Blocking TE and Fullback

With the census now concluded, we return our attention to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament the NFL offseason and the varying changes and non-changes in the Jets’ roster. Today, as part of our Position Perspectives series, we will examine what may be the two least sexy roles on the offensive side of the game: blocking TE and fullback. In spite of our preponderance as fans to overlook these positions, they are as vital to our Ground and Pound mentality as the offensive line, and I would be skeptical of our ability to run the ball as effectively as we did last year were either of these positions to weaken significantly. Jets brass, recognizing this, have returned both Tony Richardson and Ben Hartsock for the 2010 season.

There is reason to believe that the resigning of T-Rich in particular may end up being the most important move no one notices all offseason long. Undrafted out of Auburn and cut from Dallas’ practice squad after only a year, Richardson proved in over ten seasons in Kansas City to be one of the greatest fullbacks of his age, his unassailable blocks opening the door for the great Priest Holmes. Though he did not arrive in New York until 2008, when he was already 36 years old, he has continued to absorb one bonesnapping hit after another, throwing his body down in the way of each linebacker that crosses him. Though some persistently doubt the durability of this elder blocker, let me reaffirm his status as the finest fullback in the league, a natural talent with an unbelievable ability to make tackles and close holes. For Goodness’s sake, he’s blocked a 1,000+ yard rusher eight times now! Surely that has earned every bit of his 97 rating in Madden. In many regards, T-Rich is the only one keeping the fullback position alive in the NFL, which has turned more and more to the spread offense and pass-heavy playbooks in recent times.

When asked about his plans at the end of last year, T-Rich made it clear that he wished to remain with the Jets for at least another go-around. Yet some fans grew nervous when the team declined to resign him immediately, opting instead to praise practice squad member Jason Davis, with Tannenbaum stating that it was a matter of “[balancing] short-term versus long-term” that he loved Davis’ “physicality and upside,” which is of course BS-Speak for “Let me take a look at my bank account first.” In the end though, the Jets did make the right decision, and T-Rich will remain with the team for 2010, which is really good news for LaDainian Tomlinson, who will likely need all the blocking he can get. But cheer up, Jason Davis! From the sound of it, the front office really does like your stuff, and you may very well end up somewhere on the real depth chart soon. And good thing, too! Haven’t you heard? The guy ahead of you is thirty-eight freaking years old!

Casual Jets fans will mostly recall Hartsock’s name by way of two big moments in 2009, one very good, and one absolutely awful. On September 27th, less than a month after the former third round pick out of Ohio State signed a one-year deal with the team, Hartsock was on the receiving end of Mark Sanchez touchdown, one of the more innovative calls we’ve seen from the always crafty Brian Schottenheimer. That touchdown helped seal a third win for the then-undefeated Jets. Yet it was Hartsock’s idiotic holding penalty in overtime against the Bills that pushed back Feely’s game-winning field goal attempt which was botched by punter Steve Weatherford which set up the Bills to win the game before…okay, yeah, he blew it. He blew it quite a bit when it came to bad penalties around midseason, but Hartsock really seemed to improve on that front as things progressed, and I no longer see him as a major liability. Indeed, I think he’s actually a very capable player, and a good blocking compliment to the incomplete pass-catching project Dustin Keller. Surely, the Jets stuck their fingers in the air to feel the breeze at blocking TE and decided it would be best to stick it out with Hartsock, and I agree.

Between the O-Line, Richardson and Hartsock, Gang Green certainly will not be short on top-notch blocking. Yet age and depth continue to plague all three areas, and neither T-Rich nor Hartsock will be long-term solutions for this team. That having been said, they will get the job done for us now, and, being on the verge of championship run as we are, that’s more than we could ever ask for.

- Manhole Out.