Quarterback is and always will be the biggest difference maker on the football field, but which position units are next in line in terms of importance? Read on to find out as I go down the line of the ones that matter the most, excluding special teams players:
8. Fullbacks-
An easy pick for last, this position is almost being phased out by offenses that favor more wide receivers. Still an important part to some offenses, though.
7. Tight Ends-
This is a versatile position that can be used creatively in many different offenses, but still isn’t as important as some other ones.
6.- Safeties-
This is a tough position to rank because of the difference between the two types of safety. A good free safety can be the quarterback of a defense and both take away deep balls and help against the run, but most strong safeties are just workmanlike players compared to the other positions that don’t make as big of a difference.
While a great running back can sometimes carry a team, this position is almost entirely dependent on having a good offensive line to help them out. The only back I ever saw put up good numbers with a bad line was Barry Sanders, who often juked several defenders just to get short gains.
Also, consider that Edgerrin James had a great career with Indianapolis only to go to Arizona last year to get a big contract and ended up with a measly 3.4 yards per carry. That’s why I believe this position is not as important as it’s made out to be sometimes in the media.
4. Wide Receivers-
Wide receivers aren’t just responsible for catching passes, they also are important blocking in the running game as well as stretching the field. A team without a gamebreaker at wide receiver will find see the field suddenly shrink on them because the defense won’t have to respect the deep pass. That’s probably the most important function of this position.
Also, if a team falls behind, a good group of wide receivers is important to have any chance of coming back through the air.
3. Linebackers-
Important all-around players that help both vs. the run and in the passing game by either rushing or covering the middle part of the field. A good set of linebackers can make a defense very difficult to handle and can disrupt almost any type of game plan.
2. Offensive Line-
This group is the lifeblood of any good offense, because very few running backs can make plays without good blocking and very few quarterbacks can make things happen with defenders in their faces. A good line can help a team call the plays it wants when it wants and allow them to possess the ball and control the clock.
1. Defensive Line-
Defense wins championships, and this is where it all starts on that side of the ball. This was a tough pick over linebackers but even the best linebackers need someone to at least keep the offensive line from getting up into them before the play gets going.
A good defensive line can stop the running game and pressure the quarterback into making an uncharacteristic game-changing mistake at any time. When a defensive line starts to take over and make plays, the opposing offense is often powerless to stop it and their whole gameplan is shot.
