Official Non-Packer NFL Championship Game Day Musings

[Patler]

Amazing how losing an All-Pro LT changes things, eh? A lot of people didn't feel like the Broncos really missed Ryan Clady and his hefty contract this year. Last night they sure missed him.

Same with Von Miller, who will be up for a new contract soon. They needed him badly.

Ron Wolf used to say that Packer fans were spoiled by having Favre, and not realizing what a lot of other teams had to put up with at QB. Now we continue to be spoiled by Rodgers.

But, I think we were also spoiled by nearly 10 years having Clifton and Tauscher at tackles. Maybe neither was quite elite as an all-around tackle, but both were just so solid as pass blockers that neither one needed help in the passing game whether they faced speed rushers or power rusher. Tauscher sometimes looked like he was hanging on by his fingernails, but hang on he did.

[denverYooper]

Jason Wilde @jasonjwilde 21m
RT @corryjoel: Seattle about $4.25M over '14 cap (assumes $126.3M cap) once top 51 is filled out (includes RFA & exclusive rights tenders)

[Joemailman]

Security a little lax at the postgame PC apparently.

http://nfl.si.com/2014/02/03/malcolm...her/?eref=sihp

[denverYooper]

Interesting note, I heard on the radio that Fox "turned the simulated crowd noise down" at their pre-superbowl practices because the crowd at superbowls is usually pretty quiet. That sure looked like a bad decision right from the jump last night.

[pbmax]

The screens and crossers they used to such great effect all year were not gaining much and getting guys blasted. They had a ton of 20+ plays on those. Seattle was giving them to Denver and then just plastering the WR. DT caught a bunch of balls and was looking to avoid contact. They'd get him going sideways and he was done.

Maybe M3 was onto something when he was looking to go deep on them. Manning had guys open deep a few times and just couldn't make the throws.

I am thinking this more and more. Earl Thomas is probably the exception, but you don't get your CB core in the middle to late rounds without giving up something. If they have size and technique (at least quasi-legal grabbing) then the top end speed might be where you take them on.

But you have to pass protect.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Ron Wolf used to say that Packer fans were spoiled by having Favre, and not realizing what a lot of other teams had to put up with at QB. Now we continue to be spoiled by Rodgers.

But, I think we were also spoiled by nearly 10 years having Clifton and Tauscher at tackles. Maybe neither was quite elite as an all-around tackle, but both were just so solid as pass blockers that neither one needed help in the passing game whether they faced speed rushers or power rusher. Tauscher sometimes looked like he was hanging on by his fingernails, but hang on he did.

That is an excellent, excellent point.

[mraynrand]

I think Denver was surprised by how physical the Seahawks were, and I think Denver's fans were not ready to see that.

Absolutely. After watching Seatte at SF and then watching them play again in the playoffs, I'm amazed that these guys made it through the season with as few injuries as they have. Even when you are dishing out blows like they do, you still usually get beat up.

[pbmax]

Absolutely. After watching Seatte at SF and then watching them play again in the playoffs, I'm amazed that these guys made it through the season with as few injuries as they have. Even when you are dishing out blows like they do, you still usually get beat up.

They started losing DBs near the end of the game and suddenly Denver looked capable of completing a pass.

[Bossman641]

Jason Wilde @jasonjwilde 21m
RT @corryjoel: Seattle about $4.25M over '14 cap (assumes $126.3M cap) once top 51 is filled out (includes RFA & exclusive rights tenders)

Rice either won't be coming back at all, or will be coming back at a greatly reduced rate. We will see where Seattle goes from here, it's much harder to sustain success. Both Sherman and Thomas' contracts are up after the 2014 season, have to believe at least one of them will get an extension this summer. They get at least one more year of a cheap Russel Wilson as he's not eligible for a new contract until after next season.