NFL 2016

[Mo Noyz]

Unless I'm forgetting something, in Sunday's Dolphins/Browns game, I don't remember the zebras screwing up a play challenge. Most of the time I'm as puzzled as Fouts.

One out of forty eight games sounds about right...

[Mo Noyz]

HA!

Here comes the next offseason rule change...

http://www.totalprosports.com/2016/09/2 ... age-video/

oh, that is smart, nicely done by him.

Yeah...

Just shows how the simplest rules are overlooked by the competition committee in their zeal to cook up as much confusion as they can elsewhere.

[Mo Noyz]

jon, the conversation got a bit derailed this morning but I meant to ask, are you still on the "give Geno one more shot" train? I disagreed with you on that, but wondered where you stand on it now.

Look, I know it's frustrating. Especially in the case of the Jets, because their window slammed shut a few years ago (which you correctly predicted, and I was woefully wrong about), but they SHOULD have a top five offense this year. To have such a question mark at QB when other teams have seemingly solved their QB problem...

[jon abbey]

he looked so bad the game I saw him in preseason, I might give Bryce Petty a chance before him. I'm pretty depressed that they drafted a QB in the second round who they knew was a project when obviously there were multiple guys out there capable of helping right away...

[walto]

You know, the officiating has been bad for years now, we all know this. But, it seems to be getting worse and worse by the week this season.
....

Did anyone else see the "fumble" by Pacman on the punt return where the ball popped out as BOTH of his knees were on the ground?! Even Fouts said, "I have no idea what they're looking at there". And the "inconclusive" excuse has been beaten to death already this season.

No, dude. Who fucking CARES what was called on the field!

I did, and I agree that the call was ridiculous. I also think you're right that the reviews should be de novo. I never thought of that. It makes sense, since the refs on the field don't have access to slo-mo etc. I guess the theory is that if the standard isn't set (too) high there'll be many more challenges. But maybe the whole ' challenge' idea should be dumped and the review system changed from what is now a predominantly adversarial system, to a predominantly inquisitorial one.

I mean, just because our court system isn't particularly good at producing just results isn't a good reason for sports determinations to also be shitty.

[Mo Noyz]

he looked so bad the game I saw him in preseason, I might give Bryce Petty a chance before him. I'm pretty depressed that they drafted a QB in the second round who they knew was a project when obviously there were multiple guys out there capable of helping right away...

It's such a crapshoot, though. Tom Brady, Russell Wilson...? Afterthoughts.

Chasing a franchise QB via the draft is a fool's errand.

IMO, there is no "obviously" to it. Though I certainly get your frustration.

[Mo Noyz]

You know, the officiating has been bad for years now, we all know this. But, it seems to be getting worse and worse by the week this season.
....

Did anyone else see the "fumble" by Pacman on the punt return where the ball popped out as BOTH of his knees were on the ground?! Even Fouts said, "I have no idea what they're looking at there". And the "inconclusive" excuse has been beaten to death already this season.

No, dude. Who fucking CARES what was called on the field!

I did, and I agree that the call was ridiculous. I also think you're right that the reviews should be de novo. I never thought of that. It makes sense, since the refs on the field don't have access to slo-mo etc. I guess the theory is that if the standard isn't set (too) high there'll be many more challenges. But maybe the whole ' challenge' idea should be dumped and the review system changed from what is now a predominantly adversarial system, to a predominantly inquisitorial one.

I mean, just because our court system isn't particularly good at producing just results isn't a good reason for sports determinations to also be shitty.

Exactly.

That said, I loved the game more when instant replay didn't exist. But, since we know it isn't going away...

And while I'm not opposed to the challenge system, I think your idea is far more logical. The only problem being that should they go towards a more inquisitorial system, the can of worms it opens will slow the game down even more, right? Good god, nobody, including coaches and players, knows what a fucking catch is! So switching to the system you're proposing would pretty much put 75% of all plays under some form of review.

That's probably a "good with the bad" gambit that ultimately none of us would like to see.

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying.

Jesus, why can't we just go back to what actually worked?

[jon abbey]

I didn't mean there were obvious better choices, I wasn't calling for those guys to be chosen that day, but I also don't think you can draft a project QB in the NFL if you don't have a star in place already. if you don't, you need to draft a guy who can potentially play now if needed, even if you maybe think he has a lower long-term ceiling.

[Mo Noyz]

Yeah, that's fair enough. Especially considering they were likely a playoff caliber team this year. Though I'm not entirely sure who was available to them where they picked that would have been a sure fire starter...

I mean, the Rams thought Goff was...

[jon abbey]

I mean, ideally and yes with a bit of unfair hindsight, they draft Dak Prescott, don't resign Fitzpatrick (this part is not a second-guess) and spend the season figuring out if any of Geno, Petty or Prescott is deserving of the job going forward. it's true that Marshall and Decker and Forte are all a lot nearer the end than the start of their careers, so dunno, not a lot of good answers.

also, the much touted Jets defensive line has been pretty underwhelming the last two weeks, they need to dominate pretty much every game for NY to even be .500.

[The G Man]

The Jets and Giants, both +6 in 2015 in turnover differential, or at the bottom this year. The Jets are -7 and the Giants -6 through three games.

Last season, Carolina was +22 and Dallas -22. This year Carolina is -2 and Dallas is +2.

My point is that turnovers have a huge impact on game outcomes but team turnovers aren't predictable from season to season (except for the Patriots).

Neither Prescott nor Wentz has thrown a pick through three games. I don't expect that to continue. Philly, though has had some strange results in recent years. Both Vick and Foles had years where they led the league in lowest Int % and then were near the bottom in the following season.

[The G Man]

I'm pretty sure I heard he's (JJ Watt) still not 100% healthy, Gordo.

He reinjured his back Sunday and his season is now in jeopardy. I hope he comes back 100% at some point. He's a superstar with a great personal reputation.

[Captain Hate]

Watt being injured is bad for the league.

I think Wentz landed in an almost ideal situation with a head coach who understands how to bring him along. He kind of sounds like a goof in interviews which was probably off putting to some teams, like the Browns, although he seems plenty smart on the field.

Although the Browns are 0-3 they've shown improvement every week and really should've beat the Dolphins. Cody Kessler was shoved into a starting role and after some initial jitters behind a sieve line finished credibly. When Gordon and Coleman return, along with Pryor and Barnidge, they will have a very dangerous receiving core that will stretch the field and give the offense an explosiveness that they've never had recently if ever.

[Mo Noyz]

Couldn't agree more. I said earlier that I thought there were far worse teams than Cleveland this year. Hell, I'm even happy to see Pryor realizing his athletic potential.

[Captain Hate]

Anybody know what the deal is with Thursday night football and CBS? After co hosting it for two weeks with the NFL Network, last night they didn't have the game (and make no doubt about it, I HATE Thurday night football for not giving players enough time to heal) but kept interjecting updates during commercials. I assume it will be back next week but then stop at some point, maybe November, like I think it did last year. I just think it's a strange on/off situation.

[walto]

Couldn't agree more. I said earlier that I thought there were far worse teams than Cleveland this year.

Who are they?? (I need this info for the Survival Pool!)

[Mo Noyz]

Anybody know what the deal is with Thursday night football and CBS? After co hosting it for two weeks with the NFL Network, last night they didn't have the game (and make no doubt about it, I HATE Thurday night football for not giving players enough time to heal) but kept interjecting updates during commercials. I assume it will be back next week but then stop at some point, maybe November, like I think it did last year. I just think it's a strange on/off situation.

I have no clue. I think they only did something like eight games last year? But, I thought they were all in a row. Head to Teh Google, I guess...

I can't recall how many years it's been since I watched a Thursday night game.

[Mo Noyz]

Walto,

I'd say the 49ers, Bears, Dolphins, and believe it or not, the Saints. I know the Saints can light up the scoreboard, but that defense is such an historic atrocity, I feel it makes them a worse team than the Browns.

Indianapolis seems headed in that direction, as well. But they're still better than Cleveland.

Two teams I still don't have a firm grasp on are Tennessee and Jacksonville. They're potentially as bad, or worse.

[Mo Noyz]

Here you go, Cappz.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2016- ... -tv-times/

So fucking convoluted it makes the NFL rulebook look concise.

[Steve Reynolds]

Good to see all my old Patriot hating friends


Here's hoping Edelman has to come in at QB if/when the other back-ups get hurt and help make the Belichick boys 4-0 by running some sort of single wing right down the throat of Rexy & Rob's sorry excuse for a team. The loser Bills win one game and Good Ol' Rex be back to talking smack about Belichick. Nothing like a blow hard who has never one a thing talking about beating the greatest franchise in the history of the NFL.

by the way, the board's I hate theme fit's all my friend's comments about all things Patriots.


Still....


Coming Down the Mountain, baby