Does anyone in the nfl play both ways

The alternative system is known as the "two-platoon system", or simply the "platoon system", because of its use of separate offensive and defensive units. Each system was used at different times in American college football and in the National Football League. Prior to , virtually all football players saw action on "both sides of the ball," playing in both offensive and defensive roles. This change was originally made because of the difficulty in fielding highly skilled players during the years of the Second World War , in which many able-bodied college-age men volunteered for or were drafted into military service.

The first known use of the so-called "two-platoon" system was by Michigan head coach Fritz Crisler in Crisler utilized eight players each who played only on offense and defense, with three playing both against an Army team under head coach "Colonel" Earl "Red" Blaik. Michigan lost the game 28—7, but the system impressed Blaik enough for him to adopt it for his own team. When the then-FCS-level Eagles upset Florida on the road during the season, McKinnon carried the ball nine times for yards and scored the game-winning touchdown.

When the Vikings nabbed him with the 96th overall pick, though, they did so with the intent of making him a full-time running back. McKinnon may not have played offense and defense, but his experience is indicative of how the process often works with two-way players in the draft.

Robinson says that when he writes up notes on prospects, he keeps his projections contained to offense or defense, while mentioning whether a player can occasionally moonlight in another role. He says only a handful of players in a given draft class warrant that kind of note in the margins. That goes double for somebody like McKinnon, who had to transition into a new primary position. Every rep was crucial in refining his role. Further complicating matters is the lack of practice time players get from the start of rookie minicamp through the end of August under the current CBA.

Evaluators seek to mine the best possible versions of their players, and that usually means drilling down on a single spot. Jackson was mainly being scouted as a cornerback—by Tennessee and others—but had a wealth of experience as a receiver.

He caught 39 passes throughout his three years at USC, including six for touchdowns, and many expected him to be a Swiss army knife from the moment he entered the league: He could work in the secondary, as receiver, and on kick and punt returns.

The Titans drafted Jackson 18th overall, and the initial excitement about his potential gave way to confusion when half the season passed without him getting a single offensive snap. In the second half of the season, he carried five times for 55 yards. His free time for study was limited: 10 minutes before practice, the time before a workout or recovery, or the brief stretch when he was heading to or from lunch. Jackson says the workload was never too much for him to handle when he picked up shifts as a receiver at USC.

In the NFL, memorizing even 10 or 12 offensive plays can be a burden, given the complexity of defensive schemes. Beyond the preparation, Jack and Jackson also identify in-game hang-ups. It was Roman who first approached the year-old about the possibility of playing both ways, when Ricard was an undrafted defensive lineman out of Maine in And none of the players Baltimore hoped would replace him had stood out. So that's what Ricard did at practice that day.

And when he shed an oncoming defensive end on his way to the linebacker, he caught the coaching staff's attention. From that point forward, he said, playing on both sides of the ball has been "all I've known" in the NFL. According to Football Outsiders, Ricard was on the field for Ricard's college coaches say they aren't surprised that the 6-foot-3, pounder has taken to his unique role in the NFL.

He played linebacker and running back at David Prouty High School in Spencer, Massachusetts — a school that rarely produces football players in a town of just 11, — and they recruited him as a possible tight end or defensive end. Their defense needed more help at the time, so they played him at end. After a redshirt season at Maine, a Football Championship Subdivision school, Ricard quickly earned playing time and emerged as a starter.

He also added about 15 to 30 pounds to his frame with each year, making himself more difficult to block. His weight, however, never dampened his athleticism.