jerek
Pro Hobbyist
Football is a marvelously complex sport. The size of any NFL coaching staff should alone serve to remind you of just how many things there are going on, on field, at any given time. We have a head coach, two or more coordinators, position coaches, and assistants to some of these coordinators and position coaches.
Consider what it is to watch and "break down" a week's tape. Think of the statistical categories that are tracked, the numbers that can tangibly be noted and recorded, to say nothing of the more intangible things that can occur on any given play.
I feel that many posters on this board would take a given game, look at the stat line for that game, or even watch the entire thing from start to finish, and would sum the game up like follows (only an example):
(1) Quarterback is 21/32 for 2 TD, 1 INT, completing 65.6% of his passes. Thus, quarterback is the man.
(2) Tailback carries 24 times for 157 yards and 3 TDs. Thus, tailback is the man.
I feel that too many posters on this board fail to understand the microanalysis that must take place if you are to get a solid feel for the game. Consider what might have contributed to these above two great, individual performances:
(a) O-lineman steps up and makes a clutch block on second and long.
(b) Slot receiver catches key third-and-short pass to sustain successful drive that leads to score.
(c) Quarterback reads blitz at the line and audibles to a counter that picks up big yardage.
(d) Guys in booth notice a pattern on third and long and give quarterback correct play that comes up big.
And that's just on the offensive side of the ball!
And it works the other way. A quarterback has a terrible game, well, he must suck. A receiver has 3 catches for 25 yards and 0 TDs, well, he must suck. Never mind that the quarterback's O-line is a joke, that the opposing DC is a genius, or that his OC is making play calls with his head up his ***. Never mind that the receiver is constantly double teamed, or that the OC has him running five yard out routes the whole way down the field.
That is not to say there are no individual great performances, no individually great performers. Clearly, there are. Just remember, Joe Montana doesn't throw that game-winning TD if his nameless left guard falls flat on his face and the blitzer faceplants Montana from his blindside. Dan Marino doesn't throw that deep ball if his OC has his receivers run a bunch of curl routes. Peyton Manning doesn't score that touchdown if Reggie Wayne drops the ball in the endzone.
Football is a team sport. The success of its players is, more than any other sport, contingent on that player's teammates and coaching staff doing their jobs well. Likewise, when that player's teammates and coaching staff do their jobs well, it is that player's responsibility to do his, or everybody looks bad for it.
Just something to think about as we approach the upcoming draft/FA. Whether you like Reggie, Vince, or trading the pick, I hope you will take a minute to think about how that choice will fit into our big picture before starting thread number 1,000,001 on the topic.
Just my
Consider what it is to watch and "break down" a week's tape. Think of the statistical categories that are tracked, the numbers that can tangibly be noted and recorded, to say nothing of the more intangible things that can occur on any given play.
I feel that many posters on this board would take a given game, look at the stat line for that game, or even watch the entire thing from start to finish, and would sum the game up like follows (only an example):
(1) Quarterback is 21/32 for 2 TD, 1 INT, completing 65.6% of his passes. Thus, quarterback is the man.
(2) Tailback carries 24 times for 157 yards and 3 TDs. Thus, tailback is the man.
I feel that too many posters on this board fail to understand the microanalysis that must take place if you are to get a solid feel for the game. Consider what might have contributed to these above two great, individual performances:
(a) O-lineman steps up and makes a clutch block on second and long.
(b) Slot receiver catches key third-and-short pass to sustain successful drive that leads to score.
(c) Quarterback reads blitz at the line and audibles to a counter that picks up big yardage.
(d) Guys in booth notice a pattern on third and long and give quarterback correct play that comes up big.
And that's just on the offensive side of the ball!
And it works the other way. A quarterback has a terrible game, well, he must suck. A receiver has 3 catches for 25 yards and 0 TDs, well, he must suck. Never mind that the quarterback's O-line is a joke, that the opposing DC is a genius, or that his OC is making play calls with his head up his ***. Never mind that the receiver is constantly double teamed, or that the OC has him running five yard out routes the whole way down the field.
That is not to say there are no individual great performances, no individually great performers. Clearly, there are. Just remember, Joe Montana doesn't throw that game-winning TD if his nameless left guard falls flat on his face and the blitzer faceplants Montana from his blindside. Dan Marino doesn't throw that deep ball if his OC has his receivers run a bunch of curl routes. Peyton Manning doesn't score that touchdown if Reggie Wayne drops the ball in the endzone.
Football is a team sport. The success of its players is, more than any other sport, contingent on that player's teammates and coaching staff doing their jobs well. Likewise, when that player's teammates and coaching staff do their jobs well, it is that player's responsibility to do his, or everybody looks bad for it.
Just something to think about as we approach the upcoming draft/FA. Whether you like Reggie, Vince, or trading the pick, I hope you will take a minute to think about how that choice will fit into our big picture before starting thread number 1,000,001 on the topic.
Just my
