ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

There has always been a feeling that Mike Heimerdinger is more a two-tight end guy than a fullback guy, but the 2008 Titans are likely to allow him to show that's not the case.

For probably the first time since Lorenzo Neal in 2000, "Dinger's" got a good fullback to work with.

Titans third-year man Ahmard Hall has shown himself to be a quality blocker. And on the rare occasions he's gotten the ball in his hands via handoff or short pass, he's shown me surprising zip and an ability to turn the corner and get some yards.

When Jeff Fisher made the switch from Norm Chow back to Heimerdinger, who was coordinator from 2000-'04, Hall said he worried a bit about his role.

"I did hear that he wasn't a guy who used the fullback, that he liked two-tight formations," Hall said. "...I was willing to ride it out, I'm just trying to get on the field any way I can. Now I know he expects a lot more out of the fullback than the regular offense. He'll put you back there, motion the running back out and put you in one-back situations."

Heimerdinger said that any preference for two-tights -- a set the Titans will still use plenty -- came strictly out of the personnel he had to work with, not out of any hard-line philosophy. And he has pronounced he loves Hall.

"I'll use the fullback, I love the fullback if you've got somebody who can block and catch the ball," said Heimerdinger, who calls Hall "Sarge" as a tribute to his background as a Marine. "Sarge is a good football player. He has a good feel. He's a tough guy. When he runs the ball, he runs it hard now. He's got good vision. He's very underrated."