Michael Burton's Blocking Key to Rutgers' Offensive Success
Sep 01 | Football
By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Sept. 1, 2014) – Keith Lumpkin says it’s one of the highlights of Rutgers’ offensive line meeting room during film review after games. Power running plays are the big attention-grabbers.
But the focus isn’t necessarily on the offensive line play. Instead, it’s often on fullback Michael Burton.
“We put the film on the day after a game and you’re like `okay, who did Michael Burton pancake on this play?’ ” said Lumpkin, the Scarlet Knights’ left tackle. “We literally sit there sometimes and just watch those plays he has. You know if it’s a power running play he is going to pancake somebody.”
In an era when four-wideout, one-back sets are all the rage, when quick-tempo offenses trigger quick passing attacks, Burton is a bit of a dinosaur. A fullback in this day and age of football?
Check most all-conference and all-America teams. Virtually all of them skip right over the fullback position now and simply list two tailbacks.
“Being noticed has never mattered to me,” said the 6-0, 235-pound Burton, a fifth-year senior. “If I go unnoticed that’s fine as long as we have team success. That’s really all I’m worried about.”
These days, it’s getting tougher not to notice Burton. His run and pass blocking mean that much to Rutgers’ pro-style offense, which rushed for 215 yards and passed for 281 in the season-opening victory over Washington State. He’s also an effective receiver – he had a nifty (and career-long) 34-yard reception against the Cougars – and is a reliable ballcarrier when needed.
“I think he’s one of the most versatile guys on the team,” quarterback Gary Nova said. “He can catch the ball, he can run it, you’ve seen him block, he can play a little bit on the wing like a tight end. I think he’s one of our best offensive players.”
But it’s the blocking that sets Burton apart. Lumpkin calls him “our sixth offensive lineman.”
Burton even thinks like an offensive lineman.
“If I can get a great block it’s exciting, and then I get to see the running back make a great run, which adds to it,” he said. “I used to be the guy doing the running (as a high school tailback). Now I’m the guy doing the blocking, and that’s much more satisfying to me. I mean it.
“When I get to see a running back run by me for a touchdown or I get a big block that helps Gary Nova throw a touchdown pass it’s very satisfying.”
Around the Hale Center, they aren’t bashful about calling Burton the best fullback in the country.
A star running back at West Morris (N.J.) High School, where he rushed for 1,769 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior, Burton says his background as runner has helped in the transition to fullback.
“A lot of it had to do with the coaches here when I came to Rutgers,” he said. “They helped me out a lot. I never played fullback in high school. When I got here I had great position coaches. Coach (Kyle) Flood is very involved in the run game. He was the position coach (as run game coordinator early in Burton’s career) and I would ask him questions about the running back positions and the running game.
“I also think being a running back helped me with my reads as a fullback, because you want to go to the hole where the running back is going to go to. Having that in the back of my mind from being a running back, thinking `if I was a running back I’d probably take this route,’ you’re able to use that at fullback.”
And Burton has no issues with toiling in anonymity.
“I really don’t pay attention to any of that other stuff, `the best this, the best that,’ ” he said. “I just go about my business and give the best effort I can every single day and just prepare. I’ve always work hard. Whether I get recognition or don’t I’m not going to change my approach.”
