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 kronk wrote:
Next year: Houston Texans!

We just need a QB. Again.

I hear Romo's available

Re: Falcons, I don't think you can only blame Shanahan. Matt Ryan also was seriously lacking some situational awareness at the end. Both of them are to blame... but it's very much like the Seahawks two years ago. An aggressive play call is awesome... when it works. But here, it was so easy to ice the game... I was cringing at their offensive play the whole 4th quarter. Just nuts!

I think Shanahan is going to be really good with the 49ers after a few seasons if he can get a QB... can't see Romo wanting to go to a 2-14 team, though

Most important news of the offseason: the Seahawks sign their long-time kicker Blair Walsh to a new contract. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000784873/article/seattle-seahawks-sign-exvikings-kicker-blair-walsh

 RiTides wrote:
but it's very much like the Seahawks two years ago. An aggressive play call is awesome... when it works.

I don't think it's at all like the Seahawks game. In that situation they were down by 4 points with the clock running out, and at least one play would have to be a pass if they wanted to be able to use all four downs. The only question is when Seattle was going to throw the pass and exactly what play they were going to use. And there's a strong argument that throwing early, with the run/pass uncertainty intact, is the right call. The Patriots just out-guessed them and got away with uncalled PI to end the game.

Atlanta, on the other hand, was winning by 8 points with the clock running out. A field goal essentially ends the game, requiring a touchdown drive, a 2-point conversion, a successful onside kick, and then a field goal drive just to tie the game and have a chance at overtime. IOW, virtually impossible with the clock remaining. If Atlanta takes a knee three times and kicks the field goal the game is over. There's no valid reason for even considering any play besides taking a knee, except maybe a run straight up the middle in full "protect the ball" mode. That isn't an aggressive play call, it's committing suicide in humiliating fashion in front of an audience of millions.

I think Shanahan is going to be really good with the 49ers after a few seasons

Lol no. He's gone after a season, South Cleveland does not tolerate concepts like stability in coaching.

 Peregrine wrote:

 RiTides wrote:
but it's very much like the Seahawks two years ago. An aggressive play call is awesome... when it works.

I don't think it's at all like the Seahawks game. In that situation they were down by 4 points with the clock running out, and at least one play would have to be a pass if they wanted to be able to use all four downs. The only question is when Seattle was going to throw the pass and exactly what play they were going to use. And there's a strong argument that throwing early, with the run/pass uncertainty intact, is the right call. The Patriots just out-guessed them and got away with uncalled PI to end the game.

Yeah, that was the problem...

Anyway, it will be interesting to see what the teams desperately in need of a QB end up doing:

1) Gambling on the draft?
2) Trading for someone's backup QB?
3) Something else?

It really is a QB driven league - outside of having an absolutely dominating defense - and without one, you're most likely not going to have sustained success.

I'm near D.C., so it's especially interesting to see what's going to happen to Kirk Cousins. Franchise tagging him for a second year in a row is risky for a lot of reasons, not least of which is he can be a true full free agent the next season. Always possible he teams up with Kyle Shanahan again, too, however remote

And Deshaun Watson coming out in the draft! My brother and parents are Clemson alums, so he's obviously a hero around here . Will be interesting to see if he can make the jump to the pro level successfully... hopefully Not on the QB-killer Browns!

He'll need a good OL wherever he lands - but of course every QB needs that...

 kronk wrote:

 jmurph wrote:
. If anything, I think it was the coaching that let them down as they didn't even try to put up late points with field goals when it was clear the Patriots defenses had adjusted and the Atlanta defense was getting worn out.

Any criticism I've made in this thread about Atlanta has been directed at the coaching. Specifically, the decision not to run the ball when they were already in field goal range to kill the clock or force NE to use their time outs.

Most of the criticism has been around that.

Yeah, sorry if that came across as a jab at you; I actually had a lot of the online and office chatter in my head when I was typing. You are absolutely right in the playcalling critique.

 RiTides wrote:

 kronk wrote:
Next year: Houston Texans!

We just need a QB. Again.

I hear Romo's available

feth that! We're going full insane and getting Johnny Football!