So, I've got to thinking......

[hamster]

The NFL is evolving. Teams are trying to adjust. It is becoming more and more an offensive effort. Defensively, I see the Steelers drafting athletic, quick linebackers to pass defense, as opposed to the beasts to stop the run and rush. Shazier, Spence. We thought the Megatron style receiver was the future, but then look at AB. Running backs......Lacy, or Bell?

So, in light of the new League.........who do you see as the new prototypical players, at their positions, moving forward?

 

[Superman]

At TE, Antonio Gates started it. You need to find a guy who's 6'5" (at least) and around 250 who possesses supreme athleticism. I would begin looking at power forwards in college basketball who aren't quite tall enough, but show the athleticism to keep their ***** on the floor. Jimmy Graham has the prototypical size going forward. And the agility. Gronk has the size, but the injuries are getting to him - and he's still a bad ***. While Gronk and Graham are the top two TEs right now, I see Tampa's Sefarin-Jenkins as the next guy to change how that position is seen.

 

[blitzburghv5]

There is no prototype...its about matchups....is my RB an advantage over your LB or S. If I throw you four or five wide (*******) formation, one of my receivers will win his matchup this play vs your personnel, everytime or most times.....big physical LBs don't have a place in todays NFL.....if you trot them out, ill go spread, force you to iso a LB on my fleet of foot RB and kill you all day, and when the play is over, im lining up for the next playcall, no-huddle fast paced.....if you don't adjust, you will lose that game by a significant margin...and its a copycat league...trendy but copycat.....exploitation.

 

[Stryker]

There are trends. Bell is going to be the new trend. A hard running, quick, athletic RB that can run patterns like a WR. That's a huge weapon.

Accurate QBs > Arm Strength

WRs that are quick in and out of breaks. These are the best receivers in the league now, since you can't jam receivers anymore, the quickness is trumping size.

The Speed on Defense is insane now. We have Shazier and Spence, who may be 2 of the fastest LBs in the league, both hitting around 4.4, Dupree is a dump truck and still runs a 4.6. DL running under 4.8s. It's mind boggling how big and quick they're becoming. They would be instant HOFers 20years ago.

 

[SteelVictory]

So, in light of the new League.........who do you see as the new prototypical players, at their positions, moving forward?

We said this years ago, the traditional large run stuffing LB player type will develop into a lighter faster (like current Safety) type of player that can tackle RB's and cover TE's.
That's why some didn't like the Shamarko Thomas type of player they drafted, it is an old fashioned hard hitting heat-seeking missile type of Safety the league wants to get rid of. (note the penalties for hitting too hard)

Lighter and faster is also happening to the O-Line.
Tunch & Wolfe were talking last week about how O-Lineman are slowly transitioning to lighter players that can run and handle up-tempo offenses instead of the current slow huge monsters.

 

[JMM]

Its all cyclical. In another 10 years the Bettis type running back and monster OL will start to get back in vogue. Nothing like grinding out entire quarters with a dependable running game and an effective passing game good enough to keep the defense honest. Light and fast defenses won't stand a chance. Works much better when the weather gets lousy as well..

 

[MTC]

There really is no prototype. The guys in the NFL, professional sports at that are exceptional players. No matter the size. Polamalu wasn't a big guy and he was a monster in his prime. Hines Ward wasn't your prototypical receiver but the dude was smashing linebackers and carrying D lineman. We can harp about size and speed all we want. But I think having a knack for the game and smart off season training is what separates the great from the good

 

[stillwright]

There are trends. Bell is going to be the new trend. A hard running, quick, athletic RB that can run patterns like a WR. That's a huge weapon.

Accurate QBs > Arm Strength

WRs that are quick in and out of breaks. These are the best receivers in the league now, since you can't jam receivers anymore, the quickness is trumping size.

The Speed on Defense is insane now. We have Shazier and Spence, who may be 2 of the fastest LBs in the league, both hitting around 4.4, Dupree is a dump truck and still runs a 4.6. DL running under 4.8s. It's mind boggling how big and quick they're becoming. They would be instant HOFers 20years ago.

Trend ? Really? That is like saying Barry Sanders was the new trend. I am not saying Bell is in the class of Sanders but you just don't find players like these in every draft to call them trends.

 

[DBS1970]

Honestly its a no brainer. You want the biggest, fastest, strongest and most athletic players you can find at every position. Thats really the only template there is.

 

[Stryker]

Bell was drafted as a sure handed, hard runner. Being able to catch the ball made him more diverse. Diverse backs will trump backs that are good at running or pass catching. The ability to run or catch is the toughest to defend with the rules today.

 

[antdrewjosh]

I loved Bell coming out of college. Didn't know he was this good though. His development as every down back and best in the league has been a pleasant surprise.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Smart, guts, heart and tackling/technique also important. Big and fast is great for combines but nerve and guts wins the close ones, which even in an offensive biased league the scores are still frequently close.

 

[awboatguy]

Trend ? Really? That is like saying Barry Sanders was the new trend. I am not saying Bell is in the class of Sanders but you just don't find players like these in every draft to call them trends.

I agree. These guys are usually a phenomenon that every team hopes they are picking with each pick. Antonio is no Calvin Johnson, but I'd take AB every time knowing what we do about him now.