Copycat League

[mraynrand]

So everyone will be doing their analysis of the Superbowl to find the nuggets and the trends that all teams should follow. And yet, by the time they find them, Seattle will likely be torn asunder by the very forces that rip all NFL franchises apart - the inverse draft and the salary cap.

Unless, unless like GB they keep finding gems in the bottom of the draft rounds or make that perfect move up.

But what are the trends you all see? Will everyone try to get bigger and stronger at corner?

It seems to me that SF was built to counter Sea (intentionally or not), by having a bruising running game and an elusive QB that could prevent Seattle from destroying an immobile pocket QB.

Surprisingly, I think SF is in a decline of sorts - aging O-line veterans, running-back and receiver, and the Packers may actually be in the ascendency because - intentionally or not, they should (APRH) have the team that is perfectly suited to match the Seachickens - a brutalizing running attack, a mobile QB with pinpoint accuracy to throw into tight, pass-interfering coverage, and a very deep O-line that might just be equipped to take it straight at the Seattle D-line.

It will be long off season and then waiting for that matchup next year against Seattle!

[pbmax]

I predict that next year the Jet Sweep will be in use all across the League. No one will know the name Matt Canada, but they should thank him.

Yes, the Packers should run it with Cobb as well.

[pbmax]

I think Seattle got built after San Fran's O, but Kapernick showed up in the middle. Regardless, Seattle has no trouble with Kap's legs or speed abed they are tight on coverage of the two routes they are running behind all that play action.

San Fran is definitely a transition mode.

[mraynrand]

I think Seattle got built after San Fran's O, but Kapernick showed up in the middle. Regardless, Seattle has no trouble with Kap's legs or speed abed they are tight on coverage of the two routes they are running behind all that play action.

San Fran is definitely a transition mode.

SFs run game was built before Seattle and then Kap came in. I think Kap put up around 125 yards rushing against Seattle in the playoff game. Everyone struggles with his running. Almost importantly though is that he's not a statue waiting to get killed back there. Neither is Rodgers. Kap is better than Vick because he generally has better accuracy, but he still struggles and is no where near Rodger's league (but who is? Rodgers may be the most accurate thrower in the game).

[Rodgers12]

Watching the SB, I noticed that after a big play, the Seagulls copied this and this from the Packers, so yes, it's a copycat league:



and

[mraynrand]

San Fran is definitely a transition mode.

Yeah, they used FA to fill some holes. If that tall WR doesn't pan out, and some of their linemen (both sides) get old in a hurry, they could be in trouble, especially with the injury to Bowman.

[pbmax]

SFs run game was built before Seattle and then Kap came in. I think Kap put up around 125 yards rushing against Seattle in the playoff game. Everyone struggles with his running. Almost importantly though is that he's not a statue waiting to get killed back there. Neither is Rodgers. Kap is better than Vick because he generally has better accuracy, but he still struggles and is no where near Rodger's league (but who is? Rodgers may be the most accurate thrower in the game).

125 is never good, but rarely has 125 rushing yards led to less offense. He didn't offer much in passing, Gore went nowhere and Kap had one big 58 yard run, otherwise 10 for 72 (130 total according to the box score I just scanned).

It could be because they are so good at stopping the other two items that Kapernick's runs don't seem to hurt them as much, but I don't feel when these two teams play that Kap will win the game with his legs. He did not make it into the end zone. They have some speed in their pass rush and LBs and while he can still break it, it seem less dangerous versus the Seahawks.

[red]

i don't know if we need bigger corners

but i sure wouldn't mind having a giant safety like seattle has with chancellor controlling the secondary

only guy close to that size in the draft is my guy calvin pryor

[3irty1]

I think there is already a trend forming placing a hyper-emphasis on the safety position. There has been a HUGE shortage of good safeties over the last 5 years in the draft, Seattle has by far the finest duo. Historically its the position least likely to bust, and has led to some drafting that would be considered reaches during a non-drought. Reid, Elam, and Cyprian all went 15 to 20 slots higher in the draft than strict BPA would probably have called for. I suspect we'll see more of the same this year. Calvin Pryor could easily crack the top 20 the way Reid did.

[packer4life]

I predict that next year the Jet Sweep will be in use all across the League. No one will know the name Matt Canada, but they should thank him.

Yes, the Packers should run it with Cobb as well.

That would have been nice to see on 1st and goal against the 9ers...MM, IMO, needs to learn to use that little guy a bit better

[call_me_ishmael]

By all accounts it seems that Juan Schneider is more Ron Wolf than Ted Thompson. He has put together one hell of a roster through all of the various channels available.

The striking thing to me is how many undrafted players they have that are performing. Could it be that they have studs at pass rush and secondary and just speedy athletes elsewhere who can take advantage of match-ups?

There secondary is gigantic. Whether they lucked out on players, or it really is just a size thing there, I don't know, but those cats can play. They are for the most part 4.5-4.6 guys other than Earl Thomas. I, too, would like to see some bigger corners and get back to more press coverage.

It seems to me that they have emphasized speed in their linebackers more than size. I broke this down the other day, but 6'0" 230 is not uncommon in Seattle and even SF. However, they are all 4.6 guys and can cover okay.

Basically, they have built one heck of a fast defense. WAY faster than the Packers. Whether that is scheme or simply the CBs mugging receivers creating the perception of speed via more pass rush, I don't know.

[call_me_ishmael]

I think there is already a trend forming placing a hyper-emphasis on the safety position. There has been a HUGE shortage of good safeties over the last 5 years in the draft, Seattle has by far the finest duo. Historically its the position least likely to bust, and has led to some drafting that would be considered reaches during a non-drought. Reid, Elam, and Cyprian all went 15 to 20 slots higher in the draft than strict BPA would probably have called for. I suspect we'll see more of the same this year. Calvin Pryor could easily crack the top 20 the way Reid did.

The kid from Bama is a freak athlete.

[Bretsky]

By all accounts it seems that Juan Schneider is more Ron Wolf than Ted Thompson. He has put together one hell of a roster through all of the various channels available.

The striking thing to me is how many undrafted players they have that are performing. Could it be that they have studs at pass rush and secondary and just speedy athletes elsewhere who can take advantage of match-ups?

There secondary is gigantic. Whether they lucked out on players, or it really is just a size thing there, I don't know, but those cats can play. They are for the most part 4.5-4.6 guys other than Earl Thomas. I, too, would like to see some bigger corners and get back to more press coverage.

It seems to me that they have emphasized speed in their linebackers more than size. I broke this down the other day, but 6'0" 230 is not uncommon in Seattle and even SF. However, they are all 4.6 guys and can cover okay.

Basically, they have built one heck of a fast defense. WAY faster than the Packers. Whether that is scheme or simply the CBs mugging receivers creating the perception of speed via more pass rush, I don't know.

AGREE; espectially on the GM note

[pbmax]

Pass rush is a great deodorant. Everyone can play good defense for 3 seconds.

[run pMc]

Yeah, they have built a very fast defense. Earl Thomas was a CB who switched to safety. They've taken a lot of risks on size-speed prospects or boom-bust players, and it paid off this year. "Regression to the mean" says Percy Harvin will have a meltdown and Carroll will get busted for BountygateII. LOL Seriously, they hit on a lot of picks in the drafts that we've been roasting TT on: 2011, 2012. Getting away with some physical stuff like they do helps that pass rush, but having a lot of speed and a good pass rush helps the secondary. Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner, K.J.Wright, Bruce Irvin, Russell Wilson...mid-round picks that were very successful gambles.

There are some lessons to be learned/copied, I think speed and fit to scheme are a big part of Seattle's success on defense. I didn't see a lot of missed tackles, but I did see a lot of gang tackles, so they are aggressive and fast. The offense is ok; Wilson's scrambling and Lynch's power makes them go. They aren't an offensive juggernaut, although Harvin gives them a dynamic weapon. If GB were to copy anything, it would be to get faster at LB, especially ILB. It would certainly feed into the current narrative (which I agree with) that GB needs to get better at S, and tackling.

They're going to have a lot of tough decisions to make this offseason and next; lots of key players become FA or eligible for extensions. I think they'll release or redo contracts on a bunch of players (Sidney Rice, etc.) in order to keep guys like Golden Tate, Micheal Bennett, Steven Hauschka, Breno, etc.

Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman are scheduled to become free agents in 2015 and figure to be offered lucrative, long-term contracts somewhere. Russell Okung and Russell Wilson top the players up after 2015. I think Lynch is in there too, but by then he'll be nearing 30 and they'll know if they have a replacement on the roster. Carroll will likely move to the broadcasting booth and we'll have to deal with him there. Ugh.

49ers are a very good but aging team. Baalke's had a ton of draft picks lately, but they rely on their vets heavily; who knows what their depth really is. I think they can be beaten, especially if TT can put together another draft like 2013. APRH, GB is still a contender in the NFC.