Ridiculously Offensive

by Steel34D on Oct 11, 2011 1:56 AM EDT

Jaguars vs Steelers coverage

Been watching the NFL in the last 5 weeks? Well you may have notice some ridiculous offensive totals being put up. This post will outline the explosion of offense.

There have 40 individual times since week 1 that a QB has thrown for at least 300 yards. There have been 77 games played in the NFL and 154 chances for a QB to throw for 300 yards. That is 26% of the time a QB is throwing for 300 yards. Greater than 1 in 4 QBs or at least 1 a game on average. 7 QBs this season are averaging 300+ yds/gm. There wasn't a single QB who finished last year with 300+ yards per game. That is ridiculous.

(Only 4 QBs averaged 300 yds/gm at the end of September last season, and none by the end of October)

Even more ridiculous 13 QBs are still on pace to break the 4000 yard passing mark this year. These QBs are; Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers,Cam Newton, Tony Romo, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, Mathew Stafford, Matt Schaub, our own Ben Roethlisberger, Micheal Vick, Matt Ryan and Kevin Kolb.

Even more ridiculous, 5 of those QBs are on pace to break Dan Marino's single season passing yards record of 5084. Tom Brady is on pace to beat it by 912.8 yards the other QBs on pace to beat it; Drew Brees Aaron Rodgers, rookie QB Cam Newton, and Tony Romo.

But this ridiculousness isn't fitted just for QBs, at the WR position 15 receivers are on pace to pass the 1200 yard mark for the season. 2 of these on pace to break Jerry Rice's record of 1848 yards in a season. Wes Welker is on pace for a 144 rec, 2368 rec yd. and 16 TDs season. If that pace can keep up it would be unbelievable.

Receiving Yards are not the only things Receivers are putting up on the stats sheet. 7 receivers are on pace to score at least 10 TDs and Calvin Johnson is on pace to smash Randy Moss' single season TD record of 23 with a pace of 28.8 TDs for this year. He has 9 so far this season. That's ridiculous!

RBs have however not lost much production. 4 RBs are still on pace to go over 1500 yards rushing this year. For comparison only one RB wen over that mark last year Arian Foster.

On a team level 3 teams are still on pace to beat the St. Louis Rams of 2000 most yards gain record of 7075 yards. This includes Green Bay who is on pace to put up 7923 yards as an offense this season.

Just as a reminder the Steelers currently as a team rank;

Offense: 23rd pts/gm, 12th yds/gm, 12th pass yds/gm, 17th rush yds/gm, 5th 3rd% and 2nd in TOP

Defense: 4th pts/gm (17.8), 2nd yrds/gm, 16th rush yds./gm (What?), 1st pass yds./gm (WHAT!!?) T-18th Sacks and last in INTs

This season is still only 5 games done, so the numbers may be off at this point but still the offense production this season is astounding to say the least.

Poll

What is the biggest reason for offensive production?

Offenses shifting towards passing

46 votes

Defenses not playing up to par

42 votes

88 votes | Poll has closed

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forgot one poll option

Fines from the NFL for hits.

"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin

by MDSTEELERSFAN on Oct 11, 2011 8:12 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs

this

by theatrain on Oct 11, 2011 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Yep. The QBs and WRs are wearing dresses now. Look at the Lions game last night. WR crosses the field, catches the ball, ducks his head causing helmet-to-helmet contact and Urlacher gets the flag. Can’t tackle a QB high, can’t tackle him low (even if you’re blocked into him that way). As such, the QBs and WRs have no fear going across the middle now because they can’t be breathed on without a flag being thrown.

Frankly, it sucks.

by Blackadar on Oct 11, 2011 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Douche Bag GODell is the reason for these high flying offenses. Asshole!

by Cdsumm on Oct 11, 2011 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

The biggest reason is the rule changes

You can’t touch the QB or WR. I understand that we need to protect players from some of the brutal hits, but come on, its football. Let the defense play on an equal playing field. Since the Mel Blount rule was put in, the power has shifted to the offense. This year is crazy. It is almost as if the offense is scrimmaging against shadows.

LET THE DEFENSE BE A DEFENSE!

by Steeler Nation VA on Oct 11, 2011 10:37 AM EDT reply actions

I also think that a clear message was sent when Duane Brown didn't get a fine for the hit on Deebo

These rules are specifically ANTI DEFENSE AND ARE NOT ABOUT PLAYER SAFETY there is no other conclusion that can be drawn.

"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin

by MDSTEELERSFAN on Oct 11, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Or anti-Steeler

by Steeler Nation VA on Oct 11, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it would be fair to say that

Considering all the changes that have come about specifically related to Steelers players or plays.

Mel Blount Rule
Hines Ward Rule
James Harrison Rule

"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin

by MDSTEELERSFAN on Oct 11, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I apologize but I strongly disagree

I will prelude my statements with this; I do not like the rule changes for defenseless receivers as it involves too much of a judgement call for the referee. However the common misnomer of the typical fan was see above. The new rule changes may have slightly affected defensive play but have not affected the defensive play this strongly.Instead I present the argument that the lockout and new CBA rules has been the main cause of this offensive explosion. Another common thought was that defense learned faster then offense however offensive coordinators have simplified their scheme in order for them to do this. Why? Well a perfect route and a perfect pass will always beat perfect coverage. Defensive coordinators on the other side of the spectrum have had to keep or increase the complexity of the scheme in order to mask coverage and confusion offenses into making a mistake. With out the off-season teams are now roughly in week 9 of playing in their defensive schemes and way behind the proverbial “eight ball”. The second factor I believe is affecting this outcome are the new CBA rules. Specifically the rules preventing full padded practices and therefore full contact practices. This rule I believe has its biggest impact on the players of the LOS and the defense. Without ritual contact line play is possibly the worst I have seen since I started watching football. Then tackling has been atrocious. I can not count the times I have seen this year a WR in the open field and a tackle was missed multiple times to bring him down. I is then ironic that the stipulation that the players mandated to lengthen their careers and prevent injury may in fact be a major cause of injury to QBs because of poor offensive line play. Don’t believe men ask Ben Roethlisberger, or Micheal Vick or Jay Cutler if they can continue this season being hit at the rate they were. Somethings got to give.

by Steel34D on Oct 11, 2011 12:42 PM EDT reply actions

You made valid points

and I do think that points to a lot of different possible reasons all hitting at the same time. I definitely agree about the padded practices too – it is simply part of the game. It gets you in the right mind set, creates the right visceral feel.

"My mentality is singular in that I want to be world champs each and every year, so that's what we work toward. I have a tough time acknowledging levels of success short of that. That's just how I'm wired." - Mike Tomlin

by MDSTEELERSFAN on Oct 11, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Sure, there are multiple causes,but

But the rules have changed. What you hear from defensive players is that they feel like there is less that they can do. When you adjust your playing style to avoid contact, you miss more tackles.

Visually, it is not the same game that I grew up watching. I loved football, its aggresion, its tough heroes, its villains. I like the run game, contact. I hate the pretty boy Patriot-style always- open passing game; and don’t touch Brady… Oh no, he’s eye candy for a key demographic to our ratings

by Steelzombie on Oct 11, 2011 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions

No need to apologize 34D

But you do have to think – players are bred to play a certain way and then suddenly they are told to play differently at the tail end of their careers (most players in the NFL have been playing football for 15-20 upon entering the league, most only play another 5-10 max). Now you bring doubt into the equation when I go to make a play – split seconds matter more in the NFL than any other game. If I second guess myself or try to “ease up” on a hit, you are gone. Kind of like punt returners taking their eyes off the ball – changes what happens next. We are also at a point in the game where players are much more into their earning potential than ever before, if you are gonna hit my pockets for $50,000 for a hit, that is a big deal, you can’t not think about that – no matter how much you make, that is a lot of money…

by MDSTEELERSFAN on Oct 11, 2011 4:09 PM EDT reply actions

I'll answer this once...

Yes the rule change about hitting has an effect on the defensive play. Hesitation means getting beat in the NFL but it has not been the greatest factor in to this magnitude of a change. Think back to last year when the rule was added mid-season was there a huge offensive explosion, not really. The magnitude of offensive explosion may not be just because of a single event however when attempting to realize what has more of an effect the rule change would be at the bottom of the list. I feel it is roughly 60% because of the Lockout, 30% because of the lack of padded practices, 5% offenses moving toward the pass and 5% rule change if I had to quantify my opinion with percentages. The apology was a prelude to my argument as I have intentions of tearing down premises when I argue. That statement was just in case i went a little over board on it.

by Steel34D on Oct 11, 2011 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't taze me bro!

It’s all good man, we all have our opinions and actual facts on something like this are impossible to prove, so I am not going to argue against you, you have very valid points as I said. the lockout definitely plays into things, as do padded practices, But the timing of the explosion is the thing for me – no it didn’t happen immediately last year, as it took time to react – I do think that offensive plans are a bit more aggressive this year though – and think the rule change plays into that – the offenses are planning knowing defenses have to be more cautious. It can just be as simple as a mental issue right now, remember – Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t you are right. Simply meaning – mental state plays into how effective you are. I am gonna leave it at that, I have plenty more to add, but don’t want to ramble on the subject.

I don’t know if the rule change is the main factor or a contributing factor, I just don’t like what is going on right now and the extremely prejudiced and uneven manner the fines are being doled out. Simple fact right now is no one knows what to expect from week to week with respect to the fines, it is all over the map – the one thing that is for sure is you won’t be fined for embarrassing a would be tackler on the way to the end zone.

There is something insidious going down right now in the game we love and what can we do about it? Supposedly all fines are reviewed before a determination is made, yet:

Explain to me how Pouncey was fined $15,000 for a “late hit” that he was engaged in before the RB ever touched the ground – and it isn’t like he injured the guy. Yet James Harrison (Subject of many fines) was subject to a direct Helmet to helmet hit outside of the line of scrimmage, suffered and injury that is keeping him out of multiple games and no fine?

I am not trying to start a fight or argument 34D, just voicing my frustration and irritation. This is not really directed at you.

by MDSTEELERSFAN on Oct 12, 2011 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions

I understand completely

The Pouncey fine was kinda BS. However I think the lack of fine on Duane Brown was because Harrison wasn’t defenseless. It should be the same if James Harrison hit a RB helmet to helmet not defenseless not a fine. ( I bet it won’t be though)
Don’t know what to tell you on how they come up with fine amounts but if I were a little paranoid I say they were fining Steelers way heavier than any other team.

by Steel34D on Oct 13, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Pouncey

There were two things about that that REALLY caught me off guard – 1) the fine itself – Late hit was debatable, although you can see it wasn’t late if you reviewed it – It’s not like it was a blatant out of bounds late hit or an after the whistle late hit. 2) the amount – $15,000? REALLY? For what? How do they determine the severity and decide the amount? Seems extremely out of line with the play.

As far as Harrison goes, I see your point, but Brown initiated Helmet to helmet contact using the crown of his helmet – that is supposed to be illegal, yet no flag and no fine – something is rotten in Denmark…

by MDSTEELERSFAN on Oct 13, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions