.
The diet thing is interesting. Penn doesn’t look like he’s taken to it…that bugs me a little. But I wonder if the strict control of diet will help reduce injuries? People not eating right in sports make mistakes, slow down a step and are less alert…resulting in more injuries.
July 29th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
” Penn doesn’t look like he’s taken to it…”
I thought Penn looked relatively svelt, all in all.
July 29th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
They said Penn Was in the best shape of his career.
July 29th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
See if Blount can consult the playbook and follow the fullback!!!
July 29th, 2012 at 6:00 pm
I am getting frustrated as i have not seen a photo of Donald, or a video with him in it. You’d think his conditioning would be a big deal for the media.
July 29th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Penn looked to be doing well on Friday. I didn’t see him running but was doing a number of other drills one on one in the corner of the field.
July 29th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
I’ve been wanting us to draft a career fullback for a few years now. The traditional type, like Lorenzo Neal or Alstott towards the end of his career when Gruden ruined him. Someone in college who repeatedly has 1000 yrd backs behind him. I don’t think Lorig is the answer.
July 30th, 2012 at 1:57 am
espo Says:
July 29th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
I’ve been wanting us to draft a career fullback for a few years now. The traditional type, like Lorenzo Neal…
.
Me too. The Neal-Alstott combo was incredible…I didn’t understand why they got rid of Neal. Man was a blocking beast and played for years afterward.
July 30th, 2012 at 2:13 am
@j lynch
actually, if you decide to watch some game tape, it’s very clear that LeGarrette Blount has actually been incredibly disciplined in reading his blocks from both fullbacks and pulling guards. Blount may well have some deficiencies in a few aspects of his game, but following & reading his blocks is absolutely not one of them.
July 30th, 2012 at 7:38 am
Atlanta game one yard line blount stuffed not following lead block that come to mind …