Three-down LBs grow scarcer as pass plays increase (AP) Hall of Fame linebacker Andre Tippett had a simple answer for how often he left the field when the opponent had the ball. “Never.” A slight exaggeration? Perhaps. What’s certain is that an NFL linebacker’s role has changed since Tippett’s retirement after the 1993 season ended a 12-year career, all with the New England Patriots, in which he sacked quarterbacks, shadowed receivers, tackled rushers and tried to catch his breath. In today’s NFL, few linebackers are as busy as Tippett. Rules that encourage passing have led teams to replace a big linebacker with a speedier one, or with a defensive back in nickel packages. Some linebackers are used exclusively to rush the passer. Others are used in running situations. And many linebackers are not as well-rounded coming into the league because they have less practice time in college, and even NCAA coaches are using a platoon system. “That position has been specialized for several years now,” New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said. Today’s linebackers must tussle with big, fast tight ends. Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski, Greg Olsen, Julius Thomas and Jason Witten all are at least 6-feet-5 and 250 pounds. And who can keep up with super-speedy [...] newsinfl/three-down-lbs-grow-scarcer-as-pass-plays-increase/
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 10:31:45 +0000
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