OFFICIAL 2013-2014 NFL Thread

[slucero]

Niners lose.. I think its almost time to call it a season for them.. Kaepernick did not look good.. at all.

[Memorex]

Niners lose.. I think its almost time to call it a season for them.. Kaepernick did not look good.. at all.

I think last week was time to call it. Today confirmed it. Maybe expectations were falsely high. Both top receivers out. And a QB in his first full year. Had he not done so well last year, no one would have thought this team should be a contender. Look at Green Bay. Everyone knows that without a healthy team, they are done. I think they can still hit a stride when Crabtree is back and in the system, but it's too late. No way to catch Seattle and other teams, like AZ, are hot.

The rest of this year should be spent on understanding what Kap can do, etc. We have quite a few draft picks next year as well. At least there is more hope than a few years ago.

[slucero]

Niners lose.. I think its almost time to call it a season for them.. Kaepernick did not look good.. at all.

I think last week was time to call it. Today confirmed it. Maybe expectations were falsely high. Both top receivers out. And a QB in his first full year. Had he not done so well last year, no one would have thought this team should be a contender. Look at Green Bay. Everyone knows that without a healthy team, they are done. I think they can still hit a stride when Crabtree is back and in the system, but it's too late. No way to catch Seattle and other teams, like AZ, are hot.

The rest of this year should be spent on understanding what Kap can do, etc. We have quite a few draft picks next year as well. At least there is more hope than a few years ago.

Honestly.. I think Kaps early success came due to his athleticism.. and that the 9ers used an offense that he was familiar with (read option, Pistol)... once the league figured out to how to defend him (ty Seattle) and negate his athleticism, all he was left with was his QB skills which, as a pocket passer really need work..

Athletically, he's a marvelous talent. Skills-wise.. he's playing exactly where he should for a rookie QB who primarily ran the Pistol in college, who's now being forced to learn how to to be pocket passer real time in the NFl because his coaches are afraid he's gonna get blasted if he runs.

Look at Andrew Luck.. pure pocket passer.. came from a college team that featured him that way. Ironic that Harbaugh was his coach.. and didn't see the glaring difference in Kaepernick. He should have kept Smith and had Kap continue his education under him.

At this point Kaepernick is at least a year away from being effective.. but Harbaugh has already shown just how much patience (or loyalty) he has with his QB's, even when they win... so I think the further the 9ers lose in this season the higher the likelihood Harbaugh goes back to the riskier offensive schemes like the pistol & read-option, and the sooner Kaepernick gets crushed like RGIII.

Either way all this does is shorten Kaepernick's tenure.

[Liam]

The Cowboys didn't lose this week.

[Enigma869]

That looked nasty.

Nowhere near as nasty as these horrid fucking uniforms! Someone...please stop allowing them to wear these shit shows

[Enigma869]

Niners lose.. I think its almost time to call it a season for them.. Kaepernick did not look good.. at all.

Not so fast. If the season ended today, they're in the playoffs. That said, I don't like their team at all. I've said it before here, and I'll say it again. Harbaugh comes across as a cocky prick who is a bit too full of himself, considering that he's never really accomplished anything in the NFL (his mediocre career as an NFL QB, notwithstanding). Sure they have injuries. So what. Every team in the NFL has injuries. The Patriots played their first six games without a single one of their top receivers from a year ago, and still managed to win games.

Kaepernick is no different than any other young NFL QB who gets anointed as the next great thing, long before he has ever accomplished anything in the league. We heard the same thing about Rodgers, Wilson, Newton, RGIII, and Flacco last season. I said Flacco was a stiff last season, even after winning The Super Bowl, and he has managed to go out and prove it this season, after the Ravens were foolish enough to back up the Brinks Truck for the guy! Get back to me when these guys can actually string together a couple of seasons in a row of winning big games when they actually matter. The reality is that these read option QB's have never been successful in the NFL. It's a league for pocket passers and always has been. Give me a guy like Andrew Luck over the gimmicks that RGIII and Kaepernick run on every play all day, every day!

[Memorex]

Um, yea. Injuries have no affect on a team, said almost no one ever.

[Enigma869]

Um, yea. Injuries have no affect on a team, said almost no one ever.

I never suggested that injuries didn't have any affect on a team. That wasn't my point at all. My point was that EVERY team in the NFL has injuries, and is forced to play with the players who can show up on Sundays! Of course injuries factor in. That said, I suspect that at least half the teams in the NFL have had at least as many (if not more) injuries as San Francisco has had this season! Last I checked, the 49'ers still have a winning record, and would be a playoff team if the playoffs were to start today.

[conversationpc]

That looked nasty.

Nowhere near as nasty as these horrid fucking uniforms! Someone...please stop allowing them to wear these shit shows

I've been in prison a few times on ministry teams and, let me tell you, those guys would freaking riot if they were forced to wear something like that.

Actually, the clothes they actually do wear look BETTER than those horrid bumble bee outfits.

[slucero]

wow.. Gronk got put in a bearhug.. clearly a foul..

[Memorex]

Um, yea. Injuries have no affect on a team, said almost no one ever.

I never suggested that injuries didn't have any affect on a team. That wasn't my point at all. My point was that EVERY team in the NFL has injuries, and is forced to play with the players who can show up on Sundays! Of course injuries factor in. That said, I suspect that at least half the teams in the NFL have had at least as many (if not more) injuries as San Francisco has had this season! Last I checked, the 49'ers still have a winning record, and would be a playoff team if the playoffs were to start today.

I think it's a little rare that a team is without it's two starting receivers. Anyway, we can see even top rated QB's struggle when they don't have receivers, right?

I see your point, all I am saying is it's understandable where the Niners are at right now, even though it's frustrating. We lost that game because of a bad call yesterday and that sucks too.

[slucero]

Under Smith opposing teams had to defense all the 9ers weapons, as the offense was much more balanced and the ball was spread around. Teams could not key on one player. The team is now stupidly unbalanced, especially now that they have no receiving continuity.. Gore isn't even getting passes anymore.. he's just used as a RB...

It's now obvious that the main reason Kaep was "ready" last year was because teams hadn't figured out how to defense the pistol and the read-option... until the Seattle game.

Now Kaep's shortcomings as a pocket passer are what defenses are exploiting, and Kaep is playing exactly how one should expect a QB who was a pistol/read-option college QB to play in a pocket-passer NFL that has figured out how to defend him.

Romans/Harbaugh have no answer for this.

I still think at some point desperation will kick in and Harbaugh will start putting the Pistol/Wildvcat and read-option back.... but that would negate Kaep ever developing the pocket passer skill he needs to be successful.. and it will pretty much GUARANTEE that he gets his skull crushed.

[Enigma869]

The officiating in the NFL is simply WAY too inconsistent! The official threw the flag because it couldn't have been any more blatant pass interference. I'll never understand how that wasn't called. Bring on Denver!

[DavidWT]

Hard to say if that was pass interference or not. The ball was underthrown and was picked off before it would have reached the receiver, so it could be considered uncatchable.
Still, the Panthers shouldn't have gotten themselves into that situation. No way that ball would have been caught, so just stand back, and let the pass be incomplete or intercepted, and have a clean victory rather than a controversial one.
Oh well, a win is a win, so I'm glad. But still, a win without a question mark would be nicer.
(not that I'm a Panthers fan, but the Jets need all the help they can get, especially after that horrendous/laughable performance in Buffalo.)

[Enigma869]

Hard to say if that was pass interference or not. The ball was underthrown and was picked off before it would have reached the receiver, so it could be considered uncatchable.
Still, the Panthers shouldn't have gotten themselves into that situation. No way that ball would have been caught, so just stand back, and let the pass be incomplete or intercepted, and have a clean victory rather than a controversial one.
Oh well, a win is a win, so I'm glad. But still, a win without a question mark would be nicer.
(not that I'm a Panthers fan, but the Jets need all the help they can get, especially after that horrendous/laughable performance in Buffalo.)

Not hard for me to say at all, and apparently some officials agree with me! Listen, the Patriots lost that game last night, because they simply didn't play well enough to win. That said, you can't throw a flag there, and then pick it up. Look at where the ball is, and look at where Gronkowski is. He absolutely could have moved the two yards to get to that ball if he wasn't in a bear hug. The only way that ball was "uncatchable" would be if it were thrown out of the end zone. Two yards away from a guy who is 6'7" and catches everything isn't remote uncatchable. It was a moronic call and I would feel the same exact way if this same non-call went against Carolina. I can't stand seeing any official make a call at the end of a game like that, when it's simply not the correct call! Anyone who has watched football more than 10 minutes knows this is as blatant as pass interference gets.

[YoungJRNY]

S2M: Rise!

[Memorex]

The ball was catchable and should have been a penalty. That said, it would have given Brady an advantage because had there been no foul, it would have still been intercepted and game over. So based on the throw, the correct outcome happened, but the Patriots could have gotten an undeserved second chance if the right call had of been made.

All I am saying is no matter how you slice it, that was going to be a pick. But sometimes things like that get taken away on a foul.

With the Niners game, that was a fair hit and we got burned because of a bad call.

[Pelata]

Bad calls and non-calls happen in every game, every week. The timing of this one just sucked for the Pats.

Either way, the pick happens...Brady himself said it was a poor throw.

Bottom line, the game is 4 quarters long and the Panthers took the game to them...they deserved to win. Pats made several mistakes that cost them points.

Gronkowski really even makes no attempt to crawl over Keuchly who is crawling over him...he just folds up.

And Talib is a punk. Smith is a hot head who gets in the middle of everything whether he is involved or not, but he does not intentionally cause trouble. Talib should have been taken out of the game for that ankle hold which, from some perspectives, seemed like he was trying to twist Smith's ankle in an attempt to eliminate him.

[Enigma869]

With the Niners game, that was a fair hit and we got burned because of a bad call.

Couldn't agree with you more on this. That's the second call that pissed me off this weekend and I was watching that as it happened. RIDICULOUS personal foul penalty. Brees did a great job selling it, but that was absolutely NOT a penalty, and that call decided the game!

[Enigma869]

Bad calls and non-calls happen in every game, every week.

Yes, they do, but that doesn't make it okay!

Either way, the pick happens

Um, no it doesn't. If the correct call is made, the pick doesn't happen!

Brady himself said it was a poor throw.

Of course it was a bad throw. What else is he going to say? I didn't hear a single guy in the Patriots locker room make any excuses about the call. They simply don't make excuses. That doesn't change the fact that it was an AWFUL call! You couldn't find a more blatant pass interference penalty if you tried!

Pats made several mistakes that cost them points.

Agreed!

Gronkowski really even makes no attempt to crawl over Keuchly who is crawling over him...he just folds up.

Tough for me to criticize Gronkowski on that play, given the guy defending him had him in a bear hug!

Talib is a punk.

Couldn't agree more. I didn't like Talib in Tampa and I didn't like the Patriots trading for him. I've never liked guys like Talib. He has a big mouth and is too easily distracted. Smith completely took him out of that game. If I were Belichick, I would have put him on the bench and left him there, which I understand isn't going to happen in the real world. I didn't like Talib before last night's game, and thought he acted like a complete ass last night.

[Pelata]

Um, no it doesn't. If the correct call is made, the pick doesn't happen!

What I am saying is that, even if Keuchly didn't get in his way, IMO Gronkowski wasn't going to scramble back fast enough to prevent that pick...that ball was way under-thrown.

Tough for me to criticize Gronkowski on that play, given the guy defending him had him in a bear hug!

When it's the final second, and you NEED this catch for the win, you crawl all over the guy crawling all over you. You don't fold up and hope for a flag.

Either call (PI or DH) would have given Brady one more play, and there's no guarantee it would have resulted in a TD. But I understand wanting that play.

No, the fact that bad calls happen doesn't make it okay...but it also doesn't make it unique. All bad calls are unfortunate.

[Enigma869]

What I am saying is that, even if Keuchly didn't get in his way, IMO Gronkowski wasn't going to scramble back fast enough to prevent that pick...that ball was way under-thrown. .

I don't disagree that it was a poor throw. That said, we're talking about a guy who is 6'7" and in reality, about 2 yards away, so it certainly wasn't impossible for him to get to the ball. That's to say nothing of the fact that Gronkowski could have been a whole lot closer to the ball if Keuchly doesn't wrap him up and push him to the back of the end zone. The more important point here is that regardless of how awful the throw was, unless it was out of the end zone, the throw isn't relevant, given the penalty that occurred!

The bottom line for me is that the call needs to be made when it's that blatant. I absolutely agree with your point that even if the call is made, it doesn't guarantee a win for the Patriots. I just don't know how anyone watches that and isn't shocked the call wasn't made. I'm a fan of my hometown team. That said, I'm an NFL fan and watch a whole lot of games each week. Regardless of the teams playing, I just want the calls to be correct...especially the ridiculously obvious ones!

[Pelata]

I admit to being surprised the call didn't stand...at least one some level. I've seen penalties called for much less.

But, like I said...there's always two sides to a poor or missed call...this one just worked out in favor of the Panthers...lord knows I've seen tons of others work out against them.

[slucero]

The ball was catchable and should have been a penalty. That said, it would have given Brady an advantage because had there been no foul, it would have still been intercepted and game over. So based on the throw, the correct outcome happened, but the Patriots could have gotten an undeserved second chance if the right call had of been made.

All I am saying is no matter how you slice it, that was going to be a pick. But sometimes things like that get taken away on a foul.

With the Niners game, that was a fair hit and we got burned because of a bad call.

One could argue the interference call.. but it still was defensive holding at a minimum. The Pats should have gotten one more shot, 1st and goal at the 1 yard line.

Brooks hit Brees fairly.. until he put his hand on Brees head, and the ref saw him pull Brees head down... the call was for the clothesline at the end of the play.

[Memorex]

The ball was catchable and should have been a penalty. That said, it would have given Brady an advantage because had there been no foul, it would have still been intercepted and game over. So based on the throw, the correct outcome happened, but the Patriots could have gotten an undeserved second chance if the right call had of been made.

All I am saying is no matter how you slice it, that was going to be a pick. But sometimes things like that get taken away on a foul.

With the Niners game, that was a fair hit and we got burned because of a bad call.

One could argue the interference call.. but it still was defensive holding at a minimum. The Pats should have gotten one more shot, 1st and goal at the 1 yard line.

Brooks hit Brees fairly.. until he put his hand on Brees head, and the ref saw him pull Brees head down... the call was for the clothesline at the end of the play.

I didn't see that as intentional. I saw it as a taller guy tackling a shorter guy. If that can't be a good hit in the nfl, why bother? And Brees sold it too. But just like our four shots at the end zone in the last super bowl, what's done is done.

[slucero]

The ball was catchable and should have been a penalty. That said, it would have given Brady an advantage because had there been no foul, it would have still been intercepted and game over. So based on the throw, the correct outcome happened, but the Patriots could have gotten an undeserved second chance if the right call had of been made.

All I am saying is no matter how you slice it, that was going to be a pick. But sometimes things like that get taken away on a foul.

With the Niners game, that was a fair hit and we got burned because of a bad call.

One could argue the interference call.. but it still was defensive holding at a minimum. The Pats should have gotten one more shot, 1st and goal at the 1 yard line.

Brooks hit Brees fairly.. until he put his hand on Brees head, and the ref saw him pull Brees head down... the call was for the clothesline at the end of the play.

I didn't see that as intentional. I saw it as a taller guy tackling a shorter guy. If that can't be a good hit in the nfl, why bother? And Brees sold it too. But just like our four shots at the end zone in the last super bowl, what's done is done.

Bottom line you can't touch the head (intentionally or unintentionally)..

The initial hit was legit.. Brooks had his hand on Brees mask as he went down. In the video of the hit its obvious to see Brooks hand come off Brees mask and Brees head snap as a result. That's the foul.

[Enigma869]

Bottom line you can't touch the head (intentionally or unintentionally)..

The initial hit was legit.. Brooks had his hand on Brees mask as he went down. In the video of the hit its obvious to see Brooks hand come off Brees mask and Brees head snap as a result. That's the foul.

I thought that play was one of those plays that looked a whole lot worse than it actually was. When I watched the play happen, I didn't think it was a penalty. It wasn't a head shot, in my opinion, and it wasn't a horse collar, so I really didn't understand the call.

[YoungJRNY]

Brees was clotheslined up around the neck/head area. He got up with blood dripping down his mouth. He's a premier QB. He's going to get that call.

[Memorex]

Pussification of the NFL.

[YoungJRNY]

I loved the hit. It's the type of hit a defender dreams of when signing up for pee-wee league at 7 years old. The hit was vicious and phenomenal, the way football should be played. Too bad that isn't the game anymore.