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There have been some questions concerning whether or not the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs would hold a conventional fullback on the roster in 2021 following the retirement of veteran Anthony Sherman. These questions had been answered when the Chiefs agreed to terms with former New Orleans Saints fullback Michael Burton.
The 29-year-old is a six-season NFL veteran, which is spectacular for a place that’s thought-about a dying breed within the league. At 6-foot and 240 kilos, he’s a real fullback versus an H-Again sort. He spent the 2020 season blocking for one of many high dashing offenses within the league.
On Monday, Burton officially signed his contract with Kansas Metropolis. Burton spoke to the media for the primary time, explaining why he felt just like the Chiefs had been a match for him.
“I believe within the West Coast offense, particularly, (fullbacks) have to have the ability to do a number of issues,” Burton started. “They’ve to have the ability to run-block, they’ve to have the ability to run with the soccer, catch, pass-protect and do all these various things. I believe it brings a special factor to the offense. A number of defenses which may not apply towards West Coast offenses, it might be a special match within the two-back run recreation and the go recreation and stuff like that. So, I believe it brings nice worth and that’s one of many the explanation why I needed to return right here—it was as a result of Coach Reid has at all times used a fullback and has at all times had that West Coast offensive scheme.”
The job of a fullback isn’t all lead-blocks and short-yardage carries. Andy Reid’s offensive scheme is derived from the West Coast offense and actually maximizes all of the completely different potentialities for a fullback. That was a contributing consider making the Chiefs an interesting vacation spot for Burton.
“There’s a number of issues,” Burton mentioned. “I believe alternative and scheme. The chance to play for an amazing head coach and an amazing group, a profitable group, a group that’s expectations are Tremendous Bowl. I believe that’s laborious to say on this league that every yr you might have a really, excellent probability of going to the Tremendous Bowl, and I believe that was actually necessary.
“And once more scheme-wise, I touched on it a little bit bit, Coach Reid has at all times carried a fullback, even since his days in Philadelphia. He’s at all times had one, proof of Anthony Sherman being right here for eight years in a row. So, between the chance of being a part of a profitable group and scheme match, I believed it was a extremely good alternative for me.”
Whereas the scheme match actually is sensible, ever since Patrick Mahomes’ arrival because the beginning quarterback, the position of the fullback in Kansas Metropolis has diminished. It’s laborious to think about Burton getting the identical 208 snaps in 2021 that he noticed with the Saints in 2020. Anthony Sherman by no means had over 100 offensive snaps with Mahomes because the quarterback.
One space the place Burton might want to excel to be able to achieve success with the Chiefs is on particular groups.
“I count on my position to be a four-phaser,” Burton mentioned. “That’s the aim. Such as you mentioned, taking part in fullback you need to be a four-phaser, you simply must be. And it’s actually necessary to me to be a four-phaser and be an excellent four-phaser. So after I get right here, and I’m already engaged on that course of now, put your greatest foot ahead, be the most effective soccer participant you may be and the most effective particular groups participant you may be, and that’s my aim. Begin learning now, method, scheme and simply methods I can get forward proper now. Then, once we hit the sphere operating, simply work as laborious as you may to be that greatest particular groups participant as a result of such as you alluded to, it is vitally necessary particularly within the fullback position.”
Burton has already begun to arrange himself mentally for the varieties of issues that can make him profitable in Kansas Metropolis. Now, it’s all about execution as soon as he arrives and takes the sphere along with his new group.
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