The NFL is playing flag football...

[MrBill]

Anyway, what is amazing to me is that this thread is over a full page already and nobody has stated the obvious. Its not because of the kickoffs being moved or really good QB play. Its because WR's have free run of the field and QB's have less fear in the pocket due to all of the new restrictive rules.

I was about to post something along those lines but was going to say it's because defenses are hamstrung now. With this "defenseless receiver" and no touching of the QB rules combined with not being able to jam a receiver beyond 5 yards, it's no wonder that record breaking yardage numbers are being put up. Receivers used to fear going over the middle. Now they know that they are protected from the kill shot in the progress of making a catch so it gives them a big advantage.

Next up, 12 man offenses vs. 9 man defenses.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

You would think we would see some 2000 yard receivers to correspond with the 4000 & 5000 yard passers, but we don't. In fact, there are less elite WR's than we've seen in many years. Why? Because EVERYBODY gets open now, and QB's spread the wealth. Teams have two or three Devery Henderson's or Jordy Nelson's because defenses cant cover anyone anymore.

 

[ZoneBlitz]

Not only can you not touch the WR/TE past 5 yards, when they touch the ball you can barely hit them if they are "defenseless", and you cant hit them anywhere close to their helmet.

Then you cant hit the QB a second late, cant hit him low, cant hit him high.

Defenders have no idea how to defend with these new rules, they have basically been reduced to just being obstacle cones as the offense runs circles around them.

Offenses have learned how to exploit the fuck out of these rules.

This is not real football.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Ive never seen more poor DB's or freakish athletic TEs then we have now in the league, even to an extent the WRs, so many big physical guys that just eat DBs up. 7-10 years ago I could name a lot of DBs who I would consider either elite or near it, and that type of quality just isnt available in the league today. And the rules have gotten tougher and tougher for the DBs too, leaving more room for big plays from receivers. This has been a big contributor towards a number influx IMO.

 

[FirstTimer]

The 15 yarder on Brady after the Bills INT on sunday was fucking hilarious. I mean what the hell is that shit.

The flag on the tebow hit on the final drive was hilarious too.

I was about to post something along those lines but was going to say it's because defenses are hamstrung now. With this "defenseless receiver" and no touching of the QB rules combined with not being able to jam a receiver beyond 5 yards, it's no wonder that record breaking yardage numbers are being put up. Receivers used to fear going over the middle. Now they know that they are protected from the kill shot in the progress of making a catch so it gives them a big advantage.

Next up, 12 man offenses vs. 9 man defenses.

Last week in the Saints Falcons game a Falcons defender hit a Saints player who was "defenseless" I guess after catching the pass. The next drive Roddy White nearly had his back broken on a hit trying to make a catch and there was no flag.

Not only are the rules stupid they aren't even applied consistantly.


Johnny Knox was bent in half and I thought had been killed....

No flag.

You would think we would see some 2000 yard receivers to correspond with the 4000 & 5000 yard passers, but we don't. In fact, there are less elite WR's than we've seen in many years. Why? Because EVERYBODY gets open now, and QB's spread the wealth. Teams have two or three Devery Henderson's or Jordy Nelson's because defenses cant cover anyone anymore.

Yet the Bears can't find any bama:

 

[s@ppisgod]

Anyone who sees these games and numbers knows they're highly inflated. I was watching the Bears/Packers game, and Zach Bowman is on Jordy Nelson. Bowman manages to cover Nelson pretty well on his route, but when the pass is coming Bowman makes the slightest bit of contact. Scared that he was going to get a flag, he throws his hands up. Nelson, having gone from very lightly covered to uncovered, makes a sliding catch and then a flag comes in against the DB. What exactly can the CB do in this scenario?

The league has really stacked the deck against defenses. The next rule change is going to literally tie a hand behind all defenders' backs. Basically, they need to do away with illegal contact now. You can't have that and the new (great IMO) rules that try to lessen concussions. The problems IMO are two-fold. The NFL made/enforced rules like illegal contact and hitting a QB low for their high profile QBs. A business decision that has really made the GAME suck. Two, their officials are incompetent. You seemingly can't ask them to make a judgement call on barely touching a QB and getting a penalty for hitting him high, or barely bumping a WR and getting called for illegal contact, or hitting a WR with your shoulder in their gut and getting a defenseless receiver. NBA refs make judgement calls. NHL refs make almost nothing but judgement calls. MLB umps make judgement calls. It's time for NFL refs to put on their big boy pants and make some. And for the league to stop taking it's cues from Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.
SAMSUNG-SGH-A887/A887UCIJ1 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.5 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.1 configuration/CLDC-1.1

 

[NAHSTE]

The passing records to me are like the steroid era HR records. Does anyone really think of Barry Bonds in a higher regard than Ruth or Aaron?

Three teams scored 500 points, too. Impressive I guess, but also just silly.

On fbook the other day a Saints fan who I am friends with from school posted something about Brees and the record. I replied that I was as impressed as I was when McGwire and Sosa topped 61 homers.

Predictably, a shit fit from defensive Saints fans ensued. But seriously, fuck these numbers. None of them mean a damn thing anymore. That goes for Scam Newton's rookie passing record too.

 

[ralaw]

IDK, there are teams (San Fran, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, etc) that seem to still play solid defense even with the rule changes. The rule changes shouldn't be an excuse for poor defensive play.

 

[KNUBB]

On fbook the other day a Saints fan who I am friends with from school posted something about Brees and the record. I replied that I was as impressed as I was when McGwire and Sosa topped 61 homers.

Predictably, a shit fit from defensive Saints fans ensued. But seriously, fuck these numbers. None of them mean a damn thing anymore. That goes for Scam Newton's rookie passing record too.

Someone was mad it was against his team :motte:

 

[killgod]

On fbook the other day a Saints fan who I am friends with from school posted something about Brees and the record. I replied that I was as impressed as I was when McGwire and Sosa topped 61 homers.

Predictably, a shit fit from defensive Saints fans ensued. But seriously, fuck these numbers. None of them mean a damn thing anymore. That goes for Scam Newton's rookie passing record too.

The game has changed but it doesn't render this shit meaningless (the non cheating football things, baseball is it's own story).

You just can't compare what Brees is doing now to what Marino did 25 years or whatever ago fairly, but to say what Brees has done this year doesn't mean a damn thing?

That's a bit dramatic.

 

[RosettaStoned]

IDK, there are teams (San Fran, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, etc) that seem to still play solid defense even with the rule changes. The rule changes shouldn't be an excuse for poor defensive play.

Watching all these teams, honestly as a Steelers fan, and as someone who has to watch the Ravens a lot.. even those defenses aren't the same.

That Steelers defense is the worst I can remember seeing in years.

 

[killgod]

Watching all these teams, honestly as a Steelers fan, and as someone who has to watch the Ravens a lot.. even those defenses aren't the same.

That Steelers defense is the worst I can remember seeing in years.

It's funny because in many stat areas (yards, points against, conversion rates) they are dominating.

Perhaps the areas they are very poor in, sacks (35 - 17th in NFL), fumbles (2 - dead last) and interceptions (11 - 8th worst), are what's giving that perception. The "big exciting play" that gets thrown all over the TV and gets people excited, the turnovers and points.

I haven't been impressed by them either, but perhaps it's because they've been effective but essentially boring?

 

[RosettaStoned]

It's funny because in many stat areas (yards, points against, conversion rates) they are dominating.

Perhaps the areas they are very poor in, sacks (35 - 17th in NFL), fumbles (2 - dead last) and interceptions (11 - 8th worst), are what's giving that perception. The "big exciting play" that gets thrown all over the TV and gets people excited, the turnovers and points.

I haven't been impressed by them either, but perhaps it's because they've been effective but essentially boring?

Nah, I like boring... They just don't stop teams like they have in years past. I can remember them going up against teams leading the league in rushing and giving up like 52 yards rushing a few years ago. This year Foster raped us. Couldn't get off the field against a Manningless Colts JV Squad. Couldn't stop Alex fucking Smith from dinking and dunking us.

Not the dominant Steelers defense of the last 10 years.

 

[Houston]

Larry should add this to his list:



"Patriots gave up the most passing yards in a season in NFL history: 4,753"

 

[Aso]

Bill Belichick is ahead of the curve. He realizes if doesn't matter who is playing DB which is why Mathew Slater and Julian Edelman are getting significant playing time.

 

[DSpydr84]

Larry should add this to his list:



"Patriots gave up the most passing yards in a season in NFL history: 4,753"

The fact that New England plays against Mark Sanchez twice a year makes this stat even worse.

 

[RainboUnicorn]

Does anybody else think the lockout had something to do with this? I don't really know what effect it could have had off the top of my head. Wasn't week 1 ridiculous in regard to passing stats?

 

[FirstTimer]

The fact that New England plays against Mark Sanchez twice a year makes this stat even worse.

And they played Tebow

 

[Tailback U]

It's all about the flags.

I'd like to see how much yardage was gained coming from flags that turned a 3rd down into an automatic 1st down and extended a drive that ultimately led to more points/yards.

Probably impossible to keep track of, but it'd be interesting to see.

 

[NAHSTE]

It's all about the flags.

I'd like to see how much yardage was gained coming from flags that turned a 3rd down into an automatic 1st down and extended a drive that ultimately led to more points/yards.

Probably impossible to keep track of, but it'd be interesting to see.

Not to mention how much extra yardage has been gained from defensive players pulling up and allowing a catch in fear of a flag, or just playing softer in coverage and allowing more open receivers.