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NFL Insider: With a year's experience, fullback Ali developing into a force for Browns
by Tony Grossi
Saturday August 16, 2008, 9:46 PM

One of the most improved second-year players on the Browns is Charles Ali, who was the only undrafted rookie free agent to make the team in 2007.

He looks like a different player from the wide-eyed kid who walked on from Arkansas-Pine Bluff a year ago as a raw, bruising fullback.

In fact, Ali lost 10 pounds and is playing now at 255. He got invaluable playing time in the offense when starting fullback Lawrence Vickers missed two weeks with a hamstring injury.

"He's a smarter player," said Jamal Lewis. "You can tell how dedicated he is as far as what he's learned, picking things up about what fullbacks are supposed to do, and trying to build a chemistry with the running back, asking questions, getting feedback."

Lewis truly appreciates his blocking backs, Vickers and Ali. He said "it's something special" when the fullback and tailback have the right chemistry.

He said the chemistry is right when "[the fullback] knows where you're going, knows what it's going to take on a given play. A lot of times, it doesn't take a kill shot. Lots of times it just takes getting in the way [of a defender]."

"Last year, [Ali] was a big fullback, a big bruiser, which all running backs love," Lewis continued. "But it was kind of hard learning that position because there's so much to learn, being able to run through traffic and read through traffic. He wasn't as good last year as he is now doing that."

Ali's weight loss also earned him an enlarged role on special teams, including on kickoff returns. This year, Ali was moved from the front line of blockers to the next wave as an upback. That next wave may get more action in the return game as teams elect to kick short of Pro Bowl return specialist Josh Cribbs.

The other day in practice, Ali hauled in a purposely short kickoff and pounded down the sideline to the end zone. Teammates roared at the sight of Ali trundling to paydirt. He has become one of the more popular players within the team.

Last year, it seemed a luxury for the Browns to keep two fullbacks active on game days. This year nobody is questioning it.

Link

Nice! Too bad it's kind of a waste to have 2 really good fullbacks considering the dimished role they play in today's NFL. But we sure are deep at some positions. Now, can we find another corner?

.......but can he throw the ball?

I'd like to see a backfield of Vickers and Ali on goal line situations.

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I'd like to see a backfield of Vickers and Ali on goal line situations.

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But why when we have Jamal Lewis? Lewis is an animal, he's a true power back. On a goalline he's far superior to either of those guys...............

I don't mind running Vickers just to throw teams off, but I don't want a power formation of Vickers and Ali on goal lines. It wouldn't be close to as effective as having Jamal run the ball in. Even Jerome Harrison would be better as he's shown to be a capable inside back.

I like hearing that Ali is good, but unfortunately we already have Vickers at FB. If having Ali means no spot for Harrison, then he's gotta go. That's how I see it, period.

I like the idea of having all three in the backfield.

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I like the idea of having all three in the backfield.

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And lose the option of another blocker on the line............ I dunno man. There's a reason that that package isn't run much. May be if Ali is good enough it would be reasonable (as you want to find ways to keep your best players on the field), but he better be pretty damn good because a three man backfield is rarely used.

All I'm saying is that I'm glad to hear that Ali is doing well. But unless Vickers goes down, he better be able to produce on special teams.

I like Harrison a lot, and I think it's rediculous that he doesn't suit up every week. If not suiting up Ali allows Harrison to suit up, I'm all for it.

This was a really nice read into what has been going on with Ali because most of the time during regular games all I see is mostly Vickers out there on the field. It's also great to hear that Ali is losing weight and becoming more of an intrecal part of the system. If we ever starting getting several pass plays to Vickers in the future, we could use Ali in there half and half just for more of the running plays. But then again I'm not really sure how Vickers would react to having Ali coming in there and sharing time.

I know I'm pretty young and haven't seen old school football, but has a FB tandem ever been used before???

We used to run it with T. Smith, Vickers, and Droughns in the back field. And in that situation I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes to have one extra guy on the outside.

True, and with blocking he is great tight. He also is overcommitted to the cutback as a first option much too often. These are what killed us on his NFL record days we watched. Ali needs to be his own force. Bettis got used regularly with success. Get a few sea pigs in the backfield and have us a convoy. The way Wright plays pass D and no rush, we better score touchdowns. JMO

If you watch the "highlights" of the game on NFL.com, you can see Ali get confused on the play that knocked DA out of the game, and not block anybody. He should've picked up Osi, but instead he just stood there blocking nobody while Hank chased after Osi as he flattened DA. Ali literally let the guy run right past him. DA had the other guy beat, but there is no way he's going to outrun an unblocked LBer coming from his blind side.

Jamal and Wirght aren't FB's, they are RB's.
The other FB was inactive.
It was obviously a personnel group and formation that uses a FB.

Until that play (and even now), there was no reason to think it would be an issue.


You're just 20/20 Hindsight Second-Guessing.

Like I said, I think it was just confusion on Ali's part. He's looked good, but he's still pretty green.

It looks like the RG blew his assignment as well, but I can't tell who it is...video is grainy. Jersey number looks like 72 but that's Tucker and he didn't play.

Edit: duh, it wasn't the RG, it was Shaffer.

Watching it some more, it looks like Steiny got the initial punch to slow him down and then passed him off and Ali was supposed to pick him up. Joe took his guy out of the play. The TE blocked his man. Hank got a quick hit on his guy who was then taken by Hadnot, and then Hank chased Osi as he didn't get picked up. Maybe Hank was supposed to pick up Osi after Steiny hit him and was a step slow getting there, but Shaffer and Ali didn't block anyone.