Can a safety be considered a linebacker?

Question

this is an argument in my house and i think, you can say in football, a safety could be called a linebacker, but my dad and brother are bitching and saying i cant even have my own opinion. whats your input?

Answer 1

SS sort of is.

Answer 2

I played college strong safety at 215 lbs by my senior year. I was a hard hitter and smoked TE's and WR's

I filled in for a live practice at out outside linebacker thinking it couldn't be that tough. I got nailed by a guard and by a full back the next play.I was sick about it!

The point I'm making is after a while a safety's first step is forward or stand put. We usually never have a linemen or full back blocking us. Its not that they cant do it but its tough to break that habit.

Same thing as an outside linebacker would have a hard time playing safety because they would be over aggressive.

Answer 3

Ask the Patriots.  Line Backer gets injured, sign a Safety.

In a way the twain will never meet.  Uniform numbers and that.  

Oh in 2004 when the patriots DBs were really riddled, linebacker Don Davis played safety.

Never would a safety be called a line backer, though.  Even if they can be interchangeable given the right setting.

Answer 4

A safety is a safety. You're more than entitled to your opinion, but this is mine.

Answer 5

if the safety plays up and plays strong side , sometimes I consider him a linebacker.  If he plays back weak side, and doesnt do much in the way of contact, then i can see your dad and brothers side.  But you definitely got a point

Answer 6

Depends on the play or the formation. More often that not, Roy Williams comes up to the line of scrimmage to play against the run. A safety is a safety but at that point, he might as well be a linebacker.

Answer 7

they can be. safety's are the same cept for they play farther back. look at Adrian Wilson, Rodney Harrison, Roy Williams. a good number of safety's could play linebacker