Ideal Physical Attributes for Football Positions
In light of the recent Kyle Kalis commitment, and the ensuing debate about whether his future lies at Offensive Tackle or Offensive Guard, I once again became curious about what the "ideal" physical attributes of various positions are. I think most people have a very good idea about what different skill position players need to have to be successful, but I for one am completely lost when it comes to the Offensive Line and much of the defense. So satisfy my curiosity, what separates a cornerback from a safety? A strongside end from a weakside end? The various possible linebacker positions? You get the picture. Obviously there are notable exceptions to any rule, and as we saw in the Rich Rod era plenty of potential tweener positions, but I'm curious what the general "ideal" is.
Tackles are ususally taller with longer arms to counter-act speed rushers off the edge, more specifically the blind-side tackle. Guards are usually shorter and better run blockers, as they are usually the ones to pull on off-tackle runs. You can generally get away with putting less athletic lineman here, or ones with shorter arms because the d-lineman aren't able to go outside of them like they can against the tackles.
As far as linebackers, the outside linebackers are generally more athletic as they have to cover tight ends and sometimes slot receivers in pass coverage. The middle linebackers usually weigh much more and are shorter, but are great tacklers with great power to lay big hits on ball carriers and crossing wide receivers.
Eleven feet tall and made of dreams.
Corners are quicker than safeties
STRONG side DE are stronger than WEAK side DE
Slot Receivers are quicker than Outside WR's
Outside LB are faster than Inside LB
and NT are fat
I would not want to call Mike Martin "fat" to his face..
Ideally, all positions should look and play like Michigan Robot.
Spread
Rich Rod preferred 5'9'' guys that run a 4.3 40 for every position, except linemen. In the trenches he preferred a 6'2'' guy that could run a 4.6 40.
Meat Machine
Hoke wants 6'6'' guys at every position that weigh 280+ before stepping foot on campus, for every position except WR and CB/Safety. Ability to run is optional.
SEC / OSU
Want the highest recruit at every position regardless of price or character. This is the winning formula until you get caught or run out of money.
No price is too high! they'll spend any amount! Buy any car! Provide any house!
I always thought Stevie Brown was a tad bit oversized for the spinner position. Anyone know the ideal measurements for this position?
5'1" 100lbs. No bigger than a B.
So what you're saying is we ought to be recruiting the Olsen Twins?
Keep posting Joe, I don't know what you type and it does not matter b/c your avatar keeps making me laugh.
Because I find it, "utterly" rediculous....
around 5-7 inches with 2 testicles.
Then again, with our record the past 3 years, I wouldn't be surprised if we actually had some females suited up.....
SMH
Everyone should be 6'6", 300 pounds, and run a 4.2 40 and get 1600s on their SATs. That would be ideal. But in the real world:
- Cornerbacks vs. safeties; cornerbacks have to be quicker, more maneuverable (that's what they mean by smooth or stiff in the hips), and have a better vertical leap. Safeties should be faster, often somewhat bigger, and usually football-smarter with better vision.
- SDE vs. WDE: SDE should be bigger and stronger because he typically has to take on a double team (the tight end is on his side) and hold his ground on running plays. WDE should be quicker and faster and be your main pass rusher, able to quickly beat a single block on the outside.
- Linebackers: Mike has to have the smarts to quarterback the front seven and recognize the entire play. Ability to play sideline-to-sideline is coveted but not critical. Sam has to combine pass-coverage abilities (tight end is on his side) with the strength to play in the trash. Will usually has to cover a lot of ground and be an adept pass-rusher.
- OL: Center has to be the smartest guy on the line and call out the protections. Tackles are a little like cornerbacks in that they have to be quick if not necessarily fast. Long arms help, as does footwork. Guards are like safeties in that they should be faster in a straight line since very often they have to pull around to the other side on running plays. Guards need more brute strength, tackles need leverage.
This is very general. Obviously different systems call for different abilities.
About the cornerbacks vs Safeties...
i disagree about the speed thing. I feel like cornerbacks should be faster then safeties because they have to stick with their guy, safeties are usually in a zone not specifically covering a guy so they don't need as much speed.
Also, I don't think quickness is measured by how fluid you are when you turn your hips, but rather your change of direction skills, to me that is more important to a cornerback since safeties are coming in at an angle, or filling holes, not mirroring a WR step for step.
Well, cornerbacks really only have to do that on fly patterns, half of which are overthrown by the QB anyway. The rest of the time it's their reaction time to the route - 95% of which aren't fly patterns - that matters. And you can't change direction without turning your hips.
Safeties need speed more because really, they have to catch up to those fly patterns as much as the cornerback does. And at the same time they need to fill the running lanes up front. A slow safety can mean an extra yard or two every time for a running back, which adds up.
Coaches prefer CB to have fluid hips and quick feet with good closing speed. Doesn't necessarily have to be fast but it's ideal.
It just depends on the scheme but for the most part, CBs need to have fluid hips. However you can get away with CBs with stiff hips in college level but in the pro, not so much because CBs with stiff hips will never last in the league.
A 6'2 corner with fluid hips and runs a 4.3 40....that would be nice!
How about 6'1, 192, 4.4 40 out of Fremont Ohio?
If we could get a Charles Woodson again I'd be in heaven!
I always felt vertical leap should be more important than height for corners, especially when going up against a Braylon-type receiver.
or in jump ball situation. This is why taller CBs will always be at a premium especially if they have fluid hips. You don't see a lot of successful 5'9" or shorter CB in college/pro level. Sure there are some exceptions but with WRs getting taller and faster, it's just hard for a shorter CBs to cover taller WRs.
Ideal attributes
QB - Tom Brady
RB - Adrian Peterson
WR - Calvin Johnson
TE - Brandon Pettigrew
T - Jake Long
G - Steve Hutchinson
DE - Julius Peppers
DT - Ndamukong Suh
OLB - Demarcus Ware
ILB - Patrick Willis
CB - Darelle Revis
S - Ed Reed
I'm not saying that those are definitely the best at their positions, although many of them are, but IMO they all possess ideal physical attributes for their position
I can't believe safeties like Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu are only 5' 10'' or 5' 11''. They seem to play so much bigger than that.
QB: Peyton Manning/Tom Brady - Can't go wrong with either one since both are sure fire 1st ballot HOF
RB: Adrian Peterson - No debate
WR: Calvin Johnson - He's very productive despite having average QBs throwing the ball to him. If Stafford can stay healthy which I think he will, sky is the limit for CJ.
TE: Rob Gronkowski - I would love to put Pettigrew there but Gronkowski is a great all around TE and is a better athlete than Pettigrew.
OT: Ryan Clady - Sure Jake Long has been fantastic but Clady is a much better athlete and is a natural LT.
OG: Josh Sitton/Mike Iupati - Both are young but will be a fixture at OG for years to come. I disagree about Hutchinson. He has been on a decline, but if it was 5 years ago, it'd be a no brainer.
C: Alex Mack - Already one of the top C in the league and is only in his 3rd year in the league.
DE: Mario Williams - Already was under pressure to outplay Reggie Bush whom many widely have him at #1 prospect in the draft, and he did outplay Bush by a wide margin. A great all around DE, it's just too bad that the rest of DL can't do much.
DT: Ndamukong Suh - Ngata is the best DT but I give edge to Suh due to youth. Suh is somewhat raw as a DT and still find ways to be productive. Needs to get better against the run though.
3-4 OLB - DeMarcus Ware - IMO the best 3-4 OLB in the league and does more things than most 3-4 OLB are being asked of. In addition to his great pass rush skills, he is outstanding in pass drop back.
4-3 OLB: Chad Greenway - It's hard to find a good pure 4-3 OLB since most of the top OLBs are from 3-4 system. He is as good as it gets from a 4-3 system.
ILB/MLB: Patrick Willis - The best MLB in the league and is only going to get better.
CB: Nnamdi Asomugha - Most have Revis as the best CB but I think Scrabble is better. He's bigger(6'2" 210) and can shut down WRs(allowed less than 40 passes in his area per season on average since 2007). He did it in man coverage with no safety help over the top
S: Troy Polomalu - The best S in the league. Outstanding against the run and pretty darn good against the pass. The next best S in the future is Earl Thomas.