At all levels of football over the years, more complex schemes and greater athleticism at all positions have created an increasing need for positional specificity.
In football’s olden days, it was no big deal for a player to, say, start at both halfback and linebacker, or quarterback and defensive back. Today, it’s a big story if a guard has to switch to tackle during a game for whatever reason. When the New England Patriots asked receiver Troy Brown to play defensive back as well in the early 2000s (Brown had three interceptions and five passes defended in the 2004 season), it was a novelty. As it was when Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders caught 36 passes for 475 yards and a touchdown as receiver for the Dallas Cowboys in…
