SPYDR Biggest 'game-changers' of all-time

[DSpydr84]

It's one thing to be better than everyone, and it's another to be different. These aren't necessarily the greatest players at each position, but they are the players that have given defensive coordinators the greyest of hairs. These are the 'game-changers'; players that revolutionized the way we watch the game today. And these are who I feel did it best.



QB - Michael Vick



He may have had some off-the-field issues, but he sure made up for it on the field. Sure, there were scrambling quarterbacks before him, but Vick was so much more dynamic, athletic, and agile than anyone before him, and thanks to #7, more and more scrambling QBs are joining the NFL ranks. It's hard to forget his infamous run against the Vikings.



RB - Marshall Faulk



Very few players could 'do it all' like Marshall-Marshall-Marshall. Going up against him was a chore in itself for opposing linebackers; was he going to juke you? Run you over? Is he in the backfield? Wideout? Marshall Faulk was dominant in every facet of the game, and paved the way for guys like LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook to being 'all-around' running backs in every sense of the word. Blink and you miss him, don't blink, you still miss him.



WR - Elroy Hirsch



"Crazy Legs" Hirsch was a part of an offense that literally changed the game, and he was a huge part of that. Being one of the only players in the league even playing receiver at the time, he obviously was instrumental in changing the way the game was played. Without Hirsch, and his offense, the game may not be as arial as it is today.



TE - Kellen Winslow



Although not the first receiving tight end (that status belongs to Mike Ditka), Kellen Winslow was certainly the most revolutionary in terms of the position. His rare speed and athletic ability for his size was sure to give linebackers and safeties nightmares. The 'receiving tight end' was later developed and still is today, with players such as Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez being two of the best.



OL - Anthony Munoz



Easily a top-ten lineman of all-time, Munoz had a different method to his madness. Instead of being powerful and trying to out-match defensive linemen, Munoz chose to use his agility and quickness to his advantage. This opened the door for linemen with great footwork rather than great strength, an attribute highly touted in today's game.



DL - Reggie White



Most noted for his incredible pass rushing abilities, Reggie White was a super-human in shoulder pads. The inventor of the power pass-rush gave offensive linemen across the nation problems with his new and well-crafted style. This idea was passed on into today's game, and White's legacy will live on forever in the hearts of football fans everywhere.



LB - Lawrence Taylor



Probably the most obvious choice in this list, Lawrence Taylor was easily the most dynamic player of his time, and probably all-time. Offenses were forced to game-plan around him and thus making the outside linebacking position a force to be reckoned with. Some players have emulated, but no one has ever compared to the real LT.



CB - Willie Brown



One word; vicious. No one to don the cleats of the cornerback position was as physical or intimidating than Willie Brown, and if somebody was, it was because Brown taught them a thing or two. In an era where coverage was blossoming, Brown took it to the next level and chose to knock receivers around in the process. His play-style spread like wild-fire, and is the reason for the 5-yard bump rule of today's game.



S - Larry Wilson



Well noted as the first safety to play both the pass and the run, Wilson imposed his will on every offensive player he could find. If he wasn't tackling the running back in the backfield, he was intercepting the quarterback downfield. His play-style didn't catch on until some time later, but is effective in today's game, with players like Bob Sanders, Troy Polamalu, and probably the best to ever play the entire field, Sean Taylor.



K - Pete Gogolak



This was another obvious choice. Gogolak was the first kicker to ever be a, well, kicker. On top of that, he invented the soccer-style kick, unconventional to the era's straight-on kicking style. The kickers in today's game would never think twice about which way to kick the pigskin, thus making Gogolak a huge revolution to the game.



KR/PR - Dante Hall/Devin Hester





These two guys both have had a huge impact on the game today. It is clear that the special teams aspect of the game is playing a huge role, now more than ever before, thanks to the "Human Joystick" shining the light, and Devin Hester brightening it. It wouldn't surprise me to see more of these players coming along in the future of the NFL, simply because of the field-position advantage that coaches drool over.



Well, there you have it. The players at every position that changed the game as we see it today. Without these guys wearing the pads, who knows what the game would look like today.

[X-ChAmP]

Joe Gibbs invented the two tightend set just to block against LT.

Greatest Linebacker of all time.

[CTROB]

How about

QB- Slinging Sammy Baugh....He was the first quaterback to really develop the forward pass into what we know it as today. He had completion percentage records that stood for years...I believe he is still second all-time. He also led the NFL in Passing, Punting, and Interceptions that same year.

RB- If you wanna bring up what Marshall Faulk did as a dual threat...I think you really have to go to who he learned it from...There would be no Marshall Faulk without Roger Craig. Remember Craig was the First RB to have 1000 yds. Rushing and Receiving.

I'll give you the rest up until Willie Brown. He was good but the 5-yard bump rule was more instituted to combat the steel curtain defense that produced four NFL Championships. They were a part of it but not as much as the steelers. I don't think he did much as an individual to "change" the game....

Believe it or not if you look at the rules and how they changed over time you have to go with non other than Deion Sanders at this position and I'll tell you why.

Deion Played in an era when contact on receivers is not as permissible as it was then. Guys could got away with murder then. Also during a 2-year span no one would even throw at Deion. And When they did it was an INT. Do you remember when he didn't even used to go to the defensive huddle, because everyone knew the ball wasn't coming his way...and if it did...u know!!!

And for DL....can Deacon Jones get some love!?!?!

And there was an old TE I was gonna mention that did what kellen did way before kellen...but can't remember his name

But It's kinda tough when comparing different era's because many don't know of the various rule changes that occurred over time. I mean even moving the goal post to the back of the end-zone had an affect on the game and how it was played.