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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Campbell" data-source="post: 9102640" data-attributes="member: 16586">Some of it comes down to changes in the rules, but a fair amount of it comes down to innovations in scheme, a response to increasingly more capable athletes and offensive philosophies. Traditionally you had set plays that would be called by either the head coach or offensive coordinator. The credo of the NFL used to be Do your job. Just do the work you are assigned to do.Then you had the Indianapolis Colts hurry up offense ran by Payton Manning that used a lot of audibles at the line of scrimmage (in order to respond to what the QB saw in defensive formations). In order to deal with more responsive competition a lot of what use to be in the hands of coaches basically being put in the hands of QBs (on offense) and Middle Linebackers (on defense) because they could make more responsive decisions than the coaching staff.You also saw a movement towards more timing and rhythm-based offenses because if you throw the ball to where someone is you are likely to be picked off. This necessitates more precise route running from receivers and tight ends (because the QB is throwing in a tight window and needs to throw it where only you can get it). This means a receiver needs to stay on script and be exactly where he's supposed to be.More recently we have seen an explosion of QBs who can throw off platform (outside of the pocket or space they have traditionally operated out of) and who can run the ball pretty effectively (while still being effective in the pocket). That has only increased the decision space for the position with Run Pass Options (plays designed so the QB can either pass the ball or run the ball themselves) becoming more and more common.Most recently there were changes to rules around hitting/tackling receivers particularly in the middle of the field that has made short passes to slot receivers more effective in short yardage situations (where you would normally rely on running backs).TLDR It was due to innovation and rules changes mostly. It was also more of a transfer in agency from coaches to QBs/MLBs with those positions basically becoming an on the field member of the coaching staff.</blockquote>

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