Thursday, May 7, 1998

Fuamatu-Ma’afala
expected to spell Bettis

The former St. Louis standout
will get a chance to back up the
Steelers' Pro Bowl running back

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala won't be a blocking back if the Pittsburgh Steelers' longest-tenured assistant coach has his way.

"I've heard people say he's going to be a fullback, but it's not our plan to have him at fullback," said running backs coach Dick Hoak, who has been an assistant with the club for 27 seasons.

"We're going to play him at running back and hope to get him there to help back up Jerome (Pro Bowl running back Jerome Bettis). We drafted him to run the football."

Fuamatu-Ma'afala, a former St. Louis High School and University of Utah running back, said he was surprised and delighted to learn of Hoak's plan when he went to mini-camp last week.

"Chris can catch the football and he can fit in with our offense," said Hoak, who led the Steelers in rushing three times (1965, 1968 and 1969). "We like big backs and we like to pound the football. We have a big player in Jerome, but sometimes you need more than that. If something happens to Jerome, or Jerome gets tired during a game, we need someone we can plug in there so we can keep doing what we do best.

"He (Fuamatu-Ma'afala) has great feet for a big guy. He's somewhat like Jerome in that he can do a lot of things you wouldn't expect a big guy to do. He makes cuts, he has great balance and he can break tackles."

Hoak said he was impressed that Fuamatu-Ma'afala trimmed down from 280 pounds to 248 and that he has maintained that weight since the NFL Combine in February.

He said Fuamatu-Ma'afala seems to run as well in pads as without them.

"A lot of guys you time in shorts at 4.5 and they put on the pads and they time out at about 4.75," Hoak said. "But Chris is a guy who can carry his pads and doesn't seem to lose any speed."

Asked what veteran NFL player he would compare Fuamatu-Ma'afala to, Hoak didn't hesitate in saying, "I think he's a lot like the guy we have (Bettis), though he's probably not as fast as Jerome."

But Hoak said Bettis earns his keep by breaking tackles on 10- to 12-yard bursts, not with his speed.

"I think Chris can do the same thing," he said.