LB Converted to FB: Dan Skuta Already Receiving Praise

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 11, 2010 9:36 AM EDT

Due to Fui Vakapuna's injury and the lack of overall depth at the team's fullback position, the Bengals coaching staff are giving linebacker Dan Skuta a look in the backfield. The former high school running back, recording 1,092 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns at Flint, Michigan, is already getting some praises.

"Danny did a good job. He made some adjustments, including some on the move," running backs coach Jim Anderson said. "He's eager and we just have to put him in a situation where he gets more reps and do what we do offensively and work on technique."

"He's just a rare breed," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "He's a big, fast, physical strong guy who's smart and can do anything. There's room on the team for him because he's versatile and can do so many different things."

Skuta is also sporting Corey Lynch's old number -- 47.

Still, the teams overall fullback position is largely a mystery. Fui Vakapuna spent the second half of his rookie year on the Bengals 53-man roster, but was listed as inactive every week. Joe Tronzo is an undrafted free agent, though he appeared able during Sunday's Hall of Fame game. Then there's Daniel Coats, whose has the most experience at fullback in the NFL.

And I think this is the first time I didn't accidently call him Dan Stuka.

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I like this angle as well, Josh.

At the moment, it appears to be for a backup role with Fui Vakapuna sidelined with a shoulder injury and rookie free agent Joe Tronzo the only other fullback on the roster. If they like what they see, it would allow them to keep just three tight ends (Reggie Kelly, Jermaine Gresham, Chase Coffman) and not four. If Skuta can back it up, they can still keep just one fullback and count him as one of the seven linebackers.

2010 - The Year of the Tiger.

by UpStateMike on Aug 11, 2010 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

READ: Bye Bye Coats.

2010 - The Year of the Tiger.

by UpStateMike on Aug 11, 2010 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions

And there was much rejoicing...

by Craig Conrad on Aug 11, 2010 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions

This is such an understatement.

by Doc Scratch on Aug 11, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

(Crowd of a thousand peasants saying: “Yea”.)

by FriarBob on Aug 11, 2010 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

they only keep 4 TEs

because the long snapper is considered a TE. so unless skuta can do that, they’re keeping 4.

RIP Slim.

by brandone on Aug 11, 2010 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

The one that got away...

We should have never got rid of Chris Pressley….I knew that fat bastard Jeremi Johnson was a waste of a roster spot last year.

by DiddyGotGrillz on Aug 11, 2010 10:30 AM EDT reply actions

you know

aside from helping us to have an incredible season rushing the ball.

RIP Slim.

by brandone on Aug 11, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

Jeremi Johnson had a much more productive year than Chris Pressley had.

by StLBengal on Aug 11, 2010 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Absolutely right.

Johnson would be the obvious starter if he wasn’t away at fat camp. Joking aside, he was a good fullback. Could have been great if he wanted to be.

by Jcon77 on Aug 11, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

RE:

Still, I think Diddy’s point is valid that we let Pressley get away.

I know that hindsight is 20/20, but…

Do you keep Pressley, even though JJ played better and risk not having EITHER the following year? That’s what we did. Again, hindsight and all of that. Still, a valid hindsight argument for fun.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 11, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

There will be more stories of the one who got away next year. Last year for the first time we cut players we wanted to keep instead of scouring the waiver wire. That will continue this year, as 2 or 3 of the WR we cut get picked up, possibly some defensive players as well.

by jim0ijk on Aug 11, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Bingo. Exactly the problem. Sure JJ helped us out last year. Probably. But if the price of making sure we had our “fullback of the future” secured was letting some other special teams flunky hit the waiver wire, then we should have taken the chance and held onto Pressley.

And if it would have saved us from Dan Coats last year, it would have been MORE than worth it.

Here’s an idea. If we had an OC with some creativity, I bet he could have figured out a way to put JJ and Pressley on the field in a 2FB 1RB lineup and turned it into a good option play where we could both run and pass out of it. Pity we don’t have such an OC.

by FriarBob on Aug 11, 2010 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

We don't have an OC that can be creative?

Could’ve fooled me.
Maybe MB can come up with one of his brainiac ideas and promote the waterboy to OC. Will that work?

by WHYUS!! on Aug 11, 2010 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Does Leonard's injury send Fui to the IR?

You can’t play FB in the NFL with a bad shoulder, you need that shoulder to block effectively. If we are missing Leonard for the first 4 games to injury, and Fui can’t play FB effectively due to his shoulder, do we keep Tronzo and Skuta at FB and put Fui on the IR?
Tronzo was effectivve out of the back field catching the ball, and Skuta can fill in as well as perfrom as a teams coverage guy, and both would be teams blockers. That would mean cutting Coats and using Roland as a tackle eligible if needed.

by jim0ijk on Aug 11, 2010 10:46 AM EDT reply actions

Also

Josh you almost had me convinced it was Stuka.

by jim0ijk on Aug 11, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

:)

Personally, I think he should go the Chad Ochocinco route and change his name. A linebacker/fullback with a last name of Stuka? Seriously.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 11, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

You know who's not receiving praise?

Andre Smith. It seems Marvin Lewis is nearing the end of his patience with what I like to call, “the rotund first rounder”.

“Andre is going to figure out how to become a pro and do things the way it’s asked to do all the time," he said. "Hopefully he continues to do it in a timely fashion. Otherwise, I’m not going to go through this year in and year out.” - Marvin Lewis

Article from Bengals.com

by SnapCount80 on Aug 11, 2010 1:00 PM EDT reply actions

Unfortunately

Its not up to him. Mike doesn’t want to cough up all that guaranteed money until the last possible moment. He is really going to have to acquiesce to some of Marvin’s demands.

by Jcon77 on Aug 11, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions