NFL 2018 - 2019 -- Watch America's favorite sport wither away and die

Jozu · Nov 20, 2018

Nickel corners and slot coverage guys value are going to start to increase quite a bit.

CBs and safeties will naturally receive a pay increase as well, but with all of these spread sets and go routes and pass happy offenses starting to take over, slot coverage is going to become more and more important. Tyrann Mathieu is a great example of that type of player, or a more corner oriented guy like Prince Amu-Kamara (sp?) are the type of players who are going to fetch the highest sums on the defensive side of the ball.

Aaron Donald is an example of why the Dline is still crucial as well (and just got paid more than anyone), but the Rams still gave up 50+ points and their secondary looked pretty fucking bad. But, there is an accumulation of small cuts over time that can start to add up, and with offenses passing the ball so frequently, and at such a high rate, naturally more points are going to be scored and more passing yards to be had.

So to really stifle that your going to need to run coverage with maybe only 3 D line men, 4 linebackers and 4 DBs. Not a prevent defense, but a man/zone hybrid coverage with help over the top and another guy pressing the man in motion.

Vinjin · Nov 20, 2018

Sterling said:
5 turnovers is pretty bad, but the 21 4th quarter points and still having a chance to win on that final drive is positive. I think the biggest issue is Brees is also having an absurd season as well. Completing 77 percent and having a 25:1 TD/INT ratio is crazy.

This. Some in the media have already decided on Mahomes as the MVP, completely overlooking what Brees is doing. In a tight race, I just don't see how you can simply focus on the 6 TDs and dismiss the 5 turnovers and losses in the big games. And IIRC, Brees has had those same kind of games in year's past and was knocked for it for the same reasons - his team didn't win.

Anyway, lots of football left to be played still.

Brahma · Nov 20, 2018

Vinjin said:
This. Some in the media have already decided on Mahomes as the MVP, completely overlooking what Brees is doing. In a tight race, I just don't see how you can simply focus on the 6 TDs and dismiss the 5 turnovers and losses in the big games. And IIRC, Brees has had those same kind of games in year's past and was knocked for it for the same reasons - his team didn't win.

Anyway, lots of football left to be played still.

The kid is 9-2. He's has this one...meh game in a loss. The other against a Pats team in Foxboro, where he clearly played well.

The NFL needs more stars since this round of guys Brady, Brees, Rivers, Rodgers is getting old(er). They (NFL and Media) want this guy to be the next super star QB.

Sterling · Nov 20, 2018

Brahma said:
The kid is 9-2. He's has this one...meh game in a loss. The other against a Pats team in Foxboro, where he clearly played well.

The NFL needs more stars since this round of guys Brady, Brees, Rivers, Rodgers is getting old(er). They (NFL and Media) want this guy to be the next super star QB.

Nobody is saying he isn't amazing. It's just that what Brees is doing is also crazy so it turns into nitpicking when you're talking about MVP.

zzeris · Nov 20, 2018

Jozu said:
Nickel corners and slot coverage guys value are going to start to increase quite a bit.

CBs and safeties will naturally receive a pay increase as well, but with all of these spread sets and go routes and pass happy offenses starting to take over, slot coverage is going to become more and more important. Tyrann Mathieu is a great example of that type of player, or a more corner oriented guy like Prince Amu-Kamara (sp?) are the type of players who are going to fetch the highest sums on the defensive side of the ball.

Aaron Donald is an example of why the Dline is still crucial as well (and just got paid more than anyone), but the Rams still gave up 50+ points and their secondary looked pretty fucking bad. But, there is an accumulation of small cuts over time that can start to add up, and with offenses passing the ball so frequently, and at such a high rate, naturally more points are going to be scored and more passing yards to be had.

So to really stifle that your going to need to run coverage with maybe only 3 D line men, 4 linebackers and 4 DBs. Not a prevent defense, but a man/zone hybrid coverage with help over the top and another guy pressing the man in motion.

Nice post but since the NFL doesn't really want defense, any effective measures will either be killed by new rules or their terrible refs. Defense has been shit on so badly for the past two decades that RBs are asking for $17 mill a year and bad players like Bortles, Eli, Tannehill, and Sam Bradford are already getting that. Only 5 defensive guys are in the top 26 paid players. Just another example of how hard it is for the players union to actually win the CBA battles.

Hosix · Nov 20, 2018

Jozu said:
Nickel corners and slot coverage guys value are going to start to increase quite a bit.

CBs and safeties will naturally receive a pay increase as well, but with all of these spread sets and go routes and pass happy offenses starting to take over, slot coverage is going to become more and more important. Tyrann Mathieu is a great example of that type of player, or a more corner oriented guy like Prince Amu-Kamara (sp?) are the type of players who are going to fetch the highest sums on the defensive side of the ball.

Aaron Donald is an example of why the Dline is still crucial as well (and just got paid more than anyone), but the Rams still gave up 50+ points and their secondary looked pretty fucking bad. But, there is an accumulation of small cuts over time that can start to add up, and with offenses passing the ball so frequently, and at such a high rate, naturally more points are going to be scored and more passing yards to be had.

So to really stifle that your going to need to run coverage with maybe only 3 D line men, 4 linebackers and 4 DBs. Not a prevent defense, but a man/zone hybrid coverage with help over the top and another guy pressing the man in motion.

I agree. Something will change. D coordinators are smart. They will scheme something.

Foggy · Nov 20, 2018

This is the future of football. The NFL is just catching up to college football from a decade ago. Rules will continue to favor the offense. It is just impossible to cover good atheletes in space when you can’t touch or hit anybody.

Sterling · Nov 20, 2018

I said it earlier. Shutdown defenses aren't happening unless there's significant changes to the rules. Turnovers, sacks, and the occassional 3rd down stop is about the best you can hope for. Forcing them to punt or settle for field goals sometimes is how it goes. Giving up 25 a game is fine if you're scoring 30+.

Hosix · Nov 20, 2018

Wasn’t it Dick Vermeil and his rams who figured they needed 27 points a game to win with an average defense? He built his rams with speed and a good back.

Looks like these rams took that view and went ballistic with it.

jooka · Nov 20, 2018

So Thomas has been targeted 91 times this year, he's caught 82 of em. Obviously he has Brees throwing to him but still. He has really stepped it up a notch this year

Vinjin · Nov 20, 2018

Thielen is another one who seems to catch everything thrown his way this year and he's "only" catching 74% of his targets. Historically speaking, that's pretty damn high for top receivers that defenses focus on.

Looking at Thomas' career stats, he caught 92 balls in his rookie year in 2016 which was 75% of his targets. Last year, he caught 104 passes at 70% of his targets. This year is 82 passes on 91 targets for a ridiculous 90% catch rate.

Part of me says a lot of the trends like these that we're seeing this year are just not sustainable over a full season. Yet here we are, heading into week 12.

Genjiro · Nov 20, 2018

I just recently read the highest catch rate in NFL history was 1989 John Taylor at 80%, and Thomas/Brees would destroy that

Ambiturner · Nov 20, 2018

Mahomes is great, but can't see how anyone can argue against Brees.

Mahomes is averaging 35 yards more per game, but Brees would have to go 0-47 before matching Mahomes completion % and 7 INT without a TD to match Mahomes TD:Int ratio.

And Mahomes being young isn't any kind of argument and neither is one of his losses not counting because it was against the Pats. Last time anyone saw the Patriots, they were getting spanked silly and embarrassed by Mariota.

Merrith · Nov 20, 2018

No surprise. But yeah. Would have ended up a chip shot field goal for the win instead of trying to kick a 60+ yard one.

Hosix · Nov 20, 2018

That’s the standard nfl “whoopsie we will do better” line.

Bullshit.

Foggy · Nov 20, 2018

Colt McCoy 1-0. Super Bowl destiny for the redskins.

Merrith · Nov 20, 2018

Foggy said:
Colt McCoy 1-0. Super Bowl destiny for the redskins.

I'm thinking more 9-7 and one and done in the playoffs as the ceiling, but I'd be fine with that. I was actually wrong McCoy didn't beat the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, but pretty sure down there was his last win in a start.

Foggy · Nov 20, 2018

Either way, he is going to beat them this Thanksgiving.

jooka · Nov 20, 2018

So Gurley did hurt his ankle last night, nothing serious but explains why he wasn't getting his normal load.

Vinjin · Nov 20, 2018

So, what was Goff doing/saying to Reid for him to go off like that during that review? I know Reid was pretty irate already due to the refs not seeing the ball was tipped at the line but he lit into Goff pretty good.

Goff doesn’t come across to me as much of a trash talker. Was he trying to “help”? Lol

NFL 2018 - 2019 -- Watch America's favorite sport wither away and die

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