1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

NFL Offseason Thread

Discussion in 'Football: NFL, College, High School' started by J.R., Feb 4, 2015.

  1. Houstunna

    Houstunna The Most Unbiased Fan
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2013
    Messages:
    32,658
    Likes Received:
    23,333
    Yeah, that's totally different ;)

    Kickoffs and punts are the only plays designed for a possession-change midplay. Both have a much greater opportunity for big collisions than other plays.

    They are closer to being the "exact same" than "totally different".
     
  2. A_3PO

    A_3PO Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2006
    Messages:
    42,233
    Likes Received:
    5,576
    James Harrison perfected the art of using the crown of his helmet to the side of the opponent's helmet 3 years before the NFL took notice. It was a shame the league reacted so slowly. At the time, I considered him a criminal on the field because he deliberately tried to concuss opponents.

    Individually, each rule change may not affect much. However, down the line as more changes are legislated, a cumulative effect could diminish fan enjoyment. Unlike basketball and baseball, violence, intimidation and players brutalizing/hurting each other fuel football.
     
  3. Major

    Major Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 1999
    Messages:
    41,383
    Likes Received:
    15,808
    The NFL and NCAA disagree, with good reason since the nature of the collisions are nothing alike. Their changes both leagues have made (like moving touchbacks on kickoffs, the wedge rules) are all centered around kickoffs - no attempts have been made to change punts. Punts just don't have the same injury concerns/risks, regardless of whether you think they are similar on the surface.

    Kickoffs, most dangerous play in sports:
    http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2007/10/ledger_the_most_dangerous_play.html

    Moving kickoffs to touchbacks:

    https://www.theringer.com/2016/6/10/16039092/nfl-kickoffs-player-safety-3e0c4bfbb2b

    The league moved kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line before the 2011 season, and the percentage that resulted in touchbacks jumped from 16.4 percent to 43.5 percent that year before rising steadily to 56 percent in ’15. Still, as ESPN’s Brian Burke and Sharon Katz wrote in March, deeper kicks failed to provide enough of a deterrent. Even with an uptick in touchbacks, the decision to take them wasn’t statistically savvy.

    Here's a good description of what make kickoffs so crazy:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/...n-vs-player-safety-in-nfl-kickoff-debate.html

    Steve Tasker is 50 and has been retired from the N.F.L. for 15 years.

    Tasker was one of the greatest special-teams players in league history as a kickoff returner, and, more notably, on kick coverage. He loved covering kicks, which he calls “a train wreck of a play,” loved it so much that he used to say the world would be a better place if everyone got to cover a kickoff once a week. He compares it to charging up a hill to take it in battle, to running headlong as a child. The wild, reckless abandon of the play speaks to men in their early 20s, Tasker says, striking a deep emotional chord that resonates with him still.

    And he would prefer that nobody ever has to do it again.


    None of that applies to punts.
     
  4. Major

    Major Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 1999
    Messages:
    41,383
    Likes Received:
    15,808
    I agree - but the flipside is that people like high-flying offense too, and these rule changes lean towards that some as well. This is essentially a fancier version of the targeting rule in college - similarly, that first year, people endlessly complained, but now it's universally accepted and generally appreciated. Compare the NFL today to 20 years ago and you'd see a ton of differences - but at the end of the day, everyone adapts, I think.
     
  5. Rockets34Legend

    Rockets34Legend Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    20,477
    Likes Received:
    15,048
  6. J.R.

    J.R. Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2008
    Messages:
    106,788
    Likes Received:
    154,648
  7. Nook

    Nook Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2008
    Messages:
    53,793
    Likes Received:
    111,519
    Let me beat everyone to the punch..... Foster did take a knee during the national anthem.
     
  8. J.R.

    J.R. Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2008
    Messages:
    106,788
    Likes Received:
    154,648
  9. tinman

    tinman Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 1999
    Messages:
    97,533
    Likes Received:
    40,160
    Kap made his point already, if he cares about actually playing again he should listen to the team
     
    Uprising likes this.
  10. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2013
    Messages:
    63,182
    Likes Received:
    25,830
    Sounds a lot like he's not really interested in getting back in the NFL.
     
    buffalobills!!! likes this.
  11. NewRoxFan

    NewRoxFan Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2002
    Messages:
    53,821
    Likes Received:
    53,616
  12. donkeypunch

    donkeypunch Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2013
    Messages:
    19,408
    Likes Received:
    21,916
  13. Daddy Long Legs

    Daddy Long Legs H- Town Harden

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2016
    Messages:
    10,984
    Likes Received:
    13,588
  14. CCorn

    CCorn Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2010
    Messages:
    21,377
    Likes Received:
    21,096
    I hope Dez goes to GB
     
    buffalobills!!! likes this.
  15. Surfguy

    Surfguy Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 1999
    Messages:
    22,934
    Likes Received:
    11,299
    Dez will be a good #2 for any team. I don't think he can handle #1 any more. So long, Dez. You can't say Cowboys offense will take a hit over this...because he hasn't done much in a while.
     
    plutoblue11, RocketWalta and BigMaloe like this.
  16. BigMaloe

    BigMaloe Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2012
    Messages:
    13,802
    Likes Received:
    14,998
    Sad but true. I really will miss the guy and his passion but he just can’t create separation anymore.

    Feels like a let down 6-10 rebuild type year for me. But then again, last time I felt this way was 2 yrs ago when dez and zeke stormed the league.
     
  17. buffalobills!!!

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2010
    Messages:
    1,996
    Likes Received:
    521
    Nah, Cowpokes had injuries
     
  18. A_3PO

    A_3PO Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2006
    Messages:
    42,233
    Likes Received:
    5,576
    I'm not so sure Dez will be a good #2 for whoever signs him. Perhaps his new team will benefit from the chip on his shoulder.
     
  19. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2013
    Messages:
    63,182
    Likes Received:
    25,830
    That and he'll benefit if he finally gets a good QB to throw him the ball again. If you look at it, his numbers took a nose dive when Romo stopped being the QB.
     
  20. J.R.

    J.R. Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2008
    Messages:
    106,788
    Likes Received:
    154,648

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now