I've been thinking about starting a thread based upon assumptions like this. I do not think alot of people realize what offense can force a defense into. Offense sets the pace of this game. You cannot dictate where a secondary player will be once the offense breaks the huddle. Without going into great detail here, I want to just say that the NICKEL defensive back is playing half of the game in the NFL now. The Nickel is your third cornerback. That player is replacing someone on the defense. Take a look at this diagram: Code: Q B R R R x x C x x E E T T E N D M C C F S Looks like a fairly common formation right? Common sense tells you that your Dime man must be on the field now! You took out yet another linebacker just to match up. So where are you playing Joey Porter? Mike? Dime? Nickel? Let me guess - You want to play that vaunted 34 defense. Well here is what changes. Code: Q B R R R x x C x x E E N E N D M T C C F S You took a Defensive tackle out of the defense and replaced him with another Inside Linebacker (Ted). So where do you want Joey Porter now? Ted? Dime? Nickel? The point is that Joey Porter was one of our best players this year. When you lack talent such as what Dom Capers was seeing in practice, you place Joey Porter in a position that he can stay on the field. He can't stay on the field in the secondary. Capers answer: Play him at a 43 defensive end. Result? Joey Porter on the field.
No, I should apologize. You would have to coach to understand this or doodle diagrams like this one as you drive down the road, eat at Wendys, or whatever. This is why I said "without going into great detail". I'm going to have to start a thread soon about topics such as this. The football played out on that field is beyond comprehension for most and our beloved sportswriters give us nothing but soap opera crap to read. What you just read in the post above was football (and it ain't in depth at all in the grand scheme of things.)
It's amazing how fans react. Capers has build very good defenses over the years, including 2006. In 2007 the Dolphins suffer from injuries, age and questionable depth (which in and of itself causes coordinators to shy away from things they like to do, like blitzing when you have questionable safties as your last line of defense), and suddenly the guy's an idiot.
To be honest, I don't fault fans. I fault sportswriters. There are very few sportswriters that understand football. There are very few sportswriters that want to write about football for that fact. So in cases like this one, the writer would just generalize and say - "Joey Porter is playing defensive end. A position he did not play in Pittsburgh." That comment generates reaction. It didn't take much effort and it appears you were aware of the topic you were writing about. The fan knows no better...........until he studies the game (like I did.)
Thanks for taking the time, but dont assume I dont know how to read a defensive formation and where the matchups are. I understand football 101. Im not saying IM a pro, but by no means am I some schmo who doesnt know the difference between a 34, 43, 52, over under, blah blah blah, you get my point. Pos your thread, Im sure some people on here could learn from it. Itd probably be a good read imo.
I didn't mean to make that assumption with the post. It's difficult to write about this stuff without seeming arrogant. I'm sure there are coaches that browse these boards that could smoke me. I just know that the Porter case has no merit in condemning Capers. At this point, I'm finding it difficult to defense some of the decision made last year without going to the X's and O's. When analysts say that it's a game of matchups, they are not exaggerating or generalizing. It's the truth. If you don't match up, you get exploited. There is no hiding the lack of talent at any position in the NFL. Offense dictates this NFL game.
and that discussion will be sometime in the future....... Didn't you read a while back? I've been up all night. I've got to get some sleep.
