Fullback Justin Fowler hopes to add some pop to the Falcons rushing attack, especially in short-yardage situations.
“I can get in there dig them out and blow them up,” said Fowler on Tuesday before his first practice with the team. “They can run right behind me. Just put my head down, shoulder pads down, and get the yardage that we need.”
The Falcons have elected to throw passes in traditional short-yardage situations or send a running back into the line without a lead block in the past several seasons.
In the 28-14 exhibition loss to the Chiefs on Friday, the Falcons called a pass from a five-wide receiver set on fourth-and-2. Later in the game, they ran backup running back Ito Smith into the line on fourth-and-1 and he was stuffed.
The Falcons had a similar passing failures in the playoffs last season against the Eagles on the last play of the game and a third-and-1 pass play in Super Bowl LI tragically backfired.
The Falcons haven’t had a big fullback since the days of Ovie Mughelli, who took his last snap in 2011. The Falcons have been using “tweener” fullbacks who get in the way and maybe can catch the ball out of the backfield.
The Falcons, who elected not to re-signed Derrick Coleman, need to add some power to their attack and may have done so in adding the 261-pound Fowler, who was signed on Monday. Fullback Luke McNitt was released.
Ricky Ortiz, who wore a black jersey for the second practice in a row, is the only other fullback on the roster.
Fowler, who played at Alabama, was a fourth-round pick of the Titans in 2015. He started until former Falcons coordinator Mike Mularkey became the head coach.
Mularkey and offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie, also a former Falcons assistant coach, wanted to use more tight ends and didn’t have a need for a traditional battering ram fullback, according to Fowler.
After playing in 42 NFL games and making eight starts, Fowler was released. He signed with the Seahawks, but was plagued by hamstring injuries. He was released on Aug. 12.
“I went to Seattle and things were going pretty good until I started having hamstring problems,” Fowler said. “In the spring I hurt my left hamstring and I was out for a while. Then I came back in the beginning of training camp and I hurt my right hamstring. I had to fight with those.”
Fowler is over the injuries and believes he can be productive for the Falcons.
“I’m just trying to help these guys be explosive,” Fowler said. “Help the running backs gain more yardage. They are already balling out. I’m just trying to help them do more. Give them some more open lanes to run through.”
Fowler has 10 NFL carries for 20 yards and two touchdowns.
“Just give it to me, I’ll try to go forward for about two yards,” Fowler said.
Fowler believes he can play on special teams.
“I can handle that part of it,” Fowler said. “I just want to see what they want me to do. Whatever they want me to do, I’m going to do it to the best of my abilities.”
Fowler received some advice from wide receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley before his first practice with the Falcons.
“I just (finished) talking to Julio and he was trying to tell me about the practice tempo,” Fowler said. “Calvin has just been telling me to just keep working hard, be on time and do everything right.”
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