H-back

An H-Back (not to be confused with a Half-Back) is an offensive position in American football, and is also known as F-Back. The position is a hybrid of a fullback and a tight end. The position was made notable in the NFL by the Washington Redskins under head coach Joe Gibbs who ran a two tight end system. The position was named F-Back when used later in Norv Turner's offensive system.

In the Redskins offensive system, the H-back is asked to block, pass protect, and run receiving routes from multiple sets. This compares to the standard tight end which was used primarily as an extra blocker on Washington offensive line. The H-back can line up in the backfield, on the line, or is put into motion. Because of the complexity of the position, a thorough knowledge of the offense is desirable in an H-back. The position, indeed the entire two tight end offense, was created by Gibbs as a direct response to Lawrence Taylor, the New York Giants' dominant linebacker. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/1999/08/06/pageone_lawrencetaylor/index.html Taylor made: 'L.T.' has a date with Canton, destiny] , sportsillustrated.cnn.com, accessed March 18, 2007. ] [ [http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=4062 The Polian Corner] , colts.com, September 20, 2006, accessed March 18, 2007. ] As Gibbs stated, " [w] e had to try in some way have a special game plan just for Lawrence Taylor. Now you didn't do that very often in this league but I think he's one person that we learned the lesson the hard way. We lost ball games."

Offensive formations that used the H-back are not commonly used in professional football today. The most recent example of a professional football team employing the H-back was the Cleveland Browns from 2001 to 2004 under former head coach Butch Davis. Chris Cooley has also florished in his role as an H-back in the current offense run by the Washington Redskins. Teams at high school and collegiate levels sometimes utilize H-back formations, but usually only if they have exceptional talent and depth at the tight end and fullback positions. For example, Brigham Young University is traditionally strong at the tight end position, and the Cougars frequently use H-back formations to put their most talented players on the field at one time. During the 1996 season, BYU used H-back formations almost every down to allow ample playing time for both Chad Lewis and Itula Mili.

References

External links

* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/09/AR2006080902108.html Playing Saunder's Name Game]
* [http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2006/10/20/ramblings/strategy-minicamps/4412/ Football Outsiders' discussion of H-back in 2006-07 NFL Offenses]