WSJ: quality of Play is down this year

[L.Freamon]

"The average length a pass travels in the air has dropped 7% since 2011—it now stands at just 6.11 yards—and the average length of a completion has dropped 10% in that span.
Anecdotally, coaches and executives admit that offensive line play has never been worse. That is not backed up by much data—the league’s quarterback sack numbers haven’t risen dramatically this season—but simply watching on Sundays seems to confirm that something is amiss. Beyond doubt is the fact that referees think teams are more mistake-prone. Penalties have shot up from 12.6 per game in 2011 to 14.80 a game this season. This has created games with endless stops and starts, or worse, for the Buffalo Bills—whose 670 penalty yards are 137 more than anyone else in the league—games that are only stops, no starts."

"What’s clear is that no one has a single explanation for all the bad football on our screens. But one thing is certain: As Cassel prepares to lead the Cowboys into a long-odds matchup against the resurgent Seattle Seahawks this weekend, it doesn’t really matter. Everyone will still be watching anyway."


NFL’s Quality of Play Hits Rock Bottom, No One Cares

 

[eaglesnut]

No one cares? I care. Do any of the owners care? Why not ask them about their own fucking product?

 

[eaglesnut]

The run game is boring? Competed passes are boring? Who the fuck does this guy think he is.

 

[Rey]

Teams can't really hit anymore at practices ... they just expect players to go out there and do something in games that they can't do on a regular basis in practice. It's like telling a hitter in baseball that curve balls are illegal at practice, but you are expected to hit them in games. I get that they are trying to protect the players, but you also have to expect a drop off in overall play when there's such little contact allowed in practice.

 

[Iggloo]

I think the lack of hitting and soft practices has probably made it harder for linemen to get ready to play, and for coaches to evaluate linemen. Look at our own team. The line looked great in preseason and like dog crap as soon as the bullets went live.

 

[DutchBird]

I think the lack of hitting and soft practices has probably made it harder for linemen to get ready to play, and for coaches to evaluate linemen. Look at our own team. The line looked great in preseason and like dog crap as soon as the bullets went live.

So far - based on a number of articles - major blame is placed on the way the college game is played. No pass-blocking for more that 0.00005 secs, even run-blocking somewhat iffy. And the talent gaps between the vast majority of the teams makes matters even worse.

The limitations upon practice (as well as rookie specific regulations) then only serve to make matters worse for the O-linemen in the league.