October 24, 2004
running back = tailback & halfback
I've noticed the term halfback appearing quite a bit recently. It has been mentioned in discussions of Shiancoe's role on the Giants and in Gibbs' joke of an offense in Washington. I was too embarassed to admit that I didn't know the difference between a halfback and a running back. Turns out there is none:
What's the difference between a tailback and a halfback? None. They're both anachronistic terms that I interchange, preferring both to the current "running back."Posted by James Trotta at October 24, 2004 6:13 PM
Thanks for clearing that up. It's one of those things I never quite knew the difference on but never bothered to look it up.
Well, there is a slight difference. Technically, the tailback is the rear back in the I formation where the QB, FB and TB are standing behind each other in a line. Thus he is the 'tail' of the formation. Halfback is the ball carrying back in the T or pro-set where the 2 stand side by side behind the QB. Both are the same position, as distinct from the FB who has more run-blocking responsibilities than the main runner TB or HB.
Posted by: Chris Smith at October 29, 2004 11:47 AMThanks Chris: you definition of tailback makes perfect sense to me.
Posted by: James Trotta at October 29, 2004 10:43 PMHere's one I don't get.
The FB is the guy who is kind of a runningback, but is primarily a blocker.
The HB is the guy who usually carries the ball.
Ok, all well and good.
But in Washington Joe Gibbs uses what he calls his H Back (you'll never hear the guy called a halfback or an HB) to do the job of the FB, with Clinton Portis being the RB or TB.
Ok, so what's the big difference between a FB and Gibbs H back?
This article explains it as a "TE/FB hybrid", but then goes on to describe the H-Back's duties as being indentical to the duties of a FB.
Are they trying to say that the H Back is integrated into the passing game more than a FB? But many FBs are used as outlet receivers. So again, what's the big difference?
The position seems more a quirk in terminology than an actual seperate entity from a FB.
Here's another weak attempt to distinguish the H Back from a FB. The term is really starting to seem just an arrogance, because I see no practical difference. Simply saying that it's a "unique position" doesn't make it one.
Posted by: Tom at October 31, 2004 2:45 PM