The problem is with modern conditioning, the players are both big and fast. Also, when everything is based on open field passing first and three yards and a cloud of dust running as a backup, more speed, more collisions.
F = m * a
The number goes up faster than the individual components. Also, some bodies, even without steroids, overbuild for their frames. Adam Archeleta was a workout warrior who fell in that category.
So what is the solution, and still keep football football?
1. Get rid of the technology. No brain trust of coordinators making thousands of complex plays that can be radioed in. The guy on the sidelines better use had signals, yell out a play in code, call a time out, or trust his qb. Reduce the time between plays to make this happen.
2. Reduce the roster to 30 players to reduce injuries. Counter-intuitive. All these specialists being shuffled in for third down plays, special teams, and even offense and defense means the brutes are fully rested. A small roster means most players have to play two ways. The linemen, receivers, safeties will all be TIRED when they play both ways. They will slow down a bit.
3. Bring back the old holding rules. No open hands by the O-linemen, it makes cheating impossible to detect, and also callable by the refs at a whim. It also gives those high speed plays time to develop. There’s a reason why Roman Gabriel and Terry Bradshaw had worse TD/INT ratios than a middling QB today, and it isn’t because the middling guys are better.
Interesting, especially the part about TD/INT ratios. I’ll have to look into that.
But we’re talking about 2 diff things.
You’re talking about making the game safer, I’m ridiculing the lefty, football kills “science,’ just as I ridicule their global warming “science,” and their 2nd hand smoke “science”.
So what is the solution, and still keep football football?
some things could be done: eliminate the three point stance on both lines of scrimmage, forcing blockers and tacklers to collide with their heads up, looking at each other; any attempted tackle above the waist should be made illegal, forcing tacklers to aim for the thighs, and wrap up the legs; reduce the passing game in the middle of the field, which is where receivers are the most defenseless...there are a lot of things which could make the game safer...
personally, I’d rather see flag football; wide open play all the time without the savage mayhem, though of course, as in all sports, there would still be mishaps...