NFL 2011

[Rasix]

So much for pinning all of your hopes on Carson Palmer.

[Draegan]

One linebacker "spies" on the QB (or another player). Essentially they follow the QB with their eyes until they see what the QB is going to do - will he run (if so, go hit the motherfucker in the jaw) or will he pass (go back in coverage or try to tackle the guy catching the ball) or will he hand the ball off (go tackle the running back). Teams use a spy against someone like Cam Newton or Michael Vick to try to shut down the scramble/run/option part of the equation. Against a guy like Brady or Manning, you don't need one because if that QB is running, your pass rush and/or coverage has done it's job and he likely won't be able to hurt you too bad running the ball.

A spy is also used to cover all purpose yardage guys llike a Sproles or how Brian Westbrook was.  Essentially any player on the field that has a high probability to touch the ball every play which is most often an athletic QB or a RB that can catch (split out) and run.

[Ingmar]

They need a time machine so they can go back and fire him before he trades for Carson Palmer.

[Draegan]

Not really. As I understand it, a linebacker's job is either 1) blitz the QB, 2) move back into coverage, either by covering a specific area of the field (zone coverage) or covering a specific man (man-to-man coverage - this is usually the RB or a TE, but can be a wideout in the slot), 3) fill a gap on the offensive line to keep a running back from busting through a hole. They generally aren't meant to watch the QB except as it relates to pass coverage or blitzing. This is why running QB's can be so dangerous in the NFL - there's nobody really assigned to stop them other than blitzing them and running QB's are very good at evading the pass rush and breaking open 10-20 yard runs. They just aren't usually great passers (see Tim Tebow).

Just to expand on this:

In a traditional 4-3 defense (four defensive linemen, three linebackers) you have three linebackers that are nicknamed WILL (weakside), MIKE (middle), and SAM (strongside).  

The weakside linebacker will typically always line up away from the TE where the strongside will cover the other.  On running downs, the Linebacker's job is to cover the edges to contain on a run play, and in a zone defense sit back in the the zone to disrupt passing lanes in short slants, hooks or curls.  

There are some other newer changes to the NFL with faster offenses where you will have nickel LBs.  Essentially on passing downs you'll either put in a 3rd Safety and have two linebackers, or you'll change out your SAM linebacker for a quicker, more athletic LB to cover TE's or RB's that might go out in a passing route.

The SAM linebacker is usually the guy who calls the defensive plays and is responsible for alignment.  They are responsible for shooting the A and B gaps (A Gap = the hole between the center and guard, and the B gap is the hole between the guard and the tackle) on running downs.  But sometimes they are asked to drop back into pass coverage as well.

Linebackers are very versatile players and must be very athletic.  

In a 3-4 scheme where you have 4 LBs you run on the same principles, but alignment shifts.  You'll most likely see slanting D-Lines to fill both gaps (you might hear how Vince Wilfork of NE is one of the best 2-gap DLinement in the league because he can fill both A gaps as the nose tackle)  Usually the two linebackers on the strong side might line up on the line like a defensive linemen to rush the QB.  Sometimes you can bring both outside linesbacker in for a blitz.

Hope that makes a bit of sense!

[Fordel]

What is a 'Strong side' and 'Weak side'.


I'm not being a shit, I seriously don't know what that means.

[Sjofn]

Well I predict that next year it will be the default, after Tebow wins the super bowl with a drop kick. 

I thought the drop kick was no longer allowed in American football.

It's still allowed, it's just no one does it because it's way more trouble than it is worth, especially with how the ball has evolved.

[JWIV]

What is a 'Strong side' and 'Weak side'.


I'm not being a shit, I seriously don't know what that means.

Whatever side has more people on it, counting from the center.  The easy way to tell is in a single tight end set, which side is the tight end on.

[Chimpy]

What is a 'Strong side' and 'Weak side'.


I'm not being a shit, I seriously don't know what that means.

Whatever side has more people on it, counting from the center.  The easy way to tell is in a single tight end set, which side is the tight end on.

Mostly this, though it is a little more nuanced when the team goes with a balanced set (ie a wishbone). In that case the strong side is usually on the side opposite the qb's throwing arm because that is usually the side that gets extra blocking support due to "oh hi, blindside!"

[Draegan]

What is a 'Strong side' and 'Weak side'.


I'm not being a shit, I seriously don't know what that means.

Read my post again, I explain it.  The strong side is usually the side of the line where the TE lines up.  The weakside is the opposite.  If it's a two TE formation then you're usually in max protect or goal line and then the configuration will probably changed.  But if you have two TE's and not in either of the former formations, the SAM backer will typically cover the more athletic TE, or the more dangerous pass runner.

[HaemishM]

Jaguars Hire Mike Mularkey as Head Coach

What the...? Why? The Falcons offense was a bit of terrible this year, taking a step back from the previous year's offensive stats (more yards per game, but less points). In most of their losses, they looked terribad, especially the playoffs. And they haven't won a playoff game with him as O-coordinator yet. His previous stint as head coach in Buffalo was mostly a disaster. I guess since it's probably the least desirable job in the NFL right now, he was all they could get?

[sickrubik]

Jaguars Hire Mike Mularkey as Head Coach

Goodness... great clipping there on the floating head, ESPN.

[Paelos]

Pretty standard knowledge here in Atlanta that both coordinators were told after the Saints game where they got skullfucked that the coaches should look for other jobs. Basically, they were given free reign to find a soft landing.

Did that have an effect on how the Falcons played in the playoffs? Seems more than likely it did.

[Chimpy]

Jaguars Hire Mike Mularkey as Head Coach

What the...? Why? The Falcons offense was a bit of terrible this year, taking a step back from the previous year's offensive stats (more yards per game, but less points). In most of their losses, they looked terribad, especially the playoffs. And they haven't won a playoff game with him as O-coordinator yet. His previous stint as head coach in Buffalo was mostly a disaster. I guess since it's probably the least desirable job in the NFL right now, he was all they could get?

Shahid Khan wants to make sure the team is in the best position to win the "move to LA" lottery.

[shiznitz]

Pretty standard knowledge here in Atlanta that both coordinators were told after the Saints game where they got skullfucked that the coaches should look for other jobs. Basically, they were given free reign to find a soft landing.

Did that have an effect on how the Falcons played in the playoffs? Seems more than likely it did.

One would think that if you were a coach about to be jobless, you would want the last few games you coached - especially playoff games - to be good.  Or else the NFL coaching pool is so small, one's actual success doesn't matter so much since there just aren't a lot of guys to pick from.

[Paelos]

They were already hired by the playoffs. The contracts were signed. The jobs were literally announced two days after the Falcons fucked up.

[Cyrrex]

Isn't he the guy with the giant pornstache?

[K9]

http://www.manningface.com/

[ghost]

Eli must have gotten more of mom's genetics because he's a heck of a lot better looking guy than his dad or brother. 

[Sjofn]

You really think so? I'd put them both in the same "big, doofy white guy" category. Which isn't necessarily bad, I just think Peyton and Eli look enough alike that it's not even worth considering who is better looking.

Eli has a better "grr, angry puppy!" face, though.

[ghost]

Nah.  Part of my job is to judge facial esthetics.  Eli may not be a great looking guy, but he's a helluva lot better looking than his brother. 

[Ingmar]

Dear diary...

[RhyssaFireheart]

It's the nose and hairline.  Eli's are both better than Peyton's.

That Manning Face site is pretty funny though.

[01101010]

Yeah, the bridge of the nose and hairline are definitely it. That said, Peyton looks like a football player out of the 40s and 50s.

[ghost]

Peyton's nose looks like it has been broken about 50 times.

[WayAbvPar]

http://boston.barstoolsports.com/m/random-thoughts/could-tim-tebow-really-just-be-the-antichrist/

I knew it!

[Ingmar]

This is awesome so far. 

[Velorath]

The Niners always make me too nervous to actually enjoy a game while it's being played.

[Paelos]

STOP THROWING THE BALL NINERS, FUCK! 

[Ingmar]

Jesus Christ Crabtree, your job is to *catch* the ball.

[Paelos]

This is the dumbest playcalling I've seen by a team with a lead I've seen so far in this playoffs.

[Malakili]

This is the dumbest playcalling I've seen by a team with a lead I've seen so far in this playoffs.

Ill admit I haven't seen many niners games this year, but isn't their big strength supposed to be running and setting up play action?

[Paelos]

Frank Gore is averaging 4 a carry. If you're not pounding them with your running game until they crumble, I don't know WTF the offensive coordinator is thinking.

[Ingmar]

The Saints give up like 5 yards a carry or something too.

EDIT: And what the hell is with these picks?

[Chimpy]

My god. I will say this, who would have expected the saints to only have 32 points when Brees throws 63 passes?

[Tannhauser]

Damn, why O why aren't they showing the Niners game here?  I'm following it on nfl.com and it is EPIC.