Packers, Finley leaning towards long-term deal, agent says

[Lurker64]

$99.

And that's honestly highway robbery, considering the price of other electronics made from similar parts.

But the graphing calculator people have a good scam going, in that they're in bed with the textbook manufacturers, who write their high school math texts to require graphing calculators (generally a specific brand.) So they kind of have the market cornered.

Personally I believe, from a mathematics pedagogy perspective, the role of technology is to trick students into having to tackle more difficult ideas because they can dispense with the BS. The way graphing calculators are used in classrooms is kind of the opposite of that, since nobody who teaches math these days would actually use one outside of the classroom in a class for which it is required, so "how the heck does the calculator work" gets way too much time devoted to it.

[MJZiggy]

And that's honestly highway robbery, considering the price of other electronics made from similar parts.

But the graphing calculator people have a good scam going, in that they're in bed with the textbook manufacturers, who write their high school math texts to require graphing calculators (generally a specific brand.) So they kind of have the market cornered.

Personally I believe, from a mathematics pedagogy perspective, the role of technology is to trick students into having to tackle more difficult ideas because they can dispense with the BS. The way graphing calculators are used in classrooms is kind of the opposite of that, since nobody who teaches math these days would actually use one outside of the classroom in a class for which it is required, so "how the heck does the calculator work" gets way too much time devoted to it.

Actually, the worst part is that there are programs you can download for free that do the same thing...I was tempted to claim financial hardship so I wouldn't have to actually buy one. I AM a single parent you know.

[Lurker64]

Actually, the worst part is that there are programs you can download for free that do the same thing...I was tempted to claim financial hardship so I wouldn't have to actually buy one. I AM a single parent you know.

I wonder if there's like an iOS application that takes the place of a graphing calculator, since if I had kids I would probably rather give them an iPod Touch with the graphing calculator app, than a $100 unitasker like a TI Graphing Calculator... at least the iPod is fun when you're not in math class.

Actually, if I had kids and they were taking a math class that required a graphing calculator, I'd probably just go in and browbeat the poor teacher until he or she relents. Failing that, we would learn, on our own, how to do everything with paper and your brain.

[smuggler]

Oh yeah, it's a complete scam. It's worth about $15

[mraynrand]

nobody who teaches math these days would actually use one outside of the classroom in a class for which it is required

Damn staight. I woldn't use anything in any class it's required for outside the class. In a class.

[Upnorth]

Can you use one of those fancy calculators to predict Finley's catch rate? That would really help in contract negotiations.

[woodbuck27]

Oh yeah, it's a complete scam. It's worth about $15

Actual fact..I'm a former math techer...It's worthless or worth nothing. $ZERO$ comes to mind.

[woodbuck27]

Maybe in your eyes and the writer but I don't remember seeing any quote stating that.

Perhaps you should explain to me how breaking out of his slant route in 3 steps instead of 5 caused Rodgers to overthrow a wide open Finley? The only thing Finley did was get open 2 steps quicker. Bottom line Rodgers should have made the throw and 9 times out of 10 does make it.

That throw by Aaron Rodgers was wide right and not easy to snatch by J. Finley.He had to lung for it as I recall. AR made a poor throw. AR deserves the Lions share of the blame on that missed opportunity.

Maybe.... just maybe.... AR was too psyched too pumped all game and certainly that out of the gate. See missed pass on the right to Greg Jennings and he was so wide open. That was unfortunate. That was a BIG surprize too. Maybe?... that set up a state of too much emergency and thus we see all kinds of errors?

In hockey you get a Coach's time out. He calls the players to the bench and settles them down with a short spech. That has to wait till the half in the NFL. maybe te rules should allow a HC Time OUt ...one per half?

[Tarlam!]

I'm a former math techer

Wow. That explains a lot to me. I say that with utter respect.

[mraynrand]

Actual fact..I'm a former math techer...It's worthless or worth nothing. $ZERO$ comes to mind.

SC must not be awake yet, so let me take on this target-rich post first.

1) I agree with you!
2) Good thing you weren't in the English department!
3) When I read your posts, zero comes to my mind too.

Scott, take it away....

[Tarlam!]

so let me take on this target-rich post first.

You didn't. I did. Buck and I (and SC if I may use his name) go way back as poster combatants. We all coulda taken a shot about his grammar, but we're on a football forum. We could all take a shot at some of your posts from last night, which were also enlightening. I wonder if you'll be as lucid as 'buck when you're 70.

As I said, it's a football forum. I always admired you, Rand, but you've changed.

[pbmax]

Maybe in your eyes and the writer but I don't remember seeing any quote stating that.

Perhaps you should explain to me how breaking out of his slant route in 3 steps instead of 5 caused Rodgers to overthrow a wide open Finley? The only thing Finley did was get open 2 steps quicker. Bottom line Rodgers should have made the throw and 9 times out of 10 does make it.

Because in the NFL, with split second decisions to make and safeties to look off, you cannot take the time to locate an objectively open receiver, target him (adjust feet, measure his movement relative to you) and throw. When you take that kind of time, you look exactly like Tim Tebow. Tebow is fantastic when he has an open pocket, can spot someone open, track him for a step or two while resetting his feet, and then throw. You will also only complete 50% of your passes because not many are that open and DBs will follow you to the ball.

In other words you could call this telegraphing the pass. The shame of it is that the route broke so wide open that it wouldn't of mattered if Rodgers did telegraph it. But because he was not where he was supposed to be when he was supposed to be, he was not where Rodgers believed he would be.

It might have been different had Finley been on a very short route, where Rodgers could just flick him the ball as in a checkdown.

[pbmax]

Listen to Uncle Patler, Brandon.

This is an example of one of Finely greatest sins. He's a sloppy route runner. He has a tendency to not be precise in his pattern. The most important part of a pass route ain't getting open in a spot. It's the rhythmn of the route. Especially in the Packer O, you must run your route precisely. You should come open at just the proper time, so ARod can put the ball in the spot with flawless timing. JF will run a sloppy route bc in he's in hurry to get his hands on the ball. He's still learning his role in the big picture. it will help him in the long run. When he learns how to run the slant right, it will set him up for the sluggo. Now he doesn't get sluggo's because the DBacks don't respect his slants. The kid is so talanted, he gets away with a ton of mistakes, becuase of his brilliant ability.

All that shit said, he will be back. The franchise number for TE's will be about 5.5 million per year. This kid is still only 24. the team will try like hell to sign him to a long term deal, but at the minimum they will franchise him.

All that may be true, KY, but Rodgers still coulda put the ball on him.

I understand how important route running is but on that play he was WIDE OPEN! Finley breaking out of his route 2 steps quicker had nothing to do with Rodgers trying to throw a bullet to a wide open reiever and over throwing him.

Of course it COULD be completed. But if Rodgers did not feel like he had time to locate a receiver on an adjusted route and then throw, he isn't going to take the time. Rodgers was bothered enough in the pocket that he wanted to throw on rhythm to his natural progressions or bail.

Had the protection been holding up longer, then I suspect the throw is adjusted and its complete.

That is why receivers have to know what the QB is going through. You cannot do a jazz improvisation with your route if the QB is getting knocked around in the pocket. You need to be where you need to be exactly when you are supposed to be there.

[pbmax]

McAdoo quote from print:
“What happened is, he hit the hole and he got there a little bit quick. And that forced him to throttle down, as opposed to taking five (steps) and getting there in stride,” McAdoo explained. “And it kind of threw the timing between him and the quarterback off a little bit.
“One more step and it’s a completion and we’re looking at a different ballgame possibly.”

McCarthy quote from video of press conference:
"You want him to run 5, so the quarterback can clearly look off, then establish where to throw the ball to, like Aaron was doing on that play."


Why does 3 steps instead of 5 cause an incompletion? Tonight I will look again at the game. My recollection is that Rodgers was releasing the ball before Finley made his break, or at least as Finley started to break, before he expected Finley to make his break. He was throwing to where he expected Finley would be after completing a five step route. Finley came up two strides short of where he should have been. Rarely does a QB have the luxury of throwing to where a receiver is. He throws to where he expects the player to be when the ball gets there, based on the route he expects the receiver to run.

I still don't get it. If Finley runs 3 steps throttled down compared to 5 steps at the right speed, the play should be about the same.

I'm guessing the coaches are saying that Finley broke too soon, throttled down, and Rodgers threw as though Finley were running full speed after what should have been a 5 step pattern and break, which is what he expected. But, Rodgers isn't throwing blind. he's still looking at the receiver - and he did look at Finley on that play, albeit briefly, after coming back to the right. He can still put the ball on Finley, even if he's running a different speed and/or depth.

I'm not going to put a percent fault breakdown on it, but given how football is played there's no way I'm pinning the majority of the blame on Finley.

There is another component as well which both the QB and coach have talked about this year. Rodgers is tasked to look left to draw coverage attention away. He also needs a window to throw through. Finley's depth on the route (3 or 5 steps) changes where he appears in Rodgers field of vision and it might change which O line gap he peers through to find the TE. By being in one place versus the other, it adds time to finding him and might force a change to his footwork.

Either task could be completed if Rodgers isn't feeling hurried, but I definitely feel he was in this game.

Finley being unpredictable makes this worse.

Objectively, doing what McAdoo describes (sitting in an open zone) isn't a bad move. But if the QB expects something else, it was a good decision made at the wrong time.

[mraynrand]

Objectively, doing what McAdoo describes (sitting in an open zone) isn't a bad move. But if the QB expects something else, it was a good decision made at the wrong time.

I agree with most of what you wrote. But about this 'sitting in a zone' that's not what happened is it? Finley supposedly broke of a five step to a three step and 'throttled down' 1) a shorter pattern at a slower speed should put him approximately in the right spot, with the throw perhaps too fast or too high, no? But not off target. 2) I don't recall - did Finley actually stop in his pattern? If he did, everything I wrote goes out the window and Finley is completely to blame.