NFL Discussion

[Scraggers]

Re: NFL Discussion

As far as videos / DVDs for understanding the game. I started watching the game when Don Lane used to host it on Tuesday nights on the ABC ... that was brilliant because he used to explain the rules as he went ...

I tried to You Tube some of that footage, but could not find any. But while I was there, I found lots of entries on explaining the game including the rules, offence plays, defence plays etc.

Maybe that's a start anyway

[LostDoggy]

Re: NFL Discussion

Yeah I was checking out Youtube and have found some handy videos. The thing that keeps confusing me is the downs. So when the offense has the ball they get 4 downs right? So this means that have 4 opportunities to gain 10 yards. So if they gain say 12 yards and are tackled from this point they are given 4 new opportunities to gain 10 yards? Is that correct?

[Scraggers]

Re: NFL Discussion

Yeah I was checking out Youtube and have found some handy videos. The thing that keeps confusing me is the downs. So when the offense has the ball they get 4 downs right? So this means that have 4 opportunities to gain 10 yards. So if they gain say 12 yards and are tackled from this point they are given 4 new opportunities to gain 10 yards? Is that correct?

Yep ... That's right ... You are given 4 chances to gain 10 yards if on the second down you gain 26 yards the next play is called 1st and 10 and you have four more shots at gaining 10 yards.

You might gain 2 yards on the first attempt ... The next play would be called 2nd and 8 ... Meaning it's your second attempt and you still have 8 yards to gain. The only time this changes if you are within 10 yards of the oppositions goal line. It's is then called 1st and goal etc.

If you get an offensive penalty that amount is added to your required yard gainage. For example, on your first down you get 5 yard penalty for a false start ... Your next down would be 2nd and 15. If the quarterback gets sacked and retains possession of the ball those yards are also added to the down.

[SonofScray]

Re: NFL Discussion

I watch the NFL quite a bit but haven't really picked a team and run with it, I just like to watch and learn the game I suppose. That being said, I have on and off followed the Pats, and Cowboys for a long time for fairly superficial reasons.

The Pats due to being Boston's team, where I am a massive fan of the Bruins and Red Sox. The Cowboys because as a 12 year old I had an E. Smith starter cap.

However, on Thanksgiving this year I am going to the New Meadowlands for Bengals v Jets as part of my USA trip and I have a feeling it will be the start of a love affair with the Jets. Great luck for us in getting to this fixture, the Bengals are a side I am familiar with because of Superfan and family and I get to watch Hard Knocks featuring the Jets in the lead up.

[SonofScray]

Re: NFL Discussion

As far as videos / DVDs for understanding the game. I started watching the game when Don Lane used to host it on Tuesday nights on the ABC ... that was brilliant because he used to explain the rules as he went ...

I tried to You Tube some of that footage, but could not find any. But while I was there, I found lots of entries on explaining the game including the rules, offence plays, defence plays etc.

Maybe that's a start anyway

Play the console games, I learned the rules and terminology to most US sports through computer games!

[hujsh]

Re: NFL Discussion

Play the console games, I learned the rules and terminology to most US sports through computer games!

It's pretty useful for NFL especially

[The Underdog]

Re: NFL Discussion

Here's a video (albeit poorly edited) of the man who made me fall in love with the NFL and the Detroit Lions, only one of which I regret.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80748016/Top-Ten-Elusive-Runners-Barry-Sanders

[Flamethrower]

Re: NFL Discussion

Here's a video (albeit poorly edited) of the man who made me fall in love with the NFL and the Detroit Lions, only one of which I regret.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-h...-Barry-Sanders

Barry was amazing - the back they could not tackle! Why do you regret falling in love with the NFL? j/k. I feel the same way at times being a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals. I am definitely a fan of the game first and the Bengals second, which is why I also love college football.

I started following the National Football League in 1981, when channel 9 showed some playoff games and the Superbowl. The first game I remember watching was the playoff game in Cincinnati between the Bengals and the Buffalo Bills. I was a casual fan until the mid 80s when TV coverage took off and I had more time to watch games. Since 1985 I have been a huge fan. It is such a complex, cerebral game and it takes years to fully appreciate exactly what is going on with the offensive and defensive formations.

It is like ice hockey in that once you fully grasp what is happening on each play that it is a lot easier to follow the ball (an puck), and follow the movement of each of the players. You also see the penalties before they are called, missed tackles and blown assignments.

Once you have a basic concept of the game, the best way to learn about the game behind the game is to read some of the many books out there, watch plenty of video analysis (ESPN shows heaps of this), and play Madden on the Playstation.

[LostDoggy]

Re: NFL Discussion

Season starts on Friday!

[mjp]

Re: NFL Discussion

See the Cards have waived Leinart?

Warner's retirement has thrown the NFC west into Chaos...could a sub .500 team make the play-offs?

[SonofScray]

Re: NFL Discussion

Anyone watch Hard Knocks? Only caught the first ep. but geez it looks a good series.

[mjp]

Re: NFL Discussion

Anyone watch Hard Knocks? Only caught the first ep. but geez it looks a good series.

Where can you watch it? Can't even get the previous season DVD's as far as I can tell...

[The Underdog]

Re: NFL Discussion

See the Cards have waived Leinart?

Warner's retirement has thrown the NFC west into Chaos...could a sub .500 team make the play-offs?

Well surely they can't win it with Derek Anderson and 2 rookies at QB.
I get the feeling Larry Fitzgerald is going to be an unhappy man.

I'd have thought San Francisco should at least be an 8-8 team as long as Alex Smith is adequate. Defence is good, they drafted 2 in the 1st round to strengthen the o-line and have decent starters at RB and WR. Plus they get 6 games against the Seahawks, Rams and Cards.

Where can you watch it? Can't even get the previous season DVD's as far as I can tell...

I saw the first ep on the NFL website but they only had that one up as far as I could tell.

[Jasper]

Re: NFL Discussion

Have to confess I'm more excited for the start of the NFL season tomorrow than our Semi Final this Saturday.

Having Favre as QB in one of my fantasy football teams might have something to do with it, although expecting him to get crushed by the Saints tomorrow

[The Underdog]

Re: NFL Discussion

Have to confess I'm more excited for the start of the NFL season tomorrow than our Semi Final this Saturday.

Having Favre as QB in one of my fantasy football teams might have something to do with it, although expecting him to get crushed by the Saints tomorrow

I ended up with Brady and Eli Manning as my QB's which I'm not unhappy with.
I did manage to get Chris Johnson at pick 2 in my draft (albeit an automated draft). Bit disappointed Revis signed on this week as I've got Anquan Boldin who'll now be covered by the best back CB in the NFL rather than a rookie or Cromartie in Week 1.

If I get time later I might throw in my season predictions