Special game has turned into a specialized game (1 Viewer)

[Dan in Lafayette]

Pat Kirwan / NFL.com

It wasn't that long ago when teams were looking for six different types of defenders and eight offensive positions.

Defensive tackles were defensive tackles, linebackers were either inside or outside guys, and defensive backs were corners or safeties. On offense, a left tackle was different than a right tackle, but guards were guards, and a tight end was a tight end.

Situation substitutions, multiple personnel groupings, fire-zone blitz schemes, two-gapping 3-4 defenses, 4-3 one-gap penetrating fronts, and a host of other nuances in the modern game has changed the number of positions teams have to identify, and then locate the talent to play those positions. NFL personnel people probably have closer to 16 offensive and 19 defensive positions to identify. Full Story – NFL.comhttp://www.nfl.com/draft/story;jses...0d5d80765bb9&template=with-video&confirm=true