NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? What?

[137th Gebirg]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

I'm wearing a mourning arm-band a week in advance of the Skins/Pats game. We couldn't possibly hope to win, even with a healthy team at this point. But with around 15-17 guys out on injury, potentially long-term, what would honestly be the point? Hoping that some of the starters will be active enough to at least prevent a shut-out. The bye week may help a little.

Then again, I remember a hand-full of games back in the abysmal 2000's when the losing-est Skins managed to beat otherwise-conference/division-champions and spoiled the hell out of their winning records - Dallas comes to mind there for one year, so you never know...

"Any Given Sunday", an' all that...

 

[Timby]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

Honestly, that's a game in which I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pats hang 100 points.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

Sadly, yes.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

The Dolphins made some mental errors early in the game, and that was enough. You can't give the Pats any momentum or they will run you over.

There were more than a few chances though as the game progressed for the Phins to get back into the game, especially after that nice drive in the third quarter, and their defense managed to hold back the tide for most of the game before giving up late.

But the Pats are still the class of the AFC, and the Dolphins are not.

However, I think we can beat the Pats in Miami, and I think we are good enough to get one of the wildcard spots.

 

[Scout101]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

I did point out ages ago that the last time the Patriots got sanctioned by the NFL, they proceeded to hate-fuck the rest of the league...

that WAS the gist of my thread title, until you decided to edit it for me to the lame extra point joke...

The Dolphins made some mental errors early in the game, and that was enough. You can't give the Pats any momentum or they will run you over.

As much as the Pats felt firmly in the lead for the first half, it was a bit concerning that they hadn't really put up a lot of points, so when they came out in the 3rd quarter, there was at least still a chance. Sucks when you're in control but not pulling away, a bad bounce can make things go south in a hurry. Everyone remembers the Pats not being able to handle the Giants in 2007, but it wasn't really like that. the Pats were leading for most of the game, just could never pull away. Then when nonsense like the helmet catch happens at the very end, blows the whole thing up. Gotta make your points when you can, dominating but not putting up your own scores is meaningless.

However, I think we can beat the Pats in Miami, and I think we are good enough to get one of the wildcard spots.

Certainly possible, the talent is there. Question the heart/motivation, though, given how they quit on their coach. And then could turn it back on out of spite, and kept it going, but caved right back in when faced with opposition. Talented, but there's quit in them. Wake is now done with an Achilles injury, that can't help things...

 

[Jedi_Master]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

The Dolphins didn't "cave" they got beat. The Evil Emperor yet again created a game plan specifically designed to capitalize on his opponent's weakness (in this case covering a speedy scatback like Dion) and then rearranged his personnel to exploit it. The Pats also capitalized on Tannehill's mental errors and took away his best offensive option (Landry).

As an armchair Offensive Coordinator, I was screaming at them to go to max protect and throw deep bombs all night to Stills and Landry, but that is again a strength the Patriots have, they can smoke and mirror you so that you get intimidated and ignore their weaknesses.

As for quitting on Philbin - I don't blame them. He was a terrible coach, a terrible motivator, and he was weaker than iced tea that has sat in the sun for a few hours. Good riddance. Dan is the man, and he will only get better as a coach. We have a our key pieces locked in place, so keep an eye in your rearview mirror.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

that WAS the gist of my thread title, until you decided to edit it for me...

Speaking of editing someone's post titles without consent, I'm curious who changed the title of my original thread "Re: Decision on Deflategate" to "The Assassination of Brady's Legacy By the Fat Coward Deflator McNally"?

 

[Scout101]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

I'd bet a beer it was the same guy.

And kinda a shitty practice when he's not the forum mod, the title wasn't offensive, and there wasn't even any commentary on why these things are being changed. I asked the forum mod via PM about it, but never got a response back. Figured it wasn't worth a MA forum thread about it, but if it's happened to more than just me, would be nice to know why this practice is being deemed acceptable...

 

[Scout101]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

The Dolphins didn't "cave" they got beat. The Evil Emperor yet again created a game plan specifically designed to capitalize on his opponent's weakness (in this case covering a speedy scatback like Dion) and then rearranged his personnel to exploit it. The Pats also capitalized on Tannehill's mental errors and took away his best offensive option (Landry).

Speaking of moments like the Safety. Wasn't really a Pats' scheme there, they just turtled under pressure. Felt like when they saw the Pats didn't cave when they came out with hair on fire, they pulled back instead. call it whatever you want.

On a bigger level, don't get why more coaches don't play like the Pats try to. You get a lot of the blowhard, Rex Ryan-like speeches about 'ground and pound', run it down their throats, etc., and then instead of playing to that, the Pats just put more in the box and force you to throw instead. Rex Ryan LITERALLY pouted after the Bills/Pats game, with a pretty sad "why don't you try running it next time?" comment after the game! Uh, because your front 4 are really good, and if we quick pass instead, they can win all the match ups they like, but the ball will be down the field by the time they see Brady? Not a tough concept. Belichick has made a HoF career out of just being a chameleon on both offense and defense. you take away the thing the opponent does best. Preferably the second-best thing, too. Then just line up and try to defend his 3rd best option, and see where the chips fall. But at least he's ready, and the opponent is uncomfortable not doing their go-to things.

On offense, they got away from that for a while after 2006, and tried to emulate the Colts more. And like the Colts, scored a shitload of points, but couldn't close the deal when things got tight and the defenses got better in January. Think they still have a hint of that sometimes with Gronk and Edleman, but still move it around enough to be dangerous. And to be fair, having Gronk on the field is borderline cheating What I like about the 2015 offense MUCH better than the record-setting 2007 offense is the backup options. Double Gronk, bracket Edleman with a safety, but then Lewis, or Amendola, or LaFell, even occasionally Dobson will still be wide open for their shots. And then even doubled down on Gronk this year and got Chandler as another monster-sized TE, so they can put some crazy packages out there.

Meat head Head Coaches keep wanting to stubbornly play a single style of offense or defense, and it just doesn't seem to work when another team is paying any attention. Occasionally the personnel are so outstanding that they can get away with it, but in general, it just takes the best players out of the game and the Pats go the other way.

It's rough from a fantasy football perspective, though. Brady will get his points, but after that, a crapshoot. Should almost never have a Pats RB on your team, they can go heavy one week and then not even see the field the next. Gronk may have a monster game, and then just decoy all next game. They're really spreading it out, which is great for the team, rough for FFB points...

 

[Jedi_Master]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

The Dolphins didn't "cave" they got beat. The Evil Emperor yet again created a game plan specifically designed to capitalize on his opponent's weakness (in this case covering a speedy scatback like Dion) and then rearranged his personnel to exploit it. The Pats also capitalized on Tannehill's mental errors and took away his best offensive option (Landry).

Speaking of moments like the Safety. Wasn't really a Pats' scheme there, they just turtled under pressure. Felt like when they saw the Pats didn't cave when they came out with hair on fire, they pulled back instead. call it whatever you want.

On a bigger level, don't get why more coaches don't play like the Pats try to. You get a lot of the blowhard, Rex Ryan-like speeches about 'ground and pound', run it down their throats, etc., and then instead of playing to that, the Pats just put more in the box and force you to throw instead. Rex Ryan LITERALLY pouted after the Bills/Pats game, with a pretty sad "why don't you try running it next time?" comment after the game! Uh, because your front 4 are really good, and if we quick pass instead, they can win all the match ups they like, but the ball will be down the field by the time they see Brady? Not a tough concept. Belichick has made a HoF career out of just being a chameleon on both offense and defense. you take away the thing the opponent does best. Preferably the second-best thing, too. Then just line up and try to defend his 3rd best option, and see where the chips fall. But at least he's ready, and the opponent is uncomfortable not doing their go-to things.
Think they still have a hint of that sometimes with Gronk and Edleman, but still move it around enough to be dangerous. And to be fair, having Gronk on the field is borderline cheating

Meat head Head Coaches keep wanting to stubbornly play a single style of offense or defense, and it just doesn't seem to work when another team is paying any attention. Occasionally the personnel are so outstanding that they can get away with it, but in general, it just takes the best players out of the game and the Pats go the other way.

I prefer to call things as they really are. For example: the safety was a miscommunication between the line (using a simple tap to overcome crowd noise) and the QB. The fault lies in the QB there, as Tannehill decided to look up one more time to check coverage on what was likely meant to be a screen pass and forgot that the right guard was going to signal for the snap.

That sort of thing shouldn't happen or should be eliminated in practice, but again Tannehill pulls one or two boneheaded maneuvers a game.

I agree on the coaching, but there is a lot of inertial pressure on coaches to create a team "identity" that can be re-packaged and sold. So instead of "let's do what it takes to win" the idea changes to "let's do what it takes to sell an identity."

On a positive note, I appreciated the Pats getting called for almost all their bad blocks and other offensive penalties. The one on Gronk for offensive PI in the end zone made me chuckle.

 

[Timby]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

Thread titles: Serious business.

 

[Scout101]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

Seems like a fair question, though: why are you arbitrarily changing them if they aren't offensive or otherwise breaking any rules? And without even much fanfare. You just decide you think something else is better/funnier, and change our threads? How's that ok?

 

[Timby]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

Thread titles: Serious business.

 

[Scout101]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

You keep changing our threads, so you seem to think so. Bet there would be a lot less complaints if you stopped randomly deciding to edit our threads.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

What threads is he editing? I see no indication of "Last edited by Timby" anywhere in the last few pages.

 

[Scout101]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

The title of the thread was changed by him, without going through me (the OP). Did the same thing in the deflate gate thread to that OP as well.

Neither was offensive or breaking any rules, just want to know why he's doing this, not appreciated. Just shitty behavior from an Admin

Check out the first page, most of the responses have the original title still. What he changed the Deflategate thread to was worse than the original, kinda embarrassing (which I guess sums up the NFL's position on that one, but still...)

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Can we forget about deflategate?

You sure that was Timby? Anyone can change the thread title in their own post (see above).

 

[137th Gebirg]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

I didn't change mine, and I couldn't change it back once the time period to do so was expired. Since mine was the starting post, it changed the main title of the whole thread. Not entirely sure who did it, but it wasn't me. Not a terribly big deal in the grand scheme of things, but more of a curiosity as to why it was done at all. Seemed unnecessary, IMO.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

Gentlemen, start your conspiracy engines.

 

[Scout101]

Re: NFL 2015-2016 Season - Maybe extra points actually ... matter? Wha

Right, I didn't change mine either. As the OP, you'd think I'd know if I changed my own post...