NFL offseason thread: FOOTBALL STARTS SUNDAY

**Man0warr** · 2012-08-14 09:47

Originally Posted by Xajii

Wow. I mean, I know it's preseason, but that's... 3-0? really? I feel like that says something pretty bad about the coaching staff of both teams, as well as the depth (or lack thereof) of the rosters.

More like the Cowboys O-line had to start 3rd and 4th string guys on the interior since like 5 guys are out with injury. Means they couldn't protect Romo or run block, hard to do anything there. At least the guy starting at Center for the first time didn't botch any snaps like he was in practice.

Tbh, not sure their projected starters will be much better. Just means Romo will have to scramble and take risks on every offensive series, just like he has for the last 4 years.

**Dimmauk** · 2012-08-14 09:54

Romo is gunna die this year.

**Man0warr** · 2012-08-14 10:04

He managed to break the Cowboys yards from scrimmage record last year with a worse O-line so who knows. Tyron Smith at LT gives me some hope, but they probably won't be able to run the ball with those interior guys.

**Melena** · 2012-08-14 11:05

Last nights game was worth it just knowing that Miz was sitting on his couch burning his Kyle Orton Starting Lineup action figures the second he took the field.

**Headspace** · 2012-08-14 14:13

If anyone follows AwfulAnnouncing on twitter, dude went OFF today on ESPN.

Glorious

**Headspace** · 2012-08-14 14:18

Double

**Gadritan** · 2012-08-14 14:38

So what are you going to do today to celebrate Tebow's birthday?"

I was going to circumcise a couple of kids...

Adam and Joe show earlier.

**Tyche** · 2012-08-14 16:11

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ay-in-the-nfl/

After finishing his college career as a Florida running back in January, Jeff Demps said that he wasn’t interested in being selected in the NFL draft, because he wanted to put all of his focus on trying to qualify for the Olympics. That decision worked well for Demps, who made it to London and won a silver medal as part of the American 4×100-meter relay team.

The very first comment

He would already be in Raiders camp if Al Davis was alive.

**Tyche** · 2012-08-14 16:26

Also a great read.

http://deadspin.com/5934392/?comment=51829048

Not the article, but Chris Kluwe's comment and the subsequent ripping of Kluwe's comment by the other commenters.

**Xajii** · 2012-08-14 16:41

edit: nvm, link worked this time

I think the whole argument is retarded, Kluwe acting like a huge dick but he kind of has a point. Bringing statistics into it is all well and good, but there are so, so, so many factors involved in every single play that would make it almost impossible to make reliable predictions. The numbers cited from either side are absolutely meaningless for the most part.

He got pissed because the article, the cited sources, and many commenters seem to think this is the way of the future, and it really isn't. I think looking at stories like San Diego State's is good, and I also think that the call should be made to go for it on 4th down more often, but the Deadspin piece and its sources are basically like "Fuck field goals let's do this forever". The whole point is you need to weigh your options and chances. If you're 4th and 2 against New England, then fuckin' go for it. But if you're 4th and 2 against San Francisco, you might wanna kick that field goal.

**archibaldcrane** · 2012-08-14 16:42

Linked just fine for me.

**Cail** · 2012-08-14 16:58

its tim tebow's bday...you know what that means!

Spoiler: show

**Tyche** · 2012-08-14 17:00

Originally Posted by Xajii

edit: nvm, link worked this time

I think the whole argument is retarded, Kluwe acting like a huge dick but he kind of has a point. Bringing statistics into it is all well and good, but there are so, so, so many factors involved in every single play that would make it almost impossible to make reliable predictions. The numbers cited from either side are absolutely meaningless for the most part.

He got pissed because the article, the cited sources, and many commenters seem to think this is the way of the future, and it really isn't. I think looking at stories like San Diego State's is good, and I also think that the call should be made to go for it on 4th down more often, but the Deadspin piece and its sources are basically like "Fuck field goals let's do this forever". The whole point is you need to weigh your options and chances. If you're 4th and 2 against New England, then fuckin' go for it. But if you're 4th and 2 against San Francisco, you might wanna kick that field goal.

Same argument hashed when advanced metrics were introduced into baseball. Numbers never lie. I mean, obviously you ain't going for it on 4th and 2 with 15 seconds left down 2 at the 30. But lots of people much more intelligent than you and I have crunched the numbers and have said this is the way to go. The only argument Kluwe presents is related to keeping your job. Coaching fortitude isn't the point of the study. That's the cool thing about statistics, they don't care who gets fired. They work or they don't. All studies and practices have indicated this works, tradition is all that's going against it.

**Tyche** · 2012-08-14 17:01

Also, just because there's hundreds of factors that go into every play doesn't mean it's impossible to make a reliable prediction, that's just absurd. You play the numbers, it what coaches pretend to do now.

**Cail** · 2012-08-14 17:01

vjax says josh freeman should be mentioned as a top 5 qb in the nfl

Spoiler: show

**archibaldcrane** · 2012-08-14 17:02

It's just funny when the coach in question in the article is only talking about going for it on 4th down in opponent territory, and then Kluwe went on some crazy bullshit.

**Xajii** · 2012-08-14 17:30

Originally Posted by Tyche

Also, just because there's hundreds of factors that go into every play doesn't mean it's impossible to make a reliable prediction, that's just absurd. You play the numbers, it what coaches pretend to do now.

I understand. I guess I meant that some of the commenters were acting holier than thou about it when they clearly haven't invested the absurdly large amount of effort into coming up with statistics that account for everything.

One of the problems is that the article, some of its sources, and some of the responders seem to think eradicating kicking altogether is in order, and I don't think the numbers show that to be the case.

**Rhinox** · 2012-08-14 17:42

Originally Posted by Cail

vjax says josh freeman should be mentioned as a top 5 qb in the nfl

Spoiler: show

He barely a top five qb In his own division.

**Xajii** · 2012-08-14 17:44

Originally Posted by Rhinox

He barely a top five qb In his own division.

**Chun Liroy** · 2012-08-14 17:45

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1293639/gocubs.gif

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