NFL 2009

[Mort Divine]

So Brees shredded the Lions, not unexpectedly.

However game of the weekend was by far Packers vs. Bears. Incredible defensive struggle for the first half - with the Packers making Cutler look like a piece of shit, the Bears stopping Rodgers from doing anything. Then Cutler comes back in the second half and hits Hester for a great TD pass and eventually leads them to the lead changing field goal to put them up by 2. BUT THEN IN COMES AARON RODGERS. HUGE TD to Greg "Optimus Prime" Jennings followed by Rodgers doing a shoryuken

and then AL HARRIS coming to seal the game. Defense finally gave Rodgers the close victory he had 7 shots at last year.

 

[Krigloch the Furious]

bah, that sucked

 

[skeptik]

That touchdown was all playcalling. Also I was not aware that the Packers got former Steelers defensive coordinator Dom Capers on their staff, along with former Steelers players Kevin Greene and Darren Perry on their defensive roster. No wonder their defense has improved this year.

I also want to point out an observation that I discovered yesterday when looking at the Steelers' schedule this year: this is not a Super Bowl champion's schedule at all. Not just with WHO they play, but where they play. Look at this:

Thursday, Sept. 10 vs. Titans W 13-10 (1-0)
Sunday, Sept 20 @ Bears 4:15 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Sept. 27 @ Bengals 4:15 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Oct. 4 vs. Chargers 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, Oct. 11 @ Lions 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Oct. 18 vs. Browns 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Oct. 25 vs. Vikings 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, Nov. 1 BYE
Monday, Nov. 9 @ Broncos 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Sunday, Nov. 15 vs. Bengals 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Nov. 22 @ Chiefs * 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Nov. 29 @ Ravens * 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, Dec. 6 vs. Raiders * 1 p.m. (CBS)
Thursday, Dec. 10 @ Browns 8:20 p.m. (NFL Network)
Sunday, Dec. 20 vs. Packers * 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, Dec. 27 vs. Ravens * 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Jan. 3 @ Dolphins * 1 p.m. (CBS)

Non-Divisional opponents: Titans, Dolphins, AFC West (Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders), NFC North (Vikings, Packers, Bears, Lions). Now, I know the way schedules are designed now are on a rotational basis, so the fact that the defending Super Bowl champions get to play teams like the Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, and Lions is kind of out of their hands, but if you look at who they play at home, it's ridiculous. The toughest non-division opponents they have, in my eyes, are the Titans, Vikings, Packers, Chargers, and Dolphins. With the exception of the Dolphins, these are all home games. In addition to the latter, they are away against the Chiefs, the Broncos, the Lions, and the Bears. Is this the lightest schedule ever given to a Super Bowl champion (especially after coming off one of the toughest schedules in decades), or am I imagining things?

 

[Mort Divine]

Yeah, I am loving Dom Capers right now. He has turned out 3 top five defenses after the 4-3 to 3-4 switch if I remember correctly, and the Packers could very well be his fourth.

Yeah, that is kind of a cake walk schedule and another strange thing is the really disproportionately hard schedule the Lions have after having gone 0-16.

 

[MasterOLightning]

Oh, don't get too excited about Green Bay. That offense looked extremely middling against an old Bears defense that was bad last year (by every measure except turnovers) and added no one of significance, and only really gave up the one big play tonight. Some of those Cutler interceptions had to do with the Bears receivers being incompetent and quitting on their routes, and most teams aren't running such a pathetic bunch out there. I'm not sure why GB's pathetic pass defense would suddenly get good enough for them to be a top five defense. Silly claim.

Regarding schedules, the system is so rigid that only two games are determined by previous year's performance. No other league gives bad teams any credit for previous year's performance. I'm not sure that in a league where every team has equal resources that the schedules need to be skewed in favor of bad teams. It does create better match-ups for ratings with the elite teams, so I doubt the system will change, at least not until they add more games.

 

[King Richard]

That GB-CHI was pretty good ya. I fucking hate watching the Bears do that Coyer-esque crowd the line defensive scheme, it always reminds me of last season when they beat the Colts.

But anyways, I agree with you MOL, the Bears need to get younger. Before you know it half of their team will be retiring or be constantly injured. Also, would it hurt to get a legitimate fucking receiver up in that bitch? I'm sorry but Devin Hester is never going to be a great receiver, he just isn't. He's like the uber slot receiver because he's so fast and shifty, just not a legitimate #1 receiver.

I can't fucking stand it when I see teams who have GLARING weaknesses completely ignore them for whatever reasons and have that shit come back to bite them, it's infuriating. It makes me feel like I should be running the FO of that team and fire everyone running it. I do like it when it works in the Colts favor, but that's about it. Get a receiver Chicago, you'll thank me later!

On a side note, apparently the Colts can play some pretty good aggressive defense, imagine that.

 

[Mort Divine]

Oh, don't get too excited about Green Bay. That offense looked extremely middling against an old Bears defense that was bad last year (by every measure except turnovers) and added no one of significance, and only really gave up the one big play tonight. Some of those Cutler interceptions had to do with the Bears receivers being incompetent and quitting on their routes, and most teams aren't running such a pathetic bunch out there. I'm not sure why GB's pathetic pass defense would suddenly get good enough for them to be a top five defense. Silly claim.

Regarding schedules, the system is so rigid that only two games are determined by previous year's performance. No other league gives bad teams any credit for previous year's performance. I'm not sure that in a league where every team has equal resources that the schedules need to be skewed in favor of bad teams. It does create better match-ups for ratings with the elite teams, so I doubt the system will change, at least not until they add more games.

Green Bay easily would have had a stellar defense last year if not for the major injuries. The heart of the defense in Nick Barnett was out, Cullen Jenkins went down, Atari Bigby went down, etc. At one point they had Woodson playing safety. That was really how bad it was.

And it was really their inability to stop the run that fucked them over (26th in the league against the run), their pass D was fairly good actually (12th in the league.) They were third in the league in terms of interceptions with 22 only beat out by the Ravens and Browns (wtf) and lead the league in terms of defensive scoring, a total of 7 defensive TDs.

Dom Capers has proven to turn defenses around. 3 top 5 defenses were formed under him after they went from the 4-3 to the 3-4.

The Bears defensive line simply was dominating the Packers offensive line (Allen Barbre needs to fucking stop sucking) which just wasn't holding up. Once it starts to get better they will beast.

I seriously believe this will be the worst you'll see the Packers all year. They have NO WHERE to go but up.

 

[King Richard]

Should we expect to see the Saints go undefeated as well?

I like you Mort, but you are the biggest homer I've ever seen in my life.

 

[King Richard]

jesus christ, kris jenkins is an animal

 

[skeptik]

With the Jets defense becoming an elite team and a shift in personnel from the old guard to, in most cases, inferior replacements for the Patriots, although it's a long shot, next week's game should at least be interesting. The Brady to Moss connection is damn hard to beat though.

 

[General Zaroff]

jesus christ, kris jenkins is an animal

x2 He is an absolute monster.

Second best NT/DT behind Haloti Ngata of course.

 

[King Richard]

With the Jets defense becoming an elite team and a shift in personnel from the old guard to, in most cases, inferior replacements for the Patriots, although it's a long shot, next week's game should at least be interesting. The Brady to Moss connection is damn hard to beat though.

 

[The Ozzman]

I lol'd

 

[skeptik]

So, Brian Urlacher's season is over.

Steelers sans Polamalu against Bears sans Urlacher next week. Good break for the Steelers, though obviously quite unfortunate. Tinoisamoa also might miss some time for the Bears. The Steelers should have Lawrence Timmons back next week, arguably their best linebacker for pass defense.

 

[rms]

Bears should get slaughtered next week

 

[Mort Divine]

Should we expect to see the Saints go undefeated as well?

I like you Mort, but you are the biggest homer I've ever seen in my life.

How was anything I said in my post being a homer? It was taking the stats (their pass D was #12 in the league, did lead in scoring TDs, and was third in INTs) and the history (Dom Capers has led 3 teams in the 4-3 to 3-4 switch and produced a top 5 defense out of it) and a little assumption (offensive line play will get better) to come to the conclusion that they will have a dominant defense this season, to compliment their already fantastic offense.

As for the Saints, obviously not they let the Lions score 3 TDs against them - though they did give the Lions a hard time moving the ball down the field barring the near Calvin Johnson TD. So our defense does at least seem improved.

And this would explain any optimism I have for the Saints defense:

Don't look at just the box score. Our defense didn't do as badly as you think. First, 7 of those points came from a Mike Bell Fumble that Louis Delmas ran back for a TD. So, we're down to the Lions putting up 20 points on us.

Detroit drive summary:
1st drive: 3-and-out
2nd drive: Decent drive, but held to a FG. 3
3rd drive: 3-and-out
4th drive: Pitiful special teams coverage allows Detroit to get to the NO 18 after a punt return. A penalty on the play moves it to the NO 13. Lions score on 4th down on a very well played outside run. Just poor effort by our defense as they didn't seal the left edge. 10
5th drive: Takes over after a Brees interception. Lions go 3-and-out.
6th drive: Lions get a first down, then Stafford is sacked on first down. Next two downs are incomplete passes, punt.
7th drive: Good return after NO TD to put Lions at DET 36. 3-and-out
8th drive: After said 3-and-out and punt, Reggie Bush goes all LOL BUST and muffs the punt, which the Lions recover. Backus with a false start. Stafford throws an interception on the next play.

Halftime

1st drive: On 3rd and 6, Stafford completes a short pass to Calvin Johnson that turns in to a 64 yard play thanks to a whiffed tackle by rookie CB Malcolm Jenkins. Johnson pushed out at NO 3. Thanks to some questionable penalties/calls, the Lions are unable to reach the end zone after 6 tries. 7th try, Stafford runs in up the middle. 17
2nd drive: Our crappy special teams allowed an 87 yard punt return, which put the Lions at the NO 12. The Lions ran 6 plays and couldn't get past our defense and were forced to kick a FG. 20
3rd drive: Lions gain a first down through the air, then Stafford gets intercepted.
4th drive: Lions move the ball very well down the field, then Stafford gets picked in the red zone.

So looking at the Lions drives, only one TD came on a defensive breakdown. Defense is actually close to coming up with a couple would-be goal line stands. Even with at times awful field position, the defense manages to either force a turnover or hold to a FG. Defense held the Lions to a 21% 3rd down efficiency and allowed an average gain per offensive play of 4 yards. Including the 64 yard catch and run by Johnson, the Lions passing game averaged 5.2 yards per play. The defense still gave up big plays, but they were actually able to have a few themselves this time around. I wouldn't say the defense played great per-se, but it wasn't bad either.

 

[divine_torture]

So, Brian Urlacher's season is over.

Steelers sans Polamalu against Bears sans Urlacher next week. Good break for the Steelers, though obviously quite unfortunate. Tinoisamoa also might miss some time for the Bears. The Steelers should have Lawrence Timmons back next week, arguably their best linebacker for pass defense.

Fuck. (@Urlacher). Just fuck. And of course we lost to GB...fuck.

 

[King Richard]

How was anything I said in my post being a homer? It was taking the stats (their pass D was #12 in the league, did lead in scoring TDs, and was third in INTs) and the history (Dom Capers has led 3 teams in the 4-3 to 3-4 switch and produced a top 5 defense out of it) and a little assumption (offensive line play will get better) to come to the conclusion that they will have a dominant defense this season, to compliment their already fantastic offense.

As for the Saints, obviously not they let the Lions score 3 TDs against them - though they did give the Lions a hard time moving the ball down the field barring the near Calvin Johnson TD. So our defense does at least seem improved.

And this would explain any optimism I have for the Saints defense:

Eh, I was mainly just fucking with you. The way you talk about the Packers and Saints makes it seem like they are the greatest teams in the world. I don't mind it at all, I probably do the same thing with the Colts, it's just funny is all.

Go go homers!

 

[rms]

Go Oakland I don't get any of the hype for Chargers, Raiders considered terrible and playing good Passing game is rough minus their TE, but Bush is making a name for himself hopefully, Oakland backup RBs are better than starters imo (IE fargas when jordan/rhodes were starter)

 

[MasterOLightning]

Well, the Bears are in quite a bit of trouble now. Still even if they stumble to 0-3 (vs. Pittsburgh, @Seattle next two weeks) there are a lot of soft games on the schedule (Cleveland, Cincy, NFC West, Detroit x2). Where I thought their ceiling was 11 or 12 wins, it's probably 10 now. Urlacher was even playing very well in the first half, and reports were that he was coming into this season without the nagging injuries that bothered him the last two seasons.

I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that the Bears get crushed this week though. The pass rush looked active enough to cause some trouble (bunch of contract years on that D line), and they probably don't go two weeks without creating a turnover. Nor would I expect Cutler and the receivers to be so out-of-rhythm. I expect a similar game to this past one. Relatively low-scoring, with a few big plays deciding things.