49ers fullback Moran Norris was out of his boot  on Monday after suffering a fractured fibula. Jim Harbaugh chose to keep 2 fullbacks on his roster this season Norris and rookie Bruce Miller  unusual in today’s NFL. The move made sense given that Miller a college defensive end was moving to the offensive side of the ball for the first time in his life. Norris the long time best friend of running back Frank Gore is a one dimensional player now at best, a straight ahead short yardage blocking back. Norris has no speed whatsoever and can no longer be counted on to get to the 2nd level of the defense fast enough to help the ball carrier at all past the line of scrimmage. Essentially with Norris in the lineup your best case scenario is your RB going at a minimum of 1 linebacker without a lead blocker after getting past the line. In other words he isn’t a guy that helps you gain big chunks of yardage on a single carry, which the 49ers have done a lot of since he has been out of the lineup.  To put it bluntly the guy kills big plays and isn’t very good for the running game. 

Rookie Bruce Miller has done a fantastic job in his transition to FB this season. He has shown that he can not only get to the 2nd level much faster than the elder Norris helping seal off those LBs so the ball carrier can get into the 3rd level of the defense with big runs. Miller also gives them other things Norris never had by proving to be a effective receiver out of the backfield and with superior athleticism he’s better running after the catch and carrying the football himself also.
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