Titans Finally Found Their Fullback Amid Tight Ends

MyCole Pruitt has become the go-to guy when the offense goes with two in the backfield

Jim Brown/USA Today Sports

It can be difficult these days to find a true fullback.

The Tennessee Titans decided it was best to enlist someone to assume the role on a part-time basis. It took a while, but they finally found their guy hiding in plain sight among the tight ends. MyCole Pruitt, a 6-foot-2, 245-pounder journeyman who has played for four different franchises in 43 career games suddenly has a well-defined role, one that gets him on the field regularly and provides a valuable service for an offense that relies heavily on the run game.

“I did a little bit of it [earlier in my career],” Pruitt said. “Not too much of it. So, it’s not completely new but as a full-time role it is kind of new.

“Sometimes it’s no fun. It’s a little bit of dirty work but somebody’s got to do it. Why not me?”

Somebody does have to do it.

For example, on first-and-10 the Titans’ most common personnel package – officially – has been two tight ends with two wide receivers and a running back. That has been the look 83 out of 175 (47.4 percent) times the offense has faced a first-and-10 thus far this season and 58 of those plays (69.9 percent) have been runs.

Realistically, though, a large number of those snaps have been two-back sets because one of the tight ends is Cole. Increasingly, when he is on the field he lines up between the quarterback and tailback and his job is to knock linebackers or defensive backs out of the hole.

“That’s something that’s not as easy as people think,” coach Mike Vrabel said. “Take a fullback and say, ‘Hey, go up on the line of scrimmage and try to function as a tight end.’ So, it’s been good to see. It’s helped us out. It’s given us a little bit of versatility.”

During the offseason the Titans asked third-string running back David Fluellen to add weight (he packed on more than 15 and got to 240 pounds) that would allow him to serve as lead-blocker on occasion. Injuries throughout the preseason and the start of the regular season eventually sent him to injured reserve having appeared in two of the first four games. Then they added free agent running back Rod Smith (6-foot-3, 236), who doubled as a fullback at times during his four seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys, Smith, however, has been injured too and has yet to make his Titans debut.

Enter Pruitt, a fifth-round pick by Minnesota in the 2015 NFL Draft. He had 21 career receptions and one touchdown catch as a traditional tight end during the previous four seasons. He has yet to catch a pass in 2019 but has seen his play time increase. Last Sunday against the L.A. Chargers he was on the field for 30 snaps with the offense, he third time this season he got at least that many and nine more than the previous week.

“I think he’s improved,” Vrabel said. “It’s helped (him) and his play time, and how he’s been able to help us. There’s always a little give and take when you play a dual role or a dual position, but I think he’s handled it well.”

Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium will be a test of just how far he has come in that capacity. Tampa Bay has the league’s best run defense with an average of 68.0 yards per game allowed and an average of 2.9 yards per carry. It is one of two defense’s (Minnesota’s is the other) that has yet to give up a run of 20 yards or more and only New England has allowed fewer first downs rushing.

“I pride myself on being versatile and the more things I can do to contribute to the offense, that’s what I’m going to do,” Pruitt said. “At this point it’s all about getting better every day and just the more I do it, the more comfortable I get with it. You know, with more reps I think it’s paying off and the results are showing on the field.

“… The more I can get on the field, I’ll play whatever position they ask me to play.”