2013 NFC North/NFL Thread

[forgetful]

Wasn't he signed rather quickly by Seattle....not exactly a "few GB fans"

Being signed is a lot different than "being the guy that is going to set the league on fire".

[GGGG]

Backs against the wall, at home, against crap team, and the Falcons are dreadful. Mike Smith is a terrible, terrible coach. Why waste those ten seconds? That run had no chance too, terrible.

At the end of the game, they had 20 seconds and more timeouts than the Jets.  Why didn't they give themselves a chance?  They put it all on the Jets missing a field goal that an NFL kicker makes 90% of the time.

[NavinRJohnson]

At the end of the game, they had 20 seconds and more timeouts than the Jets.  Why didn't they give themselves a chance?  They put it all on the Jets missing a field goal that an NFL kicker makes 90% of the time.

The 3 points Falcons passed up at the end of the first half was beyond stupid. The Jets even provided a second chance  to correct that decision with the pass interference call on 4 th down, and they still screwed it up.

[GGGG]

The 3 points Falcons passed up at the end of the first half was beyond stupid. The Jets even provided a second chance  to correct that decision with the pass interference call on 4 th down, and they still screwed it up.

Oh yes....I forgot about that.  Excellent point.  Almost like the Falcons were panicking at 1-3.

They have the talent to make up a lot of ground, and the NFC is a little soft, but you gotta think that the wild card teams are going to be either Seattle or San Francisco, and likely some team from the NFC North.

[hairy worthen]

Just saw that clay is out a month at least. How big a loss is that? As in, will there be much of a pass rush without him?

It's a huge loss in my opinion. They did get some decent pass rush against the kittens on Sunday from Perry and Neal, both who play outside linebacker. Hopefully they can pick up the slack.

You can argue that the strength of the defense has been the interior line this year especially stopping the run. Last year the Packers went 3-1 with Matthews out of the lineup, so all is not lost yet.

[4everwarriors]

Can 'roids make one's thumb brittle?

[hairy worthen]

Can 'roids make one's thumb brittle?

I thought that applied to a different appendage

[ChicosBailBonds]

Being signed is a lot different than "being the guy that is going to set the league on fire".

Fair point, but if I recall he was probably the top free agent QB out there and signed to be the starter by a team that is pretty good.  There are no guarantees of anything, but at the time the pundits thought he was going to do very well.

He fell awfully quick.

[ChicosBailBonds]

The 3 points Falcons passed up at the end of the first half was beyond stupid. The Jets even provided a second chance  to correct that decision with the pass interference call on 4 th down, and they still screwed it up.

I was beyond pissed, as I have the Falcons kicker on my fantasy team and needed 4 points from him last night.  Ultimately I got the 4th point when they took the lead 28-27, but how on earth when you are trailing by 10 nearing the end of the half do you not take the points.  What an idiot.

[DegenerateDish]

At the end of the game, they had 20 seconds and more timeouts than the Jets.  Why didn't they give themselves a chance?  They put it all on the Jets missing a field goal that an NFL kicker makes 90% of the time.

Exactly, those timeouts don't carry over to next week. Depending on how you feel about icing a kicker, at least use them there. You have nothing to lose, you weren't smart enough to use your timeouts wisely, at least use them to make Folk think about it. He probably still hits the FG, but do something that seems competent. I hate Mike Smith.

[MU B2002]

Exactly, those timeouts don't carry over to next week. Depending on how you feel about icing a kicker, at least use them there. You have nothing to lose, you weren't smart enough to use your timeouts wisely, at least use them to make Folk think about it. He probably still hits the FG, but do something that seems competent. I hate Mike Smith.

Doesn't it seem like Mike Smith has gotten a pass the last couple years for all these stupid decisions?  I always hear about how bad Ron Rivera, Jason Garrett, etc are in game management, but until this morning Smith wasn't talked about as frequently.

[DegenerateDish]

Doesn't it seem like Mike Smith has gotten a pass the last couple years for all these stupid decisions?  I always hear about how bad Ron Rivera, Jason Garrett, etc are in game management, but until this morning Smith wasn't talked about as frequently.

It's amazing how much bad head coaching there is. Especially in an era of coaching where you have better coordinators, position coaches, and so many quality control/specialists. There's only 32 of those jobs, you would think billion dollar organizations would be better at finding more competent talent to coach their teams.

[CTWarrior]

I thought going for the TD was the right thing to do.  Didn't work out, but it's hard to get to the 1 yard line.  I think football teams kick and punt way too much. 

I thought the Jets were stupid not to go for 2 up 12 with 12 minutes to go.  You figured Atlanta had time for 2 TDs, and not 1 TD and 2 FGs.  26-14 is no worse the 27-14 at that point in the game, and 28-14 is much, much better.

[mu03eng]

It's amazing how much bad head coaching there is. Especially in an era of coaching where you have better coordinators, position coaches, and so many quality control/specialists. There's only 32 of those jobs, you would think billion dollar organizations would be better at finding more competent talent to coach their teams.

I always thought it was half baked, but I'm starting to think it may be smart/necessary.  Bill Simmons has talked about for years having a time management coach for game days where he/she provides the guidance on when to take timeouts, etc.  Simmons suggested someone who has played Madden a billion times, which would work, but that aside, why doesn't someone do that?

The other thing I hate, and its usually the QB pulling the trigger, is any 2nd half timeout burned to avoid a 5yrd delay of game penalty.  I get it if it's 3rd or 4th and inches, but if it's 2nd and 9, eat the penalty.  That timeout is worth way more for either clock or challenge purposes.  1st half sure, burn em up not a ton of value there.  While the QB does it, I think the coaches need to coach this up.

[MerrittsMustache]

I always thought it was half baked, but I'm starting to think it may be smart/necessary.  Bill Simmons has talked about for years having a time management coach for game days where he/she provides the guidance on when to take timeouts, etc.  Simmons suggested someone who has played Madden a billion times, which would work, but that aside, why doesn't someone do that?

The other thing I hate, and its usually the QB pulling the trigger, is any 2nd half timeout burned to avoid a 5yrd delay of game penalty.  I get it if it's 3rd or 4th and inches, but if it's 2nd and 9, eat the penalty.  That timeout is worth way more for either clock or challenge purposes.  1st half sure, burn em up not a ton of value there.  While the QB does it, I think the coaches need to coach this up.

As the son of a football coach, I can't tell you how many times I've watched a game with my father and heard him say, "You can get 5 yards back. You can't get a timeout back."

[DegenerateDish]

I thought going for the TD was the right thing to do.  Didn't work out, but it's hard to get to the 1 yard line.  I think football teams kick and punt way too much. 

I thought the Jets were stupid not to go for 2 up 12 with 12 minutes to go.  You figured Atlanta had time for 2 TDs, and not 1 TD and 2 FGs.  26-14 is no worse the 27-14 at that point in the game, and 28-14 is much, much better.

Agree 100000% on going for 2 there. That's another thing coaches mess up all the time.

In that situation before the half, the clock severely limits your options, that's why down 10, I think you have to kick it there. I agree that coaches kick/punt too much, but my thought is the clock and game situation there dictated taking the points. You'd rather go into the locker room down one score instead of two.

[DegenerateDish]

Kicking the Falcons while they're down...Julio done for the year.

[DegenerateDish]

Amazing that Week 5 just ended, and the NFC playoff races are all but over. I might end up eating my words on this, but the Seahawks are winning the West, Saints basically just clinched the NFC South, whoever comes out of the crap that is the NFC East, and the Pack will win the North.

Niners are still too good not to take one of the wild card spots. If the Vikes schedule wasn't so brutal, I'd give them a chance. I have zero faith in the Cards/Rams/Anyone Else in East (I actually had to force myself to list any of those teams as wild card hopefuls).

Coming down to Lions & Bears. That Week 10 game is going to be huge.

[brandx]

Fair point, but if I recall he was probably the top free agent QB out there and signed to be the starter by a team that is pretty good.  There are no guarantees of anything, but at the time the pundits thought he was going to do very well.

He fell awfully quick.

Tells you a lot about parity in the NFL when you call a 7-9 team "pretty good".

[ChicosBailBonds]

Agree 100000% on going for 2 there. That's another thing coaches mess up all the time.

In that situation before the half, the clock severely limits your options, that's why down 10, I think you have to kick it there. I agree that coaches kick/punt too much, but my thought is the clock and game situation there dictated taking the points. You'd rather go into the locker room down one score instead of two.

Agree entirely.  Go for 2, but end of half you get the 3.  Gives you way more options in the second half where time is much more of an issue.  Down one score is much more manageable than 2 scores.  It forces teams into only going for TD's in the second half and that limits options, play calling, etc.  It drives me crazy, just like the team that needs a TD to win with 40 seconds left and has a 2nd and 8...instead of getting the first down on the next three plays they go for three big plays and miss on all three.  Sometimes you have to take what it is there.  Get the three points, get the first down and move the ball.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Tells you a lot about parity in the NFL when you call a 7-9 team "pretty good".

They were a playoff team, correct? 

[Jay Bee]

They were a playoff team, correct? 

Yep, first non-strike year sub-.500 team to make it, I believe. Does that make them "pretty good" to you?

I guess some people like... coming in through the back door.

[MerrittsMustache]

How 'bout those Bears!

Yeesh, Thursday night football is ugly.

[Hards Alumni]

How 'bout those Bears!

Yeesh, Thursday night football is ugly.

+1  All about the money, baby!

[GGGG]

How 'bout those Bears!

Yeesh, Thursday night football is ugly.

It just looks like it is played at a different speed.  I just wish the NFL would stop doing this, or at least limit it to teams coming off their bye weeks.  Even when the games are close, they don't "look" right to me.