2015 NFL Season Discussion (1 Viewer)

[Patrick Sun]

Wind wasn't really much a factor on Sunday.

 

[Aaron Silverman]

Well if you defer, then the other team gets to pick which goal to defend which gives them the advantage (if there's any wind) in the fourth quarter. In general, I prefer the other team to win the toss for just this reason.

If you win the toss, you can choose which goal to defend and let the other team decide whether to receive the kick.


Also, as mentioned, there was little (if any) wind the other day.

 

[Robert Crawford]

To my fellow Raider Fans,


If the Raiders have to move in order to get a new stadium, how do you feel about them moving to Vegas? For me, that doesn't live in the Oakland area, I could plan a trip to Vegas for other endeavors while catching a Raider game.


Of course, the NFL probably won't allow such a move to Vegas for gambling reasons.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

This will be an interesting story to watch unfold. Gambling is a big reason for the NFL's popularity. Eventually a pro sports team is going to move there, so why not have it be the most popular league to gamble on? We'll see if the NFL finally agrees.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

I seem to remember something about Las Vegas and maybe Nevada in general being off limits to any NFL team per some league ruling. I could be wrong but I thought there was a fairly large reason no team is there.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

I read recently that Goodell's only comments regarding Las Vegas were along the lines of "there is no reason why we wouldn't consider it but as far as I know there is no stadium there". There is no official NFL rule prohibiting moving to Vegas. The team just needs a 3/4 owner vote approving it, so it's all about politics.


When you look at the amount of money casinos throw around in that town to build huge new buildings, I would imagine that Davis could easily raise funding for a swanky new stadium.

 

[Aaron Silverman]

Unfortunately, gambling has become such an integral part of the American sports economy that it's only a matter of time before people see no negative connotation at all in basing a team in Vegas.


(Unfortunate about the omnipresent gambling, not the idea that Vegas might get a major league sports team.)

 

[Rob Willey]

To my fellow Raider Fans,


If the Raiders have to move in order to get a new stadium, how do you feel about them moving to Vegas? For me, that doesn't live in the Oakland area, I could plan a trip to Vegas for other endeavors while catching a Raider game.


Of course, the NFL probably won't allow such a move to Vegas for gambling reasons.

Living in the Bay Area, I would hate to see them move away. As luck would have it, I was living in L.A. in '82 when the team moved there and I was living in the Bay Area when they moved back in '95.


That said, one of the things that bugs me about Vegas is that they would have to play in an indoor stadium. I prefer Raider football outdoors, in the elements.


And I agree, the league (i.e., the owners) would be reluctant to approve a move to the gambling capital of the western world.

 

[Bob_S.]

If they do go to Vegas, I have the perfect design for their helmets!

 

[Scott Merryfield]

It appears that Calvin Johnson is indeed retiring, although no formal announcement has taken place. Supposedly he told his family before the season that 2015 would be his last year, and after the last game he also told Jim Caldwell he was retiring. Caldwell asked him to not rush into anything and take his time, which is why he has not announced anything yet.

We had a discussion at work this morning regarding CJ's Hall of Fame credentials, and I am not sure it is an absolute that he gets in -- and if he does get elected, it may take awhile. He had tremendous talent and put up consistently good numbers (including a couple of huge years), but are the numbers good enough when you look at how difficult it was for players like Tim Brown and Art Monk to get in? His statistics are certainly boosted by this pass-happy era in the NFL, and he doesn't have a significant post season record to help his cause, either. As a comparison, Brandon Marshall is on a similar career numbers pace.

 

[Robert Crawford]

If the voters felt he was the dominant wide receiver of his era then he'll get in despite only having nine seasons of stats.

 

[sidburyjr]

If you win the toss, you can choose which goal to defend and let the other team decide whether to receive the kick.


Also, as mentioned, there was little (if any) wind the other day.

It is possible to make any of the choices but IMHO giving the other team the option of receiving to start both halves is too much to give away. So the reality is if you win the toss the only real options you have is to receive or defer. The overtime between the Pats and the Jets is the only time I can remember in the past several years when a team did not choose to receive or defer.

 

[Aaron Silverman]

If you choose which goal to defend, the opponent decides whether to receive the first or second half kickoff. They don't get both.

 

[sidburyjr]

If you choose which goal to defend, the opponent decides whether to receive the first or second half kickoff. They don't get both.

Can you give a reference for this? I know in college it's possible to receive both kickoffs.

 

[Aaron Silverman]

Oops! I was mistaken!

http://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/2015-nfl-rulebook/#section-2-starting-a-period-or-half

When you choose to select the goal instead of whether to kick or receive, the other team still gets first choice in the second half. It's just that when you defer, the other team pretty much always elects to receive the kickoff.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

I do not think I have made an official prediction for Sunday's Super Bowl -- I pick Carolina.

I went 1-1 in the conference title games and am 7-3 so far with playoff predictions, That's a little better than my normally mediocre 50%.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Basically, the only reason to watch this year's Super Bowl is to see what Wade Phillips comes up with to stop the Panther offense. Phillips was the Broncos MVP all season and probably deserves another shot at being a head coach based on how he rescued the Broncos this year. Kubiak is sure no great shakes as a coach so Wade is the man in Denver.

All of Denver's hopes hang on what Phillips can do because the Broncos are not a come from behind football team. If they end up down by a big number in the first half the Broncos have no offense to bring them back. So, Phillips and that Denver D will need to find a way to keep the game close so the Broncos can continue to use their running game all the way into the 4th quarter.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

I think Wade Phillips has failed enough as a head coach to show he is another case of an excellent coordinator who just is not head coaching material. Right now he is doing what he is best at. Wade will have his work cut out for him coming up with a game plan against the Panthers, though. That offense is a much tougher matchup, as they have a strong offensive line (which was the Pats biggest weakness), a good running game, and a strong, mobile quarterback who can also throw from the pocket. Their biggest weakness is at wide receiver, but they make enough plays to keep the defense honest.

 

[sidburyjr]

I heard on the radio today, that Wade Phillips likes his coordinator job. He supposedly said that at 68 he had had his chances and did not want to be a head coach again. He was supposedly Kubiak's second choice as coordinator. Fortunately, whoever was the first choice declined.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

I did not realize that Wade Phillips was that old.