That was almost the typical Raider game, penalties penalties penalties. It seemed like the yellow thing was flown on every play and it became really hard to watch. Glad the Raiders won, but that was an ugly ugly game.
2011 NFL Season - A New Game
- Thread starter SmoothieX
- Start date
- Status
Yeah, I wasn't saying it was caused by the turf, just that, last time I saw that many injuries in a game, the turf was to blame. It seemed easier than just "bad luck."
Usually the opposite of that, isn't it? Injuries happening on badly-conditioned natural grass fields, whereas the artificial turf (believe FieldTurf is the new standard?) holds up better and whatnot.
As much fun as playing in the mud with friends is, I'm of the belief that most of the remainder of the NFL teams with real grass fields should have to change over to fieldturf. It's ok places like Arizona, where they have a whole crazy scheme to train the field out to get sun/rain/whatever, but for anywhere in the north or east, the grass just doesn't hold up, looks like shit, people get hurt, etc.
When was the last time that the Steelers' field didn't look like complete shit? And they insist on playing other games (college?) there as well, so it really gets wrecked pretty quickly. Places like that should just go to turf; it'll hold up better, look better on TV, and provide a much more consistent footing for players.
The Patriots fought that fight for a long time, holding onto their shitty field conditions as a home field advantage, but eventually they league made them re-sod a couple times, and they packed it in and got turn instead. Now looks better, doesn't get wrecked when the stadium is used for other sports, or concerts or whatnot, and it seems better for the players.
Isn't it about time the last holdouts made the change?
As much fun as playing in the mud with friends is, I'm of the belief that most of the remainder of the NFL teams with real grass fields should have to change over to fieldturf. It's ok places like Arizona, where they have a whole crazy scheme to train the field out to get sun/rain/whatever, but for anywhere in the north or east, the grass just doesn't hold up, looks like shit, people get hurt, etc.
When was the last time that the Steelers' field didn't look like complete shit? And they insist on playing other games (college?) there as well, so it really gets wrecked pretty quickly. Places like that should just go to turf; it'll hold up better, look better on TV, and provide a much more consistent footing for players.
The Patriots fought that fight for a long time, holding onto their shitty field conditions as a home field advantage, but eventually they league made them re-sod a couple times, and they packed it in and got turn instead. Now looks better, doesn't get wrecked when the stadium is used for other sports, or concerts or whatnot, and it seems better for the players.
Isn't it about time the last holdouts made the change?
I'm used to the carpet on cement that was Veteran's Stadium's field. I recognize that things have progressed immensely since then, but I can't help but hold a bias for real grass.
Field Turf in baseball is one thing, as they won't even play in shitty conditions, but Football ought to have a little better footing. Not to say a little bit of mud will hurt anyone, but Heinz field around November is just an embarassment, and people get hurt playing on it. If they can MAINTAIN the grass, keep it, but if not, it should go...
I will admit this is probably my anger and frustration talking, but I want Tebow in. If nothing else, at least the second year guy with the fucked up throwing motion will have an excuse for sucking. Orton's not entirely to blame, there were lots of issues all over the place. But Orton certainly pulled his weight in making the loss happen.Yeah, I hope the Titans never go with turf. Grass all the way.
Also, was disgusted by the calls for Tebow by Broncos fans. Ugh...
I think the thing that kills me the most about what happened last night (and this kind of goes back to why I like Tebow), is that the game was entirely winnable at the beginning of Denver's last drive. We were down two scores with plenty of time to do it if they did things right. But on that last drive, there was no urgency. No one was playing like they had to score twice. They were playing like they were far ahead or like the game was lost and they were just trying to get one last score in for pride. A lack of urgency, a lack of heart on either side of the ball goes straight back to the team leaders in my opinion, and in the case of the offense, it goes to the QB. It is Orton's job to get the offense fired up and moving. It's his job to get them in the mindset of winning, and they didn't have it last night. They played their last drive like they were beaten and driving for dignity.
The thing that endeared Tebow to me last year was the way he rallied the team around him. The last two games before Tebow came in, the team quit and you could tell. They were there to collect their paychecks. When Tebow came in for those last three games, it was a completely different team. They were playing harder. They weren't better, but you could tell that the effort level was different. They were fighting again. Up until that point, I was not that big of a Tebow fan. I was intrigued, but not sold on him. Denver needed that last night because they didn't look like they wanted it in the end.
The defense still would have had to do their part. There's nothing saying that even if the offense had gotten the TD faster that the defense would have been able to make a stop. But they seemed like they were getting better in the second half. Had big play problems, but they were starting to make more stops than failures. A little more time and maybe one or two Raider first downs wouldn't have made as much of a difference. Maybe the defense wouldn't have been able to stop them at all. Who knows. But Denver's entire last drive, I knew that there was no way they were going to win.
But, again this is probably just 3 years of frustration and my extreme hate for losing to the Raiders lashing out.
I can't fathom why anyone would want Tebow in there except desperation. He's not going to help the team on any consistent basis. He doesn't have the physical talent needed for the pros. That's the simple truth of the matter.
If Tebow's the answer, I don't want to know the question.
This team sucks and it has for the last two years at least. It's more than just QB play, it's defense, the inability to run the ball with any consistency, the defense, piss poor personnel moves and shitty drafting.
Kyle Orton's the least of the Broncos' worries. He'll never take the team to the Superbowl, but they're not a QB away anyway.
Tebow may have heart, he may be a competitor, he may get fans behind him, but I think at the end of the day, he was drafted way too high at too high a cost to be a project. If being able to run the ball as the QB was the key to success, Vince Young would have 3 rings by now. An NFL QB has to be able to throw the ball and make good decisions. Tebow can do neither.
His drafting was the result of Josh McHoodie getting into a pissing contest with Jay Cutler and saying, "I can make a QB. Let's leverage our future draft picks to get one that nobody thinks will be any good."
I hope the Broncos go 0-16, draft first and take Andrew Luck. The last time a Stanford QB rolled through town, he had pretty good results. Suck for Luck!
This team sucks and it has for the last two years at least. It's more than just QB play, it's defense, the inability to run the ball with any consistency, the defense, piss poor personnel moves and shitty drafting.
Kyle Orton's the least of the Broncos' worries. He'll never take the team to the Superbowl, but they're not a QB away anyway.
Tebow may have heart, he may be a competitor, he may get fans behind him, but I think at the end of the day, he was drafted way too high at too high a cost to be a project. If being able to run the ball as the QB was the key to success, Vince Young would have 3 rings by now. An NFL QB has to be able to throw the ball and make good decisions. Tebow can do neither.
His drafting was the result of Josh McHoodie getting into a pissing contest with Jay Cutler and saying, "I can make a QB. Let's leverage our future draft picks to get one that nobody thinks will be any good."
I hope the Broncos go 0-16, draft first and take Andrew Luck. The last time a Stanford QB rolled through town, he had pretty good results. Suck for Luck!
Oh how I love beating the Broncos, especially in Denver. The sight of those rosy cheeked Broncos' fans with their little smiles turned upside down (awwww), just tickles me.
As for the game, don't anyone think that what the Raiders did to the Broncos' on the ground was only owing to Denver's weak defensive front -- they are weak, but the Raiders were, and are, one of the best running teams in the league.
Penalties seem to be woven into the Raiders' DNA. Back when they were winning Super Bowls they were one of the most penalized teams in the league then too (wouldn't expect the idiot announcers to know that). But you can be sure that Al didn't have Hue Jackson in his office today to chew him out about penalties. And frankly, I don't mind so much the pushing and punching flags, but the jumping offside, lining up in the neutral zone, big dumb offensive lineman not knowing the snap count...kill me.
Raiders have much work to do, however. DB's are vulnerable - especially the corners. Losing Namdi is still a big problem for them. However, if that scary defensive front can continue it's marauding ways, those secondary weaknesses can be somewhat hidden or worked around.
We need to get our receivers healthy. Our two best, Louis Murphy and Chaz Schilens didn't play.
But all in all a good showing. The Broncos were pumped because of what the Raiders did to them last season and playing at home in their season opener. Denver might have won this one on adrenaline alone, but tough defense and solid (for the most part, anyway) special teams play, can win you a fair number of regular season games.
As for the game, don't anyone think that what the Raiders did to the Broncos' on the ground was only owing to Denver's weak defensive front -- they are weak, but the Raiders were, and are, one of the best running teams in the league.
Penalties seem to be woven into the Raiders' DNA. Back when they were winning Super Bowls they were one of the most penalized teams in the league then too (wouldn't expect the idiot announcers to know that). But you can be sure that Al didn't have Hue Jackson in his office today to chew him out about penalties. And frankly, I don't mind so much the pushing and punching flags, but the jumping offside, lining up in the neutral zone, big dumb offensive lineman not knowing the snap count...kill me.
Raiders have much work to do, however. DB's are vulnerable - especially the corners. Losing Namdi is still a big problem for them. However, if that scary defensive front can continue it's marauding ways, those secondary weaknesses can be somewhat hidden or worked around.
We need to get our receivers healthy. Our two best, Louis Murphy and Chaz Schilens didn't play.
But all in all a good showing. The Broncos were pumped because of what the Raiders did to them last season and playing at home in their season opener. Denver might have won this one on adrenaline alone, but tough defense and solid (for the most part, anyway) special teams play, can win you a fair number of regular season games.
For getting Luck.... if we're in position to do it, it had better be because we genuinely blew the season and not because we "Sucked for Luck". I know the front office would never admit to it if they did it, but if I start to suspect that Denver is throwing games, for any reason, I would never cheer for them again. I don't care how good a prospect is, they ain't worth bullshit like that.
Absolutely. I would rather watch my team try their best to win a meaningless game than intentionally fail for the future.
QFT. I admit, my Tebow hatred is because he was a Gator and because the whole nation just fawned over the guy like he was the Second Coming, the Buddha, and Joe Montana all wrapped into one. But nonetheless: QFT.
Also, when the Raiders last drive started, there was still 3:43 left. Plenty of time for the defense to make a stop and give the offense time to drive the field.
I'm not saying tank the game, but at the point, and long before honestly, the season's done. Give some rookies/ new players a look and build for the future. If that means you lose, you lose and you set up for the future. If winning one meaningless game is the difference between getting a potential franchise QB or not, that's a simple choice to me.
And I say this as someone who has a season ticket priority # less than 10,000.
How much suck could the Broncos suck if they let Tebow chuck suck?
So, to start, I know this has a bit more to do with a KC meltdown than anything else, but it has been a fun couple of days to be a Bills fan :-) I haven't hd that much fun watching my team play in a long, long time.
I still say Buffalo is lucky to go 8-8, but I am thinking with one more good offseason we may be a playoff contender. Fitz is not a superstar, but he is definitely underrated. I think he's easily a mid-tier QB, on the same level as, say Eli Manning and Joe Flacco. we have a very good receiving corps even without Lee Evans. We have Fred Taylor 2.0 (Freddie Jackson) in the backfield.
Oh, and as far as WHY McDaniels drafted Tebow at 25? it was his only chance. Buffalo was going to take him, guaranteed, at 41.
I still say Buffalo is lucky to go 8-8, but I am thinking with one more good offseason we may be a playoff contender. Fitz is not a superstar, but he is definitely underrated. I think he's easily a mid-tier QB, on the same level as, say Eli Manning and Joe Flacco. we have a very good receiving corps even without Lee Evans. We have Fred Taylor 2.0 (Freddie Jackson) in the backfield.
Oh, and as far as WHY McDaniels drafted Tebow at 25? it was his only chance. Buffalo was going to take him, guaranteed, at 41.
- Status