NFL 2010

[TwinkieGorilla]

How the fuck does that team lead the NFC North?

Sometimes plain dumb fucking luck wins out. The Bears have been winning in the exact same way the Lions have been losing. That, and the fact the Packers are as healthy as an AIDS patient. And it just. keeps. coming.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...might-miss-rest-of-season?module=HP_headlines

 

[Sander]

Yeah, so it didn't differ from what they usually do, so how is it suddenly good "snow gameplanning"? It's a term that didn't exist until yesterday, that lazy columnists use because they underrate how bad a coach Lovie Smith is.

Either it's specifically gameplanning for snow games, or it's that your gameplan is better fit to work in the snow.

You did the same thing last year against the Titans if I recall correctly.

This is still more lack of any signs of life on the part of the Bears in planning or execution that the Patriots deserving of any credit.
They spread em out and hit the underneath shit to the slot, TE and RB. Is that a big secret, do they not watch film?
How the fuck does that team lead the NFC North?

Bears defense has been very good for the rest of the year, really.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

Sometimes plain dumb fucking luck wins out. The Bears have been winning in the exact same way the Lions have been losing. That, and the fact the Packers are as healthy as an AIDS patient. And it just. keeps. coming

Yeah, right before the Patriots game, what a fuckin' tragedy. Hope you like your blowouts served cold. You had a puncher's chance with Rodgers against the Pat's secondary, but Flynn is going to get himself an education next week.
Hope your snow gameplanning is up to snuff.

The Bears really blow my mind though, going back to the whole Rex Grossman fiasco. Rex Grossman is a one man blooper reel.

Either it's specifically gameplanning for snow games, or it's that your gameplan is better fit to work in the snow.

You did the same thing last year against the Titans if I recall correctly.

Dude, I don't want to beat a dead horse, but where's the difference in their regular gameplan and snow gameplan? How did this gameplan (with snow) differ from the Pittsburgh (no snow) gameplan, or NYJ? There is no difference, just superficial columnists.

The Titans laid down like the Bears did, and refused to play any kind of competitive football (so did the '08 Cards losing 47-7 in the snow to Cassel). The Patriots weren't 59-0 good then, and they aren't '33 points to 33 yards in a half of football' good either. This defense needs as many reps as they can get from a competitive, competent team, and they are being robbed.

Bears defense has been very good for the rest of the year, really.

So hadn't the Steelers, Jets, Ravens and Chargers before Brady cornholed them. You got to scheme better than vanilla cover-2 to stop Brady and his retread smurfs.

 

[Sander]

Dude, I don't want to beat a dead horse, but where's the difference in their regular gameplan and snow gameplan? How did this gameplan (with snow) differ from the Pittsburgh (no snow) gameplan, or NYJ? There is no difference, just superficial columnists.

The Titans laid down like the Bears did, and refused to play any kind of competitive football (so did the '08 Cards losing 47-7 in the snow to Cassel). The Patriots weren't 59-0 good then, and they aren't '33 points to 33 yards in a half of football' good either. This defense needs as many reps as they can get from a competitive, competent team, and they are being robbed.

And again: missing the point. I don't care why your gameplan was better fit for the snow circumstances, just that it was. Which has very little to do with Brady being excellent, and more with, well, the gameplan. The laying down, not putting up a fight is nonsense. It's tough to play in the snow, and the Pats are simply a lot better at it than other teams. And once you go down 2 scores in the snow, you're fucked.


Sal Alosi, the Jets coach who tripped up Nolan Carroll yesterday, has been suspended for the rest of the season including playoffs without pay. Seems fair.

So hadn't the Steelers, Jets, Ravens and Chargers before Brady cornholed them. You got to scheme better than vanilla cover-2 to stop Brady and his retread smurfs.

Actually, well-executed Tampa 2 should be perfect against that gameplan. Give Brady the underneath stuff, then rally and make the tackle. Too bad that last part is really freaking hard in the snow, and your O-line's too good to get a consistent pass rush.

Still, Pats offense has been really good this season. Football Outsiders even thinks it's on par with the '07 offense.

 

[TwinkieGorilla]

You had a puncher's chance with Rodgers against the Pat's secondary, but Flynn is going to get himself an education next week.

If Rodgers isn't starting I doubt I'll even turn the game on. No point, really.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

And again: missing the point. I don't care why your gameplan was better fit for the snow circumstances, just that it was.

If it's accidentally good in snow, then I don't see why you should get credit for superior situational planning. Lazy writers would rather go with the superficial, obvious analysis though.

The laying down, not putting up a fight is nonsense.

The Bears really suck then.

It's tough to play in the snow, and the Pats are simply a lot better at it than other teams. And once you go down 2 scores in the snow, you're fucked.

So why not give up and let it end quick like the Bears, right?


This Favre shit is too much:
http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/fan_store/product_e7a41674c1fe/
The game hasn't even started yet and he's selling signed start streak balls for $500?

Then one of those Mike & Mike douches doing 5 minute updates on him not starting a la the SNL "Buckwheat Has Been Shot" Reagan assassination coverage spoof.

 

[Sander]

If it's accidentally good in snow, then I don't see why you should get credit for superior situational planning. Lazy writers would rather go with the superficial, obvious analysis though.

Belichick should get credit for situational planning every game, since he's really really good at it.

I have the book "Games That Changed the Game" here, which is a really good read. Takes 7 games throughout NFL history to showcase key strategic changes. Well-written, and interesting. Belichick's gameplan against the Rams in the Super Bowl is the last one they focus on.

This Favre shit is too much:
http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/fan_store/product_e7a41674c1fe/
The game hasn't even started yet and he's selling signed start streak balls for $500?

Then one of those Mike & Mike douches doing 5 minute updates on him not starting a la the SNL "Buckwheat Has Been Shot" Reagan assassination coverage spoof.

Eh, don't care.

Though anyone who shells out that much money for a ball with some printed text on it is an idiot.

At least the Vikings have a better chance of beating the Giants with Tarvaris Jackson starting than without him. Decent chance they actually keep him as the starter for next year. Not the worst starting QB around.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

Belichick should get credit for situational planning every game, since he's really really good at it.

Is there anyone better? I just didn't see any snow specific adjustments that he's getting credit for.

It's one thing to notice that the snow effected one team more than another. It's lazy to buy into the Belichik myth that he's gameplanning when everyone else is sleeping. Or maybe Lovie was. But that's on Lovie, not BB.

That book sounds great, but we're talking 9 years ago, the cat is out of the bag.

 

[Sander]

Is there anyone better? I just didn't see any snow specific adjustments that he's getting credit for.

It's one thing to notice that the snow effected one team more than another. It's lazy to buy into the Belichik myth that he's gameplanning when everyone else is sleeping. Or maybe Lovie was. But that's on Lovie, not BB.

Sure. I haven't been paying a lot of attention to Pats games recently so couldn't really tell if this was different than the usual gameplan.

That book sounds great, but we're talking 9 years ago, the cat is out of the bag.

The book is a historical overview into how the strategic evolution of the NFL happened, not an insight into what's strategically new right now. It starts way back in the '60s with Sid Gillman's offense, moves through Cover-2, Kellen Winslow as a flex TE within Air Coryell, WCO, Buddy's 46, Lebeau's Zone Blitz and then Belichick's gameplan (which was basically taking Marshall Faulk out of the game).

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

I'm guessing the Ty Law pick-6 and the walk-off scoring drive were part of the plan too.

edit:
Ravens D is slipping, all those unanswered points to force OT?

 

[UniversalWolf]

The Bears really suck then.

This.

They're the same team that got soundly beaten by the Seahawks. What happened last weekend is what's going to happen to them should they get into the playoffs. This Bears team reminds me of the Packers from 7 or 8 years ago when Mike Sherman was the coach and they went 12-4 by sheer luck. Week after week they would have everything fall in their favor and eek out close wins, but in the four games they lost they got blown out. They had a bye week and then got destroyed by Atlanta at Lambeau in their first playoff game because they were a 7-9 team masquerading as a 12-4 team.


Have fun with your scrimmage against the residue of the Packers if Rodgers doesn't play. I'll be gearing up for the Rose Bowl.

If Favre's not going to play, Joe Webb should start the last three games for the Vikings, not TarJax.

Hope you made some good money. "Hard Snow" that's a midwestern euphemism for when the dunes freeze forming a Great Barrier Reef of icy, coral like nastiness?

What am I, Mr. Plow? The six hours was plowing out my parents' driveway with an old International farm tractor. For a "normal" winter storm of 6-8 inches it's probably a two-hour job.

To give you an idea what this blizzard has been like, the storm itself only took place all day Saturday. It's Tuesday now and there are still school closings because not all the roads have been cleared because the city and county plows, which are basically dump-trucks with gigantic blades on the front, haven't been able to get through some places.

By "hard snow" I mean snow with the consistency of sandstone. If you try and dig in it with a shovel, a big solid chunk breaks off. And there's so much of it there isn't any space to pile it all up even if you can plow it. It's taking people several hours just to dig their cars out. When the snow was falling, the temperature was hovering right around freezing so it was still slightly wet. It drifted as it fell and then the temperature sank way down below zero so it solidified in that position.

I can't wait to see how much more we get Wednesday night.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

I might be wrong, but I think this is Rodgers' 2nd KO, and with all the new safety precautions, even if he is OK, I kind of have the feeling that he'll be held back anyway. I think there are mandatory sentences, errr guidelines on how much recovery time they need - due to KOs happening in bunches. I don't see anyone reporting on this and I'm too lazy to find out anyway, so FWIW.

What's with Rodgers and the imaginary belt thing? Now he bestows it upon others. Is this some kind of Ric Flair homage I don't know about?


Giants looking ready for winter with that ground game. Nice of Eli to get his two INTs out of the way early last night. Not that I got to see it. Man, who's dissappeared into obscurity more than umm, forgot his name with the mullet, oh yeah Jared Allen?

 

[Sander]

I might be wrong, but I think this is Rodgers' 2nd KO, and with all the new safety precautions, even if he is OK, I kind of have the feeling that he'll be held back anyway. I think there are mandatory sentences, errr guidelines on how much recovery time they need - due to KOs happening in bunches. I don't see anyone reporting on this and I'm too lazy to find out anyway, so FWIW.

Nope. If he passes the concussion tests, he can play. They may keep him back for his safety, but with the Packers in the middle of the playoff hunt I doubt it.

Anyway, he may not be able to pass the concussion test. I think they're doing it on Thursday, so we'll know then I guess.

Giants looking ready for winter with that ground game. Nice of Eli to get his two INTs out of the way early last night. Not that I got to see it. Man, who's dissappeared into obscurity more than umm, forgot his name with the mullet, oh yeah Jared Allen?

That's what happens when you cut it off.

 

[TwinkieGorilla]

What's with Rodgers and the imaginary belt thing?

I've taken some heat about my celebration dance, the belt and the other dumb things I've done and my brother and I laugh about those because that started on the basketball court, playing basketball with him. That started messing around in open gyms, messing around playing flag football with some buddies. It's just the fun and the love of the game coming out with wacky celebrations. I just hope those are just never misrepresented that I am trying to draw attention my myself. That started on the scout team with Ruvell Martin, after he scored a touchdown, to make that so fun that the guys looked forward to that every day.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

As long as he's not pretending like he's ever won anything of consequence...j/k Rodgers is cool. McCarthy, not so much.

I hope Rodgers plays, Patriot's secondary needs all the quality edjumacationing they can get. Got to keep that learning curve pointing upwards, haven't seen where McCourty et al are going to plateau. Hope these rookies are ready for a long season, kind of tough when you're used to playing a 12 game season.


So, McNabb potentially getting benched for the 4th Stooge. Shemp Grossman.
If Rex Grossman is on your roster, you are a complete and utter failure as a GM, end of story. Starting him as your QB is like giving Mr. Magoo the keys to a schoolbus. I really cannot fathom how he is still employed in the NFL. How does he, in good conscious cash his paycheck?
I'd rather have drunk/stoned Namath strug-a-ling at his age and non-existent knees than Rex Grossman on his best day.
At a certain point, hey some guys aren't NFL QB material, it's OK, but who the fuck keeps hiring this guy, and allowing him to actually take snaps in an actual NFL game? He's like the Dan Quayle of QBs, if he just stands there with a clipboard he can't do any damage, you just need to hope and pray that numero uno never goes down. What a disaster, the McNabb trade ugh, Shanahan demonstrating exactly why the Cowhers, Grudens and Billicks of the world should take their time until the right circumstances are there to come back to coaching.

And Cowher, really, he's not the second coming of Lombardi, neither is Gruden. He's very far removed from being the fiery young coach he made his rep as. And Gruden, people are quick to forget that coaches get fired for a reason. He's a few games away from being a .500 lifetime coach.

edit:
Cris Carter: Randy Moss “full of regret” he’s not a Patriot
Somebody get this guy a fucking therapist. I've never seen a HOFer commit career suicide like this fucking slug (well, OJ, but his career was done). Look in the mirror asshole if you're wondering why your career is going to end like a dumpster fire.

This fucking Moss guy, dumping him has the potential to rival the Mo Lewis hit that ended Drew Bledsoe's career in Foxboro and started the whole Brady/Patriots dynasty. It's that big a move I think. I've never seen a team make a move like that mid-season, revamp their offensive approach, and lead the league!
Open the top? Randy, in 2010 it looks like you were the albatross dragging them down.

And Chris Carter needs to go away, he did nothing but shill and apologize for his boy for months. He looks like an even bigger a-hole for slagging Branch, Welker and the Pats offense for biting Randy's nuts.
Fuck Randy Moss, he deserves all the grief he has coming to him. And fuck Chris Carter too, I liked him better when he wasn't sober.

 

[UniversalWolf]

McCarthy, not so much.

I love McCarthy's uncoolness. He's got even less personality than Hoodie, because Hoodie has the hoodie, and that's his trademark. McCarthy has nothing. He's so incredibly bland and emotionally monotone I wonder whether he works on it.

I'm intrigued to see this MNF game at the Gophers new stadium. Should be nice and cold.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

McCarthy, not so much.

I love McCarthy's uncoolness. He's got even less personality than Hoodie, because Hoodie has the hoodie, and that's his trademark. McCarthy has nothing. He's so incredibly bland and emotionally monotone I wonder whether he works on it.

Isn't that the way it should be though? From a totally pragmatic sense, skills like diplomacy, media relations, and general ass-grabbery do not contribute to winning football games, and really should be low on a coach's list of priorities. Giving reporters good sound bites, or feeding them nice storiez shouldn't be part of the job.

Just look at the shitstorm surrounding the Jets right now, they should have just zipped it up and let this thing pass over, as it is this whole "trip-gate" thing won't die. Far be it from the Florio's of the world to stir shit up when there's no substance. The Jets really don't need their coaches wringing their hands over this shit at a pretty critical point in their season.
Same old Jets. Meltdown was right on schedule.


Congrats to your Badgers, I fucking hate it when the BCS pairs up two spoilers like that though. Bullshit. Like they did with TCU/Boise last year. (TCU now joining the Big East as a totally transparent whore move ). They don't want any spoilers crashing their party so they make them eliminate each other. If you win - so what, you only beat TCU, if you lose - ha ha, we knew it, this proves you weren't good enough.
Could there possibly be a sleazier ending to sports outside of boxing?
I just love when the little guys run the table the best they can to create havoc and make these BCS assholes look bad.
Why does every other level of college have playoffs?

I'm watching Delware and UNH in the D IAA semi-finals last week (nice game incidentally). LAST WEEK! IAA Finals are this weekend I guess and Div. I bowl season hasn't even started! They don't give a shit about these kids, they just want to shoehorn in as many games as they can between the Holidays when everybody has time and money to spend on these shams.

And then there's the co-champions they've had. Just dump all that data into Deep Blue and let the friggin computer decide if you're not going to have a playoff, the rest of it is just a masquerade. Dog and pony show to milk alumni/fans/boosters.

 

[Brother None]

I heard/read this a few places, this is lazy analysis. How specifically does/did the Patriots gameplan for the snow differ from others?

C'mon now brah. The moment Sander told me the Chicago-Pats game was in the snow I said "Blowout for the Pats then". Who do you want gameplanning in the snow, Bill or Mike friggin' Martz?

And Chris Carter needs to go away

I've generally liked him as a pundit, but he tends to go odd in the head when talking WRs.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

Rex Grossman getting the nod over McNabb. Don't even have announcers for that game, just play the Benny Hill theme music on a loop.

Can you see McNabb in purple next year?

C'mon now brah. The moment Sander told me the Chicago-Pats game was in the snow I said "Blowout for the Pats then". Who do you want gameplanning in the snow, Bill or Mike friggin' Martz?

I had the same feeling when I saw flurries before the Jets game too. But is that because of superior X's and O's? I mean, if you beat Denver in Denver, is that inherently a display of good "high altitude" gameplanning? Not really.

I don't think the Patriots did anything special except, hold onto your chair, actually practice outside to get acclimated to the weather from time to time. I know, shocking.
Is Denver good at high altitude gameplanning, or do they just have the edge because they live up in the thin air and are acclimated to it, where visitors are not?

Or if there is an advantage to be gained by snow gameplanning, OK media, do you homework, where was it? I heard a comment from one Bear that he felt the 3-4 was better suited due to it's less aggressive, stand up approach by D-lineman, so they don't need great footing, heavy cuts etc. While that could be an excuse too, at least this guy is taking that next step to explain how the defense might have taken advantage of the snow where another struggled more with it. When the media just throws out "snow gameplanning" I think they are just grabbing it because on the most superficial level, that's the easiest angle. You look at games like that and say "holy shit look at all that snow, how do they play in it?" to the eye test the snow seems totally insurmountable and overwhelming to accomplishing anything offensively. But if you watch the actual gameplan itself, it's the same post-Moss strategy they are using against the Steelers and Jets with great success.

It's kind of like these cliches like "momentum", "establish the running game" and my favorite the "Trap Game" (Open the Traps! I envision that scene from Gladiator where the Colosseum floor opens up and tigers jump out).

It's lazy journalism to throw terms like that out w/o an underlying knowledge of whether they gameplanned for it and how they gave them an advantage.

Lazy media or non-demanding readership? Chicken or egg?

I've generally liked him as a pundit, but he tends to go odd in the head when talking WRs.

The problem is he has no objectivity, especially when dealing with his buddy Moss. His criticism (he wasn't alone) that Welker would disappear w/o mighty Moss drawing double, and that Deion Branch will fade is a pretty tough sell at this point.

The thing guys like Carter and Moss will never understand - for all their talent, all their physical gifts - none of that means shit if you don't run good routes, don't hustle, are a shitty teammate, and won't subside your ego to carry out a gameplan which might use you as a decoy for the greater good of the team. Deion Branch has none of the physical gifts they had, but he's clutch as a mofo because he's smart, run good routes, and is a good, coachable teammate who does what his betters ask him to do.

edit:
mild lulz from Danny Woodhead
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[UniversalWolf]

McCarthy, not so much.

I love McCarthy's uncoolness. He's got even less personality than Hoodie, because Hoodie has the hoodie, and that's his trademark. McCarthy has nothing. He's so incredibly bland and emotionally monotone I wonder whether he works on it.

Isn't that the way it should be though?

Yeah, absolutely. No matter what happens tonight, his post-game presser will be a snoozer.

Congrats to your Badgers, I fucking hate it when the BCS pairs up two spoilers like that though.

I don't know much about TCU except that they have a good defense. No offense to the Horned Frogs, but I would have preferred Stanford just because the Rose Bowl should always be a Big Ten vs. Pac-10 matchup. Still, it should be a good game.

If you need a point of interest about the Badgers, one of their starting WRs is Nick Toon, son of Al Toon (who you may remember from such teams as the New York Jets).