Chicago Bears fullback Khari Blasingame is appointment viewing at practice. That is if you enjoy seeing a football player put his versatility on display. Or if you just enjoy watching an athlete being an athlete. Because make no mistake about it, Blasingame is a tremendous athlete. And that is something that shows in almost everything that he does on the football field.
At any given moment at practice, Blasingame might be leading blocking, toting the rock, or even catching a pass deep down the field. And, from the look of things, they may need him to do all of that.
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Khari Blasingame is the Chicago Bears Most Intriguing Weapon
Jack of All Trades
Blasingame signed with the Bears this offseason on a one-year deal for less than $1 million. If what he has put on display over the first three weeks of training camp is any indication, he will quickly outperform that valuation.
Consider that the three-year veteran is set to be the 35th highest-paid player on the Bears roster. He is the 14th-highest paid in the NFL at his position.
All he’s done to begin his career is help open running lanes for two-time rushing champion, Derrick Henry with the Tennessee Titans. Blasingame didn’t get to touch the ball much for the Titans. He has just 10 receptions (on 12 targets) for 97 yards and a whopping three carries for six yards in his career.
That limited usage doesn’t seem to be the plan for him in Chicago, though, listening to his head coach.
“To be able to stretch the field with a fullback? So, when you get into 21, you move him around, and he’s a viable option in the passing game. Deep. So, typically those guys will line up there and they’ll turn around and stand there. Well, not him. He’s got the whole tree available to him…That creates a lot of pressure for the defense, for sure.”
Starting running back David Montgomery also had positive things to say about his new lead blocker.
“A bruiser, big strong guy. Can lift you up, I’m telling you, can move you.”
Blasingame knows what his game is.
“I see myself as a guy who’s going to go in and get…[the running backs] a little bit more space. Just bring a little extra pop to the offense and the running back room…Whatever coach tells me to do in a play, and it’s my role, I’m going to know it and I’m going to do it to the best of my ability”
new bears fullback khari blasingame can fly.
he’s 6 foot, 233 lbs by the way. pic.twitter.com/8mtgKLC0br
— Dave (@dave_bfr) March 18, 2022
Tale of the Tape
Asked if he wants more touches this season, Blasingame kept things in perspective.
“However it shakes out, if I get the ball in my hands, cool. But I know I take pride in the lead blocking stuff too and I want to be the best that I can at that. So, carrying is cool. But I did a lot of that in college so I got my fix.”
Last season, the league saw teams deploy “21” personnel – two backs, one tight end – roughly 7% of the time, per Sharp Football Analysis. They deployed “22” personnel – two back, two tight ends – 3% of the time.
In other words, a fullback was on the field for just 10% of all plays ran last season.
But “21” tied for the highest successful play rate last season. Meanwhile, “22” came in at the same rate as sets featuring four wide receivers and one tight end as well as ones with two backs and three tight ends.
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s Green Bay Packers ran “21” just 2% of the time. They did not even roster a true fullback last season. But they still had a 59% success rate. They did not run “22” personnel.
The infrequency would seem to belie the success that these looks can have. Or, perhaps it enhances their effectiveness.
Either way, their impact isn’t lost on Eberflus who takes over a team that hasn’t had a fullback since 2018.
“I think when you can have a fullback or a tight end that can play that position…it creates more gaps in the running game when you have that lead back in there. And you certainly have to be mindful of that defensively…it’s a big advantage for the offense to have that guy.”
Blasingame spoke with the media after practice on August 7 about, among other things, how important it is for everyone to buy in for a successful ground attack.
“It takes all 11 in the run game.”
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Playing Fullback a Lost Artform
Blasingame said that he takes pride in being a rare breed in the NFL today. The game is being dominated by spread schemes with multiple wide receivers and few to no running backs on the field.
Over 90% of all plays ran featured one or fewer running back with multiple wide receivers or tight ends on the field at the same time.
“What is it, like, seven of us really in the league? There’s a lot of fullbacks around the league. But not a lot of teams utilize it heavily. So i definitely take pride in being in a position to prove that I can be relied on and make plays for the offense and help us run the ball and be one of those guys…that gets used and provides value for the offense.”
Blasingame named a laundry list of fullbacks that he watches and tries to take things from to add to his own game. C.J. Ham of the Minnesota Vikings who he teamed with as a rookie to Juszuzyk and Baltimore Ravens lead blocker Patrick Ricard.
But he also named greats from the past. Players such as Mike Alstott, Daryl Johnston, and Lorenzo Neal who also played for the Titans.
David Montgomery, Running Backs Set to Lead the Chicago Bears
Some Bears Fullback History
As the home of the T-Formation, the Bears’ history is rife with top-notch fullback play. From Bronko Nagurski and Red Grange back when the position was the primary ball carrier to Matt Suhey Neal Anderson in the 80s and 90s.
Those are lofty standards and not to be expected from Blasingame, particularly in this day and age of spread offenses.
But do not be surprised if the former safety-turned-linebacker-turned-runner-turned-blocker
“Adaptabliity has always been something that’s helped me get on the field. So, moving to fullback was just another way to adapt and get on the field and provide value and keep playing football as long as I can.”
