The NFL has become a very pass-oriented league, to the point where nickel defenses (replacing a linebacker with a fifth defensive back) are more common than “base” formations. And teams have built their rosters accordingly, favoring quicker, lighter DBs and “hybrid” safety/linebackers such as Deone Bucannon and the 49ers Jaquiski Tartt.
A couple of smart teams are going big to take advantage of that, as Robert Mays details in a very interesting new article in The Ringer, and Kyle Shanahan’s 2016 Falcons offense was one of his prime examples.