How Offense Took Over the N.F.L.

[notwoz]

An interesting look at the evolution of the passing game in the NFL. My thoughts? Nobody (or nearly nobody), wants to see defense. They want to see offense ... especially touchdown passes. My interpretation? The NFL wants to become the CFL.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/19/sports/nfl-offense-records.html?action=click&module=Editors Picks&pgtype=Homepage

 

[vorpma]

Hate to see the NFL become a spectacle instead of a skilled team sport that requires offense, defense, and special teams and I hate seeing fans dumb down to basically "long bomb touchdown!" 

[whatdrought]

The problem is that any one way is going to get old. Competitiveness matters most. 

[Inigo Montoya]

Scoring is the most exciting part of the game.  Like it or not, football has to evolve to stay in step with a society that has no patience for anything anymore.  The NFL needs to be proactive and roll with the times. "Defensive battles" aren't exciting to most people.  9-6 at half-time?  Boring game...  Look at the Rams / Chiefs MNF game this year.  It's widely considered the game of the season.  Score... 54-51.

 

It's why soccer has been such a hard sell in this country, and why MLB is in trouble and juicing the balls for more home runs and trying whatever they can to speed up the game.

 

Edited January 20, 2019 by Inigo Montoya

[RalphWilson'sNewWar]

There are so many entities trying to get my attention and my dollars on any given Sunday in the Fall.  Movies, TV Shows, Streaming Services, Music Concerts, Day Trips, The Internet, Family Functions, Friend Gatherings

 

The NFL needs to work to get my time, attention and dollars and that requires the product getting more intersting/inticing/exciting.

[K-9]

38 minutes ago, Inigo Montoya said:

Scoring is the most exciting part of the game.  Like it or not, football has to evolve to stay in step with a society that has no patience for anything anymore.  The NFL needs to be proactive and roll with the times. "Defensive battles" aren't exciting to most people.  9-6 at half-time?  Boring game...  Look at the Rams / Chiefs MNF game this year.  It's widely considered the game of the season.  Score... 54-51.

 

It's why soccer has been such a hard sell in this country, and why MLB is in trouble and juicing the balls for more home runs and trying whatever they can to speed up the game.

 

Not when the other team has the ball it ain't. 

[BananaB]

I guess i’m  one of those guys that just wants to see well rounded football.  Other then the Bills, I find a lot of games hard to watch. The rules have changed to help the offense score, but I can’t stand watching a game where I know the offense is gonna score almost every time they touch the ball. How is it exciting if you know the outcome?  I’d rather see a game that could go either way, not a game that is decided by whoever has the ball last when the time runs out. I have no interest in the games tomorrow, both are gonna be shootouts. They all are strong offensively and terrible on defense. Almost every drive will be like pressing repeat on your stereo. 

[PlayoffsPlease]

2 hours ago, whatdrought said:

The problem is that any one way is going to get old. Competitiveness matters most. 

Bills haven't been competitive for decades and yet here we all are. 

[SinceThe70s]

58 minutes ago, RalphWilson'sNewWar said:

There are so many entities trying to get my attention and my dollars on any given Sunday in the Fall.  Movies, TV Shows, Streaming Services, Music Concerts, Day Trips, The Internet, Family Functions, Friend Gatherings

 

The NFL needs to work to get my time, attention and dollars and that requires the product getting more intersting/inticing/exciting.

 

Just wondering where you are on the football fan spectrum. Have you been watching for months? years? decades? What enticed you originally? Have you lost interest since? If so, what changed for you?

[Thurman#1]

12 hours ago, notwoz said:

An interesting look at the evolution of the passing game in the NFL. My thoughts? Nobody (or nearly nobody), wants to see defense. They want to see offense ... especially touchdown passes. My interpretation? The NFL wants to become the CFL.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/19/sports/nfl-offense-records.html?action=click&module=Editors Picks&pgtype=Homepage

 

 

 

The rule changes are most of it, but yeah, those rule changes also allowed things like the spread offense and other strategies.

 

But while overall the passing game is favored by the league ... the league is also a cyclical thing. First defense gets the upper hand, then offenses adjust and innovate and catch up and become more important. Then the defenses adjust and innovate. It's the way things work. It's also never the way fans think. Each time there's a change, most fans think it will last forever that way.

 

But the cycle will happen again here. Defenses will better become able to handle the spread and the rule changes over the next two to three years.

 

 

[Thurman#1]

9 hours ago, K-9 said:

Not when the other team has the ball it ain't. 

 

 

Yup. The Pats are maybe the offense in football over the last several years and virtually the whole country except New England wants them out of the Super Bowl.

 

Good competition is the key thing to keep people watching.

 

 

9 hours ago, Inigo Montoya said:

Scoring is the most exciting part of the game.  Like it or not, football has to evolve to stay in step with a society that has no patience for anything anymore.  The NFL needs to be proactive and roll with the times. "Defensive battles" aren't exciting to most people.  9-6 at half-time?  Boring game...  Look at the Rams / Chiefs MNF game this year.  It's widely considered the game of the season.  Score... 54-51.

 

It's why soccer has been such a hard sell in this country, and why MLB is in trouble and juicing the balls for more home runs and trying whatever they can to speed up the game.

 

 

 

Inigo, I respect your point but disagree. 9-6 games at half-time can be found very exciting indeed, and by large audiences. It depends whether the 9-6 is a result of poor play or excellent defense. You're right that a 9-6 game between two three-win teams at the end of the year can be seen as boring. Because it's bad football. But was the Philly - Chicago game boring last weekend when it was 6 - 3 at halftime? Eagles - Saints was 14-10 at halftime and only 10 more points were scored. Was it boring?

 

And yeah, Rams - Chiefs was often thought of as the game of the season. Would that be true if there was that much scoring in every game? It was considered terrific because it was so unusual.

[vorpma]

9 hours ago, RalphWilson'sNewWar said:

There are so many entities trying to get my attention and my dollars on any given Sunday in the Fall.  Movies, TV Shows, Streaming Services, Music Concerts, Day Trips, The Internet, Family Functions, Friend Gatherings

 

The NFL needs to work to get my time, attention and dollars and that requires the product getting more intersting/inticing/exciting.

No disrespect intended but I "assume" you are not really a hard core fan or a "purist?" Me personally, I do not turn on a television for pure excitement, too much more out there! Again, just trying to get a read on this, don't misunderstand!

10 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Yup. The Pats are maybe the offense in football over the last several years and virtually the whole country except New England wants them out of the Super Bowl.

 

Good competition is the key thing to keep people watching.

 

 

 

 

Inigo, I respect your point but disagree. 9-6 games at half-time can be found very exciting indeed, and by large audiences. It depends whether the 9-6 is a result of poor play or excellent defense. You're right that a 9-6 game between two three-win teams at the end of the year can be seen as boring. Because it's bad football. But was the Philly - Chicago game boring last weekend when it was 6 - 3 at halftime? Eagles - Saints was 14-10 at halftime and only 10 more points were scored. Was it boring?

 

And yeah, Rams - Chiefs was often thought of as the game of the season. Would that be true if there was that much scoring in every game? It was considered terrific because it was so unusual.

Great defense with great coaching - on both sides of the ball - I take 9 - 6 in a second! The Raiders and Chiefs throughout the 1960's and 1970's had great vertical games enhanced by a bitter and physical rivalry but you never seen 50 - 45 shootout with both sides lighting up the scoreboard but great football that made the NFL!

[PlayoffsPlease]

I disagree about competitiveness being the main draw.  First. Bills fans are as a rabid as any fan base, and we have been one of the two least competitive teams over the last 2 decades.  Next, people like villains and heroes and the drama they bring.  In football villains are typically greatness.  Fans recall the steel curtain, or the 85 Bears or recent vintage patriots because they dominated the league.  A few lucky fans consider them heroes, the rest villains.  As long as teams meet the bare minimum of a "any given Sunday" chance, the required level of competitiveness has been achieved.  In reality, this is an unimportant point. 

[machine gun kelly]

I don’t believe for real fans of any team, it’s not that they want tons of offense, but competitiveness.  More games today are won or lost by less than 4-5 pts.  No one wants to see if not a fan of that team a 45-14 win.  Think about the last few playoff games.  How boring was the Pats game.

 

How exciting was the Saints game with the Eagles having a startling 14-0 lead.  I was shocked as I expected the Saints at home to shred the Eagles.  It makes you want to keep watching.  I know our offense was terrible other than the heroic efforts of Allen, but how fun was seeing our defense shock other teams with punishing them.

[RalphWilson'sNewWar]

9 hours ago, SinceThe70s said:

 

Just wondering where you are on the football fan spectrum. Have you been watching for months? years? decades? What enticed you originally? Have you lost interest since? If so, what changed for you?

 

38 minutes ago, vorpma said:

No disrespect intended but I "assume" you are not really a hard core fan or a "purist?" Me personally, I do not turn on a television for pure excitement, too much more out there! Again, just trying to get a read on this, don't misunderstand!

Great defense with great coaching - on both sides of the ball - I take 9 - 6 in a second! The Raiders and Chiefs throughout the 1960's and 1970's had great vertical games enhanced by a bitter and physical rivalry but you never seen 50 - 45 shootout with both sides lighting up the scoreboard but great football that made the NFL!

 

Oh man I have been a fan since ‘88.  Went to around 4-5 Games a year for most of the 90s.  Attended 1990 season Dolphins divisional game, Both Playoffs in 1991 (Chiefs/Broncos) and stayed for all on Comeback game.  Plus many many more.

 

I watch theThursday Game, along with Bills game, some of 425 game, Sunday Night and Monday night.  I have play multiple Fantasy leagues and listen to more Sports Talk than is probably good for me.

 

i worded my original post as if I was a General Audience Viewer (my mIstake).  Those viewers that NFL doesn’t have their hooks into but who make the difference I feel when it comes to reallt putting the rating numbers over the top.

 

Those Re the viewers who feel neither a nostalgic pull to watch no matter what or a hometown obligation to watch no matter what.  Worded the original poorly, but they are the ones who have many different outlets vying for their Thursday, Sunday, Monday attention.

 

those are the viewers I feel you aim to snare by making the game more bright, colorful and exciting.  Star Power with big plays, exciting up tempo scoring and a back and forth narrative that allows all four quadrants Of viewers to enjoy (Fans Of Team 1, Fans Of Team 2, Fans Of Other Teams, General Viewers).

Edited January 20, 2019 by RalphWilson'sNewWar

[SinceThe70s]

2 minutes ago, RalphWilson'sNewWar said:

 

 

Oh man I have been a fan since ‘88.  Went to around 4-5 Games a year for most of the 90s.  Attended 1990 season Dolphins divisional game, Both Playoffs in 1991 (Chiefs/Broncos) and stayed for all on Comeback game.  Plus many many more.

 

I watch theThursday Game, along with Bills game, some of 425 game, Sunday Night and Monday night.  I have play multiple Fantasy leagues and listen to more Sports Talk than is probably good for me.

 

i worded my original post as if I was a General Audience Viewer (my mIstake).  Those viewers that NFL doesn’t have their hooks into but who make the difference I feel when it comes to reallt putting the rating numbers over the top.

 

Those Re the viewers who feel neither a nostalgic pull to watch no matter what or a hometown obligation to watch no matter what.  Worded the original poorly.

 

Thanks for clarifying. Based on your profile name and pic I figured you were hard core and the comments didn't square up. 

[Chandemonium]

Speaking generally, team with the ball has the advantage over the team without it simply by possessing the means to score, and I don’t find it as exciting when the team with the advantage does what they are supposed do vs. when the disadvantaged team is able to overcome and turn the tables. For this reason I  tend to be a defense guy, but there has to be a balance. If it’s a game I’m a neutral observer in, I don’t want  to see both teams go 3 and out 8 times in a row and I don’t think anyone else does either, but generally speaking I find interceptions more exciting than touchdown passes, and I’d rather see a sack on 3rd and 9 than a 10 yard completion. 

[row_33]

Good, the writer recognizes Tatum paralyzing Stingley, and the Blount Rule around 1978 was the exact start of the passing game tilt.

[mannc]

I think the greater offensive output has less to do with rule changes (although they certainly play a part) than coaches slowly recognizing that passing the football is a better way to score points and win football games.  For decades, NFL coaches were biased in favor of running the football—“only three thing can happen when you pass the football, and two of them are bad”, “you have run and stop the run”.  Much of this realization can be traced to analytics; passing has always been a superior way to move the football; it’s just taken football people a long time to understand that.  

 

As a result, teams are throwing more, devising better, more difficult to defend passing concepts, and devoting greater resources to developing the passing game.  As defenses try to adjust, some smart coaches (like Belichick) will exploit it by going run-heavy against defenses geared to stop the pass, but that won’t change the basic fact: Passing is better.

[Scott7975]

I like both offense and defense.  What I don't like watching is blowouts.  Even when the Bills are blowing out someone, say by halftime, I am not really interested in watching the second half.  On the flipside, I also don't like watching teams that cant score at all.  Those games that end in scores like 10-3 are pretty boring too.

[Gray Beard]

I keep wondering when more coaches are going to realize that punting is not always a good idea.  If the other team’s offense is moving the ball practically at will, punting from midfield likely won’t slow them down much.  Go for it more often!

 

Some coaches are starting to get it, others don’t.  Analytics. 

[vorpma]

17 minutes ago, Gray Beard said:

I keep wondering when more coaches are going to realize that punting is not always a good idea.  If the other team’s offense is moving the ball practically at will, punting from midfield likely won’t slow them down much.  Go for it more often!

 

Some coaches are starting to get it, others don’t.  Analytics. 

You can refer to analytics forever, but the bottom line statistic with owners, coaches, players, fans, and advertisers is winning; good coaches and organizations with winning cultures get to the playoffs by developing winning game plans. I feel pretty safe in stating that Bill Belichick or Sean Payton do not develop a game plan based on desire to provide entertaining football based on our need for excitement. You win by executing offense, defense, and special teams better than your opponent. I guarantee teams that consistently are in the playoff hunt late December and get into the playoffs consistently fill stadiums and show consistent profit! No matter how bad we want show time offense you still need consistent team play - defense included.

[Buffalo ill]

I enjoy good defense and hard hits.  Not to be confused with poor offensive play.  Unfortunately the NFL and millennials just want every team to score like its basketball.

[Nextmanup]

17 hours ago, vorpma said:

Hate to see the NFL become a spectacle instead of a skilled team sport that requires offense, defense, and special teams and I hate seeing fans dumb down to basically "long bomb touchdown!" 

Very few passes in the league are long bomb touchdowns.

 

The majority of all passes are under 20 yards.

 

 

3 hours ago, Gray Beard said:

I keep wondering when more coaches are going to realize that punting is not always a good idea.  If the other team’s offense is moving the ball practically at will, punting from midfield likely won’t slow them down much.  Go for it more often!

 

Some coaches are starting to get it, others don’t.  Analytics. 

It's funny.  "Football guys" like Sean McDermott think it's smart to punt.

 

Then you have people like economic professors at the University of Chicago mathematically demonstrating that it is almost always wrong to punt on 4th and 1 (for example) at almost any spot on the field, including your own 15 yard line.

 

All coaches, all the time, should always go for it on 4th and 1.  And if they know that up front, they have more freedom to to be more effective on 3rd down too.

 

But instead we get the punts.

 

I just commented on this in the "the moment you knew the coach was bad" thread.   In a must-win game in OT to stay in a playoff race, McDermott punted on 4th and 1 from his OPPONENT'S 41 YARD LINE.

 

That is unfathomably dumb.

 

 

 

[vorpma]

55 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

Very few passes in the league are long bomb touchdowns.

 

The majority of all passes are under 20 yards.

 

 

It's funny.  "Football guys" like Sean McDermott think it's smart to punt.

 

Then you have people like economic professors at the University of Chicago mathematically demonstrating that it is almost always wrong to punt on 4th and 1 (for example) at almost any spot on the field, including your own 15 yard line.

 

All coaches, all the time, should always go for it on 4th and 1.  And if they know that up front, they have more freedom to to be more effective on 3rd down too.

 

But instead we get the punts.

 

I just commented on this in the "the moment you knew the coach was bad" thread.   In a must-win game in OT to stay in a playoff race, McDermott punted on 4th and 1 from his OPPONENT'S 41 YARD LINE.

 

That is unfathomably dumb.

 

 

 

Evidently you missed my sarcasm, was not trying to be statistically accurate but trying to point out the simplicity of the masses in the twenty - first century regarding the NFL; but thanks for the eye opening statistical input! 

[RobbRiddick]

17 hours ago, Inigo Montoya said:

Scoring is the most exciting part of the game.  

 

To me, scoring is more exciting when the offences have to work extra hard to reach the end zone. Football used to be the ultimate game of cat and mouse. When people talked about it being like chess, they were right. Now it's more like checkers.

[vorpma]

1 hour ago, Nextmanup said:

Very few passes in the league are long bomb touchdowns.

 

The majority of all passes are under 20 yards.

 

 

It's funny.  "Football guys" like Sean McDermott think it's smart to punt.

 

Then you have people like economic professors at the University of Chicago mathematically demonstrating that it is almost always wrong to punt on 4th and 1 (for example) at almost any spot on the field, including your own 15 yard line.

 

All coaches, all the time, should always go for it on 4th and 1.  And if they know that up front, they have more freedom to to be more effective on 3rd down too.

 

But instead we get the punts.

 

I just commented on this in the "the moment you knew the coach was bad" thread.   In a must-win game in OT to stay in a playoff race, McDermott punted on 4th and 1 from his OPPONENT'S 41 YARD LINE.

 

That is unfathomably dumb.

 

 

 

Wow, the heavy weight argument of "economic professors at the University of Chicago," man the NFL should be bringing in academics, screw coaching!

1 minute ago, RobbRiddick said:

 

To me, scoring is more exciting when the offences have to work extra hard to reach the end zone. Football used to be the ultimate game of cat and mouse. When people talked about it being like chess, they were right. Now it's more like checkers.

A form of entertainment for the masses; only in the twenty - first century can we take a sport like football with the strategy, poetry, physical requirements, coaching, talent, speed and brute strength and simplify from chess into checkers.  Great post providing a very sad commentary RobbRiddick!!!

[Mr. WEO]

19 hours ago, vorpma said:

Hate to see the NFL become a spectacle instead of a skilled team sport that requires offense, defense, and special teams and I hate seeing fans dumb down to basically "long bomb touchdown!" 

 

 

How can you have watched those 4 games last week and conclude that the NFL is anything but this??

1 hour ago, vorpma said:

Wow, the heavy weight argument of "economic professors at the University of Chicago," man the NFL should be bringing in academics, screw coaching!

A form of entertainment for the masses; only in the twenty - first century can we take a sport like football with the strategy, poetry, physical requirements, coaching, talent, speed and brute strength and simplify from chess into checkers.  Great post providing a very sad commentary RobbRiddick!!!

 

 

Are these 4 teams not possessive of the best skill players, talent, speed, strength and coaching in the NFL??

 

This type of commentary is nonsense.

[That's No Moon]

Fantasy football brought us here. The nfl realized that fantasy football brought so many casual viewers in who were only interested because of that angle. FF players want offense.

[vorpma]

42 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

How can you have watched those 4 games last week and conclude that the NFL is anything but this??

 

 

Are these 4 teams not possessive of the best skill players, talent, speed, strength and coaching in the NFL??

 

This type of commentary is nonsense.

Says Mr. Weeo!

Just now, vorpma said:

Says Mr. Weeo!

Excuse me - WEO!

[Mr. WEO]

Just now, vorpma said:

Says Mr. Weeo!

 

 

Seriously...what are you missing when you watch these games??  These are the most complete teams in the NFL--all surviving to the Conf Championships.

 

What else do you want?  This NO-Rams is a pretty good chess match.  You should change the channel from Fox1 USWNT coverage....and check it out.

[vorpma]

6 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

Seriously...what are you missing when you watch these games??  These are the most complete teams in the NFL--all surviving to the Conf Championships.

 

What else do you want?  This NO-Rams is a pretty good chess match.  You should change the channel from Fox1 USWNT coverage....and check it out.

Sure is, Balanced offense, good defense, some good ST play; no Arena Football today, and what I have watched throughout the playoffs is consistent with the last 50 years of football. And I have no clue what Fox1 USWNT coverage is, I keep things pretty basic. Now what are you missing?

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

55 minutes ago, That's No Moon said:

Fantasy football brought us here. The nfl realized that fantasy football brought so many casual viewers in who were only interested because of that angle. FF players want offense.

 

This.

FFL is a blight on the sport.

 

[Mr. WEO]

2 minutes ago, vorpma said:

Sure is, Balanced offense, good defense, some good ST play; no Arena Football today, and what I have watched throughout the playoffs is consistent with the last 50 years of football. And I have no clue what Fox1 USWNT coverage is, I keep things pretty basic. Now what are you missing?

 

 

You said today's game turned chess into checkers.

 

The fact is that GOAT Defenses like the '85 Bears could play checkers against simple Offenses they faced at the time.  That D would struggle to keep up with the complexity ("chess") they would face against today's offensive coaching schemes and athletes.

[vorpma]

4 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

You said today's game turned chess into checkers.

 

The fact is that GOAT Defenses like the '85 Bears could play checkers against simple Offenses they faced at the time.  That D would struggle to keep up with the complexity ("chess") they would face against today's offensive coaching schemes and athletes.

No, I did not say today's game turned chess into checkers; I stated that fans in the 21st Century are more interested in Arena Football type action and prefer checkers over chess.  What we are seeing is good football today although I'm sure many are bored due to lack of Arena Football type action. Defense still wins championships - newsflash you have to score more points than your opponent and stop your opponent from scoring more points! I stand by my chess to checkers post - fact of life with many of the younger fans!

[Mr. WEO]

2 hours ago, vorpma said:

we take a sport like football with the strategy, poetry, physical requirements, coaching, talent, speed and brute strength and simplify from chess into checkers.  !

 

2 minutes ago, vorpma said:

No, I did not say today's game turned chess into checkers; 

 

 

ya did...

[vorpma]

3 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

 

ya did...

I am going to try and simplify this: 

 

The Post I responded to an hour before kickoff from RobbRiddick :  "To me, scoring is more exciting when the offences have to work extra hard to reach the end zone. Football used to be the ultimate game of cat and mouse. When people talked about it being like chess, they were right. Now it's more like checkers."

 

My Response to RobbRiddick post Hours before LA - NO Kickoff: "A form of entertainment for the masses; only in the twenty - first century can we take a sport like football with the strategy, poetry, physical requirements, coaching, talent, speed and brute strength and simplify from chess into checkers.  Great post providing a very sad commentary RobbRiddick!!!  

[Mr. WEO]

2 minutes ago, vorpma said:

I am going to try and simplify this: 

 

The Post I responded to an hour before kickoff from RobbRiddick :  "To me, scoring is more exciting when the offences have to work extra hard to reach the end zone. Football used to be the ultimate game of cat and mouse. When people talked about it being like chess, they were right. Now it's more like checkers."

 

My Response to RobbRiddick post Hours before LA - NO Kickoff: "A form of entertainment for the masses; only in the twenty - first century can we take a sport like football with the strategy, poetry, physical requirements, coaching, talent, speed and brute strength and simplify from chess into checkers.  Great post providing a very sad commentary RobbRiddick!!!  

 

 

I read it correctly the first time and reposted correctly.  "We took a sport like football and simplified it from chess into checkers.

 

 

 

[vorpma]

30 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

I read it correctly the first time and reposted correctly.  "We took a sport like football and simplified it from chess into checkers.

 

 

 

You are correct and I stand by that; if it upsets you or you disagree sorry about that! My post generalizes about the current attitudes and mindset of younger fans in 2018!  I am guessing you are offended!

Just now, vorpma said:

You are correct and I stand by that; if it upsets you or you disagree sorry about that! My post generalizes about the current attitudes and mindset of younger fans in 2018!  I am guessing you are offended!

My last post on this over discussed observation!