If you ever coached college football or higher, you would know that.
QB=#1
#2 Center
Physically, there probably isn't a more demanding position. Most of the time, a 300-plus-pound behemoth is breathing all over you as you get ready to snap the ball. And he wants to tear off your head on his way to that ball. He's physically capable of doing so, too.
A center not only is confronted with that, but he also must determine if blocking assignments need to change before he snaps the ball. In addition, he has to get the ball cleanly to the quarterback--which isn't as easy as most people think--and do so on the correct snap count. Only then does he get into the gladiatorial battle of neutralizing a Casey Hampton.
#3 Tackle
#4 TE
#5 Guard
#6 WR
Defense
#1 MLB
Much like his opposite number at center, the middle linebacker has a lot to think about a play even before it begins. For one, if he is the signalcaller on defense--and most middle linebacker are--he needs to be sure the right people are on the field for whatever alignment is called. Then he must be certain they are positioned correctly on the field.
After that, the man in the middle often is the premier tackler on the squad, so defensive schemes are designed for him to find the ball and stop the guy carrying it. From Ray Lewis to Al Wilson to Brian Urlacher, is there really any question about the tackling skills of middle linebackers? Or their abilities in pursuit?
"Ray is the guy everyone who plays defense wants to be like," says cornerback Chris McAlister, who is Lewis' teammate on the Baltimore Ravens. "If you can play like Ray, there's no stopping you."
Some middle linebackers come out of the game on passing downs, which makes the position only slightly easier to handle. But the very best--yes, Lewis and Wilson and Urlacher--don't want any part of missing a play.
QB=#1
#2 Center
Physically, there probably isn't a more demanding position. Most of the time, a 300-plus-pound behemoth is breathing all over you as you get ready to snap the ball. And he wants to tear off your head on his way to that ball. He's physically capable of doing so, too.
A center not only is confronted with that, but he also must determine if blocking assignments need to change before he snaps the ball. In addition, he has to get the ball cleanly to the quarterback--which isn't as easy as most people think--and do so on the correct snap count. Only then does he get into the gladiatorial battle of neutralizing a Casey Hampton.
#3 Tackle
#4 TE
#5 Guard
#6 WR
Defense
#1 MLB
Much like his opposite number at center, the middle linebacker has a lot to think about a play even before it begins. For one, if he is the signalcaller on defense--and most middle linebacker are--he needs to be sure the right people are on the field for whatever alignment is called. Then he must be certain they are positioned correctly on the field.
After that, the man in the middle often is the premier tackler on the squad, so defensive schemes are designed for him to find the ball and stop the guy carrying it. From Ray Lewis to Al Wilson to Brian Urlacher, is there really any question about the tackling skills of middle linebackers? Or their abilities in pursuit?
"Ray is the guy everyone who plays defense wants to be like," says cornerback Chris McAlister, who is Lewis' teammate on the Baltimore Ravens. "If you can play like Ray, there's no stopping you."
Some middle linebackers come out of the game on passing downs, which makes the position only slightly easier to handle. But the very best--yes, Lewis and Wilson and Urlacher--don't want any part of missing a play.
Woody and the guy above him did a decent job talking about why center is such a thinking position. You have a Havard guy like Matt Birk playing center, and he is right, as a group, the offensive line are the smartest group on the field. Just look at their wonderlic scores ( Lineman as a group easily score the highest) and how the Giants had guys who were lawyers on their offensive line. Even the teams I played on, the center was probably the smartest guy on my entire team, but that doesn't mean it is the 2nd hardest to play.
I still peg Center as #3 because it is the hardest line position, and you have to direct traffic, but TE is much harder IMO.
A tight end has to know everything a WR knows. They have to know the passing tree, the coverages, the option routes, and they have to be on the same page as a QB. WR in itself is the 4th hardest. There is a reason why most receivers don't do anything until year 3 in the NFL. It isn't because they aren't fast enough, strong enough, or they need to work on their hands, it is because they have to really understand coverages. There is a movement in the NFL where you see college QB's playing WR, because they should have a better understanding of coverages.
Hines Ward, Anquan Boldin, Arnez Battle, Michael Robinson, Eric Crouch, Seneca Wallace played some WR, Randel El, Brad Smith etc. etc. etc.
These guys have a leg up reading coverage over just your typical college WR.
So to appreciate a TE's job, you first have to appreciate how difficult it is to understand NFL coverages. In little league on any given play you might be told to run a "fade, a go, a stop, an in route", but in the NFL you come to the line and have to decide what to run based on what coverage they show you. If you run the wrong route, you could end a play in a disaster turnover, so a rookie WR that doesn't know what he is doing is a HUUUUGE risk. Most coaches are very turnover averse. Just look at how Joe Gibbs coached. The last thing these guys want is some rookie to run a GO when he should have run a STOP, and let the other team have an easy pick. Look at Neil O'donnel in the cowboys/steelers SB. The WR runs the wrong route and they lose. Coaches take this seriously.
Anyway, the TE has to know all of the passing and WR stuff, but they also have to know all of the blocking audibles, slides, ": you calls, me calls", blitz pick ups etc.
The TE has to know every single thing a WR knows, but also every single thing a Guard or Tackle knows. There is just a ton of information to process. Just look at how much value a team has by keeping their O-line in tact. The guys get to the point where they don't have to make U U U calls, or Me me me calls. Tight ends have to know all of that, when to block down, what to try and block the OLB, or double the end on a sweep etc. They have to know what to run if the safety is in cover 2, or cover 3 etc.
I guess you could argue that a Center is more difficult than TE due to the responsibility of the calls ( but sometimes QB's make the calls for them), but no way a WR is 2nd hardest AWC. A TE has to know everything a WR knows and then some. The center is responsible for making the calls, but only knows the blocking aspects of offense.
The Tight end has to know it all. A lot of college TE's were high school quarterbacks, and people were talking about moving say a Tim Tebow or Vince Young to TE because they are big, strong, and should understand more about the offense than just Joe Tight End.
Woody is right though, MLB is #1 for defense. Look at a guy like Antonio Pierce that is shifting DT's around etc.
I will tell you right now though, you could learn a teams defense in a matter of weeks. There is only so much you can do... Man, zone, cover 1, 2, 3, 4, different blitzes, covering the hook, curl etc.
Offense you have to know so much more.
#1 QB
#2 TE
#3 C
#4 WR
#5 blockers
rb is easy, and defense is easy.
I played offense and defense in college. If you are running a real read/react offense it takes a lot of time and practice to get down the passing game. Defense you could pick up everything you need to know in 2 weeks.
Teams like to draft defense for " and immediate impact", where as a QB or WR takes time to learn.
I will tell you right now though, you could learn a teams defense in a matter of weeks. There is only so much you can do... Man, zone, cover 1, 2, 3, 4, different blitzes, covering the hook, curl etc.
Offense you have to know so much more.
#1 QB
#2 TE
#3 C
#4 WR
#5 blockers
rb is easy, and defense is easy.
I played offense and defense in college. If you are running a real read/react offense it takes a lot of time and practice to get down the passing game. Defense you could pick up everything you need to know in 2 weeks.
Teams like to draft defense for " and immediate impact", where as a QB or WR takes time to learn.
TE is obviously harder than WR.. they all have to know the routes, but comparing WR blocking to TE blocking is a joke. WRs just have to run off the snap and either fake a route or play patsy with the Corner. Tight Ends have to know all the blocking schemes that the O-Line has to know, and have to line up across Pro Bowl defensive ends at times.
While you guys are debating what position you need to be smartest, I would say that corner back is the next TOUGHEST position to play.. how you can go man on man against receivers like Moss, Burress, TO, etc is beyond me. Not only are they ridiculously athletic, but there are no better route runners than the NFL level.. and you have to be ready to stop the run. I got mad respect for players like Champ Bailey.
While you guys are debating what position you need to be smartest, I would say that corner back is the next TOUGHEST position to play.. how you can go man on man against receivers like Moss, Burress, TO, etc is beyond me. Not only are they ridiculously athletic, but there are no better route runners than the NFL level.. and you have to be ready to stop the run. I got mad respect for players like Champ Bailey.
CB is the 2nd hardest position to play, and that is why they are amoung the 2nd highest paid players. Locking down a guy who can almost run the in olympics that knows where he is going when you have to react is almost impossible.
awcll2000 just trolls me around and has to disagree with everything I say. Just like him taking Arizona last night in spite of me. Glad to see some other people here that understand TE is much harder than WR.
All I did was state an opinion. Now I understand why my opinion was wrong. Thanks to Woody who explained his reasoning without acting like he knew it all. Please dont flatter yourself by thinking I troll you around.:lol: Thats is funny as hell. Disagree with you? I do disagree with you when you make outrageously racist remarks over and over in the "in game" threads. I posted my Arizona play early in the day, as you stated on the first page of the "in game" you hadnt decided yet who you were playing. I love the fact that you take jabs at me because of a losing pick. My Arizona pick worked out about as well as your Seattle pick. Have a great day.
The place kicker: he has to be able to read (and feel) stadium wind currents (including drafts amd eddys); be aware of the density altitude, understand relative humidity, barometric pressure and calculate how many feet above MSL (mean sea level) the playing field is.
All of the above comes into play just before he is about to attempt to kick the the winning field goal. This takes brains.
All of the above comes into play just before he is about to attempt to kick the the winning field goal. This takes brains.
You incorrectly state WR is the hardest "something wrong".
I tell you that you are wrong.
You tell me I am a know it all and racist ???????
I was 4-1 on the day and made money, you had a losing day thanks to Arizona +3, and big teasers of Arizona +9, to point out my 1 loser on the day "Seattle" was a joke.
No problemo Jomo.
The center on my HS team went on to a top notch college, and the center on my college team has to be on the hill now.
Just know that watching a game and understanding the X's and O's are two totally different things. The passing game is very detailed and very hard to understand. People say it takes 3 years for a QB to start to fully understand the West Coast offense.
That's why Mike Vick looking at his 1st option, and if he isn't open he takes off running was always a big joke. Peyton Manning's brain is a lot more dangerous than Vick's legs because he makes the defense have to cover every inch of the field. Manning might throw to Wayne on the far left sideline, or Harrison on the far right sideline. Dallas Clark in the slot might run an option route based on the LB's and S.
Vick never had any of that. Alex Gibbs ran a watered down college offense with option keepers, and set non option route plays. It was a joke just like the dog killer.
