Why does the NFL stink this year?

[patpatriot]

It seems to me that the NFL stinks this year, why? There are 2 elite teans and maybe 3 or four good teams and then everyone else is a .500 over below club. I have never seen such a disparity in the distribution of talent among players and coaches.

Especially look at the QB position. Of the 32 teams there are about 10-15 true starting caliber NFL QBs. Sure injuries play a part in it but I'm still talking about guys who at least cam "manage" the game; hand off properly, throw the ball away when receivers are covered etc...basic stuff.

I have heard it said that the real season doesn't start until after Thanksgiving so there is still time for teams to come out of their doldrums and get hot. But I don't think that will happen for more than 1 or 2 clubs. The rest are going to just stink.

Am I just spoiled by being a fan of 1 of the 2 elite teams and therefore am judging the other teams too harshly or is there really a terrible funk hanging over the NFL this year?
Edit/Delete Message

 

[Pats726]

I think the lack of solid QBs is part of it, but it's deeper than that...I won't say "stink"..because I don't think that is the case..but certainly teams NOT on pat with Indy and New England. More in mu mind mediocre parity...

 

[xmarkd400x]

Some people believe that there are just too many teams out there and that the talent is diluted. I am not sure if I agree or not, but just an opinion.

 

[patpatriot]

More in mu mind mediocre parity...

That's the thing. It seems to me that "parity" this year means something like 5 and 11 or 6 and 10 rather than 8-8 or 9-7. The overall level of play I've seen has just been so *poor*.

 

[naclone]

My guess is that the frequent coaching and front office changes around the league the last few years are coming home to roost. I don't have the data to back it up, but take a look at what Peter King wrote about this week with regard to Miami, and nobody from the last 5-7 years of drafts being on the team anymore. Teams bring in a coach and that coach tries to build a team a certain way. he cleans house and brings in his own guys. if they don't have success right away and the FO gets impatient, they bring in a new guy who dismantles whatever the last guy was trying to do and starts over. It just keeps feeding itself. Look at the Jets. You've got Mangini trying to run a 3-4 with guys better suited for 4-3. when he gets fired this year or next year, whatever he was trying to do is going to get dismantled and they will be that much further behind.

i don't think it is any mistake that the teams that are successful right now either have had a coaching staff/FO in place for a long time or in the case of teams like Pittsburgh, Tomlin came in and even though he is a 4-3 guy, he kept the 3-4 in place - because it worked.

 

[WhiZa]

because you touch yourself at night

 

[pheenix11]

I can't see how its possible that the talent is diluted. People say that about baseball too, that pitching is diluted because of expansion.

The leagues may have expanded but doesn't anyone take into account the fact that the population of the world and as a result young males has exploded in the last 50 years? How can there possibly be less talent available when World Population has tripled in the past 50 years and the US Population has doubled?

I think its just a natural ebb and flow. A few teams like the Pats & Colts have figured out a formula to beat the system. Eventually others will copy them and then Belichickl/Paoli will have to come up with a new scheme that everyone else can attempt to emulate, LOL.

 

[He Ban Me]

It seems to me that the NFL stinks this year, why? There are 2 elite teans and maybe 3 or four good teams and then everyone else is a .500 over below club. I have never seen such a disparity in the distribution of talent among players and coaches.

Especially look at the QB position. Of the 32 teams there are about 10-15 true starting caliber NFL QBs. Sure injuries play a part in it but I'm still talking about guys who at least cam "manage" the game; hand off properly, throw the ball away when receivers are covered etc...basic stuff.

I have heard it said that the real season doesn't start until after Thanksgiving so there is still time for teams to come out of their doldrums and get hot. But I don't think that will happen for more than 1 or 2 clubs. The rest are going to just stink.

Am I just spoiled by being a fan of 1 of the 2 elite teams and therefore am judging the other teams too harshly or is there really a terrible funk hanging over the NFL this year?
Edit/Delete Message

Because HorseIsDogFood??

 

[FrontSeven]

In life smart people have the edge. What makes you think we're all *that* smart?

No Team Left Behind ......... get real.

 

[patpatriot]

because you touch yourself at night

Because it feels damn good! Much better than you mother feels.

 

[patpatriot]

Because HorseIsDogFood??

It really is dog food you know...

 

[He Ban Me]

It really is dog food you know...

As are you

 

[patpatriot]

As are you

-I know you are but what am I?...what an immature clown. Want to talk football?

 

[workhorse]

Because HorseIsDogFood??

It really is dog food you know...

As are you

For those of you that have no idea what this exchange is...follow the link to see patpatriot's alias.


http://www2.indystar.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3265498&posted=1#post3265498

 

[He Ban Me]

A football is sometimes referred to as "pigskin", but I am pretty sure it is made from cow hide

 

[patpatriot]

A football is sometimes referred to as "pigskin", but I am pretty sure it is made from cow hide

That may be but 40 years ago it was really pigskin...it's much tougher and doesn't get as slick. Oh wait..was this a clever sarcasm based on my request that you talk about football?

 

[ALP]

ill say it ahs to do with QB's, and u say 15 starting caliber? which ones are u thinking?

i believe they MAY be 5 starting caliber QB's this season...adn we all know which have number 1 and 2 spots...

also coaching plays a part...and we have the best one of those anywhere in the league

 

[Na_polian]

The leagues may have expanded but doesn't anyone take into account the fact that the population of the world and as a result young males has exploded in the last 50 years?

Actually, the population is exploding BECAUSE young males are ummm exploding, which causes the population to explode, and... uh...

It's a circle of life. Just sayin

 

[patpatriot]

ill say it ahs to do with QB's, and u say 15 starting caliber? which ones are u thinking?

i believe they MAY be 5 starting caliber QB's this season...adn we all know which have number 1 and 2 spots...

OK let's see, in no particular ranked order (except for the 1st 2 of course):
1 Brady
2 Manning
3 Palmer
4 Farve
5 Roethlesberger
6 Rivers
7 Garcia
8 Romo
10 Lil Manning
11 Pennington
12 Kitna
13 Garrard
14 McNabb
15 Brees
16 Hasselbeck
17 Delhomme
18 Young
19 Cutler
20 Griese

Huh...more than I anticipated although there's are a few you could make a good argument to exclude. Still that means that there are 12 teams with absolute bums at QB.

also coaching plays a part...and we have the best one of those anywhere in the league

OK, let's see how many good HCs there are:

1 Beli
2 Dungy
3 Billick
4 Shanny
5 Holmgren
6 Fox
7 Gibbs
8 Lewis?

Wow... that's not many is it?

 

[jaytyme]

ill say it ahs to do with QB's, and u say 15 starting caliber? which ones are u thinking?

i believe they MAY be 5 starting caliber QB's this season...adn we all know which have number 1 and 2 spots...

also coaching plays a part...and we have the best one of those anywhere in the league

you just hit thr nail on the head ALP.

5 outstanding starting QB's. With the polian inspired rule changes that favor powerful offenses and handcuff powerful defenses, you must have a powerful offense to succeed. Gone are the days when a Ravens or Bucs team can win a super bowl by allowing less than 14/game.

teams with great defenses and little offensive firepower are now taken down regularly by teams with mediocre offenses. This dichtomy means thats the best offensive teams will dominate the win/loss column and the best defensive teams will be fighting for the wildcard.

note to NFL: please don't take the handcuffs off the defense till brady/moss et.al. retire