The NFL used to be a league that required 230 pound fullbacks pounding at defensive lines and linebackers ending in crushing bone tackles, with an occasional pass and QB's who completed less then 50% of their passes. Then came Sonny Jergueson, Billy Kilmer, Bart Starr, Fran Tarkenton, Joe Nameth, and the QB position began to change. Now the norm had to be 60% completion rate, calling for better receivers who could catch more targets. That's when people like Kellen Winslow, JJ Jefferson, Steve Largent, Drew Pearson, and Jerry Rice showed up. Herman Moore, Mark Clayton, receivers with uncanny leaping ability and soft hands became the most important thing for a team to have. That's when the 4000 yard passer showed up. Warren Moon, Dan Marino, passers used not only WR's as their targets, but TE's, RB's and FB's too! Then came the scatbacks like Barry Sanders, Darren Sproles. Running backs that could catch and run became popular. Bruisers like Emmitt Smith, LaDannian Tomlinson, became less popular. Then came the dual threat QB. Randall Cunningham, Michael Vick. The passers who could put 4000 yards on their belt but were such a threat to the run they'd put 600 yards on the ground a season.
Now, welcome speed to the NFL.
The NFL now needs people who can outrun everyone on the field. Gone are the days of power backs and power sweeps. Now it's deception and speed that kills defenses. Now it's the screen pass with 3 WR's turned blockers in front of the receiver that destroys defenses. Gone are the days were a QB with a 40 yard dash of under 5.0 seconds gets drafted. It's all become about speed.
Chris Johnson introduced a new type of breed to the NFL. A small sized back who can take 20 carries a day but run around opponents with speed. Barry Sanders was a one of a kind athlete. He once said, "I knew I was too small to plow people over, so I had to learn how to go around them." Sanders simply had so many moves to get around people, defenders couldn't grab him. That's what made Barry so unique. Johnson is a back with 4.24 40 yard dash speed, who simply gets a hole and breaks into open field and runs to where no one can catch him. That's why some games he averages only 2 yards per carry, he didn't get a break.
Remember that Redskin CB from the 1980's and all through the 1990's, Darrell Green? Do you know why he was so good? Because he was so fast. He was faster then anyone he covered, which means he can get to the ball much faster then the average corner in the league could. That's why he was so impressive in coverage, and so impressive with the ball. He returned punts, and won the NFL's Fastest Man Competition several years.
Darrell Green had become the NFL prototype CB. Receivers had to get faster. When Randy Moss introduced himself to the NFL, he was one of the fastest men on the field. He simply was big and couldn't be tackled by most NFL corners. 6-4, 200 lbs, is a big receiver. He was super fast, big and strong, and that's what made Randy Moss so good.
Now, everyone has to be fast. Vontaze Burfict is a LB, and when he ran a 40 in almost 5 seconds, he lost his draft stock. Last season, he led the NFL in tackles. Game speed and alertness is what Burfict has that most others do not. However, he is a dying breed. Linebackers need to be fast now to cut off corners for people like Chris Johnson.
Ryan Shazier, a LB who ran a 40 in under 4.4 seconds, is a good example of what the NFL searches for now. Jadevion Clowney ran his 40 in 4.56 seconds, and went #1 overall. The NFL is now all about speed, and if you don't have it (Manning brothers, Rivers, Roethlisburger, I'm talking to you), you are a dying breed at your position in the NFL.
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