Detroit Rock City: Lose Your Mind

[vince]

Stafford is playing his best football this year. At the top of his game, Rodgers is better, but he has to be at the top of his game.

Stafford has a lot of fourth-quarter comeback magic. A one-score lead with a minute left is not safe.

This is pretty rich. I give Stafford Stage 2


Aaron Rodgers - The Mythical Ninja of Pocket Presence

Above even the black belts of pocket presence lies something else, and this is where Aaron Rodgers resides. Rodgers is our mythical ninja of pocket presence — he’s the Rickson Gracie. He doesn’t just sense pressure developing and neutralize it with subtle movements within the pocket like the brown and black belts, but he is actively influencing the pressure with his movements by effectively resetting the leverage of his blockers back and forth as he adjusts in the pocket and forces pass-rushers to match him or lose contain.
...
He feels everything at once, in slow motion, and is able to influence the pass rush and his protection, all at the same time as actually reading the defense and finding an open receiver. Simply put, it’s freaky.

[pbmax]

Rodgers does occasionally go from frying pan to fire. But he does, amazingly, often find a way to put his O lineman back in a position of strength.

[vince]

Speaking of re-signing:

If Lang moves on, do you see another Guard on the roster you want to start? (not an accusation, serious question)

Never would have thought Taylor handles the job this well, but is there another Taylor around? Lots of tackles prospects, Tretter, Spriggs, Murphy, but I am not sure Barclay is ready.

I think there's a good chance Murphy ends up at Guard.

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

STRENGTHS: Murphy sports a prototypical build with broad shoulders, long arms and a relatively trim middle.

Murphy's quick start and length make him a formidable opponent in pass protection. He slides well laterally and is alert to stunts and blitzes, getting a strong shove on one defender before switching off to another. While quick enough to get to the second level as a run blocker, Murphy can get off-balance when attempting to change direction.

He is very effective, on the other hand, as a drive blocker, showing surprising flexibility to get under the pads of opponents and impressive leg drive to consistently move the pile.

WEAKNESSES: While possessing good initial quickness, Murphy isn't an elite athlete and will almost certainly be asked to move back to right tackle or perhaps even inside to guard.

He's quick enough for traps but once defenders cross his face, Murphy lacks recovery speed and the flexibility to change directions quickly, resorting to reaching out and latching onto defenders.

IN OUR VIEW: There is a lot to like about Murphy's game as he's quick, powerful, durable and tough.

--Rob Rang (@RobRang) (2/6/16)

[Guiness]

Anyone know what's up with Christine Michael? I assume Peppers was just given the day off to rest.

Does anyone else find it interesting that Starks is in the concussion protocol for an NFI? How exactly did that happen? Was it diagnosed at the hospital, so the NFL put him in the protocol, or was he tested by the league?

[pbmax]

Docs found he had a concussion after his auto accident.

[Fritz]

But the NFL is primarily interested in protecting its reputation, so the concussion protocol was instituted so the NFL could say, "Look, see, if our players get hurt playing football in the NFL, we're taking care of them!"

But Starks was hurt in an auto accident. Screw the concussion protocol! It's not about player safety; it's about making it look like the NFL cares about player safety.

PS - Vince, Stafford has been incredible at the ends of games. Not something to blow off. He's been better than Rodgers in that regard this year.

[vince]

Agreed. And I apologize Fritz. I didn't meant to be critical of your post. I was referring to the article, which I thought was good but maybe a little over the top with its mystical karate analogies.

[gbgary]

But the NFL is primarily interested in protecting its reputation, so the concussion protocol was instituted so the NFL could say, "Look, see, if our players get hurt playing football in the NFL, we're taking care of them!"

But Starks was hurt in an auto accident. Screw the concussion protocol! It's not about player safety; it's about making it look like the NFL cares about player safety.

PS - Vince, Stafford has been incredible at the ends of games. Not something to blow off. He's been better than Rodgers in that regard this year.

the nfl reputation is nothing to protect right now. it's something to improve on. having a concussion protocol is a good thing but this is a violent game and it can only be made "safe" to a point without making it unfootball. the do-gooders are just going to have to get over it. it's a about as safe now as it's ever going to be.

[pbmax]

The reason there is a concussion protocol probably falls under owner self interest. The reason the concussion protocol fails in many cases falls under coach's self interest.

But there is no doubt that having the protocol helps players when used correctly. It doesn't stop concussions not does it cure them, but it does provide a chance for health to return.

[hoosier]

It strikes me that these are two very similar teams: poor secondaries, one really good defensive lineman, poor or unsettled running games, depth at wide receiver, fast or quick tight ends who stretch the field, completely quarterback-driven.

Very similar. This one's going to be scary. And Detroit's special teams are better than Green Bay's. And they're at home, where it will be bedlam, sheer bedlam.

GB has a significant edge at receiver (nobody on Det compares to Nelson, and Cook, Adams and Cobb are at least as good as Ebron, Jones and Boldin). And the OLs aren't comparable either. That plus Rodgers = three significant edges to GB.

[Joemailman]

[bobblehead]

Speaking of re-signing:

If Lang moves on, do you see another Guard on the roster you want to start? (not an accusation, serious question)

Never would have thought Taylor handles the job this well, but is there another Taylor around? Lots of tackles prospects, Tretter, Spriggs, Murphy, but I am not sure Barclay is ready.

Tretter could be a guard out of the Mike Wahle mold. Not a road grader, but good feet, mobile. Can do some different things with him than Lang. Would like to see Lang signed for 3 years, but can't see breaking the bank for him. Spriggs has impressed me with his ability at guard. I saw him as a pure tackle, but now could see a Darren College type guard...you know, the 10 year starter who misses one game in his entire career and everyone hates.

[bobblehead]

I think there's a good chance Murphy ends up at Guard.

That breakdown sounds a lot like Bulaga.

[Rutnstrut]

GB has a significant edge at receiver (nobody on Det compares to Nelson, and Cook, Adams and Cobb are at least as good as Ebron, Jones and Boldin). And the OLs aren't comparable either. That plus Rodgers = three significant edges to GB.

The Packers D are great at making ageing receivers young again. So Boldin scares me in this game.

[Freak Out]

Is Riddick going to play?