Week 1 Other Games

[pbmax]

Marquand Manuel sighting!

[pbmax]

Maybe Jones doesn’t help the red zone offense. Oy.

[Zool]

Matt Ryan has a noodle arm. All game balls are taking a long time to get where they are going.

[pbmax]

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/09/07/seattle-seahawks-dismantling-rift-russell-wilson-pete-carroll

I hated the team, their coach and I especially hated the Packers losing to them. But I admire several of their players. And I like Russell Wilson a lot, mainly for one of the best Badger seasons, even if Bielema was there basking in the glory too. This article gives a nice bird's eye view into why the older D players think the team dismantled the old Legion of Boom defense (spoiler: players think its conspiracy, team maybe thinks they are old). But it doesn't really provide much insight into why Carroll was so protective of Wilson, at least in one pretty public case.

The most obvious reason is that the NFL is built for pocket passers. But it once again raises the question of why on earth, with maybe 8-10 actually SB quality starters (with rare exceptions like Dilfer and Foles), you would build a team and an offense around a commodity that is so rare. Its like a car company that has devised its entire production line and marketing push for vibranium cars, when you are unsure how much vibranium is actually in existence.

[channtheman]

I tuned in last night and watched the final 5 minutes or so. Matt Ryan had 5 throws, FIVE, from the 10 yard line, and not one of them was catchable. At least give your team a chance dude.

[pbmax]

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
The #Cowboys placed G Parker Ehinger, who they just traded for, on Injured Reserve and signed G Kadeem Edwards.

I am truly looking forward to the Cowboys season.

[hoosier]

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/09/07/se...n-pete-carroll

I hated the team, their coach and I especially hated the Packers losing to them. But I admire several of their players. And I like Russell Wilson a lot, mainly for one of the best Badger seasons, even if Bielema was there basking in the glory too. This article gives a nice bird's eye view into why the older D players think the team dismantled the old Legion of Boom defense (spoiler: players think its conspiracy, team maybe thinks they are old). But it doesn't really provide much insight into why Carroll was so protective of Wilson, at least in one pretty public case.

The most obvious reason is that the NFL is built for pocket passers. But it once again raises the question of why on earth, with maybe 8-10 actually SB quality starters (with rare exceptions like Dilfer and Foles), you would build a team and an offense around a commodity that is so rare. Its like a car company that has devised its entire production line and marketing push for vibranium cars, when you are unsure how much vibranium is actually in existence.

Follow the money: QB is and has always been the high profile position, and with QB as face of the team you can bank on more interest from casual weekend fans. A league filled with great defenses and Trent Dilfers, not so much.

EDIT: I suspect the answer to your question is entangled with the answer to the question of why QB was the last position in the NFL to be integrated racially.

[gbgary]

ugly game last night. the rust factor was large. saw a great idea on twitter last night...that since teams don't play their #1's in the preseason, and the rust factor is so high, they should open the season with their out-of-conference games to get acclimated. these games are the least important and losses would be less detrimental.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I don't get that PI that gave atlanta an extra play. It was thrown 10 feet above the players.

Or was it holding? I had sound off.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I tuned in last night and watched the final 5 minutes or so.

You timed it about right.

A four hour game late on a thursday night is too much. I watched some of game with generous fast forward today. The slow pace of football is OK for a weekend afternoon. Otherwise I don't see how they are getting ratings. "Big Brother" or "The Bachelor" is more action packed.

[pbmax]

Follow the money: QB is and has always been the high profile position, and with QB as face of the team you can bank on more interest from casual weekend fans. A league filled with great defenses and Trent Dilfers, not so much.

EDIT: I suspect the answer to your question is entangled with the answer to the question of why QB was the last position in the NFL to be integrated racially.

History of the position seems likely to play a role. But it used to be that 3 yards, a cloud of dust and great run defense were considered the best path to a championship. Bob Griese won a lot of games only throwing on third down.

The irony is that an offense first developed to take the pressure off a less than ideal physical candidate for QB, Virgil Carter, has now morphed to a much more vertical attack. Still centered in the pocket though.

Wilson is younger and will play longer than those defenders who were let go. so I understand their recent moves. Wilson also had a banner year throwing while the defense swooned last year. But it still seems strange that a much less impressive Wilson was protected so in 2014.

[pbmax]

I don't get that PI that gave atlanta an extra play. It was thrown 10 feet above the players.

Or was it holding? I had sound off.

Yeah. Illegal block, before the throw. Wasn't much of one, but it did happen.

[hoosier]

History of the position seems likely to play a role. But it used to be that 3 yards, a cloud of dust and great run defense were considered the best path to a championship. Bob Griese won a lot of games only throwing on third down.

The irony is that an offense first developed to take the pressure off a less than ideal physical candidate for QB, Virgil Carter, has now morphed to a much more vertical attack. Still centered in the pocket though.

Wilson is younger and will play longer than those defenders who were let go. so I understand their recent moves. Wilson also had a banner year throwing while the defense swooned last year. But it still seems strange that a much less impressive Wilson was protected so in 2014.

I haven't followed the Wilson protection story, so just responding to the evolution of offense theme. One big change between the 3 yds + dust era and now is the role played by TV contracts. Why, starting in 1978, did rule changes begin to favor passing offense and render the conservative offenses obsolete? What is driving the bus here, it seems to me, is marketing awareness: high octane offense appeals to the casual fan who watches games from the sofa. And let's not forget that in the past these changes have been cyclical and pendulum like. The Rams in the 1950s were the Greatest Show on Turf before there was turf. But TV is the 500 lb. gorilla that dictates we're never going back to three yard and dust.

[gbgary]

I don't get that PI that gave atlanta an extra play. It was thrown 10 feet above the players.

Or was it holding? I had sound off.

it wasn't pi...it was illegal contact.

[Harlan Huckleby]

it wasn't pi...it was illegal contact.

I wanted Atlanta to win, for no known reason. But I thought giving Matty Lice a 5th shot at the endzone there was cheap, especially since it was a light foul, as pbmax has testified. I am in favor of officials swallowing whistles in those critical situations. The receivers are playing a little dirty down near the endzone with their picks, let the defenders be a bit handsy. (They should be allowed to get to third base.)