Virtually every QB in the NFL is deviating from their career norms this season. Studs like Allen, Mahomes, Burrow (playing better recently) Lawrence, Hurts, Watson, etc all seem to be turning the ball over more. What do you think is causing this? Just more Defensive adjustments?
Defenses are limiting big plays now with two high safety concepts now. It’s forcing teams to methodically move down the field and rely on explosive plays from receivers in the open field. Here are some solid reads for more info.
https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-galina-why-two-high-defenses-are-set-to-take-over-the-nfl
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/nfl-offense-is-dead-but-its-unlikely-two-high-coverage-is-the-guilty-party/
Vic started all of this
I’d make an argument these defenses work bc there really isn’t any innovation in the NFL. It’s called a copycat league. But it should probably be called don’t take risks, conform to the status quo league. GMs and coaches simply refuse to do anything drastically different than their peers bc they don’t ever want to be fired. So it’s copy what works (ironically until you get fired) It’s apparent in the way teams handle two-point conversions. It’s 2023 and there still isn’t a team willing to go for every time. Maybe the math doesn’t support 2 point conversions, maybe it’s good to get your kicker live practice. But if you abandoned the field goal game you’d free up three roster spots (which you could argue could be used for developmental QBs).
It’s the same with the run game. There isn’t a rule that says you can’t draft all linemen and tight ends and put them at receiver and just try to power run. But it never happens. It’s sounds stupid. But what if instead of receivers you had Kmet, Kelce and Kittle.
There is a reason guys like Romo or Eli Manning can be on a broadcast and consistently call out the play. It’s because nothing has changed. The whole league uses some version of Shanahan, west coast, rpo, play action offense and has been for a decade.
How do you eliminate 3 positions by not kicking field goals?
Long snapper would be needed for punts
You would need a punter who can do kickoffs which isn’t unreasonable but I’m still only seeing the kicker being replaceable
Kicker, holder, snapper. Now you have the issue of snapper for punts. But I’m guessing a snapper is prioritized for field goal snapping not punt snapping and you could teach a back up center to punt snap. But you could also de-emphasize punting by being more aggressive across four downs. Look at the eagles. They have basically manufactured a way with the tush push to get two yards a pop. If it’s 3rd and 6 now they can take 4 yards. And line up and tush push for 2 yards. That sounds ridiculous but the stats are there they average something like 25% more series than the next NFL team bc they have figured out a tush push.