Football is a complex sport in which every position has multiple assignments. However, some positions require more thinking and more action than others. Below is a list of positions and their level of difficulty on scale of 1-5.
What is the most difficult football position to play?
Quarterback: 5
The most challenging position on offense and perhaps the entire field is quarterback. This player touches the ball almost every play and is responsible for managing the offense with moving the chains and scoring points.
Receiver: 1
The easiest position on offense may be the receiver. He has limited responsibility and many plays may have nothing to do with him at all.
Linebacker: 3.5
The role of the linebackers varies in each defensive front and the type of linebacker determines the assignment. Even still, this position involves reading defenses, blitzing, tackling and coverage.
Lineman: 3
These players have to recognize the blitz and know who blocks who in order to avoid a disaster on offense.
Running Back: 3
This is a tough position that is physically demanding. This player has to run, block and catch.
Defensive End: 2
This player often has only two assignments: set the edge or rush the passer. Occasionally they have gap control on certain defenses.
Cornerback: 5
The most challenging defensive position is the cornerback. He is usually isolated and must defend both the run and pass. His assignments can be confusing if the defensive scheme is complex. He must be able to run, catch, tackle and defend.
Defensive Tackle: 1
Their number one task is to apply pressure with penetration on the line.
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16 Responses
You forgot two positions in your article. Safety, fullback
also the types of safety; free safety
and strong safety.
The receiver is most definitely not the easiest. There are no easiest positions in football. They have to learn a lot of plays and have to take hits and run very fast. One position is not better or worse nor is it harder. They all have their responsibilities.
So then, which is the easiest? Which is the least difficult if you like. On defense. Defensive end probably. Unless it is a defensive end/linebacker, or one that drops into coverage, in which case it becomes the corner. The corner either goes one on one, fights through a block to disrupt a running play, or he establishes coverage of a zone. The most difficult thing that a corner can deal with is when receivers line up in front of several db’s, and that all go across his face and at angles or deep routes, abs he had to decide which to cover at an instant. That, and baiting a quarterback.
WR is the easiest. If you can’t get rid of the one (CB, OLB,SS,FS) defending you, nothing will happen. QB will just throw the ball to someone else. If corner will fail, it will be a lot of yards for Offense. If C/OT/OG will fail, it will most likely end up with a sack. WR is literally the only position during which you don’t have to read any play, QB will tell you what to do, and if you’ll do it badly, the QB will just not pass the ball to you…
Absolutely correct all positions are depending on one another to carry out their responsibilities to make a team it’s all a team effort!!
Some positions are very much “Easier” than others but it depends on your physical capabilities. I don’t want to be 150 pounds built like a WR and be put on the front as a damn Lineman. Yes, all positions have their own roles and responsibilities but that does not mean they’re not easy
what about kicker
As someone who has played literally every position except RB, kicker, punter and saftey, all positions are hard in there own way the only easy position is probably like long snapper
Longsnapping is easy but it takes more mental toughness and physical toughness because you have to snap the ball and then get up and block and then you have to run down the field and make the tackle. On the mental side of the position say your at the 7 yard line and your punter is near the back of the endzone if you go over its a safety and the whole audience is gonna call you names and if its too low then its can result in a safety or a defensive touchdown and if its a close game then your to blame for it.
You left out TE (obviously one of the more difficult positions to transition) and Safety.
what school you go to
I’m a middle line backer and my body size it made for that position but I still work my ass off and the linebackers are the quarterback of the defense. They make everything run smoothly and they have a lot of tasks. Line backer is the hardest position.
Okay, I may get some heat for this response. But I actually was a place kicker and punter. I would have to say the easiest position is kicker. But it is so refined on a number of other levels. I was the kicker who flew down the field on kickoffs and laid out the ball carriers. Kickers are a little weird. They have their quirky habits. Lucky socks, lucky underwear, or whatever peculiarity they may possess. I say that because kickers are pretty much out of bounds most plays, unless they put themselves in play. It really irks me when I see kicked on tv acting like little pussies.
Thus seems like a very simplistic assessment of the wide receiver position. It requires more than speed, like catching passes even when not perfectly thrown, and most elite receivers also get YAC either through strength like Deebo or explosiveness like Tyreek. NFL DBs are good athletes so if a receiver can’t run routes or otherwise get open, they won’t have a job, and in many offenses, like the Shanahan tree, they’re also expected to block on running plays.
Center is a key position requiring brains, bulk, and knowledge of the entire game. Shame on you for overlooking!