[paulg]

 jjbrr, on 2013-January-07, 13:27, said:

I doubt these stats even take into account the added equity from recent rules changes that benefit the offense (defenseless receiver, leading with the helmet, helmet to helmet contact, whatever they call it).

Seeing a couple of these helmet penalties over the weekend I did wonder whether they should continue to wear helmets and perhaps just learn to tackle properly instead. In fact, do they need all that padding too? And the ball is a little small. We soon have you playing rugby union!

[Cyberyeti]

 paulg, on 2013-January-08, 03:09, said:

[/size]
Seeing a couple of these helmet penalties over the weekend I did wonder whether they should continue to wear helmets and perhaps just learn to tackle properly instead. In fact, do they need all that padding too? And the ball is a little small. We soon have you playing rugby union!

Having played full contact American football without the padding, it's IMO a much better game that way. Knowing you're not "invincible" helps you play a bit more sensibly, but I can entirely understand in an increasingly litigious society that it's just not going to happen.

The tackling method is more a function of the rules than anything else, stopping them getting an extra yard by crash tackling a bit higher is preferable to going in low and allowing them to fall forward unless you're a 190lb DB tackling a 260lb TE.

[mgoetze]

By far the most exciting game I have watched so far was week 15's 49ers @ Patriots. Totally epic. Also I don't recall any boring plays on 2nd and short.

[Fluffy]

 billw55, on 2013-January-07, 10:25, said:

Yes, but only one forward pass per play, even if the receiver is still behind the line of scrimmage.

Can you pass if you started as defending team?

[Cyberyeti]

 Fluffy, on 2013-January-09, 07:08, said:

Can you pass if you started as defending team?

You can certainly pass backwards or "lateral" as it's known, I don't think you can pass forwards, you certainly can't pass forward on a kickoff return but can pass backwards as this famous one shows.

[billw55]

 Fluffy, on 2013-January-09, 07:08, said:

Can you pass if you started as defending team?

In such a case, you may not make a forward pass. You may make a sideways or backward pass; these are called a "lateral". However if a lateral is not caught and hits the ground, this is ruled as a fumble rather than an incomplete pass. Only the offensive team may make a forward pass.

Having fun yet?

[paulg]

 billw55, on 2013-January-09, 08:09, said:

In such a case, you may not make a forward pass. You may make a sideways or backward pass; these are called a "lateral". However if a lateral is not caught and hits the ground, this is ruled as a fumble rather than an incomplete pass. Only the offensive team may make a forward pass.

Interestingly the rules in rugby are very similar, which is why if you got rid of the padding and made the ball slightly larger (so easier to handle), you could have plays like this (youtube clip) on a regular basis.

[Fluffy]

I suspect the rugby rules disallow attackers from blocking defenders, making passes more attractive

[Cyberyeti]

 Fluffy, on 2013-January-09, 11:49, said:

I suspect the rugby rules disallow attackers from blocking defenders, making passes more attractive

Correct, in open play you're not supposed to be ahead of the ball most of the time.

You also can contest the ball when you kick it so a lot more of that happens too.

[JLOGIC]

So far on 2nd and 2 flacco has gone mid range (incomplete), and very deep (touchdown pass) in the divisional round against the broncos. Flacco is a pretty bad QB and the Ravens have a top 3 RB on their squad. Even the commentators said 2nd and short is an offensive play callers dream since they can do anything.

[Bbradley62]

 JLOGIC, on 2013-January-12, 15:49, said:

Flacco is a pretty bad QB...

Over the last 3 regular seasons, Flacco's quarterback rating has been 7th (2010), 18th (2011) and 12th (2012) among the 30 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Hardly "pretty bad".

[JLOGIC]

lol quarterback rating and all that, but even by that metric he rates to be a pretty bad QB in context of the divisional playoff round. Quarterback rating to judge a QB is probably more useless than RBI to judge a hitter in baseball though, somehow commentators love those stats though.

Of course as I write this Flacco is having a very good game, I did not really mean to troll him and don't have anything against him.

My point was simply that even a team with a great elite RB and a non great QB (lets call him slightly above league average) is going deep on 2nd and 2 in my TWO PLAY SAMPLE SIZE lol in the playoffs. I think 2nd and 2 is a spot where lots of teams do take a shot a lot.

This post has been edited by JLOGIC: 2013-January-12, 16:28

[Bbradley62]

 JLOGIC, on 2013-January-12, 16:21, said:

I think 2nd and 2 is a spot where lots of teams do take a shot a lot.

Agreed.

[billw55]

I would say Flacco is an average quarterback. Which is good enough on a team with such a strong defense.

But wow, just lol at the Bronco secondary epic choking. Playing like that, the Patriots might score 100 on them, so the loss may have prevented a greater embarasment.

[JLOGIC]

Agreed re Flacco, of course last night he was the best QB EVERrrrrrrrrr. LOL CHAMP BAILEY. LOL BRONCOS. LOL VEGAS. LOL REFS. LOL EVERYTHING EXCEPT FLACCO.

One of my favorite games in recent times.

[Cyberyeti]

It appears on 2nd and 2 you just allow Kaepernick to run his option thang, and he gains about 15 yards a pop

[ArtK78]

 billw55, on 2013-January-13, 11:25, said:

But wow, just lol at the Bronco secondary epic choking. Playing like that, the Patriots might score 100 on them, so the loss may have prevented a greater embarrassment.

Agree. Denver really gave this one away.

But I congratulate the Ravens for taking it once the opportunity presented itself and for putting themselves in a position to take advantage of Denver's generosity.

[mgoetze]

Denver also had some pretty awful play calling. Like when they went for it on 4th & 1 near the end of the first half (where Harbaugh challenged) - that goal line rush play surely has a lower chance of success than any random short pass play.

BTW guys, can you try and put anything about games which happened in the last 48 hours in spoiler tags? I'm trying my best but I've still only downloaded 15% of Packers vs. 49ers...

[ArtK78]

Sorry. Until you posted that it never occurred to me that you can't get the games live. Right now I am watching Houston at New England. The second half just started and the score is ....

[mgoetze]

Patriots winning surely but don't tell me.