Joe from Liberty Township, OH
There’s been a lot of discussion about Hafley’s aggressive defensive scheme and its vulnerability to the big play. Joe Barry’s scheme was predicated on preventing the big play, but they still happened too frequently. Is it an oversimplification to suggest the defense is no more at risk of the big play than the past few seasons, but gain the advantages of the more aggressive scheme?
Only time will tell. But if you’ve spent several years emphasizing one thing and not getting it, I don’t blame anyone for trying to emphasize something else.
Paul from Manitowoc, WI
Hi II. Don’t know if this has been answered yet, but how well protected from hacking are the playbooks if they’re on tablets? Also, what would you think the punishment would be for an organization trying to obtain this information? Thank you for II, I always look forward to my daily “fix.”
Considering how many security hoops I have to jump through around here just to schedule my vacation time or fill out an expense report, I can guarantee you those tablets are as un-hack-able as they come. They can also be locked up and wiped remotely if they’re lost.
Joe from Swansea, IL
All the talk about playbooks has me pondering: If you take the QB out of the equation, which position group requires the most cerebral players? O-line? Secondary? Something I’m not considering? I’d love your insight here.
There’s a larger mental component for every position at this level compared to what players are accustomed to, but receivers (choice routes and route adjustments), O-linemen (protection changes and blitz pickups) and DBs (different coverage concepts and passing off routes) probably rank at the top for me.
Tom from Highland Village, TX
Follow-up plus a question to my post yesterday about flying sports teams. The 7-footer I mentioned was David Robinson. I have never seen someone so exhausted, yet uncomfortably crammed into his row 2 seat. His knees seemed to be level with his shoulders. He played 43 minutes in PHX, stats 34p+14r. He then had to get up about 4 a.m. for our 6 a.m. commercial flight to SLC, connecting to SEA. That night he had 39+11, in game 65. To me that is superhuman. What stories can you share about the Packers?
I remember early in my time here, in 2007, I was in the locker room right after a blowout win over the Vikings and I saw Ryan Grant, who had just carried 25 times for 119 yards, taking his jersey and shoulder pads off. His upper body looked like it had spent two weeks in a torture chamber. Bruises, scrapes, cuts, you name it. All over and unsightly, to be honest. Seven days later, he ran 20 more times for 88 yards against Carolina.
Darrel from Pueblo, CO
II, with all of the questions about sub-.500 division winners making the playoffs, I was wondering what is the best record of a team that did not make the playoffs?
ATMR (WCBW), two 11-5 teams missed the playoffs – the 2008 Patriots and ’85 Broncos. From 1990-2019, when six teams from each conference qualified, I found 11 teams with 10-6 records that missed out. Post merger and pre-1978, with a 14-game schedule when only four teams per conference (three division champs, one wild card) qualified, I found five 10-4 squads that missed out – Miami and Houston in ’75, St. Louis and Cincinnati in ’76 and Miami again in ’77.
Craig from Appleton, WI
If a 16-team playoff is inevitable, do you think the possibility exists the league would say the top two teams from each division make the playoffs regardless of records? Not too dissimilar to the division champs being protected.
No, I don’t see that being the format. They’d add another wild card based on overall record and the usual tiebreakers. The 16-team field would not only eliminate playoff byes but sorely devalue the NFL’s regular season, in my opinion.
Pat from Hudson, WI
Lori from Brookfield refers to Jordan Love‘s contract situation as “unsettled” but I thought they gave him a two-year extension last year and are now working on a long-term deal, isn’t that the case?
Yes, and now that Love’s current deal leaves him vastly underpaid for the coming season, a new one is in the works. But I’ll repeat what I said the other day: I have zero concern this will get done in due time. In my opinion, the new contract not being done is not a story unless it’s still not done well into training camp.
Cliff from Alexandria, VA
We all know football is a business. So why don’t more players hold out on signing contracts? Or, put another way, why would it not be in a player’s best interest to hit free agency rather than sign early and let the market run their price up, even if they intend to re-sign with their current team?
Injury risk. It’s greater in this sport than any other.
Bil from Stateline, NV
Thanks to Jim from Cadott, WI, for the crappie cooking tip. Uh, rather, the tip for cooking crappie. Though, if the “asparagus on a brat” man concurs, I may hesitate on the cornmeal.
Nicely done, and with that I’m off to find some crappie myself. Enjoy the long weekend, everybody. Happy Friday.
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