run-run-pass-punt

I'll preface this by saying that I'm obviously a fan of the NFL, or I wouldn't be here. With that out of the way... I'm sadly losing some of my interest in this sport due to the trends within the game itself. As an example, last night saw Dallas throw the ball 58 times while running only 18 times. Tampa passed 50 times while amassing 14 rushing attempts. I know most people love points and the passing game, and I do as well...to an extent. But I love balance far more. I know there will be outliers - defensive battles (or simply inept offenses), but the overall balance of the game itself has just tilted so far in one direction that I find myself experiencing the NFL as, gasp, boring much of the time. Surely change is a constant, but I really miss the days of football gone by. I'm sure I'm just an old man yelling at a cloud, but I can't be the only one here who is disenchanted with the current state of the game. How do you fellow huddlers feel about the general state of affairs within the game of professional football?

So many playing the what if game in this, and many other threads. It's a pointless exercise. There are lots of picks and there are always busts and players that don't live up to the draft slot. It will *always* be possible to say, why didn't we take *that guy*. Such a waste of time imho. You make your choices and live with them. Sometimes you'll be wrong, but so is every other NFL team. Personally, I don't think Fields will pan out as an upper echelon NFL QB, and I think we're going to be just as good or better with Darnold as we would have been with Fields. But either way, it's a waste to look back and say, "we could have done _X_". Every team can say the same thing. You roll with your choices until it's time to change course.

Maybe the coaching staff already knows that some of these guys will be on a very short leash, performance-wise. We can't say for sure what goes on behind those doors. We'll see how they perform and any adjustments. I can't believe they'll just allow the line to be a sieve without making timely changes. Hopefully they'll get the mixture as best as possible with this group of guys and we'll be able to work around this weakness.

I agree with your statement, but using the word "athletic" to describe Peyton Manning is not a word I would use (relatively speaking, of course.) But to your point, his body language often had the visual appearance of being panicked in the pocket, especially in reference to his feet, despite the reasons for these "happy feet" as you mentioned.

I think you'll see brilliant highs and terrible lows. He's just that kind of player. But the Saints have an excellent D, and, as much as I can't stand him, SP is an excellent coach. Oh geez, I just threw up in my mouth. The Saints will probably be really good.

I think we're moving towards trying to be able to pass or run from (virtually) any set we come out with. It will facilitate audibles and put defenses on their heels. Barring health struggles (and maybe the o-line not coming together), I think we're going to be a pretty versatile and challenging offense for teams to deal with.

Well I don't know about anyone else, but I'm hyped!

First it was a side-gig as a baseball player, and now at this ripe old age trying to make a go of it in the NFL while moonlighting as an NBA owner. God bless 'em.

I just like our overall depth at the point of attack defensively. Rotate those guys and cause so much havoc that our secondary can sit back and abuse would-be targets.

No doubt. It keeps things interesting if nothing else. I'm all for making moves that improve your team, but if you make too many it can almost have the appearance of just making moves to make moves. I'm sure that's not the case, obviously, but I hope they're well-considered and not knee-jerk moves.

I love watching his skill, and he's theoretically a great asset. The downside is that fewer and fewer punts happen during NFL games, lol.

I'm really optimistic for this defense. I'm not sure how good we'll be this season, but I think we will be pretty good. But we have a window coming up to be a truly exceptional defense imho.

Smitty isn't the most eloquent commentator, but I *love* having him home, and he's certainly got an appeal despite his delivery imho.

I really like the ball he throws, but he really does seem to have some PTSD from his Jet days, and it didn't help that he was constantly being pressured. I think if we protect him decently, we'll be happy with the results though.

So we exchanged little for *big*.

As with most plans of attack, variety, adaptability and unpredictability are the key imho. Hopefully we get it done.

It's a shame, but what good is a cannon leg with no targeting reticle. Let's give the new, and steadily improving guy the job.

I don't have any stats to back this up, but it always seems that when teams start treating players overly careful with the "fragile: handle with care label" that they end up injured more often. I sure hope that's not the road we're going down with CMC.

I try not to get to invested in *anything* pre-season. It's just so rarely a good indicator imho. Having said, that I do see some bright spots...and areas for concern. We'll just have to let things play out. I'm hopeful for a competitive season and think that's reasonable. Playoffs would be a nice surprise. If we stink it up...well, back to the drawing board.

Give me football like the 1990 NFC title game...all day, every day.

Yeah, I know. I still love the NFL, but I honestly miss the days of, what I would call, "real" defense. But if we can create turnovers, and possess the ball on offense in terms of time advantage, maybe we can finesse things that way. I'll hope until I'm disillusioned anyway, lol.

Yeah, the value to risk was very good for Trubiski imho. I wanted him &/or Minshew. I'm hopeful for Darnold, but he wasn't who I wanted. What I'm really hoping is that our defense grows to be good enough that our offense is set up in good positions - both in terms of field position and score - so that we don't have to lean on that side of the ball too heavily. I think that's the direction our team is trending overall.

or this: or This: Don't give EA your money. You'll have more fun with any of the above anyway.

Yeah, I think the RedHogs is the best of the bunch because of their history.