In each of the past two draft cycles, there's been a much-ballyhooed guard prospect that had draftniks drooling. Warmack might have been the "best football player," but he slid to the No. DeCastro fell all the way to the No. The difference between a mediocre guard and a very good guard can hardly be felt in any single game.
In the salary-cap era, guards have often been skimped on in favor of edge-protecting tackles. When teams have spent big money on guards—as the Minnesota Vikings did on Steve Hutchinson—it's rarely worked out.
This is beginning to change, though. The recent fads of interior pass-rushers and hybrid-front defenses are forcing offenses to adapt. The Chicago Bears, by drafting versatile lineman Kyle Long in the first round and playing him at guard, are emphasizing " inside-out protection ," as Scouts, Inc.
If it finally keeps Jay Cutler upright, the concept could spread—and the value of guards could skyrocket. Traditionally, the middle linebacker has been the heart, mind and soul of a defense. Frequently the roughest, toughest player on the field, the middle linebacker was trusted with the most important job: getting to the ball-carrier.
Fending off a fullback or pulling guard and stuffing the running back 10 times a game or more takes a special combination of size, speed, grit, instincts and thirst for violence. Often called the quarterback of the defense, to this day, the middle linebacker usually relays the play calls from the sideline to the huddle. Now, though, if all a player can do is stop the run between the tackles, he comes off the field in passing situations—and most situations are passing situations.
Today's middle linebacker has to have the size, power and attitude to stop the run when called upon, but it's more important to have the athleticism to cover the middle of the field—whether in man-to-man against running backs or patrolling the middle of the field in zone coverage.
Players that excel at both, like Patrick Willis, are rare and valuable indeed. For most teams, though, inside linebackers who are "good enough" tacklers and very good in coverage are sufficient and plentiful. The workhorse back was once the foundation of most NFL offenses.
The starting tailback would be on the field for nearly every snap, rushing between 20 and 30 times every game. Now, of course, "running back by committee" is the rule rather than the exception; most teams have a stable of two, three or four running backs with niche roles and special skill sets.
Since only a handful of teams have a back talented enough to do everything well—or one thing so well he can't come off the field—teams get all the skills they need with multiple players.
This approach also protects a team for when, as will inevitably happen, a running back gets injured or begins to steeply decline. Running backs are far from worthless; teams still need to be able to run between the tackles to keep defenses honest. The Detroit Lions rolled out a limo for free-agent signee Reggie Bush after defenses blithely ignored their running game in Nevertheless, more and more teams are getting away with investing less and less in what used to be one of the most important positions on the field.
The center, like the offensive guard, plays in the heart of the trenches—where it's difficult enough to tell who's who, let alone who's winning the battle. A center is a critical part of run-blocking; guards can't pull and escort running backs to the second level unless the center does his job.
To use pass-rushing defensive tackles' explosiveness against them, a center has to work with his guards to take those tackles out of the play with trap and wham blocks. Centers also need to be athletic enough to do their own pulling, and can't be so big they interfere with their quarterback's passing lanes. In pass protection, centers don't just have to block; they have to understand how the defense is attacking them.
They have to watch for blitzers and execute double-teams. Most importantly, centers don't just read defenses, but often adjust the line's assignments based on those reads. A savvy center can improve the whole line's protection—and, regardless of how well he blocks, a center who can't quarterback the line well is a liability. Though defenders who specialize in stopping the run are being devalued, we can't forget the World Theory: There are only so many men big and athletic enough to anchor a defensive line against the run.
Few teams today use a true two-gap front, where one man must stop all runs between the guards, like the New England Patriots used to do with Vince Wilfork. Still, many teams pair a quick inside pass-rusher with a massive inside run-stopper—as the Patriots currently do with Wilfork.
A nose tackle who commands double-teams and occupies blockers can make a big difference—which is why a rookie like Star Lotulelei has a chance to make a huge difference in the Carolina Panthers' defense. More Sports. The42 Membership.
Partner Publications. The latest Irish and international breaking news, reports and coverage. A platform helping fund the type of in-depth journalism that the public wants to see. JJ Watt may be the famous defensive player in football. Positions JJ Watt 99 is one of the most feared defensive players in football. Types of coverage Man coverage This is where defensive backs are assigned to cover specific offensive players. Man free in action Man free All defensive backs play man coverage with the exception of the free safety who stays in a specific area to prevent a long run or long pass completion.
Straight man All defensive backs play man coverage with no safety valve. A dimeback is a sixth defensive back on the field. Usually two safeties and four cornerbacks. Short URL. About the author:. Steve O'Rourke. See more articles by Steve O'Rourke. Contribute to this story: Leave a Comment. Send a Correction. Read next:.
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Log out Logged in with. Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user View our policy. The best way to get that is by having a very strong lower body and core to be able to handle the change of direction and still get plenty of power behind the lunges.
Since a major part of a safety's job is to read offensive plays, know what's going to happen, and then quickly react, then a safety must know how typical offensive plays are run. In this way, a safety must actually learn offensive playbooks, including what the roles and responsibilities of each offensive player are. But because he'll be flying around the field at high rates of speed and attaching ball carriers from all directions and not just head-on, tackling for him will be tougher than for other players.
That's why it's even more important for a safety to have sound fundamentals when it comes to tackling. Constantly practice how to properly wrap, lunge, and take down a tackler, and you'll be more successful in taking a ball carrier to the ground. By focusing on these fundamentals, you'll be ensuring you do your job well, no matter what angle you're coming from.
Football safeties have that rare combination of speed and coverage skill of traditional cornerbacks, with the strength, vision, and tackling ability of traditional linebackers. If so, you'll love my daily "Football Coaching" emails.
I'll teach you the tips, tricks, and secrets used by some of the best football coaches at the youth, HS, and pro level. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Enter your email below to get access for free:. Your email address is safe with me. Safety is one of the more challenging positions to play in football. It has forced safeties to be more well-rounded players overall. So, what exactly does it take to be a great safety in today's game of football?
The only way he's able to do any of this is if he's fast. Unlike wide receivers, safeties don't run in pre-determined routes.
Safeties Have Great Instincts. Safeties don't have one singular goal like defensive linemen do. In other words, safeties must have great instincts for the game. Safeties Have Great Vision. To do this, a safety must have great vision. He must be able to see clearly at a distance and up close. Safeties Must Be Tough and Strong. Safeties can't shy away from contact. This size will help a safety do all the things he needs to do consistently. The height will allow him to cover taller wide receivers and tight ends.
A safety has a wide range of roles and responsibilities. Here are a few of them:. A safety is the last level of defense before the end zone. The position is called "safety" for this reason - he's like a defense's safety valve.
He Must Help in Run Support.
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