NFL 2015

[WayAbvPar]

Seahawks look like shit.

See my avatar. Their OC is a moron. Give up a 1st round choice and a Pro Bowl quality center (and easily your best OL in a shaky bunch) for a TE and then only throw at him twice in four quarters? Standard. I am sure some of it is on RW3, but his entire offensive scheme apart from the run option package seems designed to NOT use the talent available where they are most comfortable/useful. See also WR screens to Doug Baldwin (not elusive) instead of Tyler Lockett, throwing an inside slant to the 4th string WR on the biggest play in franchise history, running a delayed handoff from the shotgun on a game deciding 4th and 1 against a DL that has registered to vote in your backfield due to long term residency, etc.

If they don't beat the Bears by 40 I am going to be extremely concerned.

[HaemishM]

Bevell's done this for a while, I agree. Hell, after that first season with Wilson, it looked like they decided to just stop using the read option altogether. I was watching games where he was trying to be a pocket passer and struggling (as much because of their really shitty roster of wideouts as to any faults in his talent) and thinking "Why the hell is he not doing the read option scramble thing?" You saw how effective he was in the 3rd quarter with it. Hell, if you've watched Green Bay against Seattle and San Fran over the last 3-4 years, Green Bay STILL can't defend the read option QB's worth a shit. They did better last night except for the 3rd quarter when they simply couldn't stop RW (see my earlier post about Capers not adjusting after halftime). They finally got it through the ends and outside linebackers heads to keep contain rather than pinning their ears back and sprinting upfield at him but it took a bit. But yeah, Bevell seems intent on NOT doing the things that they are so obviously good at. Maybe he thinks "That's what they expect us to do so we'll surprise them!"

[WayAbvPar]

I think that is exactly what it is. I heard a local reporter talking about a conversation he had with Bevell where he wondered aloud why a play was called, and Bevell smugly asked "So, you were surprised by the play?". So expect to see Marshawn Lynch dropping back to pass against the Bears, since that would indeed be a surprise. And completely retarded.

[Paelos]

Johnny Football has a better passer rating and Y/A than Wilson this year

[WayAbvPar]

Joe Thomas is better than the entire Seattle OL put together, so that has probably helped 

[HaemishM]

Throwing less than 20 passes a game doesn't hurt, either.

[Shannow]

There were like 3 billion penalties in the Pats - Bills game as well.

Considering what's happened to Manning and Brees why is no one accusing Brady of taking PEDs yet?

[Paelos]

Fun fact, this week was the first time that the Bucs, Skins, Browns, Jags, and Raiders have all won on the same week.

Ever.

Coincidently, Vegas had its ass handed to it the week before. I'm sure they made it up this week. Those two probably are not at all related whatsoever.

http://espn.go.com/chalk/story/_/id/13653044/las-vegas-sportsbooks-lose-big-opening-nfl-sunday

[Tannhauser]

My Lions shit the bed again, 0-2.  Meanwhile the Dirty Birds are 2-0?  Does not compute.  Mariota comes down to earth, beaten by His Right Honorable Dr. Johnny Football.  Interesting week.

[Mithas]

Jet's 2-0, Colts 0-2. What world am I living in?

[Cyrrex]

Another thing about Bevell and that whole Seattle offense...for at least three quarters in a game, it is extremely predictable.  And I don't mean predictable as in "they are going to run a lot", but predictable in that almost every offensive play starts around the line of scrimmage.  First down, let's through a bubble screen.  Second down, handoff to Lynch.  Third down, maybe we hand it off again by God, or pass to Baldwin/Lynch/NotGraham 1 yard past the line of scrimmage.  It is super easy to defend, because you can just cheat everyone into the box and gang tackle whoever gets the ball.  That offense only ever opens up when they start letting Wilson run, because then suddenly the defense doesn't know what the fuck is happening and there is far more territory to defend.  They never use this as a constant threat any more, they only open it up in panic situations.  And then if they get the lead again, they are likely to stop it again.  Super predictable.

[Paelos]

Seahawks traded for Jimmy Graham so they could put him in a glass cube apparently.

[Malakili]

On the broadcast one of the announcers was saying that Graham had recently commented that Brees would tell him exactly where to go and get him the ball and he isn't as used to the scramble style of Wilson yet and finding his way open in longer players.  I wonder if that has something to do with it.  Either way, I  blame Russel Wilson.

[Paelos]

On the broadcast one of the announcers was saying that Graham had recently commented that Brees would tell him exactly where to go and get him the ball and he isn't as used to the scramble style of Wilson yet and finding his way open in longer players.  I wonder if that has something to do with it.  Either way, I  blame Russel Wilson.

That's called Jimmy being used to an actual NFL quarterback.

[01101010]

Joe Thomas is getting old now. But Mack, Thomas, and Bitonio are a great core, and they should not be as bad as they have been looking. That is part Johnny being too squirrelly, and part not having an offensive coordinator.

Of course they looked horrible against the jets, but that might be because the jets look insanely good on def this year. They embarrassed my Browns and Indy last night.

I hope manziel gets 6-8 games, shows he is ineffective, and the browns move on. I don't trust him long term.

[HaemishM]

Long term, short term, I'm not sure there's a difference with Johnny Football.

I watched that terrible Colts/Jets games last night. Ok, NFL coaches and especially GM's who want to win? Here's your first fucking tip. GET GOOD OFFENSIVE LINEMAN. Holy fuck. This is goddamn football 101. That franchise QB you insist on paying upwards of $100 million? Trust me, he won't be worth 100 cents if he's constantly picking grass out of his fucking teeth. Watching Andrew Luck try to pass with both the defensive line and his own offensive lineman trying to slow dance with him in the pocket was fucking painful. Seeing Frank Gore dancing around in his backfield looking for holes that just aren't there was also painful. I realize scouting good O lineman is tough but fuck's sake, if your franchise saving QB goes down week 3 with an injury because you're a dickhead that can't protect him? You are a fucktard and you will lose your job for it. Luck was literally forced to try to win the game on his own last night and he suffered badly for it. OTOH, the Jets defense looks really fucking good. Their offense has moments of competence with Fitzgerald at QB, though you know he's going to throw a lot of picks at some point. I'm not sure Ivory is the right running back for this system but on the whole, the system is a fuckton of improvement over Rex Ryan's shitty offense, and a fuckton better than having Geno Smith at QB. I don't expect them to be an easy out at any time this season, not even against New England. Yes, the Pats will win that division, but I can't say that the 3 other teams in the division won't cause some people problems and one of them may make the playoffs. All of them have good defenses with New England's being the weakest of the bunch - but of course, the Pats have Brady and the power of rampant cheating on their side.

And FUCK YOU NFL. Your games are become borderline unwatchable with the shitton of penalties that are getting called. So many Mickey Mouse penalties that completely break the flow of watching the game without improving it one fucking bit.

[Paelos]

The QB gulf is widening so fast it's going to become a have and have-not league in the next 3 years.

If you have a QB that can read a defense and make changes at the line while going down the field? You are in the playoffs or at the very least contending. If not? You're DOA.

[HaemishM]

I would agree with you except that Andrew Luck IS that kind of QB and he's getting fucking killed out there for lack of blocking. A-Aron didn't win a Super Bowl until his offensive line started gelling AND they got a defense that was capable of shutting people down.

But yeah, if you don't even have a good QB? For-fucking-get about it. And it's becoming clear that the number of good, much less great, QB's is dwindling FAST.

[Paelos]

I'd say the list of functional QBs that can get you to the playoffs without a stellar defense:

Aaron Rodgers
Drew Brees
Tom Brady
Matt Ryan
Tony Romo
Joe Flacco
Andrew Luck
Matt Stafford
Big Ben
Andy Dalton
Carson Palmer
Phillip Rivers


I think that's about it. The rest of them? They'll need a great defensive effort or they are boned.

[WayAbvPar]

Dalton. Stafford, and Palmer have no business on that list (Palmer would have been 10 years ago). Brees is dicey any more as well, although that is probably more a reflection of his craptastic team than anything.

[HaemishM]

I actually agree with that list, so long as it's "get you TO the playoffs." I'd also add Manning even though is arm looks like overcooked pasta these days. The list of who can WIN in the playoffs is obviously much shorter. And as far as the list of who can win you the Super Bowl without a stellar defense, it's 2 - Rodgers and Brady.

[sickrubik]

From someone who actively watches the Broncos games.... Manning's arm looks like it did the last couple of years.

The difference is the system. He's not at all comfortable under center. Look at what happened when they switched things up and went to the Shotgun and let him audible and do his thing.

Don't get me wrong, he has declined. Dude's up there in years. But the difference from last year to this isn't that big.

Oh, and an O-Line that leaking like a sieve this year.

[Paelos]

I actually agree with that list, so long as it's "get you TO the playoffs." I'd also add Manning even though is arm looks like overcooked pasta these days. The list of who can WIN in the playoffs is obviously much shorter. And as far as the list of who can win you the Super Bowl without a stellar defense, it's 2 - Rodgers and Brady.

Yeah I don't mean WIN in the playoffs. I mean they can function enough to put you in the post-season. From there, it's an extremely short list of QBs that can win in the playoffs without a great defense.

I would have said Peyton as well two years ago. Now I don't think he can do it anymore without some serious help.

[WayAbvPar]

This is worth a look/read* Way too funny. Sometimes the Internet doesn't suck.


*May require SomethingAwful account to view...not sure how the permissions work and I am too lazy to rehost and post all of that shit.

[HaemishM]

Those are pretty goddamn funny.

[Surlyboi]

Fitzmagic. Fuck yeah.

[HaemishM]

So wait, the Cowboys worked out Matt Flynn but instead of signing a street free agent backup, they decided to trade for Matt Cassel? I mean, yeah they basically gave up a nothing pick (5th rounder) for Cassel and a 7th round in the same draft but... MATT CASSEL? What in the last 4 or 5 years makes you think he's worth even giving up a compensatory pick for? It's not like you don't already have a shitty failed QB in Weedon.

[Paelos]

So wait, the Cowboys worked out Matt Flynn but instead of signing a street free agent backup, they decided to trade for Matt Cassel? I mean, yeah they basically gave up a nothing pick (5th rounder) for Cassel and a 7th round in the same draft but... MATT CASSEL? What in the last 4 or 5 years makes you think he's worth even giving up a compensatory pick for? It's not like you don't already have a shitty failed QB in Weedon.

I think the world realizes Matt Flynn is garbage. Just like Tebow.

Cassel can get you to .500 while Romo is out. That's all they want. He did it in 2013 when he was pressed into service, and he had a good game against the Rams until NE blew his doors off with 4 picks. Assuming Romo is out for 8 weeks, and including the bye week, the Cowboys have to manage 7 more games. If they go 3-4, that's a win. It still has them 5-4 with Romo coming back in time for the Dolphins.

The teams in that 7 game stretch are the Falcons, Saints, Pats, Giants, Seahawks, Eagles, and Bucs. They should get their asses kicked by the Seahawks and Pats, so let's just write those off. The Bucs and the Saints are just as big of a disaster as the Cowboys, so I think they can win those games even with a shitty QB. That leaves one swing game to get with the Eagles, Giants, and Falcons. In that order of likelihood.

[WayAbvPar]

Kam back with the Seahawks. They probably didn't need him to beat the Bears this weekend, but that is a nice safe landing spot for him. Hope he helps unfuck whatever is ailing them.

[K9]

Given that we have exactly 0 WRs with Jeffrey, Wilson, White, and Royal all potentially out, I'm not sure what he'll spend his time doing all game.

[Cyrrex]

With any luck, smashing Forte and Bennett. 

Is Cutler even playing?  I was thinking it would be nice with a few picks on Sunday.

[K9]

Looks like Clausen will be getting the start

[HaemishM]

Yeah, Clausen is starting for at least 2 weeks I think, since Jay sprained his vagina.

The Bears may actually be in line for a #1 draft pick next season.

[Bunk]

Yeah, my poor, poor Bears.

Sadly, I would have done better in my pool last week had I played Cutler (8 of 9 before the aforementioned spraining)

I actually felt kind of good about how the Bear defense looked against Greenbay because they gave up less than 42. Baby steps!

[HaemishM]

I actually felt kind of good about how the Bear defense looked against Greenbay because they gave up less than 42. Baby steps!

That's probably the name of at least one Bears' defensive package.