George Allen said....

[Vegasdogg]

"It is much easier to destroy something thatn to build it."

Paul Brown
Sid Gilman
Air Coryall/
Walsh


Pretty much this is the Three Trees of NFL offense today.


The next 7-9 years will be the D who is attacking the QB, has a strong defensive backfield, sacks galore, and mark my words since this is a passing leauge, whoever has the best TE and running game, coupled wirh a great D, forget about it.

Some think this is a passing league, and they'd be 1/2 correct.

This is such a thinkers league that calling it a passing league is lacking in thinking. The Jets, Ravens, Steelers or Patriots did not get here on the arm of the QB alone. They had top 5 defenses.

Whether you like it or not this is a defensive game, moreso now since the D needs to catch up with the O.

But like Allen says above.......

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Vegasdogg

"It is much easier to destroy something thatn to build it."

Paul Brown
Sid Gilman
Air Coryall/
Walsh

Pretty much this is the Three Trees of NFL offense today.

The next 7-9 years will be the D who is attacking the QB, has a strong defensive backfield, sacks galore, and mark my words since this is a passing leauge, whoever has the best TE and running game, coupled wirh a great D, forget about it.

Some think this is a passing league, and they'd be 1/2 correct.

This is such a thinkers league that calling it a passing league is lacking in thinking. The Jets, Ravens, Steelers or Patriots did not get here on the arm of the QB alone. They had top 5 defenses.

Whether you like it or not this is a defensive game, moreso now since the D needs to catch up with the O.

But like Allen says above.......

Interesting post Vegas! Obviously, when you get into the playoffs - just about every team has a great leader behind Center. That being the case, what DEFENSE is going to pick off Peyton Manning and Brett Favre at crunch time? The one with the RIGHT playmakers in it as well as the one that can make them most uncomfortable in the pocket.

And wasn't that sad to see a future Hall of Fame QB throwing off his back foot and across his body into traffic? Arm strength? Didn't see it when the defense wouldn't allow it.

Last, but not least, not every QB plays indoors like Manning so you better have a good defense and a running game that can help rest your defense.
- Tom F.

[YtownBacker]

Good job Vegas. The NFL is a copycat league. It is all about adjusting and readjusting. As the offense adjusts to what defenses are doing the defense readjusts and it comes full circle. Yes, it is a passing league today but defenses will adjust and it will force teams to run against teams playing with 4 corners and a FS.

Spread the field, run the wildcat or whatever, good or great defenses will find a way to stop offenses. You have to score points to win but you also have to stop the other guy. Teams don't win consistently in the NFL without strong defenses and never will.

[Shep]

I'll go along with the notion that there will be a pushback... and I do think it'll be a pass rush revolution... but it's freaking easy as hell to show why this is absolutely a passing and quarterback league. The top passing teams are the top teams, period. Tons of playoff teams now have mediocre defenses and downright horrible running games.

Last year, the Bengals and Jets were the only teams without great passing games. The Jets snuck in because the Colts sat their starters and the Bengals were faux contenders, one and done. They were on the fringe.

But there will be a "correction" at some point, I would think. But keep in mind that the league and every network wants to see points and passing and so it shall be.

[YtownBacker]

Originally Posted by Shep

I'll go along with the notion that there will be a pushback... and I do think it'll be a pass rush revolution... but it's freaking easy as hell to show why this is absolutely a passing and quarterback league. The top passing teams are the top teams, period. Tons of playoff teams now have mediocre defenses and downright horrible running games.

Last year, the Bengals and Jets were the only teams without great passing games. The Jets snuck in because the Colts sat their starters and the Bengals were faux contenders, one and done. They were on the fringe.

But there will be a "correction" at some point, I would think. But keep in mind that the league and every network wants to see points and passing and so it shall be.

You almost got the point. It's a passing league "for now". As defenses adjust, offenses will readjust. Always been the nature of the game.

The thing a team (our team) needs to is to continue to build all aspects of the team. Balance wins not just being able to just pass the ball. You just keep adding "football players" on both sides of the ball and things will be just fine.

[Shep]

Y, I think there will be a pushback... but it will never again really be a pendulum. This is a passing league by design and rule change, not accident. Fans (and TV viewers) want to see the ball in the air and give the scoreboard a good workout.

It may not stay as crazy obvious as it was the past two years, but I think it's a passing/quarterback league for good.

[mz.]

Originally Posted by Shep

This is a passing league by design and rule change, not accident.

I have nothing to add but would like to make sure this point is emphasized.

[YtownBacker]

Originally Posted by Shep

Y, I think there will be a pushback... but it will never again really be a pendulum. This is a passing league by design and rule change, not accident. Fans (and TV viewers) want to see the ball in the air and give the scoreboard a good workout.

It may not stay as crazy obvious as it was the past two years, but I think it's a passing/quarterback league for good.

I agree it will always be a QB driven league but as defenses adjust to pass first with gearing up the pass rush and playing more DBs. QBs will have to take what's given to them. I think the run game and TEs will become more valuable then now but, smart QBs who are mobile and can check off and call audibles will be what's needed.

QBs will always be the centerpiece but the NFL will migrate more toward a team game then it has been. Great defenses will come back into fashion.

[mz.]

Originally Posted by YtownBacker

Great defenses will come back into fashion.

My point here would not be that good defense is or will ever be unfashionable, but moreso that its success is predicated upon stopping the passing game. As shep has stated, the RULES have dictated this.

Just look at the Jets. PERFECT example of a team that is ahead of the curve on D. Stacking up passrushers and CB (I mean Revis, Cromartie and Kyle Wilson...wow) is how you best try to stop a passing game in a league that changed its rules to make passing easier.

[YtownBacker]

Originally Posted by mz.

My point here would not be that good defense is or will ever be unfashionable, but moreso that its success is predicated upon stopping the passing game. As shep has stated, the RULES have dictated this.

Just look at the Jets. PERFECT example of a team that is ahead of the curve on D. Stacking up passrushers and CB (I mean Revis, Cromartie and Kyle Wilson...wow) is how you best try to stop a passing game in a league that changed its rules to make passing easier.

I agree with the Jets analogy 100%. They were successful because Ryan has found a way to limit the passing game. A pass happy team will have to change what it does and take what teams give them.

If I set up to take the pass away and give you the run aren't you going to take it? that's all I mean about adjusting and readjusting. When they change the rules to give receivers an upper hand against DBs then teams will go another direction (more zone coverage, zone blitzing) and put more emphasis on the pass rush.

I think the verticle passing game and strong arm QBs will give way to more mobile QBs, with pinpoint accuracy who are smart enough to take waht the defenses give them. The QB will always be the center piece but a different style QB is on the horizon.

Defensive players are getting too big and athletic. Defensive schemes are getting more and more sophisticated. Offenses will have to change and evolve.

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by mz.

My point here would not be that good defense is or will ever be unfashionable, but moreso that its success is predicated upon stopping the passing game. As shep has stated, the RULES have dictated this.

Just look at the Jets. PERFECT example of a team that is ahead of the curve on D. Stacking up passrushers and CB (I mean Revis, Cromartie and Kyle Wilson...wow) is how you best try to stop a passing game in a league that changed its rules to make passing easier.

And because the trend into this passing league has caused defenes to become much more sophisticated and disruptive, they will eventually catch up. Right now passing is the name of the game, and so teams need to place an emphasis on stopping the pass. CB's and pass rushers are seeing a huge increase in $$$ for thier positions. We're seeing no decay along the offensive side of the ball, and they're getting more creative every season. But sooner or later it is going to become dangerous to try and lob it up 35-50 times a game.

No question the rules favor passing, and that IS be design. It is sexy and exciting. Shit they might as well make the QB two hand touch with the rules they come up with for Tom Brady. He has two now, right?

Eventually the dynamic will change.

[Shep]

It's really going to be fascinating to see if teams that invest a lot in cover guys can make it work as a smart chess move against the great passing teams. I would count the Browns in on that, paying a lot for Sheldon Brown and then drafting a corner unusually high in Haden.

I happen to think it's more of a pass rush thing because of the coverage rules. I think when Manning faces Revis in a must-win game, I'm always betting on Manning.

But if he plays a team that puts the heat on (like the Saints put heat on Favre)... that might work.