Is the NFL going through a great player drought?

[BobDigital]

Looking at the current NFL, the number of teams have caused talent to be diluted, which may well make the NFL look less talented than it was. But I don't think that is the situation right now. I'm convinced that while athletic ability and training improved in the past 10 years which has caused more good players, we're seeing less great ones. One of the big counters I expect to hear will probably do with WR stat numbers, but I think that has more to do with the way the game is set up right now. I could make a long winded post with examples to back up why I feel this way, but I'd like to hear what other people's opinions are on this.

Overall I just don't feel that impressed with the young super stars in the league compared to years past.

 

[Chevy]

I'm convinced that while athletic ability and training improved in the past 10 years which has caused more good players, we're seeing less great ones.

This might be it. The difference between tiers of college players is much less now than it was 20 years ago. Raw talent is giving way to technique/training (especially on defense) - except for speed.

 

[jah]

I dunno, you might be seeing it backwards. In my opinion, everyone is just on average a lot better, so there are more players who can counter the players who would have previously dominated. I find myself more impressed by crazy plays made by marginal depth players than in the past, although that's obviously anecdotal.

 

[Nehalem]

Maybe the rule changes on offense that increased offense make more challenging to distinguish between good and great players, because they all put up similarly good stats?


Take a look at the top 10
(1) Brady - GOAT
(2) 2nd year player
(3) Great player having a down year
(4) 8 year vet, losing career record, 0 playoff games
(5) 13 year vet, losing career record, 0-3 playoff record
(6) 7 year starter, losing career record, 1-3 playoff record
(7) 4 year starter, 2 bad years, good last year, Hasn't lived up to the hype this year
(8) 2nd year player
(9) Dak Prescott - I don't really feel him as a great player, missed most of last year
(10) Aaron Rodgers - Crazy?

Beyond the top 10 the only ones I would say everyone is either being put out to pasture or mediocre or worse except for

Lamar Jackson - Seems to have regressed since MVP season
Mac Jones - Rookie
Russell Wilson - 4-6 this year, injured, based on yards/game wouldn't be top 10 anyway

So for great players playing well this year you pretty much have only Brady and Rodgers. And lets be honest everyone expects Rodgers to choke in the playoffs

 

[BadMoFo]

Depends on what one considers great.

 

[doesntmatter1]

I gave this some thought awhile ago. Imo it all has to do with the improved play at safety. Long td passes and runs happen when safeties fail. Look at how long BB struggled to find safeties with range or elite tackling ability. Harrison would go down and we would just struggle and guys like James Sanders were considered above average. Now good to great safeties are everywhere. Chung, McCourty, Phillips, Dugger, Bryant, etc you get the point and that is just our team. I wouldn't expect Moss in his prime to consistently roast our secondary.

I actually think it is easier to spot great players today since it is harder to stand out imo. Aaron Donald, TJ Watt, Garret, Chris Jones are great imo. Mahomes, Murray, Jackson, Watson(in limbo) are true dual threat YOUNG quarterbacks that seem to have staying power. Chubb and Henry at rb. Running backs fall off quick like Zeke atm.

HOF talent is consistently coming into the league but the league fights with anyone that has an abundance of personality. Guys get known through taunting etc but you can only go so far today.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I blame the rule changes favoring the Colts to help unseat the Pats but accidentally contributed to the rise in popularity of fantasy football. It’s now too easy for offensive players which waters down stats. Even Tom Brady said recently it’s been way easier to throw after the rule changes (Colts/Palmer/Brady rule) now then his first few years in the league.

 

[Fuzz]

Yeah, and movies aren‘t as good as they once were, and don’t even get me started on music. Get off my lawn.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Maybe the rule changes on offense that increased offense make more challenging to distinguish between good and great players, because they all put up similarly good stats?

View attachment 38962
Take a look at the top 10
(1) Brady - GOAT
(2) 2nd year player
(3) Great player having a down year
(4) 8 year vet, losing career record, 0 playoff games
(5) 13 year vet, losing career record, 0-3 playoff record
(6) 7 year starter, losing career record, 1-3 playoff record
(7) 4 year starter, 2 bad years, good last year, Hasn't lived up to the hype this year
(8) 2nd year player
(9) Dak Prescott - I don't really feel him as a great player, missed most of last year
(10) Aaron Rodgers - Crazy?

Beyond the top 10 the only ones I would say everyone is either being put out to pasture or mediocre or worse except for

Lamar Jackson - Seems to have regressed since MVP season
Mac Jones - Rookie
Russell Wilson - 4-6 this year, injured, based on yards/game wouldn't be top 10 anyway

So for great players playing well this year you pretty much have only Brady and Rodgers. And lets be honest everyone expects Rodgers to choke in the playoffs

Well said

I think the average QB rating is something crazy like 97 so at this point even average QBs have decent stats.

Arena flag football has become the NFL
.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Yeah, and movies aren‘t as good as they once were, and don’t even get me started on music. Get off my lawn.

Movies rely too much on CGI which looks terrible. Writers are also running out of ideas, so stuff keeps getting recycled.

I think people think the era they grew up in will have better music than the next generation. I noticed this when I was growing up that my parents or other older adults couldn’t understand why us kids liked the current music. Kids in their 20’s and younger think the music today is “fire” as a guy like me pushing 40 thinks it’s crap. It’s a never ending cycle.

 

[patsfanincleveland]

Movies rely too much on CGI which looks terrible. Writers are also running out of ideas, so stuff keeps getting recycled.

I think people think the era they grew up in will have better music than the next generation. I noticed this when I was growing up that my parents or other older adults couldn’t understand why us kids liked the current music. Kids in their 20’s and younger think the music today is “fire” as a guy like me pushing 40 thinks it’s crap. It’s a never ending cycle.

Actually, music was better.......or widely distributed music was better.

There are youtube videos on it.

There are still tons of great musicians but they have to be found more on fringe because the labels have produced generic music engineered to appeal.

That's why some guy from Sweden wrote like 10 thousand hits the past 20 years

 

[patsfanincleveland]

Movies rely too much on CGI which looks terrible. Writers are also running out of ideas, so stuff keeps getting recycled.

I think people think the era they grew up in will have better music than the next generation. I noticed this when I was growing up that my parents or other older adults couldn’t understand why us kids liked the current music. Kids in their 20’s and younger think the music today is “fire” as a guy like me pushing 40 thinks it’s crap. It’s a never ending cycle.

I would challenge anyone who disagrees with this to watch the car chase in the movie, "Bullitt" and report back.

Ditto the arena scene in "Ben Hur".

 

[VectorPrime]

Can’t wait for the 40 team league playing 20 game seasons by 2040

 

[Patriot Missile]

I’m not sure about now. Given the rules of today vs the nutritional and ultra athletic players we are seeing I would say it’s just a different brand..

However, with the amount of kids not being allowed to play football at the younger levels and being bred into the game that we will see a drop off in the future years to come.

I’m assuming in 20 years it’s going to be a underwear olympics with Adonis figures at every position, most de’s running 4.3 and wrs running 3.7s. Probably will be no kickoffs and possibly no punts by that time. Is what is, most of us watched a brand of football that will be considered barbaric, not quite the Roman Coliseum but will not be remembered in a good light either by generations to come. There is a reason you don’t see NFL’s greatest hits on espn 8 anymore.

Then again, it could be a better brand? I don’t know. Sadly I enjoyed the physicality and violent hits of the past 3 or 4 decades. But with all the old timers and even the young retirees leaving the game that have spoken out on their health, I do agree some change was badly needed for player safety.

Must admit though, I do relate to this Patriots team. It’s refreshing to see strong defense and a running game with smart qb and all time great coach at the helm. Glad to see it can still be effective with all the new rules in place. Just BB being BB I guess.

 

[DarrylS]

Can’t wait for the 40 team league playing 20 game seasons by 2040

Just think of all the money owners can make then.. bigger markets. Football on 3/4 nights per week all on different networks, coming from 4 or 5 different countries...

 

[Tunescribe]

Rules-legislated over-emphasis on the passing game and scoring has made football at the NFL level imbalanced. Passing is too easy, defense has been devalued. And 17 regular season games is too many, injury attrition is worse than ever. Greed has hurt the game and likely will continue to do so.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Actually, music was better.......or widely distributed music was better.

There are youtube videos on it.

There are still tons of great musicians but they have to be found more on fringe because the labels have produced generic music engineered to appeal.

That's why some guy from Sweden wrote like 10 thousand hits the past 20 years

is that that guy that invented the millennial whoop?

 

[aluminum seats]

Even Tom Brady said recently it’s been way easier to throw after the rule changes (Colts/Palmer/Brady rule) now then his first few years in the league

One of the benefits of Brady still performing at such a high level is that he’s racking up the numbers. It’s also one of the benefits of him going to a team with such great weapons like Tampa Bay. 5000 yard seasons are nothing for these guys now, so the more he can pile it on the more he can have a record tougher to reach. I hope he hits 100,000 yards

 

[Dr Pain]

Football is a dying game for kids. Many parents don't want their sons to play.

 

[Joker]

NFL athletes are the best they've ever been...faster ,stronger, far better training methods. The problem the league has is a moronic narcissist has control of the reins and has ushered in wholesale rules changes and schedule changes that emphazise individual achievement over team play. To Goodell, fantasy football stats are far more important than any "integrita!" of the game. He's ruined the basic nature of our great national sport at the behest of the 32 Billionaire Boys Club members.

What we knew is never coming back...but that doesn't diminish the greatness of today's players IMO.