Per a rival site, very exciting news. Alot of people have been clamoring for Tedford to get some more explosive athletes at FB and Yarnway definitely fits the bill.

Explosive is good but Cal's FBs have to be able to block to make the offense work. Running, pass catching abilities are secondary assets.

59bear;735483 said:

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Explosive is good but Cal's FBs have to be able to block to make the offense work. Running, pass catching abilities are secondary assets.

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Sounds like it's too early to say. But if there's one thing we can count on, it's that Tedford will not put a FB into a game who can't block. Since Yarnway's just now getting reps at FB, it probably won't be until Fall camp that we have a good sense of whether he's a viable option blocking-wise. Got to give the kid some time to acclimate to the position after all.

Reading between the lines, it looks like Yarnway's getting the sense that if he wants to see the field he better start honing up on those blocking skills. The carrot for him may be that they'll incorporate more RB-like duties for him as a FB (e.g. a few more runs/passes than we've previously had with FB's, etc.) to take advantage of his athleticism.

this is likley just a springtime move until Stevens is ready to go again. Still, nice to get Yarnway on the field in some capacity.

ManBear;735489 said:

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this is likley just a springtime move until Stevens is ready to go again. Still, nice to get Yarnway on the field in some capacity.

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Unless, of course, Yarnway demonstrates that he is a revelation at the position. I simply like the idea of giving something new a try. That's a huge positive for me with JT!!!!

25-30 years ago, the fullback was an offensive weapon, getting almost as many carries as the halfback. While I can appreciate the role transition to becoming another blocker, I have long felt that a present-day coach who gave the fullback a few more carries might surprise a bunch of defenses, much as that Stanford guy did with greater use of tight ends. Sometimes a step backward can take us ahead of the game. FWIW

You'd have to think a guy wtih a physique like that could do some blocking.... just need to say mean things to him before every play, Waterboy style. "Visualize and attack!"

ManBear;735489 said:

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this is likley just a springtime move until Stevens is ready to go again. Still, nice to get Yarnway on the field in some capacity.

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Yarnway has at least five guys in front of him on the depth chart (six if you count Manual), and even with Stevens back (assuming he comes back at all, and at full strength), we are shallow at fullback, so I would hope its a permanent move. For that matter, I hope Briggs moves to fullback also. We need some depth and options at that position.

I came from the era that saw a FB as a strong RB. Boy, this could be very good news if the Yarnway project works out. To have a FB again with RB experience could lead to some very nice mix options....Go Yarnway go.

I'm a Yarnway fan but some of you are forgetting that Stevens will be making a full recovery and is an above average FB set to have a break-out year. Before his injury, Stevens was noted as being one of the more athletic and tough performers in camp. My point is that we don't need to worry about finding a starter. We just need to establish depth.

heartofthebear;735615 said:

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I'm a Yarnway fan but some of you are forgetting that Stevens will be making a full recovery and is an above average FB set to have a break-out year. Before his injury, Stevens was noted as being one of the more athletic and tough performers in camp. My point is that we don't need to worry about finding a starter. We just need to establish depth.

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Good point. Still, having Yarnway out there as another offensive weapon is intriguing in the least. JT needs to flat out get creative this year and pull out all the stops. Another year of bad offense is going to be good for him or the program.

heartofthebear;735615 said:

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I'm a Yarnway fan but some of you are forgetting that Stevens will be making a full recovery and is an above average FB set to have a break-out year. Before his injury, Stevens was noted as being one of the more athletic and tough performers in camp. My point is that we don't need to worry about finding a starter. We just need to establish depth.

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Fair enough, but Steven's injury last year also showed us the importance of having quality depth at the position. In addition, Stevens' a 5th year Sr. this year so at a minimum having someone like Yarnway backing him up could set him up as the eventual starter after he leaves.

Yarnway's also an injury risk so we definitely need Stevens to bring his A-game as well.

TKDBear;735638 said:

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Fair enough, but Steven's injury last year also showed us the importance of having quality depth at the position. In addition, Stevens' a 5th year Sr. this year so at a minimum having someone like Yarnway backing him up could set him up as the eventual starter after he leaves.

Yarnway's also an injury risk so we definitely need Stevens to bring his A-game as well.

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Yarnway would also be challenged by Maximo Espitia from this year's recruiting class if we are talking about a FB for 2013.

I wonder if DeBoskie was offered this option.

edg64;736397 said:

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I wonder if DeBoskie was offered this option.

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I was wondering the same thing, but it seems that everyone is being offered the option so probably Deboskie thought it was better to seek a starting RB job somewhere else then stay at Cal and compete for a back-up FB job. I can't say I blame him. For Yarnway, since he isn't a senior next year like CDJ, being a back-up isn't so bad because he can become a starter in 2013 after Stevens graduates.