Finally, the age of specialization eventually will hurt football more than other sports. At the highest level of college football and in the pros, there are more specialists than every-down players. There are run-stuffing linebackers and defensive tackles. There are pass-rushing defensive ends. Fullbacks and tight ends only play in certain situations.
Some plays feature two wide receivers, others as many as five.
There are kick return specialists. There are separate punters and placekickers. Now there are even kickoff specialists. The end result is athletes practice for hours on end and then are limited to a handful of plays when it counts. And, of course, football is played only once a week.