Do you feel you witnessed quality football this past weekend? (1 Viewer)

[Ministry of Pain]

Do you feel you watched quality football? Mike and Mike said there were 5 games in the NFL with QBs each over 300 yards, 1st time ever. I wasn't impressed as I feel the games are starting to become offensive exhibitions with all the rule changes over the last 10 years. Wanted to see what you all thought.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

I agree that the pass happy rules have gone too far. Corners and LB's are having to play with one hand tied behind their backs. It's great that the NFL wants to encourage fantasy football with all the huge statlines. But in real football, the kind where physical play wears down opponents, it sucks that refs can allow a physically beaten team back into the game with touch calls. That is a part of the game that is B.S.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I agree that the pass happy rules have gone too far. Corners and LB's are having to play with one hand tied behind their backs. It's great that the NFL wants to encourage fantasy football with all the huge statlines. But in real football, the kind where physical play wears down opponents, it sucks that refs can allow a physically beaten team back into the game with touch calls. That is a part of the game that is B.S.

That's disturbing but I agree with you that the NFL has given in to FF over the years.

 

[glong989]

It's one game, play will regress back to the mean..hopefully.

It was annoying seeing every fantasy matchup in my leagues as a shootout. Almost felt like my draft didn't even matter as so many guys put up points. If your QB didn't get you big points for your scoring system then you were basically screwed - that is unless you had one of the multitude of other guys who blew up at the W/R position.

They always say the defense should be ahead of the offense in times like these where we had a lockout - think this has any affect on what we are seeing? I don't know..

Someone in another thread commented that the quality/depth of elite as well as young, talented QBs is at an all time high. Couple this with the pass happy nature of the offenses now and you get this. I agree to a certain extent but still think the defenses will get their legs under them and you wont have more QBs passing for 300+ than those who don't each week.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

It's one game, play will regress back to the mean..hopefully.

It was annoying seeing every fantasy matchup in my leagues as a shootout. Almost felt like my draft didn't even matter as so many guys put up points. If your QB didn't get you big points for your scoring system then you were basically screwed - that is unless you had one of the multitude of other guys who blew up at the W/R position.

They always say the defense should be ahead of the offense in times like these where we had a lockout - think this has any affect on what we are seeing? I don't know..

Someone in another thread commented that the quality/depth of elite as well as young, talented QBs is at an all time high. Couple this with the pass happy nature of the offenses now and you get this. I agree to a certain extent but still think the defenses will get their legs under them and you wont have more QBs passing for 300+ than those who don't each week.

That's a good question. I think last night you saw how a team like NE is going to be even better as not many rookie were starting for them at key spots so they just turn the key and start the car, not as easy for other teams.

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

Plenty of close games and good performances. I'm not sure why anyone wouldn't enjoy that. I'm not saying I want high scoring every game, but maybe we'll get some defensive battles soon. If the game is competitive and the players are going all out, I think we're watching a good product.

Saint/Packers was a classic, and the blowouts had divisional ramifications. When the Panthers and Cardinals can put on an entertaining game, I think something is going right.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Plenty of close games and good performances. I'm not sure why anyone wouldn't enjoy that. I'm not saying I want high scoring every game, but maybe we'll get some defensive battles soon. If the game is competitive and the players are going all out, I think we're watching a good product.

Saint/Packers was a classic, and the blowouts had divisional ramifications. When the Panthers and Cardinals can put on an entertaining game, I think something is going right.

Really?Balt 30-6

Buff 41-7

Chi 30-12

Phi 31-13

Hou 34-7

WAS 28-14

SF 33-17



and a lot of the other games were not as close as the scores

Classic? Neither GB or NO made a tackle all night, looked like a flag football exhibition to me. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

 

[Godsbrother]

I am a Steelers fan so no I did NOT see quality football (I am not even sure what I saw was football)

 

[need2know]

Plenty of close games and good performances. I'm not sure why anyone wouldn't enjoy that. I'm not saying I want high scoring every game, but maybe we'll get some defensive battles soon. If the game is competitive and the players are going all out, I think we're watching a good product.

Saint/Packers was a classic, and the blowouts had divisional ramifications. When the Panthers and Cardinals can put on an entertaining game, I think something is going right.

Really?Balt 30-6

Buff 41-7

Chi 30-12

Phi 31-13

Hou 34-7

WAS 28-14

SF 33-17



and a lot of the other games were not as close as the scores

Classic? Neither GB or NO made a tackle all night, looked like a flag football exhibition to me. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I agree defenses around the league have generally stunk and I really hope they get better. I think they will as the season goes along, but we will see similar results in the short term

 

[Shutout]

My two closest teams are Cincy and Indy: I'm not sure I understand the question

I do think things looked a bit out of whack and the level of defensive play I grew up with is all but non-existent these days. With that being said, it seems like the first couple of weeks every year kind of start like this and then the defenses seem to catch up.

So, it was entertaining; yes.

I am realy just glad there WAS football.

So I'm happy.

 

[zed2283]

I don't feel like I've witnessed quality football in the last 10 years. But maybe that's just me.

I just remarked to a couple of buddies this weekend that I remember when John Elway driving down the field with "only" 5 minutes left in the game was a big deal.

 

[Da Guru]

Let the defense chuck the receivers until 10 yards off the line. When they spread the field it is almost impossible to stop a quick slant.

 

[comfortably numb]

I agree that the pass happy rules have gone too far. Corners and LB's are having to play with one hand tied behind their backs. It's great that the NFL wants to encourage fantasy football with all the huge statlines. But in real football, the kind where physical play wears down opponents, it sucks that refs can allow a physically beaten team back into the game with touch calls. That is a part of the game that is B.S.

That's disturbing but I agree with you that the NFL has given in to FF over the years.

I think that is way off base.While I understand the NFL wants to endorse FF, I really don't think the rules committee is considering FF when adjusting rules.

I think plain and simple a more offensive minded game will elevate the stars of your league, and ratings will be better for a 34-30 game than a 9-7 game.

Safety is also a concern, when factoring in the rules, and i think safety could be a cloak to get a more offensive game to the viewers, but I think FF doesn't even make the list when it comes to rules.

When MLB realized that HR's and more offense is what the masses wanted, they gave it to us.

Fantasy Baseball was not a factor to them.

ticket sales and ratings were.

 

[Lord Fantasy]

Of the games I saw (Packers-Saints, Steelers-Ravens, Cowboys-Jets, Pats-Dolphins) ALL started off with drives where the offense looked unstoppable, but the Miami game had me reeling. The Dolphins moving the ball at will against the Patriots? Chad Henne running one in? From the seven? Really?

I hope (and suspect) this is just Week 1 post-lockout settling.

Also, what about all the conditioning problems? Lots of dudes cramping up/wearing the mask. How long before the league gets in shape or does this linger?

 

[yoadrian]

It's one game, play will regress back to the mean..hopefully.It was annoying seeing every fantasy matchup in my leagues as a shootout. Almost felt like my draft didn't even matter as so many guys put up points. If your QB didn't get you big points for your scoring system then you were basically screwed - that is unless you had one of the multitude of other guys who blew up at the W/R position.They always say the defense should be ahead of the offense in times like these where we had a lockout - think this has any affect on what we are seeing? I don't know..Someone in another thread commented that the quality/depth of elite as well as young, talented QBs is at an all time high. Couple this with the pass happy nature of the offenses now and you get this. I agree to a certain extent but still think the defenses will get their legs under them and you wont have more QBs passing for 300+ than those who don't each week.

I feel that this was the game plan all along for most of the coaches. They knew the Ds would need to be kept honest (because of lack of "gel" time) so they kept testing them. After watching the NO v GB it was no surprise at all to see this level of scoring/passing yds.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I agree that the pass happy rules have gone too far. Corners and LB's are having to play with one hand tied behind their backs. It's great that the NFL wants to encourage fantasy football with all the huge statlines. But in real football, the kind where physical play wears down opponents, it sucks that refs can allow a physically beaten team back into the game with touch calls. That is a part of the game that is B.S.

That's disturbing but I agree with you that the NFL has given in to FF over the years.

I think that is way off base.While I understand the NFL wants to endorse FF, I really don't think the rules committee is considering FF when adjusting rules.

I think plain and simple a more offensive minded game will elevate the stars of your league, and ratings will be better for a 34-30 game than a 9-7 game.

Safety is also a concern, when factoring in the rules, and i think safety could be a cloak to get a more offensive game to the viewers, but I think FF doesn't even make the list when it comes to rules.

When MLB realized that HR's and more offense is what the masses wanted, they gave it to us.

Fantasy Baseball was not a factor to them.

ticket sales and ratings were.

Right but the reason the ratings go up is people are following their fantasy teams. The NFL draws better ratings with their dog games than other sports draw with their major teams and match ups. People are not aching to watch Buffalo-Cleveland but they will watch if they have skill position players involved.I respect your POV but cheerfully disagree and understand why you might think I am off.

 

[urbanhack]

Yes.......yes I do.

 

[Jason Wood]

As you alluded Sean, fantasy football = offensive production. So inevitably fantasy nuts like us are going to like high scoring games. Did I see crisp football? On offense, yes. On defense, not as much. It's in stark contrast to what many people predicted, as a lot of chatter related to the offenses struggling because of the lockout. It appears to be the latter. The oddest part of the weekend though was the fantastic return game. So much for the new kickoff rule "killing the return." I felt like I saw more long KO and punt TDs this weekend than I had in a long, long time.

 

[JuSt CuZ]

The Lockout caused for a lot of crappy football.

Its obvious the football world is full of fantasy people, how can you say quality football was played Thursday night, or at all last night?

Brady threw for 500 yards cause they have no run game, or because Miamis D sux that bad. Lots of injuries, this week was a mess football wise, regardless if your fantasy team won.

Quality Football? I thought this was a football fans forum?

 

[ogiers]

I think that two strong causes of the play we saw this week are the rule changes tying the hands of the defense and the CBA's impact on prep time and thus the ability of the Defense to keep scoring down. Even when quality D-line and secondary play was shown, the sacks, picks, and fumbles forced almost seemed irrelevant - the other teams still seemingly managed to put up 300 yards passing and 20+ points every time.

The rule changes will be adjusted to, while the defense learns to play together. However when first-teamers are hurt on the D, the replacements will be even more green than in a typical year. High scoring year ahead. Biggest impact on leagues where the points allowed are weighted heavily.

No idea what happened to the Steelers. They looked great in the pre-season. My wife is convinced someone put Ambien in their Gatorade.

 

[Jason Wood]

The Lockout caused for a lot of crappy football.Its obvious the football world is full of fantasy people, how can you say quality football was played Thursday night, or at all last night?Brady threw for 500 yards cause they have no run game, or because Miamis D sux that bad. Lots of injuries, this week was a mess football wise, regardless if your fantasy team won.Quality Football? I thought this was a football fans forum?

How can a high scoring game = low quality, while a low scoring game = high quality? In one instance the offenses have the measure of the defenses. In the other instance the defenses have the measure of the offenses. Ultimately I want to see a balanced game where all facets are playing crisp, mistake free football.I haven't checked yet but how did Week One rank in terms of:*** Number of penalties per game?*** Turnovers per game?*** First downs per game?*** Yards per play?

 

[Goldfinger007]

I saw some of the worst defense I've ever seen, right down to the fundamentals. Horrendous tackling, guys coming in with their heads down, just throwing a shoulder, not wrapping up, etc. How some of these guys make it to the NFL, I'll never know. Even back in HS if I would have tried to make a tackle like some of these guys I would have gotten a face full of Mammoth Cave Twist, because I guarantee my coach would have been up in my face reaming me a new one (he always had a chaw in).

 

[Ksquared]

Two big reasons for this:

1) I have heard in the last week several coaches comment about the new CBA's limits on padded/contact practices - the only way to improve on tackling is to do it, but there are only 14 more contact practices left for the year (I believe that was the quote the head coach stated). The new CBA's two hand touch rules for practices is going to make for terrible fundamental defensive football. I also think it will affect the offensive linemen that need timing to coordinate their efforts.

2) Biggest reason there is more passing - almost all the defenses blitz 50% of the time or more. It started about 10 yrs ago where teams - Balt, Pitt, etc started having a lot of success by just over aggressively attacking the QB. It took the offenses a while, but they have countered by spreading out the defenses to identify the blitzers easier as well as make the defense pay if they do not get to the QB. You notice most of the time a run being called against the blitzes that are used now go for a loss. The rules have helped in this area by limiting contact down field by the defense. How many teams really just to do a two deep zone or just a basic zone defense anymore. Not very many.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

The Lockout caused for a lot of crappy football.

Its obvious the football world is full of fantasy people, how can you say quality football was played Thursday night, or at all last night?

Brady threw for 500 yards cause they have no run game, or because Miamis D sux that bad. Lots of injuries, this week was a mess football wise, regardless if your fantasy team won.

Quality Football? I thought this was a football fans forum?

How can a high scoring game = low quality, while a low scoring game = high quality? In one instance the offenses have the measure of the defenses. In the other instance the defenses have the measure of the offenses. Ultimately I want to see a balanced game where all facets are playing crisp, mistake free football.I haven't checked yet but how did Week One rank in terms of:

*** Number of penalties per game?

*** Turnovers per game?

*** First downs per game?

*** Yards per play?

Oakland an Denver broke the record for most penalties combined in a football game with 25 breaking the previous mark of 22 set in '98 by SF-Buf, also was done a couple times before there were helmets.

 

[VaTerp]

Yes.

I enjoyed the NFL's opening weekend and overall think it was quality football.

Just because the offenses were ahead of the defenses this weekend doesn't mean it wasn't quality. I understand people have a certain perception in their mind about what football is "suppose" to be but things change, things go in cycles.

Of course the way the game is called now makes it easier to pass than ever but defenses will adjust. And this is coming from a guy who played DB throughout HS (walked on for a year in college) and was the son of an all conference DB at Va Tech.

The Thursday night opener was great to me. Two elite QBs playing at the top of their game. Special teams TDs. And for those wanting defense or saying there wasnt a tackle made all night, the game ended on a goaline stand with a great surge by the D-line and 3-4 defenders flying over the pile to meet the ball carrier in the backfield.

Bottom line is I love football, I'm not gonna complain because it's become a more passing oriented game. At the end of the day, it's still football and for my time and money, more entertaining than any other sport out there.

 

[Chicken Tree]

My hypothesis is that passing offenses are much ahead of anything else right now. When the players got together by themselves to practice, the only thing you can really practice is passing. Its not like you can practice defense or running plays in gym clothes to where is helps all that much. However, you can get timing, etc. down in the passing game.

This, coupled with the rule changes gives us this weekend's result. It should settle back around week 4 or so. Maybe sell all those WRs high?

 

[jurb26]

I still enjoyed watching games this weekend but the rules have made games a ridiculous exposition of passing stats to get ratings. Throwing for 300 yds seems mediocre now. I think 400 yds is the "new" 300 yds.

 

[Monsieur Meursault]

The NFL is about entertainment.

Was I entertained? Absolutely YES!

Will I watch again next weekend? You betcha!

 

[Tanner9919]

with the lockout and the fast start to the season, this was more of Exhibition Game #5 ( preseason game #5)

kind of like a dress rehearsal..it was the first 'for keeps' game they've played in this year, players were rusty, coaches were too ..

it seemed to me like players and coaches were just hoping to get thru preseason unscathed and relatively healthy for the start of the season.I would fully expect week 2 to be more like legit NFL football than what we saw on Opening Day.

you're also likely to see many knee-jerk reactions on waiver wires this week,as owners panic that 'Player X didn't do well', etc..

 

[renesauz]

As you alluded Sean, fantasy football = offensive production. So inevitably fantasy nuts like us are going to like high scoring games. Did I see crisp football? On offense, yes. On defense, not as much. It's in stark contrast to what many people predicted, as a lot of chatter related to the offenses struggling because of the lockout. It appears to be the latter. The oddest part of the weekend though was the fantastic return game. So much for the new kickoff rule "killing the return." I felt like I saw more long KO and punt TDs this weekend than I had in a long, long time.

Me too...but when I thought about it some more, I realized that last year most kickoffs landed right between the goal line and the 5, whereas now MANY kickoffs are 7 yard or more deep. I'm wondering if the kickers aren't trying too hard for the touchbacks now, and kicking a lower trajectory ball as a result....giving returners more space than they are used to.

 

[renesauz]

My hypothesis is that passing offenses are much ahead of anything else right now. When the players got together by themselves to practice, the only thing you can really practice is passing. Its not like you can practice defense or running plays in gym clothes to where is helps all that much. However, you can get timing, etc. down in the passing game.This, coupled with the rule changes gives us this weekend's result. It should settle back around week 4 or so. Maybe sell all those WRs high?

I think this is spot on. No offseason or minicamps, but players got together for passing drills.

 

[Mark Wimer]

I think that the impact of the lockout made the games more sloppy in general. We especially saw this with teams that had new coaching staffs (the Cleveland Browns in particular didn't execute well in week one, for example).

Basically, I expect it will take through September for the most of the restructured teams/teams with new coaching staffs to catch up to the more stable units.

I think the Steelers simply gave the Ravens too much "bulletin board" material during the offseason and got their karmic whiplash from Joe Flacco and company in week one. BAL was ready to play while the PIT team was after their Super Bowl loss...

My

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

BUMP

Just me or is the quality of football just really really bad on the whole? Particularly this weekend.

 

[Todem]

BUMP

Just me or is the quality of football just really really bad on the whole? Particularly this weekend.

Pretty brutal today. Parity is really alive and well this season. I mean more than I have seen in a long time if ever. And some of it makes for fun exciting games....but there has been a lot of bad football this weekend. Poor quality. Poor kicking, poor coaching.....I think the entire sabermetrics craze has all these new age coaches going off the deep end. Spreadsheets are coaching games more and more and it’s sad and makes for some ridiculous game strategy that to me I don’t care what the spreadsheet says......it’s terrible. Bad clock management, bad decisions when you can make a game a two possession game but don’t because the spreadsheet says....go for it.....just bad.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Not perfect, but still way ahead of blowout Saturdays.

 

[renesauz]

BUMP

Just me or is the quality of football just really really bad on the whole? Particularly this weekend.

Pretty brutal today. Parity is really alive and well this season. I mean more than I have seen in a long time if ever. And some of it makes for fun exciting games....but there has been a lot of bad football this weekend. Poor quality. Poor kicking, poor coaching.....I think the entire sabermetrics craze has all these new age coaches going off the deep end. Spreadsheets are coaching games more and more and it’s sad and makes for some ridiculous game strategy that to me I don’t care what the spreadsheet says......it’s terrible. Bad clock management, bad decisions when you can make a game a two possession game but don’t because the spreadsheet says....go for it.....just bad.

Throwing the BS flag on this. Overall, coaches are making better choices then ever.

 

[Insein]

Nothing like an 11 year old bump. This thread is as old as my kids.

 

[foxco]

I mean I certainly didn't witness quality fantasy football this weekend, my teams suck. I blame ownership, get 'em out.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Do you feel you watched quality football? Mike and Mike said there were 5 games in the NFL with QBs each over 300 yards, 1st time ever. I wasn't impressed as I feel the games are starting to become offensive exhibitions with all the rule changes over the last 10 years. Wanted to see what you all thought.

Denver / SF 11-10 says hi.

lol

Matchups happen. Week to week I’ve not noticed a tremendous difference from last year to this. It has tended towards offense the last few years, but it’s more haves and have nots than it is rules changes.

When elite defenses face off, the points are scarce. When crap defenses face off it’s the opposite result.

The football I’ve seen this weekend, I’ve enjoyed, yeah.

 

[humpback]

We're also watching a lot of 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th stringers play. The number of injuries is ridiculous.

 

[flapgreen]

It's bad

 

[ShamrockPride]

BUMP

Just me or is the quality of football just really really bad on the whole? Particularly this weekend.

Impressive necrobump

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

We're also watching a lot of 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th stringers play. The number of injuries is ridiculous.

We say this every year though. Football isn’t a safe activity. Just like every year, players are getting hurt.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

No defense.
-----------------
Pete Smith
@_PeteSmith_
1 team scored 20 points or fewer and won the game this week.
The Giants.
Over the Bears.
That's it.

 

[humpback]

We're also watching a lot of 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th stringers play. The number of injuries is ridiculous.

We say this every year though. Football isn’t a safe activity. Just like every year, players are getting hurt.

Not this many, this severe, and this quickly. And I don't mean just skill position players.

 

[MAC_32]

BUMP

Just me or is the quality of football just really really bad on the whole? Particularly this weekend.

September is the new preseason - been that way for a few years now. There's generally bad football played until about now then October is where the legitimate teams begin to separate from the rest.

 

[Chaka]

Been going downhill ever since they allowed the forward pass.

 

[apalmer]

I am a Steelers fan so no I did NOT see quality football (I am not even sure what I saw was football)

Unfortunately, this answer is still correct.

 

[Capella]

If you don’t think this is quality football, try watching the college game.

 

[eighsse2]

There were 9 games out of 16 that finished as 1-score games. From that angle it sounds pretty entertaining.