Week 7 thoughts *huh...what ?...wake me later* edition.

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

ALso they need to implement somethign where a play goes all the way thru for cases like the Big Ben fumble. Tht sht was also retarded.

It depends when they blow the whistle. When the blow the whistle has some huge impact on how things get called. It also leads to inconsistency. Last night Wittens fumble was given to the Giants. Same exact circumstances with action going on after the whistle and two different end results.
The inconsistency is absolutely maddening on a week by week game by game basis. How do you have video from every angle and still cant get consistency. Its as if the NFL doesnt want it.

I've never seen a week with so many terrible INT's thrown.

Cutler threw 4 awful picks.

Favre tossed one directly into someone's chest.

Brees threw two passes directly to the same DL.

Matt Moore threw what amounted to a handoff to a 49er DL.

My running theme for 2010, the league is filled with bad QB play. Yet teams insist on throwing 40+ times. I'm all for wide open offenses, I hate 3-yard-cloud-of-dust football, but not when these QB's are so bad. It's counter productive.

I think that gets lost in my points. I LOVE the running game and dominant backs..but Im not here trying to bring back Marion Butts. The QBs are clearly not capable and in many cases there ARE some damn good RBs who are getting ignored.

Last night why the backfield going empty against that NYG pass rush ?
The Giants a team that loves stunts and twists and you have a FB leave the backfield soon as he sees the DE being blocked ??

Does Martz keep anyone back there...ever ?

Does anyone in this league even know what a FB and H-Back are for ?

Proof is in the pudding. QBs being hurried , QBs getting hurt , *top level* QBs like Favre and Brees throwing some of the ugliest passes Ive ever seen by a QB with a ring.

That's a misleading stat IMO.
Of course losing QBs are going to have more pass attempts ... they're playing from behind.
I'm surprised Brees didn't have 70 pass attempts.

Huh ?
In case you missed it not the first time I posted those type of stats. Last time I did all the QBs either had leads or were within a TD going into the 4th.
They pass that much regardless of being ahead or not.

The idea that you win with the run died years ago.

The philosophy may have died but the Xs and Os remain the same. If you can run the ball and protect your QB you win games.
When you pass 40+ times each game you cant do either of the above.


Passing (YPG)
1. San Diego Chargers 2-5
2. Indianapolis Colts 4-2
3. Denver Broncos 2-5
4. Dallas Cowboys 1-5
5. New Orleans Saints 4-3

13-20



Rushing (YPG)
1. Kansas City Chiefs 4-2
2. New York Jets 5-1
3. Oakland Raiders 3-4
4. New York Giants 5-2
5. Houston Texans 4-2

21-11

[Senser81]

* Mike Singletary is a an all time great player , a great soundbite , and perhaps avery good assistant coach. But he is a delusional Head Coach.
Now Im not saying his Xs and Os arent sound. But his methods seem to be completely hit or miss. Outside of a few players who continue to blossom I dont see this team progressing consider the talent they have.

From what I heard, the SF situation is a total mess. All the coaches hate each other, Singletary has no idea what he's doing, and he's been very hands-off other than the occassional media flare-up.

As for the passing, here is my take...teams like the Packers and Chargers can rack up the yardage by passing every down, but it doesn't make their offense more effective. Teams don't really pass deep anymore, and they refuse to properly protect their QB. This leads to more sacks, forced INTs, and holding penalties. So while Rodgers might complete 5 passes in a row for 60 yards, he'll take a sack on the next play, have a holding penalty called, then its drive over. Look at the Chargers...they are #1 in offense AND defense, and they are 2-5.

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

From what I heard, the SF situation is a total mess. All the coaches hate each other, Singletary has no idea what he's doing, and he's been very hands-off other than the occassional media flare-up.

Thats a shame. I really wanted him to do well. He does seem to to alot of grandstanding for media but I didnt think it was that bad internally.

As for the passing, here is my take...teams like the Packers and Chargers can rack up the yardage by passing every down, but it doesn't make their offense more effective. Teams don't really pass deep anymore, and they refuse to properly protect their QB. This leads to more sacks, forced INTs, and holding penalties. So while Rodgers might complete 5 passes in a row for 60 yards, he'll take a sack on the next play, have a holding penalty called, then its drive over. Look at the Chargers...they are #1 in offense AND defense, and they are 2-5.

Even when the league went WCO crazy backs were getting touches and passes and , they were kept in to block etc. Ive never seen so many worthless 5-7 step drops empty backfields to set up up simple quick slants and crossing patterns.
I think it says alot about league wide philosophy when a guy like Norv Turner is passing with Andy Reid like ratios.

[dave]

I just stole this Bleacher Report article:

For years it has been said by pigskin pundits that the key to winning football is in the run game. That belief has been embedded into the minds of many fans, especially after the “success” of the Jets, who averaged 172 rushing yards per game last season.

Not mine.

I used to be a run-game enthusiast, but after looking at the statistics from last season, there is very little correlation between having a great run game and actual success. Look at the top ten running teams from last season, including their record and passing offense’s ranking:

1. Jets (9-7, 31st )

2. Titans (8-8, 23rd)

3. Panthers (8-8, 27th)

4. Dolphins (7-9, 20th)

5. Ravens (9-7, 18th)

6. Saints (13-3, 4th)

7. Cowboys (11-5, 6th)

8. Browns (5-11, 32nd)

9. Bengals (10-6, 26th)

10. Jaguars (7-9, 19th)

This is not very good company at all. The collective record of these teams is 87-73. Only half of these teams went to the playoffs and had winning records, and it’s arguable that Jets are only in that group because the Colts decided to rest their starters. Heck, nearly half of these teams had losing records!

Now, let’s look at the top ten passing offenses, their record and run offenses ranking:

1. Texans (9-7, 30th)

2. Colts (14-2, 32nd)

3. Patriots (10-6, 12th)

4. Saints (13-3, 6th)

5. Chargers (11-5, 31st)

6. Cowboys (11-5, 7th)

7. Packers (11-5, 14th)

8. Vikings (12-4, 13th)

9. Steelers (9-7, 19th)

10. Eagles (11-5, 22nd)

The top ten passing offenses are clearly more dominant than the top ten rushing offenses. Their collective record is 111-49, eight of them went to the playoffs, and every single one of them won at least nine games.

Run game enthusiasts will rebuttal by saying that balance is what’s key, as evidenced by the Saints.

They’re wrong again.

Half of the top ten passing games had run offenses that were ranked in the bottom half. Although they had less playoff teams, they only lost three more games than the passing offenses with a top half run game. Heck, the Colts’ run game was ranked dead last and their two losses only came because they rested their starters.

The statistics do not lie: the NFL is a passing league now.

Read more New York Jets news on BleacherReport.com

[dave]

From what I heard, the SF situation is a total mess. All the coaches hate each other, Singletary has no idea what he's doing, and he's been very hands-off other than the occassional media flare-up.

It's too late now, but if SF just let Alex Smith call the plays on the line ... they'd probably be a lot better than 1-6.
When he's in the spread calling his own plays, he succeeds. When he takes direction from that awful coaching staff, he's in trouble.
The Niners are a perfect example of how focusing on the run game simply doesn't work for most teams.
The Jets are an aberration in today's game. I don't deny for a second, they're right to do what they do - because it works for them. But it doesn't work for a majority of the NFL.

The NFL is a passing league, pure and simple.

One of the first guys to embrace this was Belichick - only the smartest coach in the NFL.

I know you're smarter than Belichick, Senser. But just look at his teams. Shotgun most of the game. Dink and dunk passing, even in the U.S. Northeast.
The team hasn't had a remotely above-average RB since Corey Dillon.

[Senser81]

I just stole this Bleacher Report article:

For years it has been said by pigskin pundits that the key to winning football is in the run game. That belief has been embedded into the minds of many fans, especially after the “success” of the Jets, who averaged 172 rushing yards per game last season.

Not mine.

I used to be a run-game enthusiast, but after looking at the statistics from last season, there is very little correlation between having a great run game and actual success. Look at the top ten running teams from last season, including their record and passing offense’s ranking:

1. Jets (9-7, 31st )

2. Titans (8-8, 23rd)

3. Panthers (8-8, 27th)

4. Dolphins (7-9, 20th)

5. Ravens (9-7, 18th)

6. Saints (13-3, 4th)

7. Cowboys (11-5, 6th)

8. Browns (5-11, 32nd)

9. Bengals (10-6, 26th)

10. Jaguars (7-9, 19th)

This is not very good company at all. The collective record of these teams is 87-73. Only half of these teams went to the playoffs and had winning records, and it’s arguable that Jets are only in that group because the Colts decided to rest their starters. Heck, nearly half of these teams had losing records!

Now, let’s look at the top ten passing offenses, their record and run offenses ranking:

1. Texans (9-7, 30th)

2. Colts (14-2, 32nd)

3. Patriots (10-6, 12th)

4. Saints (13-3, 6th)

5. Chargers (11-5, 31st)

6. Cowboys (11-5, 7th)

7. Packers (11-5, 14th)

8. Vikings (12-4, 13th)

9. Steelers (9-7, 19th)

10. Eagles (11-5, 22nd)

The top ten passing offenses are clearly more dominant than the top ten rushing offenses. Their collective record is 111-49, eight of them went to the playoffs, and every single one of them won at least nine games.

Run game enthusiasts will rebuttal by saying that balance is what’s key, as evidenced by the Saints.

They’re wrong again.

Half of the top ten passing games had run offenses that were ranked in the bottom half. Although they had less playoff teams, they only lost three more games than the passing offenses with a top half run game. Heck, the Colts’ run game was ranked dead last and their two losses only came because they rested their starters.

The statistics do not lie: the NFL is a passing league now.

Read more New York Jets news on BleacherReport.com

I love these "Bleacher Report" articles that base a trend on one season. Lets look at 2008, too...

Top 10 rushing teams in 2008 with record

Giants 12-4
Falcons 11-5
Panthers 12-4
Ravens 11-5
Vikings 10-6
Patriots 11-5
Titans 13-3
Redskins 8-8
Jets 9-7
Raiders 5-11


Top 10 passing teams in 2008 with record

Saints 8-8
Cards 9-7
Broncos 8-8
Texans 8-8
Colts 12-4
Eagles 9-6-1
Chargers 8-8
Packers 6-10
Cowboys 9-7
Dolphins 11-5


Well, that solves that...

[dave]

I'm trying to find this very comprehensive Cold Hard Football Facts article I read some time ago.
I wish I could.
Those guys are hardcore.
They break down this argument with stats that can't be argued with.

I would make the argument that 8 of the past 11 Super Bowl winners were predominantly passing teams. Obviously Baltimore and the Giants weren't.

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Those top running teams of last year also have abysmal QBs and devoid of talent in comparison to the top passing teams. Winning half or more of your games based on a sound running attack is proof in the pudding IMO.

4-5-6-8-10 are all struggling this year. Theres no reason whatsoever talent wise they should be having any difficulty and yet the insistence on the pass is losing them games.
Theres a reason the Steelers win year in and year out while Cards and Saints are flash in the pans.Even with the QB out they have a foundation that doesnt force them into bad situations. Turnovers , ball control , Time of possession you need more than a hot hand to maintain that.

Hell I think the Colts are the perfect example. Manning chews up clock and controls clock and knows how to keep teams off balance. He not out there flinging and praying. Hes not forcing empty backfields. Successful or not there insisting on running the ball feeds there PA passing game.

Only difference between last year and this years on paper Saints is RB injuries. If it was purely a passing league that wouldnt matter. Clearly it does. Forcing the pass means you are against the odds.

[dave]

Only difference between last year and this years on paper Saints is RB injuries. If it was purely a passing league that wouldnt matter. Clearly it does. Forcing the pass means you are against the odds.

IMO, the difference between last year's Saints and this year's Saints are the lack of turnovers the D is producing.
The Saints' D got very, very lucky last year ... and that just hasn't carried over.
It also doesn't help their cause that they're missing the world's most expensive decoy on offence/offense.

I take nothing away from the Saints' Super Bowl last year, but I don't think they were the league's best team last year - just the team that got a lot of breaks on D, with a subpar cast of players.

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

The NFL is a passing league, pure and simple.

One of the first guys to embrace this was Belichick - only the smartest coach in the NFL.

I know you're smarter than Belichick, Senser. But just look at his teams. Shotgun most of the game. Dink and dunk passing, even in the U.S. Northeast.
The team hasn't had a remotely above-average RB since Corey Dillon.

If you think Belly was the first I dont know what to tell you.

FYI- When they ran the ball and played stellar defense they won 3 superbowls. The year they had the greatest passing offense in NFL history and lost to a running team.

I would make the argument that 8 of the past 11 Super Bowl winners were predominantly passing teams. Obviously Baltimore and the Giants weren't.

Pats 3 , Giants 1 , Steelers 2 , Ravens 1 , Bucs 1

All of those teams were run committed teams and/or defense minded.

[Senser81]

IMO, the difference between last year's Saints and this year's Saints are the lack of turnovers the D is producing.
The Saints' D got very, very lucky last year ... and that just hasn't carried over.
It also doesn't help their cause that they're missing the world's most expensive decoy on offence/offense.

I take nothing away from the Saints' Super Bowl last year, but I don't think they were the league's best team last year - just the team that got a lot of breaks on D, with a subpar cast of players.

But look at only their offense...they aren't nearly the force they were last year. The Saints are 18th in the NFL in scoring. Pierre Thomas was the one guy on offense other than Brees whom the Saints can't replace. The offense has a ton of turnovers.

[dave]

If you think Belly was the first I dont know what to tell you.

FYI- When they ran the ball and played stellar defense they won 3 superbowls. The year they had the greatest passing offense in NFL history and lost to a running team.



Pats 3 , Giants 1 , Steelers 2 , Ravens 1 , Bucs 1

All of those teams were run committed teams and/or defense minded.

The first Patriots SB maybe, but I think it's a myth they're a run-first team.
Same goes for both Steelers teams.
They aren't a run-first team.

Bucs, Ravens and Giants - yes.

[NAHSTE]

The first Patriots SB maybe, but I think it's a myth they're a run-first team.
Same goes for both Steelers teams.
They aren't a run-first team.

Bucs, Ravens and Giants - yes.

I don't see how you can say both of those Pittsburgh teams were pass-oriented. The first Super Bowl was all Bettis and Willie Parker. Roethlisberger was in his second year and barely threw the ball at all.

[Senser81]

The first Patriots SB maybe, but I think it's a myth they're a run-first team.
Same goes for both Steelers teams.
They aren't a run-first team.

Bucs, Ravens and Giants - yes.

Dave, I know you hate me and I try to steer clear of your postings, but you should really consider not posting in the NFL/NCAA forum anymore. So much of what you say is complete fiction, yet you say it with almost an air of superiority.

What you have just posted is possibly the most incorrect football-related posting I have ever seen in my 10+ years of surfing the internet. REPEAT: What you have just posted is possibly the most incorrect football-related posting I have ever seen in my 10+ years of surfing the internet.

The 2005 Steelers were LAST in the NFL in passing attempts, and FIRST in the NFL in rushing attempts. I cannot even elaborate any further.

[jms493]

YEah I am pretty sure the year the Steelers won with Bettis at HB and Big Ben as a rookie they didnt throw the ball that much at all.

Steelers Seahawks
Rushing yards gained per game 138.9 (5th) 153.6 (3rd)
Rushing yards allowed per game 86.0 (3rd) 94.4 (5th)
Passing yards gained per game 182.9 (24th) 216.1 (13th)
Passing yards allowed per game 198.0 (16th) 222.4 (25th)

Dave you waaaayyyyy wrong on that one.