Much like everything else, the game of football is evolving, causing the purists to clash with their progressive contemporaries. Recently, the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, Deion Sanders, and former NFL CB Asante Samuel found themselves on the opposite side of a debate on the effectiveness of the T-Step technique, and whether it is obsolete in the modern game.
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During the Big 12 Pro Day, Deion shared his not-so-subtle disdain for the technique, going as far as to call it “stupid”. In response to Coach Prime’s comments, Samuel took to X to tell people not to listen to Prime’s “foolishness”. He then went on to make a case for the T-Step.
So, is the T-Step an effective technique? Well, the debate raged in the recent episode of Nightcap as well, with Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson and Shannon Sharpe having different takes on it. Ocho felt the effectiveness of the T-Step came down to skill and preference.
“There’s different skill sets for different players… Deion Sanders, his ability to get in and out of those breaks is phenomenal… Asante Samuel… he’s the greatest T-Stepper of all time… The way that Deion likes to get out of breaks, it works for him… One might not like it, but the other likes it,” said Johnson.
Sticking to the age-old adage of “different strokes for different folks”, Johnson didn’t find either Deion or Samuel to be at fault. However, his Hall of Fame co-host saw things a bit differently. Sharpe admitted that he would not encourage younger players to use the technique.
“I think the way that Prime is looking at it is no wasted motion… What Prime is saying [is that] T-Stepping is a wasted motion…… My coach told me ‘Son, he who hesitates is beat.’ …That worked for Asante. I think that this is what I’m going to try to teach, now if I see I’m trying to teach this and the guy can’t get it and he’s better at T-Stepping, I’m going to let him T-Step,” explained Sharpe.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of the technique comes down to its practitioner. Should a new recruit have the speed and athleticism to explode out of his break, then there is little need for the T-Step. However, if a player relies more so on techniques and fundamentals, rather than on natural ability, then the technique could prove a boon.
Sanders is regarded as one of the most athletic competitors of his generation, having played in both the NFL and the MLB. It’s understandable why he would never encourage such a technique, as a man of his capabilities would never need to rely on it. Meanwhile, players such as Samuel will continue to find it useful.
In the end, the debate highlights the many different facets or diverse approaches present in gridiron football. Within each individual position, there are countless ways to play the game and deliver results.
Thankfully, there will never be a one-size-fits-all approach to the game. This will allow for unique playstyles and strategies to continue to emerge, fueling the evolution of the game as well.
