NFL - Are You Ready For Some Football?! - 2010 Offseason

[SlowwHand]

Let's look at this objectively.
Mike Holmgren. Went from winning and as happy as a pig in slop, coaching in the tundra of Green Bay.
He goes to Seattle. The last report on Holmgren was a sighting of him sitting in a diner, mumbling to himself.

[EPW]

Seattle went to the playoffs from '03-'07; that's a pretty good run.

[SlowwHand]

OK. I guess it's just a definition of success. In Dallas, that doesn't get it.

In 1960, the Dallas Cowboys became the NFL's first successful new team since the collapse of the All-America Football Conference 10 years earlier. Clint Murchison Jr. was the new team's majority owner and his first order of business was to hire Tex Schramm as general manager, Tom Landry as head coach and Gil Brandt as player personnel director.

This trio was destined for almost unprecedented success in the pro football world but the "glory years" didn't come easily. Playing in the storied Cotton Bowl, the 1960 Cowboys had to settle for one tie in 12 games and Dallas didn't break even until its sixth season in 1965. But in 1966, the Cowboys began an NFL-record streak of 20 consecutive winning seasons. That streak included 18 years in the playoffs, 13 divisional championships, five trips to the Super Bowl and victories in Super Bowls VI and XII.

http://www.profootballhof.com/history/team.aspx?FRANCHISE_ID=9

In 1989 Aikman was drafted and it began again.

Troy Kenneth Aikman. . .Cowboys’ first-round draft pick (1st player overall), 1989. . .Led team to three Super Bowl wins. . .Winningest starting quarterback of any decade with 90 of 94 career wins occurring in 1990s. . .

http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?player_id=254

[Imran Siddiqui]

I believe we discussed this earlier, but yesterday against the Jags, the 49ers went to a spread offense, which, amazingly enough Alex Smith did good in (considering that's something similar to what he ran in college, you can imagine the surprise ). Smith completed 65% of his passes for 232 yards and 2 TDs with 0 Ints. I think one of the lessons to learn is that as college QBs become successful in different offensive systems, NFL teams may have to adjust on that basis... or don't draft spread QBs to be your pro-style offense QB.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I get Seahags games crammed down my throat every week.

Why? They are one of the worst franchises in the NFL.

It would be nice if they stopped assuming that BC fans have any interest. I'm looking forward to the day that they finally move the Seahags outta Seattle, and then we can watch real teams that actually win once in a blue moon.

You are a ****. Yeah, going 10-6 in 2007 or 13-3 in 2005 (you know, the year they went to the SuperBowl) is really "[winning] once in a blue moon".

I wish the Detroit Lions on you.

[Ming]

There are just "some" coaches that are too in love with "their system" For those guys, draft people that fit your system, but don't think you can take anybody you want and force them into your system, and expect them to excel. The Bears are a classic example. Unless they change "the system", we will never really know if Cutler can work for us. Granted, it would help if the Bears could surround him with A LOT MORE TALENT

[Imran Siddiqui]

Bears do have plenty of issues. One of the bigger ones, though, is that that stout defense had an incredibly short shelf life. And the offense wasn't invested in. Forte is having a sophomore slump (going from 3.9 ypc, which isn't that wonderful mind, to 3.3) and Cutler is throwing far more Ints than Orton did. Cutler appears to be more of a gunslinger/Favre type, but without the OL or the recievers to make that work.

[Ming]

While there are indeed many problems, and a lot of injuries as well... You are correct about Cutler. Why bring in a gunslinger and try to fit him into a "Control QB" system. If they aren't/weren't going to change the offense for Cutler, why trade for him in the first place.

And if I have to listen to Lovie say "I'm happy with our receivers" one more time, I'm going to puke.

[Imran Siddiqui]

On other hand, look at Minnesota. It is amazing what a good offensive line and a great RB will do for you. Favre has never had close to this small of an Int% (Hell, not many, if any, QBs have). Part of it, I assume is Favre tempering down his gunslinger mentality, but getting into far less 2nd and 3rd and longs probably helps a lot.

[Ming]

He's still played the role of a gunslinger when he has had to. But you are right.. The running game takes a lot of preasure off of him to throw on every down. Plus, he has a bunch of very talented receivers who can make the tough catches (or maybe it's him that makes them look so much better). He still throws into double and triple coverage when needed, he just doesn't have to all the time now

[SlowwHand]

You are a ****. Yeah, going 10-6 in 2007 or 13-3 in 2005 (you know, the year they went to the SuperBowl) is really "[winning] once in a blue moon".

I wish the Detroit Lions on you.

You're such a bullying potty mouth. So they had 2 good years. Does that mean that everyone has to be a fan? He doesn't like them. He doesn't like every team that is currently doing well, so those 2 years mean nothing to him.
So what? He isn't you. Big deal.

[Zopperoni]

On other hand, look at Minnesota. It is amazing what a good offensive line and a great RB will do for you. Favre has never had close to this small of an Int% (Hell, not many, if any, QBs have). Part of it, I assume is Favre tempering down his gunslinger mentality, but getting into far less 2nd and 3rd and longs probably helps a lot.

It definitely helps to have a good O-line and a RB-tandem defenses must respect, but Favre simply cannot afford to be a gunslinger anymore. His shoulder just cannot take that amount of force on a regular basis.

I can understand the frustration with Jay Cutler and the Bears offensive system. Too much pressure is being put on Cutler (and also Forte) but not enough on Hester and Knox. I'd like the Bears to go with more screen passes out of stack formations to give those two a chance to make plays in the (semi) open field.

[-Jrabbit]

Yeah, but when the screen is your best pass play, you're screwed anyway. And it requires blocking technique and mobility that the Bears O-line just plain lacks.

Watching JAllen abuse Orlando Pace yesterday was just embarrassing. Second game in a row they benched Pace in the 3rd quarter and called it a "groin injury." yet the guy never misses a practice.

Hmm... bad signing? Or worst signing ever? (Archuleta Division)

[Ming]

Another problem is the defense. It's getting older, and has been crippled by injuries. Yet the offensive strategy seems to based on the fact that the defense will do it's job, hold the opponents to few points and actually score some with turnovers... And it isn't doing those things.

And I hope I don't hear the crap from Luvie about... "We are going to continue to run the ball even if it doesn't work" There is no imagination left with the play calling. On first down, they run Forte up the middle, and everybody in the world knows it. They are then caught in 2nd and 3d down with too much yardage to get. The most successful the Bears have been is when they throw on first down. At least they should TRY to keep the defense guessing.

[Imran Siddiqui]

You're such a bullying potty mouth. So they had 2 good years. Does that mean that everyone has to be a fan? He doesn't like them. He doesn't like every team that is currently doing well, so those 2 years mean nothing to him.
So what? He isn't you. Big deal.

He's being an idiot and lying about something to try to justify his point. No wonder you are taking his side. A team that doesn't "win once in a blue moon" does NOT go to 5 straight playoffs, including 1 SuperBowl within the last decade.