Yeah, I think this is probably the case. Running is probably just as difficult as ever. But passing became so much easier after 1978, that it became the path of least resistance.

I’ve often wondered about switching to a run-first system to “zag” like you suggest.

Has anybody done a study as to which types of plays are “safer” from a concussion standpoint? WR and DB getting laid out 20 yards past the line of scrimmage seem to be the more common and horrifying injuries we see. But a lot of concussion studies seem to indicate that the repeated small collisions over many years can be just as bad. But, would it be at all safer if the NFL changed rules to encourage less passing? Would football be less exciting if that happened?

negative