OT: Do you enjoy watching elite defenses in the NFL?

[Nostrand Ave]

If so, why is Goddell keep taking away their advantages? The NFL is now making it harder for elite CB's to shut down great passing teams.

I enjoy watching elite defenses just as much as I enjoy watching elite offenses.

I dunno if NFL fans enjoy this because every time there's a top defensive game, fans call it an ugly game. I guess there's a lot of casual nfl fans out there. Oh, and you can't forget the Fantasy Football element.

[Moose]

Because everyone has to ruin everything.

[HarthorneWingo]

I've always loved watching great defenses. It's all about the QB and offense these days. Goddell is turning this into arena football.

[NY2TheBay]

The way the seahawks DBs were playing caused this change. I love watching great defenses but not at the expense of my receivers not being able to run their routes. Sherman and Co. got away with murder most of the time, they were good at it I'll give em that. I had seen enough of it out here and personally happy with the change.

[vahncase]

I forgot offense could be enjoyable this past half decade.

[j4remi]

Tbh, outside of watching Revis dominate elite WR's, I've never been enthralled with watching good pass coverage...A great pass rush though (good D in the box period)...that's some serious entertainment (maybe because I grew up watching the Giants great lines back to LT).

I really don't like stacking the cards for a specific type of offense over all other things though. I don't like a lot of the NBA's rules that made the game more exciting, even though it worked...I like watching elite D in the NBA.

[nyjetsknicks420]

I don't think we see as many penalties in the regular season as we are seeing now or at least I hope not.

[MaseInYourFace]

I admire it and enjoy it when it's my own team (to a point). But I am more into the offensive side. Sometimes defense is just a thing I have to sit through to get to the good stuff, lol. Also because of the nature of the cap in football, elite defense teams are rarely good or exciting on offense since most of their talent is stacked on the defensive side.

[mpharris36]

I like defense but I don't mind a shootout either. The one thing that bothers me more than anything is a penalty driven game and the officials take over.

That is why playoff games and playoff football are so much more enjoyable because usually the officials swallow there whistles and let the best team win the game.

I understand the blatant holds that prevent sacks/large runs or the defensive holds the prevent large passing plays. Or even the spearing leading with your helmet penalties.

But I cant stand the touchy illegal contact calls or big hit penalties. It is taking away anything the defensive secondary can do pretty much. You can't break up a passing play down the middle or you will be flagged or fined. You can't be somewhat physical with a WR anymore or it is a automatic 1st down. It is really making some games unwatchable when flags are getting throw left and right.

It's just annoying and takes all the defensive strategy out of the game. They are really running a fine line of making football less and less physical. I understand looking out for the players safety but these guys know what they are getting into. They are played extremely well to play this game and they should understand the consequences that you have a chance of getting hurt.

It might sound inconsiderate but don't play football then. I enjoy a big hit (as long as you are not going out to physical paralyze a player. It's more dangerous in my opinion to go after someone legs because that is where they make there money.

Injuries, concussions will happen. It's part of the game. I don't like all these sports are pussifying there sports. Basketball less and less physical play, baseball the catcher rule, and football with all this illegal contact and personal fouls on legit clean plays.

Getting really annoying if you ask me. I don't watch a game to see officials or refs control the game. I understand they need to be there to keep a fair playing field but it has become a joke recently.

[Boik14]

As a football junkie, I definitely like watching an elite defense as much as an elite offense. It takes a tremendous amount of skill these days to be an elite defense with every rule tilted in the favor of the offense. Really not a fan of the direction the league is going with offenses. Imagine what a Dan Marino or Jerry Rice would do with defense being played like this!

[moocow007]

I'm a fan of competitiveness and fight. Be it on offense or defense or both (preferably). Not familiar with reasons for or the actual changes that make CB defense harder but if it seems like someone has found a "loophole" that offsets whatever perceived balance then it's conceivably logical that the league try to return it to a status quo. But yeah I've always been a fan of defense in the NFL. The Mike Ditka Bears (Mike Singeltary, Richard Dent, etc), Steelers and their "Steel Curtain" (Mean Joe Greene, LC Greenwood, etc.), Reggie White and the Packers, LT led Giants, The Jets NY Sack Exchange (Gastineau, Klecko, Lyons, Salaam), just to name a few. I still remember the first time I watched the Bears play and when the camera was focused on Singletary. You can see the intensity in his eyes that were darting all over the place like a freaking machine trying to determine what the offense was going to do.

[NBA Fan 1234]

I don't think we see as many penalties in the regular season as we are seeing now or at least I hope not.

This is what I think, too. It's kind of how the NBA always decides to focus on something very tight for preseason + the first few weeks (like illegal screens) and then, as the season goes on, it's still in the back of the refs' heads but they aren't calling it as often as they did in the beginning. They just wanted to set a tone / send a message and they did.



Anyways, I'm a defense first guy who loves offense too.

[Meat]

If so, why is Goddell keep taking away their advantages? The NFL is now making it harder for elite CB's to shut down great passing teams.

I enjoy watching elite defenses just as much as I enjoy watching elite offenses.

I dunno if NFL fans enjoy this because every time there's a top defensive game, fans call it an ugly game. I guess there's a lot of casual nfl fans out there. Oh, and you can't forget the Fantasy Football element.

Because elite defenses make elite hits and elite hits lead to billion dollar payouts

[NYKinMIA]

I enjoy both sides of scrimmage equally. That said, these yellow hanky fests are unwatchable.

[br7knicks]

i don't like football, so i like a shootout if i have to watch.

[br7knicks]

I don't think we see as many penalties in the regular season as we are seeing now or at least I hope not.

This is what I think, too. It's kind of how the NBA always decides to focus on something very tight for preseason + the first few weeks (like illegal screens) and then, as the season goes on, it's still in the back of the refs' heads but they aren't calling it as often as they did in the beginning. They just wanted to set a tone / send a message and they did.



Anyways, I'm a defense first guy who loves offense too.

oh snap, you a mod again?

[The Boss Speaks]

quit it.

[SmoothLefty21]

I would like it a lot more if we could watch entire games from an All 22 camera angle.

But the rule changes are meant to attract more fans and casual fans and the easiest way to do that is more offense. That's why Selig turned a blind eye to steroids in the 90's and Stern changed the rules in the early 2000's. For being known as the cutting edge league it's kind of ironic that the NFL was well behind the times when it came to changing age-old rules to increase offense.

[KnIcKsYaNkSmEtS1127]

I think the worst penalty in the NFL is when the CB is playing tight great coverage but since he didn't turn around to make a play on the ball any contact with the Wr when the ball is in the air becomes pass interference. It's hard enough to keep up with the WR and anticipate his moves then you want the CB to turn around in the split second the WR goes to make the play...come on man! Defense has no advantage especially when I'm watching guys like Mo Wilkerson get held on almost every single down. Goodell won't stop with the revenue pouring in and for the casual or young NFL fan this style of play is yearned for. Defense wins championships look at the Super Bowl winners since 2000 The Ravens won because of defense, Patriots haven't won anything since the offense became better than the defense. The only year Peyton won was because the Colts defense was great. Gmen and the Steelers won with outstanding defenses. The Bucs with John Gryden outstanding defense. And the Seahawks last year had amazing defense. Arguably only the Saints had a mediocre defense that have won a championship in the past 13 years.

[Wavy Q]

It's harder to appreciate a good defensive sequence in live time in my opinion since the cameras dont even watch the secondary or linebacker coverage, it focuses on the O/D-Line and quarterback. So while i love watching good defense, you cant even see corners glue themselves to receivers or safeties denying a pass lane.