NFL Thread

[wofford29]

Not true at all. In this instance it just happens to work against the Saints because that's how the play unfolded. If a player loses control of the ball. Which even the most die hard Saint's fan can't argue that Thomas did. Forward progress is lost and established once the ball is secured again and marked where you end up. The replay absolutely showed this. At the very least it should have been an acknowledged that the ball did in fact end up further back than was spotted and have a remeasure. The way the refs called it completely throws out progress. To leave it as called means when they watched the replay they didn't even see the ball move backwards which is absurd. I can't help who the letting them play hurts, it's how it happened. It would be the same if it happened against the Saints.

 

[mfoga]

Not true at all. In this instance it just happens to work against the Saints because that's how the play unfolded. If a player loses control of the ball. Which even the most die hard Saint's fan can't argue that Thomas did. Forward progress is lost and established once the ball is secured again and marked where you end up. The replay absolutely showed this. At the very least it should have been an acknowledged that the ball did in fact end up further back than was spotted and have a remeasure. The way the refs called it completely throws out progress. To leave it as called means when they watched the replay they didn't even see the ball move backwards which is absurd. I can't help who the letting them play hurts, it's how it happened. It would be the same if it happened against the Saints.

Angles still come into play. There is now way he could accurately determine where to respot the ball. So they cant over turn it. They have to be able to 100% with out a doubt know where to replace the ball or they cant overturn it.

 

[wofford29]

He landed a yard behind the line. It was marked a yard in front of the line. Where he landed after seeing he lost control of the ball is where it should have been marked. Reply clearly shows where he's at on the ground at the end of the play.

 

[karamazov80]

I've with mfoga on this one. Accurately determining the precise spot of the ball is incredibly difficult, with or without replays, particularly with cameras on the side of the field and giving the ref difficult angles to work with. If it was where he went out of bounds and you could see the white lines, it would have been easier to say. Sure, Fox had their "magic lines" there, but the refs don't use that in replay, and they aren't all that accurate anyway. As such, the ref used his judgment based on what he could see and deferred to the call on the field. That is the nature of the replay system, better or worse. It could have gone the other way on the field, but when we are talking about a few inches, I don't think refs have the right to change the call given the rules behind instant replay. If the call on the field was that he didn't make it, I think the ref would have upheld that call.

I'm not even saying he made it (I honestly don't know b/c it was so close), but the ref couldn't really overturn that one and follow the spirit of the replay rule.

 

[wofford29]

Either way it's just a side note of my point and I still stand by it. The Vikings lost the game themselves. One particular play didn't determine the end result. I just hate seeing directors instead of officials.

 

[karamazov80]

I agree 100% that the refs were less than competent on some plays (how the heck did they call Reggie Bush down on that TD play?). I also agree that the Saints didn't really play well enough to deserve to win. However, that was a game of "who plays worst loses," and the Vikings played worse. I don't remember seeing a game where the players were so careless with the ball.

 

[wofford29]

I'm still pulling for the Saints. But I hope #93 gets hurt in practice, can't travel to Miami, then gets caught robbing a liquor store in a fit of depression that lands him 5-10.

 

[LOTRFan]

I'm still pulling for the Saints. But I hope #93 gets hurt in practice, can't travel to Miami, then gets caught robbing a liquor store in a fit of depression that lands him 5-10.

What was that dude's name from the Raiders again?

 

[DinoDB1975]

Barret Robbins.

Two weeks to go, so there will be plenty of time for analysis or prognostication, but my gut instinct says the Colts win the Super Bowl. Manning is playing at such a high level. It may take time, but as Phil Simms said during the AFC champioship game, Manning eventually figures out the schemes that defenses throw at him. The Saints defense is by no means a great defense in terms of shutting down a team, but they are great at ball hawking and creating turnovers. The Colts staff will preach ball protection, and no way does Manning make a mistake such as rolling to the right and throwing across his body.

 

[wofford29]

Colts were 4 point favorites this morning when things opened up.

 

[karamazov80]

Last night, I think the guy who does "the Blintz" with Berman said that the Colts are the better team, and that unless they are sloppy and commit turnovers, they will win the Superbowl. I tend to agree with that. He made the comparison to the Colts Superbowl against the Bears--another defense that relied heavily on turnovers for success, but couldn't beat the Colts in the big game.

Of course, Rex Grossman is no Drew Brees, but I think the Colts and Saints have comparably good offenses. The Colts, however, seem to have a much better defense in terms of yardage and points allowed. So, unless the Saints get lucky with some special teams plays, or can get some turnovers, or unless Peyton has a bad day (unlikely), I say the odds are in the Colts' favor.

The Colts have not only been good this year. Despite their need to come back in the 4th quarter several times, they have seemed much more stable than the Saints. Saints have had some crazy wins. Last night was not the first of the year. Part of the reason the Colts seem to do so well toward the end is that Peyton seems able to adapt to whatever the other team is doing. It may take him a half (like yesterday), it might take him 3 quarters, but he figures out the defense, and learns how to take advantage. Honestly, I have not seen that so much from Brees. Brees is as talented a QB as I've seen in terms of his ability to throw the ball, but I haven't seen him learning to adapt to and pick apart defenses later in the game nearly as much as Peyton seems to (Brees seems better at scoring in the first two drives, then forgetting how to get a first down for 3 or 4 consecutive possessions). There are exceptions (i.e. Dolphins game), but not many.

As for the stat that the Saints scored more in the 4th quarter than opponents, a lot of that had to do with making opponents one-dimensional when the Saints had a big lead, IMO, and for a good chunk of the season the Saints running game could really take over for us in the 4th. That does not reflect adaptation to the D so much as the end result of wearing them down for 3 quarters with the run.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

No offense to Bret Favre fans, but I"m so happy that the Vikings lost yesterday. I'm just so sick of his attention getting retirement charades.

 

[karamazov80]

No offense to Bret Favre fans, but I"m so happy that the Vikings lost yesterday. I'm just so sick of his attention getting retirement charades.

Well, prepare to blow some chunks, cuz it is coming again!

 

[Something Sexy]

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[Something Sexy]

Well, prepare to blow some chunks, cuz it is coming again!

Of course it is, he will drag it out as long as possible so he is the center of attention.

 

[karamazov80]

That just about says it all. Looks staged, though.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

I respect the man because he's still got it and can throw the ball like more than mere mortals, but come on...make up your F'n mind.

 

[Something Sexy]

That just about says it all. Looks staged, though.

Could be but I think it is hilarious!

 

[Fritz]

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This is why I watch Dolphins games by myself.

I give Favre all the credit in the world, he took a beating last night. And in regards to the Saints defense, they have nothing to be ashamed about. They caused all of the turnovers other than the one at the end of the half. The fumble caused to Berrian was a masterpiece.

 

[karamazov80]

They have been doing that all season, and not just the defense. Did you see the interception of Brees/fumble/runback for touchdown by Meachem against the Redskins? One of the craziest things I've seen in the NFL.

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