Each April, professional football teams participate in the NFL Draft in hopes of acquiring bigger, faster, and stronger players to help their respective football teams win games (Shorr-Parks). One trend that has began to arise recently is the heavily sought after and need for taller wide receivers. Year after year, the average height of males is increasing and professional sports teams, specifically NFL teams, have taken notice of this growing trend; therefore, professional football teams have began to draft taller players in order to fill the wide receiver position. The presence of these taller wide receivers cause havoc for defensive cornerbacks, as well as providing their quarterback with a bigger target, especially in the end zone. For …show more content…
ages, NFL teams have relied on wide receivers that had many combinations of different skill sets. Speed, strength, route running, and jumping ability were all key skills that past wide receivers had possessed. When we think of some of the best wide receivers of all time, we think of Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison, and Hines Ward; but what this quick short list does not possess is height. None of the recently mentioned wide receivers are, or were, above six foot, three inches. This however, is a statistic that is rapidly changing. For example in 2001, only eleven starting wide receivers were six foot, three inches. Statistics now show that the number of starting wide receivers has recently increased to twenty wide receivers in 2011 with six at six foot, five inches (Trotter). The reason for this rapid growth among the wide receiver position is that defensive cornerbacks are failing to keep up and defend taller receivers. A simple solution to this issue would be to guard the taller wide receivers with bigger cornerbacks; however bigger cornerbacks are not able to read, react, and adjust to the receiver’s quick movements, as well as smaller and more compact defenders could. This has lead to an increasingly amount of taller wide receivers being drafted by professional football personnel experts, thus creating the height differential problem between offenses and defenses. It is important to realize the causes of this epidemic because of all the people this trend affects. Some might think that this trend may affect only one team, however it also affects the entire National Football League as a whole, and that’s not all. Over $1.34 billion dollars are spent gambling over the sport of football (Spear). Therefore, the benefits taller wide receivers can bring to your beloved football team are monstrous. By looking at recent NFL drafts the importance of taller wide receivers is evident. Since 2003, fourteen wide receivers have been selected in the top 10 draft picks, while only four of those wide receivers register under six foot, three inches (Trotter). This list of big wide receivers also contain even bigger names such as, two time pro bowler, Demaryius Thomas; three time pro bowler, A.J. Green; and four time pro bowler, Calvin Johnson. A main reason teams are starting to draft taller wide receivers is because they are able to cause mayhem for cornerbacks, as well as defensive schemes. When matched up against a team who has a wide receiver at or above six foot, three inches; you must pay attention heavily to him. These wide receivers are considered a vertical threat. The reason for being labeled as a vertical threat is because of the height differential between the wide receiver and the cornerback. Quarterbacks are able to throw it high and deep into the hands of these taller wide receivers, thus generating several troubles for the opposing defense. In 2013, Josh Gordon (six foot, three inches) led the league in touchdown receptions greater than 40 yards. Finishing right behind him were Cincinnati’s A.J. Green (six foot, four inches) and New Orleans’ Jimmy Graham (six foot, seven inches). The reason for their predominate production is not because they have an abundance of speed; in fact, Gordon ran the 40 yard dash in 4.52 seconds, only 42% faster than all NFL wide receivers. Gordon’s speed is not the reason to his success, but rather his height. A second reason for the emergence in professional football teams drafting taller wide receivers is because they provide their quarterback with a bigger target, especially near the end zone (Brown). When a team is within 20 yards from their own end zone, they are in what is called the red zone. While in the red zone, it is much harder for teams to pass due to the constricted field space available; so, many teams result to running the ball instead. However due to the recent upbringing of the massive height difference between cornerbacks and wide receivers, it is now much easier for quarterbacks to still throw for touchdowns while in the red zone. When we think of red zone targets, players such as Rob Gronkowski (six foot, six inches) and, previously mentioned, Calvin Johnson (six foot, five inches) come to mind. In 2011, Gronkowski led the league in red zone touchdowns with 13 and Johnson finished second with nine. It is no mystery that height is providing dividends to taller wide receivers, which is why present day quarterbacks are attempting more passes than ever before. A big counterargument that has been presented and questioned recently is why professional football teams do not just draft taller cornerbacks to defend taller wide receivers.
Philadelphia Eagles’ Nnamdi Asomugha (six foot, two inches), one of the tallest cornerbacks in the league, attempts to answer that question by stating that the reason the wide receiver position is getting taller and the cornerback position is not is because it is much easier to play offense (Trotter). Ultimately for the most part, it would make sense to just sign and play bigger corners against tall wide receivers, but it’s hard to find defenders at that size who have the ability to defend and play off of or press the receiver, while being able to run with them. Asomugha also stated that for a big guy like himself to defend taller, quicker wide receivers, it takes a lot of work in the off-season to maintain not only his flexibility, but also his ability to get low. For him, keeping his legs and core at a certain strength is crucial in order to keep up with the growing wide receivers (Trotter). Jim Schwartz, coach of the Detroit Lions, has also observed that every position on the football field has gotten bigger over the last ten years except for cornerbacks. During Schwartz’s interview, he also spoke about the nature of playing cornerback and how it requires agility and the need to change direction (Trotter). It is obvious that the difference in height is not an ignored or unnoticed problem, however it is an issue that is very difficult to solve immediately. One team that believes they have found the answer to this issue are the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks, most known for their electric and hardnosed defense, are the only team in the NFL to have starting cornerbacks over six foot, three inches. Pete Carroll, coach of the Seattle Seahawks, knew that his big corners, Brandon Browner (six foot, four inches) and Richard Sherman (six foot, three inches), would be at a disadvantage
athletically and vulnerable to penalties, which they were, but believes their size helps against the taller wide receivers (Trotter). For example, the Seattle Seahawks, members of the NFC West, are located in the same division as the Arizona Cardinals, meaning they match up against each other twice each season. Larry Fitzgerald, a member of the Arizona Cardinals, registers at six foot, three inches and is recognized as one of the best wide receivers in the league. In 2012, the Seahawks were able to hold Fitzgerald to only 14 receptions on 26 targets, while only scoring one touchdown. Even though the Seahawks towering defenders were able to limit Fitzgerald’s numbers, with high reward also comes high risk. At the end of the season, both Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner tied for first in the NFL with three illegal-contact infractions in 2012. Browner also tied for second in the league with six pass-interference calls (Trotter). This disadvantage the Seahawks risk is not something every team is willing to forfeit, therefore the height differential problem will continue to exist. Overall, the wide receiver position, as well as the whole NFL, is changing. With the league progressing to becoming less run dominant and starting to lean towards passing the ball, teams will continue to draft taller wide receivers. One team in particular, the Pittsburgh Steelers, has primarily been a team which elected to always run first. However with the recent surge that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has brought and provided to the offense, their offensive scheme has changed towards relying more on the pass. A problem they have faced though is their wide receivers have not progressed with the rest of the league; Roethlisberger has instead been forced to rely on Antonio Brown, a receiver who is only five foot, ten inches (Bouchette). As a result, entering the 2014 draft the Steelers were eyeing a taller target for Roethlisberger and came away with six foot, four inch wide receiver; Martavis Bryant (Brown). All this information combined has led to an interesting and very exciting trend. With the presence of taller wide receivers entering the league, there are no limits as to how far this position will evolve in the future.
Walter Payton was born in July 25, 1954. Son of Peter and Alyne Payton, Walter Payton was born in Colombia, Missouri. Walter’s father wasn’t really into football as much as people thought, Peter Payton was a semi-pro baseball player. Walter was had one older brother Eddie, who was born 3 years before Walter but in the near future wasn’t the one to be a football star. Eddie learned a lot about football from his dad, but when Walter was born, he knew he would have competition. At a very young age Walter and Eddie would have pickup games in the backyard. When Walter was 5 he started to play in a little league. Coaches were shocked to see Walter play football, almost every time he touched the football, touchdown. Not only his parents, but the players, and the coaches noticed that the harder Walter works he could go far.
Playing football comes with several risks factors that players’ acknowledge prior to playing the game starting a young age. Regardless, these players still chose to play the game, which they end up loving and cherishing despite all the risks accompanied with it. Football is one of the toughest sports in the world; it takes a certain amount of strength, speed, and aggressiveness to play 48 minutes of hard-nosed football. However, the National Football League (NFL) is in the midst of a controversial issue. Is the NFL getting soft? This has been a debatable issue for several years. While some believe that implementing all these rules in the NFL is progressively turning the game soft, others say that the NFL is not getting soft; it is just trying to make the game safer for its players.
There are thousands of high school football players across the nation, and a handful of them have what it takes to play at the college level. Those that do have the raw talent normally get reached by college football recruiters and coaches. The NCAA, the National College Athletic Association, has many rules and regulations especially surrounding the rules and conduct of recruiting student athletes. Men's football takes the most notice, as well as basketball, of all collegiate sports in the U.S. today (Smith, 2015). According to Langelett (2003), the NCAA limits each school to 85 football scholarships. With a limited number of scholarships available, schools spend a considerable amount of time and money on recruiting players.
Are young children putting their health and even their lives at risk if they partake in the sport of football? Some claim that the American sport is far too dangerous and the risk of concussions and injuries far outway the pros of the physical sport, while others insist that technological improvements and new regulations have made the sport safer. Jonathan Zimmerman, a professor of history and education at New York University, argues in his paper, “We Must Stop Risking the Health of Young Football Players,” that football is a sport that is too dangerous for the youth. He states his belief that technological improvements in helmets and changes in the rules of the sport have had little effect on reducing injuries and that nothing has worked.
"2013 Player Health & Safety Report." 2013 Player Health & Safety Report. National Football League, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. (Magazine)
Nathan Ross “Nate” Jackson, went to Menlo College in California, it is a small school with about 750 students. Nate was on their football team from 1999-2001 and was the star of the team. He went undrafted to the San Francisco 49ers in 2002. Then was traded to the Denver Broncos and was on their team from 2003-2008 (six seasons). He was not a high caliber player, but he was on the first team, so he got to experience what the NFL was really like. Nate, is also the author of “Slow Getting Up: A Story of N.F.L. Survival from the Bottom of the Pile.” This book is all about the NFL experience, and what it is like to survive in the NFL. So, when it comes to his credibility, Nate knows firsthand what it feels like to be on the bottom on the pile, and what it is like getting hit while in midair attempting to catch the
Some are trading the fun and experience of diversifying between basketball, baseball, soccer, etc. for year-round football. As a result, overuse injuries are occurring at an alarming rate among these one-sport wonders. For example, "Little League Elbow" describes overuse injuries in kids who are repetitively throwing the ball. Kids are sustaining severe injuries to their growth plates, neck and spinal cord that could end their career in pro-sports before it begins....
When looking for an argumentative visual I wanted to do something over a topic that was one day going to relate to me. So I chose the topic of young male children playing tackle football. In this PBS Learning Media documentary, a group of doctors persuasively discuss the effects of allowing a male child under the age of fourteen to play tackle football and the head injuries it can cause as well as the later effective of their growth they can encounter if a hard blow to the head was the happen. The documentaries argument clearly stated that allowing your children to play tackle before the age of fourteen is dangerous and should be avoided for the child 's safety. The film also successfully utilized many rhetorical appeals that convinces parents to reconsider their idea of allowing their son to participate in tackle football. The first rhetorical appeal used in the film was pathos, it was a video clip of a child on the ground hurt because of a hard hit to the head. Another rhetorical appeal used was logos when they interviewed doctors from highly respected fields to state their factual
II. Summary: Players’ safety should be focused on more by making rules stricter in the NFL, teaching younger players how to tackle, and increasing the rules because helmets do not always prevent concussions.
Duffer, Mikale J., and Seth L. Feinberg. "Race and the NFL Draft: Views from the Auction Book."
The problems and injuries that come with playing football have been obvious since the beginning, and to this day are still being discovered and researched in hopes of finding solutions so that the sport is not so dangerous. Malcolm Gla...
On Sundays in the fall people all over the world are watching pro football. But do they know how it came to be or how the rules have gotten to be the way they are today? Most people don’t, so I am going to tell you all about it.
First of all, the rules of football require one to equip himself with approximately twenty pounds of equipment, including a helmet, shoulder pads, and girdle pads. This is because football has the most contact involved out of all sports. In a football game, the norm is that the home team wears colorful jerseys and the visiting team wears white jerseys. Moreover, if a team’s offense is on the field, their defense is on the sideline. A team’s offense includes a center, who snaps the ball to the quarterback. The “QB” then has a choice to run with the ball, hand it off to a running back, or throw it to a wide receiver. The quarterback has an offensive line to protect him from the assailing defense. If a teammate happens to score a touchdown, he earns his team six points, which allows for the kicker to kick an extra point, and give his team a total of seven points. However, if the offense fails to travel at least ten yards within four attempts, or “downs,” they have the opti...
Soccer is such an incredible sport in which players of all sizes may rise to celebrity, also augmenting its [accessibility]. Nevertheless, in today’s professional level, when it comes to winning head balls in the back or for scoring goals tall players are an important part of a team.
The training and practices required to play professional football are intense. You have to wear uncomfortable pads and helmets and endure grueling practices in the heat of the summer and you have to lift weights every day (Green 174). You have to train no matter what position you play. What’s important about is how the position works and how it contributes to the game. Young boys must join high school football team, the road to football star begins in high school.