Off Season

[GP1]

I'm sure we all watched the game yesterday. For a few years in a row now, the Super Bowl has been a good game. Feel free to add your thoughts to this thread. Below are some of my thoughts. Here is the box score for the game.First, it is good to see for the second year in a row, a coach that is not from the "good old boy network" win. Football has changed into a passing game and for the last two years, we see how important the passing game is in the NFL when it comes to big games. Guys like John Fox, Marvin Lewis, Norv Turner are part of the past in football and don't really have a place in it now except for owners who have no idea how to hire a fresh and innovative coach. As much as I love Bill Cowher, he is part of that irrelevant past of football coaches who really doesn't fit in today's game. Any team that hires Cowher will not experience success. Teams need to look for young offensive minds that know how to match-up QBs and WRs to score touchdowns. If the coaches mentioned above were the coach of Indy yesterday, they would have packed in the offense with a 10-0 lead and tried to win 13-9 running the ball and punting...I saw Cowher lose too many AFC Championships to know that isn't how you win.Second, I like a balanced offense. Balance used to mean an equal number of passes and runs. Now it means a good distribution to receivers. The box score shows what a great job the two QBs did of distributing the ball.Third, the QB play was excellent. Manning made one mistake and it cost his team the game. People are badmouthing him on the radio today...those people are nuts. The guy is a great player. Who wouldn't want Manning on their team? Once Brees got going, it was all over...enough said.The defense in yesterday's game was average. Brees completed 67% of his passes and Manning 70%...is that great defense? One player making a great play late in the game does not constitute great defense. Like I've been saying for years, defense only keeps you in the game until your offense gets going. Championships are really won with offense.Like a lot of big NFL games, the game was decided on 3-4 big plays. A couple of plays go differently, and Indy is the champion today.Since this is a Zips board let's bring it around to the Zips. I read on this board the Zips are going to use the TE and FB more next year. I'm not sure how lining up in the I-Formation with a TE and running the ball fits into today's game....in fact, I'm certain after watching the game yesterday (actually, I've been certain for longer than that) it doesn't. Yesterday was the state of football today and in the near future. Football is more exciting today than ever because of the sophistication of the passing game and watching athletic ability on display. I-formation with a TE is a relic of the past still used by teams that haven't caught up with the present. Smashmouth is over if you really want to win. New Orleans TE caught only the sixth most passes yesterday. "But GP1, he caught a TD pass!" I know, he was lined up as a WR when he did. Clark of Indy caught the most for his team, and they lost.

[Zip Watcher]

Good post.The Saint's kicker was money the last month. Big kick after big kick.Mostly, ZW loved the under yesterday, and likes it even more today!! B) B)

[xu9697]

Since this is a Zips board let's bring it around to the Zips. I read on this board the Zips are going to use the TE and FB more next year. I'm not sure how lining up in the I-Formation with a TE and running the ball fits into today's game....in fact, I'm certain after watching the game yesterday (actually, I've been certain for longer than that) it doesn't. Yesterday was the state of football today and in the near future. Football is more exciting today than ever because of the sophistication of the passing game and watching athletic ability on display. I-formation with a TE is a relic of the past still used by teams that haven't caught up with the present. Smashmouth is over if you really want to win. New Orleans TE caught only the sixth most passes yesterday. "But GP1, he caught a TD pass!" I know, he was lined up as a WR when he did. Clark of Indy caught the most for his team, and they lost.

Jets definitely run the "smash mouth" type of football, but have a rookie QB. Ravens still use a FB I believe.Not to mention...NOT being able to pick up 1 yard in the 2nd quarter cost the Colts 3 points when they gave the ball back to NO at the 50. NOT BEING ABLE TO ADAPT THEIR OFFENSE FOR SHORT YARDAGE hurt them both there and, to some extents, late in the game.With that being said, the 2 ways to win in the pros in the last 10 years is to either have a great QB & at least a solid D (Saints, Colts, Patriots, Steelers of 2008 etc.) or a GREAT D and at least solid/timely QB play (Steelers of 2005, Giants, Ravens..though Ravens' D was one of the best ever and QB was average at best).If our offense is like ND's...it is not "smash mouth"..it is multiple..3 wide, 4 wide, FB/TB, 2 TE, etc. Able to adapt to the situation and the position on the field. It has worked for many teams for many years, and it will continue to work for many teams for many years.

[xu9697]

Good post.The Saint's kicker was money the last month. Big kick after big kick.Mostly, ZW loved the under yesterday, and likes it even more today!! B) B)

Love him or hate him, Jim Tressel has proven that great punting and great kickers can keep you in many games. Frank Beamer and Jim T. have definitely brought great focus to the importance to special teams.

[GP1]

One other thing about the game yesterday....the onside kick.Mike Tomlin onside kicked at an unusual time this year and fans went crazy. I read in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette the following day or the day after that there are statistics on onside kick success. 20% of the time when the receiving team is ready for the kick, it works. Onside kicks work 60% of the time when when it is unexpected.

[Dr Z]

Interesting post. I don't agree with a lot of it, but that's okay. At the very least, we agree about Cowher. I was going to compare him to a current Zips coach in another thread, but decided against it. I'm not sure I'm ready to place full blame on Manning for his int, Reggie run a tired route and might have shown it too soon. DB did a great job of reading the play. Classy job of Manning giving credit where credit is due, unlike O'Donnell in his SB. New Orleans defense didn't play Manning the way I would have, but turns out they didn't have to. NFL is a trendy league so I would hesitate to make broad general statements about offense or defense. If your right today, you'll be wrong soon, if your wrong today, you'll be right soon. I will also shy away from comparing the Zips current situation to two Super Bowl teams. I think that's like comparing the aerodynamics of my paper airplane to that of an F16. I agree with you that it is more exciting for the typical fan to see a team chuck the ball around the field, but I think the Akron program is at a perfect place to install a pro style offense. I can't wait to see the first play action bomb for a td to GP1's favorite WR. I like the fact that we will have a lot of 3rd down and 3's this year as opposed to 3rd and 12 and give the opponents offense less chances with the ball. I have to think the offense will be conservative in early parts of RI's career, but will evolve later. Give it a chance, because you don't have any other choice.

[MDZip]

This should help tie it in to the Zips. To win the Super Bowl now you need a MAC player on the roster. The last Super Bowl Champ not to have a MAC player and win it all were the 1998 Broncos. This time period includes three Zips - Dwight Smith, Chase Blackburn and Domenik Hixon. Maybe the MAC isn't as bad as we thought.

[MaxZIP]

Since this is a Zips board let's bring it around to the Zips. I read on this board the Zips are going to use the TE and FB more next year. I'm not sure how lining up in the I-Formation with a TE and running the ball fits into today's game....in fact, I'm certain after watching the game yesterday (actually, I've been certain for longer than that) it doesn't. Yesterday was the state of football today and in the near future. Football is more exciting today than ever because of the sophistication of the passing game and watching athletic ability on display. I-formation with a TE is a relic of the past still used by teams that haven't caught up with the present. Smashmouth is over if you really want to win. New Orleans TE caught only the sixth most passes yesterday. "But GP1, he caught a TD pass!" I know, he was lined up as a WR when he did. Clark of Indy caught the most for his team, and they lost.

The Steelers won last year and Big Ben wasn't slinging the ball all year. This decade has seen many "balanced" teams win the Superbowl. Baltimore, New England (Multiple), NYG, Pitt, Tampa Bay. Denver won two mainly on the ground in 98 and 99. Even the teams that lost are pretty balanced. Chicago, New England, Philly, Carolina, Seattle, Oakland. Some teams relied entirely on the run because their pass game was garbage. This year is an example of two teams that are at the peak of their STYLE. It just so happened that their style was pass oriented. Declaring that the world has changed based on one year is stupid. The Vikings are very balanced and they fell just short.

[GP1]

NFL is a trendy league so I would hesitate to make broad general statements about offense or defense. If your right today, you'll be wrong soon, if your wrong today, you'll be right soon.

Here is what I think NFL teams are going to shoot for in the near future on defense.1. More one-on-one coverage guys that can also tackle. Offenses pick apart combination zone defenses and with the number of receivers they send out, you need a lot of guys to cover. Good man-to-man cover guys are about to break the bank.2. Thinner (not small as in short) and faster LBs to cover RBs going out for passes.3. Excellent run stopping D-Linemen across the line. With smaller LBs, the D-Linemen will need to do more than just take up space on running plays. Also, with fewer blockers on running plays because of the spread, it should be easier for the d-linemen to make plays. It is extremely difficult to get to the good QBs because they get rid of the ball so quickly so the ability to stop the run will be more important than rushing. Thanks for your post DrZ. It always gives me some reaffirmation when a Frye defender disagrees with me. It's sort of like when I go to a game and my team has the ball on their own 20 and it is fourth and one...the crowd is yelling "go for it" and GP1 is yelling, "Punt! Don't listen to the crowd, they've been drinking all day!"

[GP1]

Since this is a Zips board let's bring it around to the Zips. I read on this board the Zips are going to use the TE and FB more next year. I'm not sure how lining up in the I-Formation with a TE and running the ball fits into today's game....in fact, I'm certain after watching the game yesterday (actually, I've been certain for longer than that) it doesn't. Yesterday was the state of football today and in the near future. Football is more exciting today than ever because of the sophistication of the passing game and watching athletic ability on display. I-formation with a TE is a relic of the past still used by teams that haven't caught up with the present. Smashmouth is over if you really want to win. New Orleans TE caught only the sixth most passes yesterday. "But GP1, he caught a TD pass!" I know, he was lined up as a WR when he did. Clark of Indy caught the most for his team, and they lost.

The Steelers won last year and Big Ben wasn't slinging the ball all year. This decade has seen many "balanced" teams win the Superbowl. Baltimore, New England (Multiple), NYG, Pitt, Tampa Bay. Denver won two mainly on the ground in 98 and 99. Even the teams that lost are pretty balanced. Chicago, New England, Philly, Carolina, Seattle, Oakland. Some teams relied entirely on the run because their pass game was garbage. This year is an example of two teams that are at the peak of their STYLE. It just so happened that their style was pass oriented. Declaring that the world has changed based on one year is stupid. The Vikings are very balanced and they fell just short.

You used the word "style". It is the style right now and I don't see it changing. The Saints and Colts are ahead of the league.I also agree that early in the decade teams won. It isn't early in the decade anymore. It's 2010.

[GP1]

Is passing more important than running?NFL Top 10 PassingHouston (didn't make playoffs)IndyNew EnglandNew OrleansSan DiegoDallasGreen BayMinnesotaPittsburgh (didn't make playoffs)PhiladelphiaNFL Top 10 RushingJetsTennessee (no playoffs)Carolina (no playoffs)Miami (no playoffs)BaltimoreNew OrleansDallasCleveland (no playoffs)Cincinnati (if you guys go back and read my posts, i told you smashmouth football would make them one and done in the playoffs)J'Ville (no playoffs)Five teams in the top 10 rushing didn't even make the playoffs. I think this should tell us something. I realize the Zips are college football, but everything makes its way down to college at some point. If we pass more, I'm going to be excited because I think we have a QB that can be an excellent MAC QB and we should take advantage of that.

[Zip Watcher]

Because I know you have the time, to further illustrate your argument, can you show the BOTTOM 10 of each category? Did any team that was completely unable to run the ball have success?I'll hang up and listen to your answer.GoZips!

[MaxZIP]

Five teams in the top 10 rushing didn't even make the playoffs. I think this should tell us something. I realize the Zips are college football, but everything makes its way down to college at some point. If we pass more, I'm going to be excited because I think we have a QB that can be an excellent MAC QB and we should take advantage of that.

We all know that Pro style and BCS college styles do not often translate word for word. There are many differences on both sides of that ball. Trying to apply NFL style to the MAC is crazy. Power running in the NFL is rough due to the size, speed, and schemes of the defenses. The MAC is full of undersized LB's, DB's, and DL. The power running game is as new to the MAC as the spread is to the NFL. It is an offensive scheme change to counteract the predominate defensive schemes of the day. Whatever is going on in the NFL is far removed from the MAC level. The MAc coaches job is to win games first and prepare team members for life in the NFL after that.

[Dr Z]

Thanks for your post DrZ. It always gives me some reaffirmation when a Frye defender disagrees with me. It's sort of like when I go to a game and my team has the ball on their own 20 and it is fourth and one...the crowd is yelling "go for it" and GP1 is yelling, "Punt! Don't listen to the crowd, they've been drinking all day!"

Your team should always punt, because your lineman are pass blockers and can't get a yard when they need it. I simply lineup in the I with two TE and pound it down your throat with your one on one coverage DBs running toward my RB that just went for three yards up the middle. First down. My ball with the clock running. All your awesome wide receivers sitting on their helmets watching me milk the clock away.