Portis 26
Madden Freak
Most of the terms describing football positions are antiquated and bear little relationship to the current reality of the game.
For example, the term "defensive end" makes sense in the context of there being "offensive ends" too, a term no-one uses any more, although "tight end" and to a lesser extent "split end" do live on. Similarly, the whole quarterback/halfback/fullback distinction predates the modern forward pass era and doesn't make reference to who is actually throwing the ball.
There are a lot more. Who does the offensive tackle actually tackle? He's a blocker, not a tackler. Why do we talk about "receivers" when they are actually catching the ball? Why do we use "rushing" in both an offensive and defensive sense (rushing the ball and rushing the passer)? Why can't its offensive form just be running the ball?
Actually, the only terms that are perfectly clear are kicker and punter.
In a sense, it is rather charming that this terminology is so antiquated. On the other hand, reformers would have a good case for it being updated. In the highly unlikely event of the terms ever being reformed, this is how it could go:
CURRENT: QUARTERBACK
NEW: BALL THROWER (BT)
Let's keep this simple. He throws the ball, right? The QB is now the BT.
CURRENT: RUNNING BACK
NEW: BALL RUNNER (BR)
Similarly, this is the guy who runs the ball, right?
CURRENT: WIDE RECEIVER
NEW: BALL CATCHER (BC)
The "wide" reference is somewhat outdated. And the term "receiver" is a bit random too, given that arguably running backs or ball runners receive the ball on handoffs too. They catch the ball as their primary job, so let's call them that.
CURRENT: TIGHT END
NEW: CATCHING BLOCKER (CB)
He blocks and he can catch too. Doesn't that describe a TE perfectly?
CURRENT: FULLBACK
NEW: RUNNING BLOCKER (RB)
He blocks when he runs. Simple, eh?
CURRENT: OFFENSIVE TACKLE
NEW: EXTERIOR BLOCKER (EB)
He blocks on the exterior of the line. This is not complicated.
CURRENT: OFFENSIVE GUARD
NEW: INTERIOR BLOCKER (IB)
He blocks on the interior of the line. This is not rocket science.
CURRENT: OFFENSIVE CENTER
NEW: LINE PIVOT (LP)
Center is actually a pretty accurate term, but if we were to change it, I've always liked the concept of the center as the pivot of the line.
CURRENT: DEFENSIVE END
NEW: EXTERIOR RUSHER (ER)
He rushes from the exterior of the line.
CURRENT: DEFENSIVE TACKLE
NEW: INTERIOR RUSHER (IR)
He rushes from the interior of the line.
CURRENT: INSIDE LINEBACKER (or MIDDLE LINEBACKER)
NEW: INTERIOR PURSUER (IP)
Linebacker is another antiquated term. Basically these guys pursue the play, so let's call a spade a spade!
CURRENT: OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
NEW: EXTERIOR PURSUER (EP)
As above.
CURRENT: CORNERBACK
NEW: PASS DEFENDER (PD)
This is what they do, right?
CURRENT: SAFETY (whether free, strong, left or right)
NEW: DEEP ROVER (DR)
Might sound a bit silly, but safeties are essentially rovers.
For example, the term "defensive end" makes sense in the context of there being "offensive ends" too, a term no-one uses any more, although "tight end" and to a lesser extent "split end" do live on. Similarly, the whole quarterback/halfback/fullback distinction predates the modern forward pass era and doesn't make reference to who is actually throwing the ball.
There are a lot more. Who does the offensive tackle actually tackle? He's a blocker, not a tackler. Why do we talk about "receivers" when they are actually catching the ball? Why do we use "rushing" in both an offensive and defensive sense (rushing the ball and rushing the passer)? Why can't its offensive form just be running the ball?
Actually, the only terms that are perfectly clear are kicker and punter.
In a sense, it is rather charming that this terminology is so antiquated. On the other hand, reformers would have a good case for it being updated. In the highly unlikely event of the terms ever being reformed, this is how it could go:
CURRENT: QUARTERBACK
NEW: BALL THROWER (BT)
Let's keep this simple. He throws the ball, right? The QB is now the BT.
CURRENT: RUNNING BACK
NEW: BALL RUNNER (BR)
Similarly, this is the guy who runs the ball, right?
CURRENT: WIDE RECEIVER
NEW: BALL CATCHER (BC)
The "wide" reference is somewhat outdated. And the term "receiver" is a bit random too, given that arguably running backs or ball runners receive the ball on handoffs too. They catch the ball as their primary job, so let's call them that.
CURRENT: TIGHT END
NEW: CATCHING BLOCKER (CB)
He blocks and he can catch too. Doesn't that describe a TE perfectly?
CURRENT: FULLBACK
NEW: RUNNING BLOCKER (RB)
He blocks when he runs. Simple, eh?
CURRENT: OFFENSIVE TACKLE
NEW: EXTERIOR BLOCKER (EB)
He blocks on the exterior of the line. This is not complicated.
CURRENT: OFFENSIVE GUARD
NEW: INTERIOR BLOCKER (IB)
He blocks on the interior of the line. This is not rocket science.
CURRENT: OFFENSIVE CENTER
NEW: LINE PIVOT (LP)
Center is actually a pretty accurate term, but if we were to change it, I've always liked the concept of the center as the pivot of the line.
CURRENT: DEFENSIVE END
NEW: EXTERIOR RUSHER (ER)
He rushes from the exterior of the line.
CURRENT: DEFENSIVE TACKLE
NEW: INTERIOR RUSHER (IR)
He rushes from the interior of the line.
CURRENT: INSIDE LINEBACKER (or MIDDLE LINEBACKER)
NEW: INTERIOR PURSUER (IP)
Linebacker is another antiquated term. Basically these guys pursue the play, so let's call a spade a spade!
CURRENT: OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
NEW: EXTERIOR PURSUER (EP)
As above.
CURRENT: CORNERBACK
NEW: PASS DEFENDER (PD)
This is what they do, right?
CURRENT: SAFETY (whether free, strong, left or right)
NEW: DEEP ROVER (DR)
Might sound a bit silly, but safeties are essentially rovers.
