NFL endangered species - fullbacks, pocket QBs, hard-hitting safeties, kick returners(and more)
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The workhorse running back
What happened to the days when the running back was one of the most revered weapons in an offense? In 2002, 12 running backs averaged at least 19 rushing attempts per game, including stars such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Tiki Barber and Shaun Alexander. Last year, six players fell into that category, including Minnesota's Adrian Peterson with his 2,097-yard season.
There are more backfield rotations coming our way than workhorse runners because it's good for business. Teams know they don't have to invest nearly as much in a big-time back because they can always manufacture a running game through a committee approach or by finding a cheaper option in lower rounds of the draft. Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew is the perfect example of that. He spent the summer of 2012 holding out for a new contract on the basis of considerable production: one league rushing title (2011) and three Pro Bowls. He eventually lost that fight despite being the best player on one of the league's worst teams.
The argument to keep workhorse running backs:
Maurice Jones-Drew: "Every now and then, there is a trend that comes around and it's hot for a year or two. But at some point, you have to go back to basics. You have to be able to run a four-minute offense. You have to be able to run the ball in tough situations. That's why things like the pistol and the Wildcat may come and go, but running the ball from the I-formation shouldn't be overlooked. It's still hard for a defense to defend that.
"That's why what we're seeing now [with offensive football in the NFL] is like somebody wearing the new, hot clothing when a basic button-down shirt works just fine. I'm not saying you need to see running backs getting 30 carries a game -- because that hasn't happened for a long time -- but the ones who get 20 to 25 a game are going to be tough to stop. Those guys keep defenses on their heels. If you rotate backs, then teams can get a feel for what an offense is doing. They know that if the third-down back comes in on second down, it's probably going to be a pass. But when you look at what the great backs did when they played, you see the difference. Emmitt Smith was that way. Barry Sanders was that way. Jim Brown. They were in there on every down, and it opened up the offense in a different way. When you have a quarterback who can run, that can be demoralizing, but what happens when he gets hit too much? Everything changes.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9739045/nfl-endangered-species-fullbacks-pocket-qbs-hard-hitting-safeties-kick-returners
I think the one that has no chance of going away is the pocket QBs.
