What happened to the NFL I used to know. Offenses used to pound it out on the ground and then use play action to set up their pass plays. 100 yard rushers were held in high regard and defenses ruled. The defenses had nicknames like doomsday and even if you hated them you knew all their names. Games were hard fought and the pace of the game seemed slower, like every play meant something.
Now they want to run the hurry up offense so the defense can’t substitute so they can take advantage of the mismatch. They want to get the play off as quickly as possible so the last play isn’t reviewed because it may not have been a catch. The fullback is obsolete and the halfback is mostly a blocker except for the occasional draw play and dump off when the 5th receiver is not open.
The nfl is to blame for this overscoring, quarterback glorifying, offensive machine they have created by all the rules they have instituted over the last ten years or so that have handcuffed defensive players and made it very difficult to play effective defense. Of course the NFL is doing something right because they are a money making machine that basically can print their own money every season. I think it has taken something away from the game. It is not about football anymore it is an event. More women watch the game than ever before, it is probably not because of the violence. It is because of the marketing of the cute quarterback and who he is dating and where are they vacationing. I am sure the gambling aspect adds to their popularity which is funny because the nfl doesn’t want to be associated with Las Vegas or gambling but it is a huge reason why they are so popular.
The so called safety regulations on the quarterback have actually made it more dangerous for quarterbacks. Let me explain. Defenses can’t lay back in zones and play the pass anymore because with a regular 3 or 4 man rush they will not get to the quarterback in time and the quarterback will pick them apart. So what do they do. They blitz more guys at the quarterback hoping they can get to him before he finds the open man. It is a race against time, not if a good play is called or what defense they are running. If the quarterback finds the open man, big play or touchdown. If not he gets hit hard. If I am a defensive player I am hitting him real hard because most likely you are getting a penalty anyway. I sneezed while the quarterback was on my TV screen and I got a 15 yard roughing the passer penalty.
I keep watching though hoping one day the game goes back to the one I love, the one I grew up on.