Are players getting bigger?

[bulldognation]

Or are shoulder pads just getting smaller? Saw this image of Jones today and his shoulder pads look ridiculously small compared to years gone by.
View attachment 19430
View attachment 19431

 

[goodknight]

Both. Players getting bigger and pads getting smaller based on advances in technology.

 

[mcdawg22]

View attachment 19432He’s got nothing on Michael Bennet.

 

[PartTimeGenius]

I'm all for advances in technology, but you can't tell me pads that don't cover a shoulder can protect a shoulder. Same with knee pads, etc.

 

[Willowdawg]

I think Chris is just wearing QB or WR shoulder pads. Even in high school you can choose different types. I definitely would have chosen smaller pads but I quit after junior high bc I tore my MC joint in my throwing shoulder and baseball was my #1 sport. I could be wrong, but I'm thinking it's something like this. Probably helps him free up more movement of his arms. I remember playing TE in 8th grade and I couldn't even reach all the way for a ball thrown to me bc I had lineman shoulder pads bc I mostly blocked.

 

[Dawgtruc]

It's less for an offensive lineman to grab hold of. period.

 

[DeltaChicagoDog]

Both. Players getting bigger and pads getting smaller based on advances in technology.

What kind of advances have there been? Genuine question. When I played, pads were huge relative to now. Do players also have greater mobility/ease of movement with smaller pads? This is an assumption, but I figured the lack of/absence of pads also had to do with players wanting a particular "look."

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

This. I get my dl pads as small as possible as long as they do their job

 

[Car Ramrod.sixpack]

A lot has to do with the way the game is played now especially for the big men. There is more emphasis put on separation and blocking with your hands not your shoulders.