Physicality is KING

by silencecs on Apr 1, 2009 6:00 AM EDT in Meta-Jacksonville Jaguars

Recently, our beloved Vic Ketchman penned an editorial piece that tried to make the case that physicality is not as important as it once was to a team's success. As always, he used his favorite team, the Steelers, as an example of a team that will be hurt by the new rule changes.

I agree with Vic on the premise of not having any new "safety" rules, however, I don't think it neuters the game. Vic tries to make the case that 50 passes a game will become the norm, however, this simply is not the case. The new rules should have virtually no impact on the standard, "run the ball and stop the run" mentality that made this team so great a few seasons ago. No bone-crushing hits over the middle against defenseless receivers. Dumb rule, but still, it will not impact the running game.

No going after the QB's knees. Again, dumb rule; players are taught to finish out plays from pee-wee league on to the NFL, and to suddenly say that a player can't go for a QB's legs when he is blocked down, is a travesty. We should all operate under the assumption that no player would intentionally try to end another's career. This may not be the case, but to change the game for the sins of a few players is really beyond stupid.

No wedges of 3 or more players on kickoff returns. Dumb rule, but at least it has no impact on the running game itself. If Vic's point was that it will be easier to pass now, therefore more teams will take advantage of the opportunity, he's wrong. The minute teams start subbing in their smallish DT's to rush Peyton Manning, I can promise you that he'll change the play to a run of some sort. Audibles will become more common, and we'll see David change the play at the line more frequently. These things even out, and to say that fundamentally the game won't be won by the most physical team is outright foolish. Big hitters will still be coveted at Safety, and the rule against hitting defenseless recievers has nothing to do with hitting a player to dislodge a catch from being made.

These are people, and people can be broken. They're not robots or Madden players who have no regard for themselves or their bodies. Their will can be broken, and heart/will is just as important to winning as having talent. If you physical demoralize a team for 3 quarters and dominate the line of scrimmage, do you think their chances of a 4th quarter comeback are better or worse? Physicality wins out over finesse, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Now, if the NFL ever goes to a two-hand touch rule, then I'd say we might be in trouble, but for now, let's just out muscle the competition.

-Collin Streetman

Poll

Have the rules really changed the game to the point where physicality is less important than finesse?

No. Overpowering the competition will always be a key to success.

91 votes

Yes. It doesn't matter who's strongest anymore. The rules have completely altered the game.

57 votes

148 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I hope

your version will becoming true, because right now the Jaguars is a physical team, and if that happens, what Vic projects, then it will be a big blow for us. I vote for yes, but I would vote “I hope so” really. The game is becoming softer, Lageman said this last week in JTW too. We will see in this season if this rule changes how will effect to the game. If the Jags get too many penalities per game, then Vic was right. If we see no big changes, then (I hope) you have right.

by Zoltan from Budapest on Apr 1, 2009 6:14 AM EDT reply actions

We are moving quickly towards flag football

Teams like the Colts already run a play. look for the flag. They think they are clever that way. If football keeps this up, it will be replaced by soccer.

Do I thik it changes the physicality of the game? No. Do I think it means more opportunities to throw penalty flags? Yes. Do I think it detracts from the true nature of the game? Yes.

If hitting someone in football draws a flag too many times in the game, the fans will walk out. The game will have lost its real core. Vic is more right on this.

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by Tkopa on Apr 1, 2009 6:39 AM EDT reply actions

Soccer is

not that game. Yeah there are some “actors” who like to fall every time, when the wind blew to them, but mostly it is a hard fighting game ~~specialy in England~~ (at least in Europe)
And by the way, talking about improvement. The referees must have a good year. last year they were terrible. They must improve this season VERY MUCH!

by Zoltan from Budapest on Apr 1, 2009 6:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Excellent post and great points. Physicality will always win – even in the passing game; It all starts up front.

by sgillespie on Apr 1, 2009 9:17 AM EDT reply actions

Represent!

You summed it up nicely there dog.

Thats Good For Another Jacksonville... First Down.

by Bestjagfan on Apr 1, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope it doesnt get too bad.

After all, football is a product that the NFL sales to the public. If you continuosly change the product to where the customer no longer likes what they see then the league will begin to lose customers. I hope they do not keep this up. The day of the 300 pounder will be over and every linemen will weigh in at 235. We wont need huge bodies because the game will turn into a pass happy talent show. How about instead of flagging the team for these rules, fine the player and suspend them if the league thinks they deserve it.

by JagSoldier on Apr 1, 2009 10:32 AM EDT reply actions

Not sure what the purpose of this post is

This is not the first “Let me tell you why Vic Ketchman is wrong” post and I am afraid it wont be the last. What is the fascination with disagreeing with this man? He is just stating his opinion and you have stated yours in other posts. Why does it have to be head to head, like proving him wrong is an achievement?
It is obvious to me when I read Vic, that he has a completely different perspective than what the excellent group of younger guys (including yourself) on this website do. He speaks strategically, from the point of view of a man who has loved and watched every important game in the last 50 years or more. The physicality you see now is completely different from what used to exist. Now there is a camera watching a player’s move from a thousand angles, whereas before, most games were not even televised for the stay at home mom. The game has gone mainstream in the last couple of decades and now it is heading to where it will be OK for a 2 year old to watch it AND get a good laugh from it. That is what corporations do, they get bigger and bigger and do anything in order to keep ‘growth’ at high percentages for the stakeholders. That is where I think Vic is coming from. He is seeing the past 50 years and trying to predict the direction. He does not state that the game will have no physicality, but that the trend has now tilted slightly towards the finesse side of the game and will continue to do so driven by the casual ‘mainstream’ fan base.

by keepitreal on Apr 1, 2009 10:47 AM EDT reply actions

I think you should check out the archives... We love Vic here.

We (especially me) love Vic. I did a biography on his career and absolutely love the cat’s work. That post is what got us an interview with Vic, which Chris did and transcribed word for word (can’t miss out on any of Vic’s tidbits, can we).

It’s not head to head, or trying to prove I’m right and Vic’s wrong. It’s an opinion piece, just like Vic’s was. Read the biography again and then try to tell me I’m against Vic, or have some fascination with disagreeing with him. I’d say I agree with about 80% of what the guy says. Don’t take such offense.

-Collin

The End Is Nigh... www.infowars.com

by silencecs on Apr 1, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Vic is actually my favorite football journalist BECAUSE he's so old school...

That’s my style of football. Pound the rock and hurt the other team.

The point of this piece was that I think Vic is over-reacting a little bit, and I wanted to give some perspective. I like Gene Smith, and Jack Del Rio, does that mean I can’t criticize them if I feel they are wrong, too? Why do some people think that disagreeing with someone means you don’t like that person or have something against that person, even if you agree with 80% of what they do/say?

I think TV has done this to us. News is always Left vs Right, instead of “I like this idea, but I disagree with that idea”. I love vic, but I won’t blindly follow and agree with everything he does just because he’s Vic… I stand on my own laurels…

-Collin

The End Is Nigh... www.infowars.com

by silencecs on Apr 1, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I Love Vic

his is my mentor too when it is about football, but sometimes I disagrree with his point. And I have a bunch of people in every part of life, who I adore, but this not mean that I will agree with everything she or he stands for. We are all different, that’s why we move forward!

by Zoltan from Budapest on Apr 1, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Right vs. Left

That is exactly my point. Dont make it X vs. Y. Read the heading to your column and think about what you just said. I want you to state your point without pitting it against someone else’s. That’s all. I am not questioning your love for Vic ;)

by keepitreal on Apr 1, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I see your point.

The End Is Nigh... www.infowars.com

by silencecs on Apr 1, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess...

the Oilers of the eighties were before their time. Gotta agreee with vic on this one. I would rather them carry larger roster numbers if the rules are changing for the added game or two.

by FanofJag on Apr 1, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

Most of these rules are safety-oriented.

They will not really change the way the game is played. The problem is when the defenders are too busy thinking about whether or not they will get a flag if they hit this guy. That’s where the offense gets the advantage, especially in the passing game. It will take a year or so to see just how these new rules affect anything.

I agree with the wedge and onside kick rules, though. A lot of injuries occur on special teams where you’ve got guys running full speed at each other. That’s why Vic said that the passing game has brought on all of these new safety rules: you’ve got people running around in space more. In all, I don’t think that most people will notice a change.

by acedarney on Apr 1, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

I love your stuff Collin, but I think you missed Vic's point

I feel that what Vic was trying to say is that the game is evolving towards a less physical, more athletic game. He wasn’t saying that these rule changes were the ones to do it, but they are another step along the way. Every offseason there are rule changes and they are slowly changing the game from a battle in the trenches to a high flying, speed game. These rule changes aren’t going to drastically alter the game, they just represent another link in the chain.

by Adam Stites on Apr 1, 2009 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

Good Point

Notice Vic never said finesse either. More athletic, sure. I think over the past 10 years the league has already began in that direction. You see players who are more physical specimens, blessed with huge size and speed as well. This is more athletic; to tell you the truth, the rules today might not indicate so, but the game is more physical today than it used to be: Because of players who are both huge and fast. They didn’t really have that in the old days.

I still believe that it all starts up front. When you get your lines squared away, then you grab the skill position players. Nothing affects the big guys in the trenches. It’s actually easier for an offensive lineman to physically dominate a pass rusher these days than it was in the past.

Thats Good For Another Jacksonville... First Down.

by Bestjagfan on Apr 1, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

And I agree with that

The way to win a championship is have an offensive line that moves defensive lines and a defensive line that can get through the opposing offensive line. If the rules continue to change, it will become increasingly and increasingly advantageous to abandon a game in the trenches and turn your attention to throwing the ball.

Every time the NFL changes the rules, the passing game becomes a little easier to have success in.

by Adam Stites on Apr 1, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I just have to say

that I always enjoy the articles and comments from both of you guys (Bestjagfan and SoCal). Sometimes the two of you start making me feel like I need to learn more, because I’m not gonna lie… I don’t know as much as some of you. Keep teaching me. I listen more than I talk, I assure you.

by Blair72 on Apr 2, 2009 3:03 AM EDT up reply actions