I am aware of the potential for undocumented and unsupported ugly rhetoric in the posts to follow, and I hope it doesn’t happen. None-the-less, I do have a serious question that I hope will be met with serious speculation or facts. When NFL games are broadcast, the program usually shows all the players at their various positions. I’ve noticed that when a team has white players, with occasional exceptions they’re almost always on the offensive line. I wonder if this is an actual pattern or one that I perceive because of confirmation bias. If it is an actual pattern, I’m wondering what would explain that pretty obvious tendency.
What you are seeing is an actual pattern. Here’s a good article that explains some of the history and includes a very telling chart.
That is a good article that shows where the inherent biases are based on position and color, and it hints at some genetics that may affect certain physical attributes that are desired to play certain positions…I guess the main conclusion you can come away with is that it’s a copycat league.
Interesting that there hasn’t been a white CB in the league since Sehorn in 2003.
I don’t know the answer. Is there an education bias that’s a factor, in conjunction with upbringing and environment? I think that’s something that comes into play as well.
I did not really know that about the center position, as I do not pay much attention to linemen.
One thing I researched before this season started was who every team’s long snapper (probably the most anonymous position) is. I suspected a racial disparity and it blew my mind all 32 were Caucasian. One or two might’ve been Islander, I don’t remember for sure, but I’m certain none were black.
The article lists the reason for certain positions ( “the middle” ) being very white, as the vestiges of old, provably wrong racial stereotypes. I can see that. The reason it gives for other positions being typically black may well also be true - it is the position successful black athletes will go for, since the odds of selection are better than fr those “white” positions. I can’t help but wonder how much the same concept which “Moneyball” destroyed in baseball, still holds in football: scouts, trainers, coaches “know” what an athlete for a certain position looks like, and that easily could lead to the observed effect.
In every individual sport where speed is of the essence, black men dominate. And in team sports, at every position where speed is of the essence, black men dominate.
There just aren’t many white men fast enough to win gold in the Olympic 100 meter dash, or to be NFL lockdown cornerbacks.
Why are there more white guys on the offensive line than in the defensive line? Well, if a guy is huge and slow, he goes to the offensive line, where speed is less important. If he’s huge and fast, he goes on the defensive line, where speed helps a pass rusher.
So, you think the world is full of lightning fast white guys who could be making millions in the NFL but are being held down by bias?
No. Also, exactly none of my post argues that.
Some very limited statistics (2007 NFL combine results) show this difference. Offensive tackles v Defensive tackles: OT - avg. wt. 312.2 lbs avg. 40 yd dash time 5.22 sec
DT - avg. wt. 306.5 lbs avg. 40 yd dash time 5.12 sec
I anticipate the argument that a tenth of a second difference in 40 yard speed can make a difference in getting to a quarterback, but it seems like a mathematical distinction that would easily be outweighed by the sorting that Gladwell refers to. I.e. - “You, over there (black guy), you’re with the defense. You, over there, (white guy), you’re with the offense,” sorting that may have gone on since Pop Warner league for some of these guys.
I’ll just note that a more relevant comparison versus an offensive tackle might be a defensive end, not a defensive tackle. DEs tend to be somewhat lighter, but also somewhat faster, as they’re often looked to for pass-rushing skills (and, it’s DEs whom OTs are most likely to face during blocking).
DTs, on the other hand, tend to be stouter (and somewhat slower), as their primary role is seen to be stopping the run (though there are certainly DTs who are also good pass-rushers).