2013-2014 NFL Thread

[GoSox05]

I really hope he signs with the Bears.

 

 

[southsider2k5]

Teddy Greenstein ‏@TeddyGreenstein 4m

 

ESPN's Bill Polian essentially says that ESPN is a reason some teams won't sign Tebow. Too much of a distraction.

[witesoxfan]

Teddy Greenstein ‏@TeddyGreenstein 4m

 

ESPN's Bill Polian essentially says that ESPN is a reason some teams won't sign Tebow. Too much of a distraction.

 

It really is too bad, because he could be a really nice gadget player in the NFL, but any team he signs with, ESPN is immediately going to ask why he isn't playing more and when he will start.

[lostfan]

I really hope he signs with the Bears.

Could use another H-back

[HuskyCaucasian]

It really is too bad, because he could be a really nice gadget player in the NFL, but any team he signs with, ESPN is immediately going to ask why he isn't playing more and when he will start.

Te'o will get the exact same treatment

[Balta1701]

It really is too bad, because he could be a really nice gadget player in the NFL, but any team he signs with, ESPN is immediately going to ask why he isn't playing more and when he will start.

No he couldn't and I hate when people say this. In this case not because of him personally, but because any sort of "gadget" setup will not work unless he can be a regular on the field in the first place.

 

When a team does what the Jets did last year, try to use any player as a "Gadget" QB, 2 things happen. First, in order for him to come in, the QB has to come out. Like it or not, this step takes the offense out of rhythm. The playcalling is different, the cadence is different, everything changes. It may only be a psychological change, but the offense is told "This guy is in charge" and suddenly he's on the bench for a play or two. It's a giant disruption.

 

Worse than that is what it does to the defense. Put yourself in the shoes of the middle linebacker. You see the QB come out and Tebow come on to the field. Do you think that a trick play might be coming? Do you not perk up rapidly and make sure everyone knows their assignments and how to deal with the upcoming trick play? The defense immediately snaps to attention, that's their natural response, they're coached to be ready for it. The Bears have seen this exact effect with the "Hester package", every time he comes on the field, the defense suddenly snaps to attention and expects something tricky.

 

If you want a gadget player to be effective, he has to be a nearly every down player. He has to be able to have a role if the play isn't called for him, whether it's as a receiver or a blocker, a team has to run 10 plays with him in order to get the defense adapted to having him on the field before anything tricky is tried.

 

Take a look at how the Read option teams do it; they run the read option like 10% of the time and a standard offense 80-90% of the time because they want it to cross up the defense. Or look at how the Packers use Cobb and the Vikings used Harvin whenever he was healthy; they may not be in on every play, and they are moved around a lot, but they're in on a lot of plays where the ball goes elsewhere.

 

If Tebow was willing and able to play the role of a starting TE or FB, great, then he's a great "Gadget" player because you can keep him on the field and have him play a role during the other 90% of the called plays, and then on play 10 you can flip the ball to him and have him run a read option out of the backfield with the defense not knowing that things are coming. But, he's shown no willingness to switch positions and he's seemingly spent no time developing skills that could help him make that position change.

[Steve9347]

No he couldn't and I hate when people say this. In this case not because of him personally, but because any sort of "gadget" setup will not work unless he can be a regular on the field in the first place.

 

When a team does what the Jets did last year, try to use any player as a "Gadget" QB, 2 things happen. First, in order for him to come in, the QB has to come out. Like it or not, this step takes the offense out of rhythm. The playcalling is different, the cadence is different, everything changes. It may only be a psychological change, but the offense is told "This guy is in charge" and suddenly he's on the bench for a play or two. It's a giant disruption.

 

Worse than that is what it does to the defense. Put yourself in the shoes of the middle linebacker. You see the QB come out and Tebow come on to the field. Do you think that a trick play might be coming? Do you not perk up rapidly and make sure everyone knows their assignments and how to deal with the upcoming trick play? The defense immediately snaps to attention, that's their natural response, they're coached to be ready for it. The Bears have seen this exact effect with the "Hester package", every time he comes on the field, the defense suddenly snaps to attention and expects something tricky.

 

If you want a gadget player to be effective, he has to be a nearly every down player. He has to be able to have a role if the play isn't called for him, whether it's as a receiver or a blocker, a team has to run 10 plays with him in order to get the defense adapted to having him on the field before anything tricky is tried.

 

Take a look at how the Read option teams do it; they run the read option like 10% of the time and a standard offense 80-90% of the time because they want it to cross up the defense. Or look at how the Packers use Cobb and the Vikings used Harvin whenever he was healthy; they may not be in on every play, and they are moved around a lot, but they're in on a lot of plays where the ball goes elsewhere.

 

If Tebow was willing and able to play the role of a starting TE or FB, great, then he's a great "Gadget" player because you can keep him on the field and have him play a role during the other 90% of the called plays, and then on play 10 you can flip the ball to him and have him run a read option out of the backfield with the defense not knowing that things are coming. But, he's shown no willingness to switch positions and he's seemingly spent no time developing skills that could help him make that position change.

Nice write up. Ever consider the fact that a gadget player doesn't have to play QB?

[Balta1701]

Nice write up. Ever consider the fact that a gadget player doesn't have to play QB?

I think I outline that pretty well, and Tebow himself could be an effective gadget player if he was in the TE or RB role, but he's shown no willingness to take that position.

[witesoxfan]

I think I outline that pretty well, and Tebow himself could be an effective gadget player if he was in the TE or RB role, but he's shown no willingness to take that position.

 

Then he is the reason he's failed. I wasn't considering him as solely a QB - I agree that would fail pretty regularly - but if you can slide him into an H-Back type of role where he plays all around the offense, he can become an effective weapon. He can still throw the football out of those spots, and then you can more effectively run a Wildcat or read option with him too.

[lostfan]

I let myself get dragged into a Tebow debate on Twitter. I am a failure.

[witesoxfan]

I let myself get dragged into a Tebow debate on Twitter. I am a failure.

 

Now see, that's dumb.

[Jake]

Someone drafted Tim Tebow in the first round.

[Balta1701]

Justin Blackmon suspended first 4 games of the season for violating league's substance abuse policy.

[Steve9347]

Someone drafted Tim Tebow in the first round.

Someone drafted David Terrell and Cedric Benson in the top 10.

[Kyyle23]

Someone drafted Tim Tebow in the first round.

 

That someone was unemployed shortly thereafter.

 

Someone drafted David Terrell and Cedric Benson in the top 10.

 

That someone was not.

[witesoxfan]

Cedric Benson wasn't a bad pick. He was just a moron who, after getting a vote of confidence from his organization regarding a previous DUI, proceeded to get another DUI. Then he had a few pretty good years with Cinci.

 

David Terrell was a bad pick.

[Jake]

David Terrell was a bad pick, but still better than Tim Tebow.

 

Cedric Benson wasn't a bad player. f*** Thomas Jones.

[LittleHurt05]

Cedric Benson wasn't a bad pick. He was just a moron who, after getting a vote of confidence from his organization regarding a previous DUI, proceeded to get another DUI. Then he had a few pretty good years with Cinci.

 

David Terrell was a bad pick.

 

After getting paid, Benson thought he could be the man in the NFL with little to no effort. After the DUIs and getting cut, he realized it's not that easy. He showed up to Cincy and actually tried and had some success.

 

I was in Austin the weekend he got his second DUI. He was on our flight home to Chicago, not looking very spry, in coach.

[Kyyle23]

David Terrell was a bad pick, but still better than Tim Tebow.

 

Cedric Benson wasn't a bad player. f*** Thomas Jones.

 

What do you mean "f*** Thomas Jones"? The Bears chose Benson over Jones, and Benson went on to f*** over the bears while Jones remained a consistent back.

 

f*** Cedric Benson

[witesoxfan]

Cedric Benson was a key piece in the Bears losing the Superbowl

[Jake]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/golf--deer-an...-004821402.html

 

Anyone remember my argument about how you shouldn't give a s*** about Ray Lewis taking Deer Antler Velvet?

[bmags]

I missed all the draft fun, trying to catch up. Was pleased by this meaningless rating by a site that I like:http://walterfootball.com/offseason2013chi.php

[HuskyCaucasian]

@Gil_Brandt

Love Kyle Long pick by @ChicagoBears. Was told by several people @nflcolts (24) and @Packers (26) would have taken him had Bears not.

[Kyyle23]

well if the Pack had taken him then of course the Bears would have f***ed up by not picking him

[witesoxfan]

Post draft grades mean as much as pre-season picks. They are fun to do, fill up column space, kill time, and ultimately mean absolutely nothing.