2015-16 NFC North/NFL thread

[mu03eng]

Exactly.  They committed to an O Line that would keep the quarterback upright (well, most of the time, I guess) and in turn were able to balance their offense.

You either need to have an OL that can dominate or a moderately good QB who can move in the pocket to be successful in this league.

I think developing an OL is the single most important aspect to building a successful team in the modern NFL.

[GGGG]

I think developing an OL is the single most important aspect to building a successful team in the modern NFL.

I think that has always been the case.  It's just rarely celebrated because they aren't the ones scoring or making the spectacular plays. 

[GGGG]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2c615db3987f4d3ba631d87dea368393/ragnar-viking-no-longer-teams-mascot

The Vikings mascot was looking for a 1,300% raise.   

[mu03eng]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2c615db3987f4d3ba631d87dea368393/ragnar-viking-no-longer-teams-mascot

The Vikings mascot was looking for a 1,300% raise.

SKOL VIKINGS!   

[MerrittsMustache]

You either need to have an OL that can dominate or a moderately good QB who can move in the pocket to be successful in this league.

I think developing an OL is the single most important aspect to building a successful team in the modern NFL.

If Beasley wasn't their guy...Snagging Ereck Flowers to play next to Kyle Long for the next 6-8 years wouldn't have been a bad route to take. Or locking Danny Shelton into the middle of the 3-4 would have been an upgrade for the D.

I understand that the Bears needed a play-maker and needed to replace Marshall but they had much more pressing needs than WR, especially when selecting that high. If Cooper was somehow still there, it would be a no-brainer to take him but, once he was gone, shift the focus to the lines.

[GooooMarquette]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2c615db3987f4d3ba631d87dea368393/ragnar-viking-no-longer-teams-mascot

The Vikings mascot was looking for a 1,300% raise.

Hard to blame him.  I sure wouldn't go to any Vikings games for less than $20,000 a pop.

[brandx]

You either need to have an OL that can dominate or a moderately good QB who can move in the pocket to be successful in this league.

I think developing an OL is the single most important aspect to building a successful team in the modern NFL.

Demarco Murray behind the Dallas OL  vs. Demarco Murray running behind the Philly OL (11 yards in 20 carries).

[brandx]

Hard to blame him.  I sure wouldn't go to any Vikings games for less than $20,000 a pop.

[jesmu84]

So... at what point do people start ripping on Luck for the TOs? (Luck>Cutler, in case anyone wants to know my position)

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

So... at what point do people start ripping on Luck for the TOs? (Luck>Cutler, in case anyone wants to know my position)

That luck performance won me my fantasy game this week. Best time for him to have his worst game of his career.

[GooooMarquette]

So... at what point do people start ripping on Luck for the TOs? (Luck>Cutler, in case anyone wants to know my position)

When he's been doing it for 9+ seasons like Cutler? 

Luck is just starting his fourth season, so he is still learning.  To put it into perspective, Rodgers had the best QB rating of his career in his seventh season overall, and his fifth as a starter.  If Luck doesn't start making significant strides in the next couple of seasons, he will have plenty of critics.

[wadesworld]

So... at what point do people start ripping on Luck for the TOs? (Luck>Cutler, in case anyone wants to know my position)

We can't compare Jay to the top QBs in the league because it's not fair, but then we're going to...compare him to the top QBs in the league (with a window size of 1 game).  Outstanding.

[jesmu84]

We can't compare him to the top QBs in the league because it's not fair, but then we're going to...compare him to the top QBs in the league (with a window size of 1 game).  Outstanding.

It's a faux pas to point out that a QB has had a lot of turnovers recently right after a MNF game in which he had 4? Crazy.

Andrew Luck in his last 9 games:

184-331

55.5%

2010 passing yards

12 TD

14 INT

6 fumbles

68.17 passer rating

[MerrittsMustache]

When he's been doing it for 9+ seasons like Cutler? 

Luck is just starting his fourth season, so he is still learning.  To put it into perspective, Rodgers had the best QB rating of his career in his seventh season overall, and his fifth as a starter.  If Luck doesn't start making significant strides in the next couple of seasons, he will have plenty of critics.

Pagano is criticizing Luck already.

Also, Cutler's two highest passer ratings came in 2013 and 2014. Just sayin.

[NavinRJohnson]

It's a faux pas to point out that a QB has had a lot of turnovers recently right after a MNF game in which he had 4? Crazy.

Andrew Luck in his last 9 games:

184-331

55.5%

2010 passing yards

12 TD

14 INT

6 fumbles

68.17 passer rating

Why 9 games? Is there something significant about that? Why not 10, or 16, or 18?

[jesmu84]

Why 9 games? Is there something significant about that? Why not 10, or 16, or 18?

No reason. Just found the statistics online, and the source listed his last 9.

[brandx]

I think that has always been the case.  It's just rarely celebrated because they aren't the ones scoring or making the spectacular plays.

But.... the 3 teams that have spent the least capital on Offensive Linemen in the last 4 years?

GB, Seattle, And New England.


I wonder if that is often the case and if it would be the same that the best teams were spending the least  amount of drat capital on OL. The line takes a few years to jell, so the better teams usually have veteran groups.

[jesmu84]

Why 9 games? Is there something significant about that? Why not 10, or 16, or 18?

Just noted on PTI (as Luck was their lead), that he has the most TOs of any QB since the beginning of 2014

[wadesworld]

My 1 question is, if Jay Cutler is paid like one of the top QBs in the league (he is) then why is it unfair to compare him to the top QBs in the league?

[Dish]

My 1 question is, if Jay Cutler is paid like one of the top QBs in the league (he is) then why is it unfair to compare him to the top QBs in the league?

The QB position is such an outlier for compensation, it matters, but doesn't matter.

Cutler is tied for 12th for average annual salary among NFL QB's. His 2015 salary puts him at 8th for this year, then in 2016 he drops all the way to 15th. The % guaranteed on the total value of his contract puts him at 28th in the league.

That's why it's impossible to use salary to compare, not just for Cutler, but any QB.

[wadesworld]

The QB position is such an outlier for compensation, it matters, but doesn't matter.

Cutler is tied for 12th for average annual salary among NFL QB's. His 2015 salary puts him at 8th for this year, then in 2016 he drops all the way to 15th. The % guaranteed on the total value of his contract puts him at 28th in the league.

That's why it's impossible to use salary to compare, not just for Cutler, but any QB.

Interesting and fair. Thanks for the explanation. The money some of there QBs get is crazy to me. Eli, Wilson, Flacco, etc.

[Dish]

Interesting and fair. Thanks for the explanation. The money some of there QBs get is crazy to me. Eli, Wilson, Flacco, etc.

Cutler still is maddening and should exit Chicago, that doesn't change at all.

QB salaries mainly matter more in WHEN you get paid, that really dictates what you'll get paid. Brady is the real exception, his re-do made him the 20th highest annual salary.

[CTWarrior]

Sign a Ryan Fitpatrick type for a quarter of Jay's salary. They are very comparable QBs as far as what they can add to your team.

As a Jets fan, I'm thrilled to have Fitzpatrick.  It's nice to have a merely below average QB instead of the wretched crap we've been throwing out there the last 5 years.  It wasn't too long ago that I was hoping they would play friggin' Tim Tebow because he couldn't possibly be worse than Mark Sanchez (the football equivalent of the Dawson/Derrick dilemma). 

[MU82]

Holy crap ... the single best bet of this (or maybe any season) would have been to load up on the Seahawks when they were only 9 1/2 point favorites over the Bears early in the week.

It's a sucker line now -- 14 1/2 -- and I don't think I'd touch it even though the Seahawks might win this game by 40.

I mean, Seattle could totally dominate (could? will!) but an interception or fumble could keep their lead to "only" 31-10, and then the Bears could score a garbage TD against second-stringers at the end to cover the spread.

But 9 1/2? Damn! I should have taken out a second mortgage, flown to Vegas and made some dough!

[Jay Bee]

Skol Vikings!

The CONSENSUS!!