kearly":g3hmwl25 said:
I hope I am overreacting. But watching these preseason games (not just Seattle) the new rules emphasis makes playing pass defense much harder which means it will be more difficult to win games purely through game control. Anyone think the Hawks will beat Rodgers 14 to 12 in week 1 with these current rules? I sure as hell don't. Seattle is gonna need to score, though the good news is that I think our offense will be more than up to the challenge so long as it remains healthy in critical areas.
A couple things I have noted in the abbreviated sample size:
1. Seattle hasn't done particularly bad at adapting to the rules. Every game I see, players are getting contact flags everywhere. Seattle's secondary really looks like they are ahead of the curve on this and I expect them to be better suited to adapt to the new rules.
2. These rules really look like they will help us a lot more than hurt us. Wilson's ability to extend plays and the resulting fire drill as the receivers scramble to get free is going to result in far more contact penalties than a standard drop back attack. We have a lot of quick receivers who can effectively alter their routes quickly and incur grabbing as a result. Wilson is ridiculously good -- probably the best in the NFL -- at escaping pressure and still delivering the ball on the move. Those instances more than any other scenario are the most likely to force defenders to get a little grabby while they try to defense the ad lib routes.
I'm sure it'll be a lot different. And if it continues, I'm going to really hate it. I do not like the bail out quality of these penalties. Nor how the excessive penalties disrupt the flow of the game. If they are going to get so incredibly technical about these penalties then they have to eliminate the automatic first down nature of illegal contact. Because at this rate, the majority of contact is almost entirely incidental and/or instigated by the receiver in hopes for a bail out call.