We’re closing in on another NFL season in the books. We have a handful of teams that are gunning for a Super Bowl. But, for a lot of teams, it’s already over. Ball game – let’s start talking about free agency and the NFL Draft. So, in that spirit, I saw the opportunity to take a look at the NFL 2018 and point out some trends, players, coaches, etc. who appear to be the future of the NFL.
The Future of the NFL
Chiefs-Rams
Hope y’all liked that game, because I think as the years pass, we’re going to see more and more of it. “Defense guy” is probably going to have a conniption reading that, but it’s true. Offenses are evolving for a number of reasons, but yeah – primarily because NFL rule changes are making it harder to play defense in the traditional sense.
You’re not going to see shutdown corners anymore. Elite corners are going to be the ones who make the most plays. Guys like Darrelle Revis, who quarterbacks wouldn’t even throw at because of his coverage skills, are a dying breed. You aren’t going to see guys destroying each other the way they used to thanks to the targeting rule and the uptick in unnecessary roughness calls. And, that’s a good thing – if you still want kids to grow up playing football, you have to make the game safer. You’re seeing it each and every season nowadays – someone retiring for the sake of their health.
We’re just smarter in 2018 than we were decades ago – people are beginning to understand how detrimental football is to your long term health. So, guys are getting in, getting a contract, and getting out. The NFL is going to keep working to make the game safer – I still think we’ll be watching flag football eventually.
Personally, I’m okay with it. That Chiefs-Rams game was one of the most entertaining I’ve seen in a long time. Unfortunately, “defense guy” is on the wrong side of history with this one.
Baker Mayfield
The moxie, the attitude, the pure sex – everything about Baker Mayfield screams “SUPERSTAR!” But, it’s his play that looks the most promising. Of all the rookie quarterbacks selected in the first round, he clearly looks like the best in year one. Dude has 2,639 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions through 10 games. If not for Saquon Barkley, I’d say he’s the Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s a gunslinger, and the NFL hasn’t seen a guy with this combination of aura and skill since Brett Favre. We may as well be counting down the days until a dick pic scandal.
The hybrid back
The idea of a hybrid back isn’t anything new in the NFL. We’ve seen guys come around for a while now, but the distinction I’m making here is that this guy, the hybrid back, is going to take over the running back position. Mainly, because offenses are continuing to evolve into more complex systems, and the more a player can do the better. You saw it big time with David Johnson, who, at one point in his career, had a case for NFL MVP for all he did for the Arizona Cardinals. But, now there’s a whole new class of guys who are paving the way for the hybrid back to take over the NFL: Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, etc. It sure seems as though every team wants one, and before long, every team will have one.
Tyreek Hill
I don’t think Tyreek Hill is ever going to be the best wide receiver in the traditional sense. But, much like the hybrid back, success in the NFL is increasingly becoming about how much you can do as opposed to what you can do. Hill is the definition of a lethal weapon in the NFL. He can catch, he can run, he can return – you name it and #10 can do it. And, the Kansas City Chiefs use him in so many different ways. No one in the NFL has the burst that Hill has – if you give him an inch of separation, he’ll turn it into 50 yards. If he’s not already, he’s well on his way to becoming the greatest play-maker in the NFL.
Sean McVay
I simply can’t overstate my massive man crush and subsequent football boner over Los Angeles Rams head coach, Sean McVay. First of all, I’m thankful he exists because when he’s on the sideline, it’s certainly easier to talk my girlfriend into watching football with me.
Second of all, I just appreciate the man’s genius in play calling. He’s the architect of one of the greatest offenses in the league, and he’s turned Jared Goff from potential bust into MVP candidate. Some people have even called him the “next Bill Belichick.” Sure, he’s an excellent play caller, but his feel for a game and his work with Goff is what separates him as one of the elite offensive minds in the NFL. And, here we find ourselves again – talking about the evolution of offense in the NFL.
McVay is leading the charge on that front, and will continue to do so in the future. The Rams are going to be explosive for years to come.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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