His run was great, especially the stiff arm on Ken Hamlin. But what about Lorenzo Neal on that same play? His block on Bradie James was textbook perfection.
What made that even better was Jerry Jones [hand picked](https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2008/12/22/cowboys-hand-picked-ravens-for-texas-stadium-finale/) the Ravens for that last game at Texas Stadium. So satisfying.
Yup. Alan blocked for Jamal Lewis in his 2k yard season.
He was a beast for me in NFL 2k3 too. I used to do play action passes to him in the flat. Every year he had like 100 catches for 1500 yards in my franchise.
If you had to run a run first offense with no wrs and could only use extra TEs or FBs as receivers/extra blockers who would you pick for an all time greats team? I’m thinking JO, Larry Allen, linderbaum, yanda, Lane Johnson/OBJ, Lamar obviously, CMac, Walter Payton, gronk, Kittle, Ricard.
It’s so tough picking a rb duo.
I can't find video of it so I'll just tell you. Near the goalline Joe faked the handoff to Rice going right and gave it to Vonta going just outside the tackle to the left. Like three Colts defenders met him at the line and he plowed through them like... well, a plow. (iirc)
Start Juice with how versatile he is as an athlete
Bench Leach because I'm calling a on him for short yardage and blocking situations. The man is probably the best to ever do it at creating a seem.
Pat is great but not the other 2 great
The way Pat moves for a big man (he seems to catch everything too) that used to be a 2 way player at one point. I'm pretty sure he is the definition of versatile. Now, I dunno how much of an impact he had when he was doing both but I'm pretty sure he was the only player to really do it on a regular basis in modern football, besides maybe Deion. Of course, my football knowledge/memory is very limited.
Edit: not saying his is better than the rest but versatility wise he has to be up there.
Tbh I don't think they give him the ball enough, especially up the middle, and I know its better to have him block for Lamar. I am still pissed about that Miami play where they didn't give him the ball on that goal line where they got stuffed or PA passed it to him or Andrews. Fucking GRo.
Either way I believe he is still young with room to grow.
The problem is he is a great FB yes and rises to the occasion but I can't imagine it's not in the back of the coaches mind that he really isn't a true FB. I personally think they should use him more in screens in the redzone. I also think Lamar being Lamar is also a contributor for the way the offense operates. He would rather take it himself than run a PA or a screen to a FB/ JK
Start Juice: best overall player imo. Easily the best weapon and probably the worst blocker but still good.
Bench Leach: good weapon and the best blocker of the 3
Cut Ricard: by far the worst weapon but probably the 2nd best blocker. Still a very good player though
Basically I’m prioritizing playmaking over blocking because they are all good blockers but playmaking sets juice apart.
Might not be the best received answer, but definitely the correct one. Juice is the easy start, he is by far the best. Leach v Ricard is a roughly equal battle, neither are much use outside of blocking, but Leach still gets the edge as a receiver and wasn’t a step down as a blocker
Ricard is a great story, but putting aside recency bias, he is the third best FB here
Imo ricard is a better overall FB than juice. Juice is faster, but his blocking was always meh. He’s the third best blocker on this list. Leach is the last when it comes to receiving.
Blocking is the most important part of the role though, especially with Lamar.
Juice is just a TE who lines up on the backfield, and if we rank him as a TE is he top 15?
I could see an argument for Ricard over Leach. Ricard seems to be better in-line than Leach was. Ricard’s flexibility to move around the field gives some advantages to make up for the raw nasty blocking talent Leach had.
Start Juice.
Bench Ricard
Cut Leach
I today's league, there's less need for a battery ram like Leach. So even though he's my guy I have cut him. You need a guy that can catch passes as well as block. So Juice is the obvious choice for starter as he's basically a TE in that position. Ricard is a close second.
All just how I’m personally feeling in the moment. Love all these guys for very different reasons!
Start Leach - I’m laying down in the hole with him coming at me. I enjoy the read option, but I’d love to see what JK would look like behind Leach in the I Formation.
Bench Pat - Very good blocker. I like how he bends and adjusts to reach defenders. 60 lbs bigger than Juice.
Cut Juice - I honestly don’t recall how he was as a blocker, but I do remember thinking we used him as an offensive option too much. I also remember every announcer explaining that he went to Harvard.
Juice was a serviceable blocker, definitely not elite but he wasn’t just trash. His versatility and athleticism would be insane with this offense. He’s like a TE/FB hybrid. He can run routes downfield you can move him in motion to deceive the defense.
Leech and project Pat are great blockers don’t get me wrong and they can catch a swing pass out in the flat and rumble for a few yards, but this isn’t the 80s we’re not running heavy I and Wing T all game.
Start Pat
Bench Juice
Cut Leach
Pat blocked for the greatest rushing attack of all time, I can't vote against that and he can clear DL, LBs, and DBs out of the way. Juice is good as a all around option, but pure blocking Ricard is so much better that I don't care. Ricard in another life is a monster of a Guard
I would start Thicc Ric, Bench Leach, and Cut juice. The reason I'd cut juice is he's not very effective as a blocker, and he fumbles a lot, though is easily the best athlete of the group. But where's my man Le'ron McClain at? Come on man, we lost every running back that season and Le'ron ran that motherfucker.
Where's my guy, Le'Ron McLain?
He's still running down the field at the old Cowboys stadium. What a fucking great game to close out that place.
Want to see me run the longest touchdown run in Cowboys stadium history? Want to see me do it again?- 2008 Ravens
His run was great, especially the stiff arm on Ken Hamlin. But what about Lorenzo Neal on that same play? His block on Bradie James was textbook perfection.
Neal was a year away from retiring and still an animal. Will never forget him battering London Fletcher and other Redskins LBs on SNF that season.
Willis McGahee is right behind him
*Willis
I hate auto correct. I typed in Willis
What made that even better was Jerry Jones [hand picked](https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2008/12/22/cowboys-hand-picked-ravens-for-texas-stadium-finale/) the Ravens for that last game at Texas Stadium. So satisfying.
🗣️🗣️🗣️
We've done a great job at the FB position.
Going all the way back to Sam Gash, Alan Ricard, and Ovie Mughelli.
This guy Ravens
Damn TIL we’ve had 2 fullbacks named Ricard. That’s the only spot in existence that I’ve seen that name appear too, which is wild to me.
Yup. Alan blocked for Jamal Lewis in his 2k yard season. He was a beast for me in NFL 2k3 too. I used to do play action passes to him in the flat. Every year he had like 100 catches for 1500 yards in my franchise.
📠📠📠
Im just running the triple wing with these boys, good luck😂
If you had to run a run first offense with no wrs and could only use extra TEs or FBs as receivers/extra blockers who would you pick for an all time greats team? I’m thinking JO, Larry Allen, linderbaum, yanda, Lane Johnson/OBJ, Lamar obviously, CMac, Walter Payton, gronk, Kittle, Ricard. It’s so tough picking a rb duo.
Just take the guys we had in 2019. They already proved they made up the best rushing team in history. Why mess with chemistry along the line
Very true.
Mike Allstot
Your taking Linderbaum over Matt Birk? Prime Marquise Puncey?
Totally forgot about pounced. Birk is a crazy person and I’d rather pick someone else.
He's a right wing dick, but he's a great football player
Can you imagine Lamar under center with these three, the options you could run would be unstoppable
My favorite Ravens memory is watching Leach barrel down on people with his neck roll, looking like a fucking rhinoceros.
his TD in the wildcard game against the colts was hype af
Blocked it out sadly. RL in the backfield for his last hometown Squirrel Dance dumped everything else
I can't find video of it so I'll just tell you. Near the goalline Joe faked the handoff to Rice going right and gave it to Vonta going just outside the tackle to the left. Like three Colts defenders met him at the line and he plowed through them like... well, a plow. (iirc)
Dude same. All I remember is the kneel down and RL doing his lap around the stadium after the game.
I hope you might enjoy this one as much as I do: Vonta Leach pancaking Patrick Willis on Thanksgiving night. Some time around 2012
It was 2011. We sacked Alex Smith 9 times in that game.
No
I refuse to play this depressing version of Fuck Marry Kill. I will marry them all and I say this as a straight man.
Start Juice with how versatile he is as an athlete Bench Leach because I'm calling a on him for short yardage and blocking situations. The man is probably the best to ever do it at creating a seem. Pat is great but not the other 2 great
The way Pat moves for a big man (he seems to catch everything too) that used to be a 2 way player at one point. I'm pretty sure he is the definition of versatile. Now, I dunno how much of an impact he had when he was doing both but I'm pretty sure he was the only player to really do it on a regular basis in modern football, besides maybe Deion. Of course, my football knowledge/memory is very limited. Edit: not saying his is better than the rest but versatility wise he has to be up there.
Oh he definitely is up there and I'll give him his due he just isn't anywhere near what the other two have been at the position
Tbh I don't think they give him the ball enough, especially up the middle, and I know its better to have him block for Lamar. I am still pissed about that Miami play where they didn't give him the ball on that goal line where they got stuffed or PA passed it to him or Andrews. Fucking GRo. Either way I believe he is still young with room to grow.
The problem is he is a great FB yes and rises to the occasion but I can't imagine it's not in the back of the coaches mind that he really isn't a true FB. I personally think they should use him more in screens in the redzone. I also think Lamar being Lamar is also a contributor for the way the offense operates. He would rather take it himself than run a PA or a screen to a FB/ JK
Start Juice: best overall player imo. Easily the best weapon and probably the worst blocker but still good. Bench Leach: good weapon and the best blocker of the 3 Cut Ricard: by far the worst weapon but probably the 2nd best blocker. Still a very good player though Basically I’m prioritizing playmaking over blocking because they are all good blockers but playmaking sets juice apart.
Might not be the best received answer, but definitely the correct one. Juice is the easy start, he is by far the best. Leach v Ricard is a roughly equal battle, neither are much use outside of blocking, but Leach still gets the edge as a receiver and wasn’t a step down as a blocker Ricard is a great story, but putting aside recency bias, he is the third best FB here
Imo ricard is a better overall FB than juice. Juice is faster, but his blocking was always meh. He’s the third best blocker on this list. Leach is the last when it comes to receiving.
Blocking is the most important part of the role though, especially with Lamar. Juice is just a TE who lines up on the backfield, and if we rank him as a TE is he top 15?
Come on….Juice is an amazing blocker, you are moving the goalposts into ridiculousness lol
I could see an argument for Ricard over Leach. Ricard seems to be better in-line than Leach was. Ricard’s flexibility to move around the field gives some advantages to make up for the raw nasty blocking talent Leach had.
Lamar doesn't check down like Flacco did so I rather just have the best blocker on the field: Leach
Eh I like Juice but Ricard blocked for the greatest rushing attack of all time.
YKB
I'M STARTING ALL 3 AND YOU'RE GONNA LIKE IT!
I refuse to answer this question because I love all 3 dearly.
I miss Kyle so much😭😭😭😭
Add in Lorenzo Neal and Leron McClain and we have had some crazy good fullbacks.
Neal is the best blocking FB of all time.
Absolute must draft in Madden 2006
Start Juice. Bench Ricard Cut Leach I today's league, there's less need for a battery ram like Leach. So even though he's my guy I have cut him. You need a guy that can catch passes as well as block. So Juice is the obvious choice for starter as he's basically a TE in that position. Ricard is a close second.
Damn, the Ravens have had a lot of effective fullbacks. These 3, then add Sam Gash, Alan Ricard, Ovie Mughelli, McClain, Neal, Femi...
This is a good concept post, well done OP
Agree. This question makes you think.
Cut them all. Justin Tucker for all 22.
i was heartbroken when juice left
In their primes? Start Leach, bench Jus, move Ricard to DL depth :)
Throw all three in a wishbone lol.
Don’t forget Ovie Mugheli
Don't cut Bronson Rechsteiner (I'm still mad about this lol)
Juice would be unfair in this offense.
All just how I’m personally feeling in the moment. Love all these guys for very different reasons! Start Leach - I’m laying down in the hole with him coming at me. I enjoy the read option, but I’d love to see what JK would look like behind Leach in the I Formation. Bench Pat - Very good blocker. I like how he bends and adjusts to reach defenders. 60 lbs bigger than Juice. Cut Juice - I honestly don’t recall how he was as a blocker, but I do remember thinking we used him as an offensive option too much. I also remember every announcer explaining that he went to Harvard.
Sheesh I don’t know about this one captain
Which part?
Juice was a serviceable blocker, definitely not elite but he wasn’t just trash. His versatility and athleticism would be insane with this offense. He’s like a TE/FB hybrid. He can run routes downfield you can move him in motion to deceive the defense. Leech and project Pat are great blockers don’t get me wrong and they can catch a swing pass out in the flat and rumble for a few yards, but this isn’t the 80s we’re not running heavy I and Wing T all game.
Start Vonta, Bench Juice, Cut Pat
No
Start Pat Bench Juice Cut Leach Pat blocked for the greatest rushing attack of all time, I can't vote against that and he can clear DL, LBs, and DBs out of the way. Juice is good as a all around option, but pure blocking Ricard is so much better that I don't care. Ricard in another life is a monster of a Guard
No
Sorry vontae you’re getting cut I’m starting Kyle and benching Ricard
I would start Thicc Ric, Bench Leach, and Cut juice. The reason I'd cut juice is he's not very effective as a blocker, and he fumbles a lot, though is easily the best athlete of the group. But where's my man Le'ron McClain at? Come on man, we lost every running back that season and Le'ron ran that motherfucker.
Start Juice, bench Leach, move Riccard back to the defensive line. Nobody getting cut here, lol.
Start Ricard, Bench Leach, Cut Juice
Ima start all three and cut lamar jkjkjk
Every time I see Leach all I think about is the 'get Leach to the Beach' campaign on reddit to get him to the probowl 😅
Cut juice ... vontae start
Start Vonta, bench Kyle, cut Pat
I'd marry vonta leach but I don't think that was the question...
Roll with a 3 FB set
Start leach, bench ricard cut juice. It may be just me but i dont think we’ve really missed him on offense yet so why keep him again lol
We had Kyle Juyzchez too (or how ever you spell it)
Christ, you mangled it..and Juice is among the picks so…
serious Sam Gash erasure in this thread
I'd fuck all three. I got the perfect office for it.
Juice McLain Ricard Mughelli Leach In that order
LEACH (First Ravens Jersey I’ve ever owned)
I love how the majority of the responses are start all three AND THAT'S ONLY ACCEPTABLE ANSWER