NFL Season 2011-2012

[Brando70]

I am just happy the Super Bowls have been at least close in the last decade. But I agree, the Super Bowl is to football what New Year's Eve is to drinking: for the amateurs rather than the die-hards.

I think it's going to be a good game. The matchup is very even and it will likely have a good deal of offense. I also love that it is the Super Bowl of Unlikable Coaches.

[wco81]

For the sake of disclosure, I'm a Niners fan.

Harbaugh took the exact same team that Singleterry had and doubled their wins and won a playoff game. Whatever he does works. Will it be a fad and other will catch up with him and put him in his place, maybe or maybe not. As for the strategy in the later part of the game, it makes sense. The Giants didn't do anything in the second half on offense for the most part as the defense was killing it and getting to Eli. Their points were from the two special team mistakes where they needed a whopping 40 yards combined to score.

His demeanor is what works for him. He got the job at Stanford and on his first day on the job he said he was going to kick Pete Caroll's butt and then went out and did it multiple times. it works for him and it doesn't hurt anyone.

No doubt Harbaugh got way more out of the talent than Singletary or Nolan did. Plus, he put those players in positions to make best use of their talents. The special teams was a huge improvement, both in returns and coverage (they brought in some great special teams players).

When they let 3 starters on defense go, people were wondering what the team was doing but every one of their bets paid off, especially most of those 1-year FA deals. I can't imagine the previous coaches getting as much out of Aldon Smith in his rookie year either, even though they are both defense-oriented coaches.

Coughlin alluded to Harbaugh's formula briefly in the post-game, as if he couldn't believe how well it works. Defense and special teams carried the team all year. Can they continue to get a lot of turnovers, dominate the field position (thought not so much yesterday) and just have the offense do the minimum?

We'll see.

[wco81]

Bart Starr, Griese and Staubach won SBs but except for maybe Staubach, none of them put up great numbers. But their glory seems to have faded a bit, because in the passing era, QBs are putting up crazy numbers.

Aikman won 3 SBs? But he's not mentioned among the greats, though he had the arm to put up bigger numbers than he did.

Someone was musing that if Eli won a second SB, he's in the HoF, just like Rothlisberger already is.

Well imagine if Brees or Rodgers never win another SB. Does anyone really think Eli is at their level?

[fsquid]

I'm thinking that the offense will see improvement in the next few years. This year it was thrown together with the lockout and they made it to suit Alex's strengths which is to be a game manager and not really be a gunslinger that many want to have.

Will that change with the management's first full offseason? Who knows.

[Lancer]

All good points, Lancer.

Harbaugh seems to be less mature on the sidelines than some of his players. The endless hat tugs, like a kid who doesn't get extra time outdoors from Mom and Dad, get very old after a while. Of course, the coddling media will attribute that to "intensity." I call it lack of composure.

Say what you want about Hoodie, but how often do you see that guy lose his mind over the spot of the ball in the first quarter?

I give him a little leeway since he was abused as a child by Mike Ditka

As a football fan, I'm glad the SB is what it is. Ravens and Niners had great seasons, but the Harbaugh brothers talk would rival the Dungy-Lovie black coach talk for most overdone Super Bowl angle of all time. At least the rematch talk will be an excuse to watch David Tyree's catch a zillion times in the next two weeks.

The other interesting angle that will be something else is if Eli wins. He'd have to be considered the greatest Manning QB at that point, right? That seems like one of the other Baldwin brothers becoming a better actor than Alec Baldwin.

Ya the SB worked out the way it should. 2 Elite qb's, in Manning and Brady, while the 2 other 2nd tier qb's, Flacco and Smith, are sitting at home.

[fsquid]

yea the Harbaugh talk would be so overworked while the "Is Eli better than Peyton" won't be. It is Super Bowl, they will always find a way to overblow something to the point you want to throw up in your mouth.

[wco81]

Doesn't have to be a gunslinger. Just moving the chains consistently, settling for fewer FGs, would be a good start. However, they have to have outside targets and occasionally vertical threats in order to have an easier time moving those chains, otherwise defenses sit between the hashes and make it harder to make the 7-10 yard completions (which occasionally turn into 20-30 yard gains with run after catch).

The weather may have affected Alex a couple of times yesterday with the throws at the feet of WRs a few times, though I believe neither team was able to score to one end zone because of the winds.

Brady threw a lot of passes underneath to Welker and his TEs to keep moving the chains. Difference is, he laid the balls perfectly and on time, to allow his receivers to take those 5-yard passes upfield after catches for decent gains. 49ers didn't do enough of that for some reason. Smith hit Gore coming out of the backfield for a good gain to set up one of their scores but on other occasions, missed Gore on a short throw. There was one incomplete pass along the left sideline to Walker, about 15-yards downfield. VD was in the same area, about 5 yards more to the inside. Strange combination of routes.

[Rodster]

Call me depressed. The only thing left is the media driven Super Bowl. The NFL season for me ended last night. I hate the manufactured atmosphere of the "big game" .. I hate the fact that it's on a neutral field. If it were me, i'd give home field to the team with the best record. Let that team's city benefit from the financial gains. If it's played in the snow.. so be it. It football. it's made to be played outside. I'd play the game the week after the championship games, ditch the halftime show and well.. put the focus back on the freaking game

Not gonna happen. The event is larger than the game itself. The NFL doesn't really care about the outcome of the game only about selling commercials and SB rights to the city who will hold the event.

[wco81]

They did try playing the next week a couple of times. Forget why they came back but it's not the worst thing in the world for players to heal up.

And I would rather see weather not being a factor at all, so the neutral field with good weather is fine with me. Some cold-weather teams used HFA to get into the SB and then couldn't hang.

[DivotMaker]

Aikman won 3 SBs? But he's not mentioned among the greats, though he had the arm to put up bigger numbers than he did.

The folks in Canton, Ohio would disagree with you.....

[Brando70]

yea the Harbaugh talk would be so overworked while the "Is Eli better than Peyton" won't be. It is Super Bowl, they will always find a way to overblow something to the point you want to throw up in your mouth.

But at least overblow something related to the game. "They are brothers who are coaches and now they are meeting in the Super Bowl. Isn't that crazy? Let's talk to their kindergarten teacher about who was a better fingerpaint designer."

[XXXIV]

I agree that he isnt Peyton but Eli is a ok okay with me. Boy makes some big throws on the road and in sbs.

[FifaInspected]

Call me depressed. The only thing left is the media driven Super Bowl. The NFL season for me ended last night. I hate the manufactured atmosphere of the "big game" .. I hate the fact that it's on a neutral field. If it were me, i'd give home field to the team with the best record. Let that team's city benefit from the financial gains. If it's played in the snow.. so be it. It football. it's made to be played outside. I'd play the game the week after the championship games, ditch the halftime show and well.. put the focus back on the freaking game

Not gonna happen. The event is larger than the game itself. The NFL doesn't really care about the outcome of the game only about selling commercials and SB rights to the city who will hold the event.

Yea. I know it's not gonna happen.. I just can't stand it the way it is.

[XXXIV]

Looks like Guppy is not wasting time in his new job as King of all Lambs.

Just heard from my favorite Nucks fan that the Rams have signed BC Lions RT Jovan Olafioye



2012 is going to be all Rams!

[MizzouRah]

That's a big boy!

Can't wait!!!

My FOF Rams were 7-9 last season and although we didn't get Blackmon, I did resign Lloyd and drafted OLB Zach Brown from NC and CB Morris Claiborne from LSU.

[10spro]

He was a monster harassing QB's, good sign for 2 years, you boys won't be disappointed.

[Lancer]

dull first half. Seems like the whole atmosphere is dead. No big exciting plays, just your conventional drives.

Looks like Billicheat has the Giants D figured out, looks like the Pats will end up winning this.

[XXXIV]

Good first half.

Giants keep doing what they are doing and that piece of s*** Goodell stays out of it we should have a great finish.

Only question I have is for the Giants DC....WTF you were thinking on that last play? Take your best pass rusher and put him into coverage?
Very tricky...Very f***in stupid!

[Rodster]

Cool now we get to watch Madonna lipsynch.

[XXXIV]

Cool now we get to watch Madonna lipsynch.

She is the queen of the synch. Been doing it since I was in college and that was a LONG time ago.

[Lancer]

I happily missed the half time show.

[10spro]

I happily missed the half time show.

Why? That was the highlight of the night so far.

[XXXIV]

Go Eastwood you magnificent bastard you!

[Diablo25]

So much for the over

[XXXIV]

So much for the over

Dont give up yet. That TD was too easy.