Position-Less: The NFL’s Skill Player Transition
The NFL is transitioning from traditional roles to hybrid running back/wide receiver combinations. My latest column looks into the trend and its trickle down impact in football.
Introduction
Maximizing ability is the most prominent responsibility for an NFL coach. Countless coaches have been relieved of their duties due to a lack of production from core skill players. Not every player is a fit for coaches in their scheme, which they choose to impart on the team. The creative coaches view the talent on a roster and find ways to showcase ability while minimizing weaknesses. Coaches found ways to put the ball into the hands of the most talented players on the team, often the “difference-maker” on a roster. NFL coaches have shied away from traditional skill player roles into an era of position-less football, setting the stage for the skill player revolution.
Patriot Precedent
The New England Patriots, with Kevin Faulk and then James White, popularized the idea of the pass-catching running back in the modern NFL. The Quarterback (future Hall of Famer Tom Brady) has a “safety net” from a pass-catching running back who cannot find an open receiver on their first, second, or third read. White’s electric performance in Super Bowl LI, with 14 catches for 110 yards and the game-ending touchdown to close out the marvelous 28-3 comeback. White’s masterful performance, and a diminishing emphasis on bell-cow running backs, developed the fluid position trend into what it is today.
Unique Talent
Cordarelle Patterson was untouched in the open field for years as a kick returner. His breakaway speed and elusiveness were the central focus of every special teams’ kick return unit. In addition to his role as a return man, Patterson played receiver with some snaps at running back during his four years in Minnesota. Patterson’s playmaking ability was on display in an offense when he entered New England during the 2018-19 NFL season, along with his special teams' contributions. 21 catches for 247 yards and three touchdowns preceded 42 rushes for 228 yards. In his second season with the Chicago Bears two years later, Patterson rushed 22 more times than in New England, with about the same receiving production. This set the stage for Cordarelle’s time in Atlanta one year later, where Patterson emerged as the star many imagined him to be. He took the ball 153 times for 618 yards and six touchdowns, along with 52 receptions for 548 yards and five touchdowns through the air in 2021-22. Arthur Smith maximized the ability of a playmaker and handed him the keys to the position-less train in his first year with the Atlanta Falcons.
Mike McDaniel Innovation
It takes one creative play-caller to look at a talented player, study his strengths and weaknesses, and develop a plan to maximize his effectiveness in the open field. Deebo Samuel took on a similar role in 2021-22 with the San Francisco 49ers and then-offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, rushing the football along with a prominent pass-catching role. Next up for McDaniel is newly acquired top three wide receiver Tyreek Hill in Miami, to do whatever it takes to put the ball into the hands of your most talented playmaker and see what happens. Cliches can be overused, but “speed kills” will always be a prominent trope in the NFL.
Deebo about to get PAID!
Deebo Samuel’s contract negotiations will be extensive and fascinating in financial league circles due to setting the market for a wide receiver and running back hybrid. Cordarelle Patterson, an older and less effective Deebo Samuel, signed a two-year $10.5 million contract, which Samuel will eclipse.
Conclusion
One man was at the forefront of the receiving revolution and has single-handedly changed the perception of traditional receiving and running roles. At a grassroots level, young players may not be as focused on fundamental football as they develop skill talent, laying the foundation for a new generation of dual-position hybrid players. Nevertheless, the outlook of typical positions has changed in the NFL. As Cordarelle Patterson says, “if my mom could go out there and work three jobs, I can go out there and play three positions.”
Reference Page:
Contract information courtesy of Spotrac
Statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference
Images Courtesy of Getty Images