More Fallout From Alstott/Neal Debate
June 28th, 2009Yesterday Joe brought you the item that Vacation Man of BSPN.com thought that Lorenzo Neal was a better fullback than Mike Alstott. As one can imagine, it wasn’t a popular choice.
Apparently Vacation Man was bombarded with nasty e-mails and rude comments. As a result, he tried to defend his pick.
Again.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Alstott was a wonderful player. He could do a lot of things other fullbacks couldn’t do — mainly carry the ball and catch it out of the backfield. Alstott’s one of the all-time favorites among Tampa Bay fans and some of his 1- or 2-yard runs were the stuff of highlight films because of his blue-collar approach. But the fact in the NFL these days are that fullbacks are around mainly to block.
Once again, Joe will try to explain why Vacation Man has a valid point, but it’s still misguided.
The key goal of an offense is to move the ball, not play keepaway. This is the kind of mentality that reminds Joe of why Bo Schembechler never won a national title, and why Father Dungy’s offense with the Bucs was putrid beyond words.
Sure, a fullback that can block is a precious virtue — in specific cases. Pass blocking springs to mind.
If a fullback can only block and not run or catch the ball it’s pretty obvious when said fullback gets into the game what’s going to happen. And the defense knows that’s one less target it has to worry about, enabling defense to key on others.
To suggest the main attribute of a fullback is to block is to suggest the main attribute of a No. 2 receiver is to block. No. The main responsibility of any skill position player is to gain yards.
If Lorenzo Neal was such a valuable weapon for his blocking, then why did he bounce from team to team and never win a ring?
There’s no question that Alstott wasn’t near the blocker of Neal’s talent. But ask any NFL defensive coordinator which fullback cost him more sleep the night before a game: Neal or Alstott?
June 28th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
LT had his best rushing season behind Neal’s blocking. After Neal left LT’s #’s went down. That is where Neals value is. Other than that he did not have all the tools. But was great at crushing the first man he ran into.
June 28th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Vacation Girl is a moron. He’s one of these clowns who thought Alstott should have gotten 25 carries a game and played halfback and would have been a seven time 1,000 yard rusher. It was never going to happen. A-train had his moment in the sun alongside some great backs, and he deserves his due.
June 28th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
You can’t fix stupid. There’s no defending his argument. They say you should think about what your going to say before you say it. How will it come out and what will it sound like? That goes double when you’re on AIR or put it in REAL print. Ask Don Imus. At least he knows what he’s talking about.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:32 am
This is a case of semantics.
If you asked anyone, “Who is the better blocker?”, the answer is clearly Neal.
If you asked anyone, “Who is the better all-around player?”, the answer is clearly Alstott.
So, the only issue is what is the definition of a fullback. And frankly, who cares…
This is wanking anyway… Alstott is retired. Lo Neal is on his last legs. Next subject.