NFL 2011 Week 2

Holy cow, so Romo goes back in with 2 broken ribs. That takes a pair of balls.

mudbunny wrote:

Holy cow, so Romo goes back in with 2 broken ribs. That takes a pair of balls.

I wonder where he got them from?

Kush15 wrote:
TheGameguru wrote:

I just find it easier to actively root against anyone playing the Eagles and wishing them some sort of temporary harm.

Not me, I would rather see my team beat their opponents at full strength, I'm disappointed that Vick might not play against my Giants next week. In my eyes, it taints the victory, should the Giants win. Since they are in bad shape themselves, that might not happen. Regardless, should still be a tight matchup next Sunday. If Vick plays, I'm taking the Eagles. If Kafka starts, I'm not sure who I would take. Might be a good game to pick next week. I think the Eagles should pull it out because of their offensive weapons, regardless of QB.

Kafka looked really good last night; I was thinking that both he and the Eagles front office were going to get paid at some point (they'll trade him to some QB-desperate team for a good pick, and he'll get a big contract). They've been high on him for a while, and he certainly played well when he came in.

Apparently the new path to riches in this world is being an Eagles backup QB.

Enix wrote:

After two weeks of the NFL season, your passing yardage leaders are:

1. Tom Brady
2. Cam Newton
3. Philip Rivers
4. Drew Brees
5. Tony Romo

There's one name that's absolutely stunning.

Spoiler:

Romo. Duh. EVERYONE KNEW CAM WAS GOING TO BE AWESOME.

I think I need to do a breakdown of Newton's games the way I did Clausen a few months ago. I want to see what's going on.

Cam is definitely reinforcing a couple of points I've made on this board:

1) Always take a chance on a legitimate NFL arm. I was talking about Mallett last time this came up, and I don't know that I would have taken quite as bold of a chance as the Panthers did with the #1 pick, but make no mistake, the moral of the story is: draft live arms. That is the difference between Cam Newton and Tim Tebow or Vince Young.

2) The NFL has never been more QB friendly than it is right now. This came up last week, talking about starting rookie QBs like Blaine Gabbert. The transition from college to NFL has never been smoother. And I think, even knowing that, I've still been underestimating it. Transition was one of the major knocks on Newton, and though my impression is that he's currently getting by on ability more so than running an NFL offense, clearly the idea that he was too raw to play right away was incorrect. Was that from underestimating Newton, or underestimating how soft the college transition period has become? I think it may be a little of the former but more of the latter.

@*legion*

Why is the transition easier? Is it because of the rules protecting QBs right now? Is the typical NFL scheme approaching the complexity of the college scheme, or is it the other way around?

Grumpicus wrote:
mudbunny wrote:

Holy cow, so Romo goes back in with 2 broken ribs. That takes a pair of balls.

I wonder where he got them from? :twisted:

As a new Texan, I haven't been fully briefed on the "ripping on Romo" state citizenship requirements. Is it required to rip on Romo even if you're not particularly invested in the Cowboys? What about if you really only care about the AFC, still then?

@ Legion: I've seen probably 90 percent of Newton's snaps this season. He benefits this year by a combination of an aggressive OC who wants to throw the ball downfield, decent pass protection (from the O-line and the backs), the presence of four legitimate (and healthy) pass catchers (five if you include RB Jonathan Stewart) and, yeah, probably the rules changes. Those were things absent from last year.

Newton definitely has a big arm. Accuracy is OK, though he tends to throw stuff high. His touch is improving. He missed a couple of touch throws into the end zone that a better/more experienced QB would have had. He also challenged Charles Woodson twice too many times. The vet made him pay.

I suspect that the Panthers have toned down the playbook a bunch -- they're running a lot of sideline outs to the WRs, go patterns to the WRs and TEs and a few drags across the middle to the TEs. But Newton has been patient in the pocket and is going through several reads before checking down to a RB or taking off. He doesn't look lost out there.

Believe it or not, he looks more like an NFL QB rather than a really good athlete who's taking shotgun (and under center) snaps.

*Legion* wrote:
Grumpicus wrote:
mudbunny wrote:

Holy cow, so Romo goes back in with 2 broken ribs. That takes a pair of balls.

I wonder where he got them from? :twisted:

As a new Texan, I haven't been fully briefed on the "ripping on Romo" state citizenship requirements. Is it required to rip on Romo even if you're not particularly invested in the Cowboys? What about if you really only care about the AFC, still then?

Aren't you a closet 49ers fan? Aren't the 90's reason enough for you to rip on the Cowboys? I'm certainly not invested in them, but given that the Cowboys and the Falcons are the two closest conference opponents to New Orleans, I've simply developed a healthy amount of antagonism toward those teams over time.

As for the state citizenship requirement, I've only been here four years and (Austin isn't really like the rest of the state) so I couldn't really say.

ETA: Also, if it weren't for the Cowboys playing at the same time, I might be able to watch the Saints on TV.

mudbunny wrote:

@*legion*
Why is the transition easier? Is it because of the rules protecting QBs right now? Is the typical NFL scheme approaching the complexity of the college scheme, or is it the other way around?

It's all of those things and more.

The biggest is the downfield contact rule emphasis - aka "the defender shall not touch the receiver, no matter what". In today's game, receivers scamper down the field, free and unencumbered. This makes things much easier on quarterbacks. This is the crux of what I call PolianBall (after Colts GM and NFL competition committee member Bill Polian), and a FoxSports web article this week pointed back to that in talking about week 1's offensive fireworks.

The rules protecting quarterbacks has made the QB position a lot safer. Young players are less likely to get the living crap beat out of them early on, whereas that used to be almost an expected rite of passage.

The dominance of the spread offense at the college level has changed many things. Fast-running QBs are likely to line up in the shotgun with 4 WRs in front of them, whereas they used to end up in much more run-heavy option offenses. As the spread has become more dominant at the college level, it has increased in sophistication and become more NFL-like in its route concepts, if not necessarily across the board.

The increase in pre-NFL offense complexity is now reaching all the way back to the high school ranks. What big-time high school players go through now is little short of pro football vocational training. There is a chance of high school football becoming a television spectator sport in its own right in the not-too-distant future. In many places, high school football is much more demanding than college - college ball has strict practice limitations and such that high school ball doesn't. Players nowadays are saying that they had to work much more in high school ball than in college, and it's not from college ball getting any easier. It's all additions. If you subscribe to the "10,000 hours to mastery of something" idea, then the point is that today's young people are getting much closer to their 10,000 mark earlier, thanks to modern high school ball.

Grumpicus wrote:

Aren't you a closet 49ers fan? Aren't the 90's reason enough for you to rip on the Cowboys?

Oh make no mistake, being a recovering 49er fan is more than enough reason for me personally. I'm just trying to understand the rules. From what I've observed, even the most red-state of Texans would sooner "vote out" Romo than any Democratic politician.

I hated Vick long before the dog fighting, so I will continue to hate him.

Agree with Legion's analysis above. WRs have a huge advantage over DBs nowadays. It's a joke how little "defense" can be played compared with what most of us saw growing up watching football.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:
Kush15 wrote:
TheGameguru wrote:

I just find it easier to actively root against anyone playing the Eagles and wishing them some sort of temporary harm.

Not me, I would rather see my team beat their opponents at full strength, I'm disappointed that Vick might not play against my Giants next week. In my eyes, it taints the victory, should the Giants win. Since they are in bad shape themselves, that might not happen. Regardless, should still be a tight matchup next Sunday. If Vick plays, I'm taking the Eagles. If Kafka starts, I'm not sure who I would take. Might be a good game to pick next week. I think the Eagles should pull it out because of their offensive weapons, regardless of QB.

Kafka looked really good last night; I was thinking that both he and the Eagles front office were going to get paid at some point (they'll trade him to some QB-desperate team for a good pick, and he'll get a big contract). They've been high on him for a while, and he certainly played well when he came in.

Apparently the new path to riches in this world is being an Eagles backup QB.

Kafka was a pretty decent quarterback in college. He was pretty mobile too but I didn't notice any of that last night (wasn't paying much attention by that point though). Led Northwestern to a win against some podunk school in Iowa City.

iaintgotnopants wrote:

Kafka was a pretty decent quarterback in college. He was pretty mobile too but I didn't notice any of that last night (wasn't paying much attention by that point though). Led Northwestern to a win against some podunk school in Iowa City.

Yeah, I remember that, and remember thinking the kid had some proverbial moxie.

Hey, speaking of Big Ten schools, it's exciting to see that the University of Minnesota hasn't lost to a lower-tier WAC team in over a week.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:
iaintgotnopants wrote:

Kafka was a pretty decent quarterback in college. He was pretty mobile too but I didn't notice any of that last night (wasn't paying much attention by that point though). Led Northwestern to a win against some podunk school in Iowa City.

Yeah, I remember that, and remember thinking the kid had some proverbial moxie.

Hey, speaking of Big Ten schools, it's exciting to see that the University of Minnesota hasn't lost to a lower-tier WAC team in over a week.

You're sh*ttin' me. New Mexico State's in the WAC? Sure you didn't mean WIAC?

*Legion* wrote:
Grumpicus wrote:

Aren't you a closet 49ers fan? Aren't the 90's reason enough for you to rip on the Cowboys?

Oh make no mistake, being a recovering 49er fan is more than enough reason for me personally. I'm just trying to understand the rules. From what I've observed, even the most red-state of Texans would sooner "vote out" Romo than any Democratic politician.

I don't understand the Cowboy hate, really. Except that, even though they have not actually *done* anything in the past 15 years or so, they still get treated like "America's Team" by the networks. I guess being the QB on a hated team means everyone hates you by extension. Personally, I think the guy deserves at least some credit. He's not an elite QB by any means, but he has yanked out at least as many Ws as he has blown games. He plays hurt. Been to 3 Pro Bowls. He does seem to be a congenital choker, but you have to first *get* somewhere where choking matters in order to choke. All in all, not bad for a guy who was undrafted.

Jerry Jones is the devil, however.

(ex-Cowboys fan and Texas emigre)

Thomas Davis's knee has returned to its natural state.

*Legion* wrote:

Thomas Davis's knee has returned to its natural state.

Yep. Two linebackers in two weeks. Look for Cam to go for 500 next week and for the Panthers to put up a third L.

Enix wrote:
*Legion* wrote:

Thomas Davis's knee has returned to its natural state.

Yep. Two linebackers in two weeks. Look for Cam to go for 500 next week and for the Panthers to put up a third L.

Seeing as they're playing Jacksonville next week, I'm OK with that.

It definitely looks like a Maurice Jones-Drew game next week. Which, if they indeed make it Blaine Gabbert's first start, is probably the best way to ease the new kid into the lineup.

Thomas Davis, Nick Collins, Jordan Shipley, and Jamaal Charles, all lost for the season in week two. Ugly, ugly week.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Thomas Davis, Nick Collins, Jordan Shipley, and Jamaal Charles, all lost for the season in week two. Ugly, ugly week.

And yet, not a scratch on Cadillac Williams.

*Legion* wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Thomas Davis, Nick Collins, Jordan Shipley, and Jamaal Charles, all lost for the season in week two. Ugly, ugly week.

And yet, not a scratch on Cadillac Williams.

The week's not over.

*Legion* wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Thomas Davis, Nick Collins, Jordan Shipley, and Jamaal Charles, all lost for the season in week two. Ugly, ugly week.

And yet, not a scratch on Cadillac Williams.

Please don't jinx Cadillac, he's suffered enough. I'm rooting for the Rams solely because he's on their team.

Also, for ex-Bucs, I see Sabby Piscitelli has replaced Eric Berry? Sabby was the Chiefs' second-leading tackler yesterday. If this is the case, this might be the singly-largest drop in talent between injured starter and replacement in history. It'd be like Spergon Wynn replacing Peyton Manning.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

I see Sabby Piscitelli has replaced Eric Berry? Sabby was the Chiefs' second-leading tackler yesterday.

Who was first? The end zone?

*Legion* wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

I see Sabby Piscitelli has replaced Eric Berry? Sabby was the Chiefs' second-leading tackler yesterday.

Who was first? The end zone?

Seriously, between the Jayhawks and Chiefs, I witnessed 114 points and 1179 yards given up in both games this week. It was easily to most painful weekend of football I have ever watched.

*Legion* wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

I see Sabby Piscitelli has replaced Eric Berry? Sabby was the Chiefs' second-leading tackler yesterday.

Who was first? The end zone?

J. McGraw, a safety. Fourth on the list? K. Lewis, a safety. I'm gonna go out on a huge limb here and suggest that, when three of your four leading tacklers are safeties, your defense has had a somewhat subpar game.

Except that, even though they have not actually *done* anything in the past 15 years or so, they still get treated like "America's Team" by the networks.

Yep.

Oh, and their fans.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:
*Legion* wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

I see Sabby Piscitelli has replaced Eric Berry? Sabby was the Chiefs' second-leading tackler yesterday.

Who was first? The end zone?

J. McGraw, a safety. Fourth on the list? K. Lewis, a safety. I'm gonna go out on a huge limb here and suggest that, when three of your four leading tacklers are safeties, your defense has had a somewhat subpar game.

Or they've managed to perfect the safety blitz to a stunning degree

karmajay wrote:
Except that, even though they have not actually *done* anything in the past 15 years or so, they still get treated like "America's Team" by the networks.

Yep.

Oh, and their fans.

I freely admit to perhaps being biased (I grew up in North Texas and was a Cowboys fan from the early 70s until the Devil fired Tom Landry), but are they more obnoxious than other NFC East teams? I live in Redskins land now, and the fans here are pretty obnoxious, even though they have even less reason to be so than Cowboys fans.

Not trolling, just curious.

Difference: I live in an area which has Cowboys fans, who are obnoxious and don't realize that they are supporting a megalomaniacal owner who is perpetually urinating on them as their dollars flow into North Texas.

boogle wrote:

Difference: I live in an area which has Cowboys fans, who are obnoxious and don't realize that they are supporting a megalomaniacal owner who is perpetually urinating on them as their dollars flow into North Texas.

So, same as up here in Northern VA then.