The 14 & 0 Carolina Panthers of 2015 were beaten for the first time this season leaving the 17 & 0 Dolphins of 1972 as still the only team in NFL history atop the undefeated throne.
On the other hand. Miami's 2015 Dolphins have been quite the opposite while resembling what goes down the cracked porcelain base of the throne upon which you sit after your morning coffee. The Dolphins fell to 5 - 11 at home versus the Colts by a score of 18 - 12. They also climbed up to the overall 6th pick of the 2016 draft, and with a season ending loss next week versus the Patriots they could potentially move to the overall 3rd pick for a top offensive lineman.
Ryan Tannehill (histories most sacked quarterback over his first four years) was sacked 6 times today, and for the 44th time of the season. In next weeks final game he will have ended up on his butt more times than last years 46, and second to only 2013's fifty-eight times sacked. He has been sacked 44 times this year while our defense has sacked the opposing quarterbacks in 29 instances.
The rhyme to the reason remains to be the offensive line. One must understand that over the last (what will be 38 games at seasons end) the Dolphins intended starting five on the offensive line have played together in just five of those 38 games. THIRTY THREE times (more than two years worth of games folks) that Miami has been starting backup offensive lineman at multiple (2 to 3 if not 4) positions in each and every game.
At most times (already struggling) starting guards are playing out of position at one or the other (if not both) tackle positions. Which in turn causes a chain reaction of reserve players (on a quality of depth deprived team) to start at guard in place of what were the "already struggling" guards that the backups couldn't initially beat out for starting spots. It's truly become an avalanche rolling downhill that gathers, spits out and/or buries useless debris. The tackle, guard, and center positions need to play as one which is absolutely impossible when the same five established guys never play together in positions of familiarity, or even at the position that one might have played the previous week.
Left tackle Brandon Albert missed the first quarter of the season and took until mid season to get up to game speed at which point Right tackle Ju'Waun James got injured and 7 weeks later has yet to return while Center Mike Pouncey in three entire game instances was replaced by a rookie guard that never played center until this year. This or a variation of, is what has taken place or become the norm in 33 of the Miami Dolphins last 38 games, and Ryan Tannehill is getting his ass kicked because of it while unreasonably taking the brunt of the won loss record burden.
It is a display of pure ignorance and disrespect for anyone to expect anything more from Ryan Tannehill other than getting back up from 183 sacks while being blasted 100's of other times over the last four years. Yet he returns to start and finish 64 successive games which should garner nothing but praise for the Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Jiminy Fricken Crickets, he's practically getting hit as often as the offensive lineman are.
In spite of it all he's accrued an impressive resume of stats, imagine what he might be able to do with a consistent five on the offensive line, let-alone a fabulous five that couldn't help but extend stalled drives into actual scores. Center Mike Pouncey didn't play against the Colts. On the last offensive play of today's game, with mere seconds remaining on 4th down inside the oppositions five yard line and the game on the line. A rookie guard that never played center until this year snapped the ball prematurely on the first cadence of a called second cadence snap. Nobody other than the center moved whatsoever until after the nose tackle bull-dozed the center and engulfed Tannehill to end the game 12 - 18.
Rashad Jones dropped a sure interception inside of the Colts red zone on the games very first play. Brent Grimes had an interception reversed, and Ryan Tannehill had a touchdown pass reversed due to blatant officiating blunders. Meanwhile an obvious attempted trip of the quarterback by an engaged defensive player that kicked his leg out at a 90 degree angle and injured Tannehill with a forceful toe to the knee cap wasn't called and ended a Dolphin drive. Once again due to penalties and/or bad officiating, play calling, a lack of cohesion, missed opportunities, brain farts etc, etc, the Dolphins excelled at beating themselves while the opponents may not yet have beaten them this year if not for themselves.
Jarvis Landry last week surpassed O.J. McDuffie for the most receptions in a Dolphins single season. This week he topped the century mark at 104 receptions for 1,085 yards, and to go along with his 84 receptions last year he became the NFL's All-Time leader in receptions amongst histories two year players.
Thanks for enduring the pain!
Though the times and dates have yet to be determined.
Here is who the Dolphins will be playing next year.
Let's hope that the opposition is all they'll be up against!
Home Games
Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Francisco 49'ers
Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Buffalo Bills
Road Games
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
St. Louis Rams
Seattle Seahawks
San Diego/LA Chargers
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Buffalo Bills
GOFINS!!!
As the previous 8 hour effort gathered just 16 comments other than the authors own, it's been acknowledged that most if not all are no longer interested. Therefore, unless something out of the ordinary takes place, this is likely it until February's Free Agency Period. Take Care : )) !!!!!!!
Showing posts with label Indianapolis Colts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indianapolis Colts. Show all posts
Miami Dolphins 2015 Schedule
Today's National Football League and the Miami Dolphins kickoff their fiftieth seasons in less than a fortnight. The leagues schedule makers has the Dolphins starting off innocently enough with a two game road stint at teams with a combined 2014 record of 7 - 25. However. They also have Miami playing Seven of their first Nine games away from the affectionately referred to Joe Robbie Stadium and/or Sun Life Stadium.
1)At Washington Redskins (4 - 12), Sunday September 13th, 1 pm EST.
2)At Jacksonville Jaguars (3 - 13), Sunday September 20th, 4 pm.
Miami's first home game opponent is an inner-division rival that's had the Dolphins number of late.
3)Versus Buffalo Bills (9 - 7), Sunday September 27th, 4:25 pm.
The Dolphins follow that inner-division home game with another home game that takes place in London which happens to be located 1,000 miles further from Miami than from where a second inner-division rival resides.
4)Versus New York Jets (4 - 12), Sunday October 4th, (London) 9:30 AM EST.
A Bye takes place after the seasons longest road trip for a home game.
5) Bye
Following what totals out to be a two way airplane excursion of nine thousand miles for a home game and the Bye week, the Dolphins are again in flight toward an AFC opponent.
6)At Tennessee Titans (2 - 14), Sunday October 18th, 1 pm.
Through the seasons first five games the Miami Dolphins have been in the air on eight occasions, and have faced teams with a combined 2014 record of 22 - 58. It's safe to say that despite all of the frequent flier miles gathered thus-far, the Dolphins had better be swimming with the current from the get go because beyond this point of the season is when the real turbulence begins.
Miami's Dolphins come home for what is just their second game of the season at JRS! They will be taking on a team that they have never beaten in seven tries with three of those attempts taking place at JRS.
7)Versus Houston Texans (9 - 7), Sunday October 25th, 1 pm.
Ohhh-Well, after a much deserved second game on their own turf out of six total games. The Miami Dolphins now get to go on a ruthless three game road trip at teams that tabulated a combined 31 - 17 record in 2014. They start out this particular stint on a Thursday Night with only three days rest at a most feared inner-division rival. Miami then follows that up with another road trip to a potentially snow bound inner-division menace which precedes a third straight road game at the frigid tundra of an NFC East power house!
8)At New England (12 - 4), Thursday October 29th, 8:25 pm.
9)At Buffalo Bills (9 - 7), Sunday November 8th, 1 pm.
10)At Philadelphia Eagles (10 - 6), Sunday November 15th, 1 pm.
Wheeww, what a stretch, and now they have an opportunity to host just their third game of the season at JRS, and they get the NFC Eastern Division Champs.
11)Versus Dallas Cowboys (12 - 4), Sunday November 22nd, 1 pm.
Got that home cook'in out of the way, might as well go tug on a snow covered inner-division thorn.
12)At New York Jets (4 - 12), Sunday November 29th, 1 pm.
So, Miami's Dolphins may or may not have survived the seasons first eleven games of which only three were contended from their own familiar turf with a total of four being counted as home games.
With just five games remaining the Dolphins finally get a break (of sorts), and head home to host four of the seasons final five ever important, playoff pursuit match-ups.
"ALL-RIGHT MIAMI", Here We Go Dolphins, Here We Go!
To start off a two game home stand the Dolphins will host an AFC nemesis that holds a seven games to five head to head advantage while beating Miami in five consecutive meetings.
13)Versus Baltimore Ravens (10 - 6), Sunday December 6th, 1 pm.
A Monday Night Match-Up against an NFC East team follows as somewhat of a reprieve.
14)Versus New York Giants (6 - 10), Monday December 14th, 8:30 pm.
The season's second longest 500 MPH roller-coaster ride breaks up Miami's first stretch that included two consecutive home games at JRS! The Dolphins will be flying West to face off against an AFC contender that Miami beat (at JRS) 37 - ZIPPP in 2014.
15)At San Diego Chargers (9 - 7), Sunday December 20th, 4:25 pm.
Miami has two remaining games, and it is just their second two game home stand of the season. To top off a schedule that seemed "innocent enough" to begin with! The (potentially chasing playoffs) Miami Dolphins close the season hosting the AFC's two best quarterbacks and/or teams that participated in 2014's AFC Championship.
16)Versus Indianapolis Colts (11 - 5), Sunday December 27th, 1 pm.
17)Versus New England Patriots (12 - 4), Sunday January 3rd, 1 pm.
It's the perfect storm.
Excluding the AFC East (because Miami has road & home match-ups against) the Divisional opposition of Buffalo, New York, and New England. The 2015 road opponents outside of the division (Redskins, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, and Chargers) had a combined 2014 record of 28 - 52. The Dolphins will need to win at least four of the above as well as one or more divisional road games.
Meanwhile, Miami's home games (outside of the division) are for the most part against serious playoff contenders in the (Texans, Cowboys, Ravens, Giants, and Colts) who had a 2014 accrued record of 48 - 32. Miami will greatly need the home field advantage in order to win the majority of the games at their own venue which ESPECIALLY includes the 25 - 23 AFC East (BILLS, JETS, AND PATRIOTS)!
It's the perfect storm.
Should The Miami Dolphins happen to make the playoffs?
They will already be playoff worthy,
and a serious force to be reckoned with no-matter the venue!
So.
Were the North-Eastern Based National Football Leagues schedule makers fair to their Southern based Brethren? How do you think the battles amidst the war will play out?
Thank You for an Open-Minded read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
GOFINS!!!
1)At Washington Redskins (4 - 12), Sunday September 13th, 1 pm EST.
2)At Jacksonville Jaguars (3 - 13), Sunday September 20th, 4 pm.
Miami's first home game opponent is an inner-division rival that's had the Dolphins number of late.
3)Versus Buffalo Bills (9 - 7), Sunday September 27th, 4:25 pm.
The Dolphins follow that inner-division home game with another home game that takes place in London which happens to be located 1,000 miles further from Miami than from where a second inner-division rival resides.
4)Versus New York Jets (4 - 12), Sunday October 4th, (London) 9:30 AM EST.
A Bye takes place after the seasons longest road trip for a home game.
5) Bye
Following what totals out to be a two way airplane excursion of nine thousand miles for a home game and the Bye week, the Dolphins are again in flight toward an AFC opponent.
6)At Tennessee Titans (2 - 14), Sunday October 18th, 1 pm.
Through the seasons first five games the Miami Dolphins have been in the air on eight occasions, and have faced teams with a combined 2014 record of 22 - 58. It's safe to say that despite all of the frequent flier miles gathered thus-far, the Dolphins had better be swimming with the current from the get go because beyond this point of the season is when the real turbulence begins.
Miami's Dolphins come home for what is just their second game of the season at JRS! They will be taking on a team that they have never beaten in seven tries with three of those attempts taking place at JRS.
7)Versus Houston Texans (9 - 7), Sunday October 25th, 1 pm.
Ohhh-Well, after a much deserved second game on their own turf out of six total games. The Miami Dolphins now get to go on a ruthless three game road trip at teams that tabulated a combined 31 - 17 record in 2014. They start out this particular stint on a Thursday Night with only three days rest at a most feared inner-division rival. Miami then follows that up with another road trip to a potentially snow bound inner-division menace which precedes a third straight road game at the frigid tundra of an NFC East power house!
8)At New England (12 - 4), Thursday October 29th, 8:25 pm.
9)At Buffalo Bills (9 - 7), Sunday November 8th, 1 pm.
10)At Philadelphia Eagles (10 - 6), Sunday November 15th, 1 pm.
Wheeww, what a stretch, and now they have an opportunity to host just their third game of the season at JRS, and they get the NFC Eastern Division Champs.
11)Versus Dallas Cowboys (12 - 4), Sunday November 22nd, 1 pm.
Got that home cook'in out of the way, might as well go tug on a snow covered inner-division thorn.
12)At New York Jets (4 - 12), Sunday November 29th, 1 pm.
So, Miami's Dolphins may or may not have survived the seasons first eleven games of which only three were contended from their own familiar turf with a total of four being counted as home games.
With just five games remaining the Dolphins finally get a break (of sorts), and head home to host four of the seasons final five ever important, playoff pursuit match-ups.
"ALL-RIGHT MIAMI", Here We Go Dolphins, Here We Go!
To start off a two game home stand the Dolphins will host an AFC nemesis that holds a seven games to five head to head advantage while beating Miami in five consecutive meetings.
13)Versus Baltimore Ravens (10 - 6), Sunday December 6th, 1 pm.
A Monday Night Match-Up against an NFC East team follows as somewhat of a reprieve.
14)Versus New York Giants (6 - 10), Monday December 14th, 8:30 pm.
The season's second longest 500 MPH roller-coaster ride breaks up Miami's first stretch that included two consecutive home games at JRS! The Dolphins will be flying West to face off against an AFC contender that Miami beat (at JRS) 37 - ZIPPP in 2014.
15)At San Diego Chargers (9 - 7), Sunday December 20th, 4:25 pm.
Miami has two remaining games, and it is just their second two game home stand of the season. To top off a schedule that seemed "innocent enough" to begin with! The (potentially chasing playoffs) Miami Dolphins close the season hosting the AFC's two best quarterbacks and/or teams that participated in 2014's AFC Championship.
16)Versus Indianapolis Colts (11 - 5), Sunday December 27th, 1 pm.
17)Versus New England Patriots (12 - 4), Sunday January 3rd, 1 pm.
It's the perfect storm.
Excluding the AFC East (because Miami has road & home match-ups against) the Divisional opposition of Buffalo, New York, and New England. The 2015 road opponents outside of the division (Redskins, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, and Chargers) had a combined 2014 record of 28 - 52. The Dolphins will need to win at least four of the above as well as one or more divisional road games.
Meanwhile, Miami's home games (outside of the division) are for the most part against serious playoff contenders in the (Texans, Cowboys, Ravens, Giants, and Colts) who had a 2014 accrued record of 48 - 32. Miami will greatly need the home field advantage in order to win the majority of the games at their own venue which ESPECIALLY includes the 25 - 23 AFC East (BILLS, JETS, AND PATRIOTS)!
It's the perfect storm.
Should The Miami Dolphins happen to make the playoffs?
They will already be playoff worthy,
and a serious force to be reckoned with no-matter the venue!
So.
Were the North-Eastern Based National Football Leagues schedule makers fair to their Southern based Brethren? How do you think the battles amidst the war will play out?
Thank You for an Open-Minded read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
GOFINS!!!
A Topic of Great Miami Dolphin Concern
Hello Dolphin Shout and ALL MIAMI DOLPHIN FANS.
One would imagine that sites like Dolphin Shout are sometimes visited by new Miami Dolphin fans, or at the least a casual fan, from time to time. For those folks as well as the "always in attendance, hard core nuts" I would like to add some circumstantial input to the dilemma placed upon our 24-year old Miami Dolphin quarterback, Ryan Tannehill.
The thought from this side of the fence is that upon the Indianapolis 2012 first overall draft selection of 23-year old Andrew Luck the Colts became the first team in NFL history that will have the luxury of fielding a franchise quarterback for a likely twenty-five plus years, because as we all know Peyton Manning has moved on after thirteen illustrious Colt seasons.
It goes without saying that had the Miami Dolphins had the first overall pick in the 2012 draft, or that had Andrew Luck fallen to the actual Dolphin pick at number eight, the option of drafting Ryan Tannehill would not have existed! Not to suggest that the selection of Tannehill wasn't the correct choice. I'm just saying that it was the only choice Miami could make if we wanted to obtain our own franchise quarterback to eventually battle against Luck for playoff advancement well into and beyond the 2025 seasons!
This is "of Great Miami Dolphin Concern". The concern is not that of Ryan Tannehill becoming good or great (though he is going to have to become great). The concern is that Andrew Luck has been an NFL-ready quarterback since the start of Stanford University's 2010 season, which happens to be the same year that Tannehill was first handed the reins halfway through that same season for The Texas A&M Aggies.
Andrew Luck had a collegiate total of 38 games started at a 162.8 quarterback rating. His numbers were 713 completions off 1,064 attempts for 9,430 yards, 82 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
Ryan Tannehill had a collegiate total of 20 games started at a 134.0 quarterback rating with 484 completions off 774 attempts for 5,450 yards, 42 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
Andrew falls two games shy of having twice as many live games played as Ryan. Luck and Tannehill are both elite athletes with all the tools required of an NFL quarterback. The concern is that Andrew is already great and has been for several years. He was great even before Ryan first felt the warmth of a center's loins!
In watching Colts quarterback footage recently, I can't tell if I am watching past or present highlights, until I notice the number 12 or 18. That, folks, is how good Andrew Luck already is! The Colts have not lost a beat since losing Manning as their quarterback. As a rookie Andrew Luck's field presence is practically indecipherable to that of Peyton, unless one happens to notice the number. He is absolutely great, and may very well become the greatest of all time!
Mr. Andrew Luck has a collegiate eighteen games started advantage to that of our Ryan Tannehill. Therefore it is a reasonable proposition to believe that Luck has a huge head start on Ryan toward the success of their NFL careers. Andrew Luck is going to continue to get better, while Ryan Tannehill is also going to continue to get better. It might be suggested that once Tom Brady and Peyton Manning hang their cleats up the Colts Andrew Luck and the Dolphins Ryan Tannehill will be taking turns knocking each other out of AFC playoff advancement on a consistent basis. Beyond both Ryan Mallett and Brock Osweiler who will replace the above mentioned Hall Of Famers.
The question is this. Can Tannehill make up the laps that Luck has on him while becoming very good, if not great in his own right, or will the Dolphin supporting cast have to become that much better over the years to compensate for Miami having the second best AFC quarterback from the 2012 draft?
I can only hope that Ryan Tannehill, with his eventual surrounding cast, will overcome Andrew Luck's forces to the extent of winning half of the time when put head to head!
One final note. Let it be known that for seventeen years the Miami Dolphins had the absolute best quarterback as well as head coach in the AFC, if not the entire league, and went to one losing Super Bowl. Evidently the lesser-than-the-best quarterbacks have historically been able to overcome such long odds of being second best.
Thank-You for an Open Minded Read, and we look forward to your angle of view!!
When the fog lifts..
We will see more of this..
GO 7teen, GOFINS!!
One would imagine that sites like Dolphin Shout are sometimes visited by new Miami Dolphin fans, or at the least a casual fan, from time to time. For those folks as well as the "always in attendance, hard core nuts" I would like to add some circumstantial input to the dilemma placed upon our 24-year old Miami Dolphin quarterback, Ryan Tannehill.
The thought from this side of the fence is that upon the Indianapolis 2012 first overall draft selection of 23-year old Andrew Luck the Colts became the first team in NFL history that will have the luxury of fielding a franchise quarterback for a likely twenty-five plus years, because as we all know Peyton Manning has moved on after thirteen illustrious Colt seasons.
It goes without saying that had the Miami Dolphins had the first overall pick in the 2012 draft, or that had Andrew Luck fallen to the actual Dolphin pick at number eight, the option of drafting Ryan Tannehill would not have existed! Not to suggest that the selection of Tannehill wasn't the correct choice. I'm just saying that it was the only choice Miami could make if we wanted to obtain our own franchise quarterback to eventually battle against Luck for playoff advancement well into and beyond the 2025 seasons!
This is "of Great Miami Dolphin Concern". The concern is not that of Ryan Tannehill becoming good or great (though he is going to have to become great). The concern is that Andrew Luck has been an NFL-ready quarterback since the start of Stanford University's 2010 season, which happens to be the same year that Tannehill was first handed the reins halfway through that same season for The Texas A&M Aggies.
Andrew Luck had a collegiate total of 38 games started at a 162.8 quarterback rating. His numbers were 713 completions off 1,064 attempts for 9,430 yards, 82 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
Ryan Tannehill had a collegiate total of 20 games started at a 134.0 quarterback rating with 484 completions off 774 attempts for 5,450 yards, 42 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
Andrew falls two games shy of having twice as many live games played as Ryan. Luck and Tannehill are both elite athletes with all the tools required of an NFL quarterback. The concern is that Andrew is already great and has been for several years. He was great even before Ryan first felt the warmth of a center's loins!
In watching Colts quarterback footage recently, I can't tell if I am watching past or present highlights, until I notice the number 12 or 18. That, folks, is how good Andrew Luck already is! The Colts have not lost a beat since losing Manning as their quarterback. As a rookie Andrew Luck's field presence is practically indecipherable to that of Peyton, unless one happens to notice the number. He is absolutely great, and may very well become the greatest of all time!
Mr. Andrew Luck has a collegiate eighteen games started advantage to that of our Ryan Tannehill. Therefore it is a reasonable proposition to believe that Luck has a huge head start on Ryan toward the success of their NFL careers. Andrew Luck is going to continue to get better, while Ryan Tannehill is also going to continue to get better. It might be suggested that once Tom Brady and Peyton Manning hang their cleats up the Colts Andrew Luck and the Dolphins Ryan Tannehill will be taking turns knocking each other out of AFC playoff advancement on a consistent basis. Beyond both Ryan Mallett and Brock Osweiler who will replace the above mentioned Hall Of Famers.
The question is this. Can Tannehill make up the laps that Luck has on him while becoming very good, if not great in his own right, or will the Dolphin supporting cast have to become that much better over the years to compensate for Miami having the second best AFC quarterback from the 2012 draft?
I can only hope that Ryan Tannehill, with his eventual surrounding cast, will overcome Andrew Luck's forces to the extent of winning half of the time when put head to head!
One final note. Let it be known that for seventeen years the Miami Dolphins had the absolute best quarterback as well as head coach in the AFC, if not the entire league, and went to one losing Super Bowl. Evidently the lesser-than-the-best quarterbacks have historically been able to overcome such long odds of being second best.
Thank-You for an Open Minded Read, and we look forward to your angle of view!!
When the fog lifts..
We will see more of this..
GO 7teen, GOFINS!!
The Suck-for-Luck Draft Lottery
The tanking Indianapolis Colts could be responsible for drastic changes in the NFL draft. As NFL rule changes turned the league pass happy and QB centric, teams have moved away from the age-old strategy of grooming young QBs. If a team can win now and then an injury can place them at the top of the draft, parity becomes a parody of NFL follow the leader. Suck-for-Luck could change the NFL forever.
The NFL has compromised parity by relaxing rules in the passing game. Watching the Colts tank each week has made the fans of teams hoping for a chance to draft Andrew Luck wonder how a team a team could go from 10-6, to the worst team in the league in one season. Prior to this season, the Colts reeled off 9 consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins. The easy answer is the injury to Payton Manning but the reality goes far deeper.
Manning has been a great QB, there is no questioning that but when a team must rely on a single player to go from the playoffs, to losing every game, there is something drastically wrong in the NFL. Manning got the Colts off to a fast start each week by throwing the ball. They used lineman who excelled at pass blocking and the running game consisted of draws and misdirection. They designed a defense to play with a lead, and chose smaller, faster pass rushing DL to rush the opposing passer along with cover DBs.
Manning went down, and this strategy blew up when their back-up QB could not duplicate Manning’s passing attack. Indianapolis designed an entire team around the talents of one player. Rule changes have created a game dominated by one player and turned the league into teams that have great QBs and teams that do not.
Parity, intended to give struggling teams the opportunity to select the best college talent goes out the window when losing a great QB, makes a good team exceptionally bad. All of a sudden, a perennial winning Colts team can lose a QB and be in position to select another great prospect in one season. Well-coached teams without that special player remain the middle of the pack, drafting out of the range of the best QB talent.
Rule changes have created an upper echelon of great teams needing only to lose a single player to be in position to select high in the draft. Because of this lack of QBs, middle of the pack teams continue to struggle and must get horrendous or miraculously stumble on a Tom Brady. Teams could actually begin to lose games intentionally or create short-term strategies that will guarantee higher draft picks if they lose one pivotal player.
This has happened before in professional sports. Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal turned the NBA into a league dominated by the presence of a single player. The NBA began to fear teams were actually tanking at the end of the season in order to ensure a higher draft pick. The league countered by instituting a draft lottery. The worst 12 teams in the league have more chances at the number one pick in proportion to how poorly they perform. A QB centric NFL is leading to an NFL draft lottery.
The NFL might jump at the exposure it could get from televising a draft lottery several weeks prior to the draft. The thought of such a lottery, never imagined in previous years, becomes a reality in a QB centric league. Owners of marginal teams could demand an equal opportunity to draft at the highest level. Resentment over the Colts going from Manning to Luck would be enough to expose the idea of parity as a farce. Even though there is no guarantee Luck or any QB could reach Manning’s level, teams will draft them anyway as was seen by the four QBs taken in top of the 2010 draft.
The rookie salary cap increases the chances of the lottery because the set prices for draft picks does not as severely penalize teams for making poor choices. Teams in need of the pivotal player will take chances and there will be a run at the QB position in every draft. More teams will follow the Colts and create strategies based on instant rewards without worrying about grooming for the future.
The Colts have opened a complex issue, if this writer is aware; others have noticed the same trend. Don’t be surprised if the name Andrew Luck is not remembered for being a great QB, but is synonymous with being responsible for the creation of an NFL draft lottery.
The NFL has compromised parity by relaxing rules in the passing game. Watching the Colts tank each week has made the fans of teams hoping for a chance to draft Andrew Luck wonder how a team a team could go from 10-6, to the worst team in the league in one season. Prior to this season, the Colts reeled off 9 consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins. The easy answer is the injury to Payton Manning but the reality goes far deeper.
Manning has been a great QB, there is no questioning that but when a team must rely on a single player to go from the playoffs, to losing every game, there is something drastically wrong in the NFL. Manning got the Colts off to a fast start each week by throwing the ball. They used lineman who excelled at pass blocking and the running game consisted of draws and misdirection. They designed a defense to play with a lead, and chose smaller, faster pass rushing DL to rush the opposing passer along with cover DBs.
Manning went down, and this strategy blew up when their back-up QB could not duplicate Manning’s passing attack. Indianapolis designed an entire team around the talents of one player. Rule changes have created a game dominated by one player and turned the league into teams that have great QBs and teams that do not.
Parity, intended to give struggling teams the opportunity to select the best college talent goes out the window when losing a great QB, makes a good team exceptionally bad. All of a sudden, a perennial winning Colts team can lose a QB and be in position to select another great prospect in one season. Well-coached teams without that special player remain the middle of the pack, drafting out of the range of the best QB talent.
Rule changes have created an upper echelon of great teams needing only to lose a single player to be in position to select high in the draft. Because of this lack of QBs, middle of the pack teams continue to struggle and must get horrendous or miraculously stumble on a Tom Brady. Teams could actually begin to lose games intentionally or create short-term strategies that will guarantee higher draft picks if they lose one pivotal player.
This has happened before in professional sports. Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal turned the NBA into a league dominated by the presence of a single player. The NBA began to fear teams were actually tanking at the end of the season in order to ensure a higher draft pick. The league countered by instituting a draft lottery. The worst 12 teams in the league have more chances at the number one pick in proportion to how poorly they perform. A QB centric NFL is leading to an NFL draft lottery.
The NFL might jump at the exposure it could get from televising a draft lottery several weeks prior to the draft. The thought of such a lottery, never imagined in previous years, becomes a reality in a QB centric league. Owners of marginal teams could demand an equal opportunity to draft at the highest level. Resentment over the Colts going from Manning to Luck would be enough to expose the idea of parity as a farce. Even though there is no guarantee Luck or any QB could reach Manning’s level, teams will draft them anyway as was seen by the four QBs taken in top of the 2010 draft.
The rookie salary cap increases the chances of the lottery because the set prices for draft picks does not as severely penalize teams for making poor choices. Teams in need of the pivotal player will take chances and there will be a run at the QB position in every draft. More teams will follow the Colts and create strategies based on instant rewards without worrying about grooming for the future.
The Colts have opened a complex issue, if this writer is aware; others have noticed the same trend. Don’t be surprised if the name Andrew Luck is not remembered for being a great QB, but is synonymous with being responsible for the creation of an NFL draft lottery.
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