Today's NFL has become a game of matchups much like the NBA. With this shift in focus, RB's--traditionally the focus of every defense--have become de-emphasized as other offensive weapons are utilized more often. Traditional in-line TE's are used less often and FB's have almost entirely gone from the game. The Harbaugh's are just about the last coaches to value a FB as more than an additional role of a RB. And right now, only one Harbaugh is even coaching in the NFL.
The emergence of the Move TE who is like a huge slot receiver has created a mighty chess-piece of mismatches. Too long and physical to be adequately covered by a CB and too fast to be covered by a LB, he's a coverage nightmare. Generally, the SS needs to pick him up, so if the TE runs deeper routes, the SS is out of position to defend the run, and generally defenses only have 2 LB's so if a run breaks the linebacker corps, it's opened up for a big gain.
Similarly, the disappearance of the FB has led to many 3 WR sets, sets with 3 WR's + 1 TE, and even 4 WR sets flooding the pattern with quality pass catchers at every level. OC's are also employing ultra-quick RB's like Lyn Bowden Jr. who can also be jitterbugs running routes and absolute nightmares for LB's because of their quickness and late entry into the pattern.
The OC is now just looking to create one mismatch and exploit it. And in today's game, that scouting that you do for your team is the essential difference between dominance and defeat. Kudos to you. Keep it up.
www.merriam-webster.com
