An Injury Concern: Fui Vakapuna Suffers Shoulder Injury Wednesday

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 5, 2010 10:45 AM EDT in Injury

As we pointed out during our first Six-Pack of Hu-Dey of the season, the team's situation at fullback is rather murky because we've essentially given the starting gig to the fullback that was the odd man out after last year's fullback competition. Again, all reports indicate that he's obviously better than last year and the coaches must have enough confidence in him to do the job. Otherwise, why would the Bengals disregard improving the position with Vakapuna and an undrafted free agent in Joe Tronzo.

However, get used to it.

According to Geoff Hobson, Vakapuna suffered a shoulder injury during Wednesday morning's practice on special teams which "appears to concern the club."

He then missed Wednesday night and if it doesn’t respond in the next week, that’s a problem because the only other fullback is free-agent Joe Tronzo.

Unfortunately for some of you, this may be the break that Daniel Coats was looking for to make the squad. Either way, it looks like a combination of Brian Leonard and Joe Tronzo playing Sunday night.

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As long as it's not Jeremi Johnson.

I actually would fully approve of Dan Coats as a FB. He wouldn’t have to catch that much, and when he did it would generally be dumpoffs instead of actual routes and forward passes

by ritalin on Aug 5, 2010 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

urm

you do understand if you throw anything at coats “He wouldn’t have to catch that much” because he can’t catch. throw 100 passes at him, he’s not catching 99 of them. whether its a 2-3 yard shuttle or a 5 yard dump off.

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Aug 5, 2010 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

who had the worst hands in the league in 2009?

Daniel Coats 31 7 22.6%

the #2 guy? 5.5% behind coats.

Darrius Heyward-Bey 41 7 17.1%

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Aug 5, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

be that as it may

i have confidence that dan coats can catch a dumpoff in the backfield. the difference between catching a last-option dumpoff pass in the backfield unguarded and catching a pass in a crossing route is enormous. the former is basically a handoff. plus, our fullbacks barely ever touch the ball anyway. coats is a solid blocker. he could be very successful as a FB

by ritalin on Aug 5, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

yes he can catch

1 out of every 5.5 passes of under 5 yards you lob to him..

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Aug 5, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Given how the Bengals use their FB

…I could see Coats at the position. Jeremi Johnson had 4 carries last year for 8 yards and one extremely costly fumble that cost us the Raiders game. For the past 3 years he hasn’t had more than 6 receptions. Not exactly “tearing it up” at either level. And if the Bengals want to work in Leonard as an option, it gives us more flexibility.

Multiple times last year we had Roland playing “H-Back” and once I swear I saw Peko in the backfield. Coats is a good blocker and special teams contributor—definitely not a starting tight end, but not a bad guy to have on a team if you need an extra blocker that can line up on the end or as a FB.

by goffchile on Aug 5, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

johnson was and is a blocker

the rb’s yards are his stats.

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Aug 5, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

that's my point with Coats

…he’s a blocker too. Having a 265 lb guy who is a good blocker and not expected to catch or carry the ball is right up Dan’s alley. Add to it that he can line up as an extra blocker on the line, not a bad combination.

by goffchile on Aug 5, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

as much as they grew tired of Jeremi

he was a big part of the teams running success last year. They’ll be lucky to find someone of equal ability.

by featherman on Aug 5, 2010 11:26 AM EDT reply actions

agreed

he’s as solid at FB. and a large part of the successful running game in cincy. without him, it could be a scary season.

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Aug 5, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

we should utilize single back more often...

However doing that requires a pulling guard.

by quickslant on Aug 5, 2010 11:37 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

and tes that can block

cincy’s best job to run the ball without a fb blocking would be that line they put on the field last season with roland as a blocking TE.

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Aug 5, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Any word on how Tronzo is doing in camp?

by jim0ijk on Aug 5, 2010 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

Tronzo Shmonzo

If you don't live like you wanna, you live like you shouldn't

by trotanoy on Aug 5, 2010 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Why do you say that?

He comes in under similar circumstances as Chris Pressley last year. Very few of us would have noticed the FB battle last year had it not been for Hard Knocks, but many of us now miss Pressley. There was only one or 2 full backs drafted last year, so his undrafted status means little.

by jim0ijk on Aug 5, 2010 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions