The NFL 2011 Thread

Greatatlantic · 2011-11-18T14:00:56.000Z

jeffd:

Where did the cult of Tebow come from anyway? I pay almost no attention to college football, so I’m sort of clueless on that front. Is it just because he’s a young man who is very open about his religion?

I can only say my hate of Tebow comes from the 2007 BCS championship game. However, I sort of feel like that is water under the bridge at this point, and I just wish him the best in his professional endeavors. And if he keeps providing exciting games such as the crazy win over the Jets… he’s a welcome addition to NFL games.

I wouldn’t say he’s a bad quarterback, merely a bad passer who can do things with his legs that make him merely below average.

Shadarr · 2011-11-18T14:21:19.000Z

I had a good pre-game laugh when they promo’d the game as being between Tebow and Sanchez. Are there two teams in the league who rely on their QB less?

Omniscia · 2011-11-18T14:23:57.000Z

Shadarr:

I had a good pre-game laugh when they promo’d the game as being between Tebow and Sanchez. Are there two teams in the league who rely on their QB less?

Jacksonville and Minnesota?

Scuzz · 2011-11-18T14:26:06.000Z

Mark Asher:

Denver’s defense won that game last night, Tebow’s heroics aside. When you hold the other team to 13 and get a pick six to boot, you’ve made it pretty easy for your offense. All they need to do is put up 10 points, which they did.

And really, the offense was pretty bad for Denver. Four times they started drives in Jets territory and got no points. For Denver to be successful on a consistent basis they are going to need to get more production than that out of their offense.

It has really been the defense the whole time. Denver can’t score enough with Tebow to win without a good defensive performance.

Brandon_Clements · 2011-11-18T14:26:07.000Z

You can add Houston in that list this weekend.

delirium · 2011-11-18T14:38:43.000Z

Greatatlantic:

And if he keeps providing exciting games such as the crazy win over the Jets… he’s a welcome addition to NFL games.

Until the last quarter, that was one of the least exciting games I’ve watched all year.

Zuwadza · 2011-11-18T15:20:05.000Z

Omniscia:

Jacksonville and Minnesota?

Jacksonville, Minnesota and New York are all trying to rely on their QBs to varying degrees of success. New York had 40 pass attempts last night so Ryan clearly expects production out of him, but isn’t always getting it. He is averaging 38 attempts per game with a completion percentage of 57.1%. Ponder and Gabbert are both averaging around 25 attempts per game and around a 50% completion percentage. All three teams clearly want passing production out of their QBs but aren’t getting it. For comparison Tebow is averaging 23 attempts per game with a completion percentage of around 44% (it’s also worth noting that Tebow’s schedule as a starter this year has been much, much easier than that of Ponder, Sanchez or Gabbert). Sanchez has, out of the four, the best record by far. It’s always tough to tell if Sanchez is the worst good quarterback or the best bad quarterback in the league.

The funny thing is that out of Jacksonville, Denver and Minnesota the Broncos have the most wins. Maybe they should all think about stealing some plays out of Fox’s playbook.

Speaking of Minnesota: What does everyone think of Ponder so far? I think he’s looked pretty good. He’s definitely a rookie, but he seems like he has potential.

mkozlows · 2011-11-18T15:31:08.000Z

I thought Ponder looked really promising in the first Packer game; in the second one, he looked more rookied-up, in that way that rookies do after defenses have watched some film of them.

caesarbear · 2011-11-18T16:07:07.000Z

Hammet:

We are, however, seeing something that has never been seen in the NFL before, ever.

Sure you did, you just have to go back before the merger. See I look at Tebow not as something new but as something very retro. He’s like a Paddy Driscoll or Jim Thorpe. How that works in today’s NFL I don’t know.

mkozlows · 2011-11-18T16:08:29.000Z

So, following Packer-related links, I came across this bizarre paragraph:

[ESPN analyst Skip] Bayless hasn’t been particularly hard on Rodgers, but he did take a “wait-until-he-wins-something” approach to the quarterbacks rise and tends to rate the Bradys, Manning and Tebows of the world ahead of the guy currently rewriting the record books in Green Bay.

In what world is it meaningful to take about the “Bradys, Mannings, and Tebows” as if that’s a group?

Hanacker · 2011-11-18T16:20:59.000Z

Also, “wait-until-he-wins-something” for the 2011 Superbowl MVP? That whole paragraph doesn’t make sense.

Brandon_Clements · 2011-11-18T16:30:42.000Z

It’s Skip Bayless; he rarely makes any goddamn sense.

BaconTastesGood · 2011-11-18T16:40:12.000Z

caesarbear:

Sure you did, you just have to go back before the merger. See I look at Tebow not as something new but as something very retro. He’s like a Paddy Driscoll or Jim Thorpe. How that works in today’s NFL I don’t know.

McNabb, Vick, and VY were all given heavy run option packages when they started. They still had way more pass attempts than Tebow, which is saying something, but they took off running a good chunk of time, both unintentionally and by design (especially Reeves-era Vick).

ckessel · 2011-11-18T16:59:31.000Z

caesarbear:

Sure you did, you just have to go back before the merger. See I look at Tebow not as something new but as something very retro. He’s like a Paddy Driscoll or Jim Thorpe. How that works in today’s NFL I don’t know.

Way back in the day though, that was a valid way to win given the players and rules at the time. Tebow not passing is because he’s a terrible passer, not because the nature of the game supports it. That said, all the best to Tebow as he seems like a nice guy (though the devout give me the creeps) making the most of the strengths he’s got.

Mark_Asher · 2011-11-18T17:14:18.000Z

Funny. There’s some noise on some of the blog sites about how the Texans should get Favre. I guess a 900 year old Favre zombie is better than a Matt Leinart.

Bill_Dungsroman · 2011-11-18T21:55:26.000Z

Brandon Clements:

It’s Skip Bayless; he rarely makes any goddamn sense.

Tebow could literally throw 10 interceptions all returned for TDs and complete no passes and rush for -40 yards and Bayless would defend him.

Jason_Becker · 2011-11-18T23:39:21.000Z

Listening to Skip Bayless blather or nails on a chalkboard…not much of a difference.

Brandon_Clements · 2011-11-19T10:09:07.000Z

Mark Asher:

Funny. There’s some noise on some of the blog sites about how the Texans should get Favre. I guess a 900 year old Favre zombie is better than a Matt Leinart.

Unless Leinart’s forgotten how to hand the ball off (and hey, there’s a chance of that) there is no reason to bring Favre in off his pasture in Mississippi. I’d be shocked if Leinart attempts more passes than Tebow did the other night.

Sarkus · 2011-11-19T10:14:37.000Z

I suspect Leinart will do well enough that the Texans won’t panic. Probably well enough to get them to the playoffs, anyway. I don’t know why people think Favre is a consideration at this point.

Shadarr · 2011-11-19T10:41:29.000Z

It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if those rumours were started by Favre.