2015-16 NFC North/NFL thread

[GGGG]

Colts fire offensive coord, Pep Hamilton. (Former Bears QB coach under Lovie Smith - failing up must be nice).

I have never understood mid-season firings of coordinators. Unless the coordinator outright disobeyed the coach, or the players hated him, I don't know why the move is made. Either the same scheme/system will remain in place (in which case, why is the firing necessary?) or they will install a new system/scheme (which will likely not work well for several weeks, so the results won't change).

Thoughts, anyone?

Well play calling could change.

[jesmu84]

Well play calling could change.

Perhaps I don't understand enough about NFL coaching then. If the scheme/system stays the same, couldn't Pagano direct Pep to alter play calling? Now, if Pep says no, then firing makes sense. Otherwise, Pagano is going to direct the interim OC in how to call the plays, or take over playcalling himself. Both seem like things he could do without a firing.

[GGGG]

No matter what happens they aren't going to change the scheme.  But play calling is about feel.  What to call in certain situations given how a defense has reacted previously.  You can't can't order an OC to alter this.

Regardless, this is probably more about Pagano making changes to save himself more than anything.

[Sir Lawrence]

There's a whole bunch of political intrigue going on in Indy.  Irsay siding with Pagano over Grigson, or so this would seem.  New O coordinator is someone Pagano wanted.

[CTWarrior]

Analytics has no place in an environment that encourages competitors to bash their heads against each other.

I think teams punt way too much.  The statistics say teams don't go for it on fourth down nearly as often as they should and teams would improve their odds of winning by going for it in most cases.  In the modern game, possession of the ball is more important than the 40 yards of field position you get by punting.  I'd love to see an analytics-driven coach test this theory out.  People could still bash heads against each other without punting so much.

[jesmu84]

I think teams punt way too much.  The statistics say teams don't go for it on fourth down nearly as often as they should and teams would improve their odds of winning by going for it in most cases.  In the modern game, possession of the ball is more important than the 40 yards of field position you get by punting.  I'd love to see an analytics-driven coach test this theory out.  People could still bash heads against each other without punting so much.

Problem is, if you're the first, you're going to be second-guessed and skewered if it doesn't work. Putting your job on the line more than necessary. That's why it doesn't happen.

[CTWarrior]

Problem is, if you're the first, you're going to be second-guessed and skewered if it doesn't work. Putting your job on the line more than necessary. That's why it doesn't happen.

I know.  You'd need an owner who is very progressive and understanding (or comatose and uncaring) or a coach who has built up enough good will that he could survive it backfiring a few times (like Belichek or something).

[JWags85]

There's a whole bunch of political intrigue going on in Indy.  Irsay siding with Pagano over Grigson, or so this would seem.  New O coordinator is someone Pagano wanted.

Exactly, this screams Pagano and Grigson trying to save their respective jobs.  And Pagano has wanted Chudzinski in the role since he hired him as AHC.

[cheebs09]

I know.  You'd need an owner who is very progressive and understanding (or comatose and uncaring) or a coach who has built up enough good will that he could survive it backfiring a few times (like Belichek or something).

Tomlin is going for two a lot more now. I follow Andy Glockner on Twitter and he will usually tweet something when a team goes against analytics. I think going for two every time may be the right statistical play depending on your offense.

[JWags85]

Tomlin is going for two a lot more now. I follow Andy Glockner on Twitter and he will usually tweet something when a team goes against analytics. ubtjink going for two every time may be the right statistical play depending on your offense.

I might have to re-follow Glockner.  He was insufferable during the NLCS so I stopped, but I usually like him during CBB.

[🏀]

I might have to re-follow Glockner.  He was insufferable during the NLCS so I stopped, but I usually like him during CBB.

Did the same.

[tower912]

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/11/05/detroit-lions-martin-mayhew-lewand/75216768/

Lions fire GM and President.    After firing a bunch of assistants.    Caldwell will be gone at the end of the year.    It is the first time I can remember the Ford family getting aggressive and impatient with getting rid of the administrators.     Throwing the bums out is a good idea.    The bad news is that it will be yet another total rebuild.   

[jesmu84]

Roger, Jerry, Greg and the NFL looking real good again today.

BTW , if more happens to Hardy based on the pics - what is wrong with our society that we need visuals to do what should have been done in the first place??

[MerrittsMustache]

Roger, Jerry, Greg and the NFL looking real good again today.

BTW , if more happens to Hardy based on the pics - what is wrong with our society that we need visuals to do what should have been done in the first place??

Those pics were disturbing.

We live in a cynical, "see-it-to-believe-it" society. When it comes to stars/celebrities, as long as there's no video or photographic evidence, many fans can put their heads in the sand and act like it didn't happen or that it was deserved or victim-blame because they simply don't want to believe it. Even in the Ray Rice situation, you'd hear people imply that since she spit on him, it was somewhat justifiable that he hit her...then you actually see her spit on him and see his response and realize that it was in absolutely no way justifiable.

[naginiF]

Roger, Jerry, Greg and the NFL looking real good again today.

BTW , if more happens to Hardy based on the pics - what is wrong with our society that we need visuals to do what should have been done in the first place??

Shouldn't the NFLPA get the brunt of the blame for this?  It was originally a 10 game suspension until after the appeal.  Not that I think 10 games is enough but the NFLPA, working off the same info/evidence, fought to reduce it to a mere 4.

Totally agree with your societal question.

[CTWarrior]

Shouldn't the NFLPA get the brunt of the blame for this?  It was originally a 10 game suspension until after the appeal.  Not that I think 10 games is enough but the NFLPA, working off the same info/evidence, fought to reduce it to a mere 4.

Totally agree with your societal question.

Agree with all of the above, and 4 games seems too little, but why is his employer (the NFL) the one who has to hand him his harshest punishment?  Don't you think in an ideal world he'd be more worried about the justice system than his employer?

[naginiF]

Roger, Jerry, Greg and the NFL looking real good again today.

BTW , if more happens to Hardy based on the pics - what is wrong with our society that we need visuals to do what should have been done in the first place??

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/11/06/greg-hardy-photos-nicole-holder-cowboys-nfl

Mr. Rosenberg i presume?  I didn't read the whole article but just enough to see how passionate he is on your society point.  good editorial

edit:  if i had bothered to scroll a half page i would've seen it's a short column.  still spot on.  the comment section is an amazing display of ignorance.

[mu03eng]

Shouldn't the NFLPA get the brunt of the blame for this?  It was originally a 10 game suspension until after the appeal.  Not that I think 10 games is enough but the NFLPA, working off the same info/evidence, fought to reduce it to a mere 4.

Totally agree with your societal question.

Why should the NFLPA roll over and assume a punishment handed out is justified and not appeal?  The NFLPA doesn't have an image issue or really care about the "right thing", they should be all about maximizing their clients profitability.

The NFL suspended him for 10 games(too light), the NFLPA appealed and the NFL said, yeah we were too harsh on the dude who nearly beat a woman to death that he outweighed by 150 pounds, and cut it to 4 games.  Why would the NFL even cut the suspension on the appeal?  The suspended Josh Gordon for far longer for pot use than they have Hardy, a documented abuser of women in particular and humans in general.  Yeah, definitely the NFLPA's fault.

[naginiF]

Why should the NFLPA roll over and assume a punishment handed out is justified and not appeal?  The NFLPA doesn't have an image issue or really care about the "right thing", they should be all about maximizing their clients profitability.

The NFL suspended him for 10 games(too light), the NFLPA appealed and the NFL said, yeah we were too harsh on the dude who nearly beat a woman to death that he outweighed by 150 pounds, and cut it to 4 games.  Why would the NFL even cut the suspension on the appeal?  The suspended Josh Gordon for far longer for pot use than they have Hardy, a documented abuser of women in particular and humans in general.  Yeah, definitely the NFLPA's fault.

You Sir......are correct.  I assumed that the appeal/arbitration was within the judicial system and not conducted by a league appointee, Mr. Harold Henderson.

Everyone in this case is equally horrible.

[🏀]

Wide receivers are just not talented enough.

Cobb can't be the guy. Adams is trying. 12 can't turn water into wine.

[tower912]

Flipped to the Packer game for one play and watched #12 get sacked on a play where it looked like the o-line was borrowing blocking schemes from the Lions. 

[Holy hell all time]

The Packers special teams have been the best unit on this team for the past 3 or 4 weeks.  And it's not like they're doing very well either.

[ronald dragon]

12 is a hell of a quarterback but I don't think he could motivate me to make a sandwich. He's getting thrown around and comes off the field looking like doesn't care, there is a time to lay into your guys a bit and try to light a fire in them and he doesn't seem to do that. Great quarterback but has a long way to go start acting like a leader.

[🏀]

12 is a hell of a quarterback but I don't think he could motivate me to make a sandwich. He's getting thrown around and comes off the field looking like doesn't care, there is a time to lay into your guys a bit and try to light a fire in them and he doesn't seem to do that. Great quarterback but has a long way to go start acting like a leader.

This is a parody, right?

[ronald dragon]

This is a parody, right?

You think the lame ass smirk he has on his face coming off the field after getting sacked on 3rd and long multiple times then sulking by himself with that tablet is inspiring his teamates?

He plays like a leader but he has to act like one