The NFL much like the college level has made the rapid transition from the traditional quick and bulk interior linemen to the new
NBA caliber tall and fast athlete. With one exception usually a nose guard, speed and quickness is the now .this new athletic breed of linemen combined with athletic linebackers and cover guys are flying all over the place making tackles that in the past (epically linemen ) were made only if the RB was in reach of a much smaller area that these slower guys were able to be effective. I remember
ISU in 2007 and that team looked like it had 10 leBron James' on defense. They were all tall ,fast, quick and tough. You name it they had it . I believe that Patrick Peterson from that defense my damn well be the best player in the NFL. My point is alot of running backs in the past had holes that didn't collapse as quick as they do today with all this speed strength and quickness. Alot more guys on defense are getting to the RB holes quicker. The safeties and corners are stopping the run now much more than in the past. You can't beat big fast athletic men with the run like they did in the past. Houston and Arizona are prime examples of this style of athletic speedy defense's. Ask the patriots about the cardinals defense they didn't see coming it was swarming and stingy. Honeybee D. kind of catchy huh..
-Michael Quinnela
George's Take
My personal take on this piece is true. The 6'4 TE Jimmy Graham used to play basketball and NBA stars such as LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Jermone Simpson ,who are all freak athletes, may also be able to play 2+ pro sports. In a 2011 NFL game Jermone Simposn back flipped over acardinal's safety into the endzone. Speaking of Cardinals super athlete patrick Peterson and Dominque Rodgers Cromartie (both whom have played on the Cardinals recently) are freak athletes. Paterson recently made a 1 handed diving interception on a tipped tom brady pass. Just a year ago the Oregon Ducks and potential Hiesman winner LaMichael James (now of the 49ers) scored over 40 points a game and now a days star QB Robert Griffen III and PG Rajon Rondo have both played other sports. Rondo starred as a QB and Griffen is a track runner. The new NFL and NBA have become more talent occupied rather than skill. the best athletes (Simpson esc. players) have just as good a chance to make the team as smart players (Gerald Warren, Ray Lewis). All in all pro sports are more based on athleticism more than talent. This means that more 2-3 or even 4 sports players can and are playing pro sports.