2009 NFL Thread, part 2

[BillyZaned]

People are going to be calling that "The Facemask" for years..and Green Bay fans will be whining about it for years.

I doubt it... it just another added chapter to GBs inability to do anything in OT...

Eagles and the 4th and 28
Giants in the NFC Championship
Cards and the facemask

its all fits nicely together.... lol

I'm a huge Pack fan... but I think next year will be the year... I threw hopes of a playoff appearance early this season, specailly after the Tampa game... so, it was like playing with house money this weekend...

next year, will be the year... I think they will make a deep run next year... Rodgers is on the verge of being a top 3 QB in the league, if not higher... our defense is really young, but they will be more of a force next year after some more "gel" time... and once we get one, or two decent O-Linemen.. we will be unstoppable on offense....

this was a good game for Rodgers... good learning experience....

 

[BillyZaned]

I guess, the whole, hey maybe if our defense could have stopped like 1 - 3 of their scoring drives, we wouldn't have lost the game.

that's the big thing.... something about Capers, and his schemes during big games...

 

[Cunning Stunts]

People are going to be calling that "The Facemask" for years..and Green Bay fans will be whining about it for years.

That really should have been called. The refs this entire weekend were absolutely terrible. Especially in the Jets-Bengals game.

 

[Raiden]

Meh... I mean the game ended on a defensive play. What more do you want? Cardinals didn't even need the possession. An extra period is fine, but if its a five minute period then a team will milk it to 30 seconds. 10 minutes and the game is too long. Something in between (7-8 minutes), maybe team with the first possesion gets one less time out or something.

The game ended on a defensive play, but if the refs had called the facemask penalty then Packers would probably get close enough later to land a FG. I don't like the current OT system and I wish the league would do something about it.

 

[StorminNorman]

Which is why I think Leach would be fantastic for Heyward-Bey and a guy like Frye, Gradkowski, and maybe even Russel. My only concern is that the Patriots conversion to a spread offense hasn't resulted in a Super Bowl since 04. Granted, Al Davis would have a heart attack if he had a season anywhere close to the Patriots in 07, but Davis only wants Super Bowls.

The Patriots lack of Super Bowl has nothing to do with the Spread offense and everything to do with "The Escape" by Eli Manning.

My other concern is that it took Leach 9 years to get a share of the Big 12 South.

That's a hard critique of Leach to have considering he was playing against two of the best programs in the decade, in his division (Texas and Oklahoma) with far inferior draft classes.

A better measuring stick for Leach is the fact that he matched the number of Bowls Tech went to during his time in Lubbock to the number played in the entire HISTORY of the school.

 

[El_Citrus]

The Patriots lack of Super Bowl has nothing to do with the Spread offense and everything to do with "The Escape" by Eli Manning.

And look at the fact that they haven't won a Super Bowl since 04, when they had a more balanced offense (along with a defense to back it up).

That's a hard critique of Leach to have considering he was playing against two of the best programs in the decade, in his division (Texas and Oklahoma) with far inferior draft classes.

A better measuring stick for Leach is the fact that he matched the number of Bowls Tech went to during his time in Lubbock to the number played in the entire HISTORY of the school.

True, but he'd be going to a division with the best team in the NFL in San Diego and an average team on the rise in Denver (KC might come around with Weis, but I doubt it). Not to mention he'd be going to the most embarrassing franchise of the last decade in terms of rapid decline from a former Super Bowl team in 02. I think Leach MIGHT be able to do something in Oakland, but I'm unsure that his system can succeed in the NFL and I doubt that Davis will give him the time and room he needs.

 

[Dr. Evil]

the fact that Kurt Warner had more TD passes than incompletions is scary.

 

[FaT_tONle]

The game ended on a defensive play, but if the refs had called the facemask penalty then Packers would probably get close enough later to land a FG. I don't like the current OT system and I wish the league would do something about it.

If it was a penalty it should have been 15 yards from the spot of the recovery going the other way. But you can't review it so... no one is looking at the QB once the ball is out like that.

 

[StorminNorman]

True, but he'd be going to a division with the best team in the NFL in San Diego and an average team on the rise in Denver (KC might come around with Weis, but I doubt it). Not to mention he'd be going to the most embarrassing franchise of the last decade in terms of rapid decline from a former Super Bowl team in 02. I think Leach MIGHT be able to do something in Oakland, but I'm unsure that his system can succeed in the NFL and I doubt that Davis will give him the time and room he needs.

But the pure talent that Leach will have in Oakland will be much, much, much more similar to his opponents than Leach had with Texas Tech comparing to Oklahoma and Texas.

Think about how many NFL-grade players were on the Sooners and Longhorns during that time.

Think about how many NFL grade players were on Texas Tech.

I think the Sooners and Longhorns probably both have recruiting classes that had more future pro's than Mike Leach's entire coaching span.

 

[BillyZaned]

you know Rodgers was like

[YT]WWaLxFIVX1s[/YT]

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Missed penalties are a loser's lament. People fail to mention the decade and a half when Favre was under center in Green Bay where they got every call imaginable be it accurate or not. As an NFC North fan, t was nice to see karma bite them in the arse for once.

As for people crowing about changing OT to the college system of 1 possession each from the opponents 30. Even in a college style OT the Packers would've lost, If the opposing defense scores on your offensive possession in OT, that's it, game over. They dont give your offense the ball twice.

 

[E-Man]

The key to winning in the playoffs is defense. That's why I'm so excited for the Cowboys outside of me rooting for my favorite team. Right now they look like they can shut down anybody, and I think that will come in handy against the Vikings this Sunday.

On the AFC side of things, San Diego's D gives them a good edge. The Jets have a good combo of good defense and a great running running game, but San Diego can use the right gameplan to put Mark Sanchez into play. If Sanchez passes a lot he'll make mistakes. He's a rookie that has already shown propensity to do so, and San Diego should come up with a gameplan to make him pass more.

 

[El_Citrus]

MAs for people crowing about changing OT to the college system of 1 possession each from the opponents 30. Even in a college style OT the Packers would've lost, If the opposing defense scores on your offensive possession in OT, that's it, game over. They dont give your offense the ball twice.

I'm not sure everyone wants to see the college system so much as we want to see both teams get the ball once. Yes, the game was still over no matter what due to Arizona's pick 6, but most were complaining at the BEGINNING of OT that a Madden-like game would most likely be ruined by a coin toss with the way both defenses were playing at that point. I was ready to believe that the Packers would burn Arizona (and basically did on the throw Rodgers missed) and kick them out of the playoffs without a chance for Warner and Fitzgerald to respond.

 

[Hotwire]

I picked the Ravens to beat the Patriots.

Sorry, misunderstood your post.

 

[El_Citrus]

But the pure talent that Leach will have in Oakland will be much, much, much more similar to his opponents than Leach had with Texas Tech comparing to Oklahoma and Texas.

Think about how many NFL-grade players were on the Sooners and Longhorns during that time.

Think about how many NFL grade players were on Texas Tech.

I think the Sooners and Longhorns probably both have recruiting classes that had more future pro's than Mike Leach's entire coaching span.

That is Leach's best quality, I think. His ability to take, as you said, second and third rate talent that couldn't get into Texas or Oklahoma, and make them and their team relevant. I think he could bring Oakland out from the depths of being the worst franchise in the NFL, but I don't like his chances of being successful, especially with Davis over his shoulder. Forgive me for not doing research, but is there any sources that indicate Leach would be a candidate if Cable is fired?

 

[Hotwire]

Food for thought

As one league source said via e-mail, "It should have been a personal foul grabbing the face mask and 15-yard penalty and a first down for Green Bay."

Hey, Green Bay was grabbing Kurt Warner's facemask, too. The only difference is, Warner threw a touchdown to Fitzgerald while being grabbed, and Rogers coughed up the ball.

Also, I think it was Green Bay that tackled a Cardinals' runner by his facemask and didn't get busted for it.

 

[StorminNorman]

That is Leach's best quality, I think. His ability to take, as you said, second and third rate talent that couldn't get into Texas or Oklahoma, and make them and their team relevant. I think he could bring Oakland out from the depths of being the worst franchise in the NFL, but I don't like his chances of being successful, especially with Davis over his shoulder. Forgive me for not doing research, but is there any sources that indicate Leach would be a candidate if Cable is fired?

That's where personality becomes SO important.

Cable gave Gruden time to develop his team? Why? Because Gruden had a personality Al Davis liked. He was a brash, talented, offensive mind. That's what led him to hire Lane Kiffin (even though the two's personalities clashed in the long run).

I think Leach's personality will be the type that gets Davis excited - leading him to trust him. It's what Cable lacks, it's what Art Monk lacks, it's what Norv Turner lacks, it's what Bill Callahan lacked. It's Leach's most attractive feature for the Raiders.

Leach has been connected with the Raiders by various sources including ESPN (on their Insider's coverage) and NationalFootballPost (one of the best free NFL sites you will ever find).

 

[Bond]

God I cannot wait until the Minnesota game Sunday.

 

[Hotwire]

How's this for a new overtime system.

A 10 min. overtime period. Coin flip for first possession. Two time-outs per team. Either once challenge or only booth reviews. Highest score wins, or if no winner, the game's a tie. What would be wrong with that?

 

[Matt]

Food for thought

As one league source said via e-mail, "It should have been a personal foul grabbing the face mask and 15-yard penalty and a first down for Green Bay."

It looked to me like a finger got caught and it would've been a five yard incidental. But like I said, Packers fans will *****, but who cares? Such is the nature of the game. Calls get missed. I bet if you really watched the game you could see a couple that Green Bay got away with. Its just the nature of the game.

 

[Matt]

How's this for a new overtime system.

A 10 min. overtime period. Coin flip for first possession. Two time-outs per team. Either once challenge or only booth reviews. Highest score wins, or if no winner, the game's a tie. What would be wrong with that?

A defense shoud be able to step up and at least hold you to three. The only change that should be made to NFL overtime is that if you get a field goal on the opening drive the other team at least gets to touch the ball.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

the fact that Kurt Warner had more TD passes than incompletions is scary.

I really hope he gets back to the Super Bowl.

I'm pulling for a Cardinals/Colts Super Bowl. I don't think it will happen, but it would be nice to see Warner go out on top.

 

[El_Citrus]

That's where personality becomes SO important.

Cable gave Gruden time to develop his team? Why? Because Gruden had a personality Al Davis liked. He was a brash, talented, offensive mind. That's what led him to hire Lane Kiffin (even though the two's personalities clashed in the long run).

I think Leach's personality will be the type that gets Davis excited - leading him to trust him. It's what Cable lacks, it's what Art Monk lacks, it's what Norv Turner lacks, it's what Bill Callahan lacked. It's Leach's most attractive feature for the Raiders.

Leach has been connected with the Raiders by various sources including ESPN (on their Insider's coverage) and NationalFootballPost (one of the best free NFL sites you will ever find).

Leach's personality and image definitely fits the Raiders, and if he can recruit a passable team between Oklahoma and Texas, then I'm sure he can sell Al Davis on his system, but I'm not sure Davis will keep his nose out and want to draft another Heyward Bey instead of a Crabtree.

IF Davis gives him room, I think he has a chance to succeed, but it'll take time with the Raiders being set up for a power running game with Bush, McFadden and Fargas rather than a nearly pass-only team. I'm also still concerned that his system won't translate well in the NFL and if he can build a top notch defense to match.

 

[Matt]

I really hope he gets back to the Super Bowl.

I'm pulling for a Cardinals/Colts Super Bowl. I don't think it will happen, but it would be nice to see Warner go out on top.

I want Cards/Jets, just because I like the under dogs.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I want Cards/Jets, just because I like the under dogs.

Another reason why I would like to see them win it, is because some people thought this team was a fluke last season.