NFC North / NFL Thread 2017-18

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Looking more like fangio sticks with the bears, per hub arkush on twitta.

Would be very nice if he stayed.  Bears need to add an edge rusher and figure out the CB position.

[GGGG]

Just glad it wasn?t an internal hire.

I agree with that.  And after thinking about it for awhile, the choice to me is as good as any. 

[GB Warrior]

I agree with that.  And after thinking about it for awhile, the choice to me is as good as any.

I do hope that we try to retain Whitt. As bad as our secondary has been at times (some of this is personnel), he seems to get a lot out of guys willing to put in the work (Tramon, Shields, etc.)

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Was DC for the Jets when they were pretty good. On it's face I'm digging the hire.

[MUBurrow]

Pettine isn't a bad hire, but he's kind of an uninspired one, aina? He seems to benefit from being an early adapter to the 3-4 from his Jets and Bills days, but the league has caught up to that as evidenced by the Ryans inability to hold a job anymore. His persona from his Cle days was certainly more of a "run through a brick wall guy" than a scheme guy. And Demovsky's espn article suggests that his similarities to Capers weighed in his favor, because evidently the Packers think they want continuity for the current personnel. Between this, keeping Mac (and letting him continue to call plays), and going back to Philbin, it all has the feel of a front office trying not to screw this up because it has Aaron Rodgers, rather than taking risks and actually going for it.

[JWags85]

Browns seemingly putting together a pretty solid front office.

[Jockey]

Pettine isn't a bad hire, but he's kind of an uninspired one, aina? He seems to benefit from being an early adapter to the 3-4 from his Jets and Bills days, but the league has caught up to that as evidenced by the Ryans inability to hold a job anymore.

Early adapter? How so?

3-4 was the predominant defensive scheme almost 50 years ago.It waxed and waned since then, but never went away.

[MUBurrow]

Early adapter? How so?

3-4 was the predominant defensive scheme almost 50 years ago.It waxed and waned since then, but never went away.

Full disclosure that I may be misremembering a fair amount of this, but I think that through the 90s, a pretty straightforward 4-3 was the dominant scheme, and that the Ryans were a big player in bringing back a kind of hybrid 3-4 with a lot of complex zone blitzes but with the strong side OLB playing man coverage, and almost exclusively man coverage in the secondary.  Not really sure what the offensive antidote to that is/was (athletic pass catching TEs that make OLBs look silly in pass coverage? utilizing the slot to for quick hitters to avoid the blitzes and take advantage of man coverage on the outside?) but a common criticism of the Ryans in the later years was that their defenses got progressively worse after the initial success as assistants in Baltimore and with the Jets.

[Jockey]

Full disclosure that I may be misremembering a fair amount of this, but I think that through the 90s, a pretty straightforward 4-3 was the dominant scheme, and that the Ryans were a big player in bringing back a kind of hybrid 3-4 with a lot of complex zone blitzes but with the strong side OLB playing man coverage, and almost exclusively man coverage in the secondary.  Not really sure what the offensive antidote to that is/was (athletic pass catching TEs that make OLBs look silly in pass coverage? utilizing the slot to for quick hitters to avoid the blitzes and take advantage of man coverage on the outside?) but a common criticism of the Ryans in the later years was that their defenses got progressively worse after the initial success as assistants in Baltimore and with the Jets.

My recollection is similar. I think for a while the 4-3 was more dominant. Offenses adjust; then defenses do the same. I think we will continue to see both. Gotta have athletes, though, for the 3-4.

Kind of a mishmash now.

[GB Warrior]

Looks like the Packers are retaining Joe Whitt. He has routinely been lauded by former players and associates for getting the most out of his players (tramon, Sam shields), though with GB that isn't saying much.

Still, if you're getting continuity, this is where you want it

[MerrittsMustache]

Mark Helfrich hired as Bears' OC. Nagy still plans on calling plays.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Mark Helfrich hired as Bears' OC. Nagy still plans on calling plays.

I'm okay with that. Good coordinator, awful head coach who couldn't recruit.

[jesmu84]

Mark Helfrich hired as Bears' OC. Nagy still plans on calling plays.

More impressed with their OL coach

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Fangio back. Really like the staff Nagy has put together. Now Pace needs a really nice offseason.

[GGGG]

Atlanta should fire Sark for the four play calls after first and goal inside the ten.  (He's going to Seattle anyway.)

[Jockey]

Atlanta should fire Sark for the four play calls after first and goal inside the ten.  (He's going to Seattle anyway.)

Every coach should be fired when someone trips. Why wasn't Julio told it's not allowed. That is all on the coach

[GGGG]

Every coach should be fired when someone trips. Why wasn't Julio told it's not allowed. That is all on the coach

LOL.  You think rolling Ryan out on fourth down was a good call?  LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Good one.

[Jockey]

LOL.  You think rolling Ryan out on fourth down was a good call?  LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Good one.

In reality, I HATE it when GB ran that play when Hundley was at QB (no big fan when AR runs it either).

Generally the play severely limits the options that the QB has available - but in this case Julio made the break and would have had a step or two on the defender. It would have been a game winner if JJ doesn't trip. Designing a play to the best WR in football (one of the best ever) is NOT a bad idea.

For most other teams, I would agree 100% with you, but not here.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I do think Atlanta should have run the ball at least once on first or second down.

[MU82]

Quite happy the Eagles won.

I enjoy it when the "smart money" is wrong.

[WarriorDad]

Mike Tomlin's decisions are crazy.

4th and 6 inches, you run a pitch play.  Jax goes 80 yards for TD

4th an 1 yard in 4th quarter, you run a pass.

Do you not have a 6'4" 250lb QB, plus a running back that is one of the best in the league?

Then you kick an onside kick trailing by 7 with the two minute warning and two timeouts left?   He will have many questions to answer this week.

[real chili 83]

Feels like it is more than 17-0.

[real chili 83]

Feels like it is more than 17-0.

Dirty Saints

[4everwarriors]

Sphincter time, hey?

[CreightonWarrior]

Is Sean Payton drunk?