Washington Redskins: Fullback’s Value to Griffin Cannot be Underestimated by Diane Chesebrough

As the Washington Redskins’ rookie quarterback Robert Griffin, III (aka RGIII) dons his pads this week in his first professional training camp – and takes his first real hits from his defensive teammates – one of many things is going to come crashing home: just how important his offensive line and blocking offensive weapons are. Because of the effectiveness and talent that Washington’s fullback, Darrel Young, displayed last season, his value to his new rookie quarterback cannot be underestimated.

Because of Griffin’s running ability, lining up any one (or two) of the Redskins’ backs will give opposing defenses problems. While Mike Shanahan has said he is not going to feature Griffin as a running quarterback, the fact remains that the head coach can call plays that give his rookie quarterback the opportunity to run the ball, should the game variables warrant it. If Griffin is going to stay upright and uninjured, blocking backs like Tim Hightower and Darrel Young are going to have to provide good protection in addition to that of offensive line. As RGIII learns to work from under center more, this fortification will be doubly important.

While the Redskins’ offensive weapons have yet to establish their places on the depth chart, all will need to be at the top of their game because their leader is a rookie. While the success of the offensive line will be crucial in helping Griffin make the transition to the big leagues, between the running backs and the receivers, the backs have the bigger responsibility in getting Griffin acclimated comfortably to the NFL. This applies whether it’s by blocking for him or getting the ball out of his hands. Of those blocking offensive players, Young is probably the most versatile. He is very athletic.

Having once played linebacker, #36 is a bull-dozer on the field. While not Lorenzo Neal (yet!),Young made some key plays last season and his stats are respectable – in rushing, receiving and blocking – with a 5.5 yards-per-carry (ypc) average in rushing and 9.3 yards-per-catch (ypc) average in receiving. In his second year at the fullback position, Young must be a main ingredient if Washington is to have a successful season in this soon-to-be rookie-lead offense.

In one play during the Redskins’ overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys last season, Young was on the field with two wide outs and a tight end (Donte Stallworth, Fred Davis and Jabbar Gaffney, I believe) who set off on deep routes. Quarterback Rex Grossman apparently didn’t like the coverage on his receivers down the field. He saw Young who was open three yards past the line-of-scrimmage. The QB dumped the pass to his fullback who broke a tackle attempted by Cowboys’ cornerback Orlando Scandrick. 27 yards and a first down later, Young was finally tackled by linebacker, Sean Lee.

The Villanova graduate was also instrumental in running backs Evan Royster and Roy Helu, Jr.’s 100+ yards games last season. Against the Seattle Seahawks, Helu gained 108 yards (4.7 ypc avg), 100 yards against the New York Jets (4.3 ypc avg) and 126 (4.6 ypc avg) against the New England Patriots. Royster gained 132 yards against the Minnesota Vikings (6.9 ypc avg) and 113 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles (5.6 ypc avg). These backs were in their rookie years and many of the highlights from last year show those youngsters following Young into the fray and then back out on the other side.

In the last game against the Eagles, Young – blocking for Royster – held up defensive tackle Fletcher Cox long enough to spring his teammate for approximately 25 of his 113 yards in that game. Plays like this were commonplace, especially towards the end of the season as Royster, Helu and Young hit their strides.

The former linebacker will be a great option for Griffin. As a fullback, Young can be on the field as a check-down option in any running or receiving play or as the featured rusher or receiver himself. If the pocket collapses and/or play goes bad; and Griffin can’t or shouldn’t run, Young is a three-year veteran that has the speed and power to hold off blockers, open holes for whoever needs them or get his hands on the ball and move the chains himself. It has been said that the fullback position is being phased out of professional football and is not as important is it once was. But Darrel Young is the kind of teammate/player that will help the Redskins’ new quarterback transition into the NFL without getting hurt and any team with a rookie signal caller should make sure they have someone even half as talented.

Hail.