By Mike Detillier / Sports Correspondent
In the high school or college football ranks, we often see football players switching positions to play both offense and defense during games.
But it is not done very much at the NFL level.
You might see an offensive tackle switch to offensive guard or an outside linebacker moved to middle linebacker, but it is not something you see often players being switched from one side of the ball to the other or used in multiple spots in the NFL.
During the Saints Coaches Show on WWL Radio 870-AM on Monday, Saints head coach Sean Payton addressed the issue of why you don’t see it done a lot and why he is not opposed to switching a player around if it can help the black-and-gold.
“It’s not like playing in the backyard and saying make a sharp hook in front of the oak tree, this is the NFL,” Payton said. “It’s a specialized league to an extent, but it also opens up the door for an athlete who is mentally tough, smart, athletic and has a want to change positions or help in multiple spots. I’m not opposed to making a switch to a player if it means helping us win. Not every quarterback can run like Taysom Hill or is as physical at Taysom is. He can play in the slot and play on special teams too. Taysom can do those things and he has the right mindset to make it work. Justin Hardee is another player that has switched spots and he’s improved as a player for us on defense. He was a wide receiver at Illinois and he got switched to safety and then to cornerback. Justin’s a really good special teams performer for us and he also has the right mindset to make that transition. We have a couple of others we are working within that transition and some are big moves and others not, but you have to have the right vision and spot for him on your team to make it work. I know Deion Sanders played on both sides of the ball with you Bobby (Hebert) in Atlanta and with the (San Francisco) 49ers and Dallas Cowboys and Roy Green was an excellent wide receiver, return man and defensive back with the (St. Louis/Phoenix) Cardinals and also with the Philadelphia Eagles. But those guys are rare to see in this league.”
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