Bruce Miller Competing With Norris

Yeah, fullbacks usually don't have to be as athletic as the other positions (especially pass rushers), so his effort, toughness, and football instincts/intelligence could help him to be a very successful FB. Getting Frankenstien's monster out of our backfield would be an added bonus.

Harbaugh is amazing, people forget about Jim's adjacent experiment with Owen Marecic (at Stanford), who was also a LB/DE converted into a WCO-FB (Owen also played 'both' sides of the ball at Stanford; same as Harbaugh is doing with Miller throughout previous practices, playing Miller on both sides of the ball).

Harbaugh = Bill Belichick; if you're a limited 'role-player' who can't play more than one position on the team, your value drops. Bye bye Norris.

I wouldn't be surprised if the niners go with only one fullback. This would save them space and a spot on another more talented player like a DB or WR where there is more competition. Although he is less experienced, His athlethism is greater than Norris and he would be a better special teamer. Not to mention an emergency pass rusher. Plus the niners will be using more TE's in their blocking schemes which also makes for not only a big blocker but better hidden schemes.

The more you study JH's version of the WCO, you also realize their is elements of the old redskins two-tight end/h-back offense they ran under Gibbs.

I didn't realize he was a red-head. I'm a red-head also, so I hope El Diablo Rojo replaces Norris.

Originally posted by WRATHman44:
Yeah, fullbacks usually don't have to be as athletic as the other positions (especially pass rushers), so his effort, toughness, and football instincts/intelligence could help him to be a very successful FB. Getting Frankenstien's monster out of our backfield would be an added bonus.

Yes, his football instincts just seem off the charts to me. He's consistently hitting the correct defender and even gets them turned out of the play correctly. I know he played TE in HS, but to jump from there to the NFL and perform like he has is very impressive... as Matt pointed out in the article, he even stood up Seymour, who Iupati had trouble blocking.

Yeah... and getting that overstuffed golem off the roster would make me very happy.

As much as I hate seeing him on offense instead of defense, he's been playing very well there. Better than Norris. They've even used him as the third blocking tight end, sending him in motion to set up blocks on certain plays. He's been used all over the field in a number of ways on offense, as well as ST's.

Norris' time is up. Miller not only has all the potential and upside in the world, he's already surpassed Norris in my mind in raw ability. Knowledge will come in time with experience, but Miller straight-up is more talented. Norris has almost no chance if they're keeping only one FB.

Originally posted by RedWaltz24:
I didn't realize he was a red-head. I'm a red-head also, so I hope El Diablo Rojo replaces Norris.

From the limited plays I've seen of Miller, he does have an upside to his game. I would not be surprised to see Norris cut and Miller dressing on Sundays.

Originally posted by SnakePlissken:
Harbaugh is amazing, people forget about Jim's adjacent experiment with Owen Marecic (at Stanford), who was also a LB/DE converted into a WCO-FB (Owen also played 'both' sides of the ball at Stanford; same as Harbaugh is doing with Miller throughout previous practices, playing Miller on both sides of the ball).

Harbaugh = Bill Belichick; if you're a limited 'role-player' who can't play more than one position on the team, your value drops. Bye bye Norris.

I know it is just a comparison but the JH/BB link is annoying. I can't stand the conventional mentality most coaches have in this league where x player must fit x' spot....I can't stand this narrow-minded "networking" mentality of the coaches around the league. What's worse is that an assistant who has an unconventional thinking is sort of black balled similar to Walsh was way back when.

JH is a real coach. So is Belichick. They use players with tremendious ability at the professional level to play football. They don't pigeon hole players and restrict them as do most coaches. They are also coaches who adjust the way they do things to a vast degree to fit to the players, not the other way around.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
As much as I hate seeing him on offense instead of defense, he's been playing very well there. Better than Norris. They've even used him as the third blocking tight end, sending him in motion to set up blocks on certain plays. He's been used all over the field in a number of ways on offense, as well as ST's.

Norris' time is up. Miller not only has all the potential and upside in the world, he's already surpassed Norris in my mind in raw ability. Knowledge will come in time with experience, but Miller straight-up is more talented. Norris has almost no chance if they're keeping only one FB.

Just to add to this -- the only way I see Norris making the team is if they make Miller the third TE, and try to put Reuland on the practice squad. Based on Reuland's pass-catching ability and clear upside (he only needs to add strength to improve his blocking), it could be risky to try to put him on the PS. But I could live with Miller being made the 3rd TE/H-back for a year. Because when Byham returns next year, Reuland may not have a place here anyway. Delanie is signed through 2012.

Its awesome how we know so much about this guy after a handful of preseason snaps

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Just to add to this -- the only way I see Norris making the team is if they make Miller the third TE, and try to put Reuland on the practice squad. Based on Reuland's pass-catching ability and clear upside (he only needs to add strength to improve his blocking), it could be risky to try to put him on the PS. But I could live with Miller being made the 3rd TE/H-back for a year. Because when Byham returns next year, Reuland may not have a place here anyway. Delanie is signed through 2012.

Or they could keep 4 TE when Nate comes back next year with only 1 fullback. TE is like LB, valuable for ST. Plus this offense is TE based, so you need to have the talent in case someone goes down (knock on wood) especially since it has been written they will have 3 TE sets. The niners might also surprise and go with only 2 QB's and place one on practice squad or just sign someone during the season should the need arise.

Competition over.

we should go with 11 fullbacks! kind of like nolan went with 11 DB's/Safetys a few years ago