The Swamp

They used an inordinate amount of skycam-like views for the ESPN basketball games last night. I hated it.

A_B wrote:They used an inordinate amount of skycam-like views for the ESPN basketball games last night. I hated it.

I did a quick search for skycam before posting this, and one of the hits was johnnie saying he likes it and you saying you hate it (I think from a CFB playoff game).

I also hate it. Loathe it. 30 Aarons agree - skycam blows.

I wonder why they didn't do something like have the Amazon feed be an alternate skycam option and keep the TV broadcast standard (more along the lines of what ESPN does with the CFB playoff games)? Might give incentive to some people to check out the stream who wouldn't otherwise.

rass wrote:I wonder why they didn't do something like have the Amazon feed be an alternate skycam option and keep the TV broadcast standard (more along the lines of what ESPN does with the CFB playoff games)? Might give incentive to some people to check out the stream who wouldn't otherwise.

I really don't understand why this isn't a thing. Different camera views, home / away / national announcers, same commercials.

I love Skycam. I hate not being able to watch downfield routes and coverages.

Gunpowder wrote:I love Skycam. I hate not being able to watch downfield routes and coverages.

College football seems to be ahead of the curve than the NFL here as far as offering multiple platforms for different camera views and announcer options. The broadcast of the national title game is pretty damn awesome. To your point, the one thing I'd love for them to show for an entire game is an all-22 camera angle. I might get sick of it, but it would be interesting to watch in a live game for once.

Hate Skycam. The only thing worse (same?) is this stupid above the net on the power-play camera thing they've started doing. Can't stand it.

I like the end zone view (or behind the net view in hockey). Basically, I like the video game view, for the same reason SL mentioned.

Deal worked out to put Las Vegas Raiders practice facility near M Resort in Las Vegas.

To those unfamiliar with Las Vegas, this is essentially in the middle of nowhere. (If you're driving to Las Vegas from southern California, the M Resort is more or less the first sign of civilization). Fortunately I doubt it's as big of a deal as the VGK practice facility location since VGK practices are open to the public and there's a bar/restaurant there. Most NFL practice facilities are pretty locked down and doubt the Raiders will be any different.

Someone try to explain to me why the Bills should bench Taylor when they're still in the midst of a playoff run. I get he hasn't been awesome, but is going to a rookie really going to help them make the playoffs. Seems like the devil you know is better than the one you don't at this point.

brian wrote:Someone try to explain to me why the Bills should bench Taylor when they're still in the midst of a playoff run. I get he hasn't been awesome, but is going to a rookie really going to help them make the playoffs. Seems like the devil you know is better than the one you don't at this point.

I assume the coach knows way more about the two devils than we do, but yeah this is pretty risky (for a 5-4 team with zero expectations 2 months ago)

brian wrote:Someone try to explain to me why the Bills should bench Taylor when they're still in the midst of a playoff run. I get he hasn't been awesome, but is going to a rookie really going to help them make the playoffs. Seems like the devil you know is better than the one you don't at this point.

It worked out when Cutler replaced Jake Plummer as a rookie in 2006. Broncos were 7-4 with Plummer and finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs.

Ryan wrote:

brian wrote:Someone try to explain to me why the Bills should bench Taylor when they're still in the midst of a playoff run. I get he hasn't been awesome, but is going to a rookie really going to help them make the playoffs. Seems like the devil you know is better than the one you don't at this point.

I assume the coach knows way more about the two devils than we do, but yeah this is pretty risky (for a 5-4 team with zero expectations 2 months ago)

Check out their schedule...

at San Diego
at KC
NE
Indy
Miami
at NE
at Miami

Dolphins suck, sure, but best case scenario has them at 9-7. And the way they've played the last couple weeks, no way they get to 8-8.

Obviously, Taylor's not getting the big contract, so in goes the kid. Not surprised that this has happened, but surprised that they are 5-4 and not 3-6 as I expected at this stage.

to bring something back from the olde swamp



and just because:



and

The more I think on this the more willing I am to at least give it a shot. While I still don't like it for basketball (You can already see where everyone is) I think it could have a lot of interesting applications for football.

GET ON MY LAWN!

Yeah, it's the worst take of the month, maybe the year!

https://twitter.com/rydiculousness/stat ... 9395644416

brian wrote:Someone try to explain to me why the Bills should bench Taylor when they're still in the midst of a playoff run. I get he hasn't been awesome, but is going to a rookie really going to help them make the playoffs. Seems like the devil you know is better than the one you don't at this point.

Yeah Buffalo has never screwed up a QB in a playoff situation before.

wlu_lax6 wrote:

brian wrote:Someone try to explain to me why the Bills should bench Taylor when they're still in the midst of a playoff run. I get he hasn't been awesome, but is going to a rookie really going to help them make the playoffs. Seems like the devil you know is better than the one you don't at this point.

Yeah Buffalo has never screwed up a QB in a playoff situation before.

Please, I beg of you, don't get me started.I've written essays here before about how awful Rob Johnson was...

Bottom line is that Taylor is a decent QB. Not a great (or even very good) passer, but avoids turnovers and once or twice a game, he can do something electrifying with his legs. Put a decent team around him and he's capable of being in the top 10.

In other words, a lot like Flutie.

I mean, not sure how their line is, but he's got pretty damn good skill players.

He's got a running back that is made better in large part due to his running abilities and a group of middling WRs.

The Bears cut a guy and he immediately became the Bills' best WR.

So much for skycam?

Can it get in position for a good shot that close to the end zone?

YEah they have abandoned it.

Gunpowder wrote:He's got a running back that is made better in large part due to his running abilities and a group of middling WRs.

McCoy's a superstar, the line is average and the receivers are far from middling. Kelvin benjamin aside, those Bills receivers are as bad a unit as you have ever seen.

I think that with the skycam, you lose a lot of the territorial, 10 yards at a time feeling that the traditional broadcast brings. Which is probably why they cut to the traditional view on every 3rd down.

Instead, it sends a visual cue that the offense has a long way to go to score and, unless Robert Golden is involved in tackling, it's going to take a long time to do so.

Are we sure that Mariotta is good?

Pruitt wrote:Are we sure that Mariotta is good?

Last night he easily made as many really bad plays as he made good plays. At least he hustles when he throws an INT!

Pruitt wrote:

Gunpowder wrote:He's got a running back that is made better in large part due to his running abilities and a group of middling WRs.

McCoy's a superstar, the line is average and the receivers are far from middling. Kelvin benjamin aside, those Bills receivers are as bad a unit as you have ever seen.

Even Kelvin Benjamin ain't that good. Everybody wants a big tall WR to throw jump balls to, like Megatron. But Megatron was good because he could jump and catch and run a 4.35 40 and run through a guy and get open. Depending on throwing jump balls to a guy who is never open like Benjamin is dangerous - a lot of those get knocked down or picked and don't make the highlight reels.

Pruitt wrote:Are we sure that Mariotta is good?

Ya know, this year he really hasn't made the leap that he'd need to make to get there. And that's not just referring to last night. The plays were there IMO - he was pressured a lot but the Titans had open WRs.

Gunpowder wrote:

Pruitt wrote:

Gunpowder wrote:He's got a running back that is made better in large part due to his running abilities and a group of middling WRs.

McCoy's a superstar, the line is average and the receivers are far from middling. Kelvin benjamin aside, those Bills receivers are as bad a unit as you have ever seen.

Even Kelvin Benjamin ain't that good. Everybody wants a big tall WR to throw jump balls to, like Megatron. But Megatron was good because he could jump and catch and run a 4.35 40 and run through a guy and get open. Depending on throwing jump balls to a guy who is never open like Benjamin is dangerous - a lot of those get knocked down or picked and don't make the highlight reels.

Believe me bitter fantasy football experience has taught me that Benjamin is no better than average.

Which means he's Megatron in comparison to the other scrubs lining up wide.

https://twitter.com/kingsol620/status/9 ... 3020199936

Bet on the Bears today.

Dre Kirkpatrick just had a 100 yard INT return and *didn't* score a TD...

So about that QB change in Buffalo...

Joe K wrote:So about that QB change in Buffalo...

Was this after the second, third or fourth interception?

The bills thing is truly amazing.

If only it were possible to foresee a potential disaster like this.