The New England Patriots are beginning to perfect a no-huddle offense that could change the NFL forever.
But the move toward fast-paced, passing-heavy offenses isn't the only major trend that's reshaping NFL football right.
The death of the running back, the rise of the tight end, and the complete redefinition of what it means to play defense are all key parts of the future of the league.
We've identified the 10 current trends that will play the biggest roles in determining what pro football will look like in the future.
Running backs are dead
Individual running backs no longer matter.
These days, almost every NFL teams runs the ball the same amount, to the same level of success. The stats:
- In 2011, the team ranked 5th in rushing yards per game (142.3 ypg) and 20th (110.3 ypg) were only separated by 32 ypg.
- The team ranked 5th in rushing attempts per game (30.3 apg) and 20th (26.9 apg) were separated by less than five carries per game.
The result: Teams aren't going to invest in one running back, it's going to be a rotating cast of players because the position has been commoditized.
Edge rushers are the new most important players in the NFL
As teams pass more and more, getting pressure on the QB without blitzing is becoming more important. It's basically how the Giants won the Super Bowl twice.
These guys don't have to worry about stopping the run, they just have to attack the pocket. Dwight Freeney is the highest-paid player in the NFL, Mario Williams just got a $100-million contract, and JJ Watt is the clear-cut defensive player of the year for the Texans.
The result: Teams are going to take the money they aren't spending on running backs and pay defensive ends a lot of money.
The no huddle is about to take over the league
The Patriots are running more no huddle than the NFL has ever seen this year. As we all know, the NFL is a copy-cat league, so teams are going to begin to mimic their success (the Ravens are already dabbling in the no huddle).
The fast-paced no huddle has already overtaken college football with the help of coach Chip Kelly at Oregon, and it's only a matter of time until it comes over the horizon.
The result: The NFL is going to look more like college football soon.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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