The No Fun League

[jcrab66]

i can think of several "teams" from the 70's and 80's that I would put up against anyone out there today, namely the cowboys, steelers and niners, i believe those teams would all still be successful in the new watered down, pussified era of the NFL...

 

[MSOADE54]

i can think of several "teams" from the 70's and 80's that I would put up against anyone out there today, namely the cowboys, steelers and niners, i believe those teams would all still be successful in the new watered down, pussified era of the NFL...

Oh man do I agree!

 

[DMelt36]

No, I'm pissed off b/c half this MB seems to think that a 300 lb guy hitting another 300 lb guy somehow inflicts more injuries as opposed to 2 guys weighing in at 250. The laws of physics don't support that myth.

But when you have a 300-pounder moving faster than a 250-pounder could 20 years ago, those collisions generate more mass, which increases the probability and severity of an injury.

From what I remember of physics, force = mass x acceleration

The mass and acceleration of players in the NFL today is higher than it was 20 years ago, therefore more force is being exerted on their bodies when they collide. That is the root of the issue, I think.

 

[DMelt36]

Oh man do I agree!

i can think of several "teams" from the 70's and 80's that I would put up against anyone out there today, namely the cowboys, steelers and niners, i believe those teams would all still be successful in the new watered down, pussified era of the NFL...

Some great teams, no doubt. Packed with Hall of Famers.

But it some point, all those intangibles that those players had would run out, and the behemoths that play the game now would run right over the smaller, weaker, slower players from past decades.

Only team I'd give a shot to is the Niners of the 80s, because their offense is still alive and well in the NFL.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

How much bigger are players now?

The average offensive guard in 1975 went around 6'3'', 256 pounds. In 2006, it was 6'3'', 323 pounds. You're telling me that Mr. Suh in Detroit wouldn't have eaten guards alive in 1975? You have to be kidding me.

 

[Sunbiz1]

But when you have a 300-pounder moving faster than a 250-pounder could 20 years ago, those collisions generate more mass, which increases the probability and severity of an injury.

From what I remember of physics, force = mass x acceleration

The mass and acceleration of players in the NFL today is higher than it was 20 years ago, therefore more force is being exerted on their bodies when they collide. That is the root of the issue, I think.

Even that is relative, the guys getting hit are proportionately larger as well. The rate of concussions have gone up as the level of awareness and diagnosis have, not b/c there are more of them.

 

[Sunbiz1]

How much bigger are players now?

The average offensive guard in 1975 went around 6'3'', 256 pounds. In 2006, it was 6'3'', 323 pounds. You're telling me that Mr. Suh in Detroit wouldn't have eaten guards alive in 1975? You have to be kidding me.

Under the old rules, Mr. Suh would meet Mr. Clothesline. He would have no idea how to handle guys clipping him etc.

 

[DMelt36]

Under the old rules, Mr. Suh would meet Mr. Clothesline. He would have no idea how to handle guys clipping him etc.

Under the old rules, Suh would be able to use Deacon Jones' head slap. He'd probably decapitate somebody with one swing.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Under the old rules, Mr. Suh would meet Mr. Clothesline. He would have no idea how to handle guys clipping him etc.

Ok, but you understand that he would be able to play by those rules as well? Right?

 

[Sunbiz1]

Ok, but you understand that he would be able to play by those rules as well? Right?

Yes, but guys would be leg whipping/chop-blocking/tripping to negate the size advantage...nobody would take on a Suh pound for pound.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Yes, but guys would be leg whipping/chop-blocking/tripping to negate the size advantage...nobody would take on a Suh pound for pound.

Ok, lol.......but doesn't your post here kind of get at what DMelt and I are saying. That players today are bigger, faster, stronger, and BETTER than they were in the past? You're saying nobody would take on Suh pound for pound, so they would have to resort to leg whipping/chop-blocking/tripping in order to gain that advantage?

So yeah, given they would have to do things like that in order to beat Suh, it stands to reason that he is BETTER than they were.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

the teams,even the great ones from the 70s, would need to have similar training and diet methods as modern teams for the 60 and 70s teams to have a chance on the field

the lenience in the rules back then would make the physical monsters of today even more nightmarish against the players back then..

it is said that the game is won by the O and D lines(it certainly helps to have good receivers,qbs,etc. though)...and the modern size,talent,training would be a significant advantage on both the O line and the D line

anyway the main point is that these particular changes in rules(or atleast the majority..pointing out one rule as an exception doesnt completely counter the main argument) that make the NFL the "no fun league" are very important to prevent injuries that cause serious and long lasting damage..

the point is not to eliminate injuries altogether either(again,its nearly impossible to with the way football is played and the stature of players today)..but try to eliminate or significantly decrease ones that have the most detrimental effects, specifically the brain

i dont understand how this is particularly "pussy" football either...i still see a crapload of hard hits,sack....football may be a little less extreme than it used to be...but i dont see how the basic structure and tackling aspect of the game has been altered because of recent rules

part of what makes up this,in your perception, "pussy" league is the continually evolving change in the players and the game overall..as in right now QBs,offenses,etc. have slightly the upperhand...you can argue it has to do a bit with the rules, and surely thats part of it..but you have to understand that there will be continual advancements in technology,changes in defensive structure and idealogy, etc. which will cause shifts in "football power"...

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Even the LSU fan gets it.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

Even the LSU fan gets it.

Hey!


i do eat grass..

but only on weekends