NFL 2012

[Nevermore]

I think Atlanta has the worst tackling secondary I've ever seen.

[Paelos]

I think Atlanta has the worst tackling secondary I've ever seen.

Green Bay could give them a run for that title.

[Sjofn]

I don't get hating on the 49ers or the Falcons. I mean, part of why I am rooting for the 49ers this postseason is guilt (they so could've won the Superbowl last year.), and I know that is just my own brain damage, but I don't find them particularly unlikable. Harbaugh is kind of a douche? I guess? Is that it? And the Falcons ... are just kinda there for me. They exist. Much like the Texans.

I fucking hate the Ravens, though, so fuck them. And I always enjoy when the Patriots lose. The Texans are another "they sure do exist" team, so I guess I'm rooting for them!

[Paelos]

I don't hate the niners anymore. The Falcons are just silly.

[Sjofn]

To be fair, even when the 49ers were a DYNASTY or whatever, I only ever actually cared much about them and how they were doing when they were playing against the Giants. Just never bothered to gear up the Sport Hate for them. And yet, I hate the Broncos because they played the Giants in the Superbowl ONCE (and I instantly hated Elway, for some reason). My sport hate is weird.

[Tannhauser]

I like the Falcons.  They were my team growing up (OK the Lions too), but once my state got the Titans I switched over.  The Falcs are all I have left to root for; I actively despise all remaining teams. 

The Falcons are in their prime.  Seattle is on the rise, they'll be back.

[Azuredream]

I'm happy and surprised the Falcons won, they've been shitting the playoff bed the last few years. I think they'll get pasted in the NFC championship game though.

[Paelos]

Is is just me or have we seen some hilariously shitty secondary play in all these games?

[JWIV]

Is is just me or have we seen some hilariously shitty secondary play in all these games?

All season - I think it's a combo of if you think about touching a wide receiver you get a PI flag and nobody knows how to take a proper angle and actually tackle - they all want to jump routes or do shitty arm tackles because it looks cool or something.

[Paelos]

Yeah, and it's amazingly bad in the case of Denver, Seattle, and Atlanta in these last games. The Patriots and Texans are also putting on a clinic of how to fuck up coverages.

[Sjofn]

So how close to the actual snap was the Seahawk time-out when they tried to ice the kicker or whatever? I ask because apparently a certain head coach is whining the Falcon's kicker took a "practice kick" when he called time out.

[K9]

I really thought the Seahawks would take it all the way; it's a shame they're out, they are generally a pretty fun team to watch.

[ghost]

I love that Pete Carroll called a time out (which was quite obvious from reading his lips in the replay) and then bitched about it to the refs.   

[Hoax]

So how close to the actual snap was the Seahawk time-out when they tried to ice the kicker or whatever? I ask because apparently a certain head coach is whining the Falcon's kicker took a "practice kick" when he called time out.

Live it looked to me like it was well after the whistles could be heard on tv. I was annoyed with it.

Fuck Atlanta its a shame Lynch coughed up that fumble in the early going. I liked the 4th down go for it call and Wilson taking a sack was just one of the things you get when you start a rookie qb.

He was bitching because he called the timeout way early and then the kicker took the entire kick. Which means he really shouldn't have called a timeout. Icing is stupid. If you are going to do it make it well before they have lined up.

[HaemishM]

Is is just me or have we seen some hilariously shitty secondary play in all these games?

Secondary play AND special teams. The amount of just shit slap at a guy's shoulder pads with your sissy hands tackles that I've seen out of cornerbacks and safeties this playoffs is crazy. And when the fuck did NFL special teams coaches start teaching their punt returners to try to catch the ball at the 10 yard line? Ross dropped that punt in the Packers game yesterday and I was screaming! Why would you even fucking TRY to catch it? You aren't going to do anything with it that deep. Let it drop and get the fuck away. And then it happened again today and I just don't understand it. That's a cardinal sin.

This has to be the least excited I've been for a set of 4 finals teams in a long time. I can sort of root for the Falcons or the 49ers, but I loathe both the Ravens and the Pats. I'm trying to muster up the give a fuck to even watch the games next weekend.

[Ginaz]

Is is just me or have we seen some hilariously shitty secondary play in all these games?

Secondary play AND special teams. The amount of just shit slap at a guy's shoulder pads with your sissy hands tackles that I've seen out of cornerbacks and safeties this playoffs is crazy. And when the fuck did NFL special teams coaches start teaching their punt returners to try to catch the ball at the 10 yard line? Ross dropped that punt in the Packers game yesterday and I was screaming! Why would you even fucking TRY to catch it? You aren't going to do anything with it that deep. Let it drop and get the fuck away. And then it happened again today and I just don't understand it. That's a cardinal sin.

This has to be the least excited I've been for a set of 4 finals teams in a long time. I can sort of root for the Falcons or the 49ers, but I loathe both the Ravens and the Pats. I'm trying to muster up the give a fuck to even watch the games next weekend.

I think part of the problem is how much importance is placed on the defence creating turnovers.  Defenders, esp. DBs, are more worried about knocking the ball loose or getting an interception than tackling.  Plus, when you have receivers and tight ends that are 6'5/6'6 220-250 running a 4.2, DBs might be a little skittish trying to tackle them.

[HaemishM]

I saw at least 2 or 3 instances of DB's going for the ball punch rather than even bother to tackle in the Falcons' game and the runner got another 10-15 yards out of it. Whoever taught that needs to be slapped. TACKLE THE FUCKING GUY. Just shitty technique. This is the year of shitty tackling all around.

[Paelos]

At this point, the AFC is the Patriots to lose. They really couldn't ask for an easier finals opponent than the Ravens.

The NFC should be a good game. Which means it will probably be completely one-sided the ways these things are going.

[Surlyboi]

I don't care, as long as the fucking pats get wrecked. Tom Brady needs to never win a superbowl again and Bellichick needs to stop dressing like a fucking hobo.

[Cyrrex]

Meh.  It feels to me like, besides the Pats, the better teams all lost this weekend.  And not to other teams that inspire anything in me.

Green Bay lost because for some stupid reason Dom Capers couldn't get it through his idiot head to do something about Kaepernick.  Seattle even fucking showed you how to do it.  He isn't actually that good when you bottle him up and make him stay in the pocket.

Denver lost because of Champ Bailey being waaaay to fucking slow.  And because that Moore character has serious depth perception issues. 

Seattle lost because they kept shooting themselves in the foot.  And then, despite an amazing comeback, they decide to play soft coverage with 30 fucking seconds remaining.  30 seconds really should not be enough time for an NFL team to get in field goal position, but these days it seems the rule rather than the exception.

I think I am going to root for the Pats now.  Because that way, I will be doing something actively evil, and being evil is interesting.  Nothing else about this field is interesting.

[Trippy]

Green Bay lost because for some stupid reason Dom Capers couldn't get it through his idiot head to do something about Kaepernick.  Seattle even fucking showed you how to do it.  He isn't actually that good when you bottle him up and make him stay in the pocket.

The Niners intentionally did not have Kaepernick run much prior to the Green Bay game. What Green Bay saw was not on any game film (unless they wanted to watch his college days). Yes, they should've had somebody spying Kaepernick once they realized what was going on but that's basically a lose-lose situation as that opens up more single coverage for Kaepernick to throw to or more holes for Gore and the other RBs to run through.

[Ingmar]

It helps that Gore finally figured out how to run out of the pistol, too.

[Paelos]

Green Bay lost because for some stupid reason Dom Capers couldn't get it through his idiot head to do something about Kaepernick.  Seattle even fucking showed you how to do it.  He isn't actually that good when you bottle him up and make him stay in the pocket.

The Niners intentionally did not have Kaepernick run much prior to the Green Bay game. What Green Bay saw was not on any game film (unless they wanted to watch his college days). Yes, they should've had somebody spying Kaepernick once they realized what was going on but that's basically a lose-lose situation as that opens up more single coverage for Kaepernick to throw to or more holes for Gore and the other RBs to run through.

They could have pulled the game film from both St. Louis games. He ran 17 times for 150 yards combined with a TD. Capers blew it completely. Even Woodson called him out for it after the game. I think they have to let him go after this, because his defense crashed and burned late in the season. It cost them a bye and a playoff loss, plus everyone was healthy. The Packers should NEVER lose a game where they put up 31 points of offense.

[MrHat]

At first I was 


And then I was 


Get that kid some glasses or something. I don't understand how you miss that angle.

Ah well, big props to the Ravens for really exploiting the speed on their WRs and the Good Flacco for showing up.

[Paelos]

We're all just waiting for the bad Flacco. Vegas thinks it's coming next weekend.

[Bunk]

Oh Green Bay, couldn't have happened to a nicer team. The highlight for me was the slow motion, close-up replay of Clay Matthews spinning around with a "who the fuck has the ball?!?" look on his face during one of the read option plays.

I watched/listened to the first half of the Seattle game before going out, left it recording. I very nearly didn't bother watching the rest.
So much joy at the comeback! So much pain at the end.

[Nebu]

Let's not forget Champ Bailey.  He sure looked like a Pro Bowler this weekend, didn't he? 

[01101010]

I now want the Ravens and Falcons in the SB. It can be the retirement game - T.Gonzo vs Ray 'Murda' Lewis.

That said, it will probably be the 49ers and Pats... to which I will not give a shit in the least.

[Nebu]

I wanted Seattle vs Denver. 

SF is the only team with a shot at beating NE.  You better hope SF wins next week.  If Atlanta wins, NE will DESTROY them in the SB. 

[K9]

Seattle vs Denver would have been a fun match to watch, aye.

[sickrubik]

Blergh. Still feeling a bit stunned about Sunday, but trying to focus on the positive about the season.

There was some pretty shitastic officiating in the Broncos game, but that doesn't excuse the piss-poor secondary play. Especially on that last bomb. Moore seemed to focused on trying to steal the ball instead of preventing HIM from catching the ball.

Also, some bad playcalling at the end of both halves.

[HaemishM]

Capers blew it completely.

This. The scheme never seemed to change, even though it was fucking obvious what was going on. Putting a spy on Kaepernick should have happened after the first quarter at least. So it opens up their receivers? AND? Crabtree and Vernon Davis are the only threats in that offense that MIGHT demand special attention, and quite frankly, I think the Packers D-backs could handle them 1v1. Letting yourself get GASHED for over 300 yards rushing, over 200 of which is from QB scrambles? That's fucking criminal and it's just about all scheme.

[Paelos]

It's almost like they wanted to make sure Kaepernick couldn't beat them through the air. Which is hilarious because he's never thrown for more than 300 yards against anybody. HOWEVER, in two games in December, he had 50 yard runs. They should have taken the reverse approach. Prove you can beat us in the air. The first time they played that coverage it went Pick 6.

The next possession is the one you've got to just roll your eyes about. GB has them stopped, defensive holding call extends it on the 3rd down throw. Next 3rd and 10 play you let Frank Gore beat you for 45 yards on a pass. Not a receiver, mind you. Frank GORE. Then on 3rd and 8 from the 20 you let Colin go 20 yards for a TD. It was a meltdown. All the momentum is on your side. Two sacks, and 3 incompletions in a drive. One completion, one big run, and it's in the end zone the other way.

[ghost]

It's almost like they wanted to make sure Kaepernick couldn't beat them through the air. Which is hilarious because he's never thrown for more than 300 yards against anybody. HOWEVER, in two games in December, he had 50 yard runs. They should have taken the reverse approach. Prove you can beat us in the air. The first time they played that coverage it went Pick 6.

The next possession is the one you've got to just roll your eyes about. GB has them stopped, defensive holding call extends it on the 3rd down throw. Next 3rd and 10 play you let Frank Gore beat you for 45 yards on a pass. Not a receiver, mind you. Frank GORE. Then on 3rd and 8 from the 20 you let Colin go 20 yards for a TD. It was a meltdown. All the momentum is on your side. Two sacks, and 3 incompletions in a drive. One completion, one big run, and it's in the end zone the other way.

Yeah, it's like they were game planning for Joe Montana, not Colin Kaepernick.

[Nebu]

OLB play contain, safeties play over the top, and corners play bump and run from the line = GB win.

I want to be a defensive coordinator in the NFL.  If only I had been a better player....