[2024 NFL OFFSEASON]

2 hours ago, gatling said:

The Wilks firing is about the fact he wasn't a fit from the get go, despite assuring Shanahan and Lynch he could definitely adapt to the Niners defensive system.  I honestly think the writing was on the wall when Shanahan had to force Wilks down from the booth to the sidelines because the communication wasn't working between Wilks, his assistants, and the players.  Having watched all but I think three or four games(two while on the road driving back and forth from Florida), while some of the raw numbers of the defense look good to great, there were way too many struggles along the way for the talent they have on hand.  They were 3rd in rushing yards allowed this year compared to 2nd last year, but this year they gave up 4.1 yards per attempt vs. 3.4 ypa last year.  The raw yardage is similar because this year opposing teams were playing from behind most of the year because the Niners offense was scoring more, and quickly, meaning teams had to abandon the run.  In games where the Niners didn't get off to a fast start offensively, opponents gashed them on the ground(see the Browns and Bengals games in the regular season and all three playoff games).  Beyond that, the defense has seemed to feed off the energy of the DC during the Shanahan era, from Saleh to Ryans.  That was missing with Wilks, even after he moved down to the field from the booth.  Wilks wasn't able to marry his schematic ideas and tendencies to what the Niners have done previously and what ShanaLynch and the even the players wanted to see continue.  The Zero Blitz is a good example of that.  It's not a thing the Niners defense did much during the Saleh and Ryans tenures, and it cost the Niners a game against the Vikings early in the season and led to a couple of major gains in the Super Bowl.  

TL/DR, Wilks was a square peg in a round hole from the start.  His philosophy didn't mesh with the Niners system as hoped, and the players didn't seem to buy in to scheme changes to a defense that didn't need fixing, only minor tweaking.  I'm curious to see where they turn now.  Is linebackers coach Johnny Holland, now two years removed from taking time off due to cancer at a point where he could assume the role with no worries?  Does Pete Carroll still have enough creativity and adaptability and maybe anger at the Seahawks management to take a year or two as a DC, running the a talented defense that plays the scheme he developed back with the Niners in 1995?  Is there a lame duck college coach that fits the fiery former linebacker/D-lineman archetype the players seem to want who would make a move like Chip Kelly to OSU or the GSU coach who just left for a South Carolina assistant gig?  

It would probably end up being only a one year thing, but I wonder if Mike Vrabel might be a fit for the job.

[2023-24 NBA SEASON: 1st Half]

Isaiah Stewart punched Drew Eubanks in the face in an arena tunnel. No word on what started the altercation but police had to separate them and the Suns statement makes it sound like they want to see charges filed.

[2024 NFL OFFSEASON]

24 minutes ago, Cobra Commander said:

give up 3 points in the first half of the Super Bowl to Patrick Mahomes and get fired after losing the game... it's a tough world out there

I suppose it's kinda fair when you look how the Packers and especially Lions carved them up for large stretches but yeah, damn. It's not his fault that Bosa and Young eventually got tired after making Mahomes life miserable for two and a half quarters or that the punt return unit put his defense back on the field deep in their own territory right after getting a stop.

[2023-24 NBA SEASON: 1st Half]

6 hours ago, Dolfan in NYC said:

*Bold_strategy_cotton.gif*

I think the last time the NBA actually granted a challenge was a game involving Shaq* and the Heat, so it's not likely to pay off. But the Knicks did get fucked over so I can't blame them for trying.

*And IIRC when they did end up replaying the final minute or whatever was left in said game, Miami had already traded O'Neal to Phoenix.

[2024 NFL Draft]

5 hours ago, Tabe said:

This is an all-time record for combine invites from a single school. It surpasses the record of 16 previously held by LSU. 

And 14 of them were drafted, which tied the then record (Georgia broke it with 15 players drafted in 2022... And then they promptly went out with our those fifteen guys and went undefeated and won their second straight national title, which is still mind boggling.)

[2024 NFL Draft]

Back in July, Jim Harbaugh predicted 20 Michigan players would be drafted this year. He named them. Two, Myles Hinton and Donovan Edwards decided to play another year in Ann Arbor. The other 18 were all invited to the NFL draft combine.

[2024 TV DISCUSSION THREAD]

9 hours ago, Contentious C said:

I don't recall his character being at all evil: just deaf and bureaucratically incompetent, if anything.

He was the higher up guy, yeah. Wasn't really even incompetent to the best of my recollection.

[The 58th Superb Owl]

Despite what was mentioned above, Mecole Hardman apparently did not realize he had just ended the game and won the Super Bowl on his touchdown until Mahomes told him.

[The 58th Superb Owl]

5 minutes ago, Cobra Commander said:

there were 4 field goals of less than 30 yards, including 3 Chiefs field goals of 24, 28, and 29

(which kinda makes the "Butker for SB MVP" tweets amusing)

Well he did also make the longest field goal in Super Bowl history.

[The 58th Superb Owl]

I wonder if anyone ever told Travis Kelce that the song he keeps quoting was making fun of people like him.

[The 58th Superb Owl]

A Bronco giving the trophy to the Chiefs feels a bit awkward.

[The 58th Superb Owl]

San Fran had more yards, more first downs, a significantly better third down conversion rate, less penalty yards, more sacks, won time of possession, and broke even in turnovers. They lost the game. That's gonna hurt forever.

[The 58th Superb Owl]

Kyle Shanahan has now, either as OC or HC, had double digit leads in three Super Bowls.

He has zero rings.

[The 58th Superb Owl]

Hardman, of all people.

[The 58th Superb Owl]

Just now, Cobra Commander said:

Pacheco's avg yards per rush isn't enough to get a first down on 3 rushes.. which tells you a little about how his night has gone as a runner

also this game would be over now if the didn't fumble in the red zone

On the other hand, it might be over right now if Moody's PAT hadn't been blocked.

[The 58th Superb Owl]

If you only listened to Romo, you'd think Mahomes has 450 yards passing, another 85 on the ground, and 5 touchdowns today.

[The 58th Superb Owl]

It's not often you see breaking tackles make the play worse for the offense...

[The 58th Superb Owl]

All the tension in the world.

[The 58th Superb Owl]

KC D looking gassed

[The 58th Superb Owl]

Wow that's a hell of play by both Purdy and CMC.

[The 58th Superb Owl]

1 minute ago, Kuetsar said:

college OT rules are worse than the NFL ones. . . 

Hard disagree. College OT is the coolest thing in football.

[The 58th Superb Owl]

Just now, Cobra Commander said:

BREAKING: you gotta give your best players the football to win the Super Bowl here

Arthur Smith is confused

[The 58th Superb Owl]

#JustUseCollegeOTRules

[The 58th Superb Owl]

So even a touchdown on the drive doesn't end it anymore, right?

[The 58th Superb Owl]

1 minute ago, Cobra Commander said:

why yes, a kicker has never won Super Bowl MVP

If someone else does after Vinatari didn't...