The Big Cat

And prior to this week, only once since 2006 have the Pats* scored 30 points with fewer than 200 passing yards: week 17 last year, against Buffalo. What was the game plan of that day? Pound pound pound.

Hahaha! This play actually came to mind when I was thinking about garbage stats from last year. Mostly because it made the EJ "highlight reel." For those that remember the context of the play, seeing it appear in that video was cringeworthy! Without Deano weighing in, I had NO clue what this was supposed to mean. And then, on lap two, its clarity and poignancy was inspiring. Hmmmm...how many tut-tutters will swoop in to remind you that THIS stat is taken entirely out of context given that two of those six trips were in garbage time!?

Well this has been fun.

Even if that were true, and I'm not necessarily saying it isn't, why would it matter?

I don't think it's that cut and dry. Cutler/Rivers is a push.

I won't deny the impact that the new rules have had, but how can you overlook the 2013 Super Bowl, parts 1 and 2: the NFC Championship and the actual game. Kap and Wilson--in 2013, no other quarterbacks who played in 16 games attempted fewer passes.

I'm going to challenge the notion of "today's" offenses. I think the pendulum is swinging back to a ground and pound league.

Oh jeebus. Last week the Pats* couldn't adjust to the Miami heat, now Seattle got burned (muahaha) in San Diego. Also, all the posts trolling their board...I'm sure there would be some pretty inexcusable material to come off this board if we manhandled the Champs in week two!

By this point in 2011, we had that RIDICULOUS comeback against Oakland. Followed it up the next week with more of the same against New England. It was unsustainable formula, to say the least. And if you need further proof, simply ponder this: In the opening game against KC, even in a 41-7 route, the Bills allowed 163 rushing yards. The following week, against Oakland, that number jumped to 223 (yes, you read that right). So, through two games in 2011, the Bills gave up 386 rushing yards. Through two games in 2014, that number is 166, or roughly equal to what was allowed in the first game of 2011, alone. I think this year's formula has some more staying power. But then again, stats are dah debill.

Okay, but for real, their defense. I can't figure what they're good at/where they're poor. In fact, for the fifth straight year, I'm hardpressed to name three of their defenders.

Pats* catch a break, for a change.

0-2 would have been a bigger surprise.

Bold post.

I'm sure football outsiders have developed some newfangled statistical system, but I agree with you, and have given it much thought, I'm just not a stats guy. Seems like you should be able to create a model that weighs time remaining, point margin, down, down distance and others to compute the stats that matter.

Keep away is a great way to characterize it. It's a fine game plan if you're winning or when the score is close. If we jump out early, it'll throw them out of wack. Think 9-0 but with 3 TD's instead. That'll be sweet/critical to winning this week.

What kills me is the offseason appeal to authority that comes in the form of digging up stats. Both sides do it. Yet, I think we're all aware that football, unlike baseball, for example, does not provide sample sets that are nearly large enough to cover the qualitative importance that so many of the numbers carry.

I know it works both ways. I alluded to that because, rest assured, Leodis' pick will be counted among all his others when we argue about whether or not we need an upgrade at that position. I suppose it falls under the same category as pitchers having to actually throw the four pitches to walk the batter. Sometimes wild **** happens.

Without watching: it was by creating mass-chaos everytime Rivers dropped back. They are going to be passing...A LOT. I don't know if we blitz every down, but the more pressure we can generate, the better. They small-ball'd the living daylights out of Seattle. Can't let them do that. It's imperative to not get behind in downs. Force them into 3rd and longs, limit 2nd and shorts.

No. But, 201 yards looks a whole lot sweeter.

Interesting supposition. I disagree, though. Your point on the first half is well taken, but down by 19 with 2 minutes to play...come on. For a while I've thought about what would constitute "garbage" time, and it seems there would have to be a ratio of point margin to seconds left in the game. There is a threshold from which no team (yet) has come back. I'm very curious to know what it is.

Haha. It's been that way...for months.

Great example of why looking at yards and other stats in a vacuum tells you virtually nothing. At the end of the first half, Miami ran six pointless carries for 29 pointless yards. Aside from getting one of our defenders injured, I truly fail to see the point in any of these plays. Stricken from the final stat sheet, and our boys surrendered only 51 yards on 15 carries. Likewise, down 19 points at the end of the game, the Dolphins ran 9 more pointless plays, racking up another 60, pointless yards. Now, granted, wiping those numbers from the sheet also negate an interception, but regardless, if not for those garbage plays, Tannehill (whom every last pundit has signed off on being forever superior to EJ) went 25/40 for 180 yards. That's just over 7 ypc, and just over 4 ypa. I say this now, because come May, there will be arguments aplenty, and both sides will be waving 2014 stat results around like they actually mean something. I wish we could compile a stat book for these arguments that just took garbage stats and burned them.

And you all scoffed when I said to put the blue pants out to pasture.

Ditto on the one he was coming up the seam. Had Sammy shaded three feet to the middle of the field--where it was WIDE OPEN, and where EJ placed the pass--he would have walked into the endzone. I have no doubt these two will fix such a minor miscue.

Ha! Better pictures exist. Also made the observation watching today.