What position typically has the best athletes on the field?

[TheCount]

Random thought that popped into my head while working today. Who are typically the best athletes on a football field at any given moment?

Here's my vote:

3-4 = OLB
In the 3-4, no position is asked more from (in my opinion) than the OLB. You have to be able to line up on the line and fight linemen, be able to blitz and be able to drop back in coverage. No one does it better than Ware, and I think he's quite possibly the best athlete we have, and we have a very good team.

4-3 = CB

I suppose some are more athletic than others, but in the 4-3, no position is asked to do what the OLB has to do in a 3-4, so the CB gets it in this one. They have to face a guy that knows what he wants to do, and try to figure it out on the fly, in space. A single missed step or a wrong guess can expose you, and nothing in football is as "Boooo!-enducing" or embarrassing as getting burned by your man in coverage, Roy can attest to that.

Michael Irvin once said that every time he lined up he felt he had the upper hand, because he knew what he was going to do and the guy across from him had no clue. I can only imagine what goes through a guys head when he's starring across the line at Randy Moss, T.O., Marvin Harrison, etc.

What do you guys think?

 

[Future]

I think its cornerbacks, and I don't think its even that close.

 

[Hoofbite]

Probably Kicker.....

 

[I LOVE ME SOME ME!]

Corner, and it's not close. They are at a disadvantage every snap of the ball. They are asked to backpedal and then make up ground if its a comeback route, or turn their hips at the speed of light if its a stop and go. I dont think it's close. It's not good to compare Ware to all OLB's. HE is a freak of nature. Most 3-4 olb's are not like him. If you look at Merriman all he does is rush the passer really.

 

[The30YardSlant]

Cornerbacks are almost always the most athletic players on the field at any level of football

 

[Deep_Freeze]

I would say every position on an NBA basketball court starting with SG and SF, then WR and CB.

 

[Doomsday101]

If we are saying athlete then I'll say TE. Not because it is the hardest I would agree CB is one of the hardest position in football but as an athlete the TE has to be both quick to get out on routs and strong enough to act as the 6th blocker on the line.

 

[TheCount]

Corner, and it's not close. They are at a disadvantage every snap of the ball. They are asked to backpedal and then make up ground if its a comeback route, or turn their hips at the speed of light if its a stop and go. I dont think it's close. It's not good to compare Ware to all OLB's. HE is a freak of nature. Most 3-4 olb's are not like him. If you look at Merriman all he does is rush the passer really.

You may be right, maybe Ware has spoiled me. Also helps that LB is my favorite position.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Glad to see everyone recognize that the answer is cornerback.

RB is a good one too, though. At least the athletic ones and not the big bruisers. The rare guys like LT that still carry the vast majority of the workload are stud athletes and they have to have tremendous endurance, too.

The best WRs are great athletes, too.

 

[dallasfaniac]

Drew Bledsoe. Errr, wait you said most athletic.

 

[joseephuss]

Random thought that popped into my head while working today. Who are typically the best athletes on a football field at any given moment?

Here's my vote:

3-4 = OLB
In the 3-4, no position is asked more from (in my opinion) than the OLB. You have to be able to line up on the line and fight linemen, be able to blitz and be able to drop back in coverage. No one does it better than Ware, and I think he's quite possibly the best athlete we have, and we have a very good team.

4-3 = CB

I suppose some are more athletic than others, but in the 4-3, no position is asked to do what the OLB has to do in a 3-4, so the CB gets it in this one. They have to face a guy that knows what he wants to do, and try to figure it out on the fly, in space. A single missed step or a wrong guess can expose you, and nothing in football is as "Boooo!-enducing" or embarrassing as getting burned by your man in coverage, Roy can attest to that.

Michael Irvin once said that every time he lined up he felt he had the upper hand, because he knew what he was going to do and the guy across from him had no clue. I can only imagine what goes through a guys head when he's starring across the line at Randy Moss, T.O., Marvin Harrison, etc.

What do you guys think?

Is there a difference between a 3-4 CB and a 4-3 CB? I don't think there is a difference.

In general it is corner back, but there can be some OLBs that are the best athletes on the field. When Newman was injured, I would say that Ware became the most athletic guy on the Dallas defense.

 

[theogt]

Is there a difference between a 3-4 CB and a 4-3 CB? I don't think there is a difference.

In general it is corner back, but there can be some OLBs that are the best athletes on the field. When Newman was injured, I would say that Ware became the most athletic guy on the Dallas defense.

I think his point was that the difference is a 4-3 CB doesn't have a 3-4 OLB on the field.

As to the original question, I think it's a close call, but definitely comes down to 3-4 OLB and corner. If I had to choose between having an uber-athletic 3-4 OLB and a moderately athletic corner vs. a moderately athletic 3-4 OLB and an uber-athletic corner, I'd probably choose the former.

 

[the kid 05]

cbs or wide outs they are the only position that i see sprinting all the plays...except for moss he plays when he wants to

 

[joseephuss]

I think his point was that the difference is a 4-3 CB doesn't have a 3-4 OLB on the field.

As to the original question, I think it's a close call, but definitely comes down to 3-4 OLB and corner. If I had to choose between having an uber-athletic 3-4 OLB and a moderately athletic corner vs. a moderately athletic 3-4 OLB and an uber-athletic corner, I'd probably choose the former.

I probably would, too. The Ravens have been able to get by with the latter in their 3-4 scheme. They ran a 4-3 when they won the SB.

How many uber-athletic OLBs are there? I don't think there really are that many that exist. There are probably more uber-athletic CBs than OLBs.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Is there a difference between a 3-4 CB and a 4-3 CB? I don't think there is a difference.

In general it is corner back, but there can be some OLBs that are the best athletes on the field. When Newman was injured, I would say that Ware became the most athletic guy on the Dallas defense.

I probably would, too. The Ravens have been able to get by with the latter in their 3-4 scheme. They ran a 4-3 when they won the SB.

How many uber-athletic OLBs are there? I don't think there really are that many that exist. There are probably more uber-athletic CBs than OLBs.

Think he meant in a 3-4 the most athletic is the OLB, and in a 4-3 it is CBs.

 

[31smackdown]

It has to be a cornerback... the agility, speed and stamina needed on back to back plays is incredible.. to be able to cover these top receivers for one play is hard. To do it for 40 passing plays is crazy.. oh and then don't forget to get off the block and support the run while you are at it.. nothing like being isolated on a sweep after you just ran 120 yards the three plays before that and you know that you need to make the tackle.

Although I will say that the big guys inside take a lot of pounding and pushing play after play, that they probably don't get enough credit for their level of fitness.. the DLINE subs a lot, but the Oline still has to be able to protect and move while sustaining their power throughout the game. Those big guys leaning on you, just wears you down.

 

[joseephuss]

Think he meant in a 3-4 the most athletic is the OLB, and in a 4-3 it is CBs.

I did miss that. I still think it is corner back in either scheme in most cases. It takes a great athlete like Ware to make the OLB to be the best athlete on the field.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Probably Kicker.....

Stop stealing Hos' answer :laugh2:

I say it's the 6'0 235lb SS that now wears #38

 

[Hostile]

Cornerbacks without a doubt. They have to be able to run backwards almost as fast as a WR runs forwards and then be able to turn and change directions to run stride for stride with them, plus be physical and tackle them if they do catch it.

 

[Big Country]

Long Snapper