NFL 2014 season

[Havok]

The off the field stuff. You hardly even post about the games anymore. I dunno, this is the only place I can get intelligent recourse about the game and it feels like we are spending all our energy talking about idiots doing idiot things off the field.

I'm in a different mindset when I want to talk about football.

[Thanas]

Well, it has been an extremely shitty off-field season so far.

However, I am not opposed to that - just wondering if other people here feel the same.

[Terralthra]

It annoys me when we talk about what drunken fans do. Point me to a team whose fanbase doesn't have a contingent of drunken assholes. Seriously.

[Thanas]

Speaking of fans.....How do you feel about that?

[Terralthra]

I think that making fun of a team's fans as a surrogate for the team itself is...silly and pointless, along with hypocritical, and in most cases, doomed to failure.

Again, find me a football team that doesn't have a contingent of their fanbase that is drunk, uneducated, and unhygienic. I'll wait here. Until you do, just talk about the people who play the game.

[Alferd Packer]

Well, OK. Let's chat about yet other horrible Thursday night game that's taking place right now. 24-7 before the half, woo.

I'll admit that that onside kick was pretty hilarious, but aside from that, it looks like it's gonna be another blowout. Here's hoping I'm wrong.

[Alferd Packer]

Haha, well, OK, 24-14 now. Maybe I'm wrong, and this will be a good game.

[RogueIce]

lol

Anyway I'm sure people will be making a big deal about Flacco's TD passes today. And while I don't really follow the NFL - much less the Ravens - enough to get into that whole "elite QB" nonsense, let's be honest here: does beating the shit out of the modern Tampa Bay Buccaneers really require an "elite" anybody, or qualify you as such, or does it just take a basically competent professional-level team?

[Flagg]

lol

Anyway I'm sure people will be making a big deal about Flacco's TD passes today. And while I don't really follow the NFL - much less the Ravens - enough to get into that whole "elite QB" nonsense, let's be honest here: does beating the shit out of the modern Tampa Bay Buccaneers really require an "elite" anybody, or qualify you as such, or does it just take a basically competent professional-level team?

It was basically like a 12 year old wailing on a baby for 3 hours.

[Elfdart]

Barely dodged a bullet in Oakland. Now I'm worried because it appears the Raitards have found an NFL-caliber QB and an actual NFL head coach. I've just got my fingers crossed hoping that Scott Evil will get rid of both like he did with Hue Jackson and Jason Campbell.

I don't get why everyone thinks the Cowboys' turnaround is such a shocker. They have an O-line that can take to any defense. Not only does this make having great cover men in the secondary and a great pass rush irrelevant (Seattle's biggest strengths), but better still it keeps Dallas' defense off the field. Yes, the unit has improved but not being on the field 35 minutes or more is a huge bonus.

[Thanas]

lol

Anyway I'm sure people will be making a big deal about Flacco's TD passes today. And while I don't really follow the NFL - much less the Ravens - enough to get into that whole "elite QB" nonsense, let's be honest here: does beating the shit out of the modern Tampa Bay Buccaneers really require an "elite" anybody, or qualify you as such, or does it just take a basically competent professional-level team?

Lots of people like to bag on Flacco for doing nothing with nothing. Yet so far he plays better than Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Turns out a supporting cast is important for any QB and we have always skimped on that - and still do. So Flacco gets shit on for 35 year old dropping passes (Bengals game), his OL being a sieve (Colts game) etc. Nobody shits on Manning when he puts 50+ on bad teams but when Flacco does it it now calls his compentece into question?

[Flagg]

lol

Anyway I'm sure people will be making a big deal about Flacco's TD passes today. And while I don't really follow the NFL - much less the Ravens - enough to get into that whole "elite QB" nonsense, let's be honest here: does beating the shit out of the modern Tampa Bay Buccaneers really require an "elite" anybody, or qualify you as such, or does it just take a basically competent professional-level team?

Lots of people like to bag on Flacco for doing nothing with nothing. Yet so far he plays better than Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Turns out a supporting cast is important for any QB and we have always skimped on that - and still do. So Flacco gets shit on for 35 year old dropping passes (Bengals game), his OL being a sieve (Colts game) etc. Nobody shits on Manning when he puts 50+ on bad teams but when Flacco does it it now calls his compentece into question?

For the record I'm ragging on the Bucs, or there would have been an elevator involved.

[RogueIce]

lol

Anyway I'm sure people will be making a big deal about Flacco's TD passes today. And while I don't really follow the NFL - much less the Ravens - enough to get into that whole "elite QB" nonsense, let's be honest here: does beating the shit out of the modern Tampa Bay Buccaneers really require an "elite" anybody, or qualify you as such, or does it just take a basically competent professional-level team?

Lots of people like to bag on Flacco for doing nothing with nothing. Yet so far he plays better than Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Turns out a supporting cast is important for any QB and we have always skimped on that - and still do. So Flacco gets shit on for 35 year old dropping passes (Bengals game), his OL being a sieve (Colts game) etc. Nobody shits on Manning when he puts 50+ on bad teams but when Flacco does it it now calls his compentece into question?

For the record, I'm not calling his competence into question; I did say that it would take a "basically competent professional-level team" which then implies that their QB is, at the least, basically competent at the professional level.

I just remember that there was the whole argument awhile back about whether or not Flacco counts as an "elite QB" whatever the fuck that means. Which is what I was referencing.

[Thanas]

Sorry, I just get defensive where Flacco is concerned because everybody shits on him for no reason whereas guys like Ryan, Newton and Kaepernick get excuses for everything despite accomplishing far less with far more.

[TheHammer]

Sorry, I just get defensive where Flacco is concerned because everybody shits on him for no reason whereas guys like Ryan, Newton and Kaepernick get excuses for everything despite accomplishing far less with far more.

I think it's negative selective hearing. I tend to feel the same way about Kap, getting shit on for "not developing" when all he really had last season was Anquan Boldin, all while St. Russel Wilson is so esteemed when he's really leaned on his defense and run game to carry him through his career.

[Havok]

And Vernon Davis and Frank Gore and he had Crabtree back for the latter half of the season. It's not that Kaepernick isn't developing, I watch him go through reads, it's that he is so fucking inconsistent that it is maddening and he can't take over a game and win it when he needs to. If it weren't for the defense and special teams, the Cowboys would have stomped us in game one.

[TheHammer]

And Vernon Davis and Frank Gore and he had Crabtree back for the latter half of the season. It's not that Kaepernick isn't developing, I watch him go through reads, it's that he is so fucking inconsistent that it is maddening and he can't take over a game and win it when he needs to. If it weren't for the defense and special teams, the Cowboys would have stomped us in game one.

Vernon Davis himself is maddeningly inconsistent, and Frank Gore is a an all time great RB but he's not what he used to be, nor is he really a big help in the passing game (aside from his always stellar pass protection from the RB spot). Crabtree hasn't been the same since he got hurt, its hard to tell if he ever will be.

Of course he makes mistakes, he's still a young QB. But quite frankly, you're not giving him the credit he's due. He's absolutely taken over games a few times in his career. Sure he hasn't won the "big game" yet, but I don't see how you condemn a guy who came up 1 play short on both the super bowl and the NFC title game that otherwise he had "taken over". He's two plays away from being a legend.

[Havok]

Dude, you are all over the place.
Vernon Davis is inconsistent? How?
Gore doesn't do much for the passing game? Up until the last two years he averaged about 45 receptions and about 400 yards a season.
Crabtree? Which fucking injury? The guy has only played ONE complete 16 game season since he has been in the league.

Besides the fucking fact that you and then I, were talking about LAST season.

As for Kaepernick, I'm not condemning him, I said he can't do it when he needs to. He should have used his best skill in the Superbowl and tried to run it in. Same in the NFC Championship loss to the Seahawks.
Yes, he did do it against the Packers, but that is pretty much it. As I said "so fucking inconsistent that it is maddening".

[Alferd Packer]

Wow, an actual entertaining Thursday night game? Finally!

Also, Rex Ryan will be fired by Saturday. I wonder who the new head coach will be?

[Thanas]

And Ryan doesn't deserve it. Idzik did a shitty job building the roster, his draft picks suck as well. Geno Smith is nothing more than a backup and the secondary just sucks. The defence was awesome but the show of an offence...man.

[TheHammer]

Dude, you are all over the place.
Vernon Davis is inconsistent? How?

Davis has hands of absolute stone at times. The St Louis game being a case in point.

Gore doesn't do much for the passing game? Up until the last two years he averaged about 45 receptions and about 400 yards a season.

Yeah he's not what he was. The last time Frank gore had 45 receptions was in 2010. Since Harbaugh has become the coach he's been utilized much less as a pass catcher and more as a pass protector. And even in his prime he wasn't exactly a "go-to" receiver.

Crabtree? Which fucking injury? The guy has only played ONE complete 16 game season since he has been in the league.

The Achilles injury that cost him most of last season.

Besides the fucking fact that you and then I, were talking about LAST season.

As for Kaepernick, I'm not condemning him, I said he can't do it when he needs to. He should have used his best skill in the Superbowl and tried to run it in. Same in the NFC Championship loss to the Seahawks.
Yes, he did do it against the Packers, but that is pretty much it. As I said "so fucking inconsistent that it is maddening".

If he runs it in and fails he gets criticized for not throwing it. He ran for 130 yards against the Seahawks, and was literally inches away on that last pass from being a hero, or at least forcing Russel Wilson to live up to the hype and try to be one himself. I think he just needs further experience to properly use all the gifts at his command. Part of the problem is he can make big gains with his legs or his arm at any time, just needs to learn which one has a better chance of success. Something that will only come with time.

[Alferd Packer]

And Ryan doesn't deserve it. Idzik did a shitty job building the roster, his draft picks suck as well. Geno Smith is nothing more than a backup and the secondary just sucks. The defence was awesome but the show of an offence...man.

No, he doesn't. But the only reason that Tom "My neck looks like my scrotum" Coughlin was kept around after dropping six straight last year is that he's won two Superbowls. Ryan doesn't have that credit to trade against, so he'll be gone. And it sucks, but that's the shitty reality.

[Elfdart]

He'll be unemployed for about eight hours at most.

[Thanas]

Yeah, I don't think there is a single coach (outside John Harbaugh) who would not love him to coach the defence.

[Havok]

I would love for the Raiders to grab him. He does a ton with very little and the Raiders have a lot of young talent. Plus I don't want them getting any of our coaches. Although I could see Sparano keeping the job. Elfdart can confirm or deny, but I think he got shafted in Miami.