NFL 2018 Season Thread

[Zopperoni]

I agree with you that no more kick-offs isn't the solution--AND that any solution should make the game more interesting rather than more boring.

On the on-side kicks: wasn't there another rule change a few years ago on the kick-off personnel, which prevented overloading on one side? I don't know if the statistics take this into account, but this diminishes the chances of success as well.

[-Jrabbit]

You can still overload, but not to the extreme. Wiki:

Traditionally, the onside kick had its own formation, in which the other ten players of the kicking team would line up on one side (left or right) of the kicker, in an effort to get as many people as possible into one area of the field. This is still popular in high school football; however, the NCAA (and later the NFL) now require that at least four players line up on each side of the kicker.

To combat this, some teams developed a "cluster formation" in which all of the players line up behind and immediately next to the kicker in what is effectively a moving huddle. The NFL eventually banned this, too, with a 2009 rule change that states that "the kicking team cannot have more than five players bunched together"; the rule change has been considered a gratuitous targeting of Bills special teams coach Bobby April, as the ostensible reason for the ban (injury risk) had negligible evidence to support it.

Also, from Zopp:

It can be argued that Hester's career was also limited because he wasn't a very good receiver...

Irrelevant to the topic, except insofar as these extra duties detracted from his return game. (He was only returning punts for a couple years, and also did not practice extensively with special teams as after being made a WR. Thanks Lovie!) Hester was such a force that, when combined with a well-coached (Dave Toub) and well-manned special teams unit, the Bears could create a consistent field position advantage over opponents over the course of a season. [Note: The Bears were in the top 3 in the NFL in special teams performance ratings for 8 consecutive years, dating back to before Hester was drafted.]

When the NFL moved kickoffs from the 30 to the 35 in 2011, it was the beginning of the end. Not necessarily for Hester (3 return TDs that year) so much as for the "be great in any 2 of the 3 phases and you're a winning football team" philosophy that was once fairly accepted throughout the league.

It makes me a little sad.

[Demonbinder]

Lamar Houston has a torn ACL and is done for season. Not that it would have made much of a difference for the Bears.

http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-bears/report-bears-de-lamarr-houston-suffers-torn-acl

[Zopperoni]

When the NFL moved kickoffs from the 30 to the 35 in 2011, it was the beginning of the end. Not necessarily for Hester (3 return TDs that year) so much as for the "be great in any 2 of the 3 phases and you're a winning football team" philosophy that was once fairly accepted throughout the league.

It makes me a little sad.

I agree, it was such a dynamic and unpredictable part of the game. Sadly, being able to run the ball is also becoming a lost art.

[Ben Kenobi]

The Chargers accomplished the impossible in 2010 - first in offense, first in defense and out of the playoffs due to the 32nd best special teams. Finished 9-7, one game out of first in the AFC West.

Lost to KC by 7, on a McCluster punt return for TD; Seahawks by 7 on a Leon Washington return for TD; Raiders by 7, on 2 blocked punt returns, one for a FG and one for a TD.

[-Jrabbit]

Ouch. Sounds like Norv Turner -- nice stats, no championships.

Apparently the special teams nerfing came a year too late for them. Wasn't that also their first year without Tomlinson?

I'm thinking that was the last year for Bolts' special teams coach.

[Demonbinder]

Cutler to miss 2-3 weeks. Maybe they should take Matt Barkley off practice squad and have him start, though I doubt that will happen.

[-Jrabbit]

It's the beginning of The Brian Hoyer Era!

[Ben Kenobi]

Good memory! Yep they did. Not only were they by far the worst that year, they were almost the worst since 1993.

Only the 2000 Bills, and the 1997 Seahawks were significantly worse. The 2000 Bills was the year after the Flutie Curse took effect after the Music City Miracle - the Bills haven't been to the playoffs since.

16 years isn't the longest drought in football history, but it's the longest since the Saints in 1986, who went 20 years without playoffs.

[rah]

It's the beginning of The Brian Hoyer Era!

Doesn't Hoyer only have a one year? Even if he plays OK, I doubt the Bears would offer him big money to stay. Would you?

[Ming]

Well... Jay no longer has guaranteed money after this year. Also, if they do keep him, they will owe him a 2.5 million roster bonus.
So if he continues to suck, the Cutler era may come to an end.
Now, if they continue to suck this year, we could finally get a good draft pick. If they take a QB, they might want to sign Hoyer for one more year.

After watching Jay turn the ball over at key points in the first two games while the games were still close, I think most of the city wants him gone.

[rah]

While that makes sense, if Hoyer looks half way decent, he's going to be looking for good amount of money with a term longer than a year. I don't know if I'd want to make that commitment. While I liked the original signing, the one year aspect of it bothered me.

[Zopperoni]

There's still $2M in dead money for 2017 and 2018 if they release Cutler. Not dramatic though and the Bears would still have $65+M of cap space in 2017 (based on the current roster and contracts).

[Zopperoni]

While that makes sense, if Hoyer looks half way decent, he's going to be looking for good amount of money with a term longer than a year. I don't know if I'd want to make that commitment. While I liked the original signing, the one year aspect of it bothered me.

Maybe, maybe not. In such a case, the "template" would likely be the Fitzpatrick contract, which is a short-term deal with decent but not absurd money ($5-7M against the cap).

[Ming]

There's still $2M in dead money for 2017 and 2018 if they release Cutler. Not dramatic though and the Bears would still have $65+M of cap space in 2017 (based on the current roster and contracts).

True enough... But up until the end of this season, there was no way they could cut Jay for cheap. Now they can.