Surferosa
Run to Daylight
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- Sep 11, 2002
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And others...This has been bothering me for some time, but now I will post about it after successive threads about Todd Wade and Arturo Freeman:
Its funny how most of still us (I'd say 95%, including me) don’t really understand the fine details of football. While most of us can judge the skill positions, we, as fans, generally are unable to measure the individual success of non skill positions - including the OL, DL, OLB's (in a 4-3) and the Safeties.
Its easy to recognize a running back's skill when he carries a pile for 5 extra yards. But are any of you honestly telling me that you can single out a particular offensive linemen that is consistently missing assignments or playing out of position? Again, I’m not talking about the obvious – such as an OL that allows a DE to run by him for a QB pressure. I’m talking about all the technique, timing and strength needed for that same OL to help power a 4 yard gain (which may be a much better barometer for judging a player since happens 15-20 times a game). Can you honestly tell if Arturo Freeman was in position to redirect a running play inside so that Zach makes the tackle? My TV screen is only so wide, and it focuses on the runner and the guys making the tackle, not the guys on the periphery. This board is filled with unsubstantiated threads about players that are underachieving, and I honestly wonder where they derive from.
Here’s a few suggestions I’ve come up with (would like to hear your thoughts as well):
1) We are too caught up in statistics and box scores, when most players are not judged by statistics and box scores. Thus we have no way of weighing a players productivity.
2) When a player’s position is not weighed by statistics we turn to the media, coaches and announcers for help because we have no way of determining his performance for ourselves. (which, in itself is flawed and we are all guilty of it). Timbo could be plugging three offensive linemen on every play while Larry Chester is sitting on his ass picking his nose and we would never know it, unless Wanny singles him out in a post game interview or an astute announcer picks up on it during a game. Similarly, Derrick Rodgers could be blanketing half of the field in the little time hes on the field, but we don’t see pass protection on TV. Instead, we only hear his name when the receiver hes guarding finally catches a ball.
Point is, I consider myself a student of the game, and I still consider myself very naïve when it comes to discussing football
. I respect some of the more knowledgeable fans in this forum (such as Parrothead and others), and Im curious to ask: how much do you really understand, and how much is based on reading other peoples opinions (coaches, media, etc).
I bring this topic up because there are many critics on this board that litter the forum with false assessments based on incorrect observations. Its funny that we can love a sport so passionately without truly understanding the strategy behind the play calling. I for one would love to learn about the game I n greater depth.
Thoughts?
Its funny how most of still us (I'd say 95%, including me) don’t really understand the fine details of football. While most of us can judge the skill positions, we, as fans, generally are unable to measure the individual success of non skill positions - including the OL, DL, OLB's (in a 4-3) and the Safeties.
Its easy to recognize a running back's skill when he carries a pile for 5 extra yards. But are any of you honestly telling me that you can single out a particular offensive linemen that is consistently missing assignments or playing out of position? Again, I’m not talking about the obvious – such as an OL that allows a DE to run by him for a QB pressure. I’m talking about all the technique, timing and strength needed for that same OL to help power a 4 yard gain (which may be a much better barometer for judging a player since happens 15-20 times a game). Can you honestly tell if Arturo Freeman was in position to redirect a running play inside so that Zach makes the tackle? My TV screen is only so wide, and it focuses on the runner and the guys making the tackle, not the guys on the periphery. This board is filled with unsubstantiated threads about players that are underachieving, and I honestly wonder where they derive from.
Here’s a few suggestions I’ve come up with (would like to hear your thoughts as well):
1) We are too caught up in statistics and box scores, when most players are not judged by statistics and box scores. Thus we have no way of weighing a players productivity.
2) When a player’s position is not weighed by statistics we turn to the media, coaches and announcers for help because we have no way of determining his performance for ourselves. (which, in itself is flawed and we are all guilty of it). Timbo could be plugging three offensive linemen on every play while Larry Chester is sitting on his ass picking his nose and we would never know it, unless Wanny singles him out in a post game interview or an astute announcer picks up on it during a game. Similarly, Derrick Rodgers could be blanketing half of the field in the little time hes on the field, but we don’t see pass protection on TV. Instead, we only hear his name when the receiver hes guarding finally catches a ball.
Point is, I consider myself a student of the game, and I still consider myself very naïve when it comes to discussing football
. I respect some of the more knowledgeable fans in this forum (such as Parrothead and others), and Im curious to ask: how much do you really understand, and how much is based on reading other peoples opinions (coaches, media, etc). I bring this topic up because there are many critics on this board that litter the forum with false assessments based on incorrect observations. Its funny that we can love a sport so passionately without truly understanding the strategy behind the play calling. I for one would love to learn about the game I n greater depth.
Thoughts?
