NFL Week 1

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 4:32 pm

Looks like there are going to be lots of sacks in Denver games this season. Both for, and against.

Peyton won't last long, if they don't correct that.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 4:36 pm

Does anyone know if recovering an onside kick in OT means that the team that was supposed to receive the kick has exhausted its first possession (meaning the kicking team can win with a FG)? If so, then the onside kick is legitimately good strategy. If not, it's kind of risky, although I think the risk is overstated.

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 4:39 pm

Being a fan of a team that have drafted terrible QBs following the selection of Steve McNair 20 years ago, it is nice to see that the front office appear to have made nice picks these past two off seasons.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 5:17 pm

Rex wrote:Does anyone know if recovering an onside kick in OT means that the team that was supposed to receive the kick has exhausted its first possession (meaning the kicking team can win with a FG)? If so, then the onside kick is legitimately good strategy. If not, it's kind of risky, although I think the risk is overstated.

I do believe it counts as your opportunity to possess.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 5:23 pm

sancarlos wrote:Some good games. I for one am still excited for the opening weekend.

Beats the hell out of watching left turns.

Someone else thought the race last night was a snoozer too!

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 5:25 pm

A_B wrote:
Rex wrote:Does anyone know if recovering an onside kick in OT means that the team that was supposed to receive the kick has exhausted its first possession (meaning the kicking team can win with a FG)? If so, then the onside kick is legitimately good strategy. If not, it's kind of risky, although I think the risk is overstated.
I do believe it counts as your opportunity to possess.

AB is right.

Opportunity to possess: The opportunity to possess occurs only during kicking plays. A kickoff is an opportunity to possess for the receiving team. If the kicking team legally recovers the kick, the receiving team is considered to have had its opportunity. A punt or a field goal that crosses the line of scrimmage and is muffed by the receiving team is considered to be an opportunity to possess for the receivers. Normal touching rules by the kicking team apply.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 5:28 pm

Peyton manning throws a terrible ball.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 5:32 pm

I'd have to say that the onside kick is good strategy then. You're risking about 30-40 yards of field position for a chance to short circuit the game. If I'm returning the kick I'm sending out my hands team every time, and if the opponent doesn't send out the hands team I'm going onside.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 5:36 pm

Aqib Talib evens up the pick sixes!

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 5:37 pm

Rex wrote:I'd have to say that the onside kick is good strategy then. You're risking about 30-40 yards of field position for a chance to short circuit the game. If I'm returning the kick I'm sending out my hands team every time, and if the opponent doesn't send out the hands team I'm going onside.

It's also an even better strategy in the case of a team like the Seahawks when you think you have a good enough defense to force the field goal because you know you're going to get the ball back.

It's hard to blame the onside kick in this case when Seattle had the chance to win the game in overtime after the Rams field goal.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 5:47 pm

Shirley wrote:Has there ever been anyone, anywhere who thought the Coneheads were funny? How the fuck are they in a commercial in 2015?

They were funny once....back in 1977...

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 5:51 pm

Come back Kam! Gonna be a loooooong season without you!

Post by **brian** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 6:40 pm

You know what it's like to get kicked in the nuts? Now imagine that just about every damn week for a fucking lifetime and you're close to what it feels like to be a Lions fan.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 7:33 pm

But isnt the better strategy with a good defense to force the other team to 0 points instead of 3?

bfj · Post by **bfj** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 8:32 pm

Suggs out for the year. Torn Achilles.

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 8:44 pm

Wow. Thats huge for Baltimore. Hes got to be slowing down but his physicality just sets the tone. While im not sad to see him go, wouldnt wish it on him. Whats up with Calvin Johnson. Totally aside from him screwing my fantasy team, two catches and four targets just cant get it done. Is he really on the downside like that?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 8:57 pm

Manziel looked enough like a competent qb for me to say let him have the reins and build for next year.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 9:10 pm

degenerasian wrote:But isnt the better strategy with a good defense to force the other team to 0 points instead of 3?

According to this post, the surprise onside kick is successful over half the time.

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 9:37 pm

I'll read the article but you would have to exclude all onside kicks before 4th qtr 2min warning for the statistics to apply. Overtime kicks arent really surprises anymore. Maybe today's but no longer.

howard · Post by **howard** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 10:41 pm

…it prevents you from winning

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 10:42 pm

Giants threw it on 3rd down and didn't go for it on 4th down, then let the Cowboys go right up the middle for the winner TD.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 11:26 pm

Tom 1860 wrote:Being a fan of a team that have drafted terrible QBs following the selection of Steve McNair 20 years ago, it is nice to see that the front office appear to have made nice picks these past two off seasons.

I know it's just one game but I really enjoyed seeing Mariota badly outplay Winston. Based on the highlights, it seems like the Titans have done a nice job integrating some concepts from Oregon's offense. The 52-yard catch and run TD in particular reminded me a lot of the types of plays Mariota would run in college.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 11:29 pm

That clock mgt from the Giants was an all-timer.

Post by **Shirley** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 11:30 pm

tennbengal wrote:That clock mgt from the Giants was an all-timer.

And my survivor pools thank Tom Coughlin for that. Whew!

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 11:31 pm

Me too. That should not have happened. Amazing.

Post by **Shirley** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 11:34 pm

Actually, it looks like I picked Green Bay in the Swamp pool. Huh. Well, that worked too. But I had Dallas in the one I have money in.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 11:40 pm

I mean, you just gotta go for it there. Someday there will be a smart coach, I'm sure of it....

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 11:57 pm

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 3:40 am

HaulCitgo wrote:Wow. Thats huge for Baltimore. Hes got to be slowing down but his physicality just sets the tone. While im not sad to see him go, wouldnt wish it on him. Whats up with Calvin Johnson. Totally aside from him screwing my fantasy team, two catches and four targets just cant get it done. Is he really on the downside like that?

I don't think so. He's healthy, which has not always been the case.

Today the Chargers consistently doubled him. Under previous coaches, that would mean the Lions would still look for him, especially if the QB was pressured. He's got the size and hands to make a catch even when he's blanketed.

Caldwell seems to want something different. The Lions philosophy is to find the most open player. I think they hope to have enough success away from Johnson that defenses start gambling by moving the safety that was bracketing him into some other space. If they read this right, then they have Johnson one-on-one with a defender who isn't as fast or big (often both) and they take shots downfield with him.

But against the Chargers they couldn't really get anything going. So the Chargers didn't drop off Johnson. The Lions threw to him a few times late in the game when they were almost out of it and the Chargers were playing back, or the stats would be even weaker.

Will Johnson get used differently in the future? Who knows. I think he's still got tremendous talent. But Golden Tate and the new RB Ameer Abdullah are pretty good too. Going to them or others when you are playing 10 versus 9 is not a bad way to go.

But perhaps the Lions will come to the conclusion that they have to force plays to Johnson, and hope that he can overcome the double teams. It's worked before, in a different offense. One thing is clear. The Chargers game provides a roadmap of how to successfully defend against the Lions, with doubling Johnson part of the base scheme.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 6:50 am

degenerasian wrote:And Pruitt was worried about Bills QB

A competent performance by Taylor - made to seem better by Color Guy Solomon Willcots. I am convinced that he is not really human, just some sort of sound board that blurts out platitudes and stupid sayings automatically, one second after a play ends. Taylor turned the wrong way on a hand off and managed to get back to the line of scrimmage, and Willcots spewed out the compliments as if it were vintage Elway under centre. That guy sucks.

Willcots that is.

But the Bills defence was as advertised, and that game was never close. Nice way to start the year.

Not getting the Manziell love though - he pretty much sucked, which is - I guess - an improvement over last season, but that entire team looked as bad as those uniforms. 12 penalties, 5 turnovers, bone head plays all over the place. Man that was a garbage performance.

Gunpowder · Post by **Gunpowder** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 6:56 am

Rex wrote:So I assume there are some nerdpieces out there about when it's better to go for 2 under the new PAT rules?

I thought it may have been better before the new rules.

Gunpowder · Post by **Gunpowder** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:01 am

Shirley wrote:
tennbengal wrote:That clock mgt from the Giants was an all-timer.
And my survivor pools thank Tom Coughlin for that. Whew!

Fuck you and fuck everyone else who took them. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOUR VICTORY.

Gunpowder · Post by **Gunpowder** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:04 am

I know this is hindsight and you have to just take me at my word but the games I wasn't touching in survivor were:

- Indy/Buffalo. Outside of QB, these teams aren't even close.
- Giants/Cowboys. Fuck all of you lucky fucks and fuck NYG for not running twice (yes, you heard me) on 3rd and goal.
- Bengals/Raiders. Ok I was way off on this one.

I took NYJ in one and Miami in the other. Lucky me.

Also fuck the Steelers for not winning a game they were supposed to get blown out in but could have won. Now I have to argue with dolts all week on the Steelers MB. I'm glad I wasn't able to watch that one. Also can't watch next week or the week after that. I always seem to have my flights right when their game is, no matter what time each week.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:17 am

Gunpowder wrote: - Giants/Cowboys. Fuck all of you lucky fucks and fuck NYG for not running twice (yes, you heard me) on 3rd and goal.

I was saying to my buddies who are Giants fans that the strategy has to be a run on 3rd followed by going for it on 4th down (either with a run or pass because the clock stops anyways if you come up short) if the run gets stopped. Eli is getting some understandable heat for not taking a sack but that ignores the fact that you have to run on 3rd so that you still have a great chance of scoring on 4th if necessary.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:23 am

Gunpowder wrote: - Indy/Buffalo. Outside of QB, these teams aren't even close.

I had that same thought during the game. Bills fans were ecstatic because Buffalo doesn't dismantle playoff teams like that, but the Colts looked flat from the start. And the omens for the Colts are really bad - Hilton bangs up his knee and Frank Gore wore down in the second half? Could be a long year in Indy.

Gunpowder · Post by **Gunpowder** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:31 am

Counting on Frank Gore was dumb from the start. I really think Ryan Grigson is awful at GM-ing, but he's fortunate to have picked number one in '12.

Gunpowder · Post by **Gunpowder** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:31 am

Man, the Lions. Doesn't seem to matter who the coach is, they keep doing this stuff.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:50 am

Joe K wrote:
Gunpowder wrote: - Giants/Cowboys. Fuck all of you lucky fucks and fuck NYG for not running twice (yes, you heard me) on 3rd and goal.
I was saying to my buddies who are Giants fans that the strategy has to be a run on 3rd followed by going for it on 4th down (either with a run or pass because the clock stops anyways if you come up short) if the run gets stopped. Eli is getting some understandable heat for not taking a sack but that ignores the fact that you have to run on 3rd so that you still have a great chance of scoring on 4th if necessary.

Right, you have the liberty of passing on 4th down because the clock stops no matter what. The only bad decision on 4th is kicking the field goal. I do think that the entire 3rd down play falls on the QB there, especially when it's someone like Eli with vast authority to change the play at the line. Even if he's being told to pass from the sidelines, he's got to know how stupid that is in the situation. I mean that's exactly what he's getting paid this new megabucks contract to do.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:51 am

Gunpowder wrote:
Shirley wrote:
tennbengal wrote:That clock mgt from the Giants was an all-timer.
And my survivor pools thank Tom Coughlin for that. Whew!

Fuck you and fuck everyone else who took them. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOUR VICTORY.

That pick was money. Never any doubt. On to week 2!

duff · Post by **duff** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 8:10 am

Gunpowder wrote:Counting on Frank Gore was dumb from the start. I really think Ryan Grigson is awful at GM-ing, but he's fortunate to have picked number one in '12.

This is the truth. Grigson is terrible. His only good draft was '12. Moncreif may turn out being pretty good as a third rounder, but why in the hell did he select Dorsett this past year. For special teams? There were glaring areas of need for this team and he glossed over them with high profile signings of old players. Gore was a bad signing. The deal is good, but Frank has too much mileage on him at this point, and with nothing really to spell him at RB2, it is destined to fail. Colts RBs have a tendency to break during the season. Johnson wasn't a bad signing, but added along with Herremans, Cole and Adams, the team should be heading to Denny's for the early bird senior specials.

I am also not high on Pagano. He seems like a nice dude, but his coaching is suspect. And he has kept Pep around for way too long. Get a real OC. Focus on deficiencies in the draft and free agency. I have a bad feeling about this year. I don't think the team is a good as others believe them to be. I think they still win the South, but 10-6 will be a good year.

And congrats to Buffalo. They played a good game. That defense is very good.