Kevin's Watch

Yeah, that's an impossible thing, but so damned important. In 1972, the Philadelphia Phillies won 59 games. Steve Carlton pitched 27 of them. Would he have won 40 games with the Reds that year?? (Sorry. It's just such an overwhelming example of that idea. Back to football.)

Cail wrote: What would be interesting - though I doubt these stats exist - would be if someone weighted a player's stats on the relative strength of their team, and on the strength of that team's schedule.

I think that 538 might have done that for QB's? Not sure. You could search their site archives.
I like the stuff they do with numbers. Heh...Randy Moss said once that he thinks he's the best receiver ever. And he might not be wrong, depending on how you look at it.
For instance: He played at least 8 games with 8 different QB's and every one of them---young ones, old ones, great ones, bad ones---had more yards per game [1/2 of them had well over 50yards per game more] more yards per attempt, more touchdowns. 6 had higher completions percentage.
At least 4 of them had the best seasons of their entire careers with him. [probably 5, Cassel peaked with him, and I doubt he'll perform like that again.]
Bah...that's old/off topic...but the idea made me remember it.

Vraith wrote:

Cail wrote: What would be interesting - though I doubt these stats exist - would be if someone weighted a player's stats on the relative strength of their team, and on the strength of that team's schedule.

I think that 538 might have done that for QB's? Not sure. You could search their site archives.
I like the stuff they do with numbers. Heh...Randy Moss said once that he thinks he's the best receiver ever. And he might not be wrong, depending on how you look at it.
For instance: He played at least 8 games with 8 different QB's and every one of them---young ones, old ones, great ones, bad ones---had more yards per game [1/2 of them had well over 50yards per game more] more yards per attempt, more touchdowns. 6 had higher completions percentage.
At least 4 of them had the best seasons of their entire careers with him. [probably 5, Cassel peaked with him, and I doubt he'll perform like that again.]
Bah...that's old/off topic...but the idea made me remember it.

It's certainly an interesting topic. I was talking about Barry Sanders IRL and this came up, so I had to look up his stats. That guy was freaking amazing, and he not only played for the Lions, he freaking retired when he was 30!

Imagine if he'd played for the Cowboys in place of Emmit Smith.....

At least this SB will be better than last years... of course how could it be worse?

My prediction. SeaHags errrr Seahawks win again..

Savor Dam wrote: Sorry, Way, Sarge and Julie. Good fortune to your team, but I have to like my guys for the repeat.

I like the Pats' chances here. and thank goodness the deflate gate nonsense is dying down. the media created a story and drove it far longer than I thought possible. sounds like every team inflates the footballs where they want them and the refs give them that opportunity.

the hysteria of the talking heads has been pathetic. the worst two have been Aikman and Montana. way to be classy fellas.

and the Harbaughs have to be the whiniest coaches ever. Patriots broke no rules with their formations.

if we outlaw trickery we outlaw play action passes, flea flickers, half back passes, reverses,, on side kicks and a whole host of other plays that make the game that more exciting.

I would be a Lions fan, if it were worth it (born in MI). Sanders is my all time fav, and I think it sux he got stuck w/them.

This game should be good. Hard to pick winner, really, so close.

I doubt I'll watch, since I don't have a dog in this fight, but I think Seattle will repeat.

Oh well...

Again, I hate to be "that guy", but that sure lends some credence to the idea that the fix is in. Seattle was able to run the ball pretty much at will the entire game, and the play call is a pass? With a time out left? And second down? And then when you have the opportunity for a safety you get someone that far across the line?

If I'm the owner of the Seahawks, my ass would have been out of the box and onto the field immediately, and Pete Carroll would have been fired on the spot.

During halftime, either Dungy or Harbaugh quoted Carroll as saying "When Bob Craft fired me, I don't think he knew what he was letting go of". I thought that was kind of arrogant, considering what the Patriots have done since then. Anyway, I think Carroll called that play to prove he was smarter than Belichick.

It wasn't -that- bad of a call. Everyone expected Lynch on that play, and not doing the expected is what coaches do. Also, Lynch had periods of effectiveness, but he was shut down a lot in the second half.

Anyway: from my POV, Patriots dominated the game, and should have won. The Hawks get credit for finding a way to stay in the game, and got damn close. One lucky play kept them from winning ... but lets face it, it cancels out the lucky play that got them into the red zone. After that, they had a chance, what with Brady unable to kneel in the end zone - but they gave that chance away with a dumb penalty.

The elephant in the room: Starting a brawl because they lost the game in the last minute is not classy. Patriots lost two Bowls that way, and almost lost this one that way, and didn't lose it. Seahawks lose in sportsmanship, too.

Then again, the Sherman/Brady handshake was a good moment.

wayfriend wrote:It wasn't -that- bad of a call. Everyone expected Lynch on that play, and not doing the expected is what coaches do. Also, Lynch had periods of effectiveness, but he was shut down a lot in the second half.

No, it was really that bad of a call. Lynch had three shots to get in from a yard out and he was averaging 4.2 yards per carry for the game. In no world does it make sense not to run him.

wayfriend wrote:Anyway: from my POV, Patriots dominated the game, and should have won. The Hawks get credit for finding a way to stay in the game, and got damn close. One lucky play kept them from winning ... but lets face it, it cancels out the lucky play that got them into the red zone. After that, they had a chance, what with Brady unable to kneel in the end zone - but they gave that chance away with a dumb penalty.

And if Kearse had hung onto the ball in the 3rd....and if they hadn't gone 3 & out so many times....Yeah. It was a really good, exciting game that could have gone either way. It was exactly what a Super Bowl should be.

wayfriend wrote:The elephant in the room: Starting a brawl because they lost the game in the last minute is not classy. Patriots lost two Bowls that way, and almost lost this one that way, and didn't lose it. Seahawks lose in sportsmanship, too.

No question. That was an utterly classless way to end the game.

wayfriend wrote:Then again, the Sherman/Brady handshake was a good moment.

Agreed.

Agree w/cail, that pass call was terrible. Hindsight of course, but it was rare that Lynch didn't run for positive yards, even if only 1 or 2. You're on 1, 2nd down, TO in hand, no brainer, run him again, or Wilson on sneak or some read-option. That's who they are. Trying to get cute? Gave it away. Of course, great play by Ryan, making up for his and Arrington's completely terrible game up to that point. Arrington in particular, he almost single handedly allowed Seahawks to win. Seems he can't cover a guy who was working at Foot Locker a year ago.

Those 2 picks by Brady were bad, but another 330 yds, 4TDs. At 37.

Cybrweez wrote:Arrington in particular, he almost single handedly allowed Seahawks to win. Seems he can't cover a guy who was working at Foot Locker a year ago.

Don't take it away from Mathews. He had a great game. Wilson was SHUT DOWN in the first half. Utilizing Mathews's ability to catch balls 10 feet in the air was finding a clever way out of the box. It's all about finding a way to win. And you can't dis anyone who catches a touchdown in the Superbowl. Never mind a rookie.

wayfriend wrote:It wasn't -that- bad of a call. Everyone expected Lynch on that play.

No, not everyone; Malcolm Butler was clearly expecting it.

So the play was off by hundreds of seconds? Funny, I thought it took a lot less time than that.......

Butler said he had been watching film and the way they lined up, he expected the play could happen, so he put himself in a position to try to make a play on the ball.

On a brighter note, the Seahawks will need to find a new DC because he is the Falcons new head coach. Atlanta welcomes Dan Quinn to the Falcons!!!

Loved what he had to say:

I know we have an extremely passionate fan base here in Atlanta. I want them to know that the brand of football that we are going to play is going to be fast and physical. We are going to attack in every phase that we can and then most importantly I would like you to know that the energy and the enthusiasm that you bring to the Atlanta Falcons can be unmatched in terms of the energy I will try to bring to you as your head football coach. It’s an unbelievable opportunity, one that I couldn’t be more proud to be here with you today. We have all sorts of challenges ahead, lots of hard work to do, but I can’t wait to get started with all of you"

Even better, a whole new staff came in. Looking forward to a year with some wins, and a new attitude on the field!

RE: bad call

I have read a conspiracy theory (which I don't think is sound) that the Carroll wanted to give Wilson another notch in the Super Bowl TD count. He -is- trying to build a better Brady. (Ironically, now Wilson has lost a Super Bowl in the last minute -- just like Brady.)

And I have read a theory (which I think is sound) that Belichick, by not taking the timeout everyone expected him to take, left Carroll with a time management issue, encouraging him to pass (which would stop the clock if it didn't work) rather than run (which would leave the clock running if it didn't work).

But I see now that Left Shark was the MVP of the Superbowl...