2008 NFL Discussion Thread

[darklighter1]

Wasn't Nolan's fault. Terrible ownership and front office. I think Singletary deserved better than to take over this team though also.

[trashtalkr]

Nolan was prized as a defensive specialist, and the Niners defense is never consistent. Their offense did get better under Martz, but that has nothing to do with Nolan. For someone who is suppose to be an expert on defenses, Nolan choked. Also, he lost his GM powers for a reason....

[erokero85]

The defense may have been inconsistent, but there was a big improvement from the team he took over. The problem was he and the franchise got screwed by The fact that they had the #1 pick in a year where there was no huge franchise changing player. Thus while they wanted to trade down, no one wanted that first pick. They got stuck with Alex Smith or Aaron Rodgers that year. Both were so-so at best, as seen in how far Rodgers dropped after being passed over for the #1 pick. He propped to something like #24 and while picked in the first round, there was no hurry to make him a starter. He got to sit and develop thus he's now the better QB. Because of that horrid pick, the offense has been beyond terrible, thus the defense became exposed being on the field too long in games. And yet they have been the better side of the team even with the offense getting the priority in the draft every year.

They are what the Bears could have been. While the 49ers kept trying to build their offense with high draft picks, the Bears kept adding to their defense, the strength of the team, despite the huge need on offense. That kept them competitive, while not going for the high profile picks, other than Benson and look how that turned out.

That said, I like Singletary and think he'll do ok. At the very least the team should play hard. If nothing else, it will help him get a better coaching job.

[AYHJA]

I think people forget one thing...Man, the NFL is fucking HARD...This is why Pete Carroll said fuck the NFL, and went to USC where he can pick from an almost limitless pool of talent...Nick Saban...The NFL is turning into an all risk and no reward scenario...

[darklighter1]

I think people forget one thing...Man, the NFL is fucking HARD...This is why Pete Carroll said fuck the NFL, and went to USC where he can pick from an almost limitless pool of talent...Nick Saban...The NFL is turning into an all risk and no reward scenario...

Wellll more like the NFL (The Pats and Jets Specifically) said fuck you to Pete Caroll. I always get a bad feeling everytime Pete's name comes up as the hot replacement for Team X in the offseason. He's a great coach for college but that's wher he should stay. He's too nice for the pit of the NFL.

I think it's like Ero said with the Bears, defense is really the way to build your team. When in doubt take the defensive diamond in the rough. So few of the flashy offensive stars in college stay stars in the Pro's. Or at least it's a longer learning curve. Alex Smith is toast now...too bad.

[erokero85]

It's not so much I think it's always better to build a defense first. My point was to maintain a team's strength, that way you remain competitive. My Bears are an example of how you can focus on the Defense, while say, the Colts are the opposite. When Dungy took over, they had a great offense, but a defense that looked about as good as this year's KC squad. While Dungy was brought in to fix the defense, he didn't neglect the offense.

But Kumicho is right. It's hard to win in the NFL. And for the most part, it all starts with personal moves. The most important of all is finding a QB. All the teams on the upswing have a healthy, good to great QB. When you draft a QB high (1st or 2nd round) you are almost forced to make him work. If he's like Elway, Aikman, or both Mannings, and works through the tough early years and is given time to develop in the right system, then you're golden. But if you pick wrong, guys like Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Tim Couch, Smith, it takes years to recover. The thing I never understand is when GM's think, "I only need to draft a QB as the last piece to take this team to the SB". If you're thinking that, you're drafting a QB 2-3 years too late. Unless he's Dan Marino.

[AYHJA]

There just needs to be a few more teams in the NFL man...Everyone is so big and fast...That's going to limit what you can do offensively any way...

For instance, name one NFL team with a potent, smashmouth running style...There isn't a single team in the NFL that can line up and run consistently every down...It's part of the reason that I don't like to watch pro ball any more...That means all the stress is on the passing game, and then you have all these complex ass schemes and packages and reads...All of which has to happen in a matter of seconds...You practically have to have luck and a master quarterback to win consistently in this league...Goes without saying a great defense is amazing, but I'd be all in favor of some changes that will open up the dynamic of the playcalling or something...

[¡ñ±£¿®∆L Ф¶†ïς@п]

There just needs to be a few more teams in the NFL man...Everyone is so big and fast...That's going to limit what you can do offensively any way...

For instance, name one NFL team with a potent, smashmouth running style...There isn't a single team in the NFL that can line up and run consistently every down...It's part of the reason that I don't like to watch pro ball any more...That means all the stress is on the passing game, and then you have all these complex ass schemes and packages and reads...All of which has to happen in a matter of seconds...You practically have to have luck and a master quarterback to win consistently in this league...Goes without saying a great defense is amazing, but I'd be all in favor of some changes that will open up the dynamic of the playcalling or something...

Well, up 'til now, I think the only runner that has been able to do so is Clinton Portis, against some pretty stingent Ds.
(Check this link to see how they measure up: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/bytea ... &cat=Total)
The only problem now is that he is already battered and bruised in week 8 that he misses practices left and right. If they took down his production just by ten percent, and ceded it to Alexannder or Cartwright, he'd be all the better for it. And wasn't he the back who just a month ago remarked to the media of how he would like the opportunity to run behind some of the better offensive lines in the NFL to see how his production would increase? The only thing that might certify his benchmark status as the top contender for MVP of this year is if he has respectable totals against Pitt., AND if they can claim a 3/4 sweep in the December games with him contributing wholly to the matches.

Also, even though they have a committee role in New York, Brandon Jacobs is mowing down the opposition there.
#1 rush offense and #1 rush defense is what you'd expect of the reigning SuperBowl champeens. Atlanta is good as well largely due to Turner torching the lower-ranked defenses & a rookie QB not afraid to scramble if necessary; but the Tennessee rushing attack/defense has shone brighter than they have as of late due to their undefeated record, and also considering they have no WRs, they have Collins at the helm, and yet they still dominate the landscape.

That's the running rundown of the tops of the NFL.

[erokero85]

Expansion teams would be a horrible idea. First, there's a reason guys get cut in training camp. They suck. Now just imagine adding 2 more teams to the league. That's 106 more roster spots to fill from the group of players who were not good enough to make any team this year. All you would do it dilute the talent pool even further. The problem is not the complex schemes, not enough teams, or even having to "get lucky" as you suggest. It's all about execution and player personnel. Sure there are fewer dominant running teams because every smart defensive coordinator knows you must stop the run first. If you stop the run and make a team one dimensional your job is that much easier.

Besides, would you really want to watch a game where both teams ran the ball so well they only passed 10 times total and the game ended 6-3? Personally I like defensive games to a point, but the NFL knows passing brings in ratings. Hence all the rules to protect QB's and the sorry pass interference rules.

And the teams that are winning, they all run the ball. Well, other than the Cardinals..... but that's Kurt Warner who and 3 really, really good WR's.....

[AYHJA]

Guys get cut because there just aren't enough spots to go around...Injuries are HUGE in the NFL, depth is important...Every season there are guys cut from one team that sign and perform well for someone else...So to say they got cut cause they can't make a team based on talent, I can't agree with that, not even to a high percentage...

It's all about execution and player personnel.

Sure man, that's essentially what I said...If you don't have Tom Brady or a Tom Brady type player, how can you execute..? At every level of play in football, the game changes...All of those changes culminate into the pro game, and it makes it lame to me...

Running the ball consistently means the game is physical, which is what makes football unique from any sport...I prefer those Earl Campbell type games...Those old school Sweetness games...And God blessed us with Jim Brown for a reason...Nasty motherfuckers that put their heads down and tried to kill defenders...That is football to me...All these bitchy, pretty boy ass WR's...Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....I can't even remember the last time I saw a dude maul a defender...I'm sure Jacobs has done it though, dude is a throwback...