Has the game changed?

Teams used to run to set up the pass now they pass to set up the run.

I disagree that Pittsburgh is a pass first team, think they are more balanced and rely mainly on their D.

I do think the league has changed for passing. The rules have changed to make it tougher on DBacks, although they finally got rid of that force out rule. The only time the rules do not benefit receivers is when a receiver makes a diving catch. Any hint that the ball even grazed the ground, and it is an incomplete pass. I think offenses need to be balanced, and need to make adjustments. The first 2 weeks, the Skins and Cowboys pretty much sold out to stop the Giants running game, so Eli went to work. This week, the Bucs dropped back to limit the passing, so the Giants ran the ball for over 200 yards. As a fan I love it, especially since it makes it tougher on the fantasy football geeks who can't properly judge whether the Giants will try to run the ball more or pass more in a given week.

I disagree that Pittsburgh is a pass first team, think they are more balanced and rely mainly on their D.

I do think the league has changed for passing. The rules have changed to make it tougher on DBacks, although they finally got rid of that force out rule. The only time the rules do not benefit receivers is when a receiver makes a diving catch. Any hint that the ball even grazed the ground, and it is an incomplete pass. I think offenses need to be balanced, and need to make adjustments. The first 2 weeks, the Skins and Cowboys pretty much sold out to stop the Giants running game, so Eli went to work. This week, the Bucs dropped back to limit the passing, so the Giants ran the ball for over 200 yards. As a fan I love it, especially since it makes it tougher on the fantasy football geeks who can't properly judge whether the Giants will try to run the ball more or pass more in a given week.

I think the Giants are one of the few top teams that runs the ball well...the Vikes may be a top team this year, but in the past, the likes of New England and Indianapolis have become a pass first team.

I disagree that Pittsburgh is a pass first team, think they are more balanced and rely mainly on their D.

I do think the league has changed for passing. The rules have changed to make it tougher on DBacks, although they finally got rid of that force out rule. The only time the rules do not benefit receivers is when a receiver makes a diving catch. Any hint that the ball even grazed the ground, and it is an incomplete pass. I think offenses need to be balanced, and need to make adjustments. The first 2 weeks, the Skins and Cowboys pretty much sold out to stop the Giants running game, so Eli went to work. This week, the Bucs dropped back to limit the passing, so the Giants ran the ball for over 200 yards. As a fan I love it, especially since it makes it tougher on the fantasy football geeks who can't properly judge whether the Giants will try to run the ball more or pass more in a given week.
Last season Pittsburgh had a 55:45 pass:run ratio.

Of the playoff teams from last season only Tennessee (48:52) Carolina (46:54), Baltimore (44:56) and Atlanta (45:55) had a pass:run ratio slanted to the running game and two of those teams had rookie QB.

The only other team in the league that didn't throw more than they ran was Oakland at 50:50. It's clearly a passing league now, no question.

Last season Pittsburgh had a 55:45 pass:run ratio.

Of the playoff teams from last season only Tennessee (48:52) Carolina (46:54), Baltimore (44:56) and Atlanta (45:55) had a pass:run ratio slanted to the running game and two of those teams had rookie QB.

The only other team in the league that didn't throw more than they ran was Oakland at 50:50. It's clearly a passing league now, no question.

I didn't realize that Oakland was so balanced. Yet they still cannot win.

One quick question about simple math though. Does 10 win Talent -10 win Coaching= 0-16 Season? At what point does subtraction become addition? :)

The game has changed into more of a passing oriented game, and I think that takes away from what football is all about. Take a look at arena football...strictly a passing game but it fizzled out. I think if they keep screwing with the rules, they are going to make the game way to ridiculous to watch!

I kind of like how football was back in the 70's and 80's. Big emphasis on a strong running attack, corners being able to play the receivers more tightly, linebackers and Defensive linemen not having to be so afraid of getting flagged for doing what their purpose is...to knock the heck out of the quarterback! That, is football! The game today is become way to finesse!

Agreed. This slow metamorphasis has contributed to the erosion of the quality of the game. Football, when played as a smash mouth game, is more multi faceted and ultimately more interesting. Trying to cater to the masses is always a recipe for a watered down, dumbed down, generic, vanilla product. Ie: Early REM.

I didn't realize that Oakland was so balanced. Yet they still cannot win.

One quick question about simple math though. Does 10 win Talent -10 win Coaching= 0-16 Season? At what point does subtraction become addition? :)

Lol, I never claimed to be a math genius. Fortunately we cannot go 0-16, but anything beyond that-all bets are off.

For how much the rules are slanted to help the passing game, we still have problems getting the ball to Kelly, Thomas, and Davis. As long as our passing attack is limited almost exclusively to Moss, Randle El, and Cooley, we will continue to have drives bog down. Almost every team running a WCO spreads the ball to a larger number of receivers. Perhaps it's still a trust issue with the youngsters, but we certainly make it look harder than most teams.

For how much the rules are slanted to help the passing game, we still have problems getting the ball to Kelly, Thomas, and Davis. As long as our passing attack is limited almost exclusively to Moss, Randle El, and Cooley, we will continue to have drives bog down. Almost every team running a WCO spreads the ball to a larger number of receivers. Perhaps it's still a trust issue with the youngsters, but we certainly make it look harder than most teams.

And we have for years and years. I have a hard time remembering when we were not a slow, plodding team.

Remind me how they pulled out victory this week again? :)One week does make a season eh