If you started a football team..... (1 Viewer)

[Baby New Year]

Six posts and only two mentions of the center position. Terrible.Consider this post number seven and mention number three. I'd put center at #2 behind only quarterback.

then how come centers don't go higher in the NFL draft?

Or make more money in free agency?Follow the dollars. The most important positions will always be the highest paid positions. The reason they're highest-paid is because, duh, they're the most important.

That's not really true. It's partially true, but scarcity has a lot to do with dollars. You can compare it to your typical fantasy football draft --- QB's tend to go low because you typically only need one of them, and most people figure they can get a decent one late, whereas in the real world there are a lot more teams and the decent QB is much more scarce. Also, it's considered a 'skill' position, and having a complex set of skills that takes years to develop will make you money even if you don't have the single most important job. I would agree that they're pretty important, and if you had to break it down by individual player, maybe even most important, but I'd prioritize the line and live with an average QB, if it came to that. Like I mentioned earlier, this is really all pretty pointless, though, so maybe 'duh' is the better answer.

 

[FUBAR]

Six posts and only two mentions of the center position. Terrible.Consider this post number seven and mention number three. I'd put center at #2 behind only quarterback.

then how come centers don't go higher in the NFL draft?

Or make more money in free agency?Follow the dollars. The most important positions will always be the highest paid positions. The reason they're highest-paid is because, duh, they're the most important.

That's not really true. It's partially true, but scarcity has a lot to do with dollars. You can compare it to your typical fantasy football draft --- QB's tend to go low because you typically only need one of them, and most people figure they can get a decent one late, whereas in the real world there are a lot more teams and the decent QB is much more scarce. Also, it's considered a 'skill' position, and having a complex set of skills that takes years to develop will make you money even if you don't have the single most important job. I would agree that they're pretty important, and if you had to break it down by individual player, maybe even most important, but I'd prioritize the line and live with an average QB, if it came to that. Like I mentioned earlier, this is really all pretty pointless, though, so maybe 'duh' is the better answer.

That's great and all, but if you're drafting a football team, wouldn't scarcity be a consideration?

 

[Baby New Year]

Six posts and only two mentions of the center position. Terrible.Consider this post number seven and mention number three. I'd put center at #2 behind only quarterback.

then how come centers don't go higher in the NFL draft?

Or make more money in free agency?Follow the dollars. The most important positions will always be the highest paid positions. The reason they're highest-paid is because, duh, they're the most important.

That's not really true. It's partially true, but scarcity has a lot to do with dollars. You can compare it to your typical fantasy football draft --- QB's tend to go low because you typically only need one of them, and most people figure they can get a decent one late, whereas in the real world there are a lot more teams and the decent QB is much more scarce. Also, it's considered a 'skill' position, and having a complex set of skills that takes years to develop will make you money even if you don't have the single most important job. I would agree that they're pretty important, and if you had to break it down by individual player, maybe even most important, but I'd prioritize the line and live with an average QB, if it came to that. Like I mentioned earlier, this is really all pretty pointless, though, so maybe 'duh' is the better answer.

That's great and all, but if you're drafting a football team, wouldn't scarcity be a consideration?

Absolutely, it would, just like I mentioned in the fantasy football draft comparison.

 

[Football Jones]

Here's my quick list (the order might change with more thought). Based on a standard offense & 4-3 defense.

01. QB

02. CB

03. LT

04. DE

05. RB

06. MLB

07. WR

08. CB

09. RT

10. WLB

11. WR

12. DT

13. C

14. DE

15. TE

16. FS

17. G

18. DT

19. G

20. SS

21. FB

22. SLB

I probably have the OL positions rated lower than most people, but I believe the unit's cohesiveness, as well as the scheme & OL coach, it's just as important as individual talent. I also have the three receiver positions lower than the masses because I think the QB & scheme can be as big a factor as WR/TE talent. RB is rated higher than most, but a special talent there can make a huge difference, IMO.

 

[SSOG]

Six posts and only two mentions of the center position. Terrible.Consider this post number seven and mention number three. I'd put center at #2 behind only quarterback.

then how come centers don't go higher in the NFL draft?

Or make more money in free agency?Follow the dollars. The most important positions will always be the highest paid positions. The reason they're highest-paid is because, duh, they're the most important.

That's not really true. It's partially true, but scarcity has a lot to do with dollars. You can compare it to your typical fantasy football draft --- QB's tend to go low because you typically only need one of them, and most people figure they can get a decent one late, whereas in the real world there are a lot more teams and the decent QB is much more scarce. Also, it's considered a 'skill' position, and having a complex set of skills that takes years to develop will make you money even if you don't have the single most important job. I would agree that they're pretty important, and if you had to break it down by individual player, maybe even most important, but I'd prioritize the line and live with an average QB, if it came to that. Like I mentioned earlier, this is really all pretty pointless, though, so maybe 'duh' is the better answer.

I think scarcity is already included in a discussion of importance, but yes, the money is likewise determined by scarcity. I don't know if I buy the "complex set of skills" argument so much, though, because kicking and longsnapping also require a very complex set of skills that not many people have (I read an article once on what EXACTLY it takes to be an NFL-caliber long-snapper that was really interesting, and there's a lot more to it than you'd think).I agree that the line is more important than the QB... but that's because the line is 5 players, while the QB is just one. While the line as a whole is more important than the QB, the QB is more important than any individual player on the line.

 

[Baby New Year]

I don't know if I buy the "complex set of skills" argument so much, though, because kicking and longsnapping also require a very complex set of skills that not many people have

Dude.......Don't make me add you to my sig.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

Ok let me further explain the Center/LT debate.

In my Norm Chow video on the USC offense. He said that you put your best offensive lineman at center and teach him to hike the football. Thats how important the position is to him.

Why is the LT important?

As NFL offenses continue to explore the passing game and expand, so do defenses trying to combat this. So the Speed rushers have developed and matchup on the blind side of QB's. Having a premium LT to keep up with these rushers is a valuable asset.

Where do most NFL teams run the football? To the right. Why? B/c they have more beef on that side of the line. 19 NFL teams have a heavier RT than LT. While the LT is a quicker, more athletic lineman......the RT is simply a mauler and more run blocker.

The LT can be helped with a chip block from a RB or TE to help eliminate the edge rusher or a roll out pass.

The Center is responsible for making most of the calls and opening up the running game, while picking up blitz's.

Is it any coincidence that when Brad Meester was back healthy the Jags running game took off. First half of the season they had 1 100 yard rushing game, but second half was 6.

The Titans running game took off this season with Mawae now at Center.

The colts were fine with a Rookie LT.....but without saturday they would be done.

I guess the point I was trying to make in this thread was that the Center and Saftey are very underappreciated in the NFL.

 

[Jedimaster21]

First, I would worry about a good owner, then GM, then coach. After that I would worry about the players. Once I got to that point...

Would you trade Tom Brady for the best center in the league?

How about Peyton Manning for Mario Williams or Jared Allen?

Quarterback is by far the most important position on the field. Once you have that position filled with an elite talent, you can build the rest of the team. However, there are other positions that are very important. If I were drafting, after obtaining a QB I would focus on a few positions and take the best available player that filled one of those. This is my order:

1. QB

2. LT/DE/DT

3. CB/WR/LB/RB

It is really hard to separate the positions more than this, because if there is an elite talent available at a position, it is hard not to take them. Every position can be the most important if you have a difference maker.

 

[Spartans Rule]

First, I would worry about a good owner, then GM, then coach. After that I would worry about the players. Once I got to that point... Would you trade Tom Brady for the best center in the league?How about Peyton Manning for Mario Williams or Jared Allen?Quarterback is by far the most important position on the field. Once you have that position filled with an elite talent, you can build the rest of the team. However, there are other positions that are very important. If I were drafting, after obtaining a QB I would focus on a few positions and take the best available player that filled one of those. This is my order:1. QB2. LT/DE/DT3. CB/WR/LB/RBIt is really hard to separate the positions more than this, because if there is an elite talent available at a position, it is hard not to take them. Every position can be the most important if you have a difference maker.

I agree with pretty much all of this.