There are 11 positions on a football team at any given time. What most fans don’t realize is that each position is critical to the success of the team. That said, there are a few positions that stand apart from the rest for a few reasons.
There are four positions on any team that are more critical to the success of the team than any others. Let’s take a look at each of the positions and break down what they bring to the team each time they step on the field.
Quarterback
If you’ve ever looked at NFL betting odds, you’ll find a correlation. The teams with the best quarterbacks tend to have the best odds. The teams with the worst quarterbacks have the worst odds. It is one of the simplest concepts in sports.
Quarterbacks are the catalyst for just about any offense. They direct play calls, read defenses, and distribute the ball to all of the relevant playmakers. If a quarterback is unable to do so, it causes a lot of issues that are simply too difficult to overcome. Great teams typically have great quarterbacks for a reason.
Defensive End/Edge Rusher
Because of how good quarterbacks are, the defensive ends and other edge rushers have become premium positions. In order to stop prolific quarterbacks, defenses need to be able to get to them and disrupt their rhythm and timing. Otherwise, it will be a long day for the defense.
These rushers have elite football skills, a combination of size, strength, speed, and technique that allows them to beat offensive linemen on a regular basis. Teams everywhere are trying to find premier rushers who can get to the quarterback, making them easily one of the most valuable positions across any football league.
Offensive Tackle
Offensive line, in general, is critical. A bad offensive line can compromise the ability of even the best quarterbacks. That’s not even mentioning the potential for injury when a quarterback has to run for their life every time they drop back to throw the ball. But the tackle is the most important position in an already important position group.
The tackle is meant to protect the blind side of the quarterback. For the most part, that is the left tackle. They are responsible for keeping the best pass rushers in the league away from their quarterback. Failure to do so can be disastrous not only for the hopes of that game but for the hopes of the season as a whole. Great offensive tackles come at a huge price and for good reason.
Middle Linebacker
Skill position players are important but can be interchangeable, especially running backs. On the defensive side of the ball, there is no replacing a truly great middle linebacker. That linebacker is typically the heart and soul of the defense, the brains that call out the formations and coverages, that direct people where to go, and more. That is not even mentioning the physical duties that a solid middle linebacker will have in the average defense.
Middle linebackers have been called the quarterback of the defense and for good reason. There are other players who can step in and fill the role but it isn’t the same. The best linebackers not only have the brain for the game but can track down ballcarriers sideline to sideline on any given play. There are only a few elite middle linebackers in the NFL and those teams are often near the top of the rankings. A lot of things can go wrong defensively and a strong middle linebacker can mitigate those mistakes.