“Feel,” is one of those esoteric words we use in sports that lacks a clear meaning and describes something we otherwise struggle to quantify or even articulate. And yet for some positions in the NFL, it’s an essential trait for success.
The way the modern NFL looks, no position requires feel more than cornerback, where instincts and spatial awareness are essential qualities for a good player. Think of all the ways Charles Woodson added value to the Packers’ defense with nuance and freelancing, his instincts guiding him to make players. There’s a primacy to the ability to simply be a playmaker, something that can’t be improved upon.