National Football League

[Alpe d'Huez]

Well, he's in Gary Kubiak's offense, which involves a lot of bootleg passes. And I don't recall him ever playing like that on any previous team or system. But as you saw last night, when the Broncos had to hurry, he was able to see the field and very quickly go through progressions, and improvise as good as ever. I'm just not sure his body is going to hold up, or he has enough of an arm left to get them over the top. Oh, and I have little faith in Kubiak as a coach. Maybe less in Wade Phillips, even though that D is just stacked.

 

[52520Andrew]

That Denver defense is something special, would love to see them and Buffalo go at it at some point. Picked Kansas City as well which was off but I'll take 11-5 for the first week

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Re:

The Seahawks began studying rugby for tips on tackling in 2012 and became so enamored with their effectiveness that coach Pete Carroll subsequently released an instructional video on YouTube urging other coaches to adopt its superior, safer techniques.

It didn’t take long for the idea to spread. Ohio State implemented rugby-style tackling in the build-up to the 2014 college-football season and proceeded to miss fewer tackles than any team in the country on the way to a national title, according to Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer.

In fact, many colleges at all D-Levels have implemented this tackling style over the past year. So it is catching on, which is a good thing. The interesting technique aspect of this style of tackling is that more power can be generated by the hit (where leg drive comes from the same side of the body as the impacting shoulder - e.g. right shoulder with right leg driving) than in traditional tackling (opposite leg from the impacting shoulder does the driving, and power must transmit diagonally across the body). While more power can be generated, the head placement is more protected being on the trailing side of the guy being tackled. When you think about it, this all makes sense, but players being taught this say it feels weird at first. Hopefully this will not deter the relearning process current players, who learned to tackle the old way, must go through. Young players just starting out should adapt quite well as long as coaches do their part.

While it is good this seems to be catching on, the emphasis to make the game safer has been on tackling where the bigger hits most often come. What is a little disturbing is the organizations (e.g. NFL, NCAA, State High School interschoolastic associations) who are (or should be) advocates of football safety have not really done anything yet about the other aspects of football where collisions occur. That being the offensive and defensive linemen that take a pounding on every snap. Those impacts typically involve smaller forces because speed at impact is lower, but they occur every play. Compare the number of impacts by the linemen to the number of impacts coming from tackles, and the linemen take the lions share. Now, consider that chronic exposure over a long time is known to often have greater long term effect than a single acute exposure that occurs every once in a while, and it makes me wonder how in the world do we change the game of football to make it safer for the linemen?

Well, the good news is that others are starting to look at the long term effects of chronic exposure to less forceful hits taken on every play by the guys in the trenches. Here is a Bleacher Report article that talks specifically about that:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...test-positive-for-cte-according-to-pbs-report
This is a good article about this hurdle that the game of football needs to overcome. The article says it much better than I possibly can. Go Boston U!

 

[Tank Engine]

Re:

Interesting article on rugby. While the 49ers' Jarryd Hayne has shown some promise as a RB or kick returner, it seems that rugby players may have more to offer the NFL on defense than offense.

despite rugby’s primeval appearance and violent reputation, some of football’s most forward-thinking coaches say it is actually light years ahead when it comes to one of the few skills these sports still have in common: the art of tackling.

Like football coaches are worried about the violent reputation of rugby

Certainly as a child I was taught how to tackle properly (sometimes I even got it right ).

One argument for football players not to use the rugby style of tackling is that the tackled player naturally falls forward, which is more likely to be very important in football than in rugby e.g. when the offense is on the edge of getting a first down, a defender will attempt to drive the ball carrier back rather than rugby tackle him.

However, since field position is also an important factor in rugby, in many situations it would seem that the loss incurred by the ball carrier falling forward is outweighed by making sure he hits the deck and reducing the possibility of injury.

 

[leftover pie]

Re: Re:

However, since field position is also an important factor in rugby, in many situations it would seem that the loss incurred by the ball carrier falling forward is outweighed by making sure he hits the deck and reducing the possibility of injury.

getting them to hit the deck (in rubgy union) is important as it means the player must release the ball thus creating an opportunity for the defence to get it and take it the other way (after release of the ball is where a ruck forms - players from each team trying to get the ball (they must stay on their feet to do so)

in rugby league it is important as it signals that it is counted as a "tackle" and then the player must play the ball, after 6 tackles the ball is turned over (similar to downs in the NFL)

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

This is not good. USA Today article says at least some form of CTE found in 96% of deceased players tested.

http://usat.ly/1MvAAod

 

[Tank Engine]

Re: Re:

However, since field position is also an important factor in rugby, in many situations it would seem that the loss incurred by the ball carrier falling forward is outweighed by making sure he hits the deck and reducing the possibility of injury.

getting them to hit the deck (in rubgy union) is important as it means the player must release the ball thus creating an opportunity for the defence to get it and take it the other way (after release of the ball is where a ruck forms - players from each team trying to get the ball (they must stay on their feet to do so)

in rugby league it is important as it signals that it is counted as a "tackle" and then the player must play the ball, after 6 tackles the ball is turned over (similar to downs in the NFL)

Very true. I did think of that just after posting, but I was somewhere else.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

NE@BUF - While I like the Bills, especially their defense, the Pats just have more tools.
TEN@CLE - Mariota won't play like he did last week, but Browns have many problems.
HOU@CAR - QB Shuffle in Houston, I like Panthers at home.
ARI@CHI - Cards defense easily stops Bears offense.
SD@CIN - While I like the Chargers, I went with Cincy at home.
DET@MIN - Vikings have to step up after getting beaten up last week.
TB@NO - Lock of the week.
ATL@NYG - Atlanta not a great road team, in NY, set for a let down.
SF@PIT - Steelers now an offensive team? Picked them at home.
STL@WAS - Rams could be set for a let down, but the better team.
BAL@OAK - Suggs or not, Ravens still very good.
MIA@JAX - Improving Miami shows up.
DAL@PHI - Almost picked Dallas, but after last week's win, this is a classic time for them to lose.
SEA@GB - Seattle starts 0-2? Yes, they do.
NYJ@IND No way Colts start 0-2, at least not at home against Jets.

 

[The Hitch]

Houston @ Carolina- last year Panthers were that kind of an erratic team. Kueckly out and Houston have the kind of quality to bounce back in this game


49ers @ Steelers - Normally Id go for SF, even away, its the kind of game I think they win, but the issue is that Pittsburgh are basically coming in off a bye week. They finsihed their first game Thursday last week. SF finished theirs Tuesday morning and have had 3 days for this + the flight. I don't think NFL should have TNF teams play MNF teams the next week.


Bucs @ Saints - seems like a slightly better team.

Lions @ Vikings - just went home team since on paper they have quality even though if both teams perform like last week it will be Lions easy.

Cardinals @ Bears - Better coached team

Patriots @ Bills - I pretty much always pick Patriots simply because I want them to lose so ill be happy enough to take the L if Bills pull it off.

Chargers @ Bengals - Bengals perhaps best roster in the NFL. Could be good game though

Titans @ Browns - Titans had an amazing opening day last year too. Browns still at the stage of the season where they might want to win. I think titans still lack too much.

Falcons @ Giants - G men not that bad, and at home.

Rams @ Redskins - Poor Cousins, going up against another top 3 d line.

Dolphins @ Jaguars - Better team at every position.

Ravens @ Raiders - See above. (well maybe not WR but Raiders just suck atm it seems). Wouldn't be totally surprised if it goes the other way though.

Cowboys @ Eagles - 50/50. Chip at home and no dez maybe decides it.

Seahawks @ Packers - Rodgers finally gets to face Wilson at home.

Jets @ Colts- better team at home.

 

[Merckx index]

Re:

49ers @ Steelers - Normally Id go for SF, even away, its the kind of game I think they win, but the issue is that Pittsburgh are basically coming in off a bye week. They finsihed their first game Thursday last week. SF finished theirs Tuesday morning and have had 3 days for this + the flight. I don't think NFL should have TNF teams play MNF teams the next week.

Yeah, I agree that really sucks. Teams that play MNF have one less day to prepare for the following Sunday’s game, while teams that play Thursday have three extra days to prepare for the following game. That’s bad enough, IMO, but combining the two is beyond the pale. Then making it even worse, the team at a disadvantage has to play on the road, and if all that weren’t bad enough, at a place three time zones advanced (if the tables were turned, Pittsburgh wouldn't be as bad off, because they would get three hours of the travel time back). The travel time plus the time difference add up to another 8-9 hours lost by themselves.

The travel/time zone issue can be huge. I remember four years ago, Harbaugh’s first season with the 49ers, when they played in Baltimore on Thanksgiving. Both teams were of course coming off Sunday games, no difference there, but the 49ers basically gave up one day to the travel and the advanced time zone. When you only have three days to prepare, losing one of those days is a much greater disadvantage than when you have six days to prepare.

FWIW, I generally agree with your picks, except I’d take SD over Cincy, and maybe Det over Min.

 

[Amsterhammer]

DEN @ KC -
HOU @ CAR
SF @ PITT
TB @ NO
DET @ MIN
ARI @ CHI
NE @ BUF
SD @ CIN
TEN @ CLE
ATL @ NYG
STL @ WSH
MIA @ JAX
BAL @ OAK
DAL @ PHI
SEA @ GB
NYJ @ IND

 

[Amsterhammer]

Pinch me. What am I seeing? Who are these guys and what did they do with my team?

First first half shutout in four years, 61 games.

 

[Eagle]

Giants blow a late lead again today, with Eli fumbling in the red zone

 

[52520Andrew]

Raiders Ravens going back and forth, didn't think the Raiders were as bad as that week 1 effort showed

 

[Eagle]

Redskins starting to look a good bet for the playoffs

Romo out with a broken collarbone, Eagles look absolutely awful on offense

 

[52520Andrew]

Pretty pathetic performance by the Ravens this week, really need to get their act together if they want to do anything here with Cincy and Pittsburgh coming up

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

- nice win by the Raiders, but no worries really yet for the Ravens... it's too early...
- and no worries (yet) for Seattle, now 0-2 as many predicted earlier.
- just remembering last year this time what Aaron Rodgers said when the Packers started off slowly... R-E-L-A-X.
- probably not much relaxation going on with the Giants.

But the Packers did not have Seattle OC Darrell Bevel, who's play calling is really coming under fire, and not just by Money Lynch's mom. I do not understand why Bevel only called plays that targeted Jimmy Graham about twice all game vs the Packers. And how much is Seattle paying Graham? All that talent and a waste to not use it. Seattle was just too predictable offensively most of the game, unless Bevel turned Wilson loose as he did in the third quarter. But no team can win by playing just one quarter of ball.

The Eagles though... So far, the offseason moves for QB Bradford (in the Foles to Rams trade), LB Kiko Alonso (giving up Shady McCoy to the Bills in exchange), and RB DeMarco Murray are really looking like bad moves. In 2 games, Murray has 21 carries for 11 (yes eleven) total yards. Alonso injured his knee again (not sure if same knee with the torn ACL when with the Bills). And then there's Sam Bradford... you know, any QB learning a new system is going to make mistakes. But what shows as a result is his apparent confusion and bewilderment that you just don't see in great leaders.

And that brings me to the Cowboys, whose loss of Murray in the offseason is going just about as I thought it might... without much detriment to the Cowboys offense with that great O-Line. They seem to be doing fine with Randle and McFadden, though not stellar (82 yards on 28 carries vs the Eagles between the both of them). Running back by committee. And that was without Dez Bryant. It will be interesting now to see how Weeden does over the next 6-8 weeks as he fills in for Romo who injured his left, non-throwing arm, collar bone. With that O-Line I have a feeling the Cowboy offense will by okay, good enough to keep the wins coming.
-- By the way, that undrafted free agent offensive tackle from LSU, La'el Collins, he was the Cowboys starting LG vs the Eagles. A UFA O-Lineman. Starting. For the Cowboys. That's a pretty fortunate pick up for Dallas, who already had a great line. But unfortunately not great enough to protect Romo for that one play.

 

[leftover pie]

Aaron Rodgers looked so good today, poised, accurate, decisive, everything you want from your QB.

My tips on the otherhand, I'm sitting on a score of 8 so far this round, if Indy win tomorrow that's 9, not even double figures!

 

[Tank Engine]

The Eagles though... So far, the offseason moves for QB Bradford (in the Foles to Rams trade), LB Kiko Alonso (giving up Shady McCoy to the Bills in exchange), and RB DeMarco Murray are really looking like bad moves. In 2 games, Murray has 21 carries for 11 (yes eleven) total yards. Alonso injured his knee again (not sure if same knee with the torn ACL when with the Bills). And then there's Sam Bradford... you know, any QB learning a new system is going to make mistakes. But what shows as a result is his apparent confusion and bewilderment that you just don't see in great leaders.

And that brings me to the Cowboys, whose loss of Murray in the offseason is going just about as I thought it might... without much detriment to the Cowboys offense with that great O-Line. They seem to be doing fine with Randle and McFadden, though not stellar (82 yards on 28 carries vs the Eagles between the both of them). Running back by committee. And that was without Dez Bryant. It will be interesting now to see how Weeden does over the next 6-8 weeks as he fills in for Romo who injured his left, non-throwing arm, collar bone. With that O-Line I have a feeling the Cowboy offense will by okay, good enough to keep the wins coming.
-- By the way, that undrafted free agent offensive tackle from LSU, La'el Collins, he was the Cowboys starting LG vs the Eagles. A UFA O-Lineman. Starting. For the Cowboys. That's a pretty fortunate pick up for Dallas, who already had a great line. But unfortunately not great enough to protect Romo for that one play.

Dallas has big injury problems with Romo and Bryant out. Weeden looked good enough behind a very solid o-line. Difficult to assess how good the defensive performance was, since Bradford and the receivers were misfiring and the
Eagles' offensive line just stinks. However, one thing is clear the Cowboys really missed Sean Lee last season.

 

[infeXio]

- nice win by the Raiders, but no worries really yet for the Ravens... it's too early...
- and no worries (yet) for Seattle, now 0-2 as many predicted earlier.
- just remembering last year this time what Aaron Rodgers said when the Packers started off slowly... R-E-L-A-X.
- probably not much relaxation going on with the Giants.

But the Packers did not have Seattle OC Darrell Bevel, who's play calling is really coming under fire, and not just by Money Lynch's mom. I do not understand why Bevel only called plays that targeted Jimmy Graham about twice all game vs the Packers. And how much is Seattle paying Graham? All that talent and a waste to not use it. Seattle was just too predictable offensively most of the game, unless Bevel turned Wilson loose as he did in the third quarter. But no team can win by playing just one quarter of ball.

The Eagles though... So far, the offseason moves for QB Bradford (in the Foles to Rams trade), LB Kiko Alonso (giving up Shady McCoy to the Bills in exchange), and RB DeMarco Murray are really looking like bad moves. In 2 games, Murray has 21 carries for 11 (yes eleven) total yards. Alonso injured his knee again (not sure if same knee with the torn ACL when with the Bills). And then there's Sam Bradford... you know, any QB learning a new system is going to make mistakes. But what shows as a result is his apparent confusion and bewilderment that you just don't see in great leaders.

And that brings me to the Cowboys, whose loss of Murray in the offseason is going just about as I thought it might... without much detriment to the Cowboys offense with that great O-Line. They seem to be doing fine with Randle and McFadden, though not stellar (82 yards on 28 carries vs the Eagles between the both of them). Running back by committee. And that was without Dez Bryant. It will be interesting now to see how Weeden does over the next 6-8 weeks as he fills in for Romo who injured his left, non-throwing arm, collar bone. With that O-Line I have a feeling the Cowboy offense will by okay, good enough to keep the wins coming.
-- By the way, that undrafted free agent offensive tackle from LSU, La'el Collins, he was the Cowboys starting LG vs the Eagles. A UFA O-Lineman. Starting. For the Cowboys. That's a pretty fortunate pick up for Dallas, who already had a great line. But unfortunately not great enough to protect Romo for that one play.

Granted, La'el Collins is an undrafted free agent, but labeling him as if he's some nobody entering the Cowboys O-line is a tad exaggerated - he was after all predicted to go fairly early in the first round of the draft, but was ultimately hindered by somehow getting involved in a murder case in the days leading up to the draft, which led teams to not wanting to draft him. Before that occured, though, he was a first round prediction in the draft, which would only add to the fellow first-rounders Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and Travis Frederick on that monster of an O-line they've assembled.

 

[movingtarget]

49ers looked flat against the Steelers who dominated most of the game. 49ers had plenty of ball but could not convert to points when they needed to. 49ers looked a totally different team to last week, Pretty mediocre performance.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Woohoo! Go Raiders! For all their issues, what a win!

Just as I predicted with the Eagles, and Bradford, and Chip Kelly's fancy system, you can't load up on position players and "potential", and then spin it all with psychobabble into success. I wrote numerous posts about this during the off season. About how Bradford was an average QB his entire career so far (when not hurt). About how RB's are not nearly as important as the linemen that block for them. About how complicated playbooks are not nearly as important as execution. I do think they'll get more in synch and improve, but I did once say they looked like a 6-10 team to me.

Romo being hurt is going to indeed hurt the Cowboys. Weeden did go 7-7 with a sweet laser TD. But he's a drop back QB with a big arm, and doesn't have Romo's ability to move within the pocket and extend plays. Can a run-heavy conservative approach be enough to go, say 4-4 with him? I'm curious to see who the Cowboys pick up off the wire, or if they trade for someone (Cassell? RB3?!)

A few teams impressed me this week more than the others. The Patriots showed just how great their offense is, and how to grit out a win. The Cardinals put up nearly 50 points on the Bears. And the Packers taking care of the Seahawks, especially on both sides of the line, was impressive. Atlanta looks like a completely different team under Dan Quinn. Tough, smart win over a troubled Giants team, right after they paid Eli big money. Panthers quietly go to 2-0. Jags, like the Raiders, look like they might finally be digging out. A big win over Miami. Nice wins for the Bengals and Vikings. I'd toss the Steelers in there, but piling up points on a tired 49er team, as others noted, is great mostly on paper.

Individuals I saw that impressed me. James Jones in GB. Cut from the Giants, comes back to GB and quickly steps right in and at a high level. Kirk Cousins, when just a week ago was about to be written off again, plays a solid game against a tough, young D. Derek Carr for playing hurt, and playing great against a good defense too. 37 points worth. Carson Palmer throwing 4 TDs and not being afraid to air it out. Johnny Manzeil. He didn't throw much, but he played mistake free with some key tosses. We all know how great Aaron Rogers is, but did I mention how impressed I was with both sides of the Packers line?!

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

-- By the way, that undrafted free agent offensive tackle from LSU, La'el Collins, he was the Cowboys starting LG vs the Eagles. A UFA O-Lineman. Starting. For the Cowboys. That's a pretty fortunate pick up for Dallas, who already had a great line. But unfortunately not great enough to protect Romo for that one play.

Granted, La'el Collins is an undrafted free agent, but labeling him as if he's some nobody entering the Cowboys O-line is a tad exaggerated - he was after all predicted to go fairly early in the first round of the draft, but was ultimately hindered by somehow getting involved in a murder case in the days leading up to the draft, which led teams to not wanting to draft him. Before that occured, though, he was a first round prediction in the draft, which would only add to the fellow first-rounders Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and Travis Frederick on that monster of an O-line they've assembled.

You misunderstood. Not what I was saying at all, though true I did not say it very well. Anyone who followed much of NCAA SEC FB or the 2015 NFL draft knows Collins is a stud and would have been a bona fide first round pick, and probably a top ten overall pick in the draft had it not been for his involvement in a police murder investigation down South that took him away from the draft and forced teams to pass on him at the draft. My point was that it is just amazingly lucky that Dallas had this star fall smack in their lap. That's what I meant by "That's a pretty fortunate pick up for Dallas".

 

[The Hitch]

Can new England go 16-0 again. The game they just won was probably the second hardest one they'll have all year (broncos in Denver). The other hard away game they were supposed to face just became easy (Dallas in jerryworld) Only 6 of their remaining 14 are against winning teams from lasy season and that includes the pathetic Texans, colts, dysfunctional eagles, the bills team they just beat, and now qbless cowboys

 

[jmdirt]

I'm still seeing a lot of sloppy play on both sides of the ball. Is that the nature of the NFL now? Chaos theory rules? AZ played the cleanest, but even the Pats and Packers looked rough in their wins.

Since Romo, and the Cowboys are the main talk I'll weigh in: Weeden is a different QB than Romo, but he is capable of being a top 10 QB in the league especially once he gets into the rhythm of being the starter. Dallas will have to adjust their play calling, but not completely change their offense. They have Moore on the practice squad, but they are likely shopping for a mobile guy. They need a big target for Weeden to throw at, will that be someone on their roster now or do they need to go out and get someone? Moss?