Originally posted by Grim Truth
Faulk did open the door for Reggie Bush and Brian Westbrook with the RB's being major parts of the passing game. I mean, truly revolutionary players are like the first receiving TE (Ditka), the first Middle Linebacker (I know it was a Bear... Singletary, maybe), the first scrambling/running QB's (Tarkleton I think), etc. Being a speedy or elusive RB wasn't new, it didn't change the position...
http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story?id=09000d5d8087474a&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
I think maybe half if not more of those players came before Barry. Barry didn't revolutionize how elusive RB's play, he just did it better then anyone else. Just FYI, first MLB was Sam Huff. Tom Landry, then DC of the Giants, first switched to the 4-3 from the common 5-2, and used it throughout the '58 season. Also, the "Stretch" play was invented by the Browns to counteract this defense. This led to linebacker-lineman "stunts".