The NFL Thread

[Alan]

It's not a crapshoot as it's not entirely random, but there are innumerable confounding variables at play when judging if a future player will be successful. The best organizations know what those variables are and how best to measure them. This gives them a clearer picture on how the pieces will ultimately fit together. Look at New England for perhaps the best example of what success at this "variable dictionary" brings.

Look at the likes of Jacksonville, New York (either team), or Seattle for the results of organizations that can't properly grasp these variables and whose draft picks are, therefore, much more likely to fail.

You wouldn't want Tom fucking Brady playing with the Jags or Jets this season. With those offensive lines? He'd probably just straight up die on the field.

 

[Johnny75]

I feel sorry for Lawrence. He's clearly better than Mac Jones as a QB but he's in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Look at Herbert as an example of a similar style QB and the success he's having.

Has a number 1 pick ever been traded after 1 season?

 

[Tony Towner]

Not 1, Rosen at 10 is the only one I can think of which is vaguely comparable. He was awful and they got Kyler Murray instead.

They won't get rid, Meyer will be sacked instead. Dougie P being rumoured to be lined up to fix him

 

[Alan]

Yeah, Rosen is the closest example that comes to mind. But quite a few people thought he was a reach at #10 anyway, and he went to a team that was (surprise, surprise) really bad.

Unfortunately for Rosen, as well as some other talented QBs that spent their rookie years’ being ripped apart snap after snap, sometimes the trauma of that first year never goes away. Wilson and Lawrence have both been poor enough this season that I worry for them both going forward.

Meanwhile, Jones is up in New England winning with superior preparation and intelligence, crucially in an environment that is built to maximize the benefits of those two traits.

It would have been fascinating to see the reverse (Jones to Jax, Lawrence to NE), but we can never know how that would have played out. Certainly, the Jags would still have been bad.

This is all just my long-winded way of saying that QB is not the most important position on the field, no matter what anyone tells you.

 

[Johnny75]

Interesting, which position do you think is the most important on the field Alan?

 

[Alan]

If we're talking singular position, IMO it's the blindside tackles.

I don't want to downplay the significance of what a QB can bring, but a QB on his ass ain't a QB using his arm, you know?

The offensive line as a unit I think is perhaps the single most influential position in any sport (that I know of, so I accept that there may be analogues in rugby, cricket, or some other sport Americans don't put on TV).

 

[Tony Towner]

How anyone can even try to criticise Lawrence, whilst playing under a complete and utter prick who is on a one man mission to burn the franchise down is beyond me

In other news you can still get the Cards at -3

https://twitter.com/x/status/1470494050826571778

...and that's why the bookies are the millionaires.

 

[WsWolf]

If we're talking singular position, IMO it's the blindside tackles.

I don't want to downplay the significance of what a QB can bring, but a QB on his ass ain't a QB using his arm, you know?

The offensive line as a unit I think is perhaps the single most influential position in any sport (that I know of, so I accept that there may be analogues in rugby, cricket, or some other sport Americans don't put on TV).

Agreed. An average QB can pick apart any D when he has all day to throw.

 

[Alan]

Agreed. An average QB can pick apart any D when he has all day to throw.

Trent Dilfer is my go-to example.

 

[WsWolf]

Agree too, but unfortunately media hype will always mean they get overlooked. How often does prefect blocking technique make a highlight reel over a QB scramble or long throw? How often does an O lineman win the Heisman Trophy or league MVP? Nobody exept QB's are evn in the conversation. Before last night they we still talking about Murray as being a contender. I'd be considering Connor before Murray from that team yet he won't even get a mention.

Similarly running backs are made by their lines. Connor couldn't get a yard on 3rd and 1 multiple times for the Steelers last year, now look at how effective he is.

 

[Alan]

About 14 weeks late. Khan is a laughingstock here atm.

 

[Tony Towner]

So not only have I had to sell my tickets for the Eagles game on Sunday, Sky have now changed their 6pm game because Washington have 21 players on the Covid list. Fuck Covid.

 

[Tony Towner]

Screwed over really. Particularly if you look at what they did to Denver last year. On a side note imagine Timmy et al writing this about the PL or PGMOL?

The NFL's postponement of the Eagles-Washington game is straight bulls***

There's no way to sugarcoat it. Goodell is a coward who didn't stick to his clearly communicated preseason operating principals, and the NFL's decision to postpone games is complete and total bulls***.

www.phillyvoice.com

 

[Alan]

Philadelphia media is always good for a potshot or two.

Goodell's whole job at this point is basically just to take bullets like that so the owners don't have to.

 

[Tony Towner]

They'll end up giving it to Brady or Rodgers, but Jonathan Taylor is this years real MVP

 

[Alan]

He's been magnificent. Huge props to Indy's O-Line, as well. The Colts have been quietly playing really well; they won't be under the radar any longer, though.

Gut says we'll see a rematch of last night in the playoffs.

 

[Alan]

Ah, the Kliff Kingsbury I know and loathe is coming back, it seems.

 

[Dire Wolf]

Bucs v Saints:

 

[Tony Towner]

Godwin has an ACL and is out of contract

 

[PuntsWolf]

Nasty hit like that to your knees you’ve got no chance. Amazing how you can’t even breathe on a QB or kicker these days (or even a long snapper!) but receivers can still get absolutely smashed.