NFL 2014 season thread: The good, the bad, & the ugly.

Borla, forgive me for parroting some of your comments.

I definately agree that there is a huge difference between NFL defenses and collegiate defenses. A guy like little johhny--I like to pick on him because he is excessively arrogant and he played for the aggies--might face a few of really good defensive players on some of the better college teams, but in the NFL he's going to face many very good defensive players on just about every team. And of course there are the coaches. Not all coaches belong in the NFL, but for the most part they're in the NFL because they've proven themselves, "OK, their QBs likes to run. We'll watch the film on him, and make the necessary adjustments."

Labelling a player "the next great thing" after their initial success is something the sports media & fans love to do. It might be relatively easy (a subjective term) to see that a running back "has what it takes" after his rookie season, but the QB position involves many more skills. As you pointed out, Kaepernick is a great example of high expectations that were unralistic. I'm boxing fan, and it would be impossible for me to list the number of "next great thing" fighters that never lived up to their perceived potential.

One of the problems I think of with running QBs is the lack of ability to pass accurately once they start running (not simply scrambling) only to realize that it isn't going to work. They have to recognize that & react before they cross TLOS. Not easy, especially for a young QB. I can imagine defensive backs saying "He's trapped, please let him try a pass."
--- merged: Dec 12, 2014 at 1:47 PM ---
Something I fogot.....the risk of injuries for running QBs. I'm don't necessarily mean major serious injuries, that increased risk for running QBs is a given. I'm thinking more the accumulation of nagging injuries. A slightly sore elbow might not affect his game. But in combination with a slightly sore knee, shoulder, and so on, I could see a running QB having a shortened career.

If Kaep doesn't adjust his game to rely more on pocket protection, and continues to run a lot, with defenses ready for his runs, will he be around as long as Peyton?

 

I should've included a qualifier, "provided that Kaep becomes a productive QB."

I agree, if his slide (ooh, a pun) continues, yes, he might be lucky to be a career back up.

I hear a couple of announcers talking about QBs running. On a single play the QB ran for more yards than did one of the announcers, a former NFL QB, in his entire career. It was Kaep & Fouts, IIRC.

 

Mentioning slideing & stepping out of bounds.....

Back during the Oilers/Steelers rivalry, I used get POd because Franco Harris would only "fight" for extra yardage when he absolutely had to. And sometimes he would slide even when he was close rather than bash through a defender. Once he got the first down, and the defense was closing in, down he would go.

It's possible that I'm wrong .

 

Manziel is on my list of hoping he's a bust

 

Yes, it was VERY NICE to see little johnny get his ass kicked.

------------------------------------------------------

Son of a bitch.

I don't know if Fitz could've pulled it off, but having to rely on rookie Savage sure didn't help. The defense did everything it could do keep the Texans in the game.

Oh well, at least now I can root for the Colts against the cowgirls.

------------------------------------------------------

Now I'm relying on the Eagles to come through. My wife has been warned that I plan to watch the game.

 

The Bills!
I feel for their defense.....one of if not THE best in the league but the offense is putrid. If the offense could improve to mere competence they Bills would be playoff bound for sure.

 

I know, i got it on. Lol was glad do see him look like shit.

 

Don't think he looks to sad

 

If he keeps playing the way he played today he won't be smiling when he become "Johnny the Safeway stock boy."

Just guessing but I'll bet there would be a pay cut in the job switch.

 

Bunch of wimps. The Eagles need to change their name to the Doves.

 

Thad Lewis? I didn't even know the Texans had a "fourth" QB on the roster. Chances are Case Keenum will get another (temporary) shot as the starting QB for the Texans.

The football gods are giving OB the finger. Mallet tears a pec muscle, IIRC it happened in a game where he showed good poise. Fitz breaks his leg after getting second chance to show something. Savage hurts his leg in a bad outing, but not many rookies could've stepped into that situation and had a good game.

If the Texans can't evaluate a QB they actually want on the team (I'm pretty sure that excludes Keenum and Lewis), they might as well line everybody up on the line of scrimage to block and just have someone/anyone hand the ball off to Foster and Blue. Hmmm.....maybe give JJ Watt a shot at QB on a few plays .

 

Peterson hasn't exactly been hanging his head in shame and/or showing any remorse. Maybe someone should tell him,
"You might not like it, but you'd be smart to go along with what the NFL wants you to do."

I'm not suggesting that he's a persecuted scapegoat, he certainly isn't, but he's got to know that the NFL is going to try to save face after the Rice fiasco.