Monday, February 08, 2010

What's the point?

Prior to the Superbowl, NFL Comissioner Roger Goodell happened to mention on radio about a plan to ban the 3 and 4 point stance from professional football. Within hours, the steam coming out of many "old school" coaches ears had formed a large cloud over Washington D.C. that was visible from space and proceeded to snow heavily on the area. The steam coming from my ears is currently travelling across the Atlantic along the gulfstream headed for the North American continent. It is expected to arrive on Wednesday. The idea, at least on paper, is to reduce the number of concussions in the game. Now call me cynical or stupid, but I can't quite get my head aorund this. Just when was the last recorded incident of an NFL player coming out of a 3 or 4 point stance and clashing heads with an opponent with such ferocity that one or both players were left concussed? As far as I'm aware, the number is 0. If anyone knows better, feel free to let me know. What this looks like, to me at least, is nothing short of a blatant attempt to remove running from the game of football in favour of 'sexy' passing. Money talks and the NFL wants the biggest slice it can get. It believes that passing and 'sexy' offense is the route to this money. That means 2 point stances all around. The impact is two fold: 1) It makes it significantly more difficult for Defensive players to get to the QB. Without the added push off from a 3 point stance and without being as low as before, it makes it much easier for the offensive linemen to stand defensive players up as they rush forward. 2) It makes it significantly more difficult for Offensive players to drive defenders off the ball on rushing plays. What you get is more of an ungainly shoving match that doesn't go very far. In other words. The NFL hates teams that get their uniforms dirty. Jesus.

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