|
|
Post by darkscar on Dec 14, 2012 16:43:25 GMT -5
I'm with you, vlad. I don't like it either. The proposed change, this 4th and 15 from your own 30, just doesn't do it for me. Given the number of kickoffs that are soaring out of the end zone, I have to think the number of injuries has declined on these plays.
|
|
|
|
Post by mister frau blucher on Dec 15, 2012 12:06:55 GMT -5
I have yet to see the hard data on whether injuries have declined on kickoffs - i imagine they have with the wedge gone and fewer kicks being returned - but no doubt they were disproportionately causing injuries. Kickoffs are like 8 percent of the plays but responsible for 18 percent of the injuries - that was the stat I remember when they took out the wedge. They don't always show injuries that occur on kickoffs during the game, though - your sixth defensive lineman getting a concussion and being checked out on the sidelines is not as compelling a story to the sideline reporters and producers as Tom Brady getting knocked down late.
The 4-15 is interesting. It is easy to be "you kids get off my lawn" with it, as my initial reaction was, but i am thinking it over and seeing some potential. It would be a shame to see kickoffs go, as they are exciting, but I don't think they are that much more exciting than punt returns - particularly with more soaring out of the endzone.
The concept came from Greg Schiano, the Buc's coach (perhaps you guys have heard of him! Heh!) who lost one of his players to paralysis on a kickoff in college, so it is something he thought pretty hard about. While I'm not crazy about it, there is plenty of time to cogitate on it.
|
|
|
|
Post by darkscar on Jan 2, 2013 10:15:38 GMT -5
The season is over, and the Saints mustered a 7-9 finish, one game off the 8-8 I was hopeful for midway through the campaign. The loss of Sean Payton was more harmful than I thought it would be, and Brees was a touch off this year.
There were a lot of interesting stories this year. The return of Peyton Manning from a neck injury, recharging the Broncos team. The emergence of rookies at the QB position, who win games. Wasn't it only a five or six years ago that starting a rookie QB was guaranteeing failure in the NFL? Then Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Ben Rothlesberger (pardon the spelling) showed rookies can win. Now Luck, Griffin III, and Russel Wilson are further proving rookies can come in and have a positive impact at the position. Then there was the zaniness of the NY Jets, and the whole media thing around Tim Tebow...and they never gave the guy a chance to start, not that Sanchez was doing anything.
Now we have the playoffs. In the AFC, it's hard betting against the Broncos. I'll take them. In the NFC, gawd, I really don't know. The Seahawks look to be playing the best all-around game but ... they have a rookie QB! And they have to play every game on the road.
Vlad Taltos, the Falcons, ehm, look a bit off. Don't really like their chances. I'll be rooting for them but my head is picking the 49ers.
|
|
|
|
Post by mister frau blucher on Jan 2, 2013 15:28:24 GMT -5
Yeah, a heck of a season.
I was really thinkging the Saints would do better despite the absence of Payton. But that defense was pretty bad. I wonder if they will keep Spags, or attack their defensive talent, or both.
Falcons not as strong as they looked mid-season, but a single win in the playoffs will be a step forward for the franchise. Hope they go far, but I think the 49ers look the best in the NFC right now.
Lions - Bring back Millen! Ha! Or fire him again, taking Lewand and Mayhew with him this time. The salary cap is going to be a total mess and half the starters are free agents. Given how bad they underperformed this year, it can't hurt to let most of them walk. Gotta figure out a way to make Stafford consistent. Scrap the Wide 9 defense - a gimmick that has been exposed.
I'm really surprised how strong the Broncos are, I thought Peyton's arm would give out, based on the preseason scouting. Gotta go with them as the favorites in the AFC, and for the Superbowl.
We'll see...
|
|
|
|
Post by vladtaltos on Jan 2, 2013 16:57:53 GMT -5
Don't forget about Adrian Peterson. What a year he had, coming off major reconstructive knee surgery, and rushing for over 2,000 yards, falling only 9 yards short of setting a yearly rushing record. There's a guy that carried his team on his back the whole year, and was that 37-34 win vs the Packers to get into the playoffs the best game of the year?
The amazing thing about the Lions, looking at their season in a glance, is they outgained 13 of 16 opponents. They racked up a lot of yards. Their problem was holding on to the ball, with turnovers in 15 of 16 games, and a -16 T/O differential. If they only did better in that one stat, they may have, at least, had a winning year.
The Falcons: We know of our team's playoff woes (the lovely gents on ESPN love to remind us of that) but this is the best Falcons team ever--even better than the '98 Super Bowl team that went 14-2. These guys have many more weapons on offense and defense, and a lot of team records were broken this year. It just depends who shows up, the world beaters that beat the Broncos and shellacked the Giants, or the lackluster outfit that fell to the Panthers and Bucs late in the year. I'm hoping for the former.
|
|
|
|
Post by darkscar on Jan 8, 2013 9:57:00 GMT -5
Anyone watch the "game" last night? I think it was over about 7 minutes in. A total mismatch. It reminded me of a lot of past Super Bowls.
|
|
|
|
Post by mister frau blucher on Jan 8, 2013 16:16:35 GMT -5
Hah! I watched a little bit but it simply wasn't compelling. Started watching other stuff, occassionally checking in, but like you said, a mismatch. ND never showed up.
|
|
|
|
Post by vladtaltos on Jan 8, 2013 20:05:55 GMT -5
I watched all of it. My better half is a 'Bama girl, and a fierce Crimson Tide fan; it made for an interesting SEC Championship Game night, me a Georgia Bulldog, her for the bad guys  . Five more yards. Just 5 more yards. C'est la vie. |
|
|
|
Post by darkscar on Jan 9, 2013 9:48:49 GMT -5
They drove the field on us to win the game in the last few seconds. Number 42 for them, Lacy, is a human boulder. Oh, well. There's ah...always next year....yeah...next year.
|
|
|
|
Post by mister frau blucher on Jan 10, 2013 11:01:28 GMT -5
Games this weekend?
Ravens at Broncos - the last meeting of Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis. Broncos.
Packers at 49ers - tough call, but Packers.
Seahawks at Falcons - Seahawks seem fired up, but I think the Falcons win at home.
Texans at Patriots - midseason I would have picked differently, but this is the Patriot's game.
|
|
|
|
Post by vladtaltos on Jan 10, 2013 17:05:48 GMT -5
Games this weekend? Ravens at Broncos - the last meeting of Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis. Broncos. The Broncos have won 11 in a row, including a 34-17 win over the Ravens @ Baltimore a few weeks ago. I don't see any reason why a similar result won't happen in Denver. Broncos 31 Ravens 13 In these really tight games that are too close to call, I like to look at the QBs. Rodgers v Kaepernick. I'll give the nod to Rodgers. Next thing is the defenses. The 49ers have a great D and the Pack has had some trouble running the ball. It's a coin flip, but I have to stay true to my pre-season prediction of the Packers v Falcons in the NFC Title Game. HAHA Go with the Pack 31-28 in OT. What I liked about the 49ers coach was when he decided to go with the hot hand at QB when the starter, Alex Smith, got hurt. I wish Mike Smith did the same in regard to the ATL RB position. Turner has lost several steps but Rodgers and Snelling are getting the yards. Stubbornly, Smith keeps going with the 9 year vet, Turner, over the younger, fresher legs. Hopefully, that decision won't cost them the game. (The final score...I refuse to jinx my team by picking a winner.) The Texans were my pick to go the Super Bowl back in the pre-season. After 11 games it was a pick that was looking sweet. Now, not so much. I don't see any evidence the 42-14 Pats win these two teams played to will result any different this go round. But to remain consistent I must go with my pre-season pick. Texans 31, Pats 30. |
|
|
|
Post by darkscar on Jan 10, 2013 18:33:16 GMT -5
I'm going with the 49ers over the Packers
The Broncos over the Ravens
The Patriots over the Texans
And vlad, I'm going to jinx your team and say the Falcons will win a good one, as Matt Ryan and Mike Smith get their first playoff win, 21-16 in a game that goes down to a hail mary at the end.
|
|
|
|
Post by darkscar on Jan 14, 2013 9:47:10 GMT -5
And vlad, I'm going to jinx your team and say the Falcons will win a good one, as Matt Ryan and Mike Smith get their first playoff win, 21-16 in a game that goes down to a hail mary at the end. Did I nail this one or what? Hail Mary at the end and everything. Great first half for your Birds, vlad. Not sure what was going on in the chaotic 4th quarter, blowing that huge lead. Your guys pulled it out, though. The Broncos have to be the most heartbroken, giving up a 70 yard TD in the last 30 seconds, and then the pic in OT. Great games all weekend. Good stuff. |
|
|
|
Post by vladtaltos on Jan 14, 2013 14:23:08 GMT -5
Not sure what was going on in the chaotic 4th quarter, blowing that huge lead. Your guys pulled it out, though. For us long-sufferig Falcons' fans the game was eerily similar to a 1981 (I did mention long-suffering, right?) playoff loss to the Cowboys--big 4th quarter lead, game believed to be won, only to watch it slip away at the end. Even the points scored in the 4th quarter by each team was almost exactly as that game back in '81 (20-3 vs 21-3). The difference yesterday was that we completed two passes in the last 25 seconds and kicked a winning FG. My heartbeat resumed a normal rhythm about ten minutes ago. Anyway, it's great for Mike Smith and Matt Ryan to remove that millstone from around their necks. Now we just have to teach our kickoff-guy/punter how to do a squib kick. |
|
|
|
Post by mister frau blucher on Jan 15, 2013 16:30:16 GMT -5
That game probably induced a hundred heart attacks. The Falcons couldn't come up with a first down when they neede it from the end of the third through most of the last quarter, but they came through big time at the end. Tried to give it away on that kick, but managed to hang on. Truly exciting!
|
|
. Five more yards. Just 5 more yards. C'est la vie.