SirAndrew

I think the OP has some valid points about how defense is built these days. The way our defense is built isn’t really the problem though. We simply have too many guys underachieving on that side of the ball. It doesn’t matter how the defense is built when guys aren’t doing their job well. We don’t have any CB’s behind Tre on the depth chart, and our recent draft choices (Edmunds, Oliver, and Epenesa) are all very unproven. That’s where I have concern, not about whether or not we have a modern defense.

It’s just two schools of thought, and I understand yours. I just think many of us will never comprehend why you’d take one of the greatest QB’s of all time off the field for a backup. If I’m losing a game, I want it to be in Brees hands. I couldn’t live with myself as a coach if I lost a game because my backup QB fumbled, when it could have been in the hands of one of the GOAT’s. Hill takes the brunt of the criticism for Sean Payton’s need to be the smartest guy in the room.

I don’t see anyone disparaging his faith. It’s a fact that QB’s who can’t throw the ball have a poor track record in the NFL. The Tebow comparison isn’t perfect, but it is there. I don’t know anyone hating on Hill because his faith, that’s simply untrue. Hill isn’t even outspoken about his faith in the same way that Tebow was. Everything about Hill as a person actually helps him fit the mold of an NFL fan favorite imo. He’s the perfect image of what the average NFL fan wants from a player, the only problem is his skill set at the QB position. Sean Payton is one of the few who see him as potential franchise QB material.

QB’s are much better, and the athleticism of all players are off the charts. The league is full of athletes who are better than previous eras. The quality of the game is another debate. Athletes outside of the QB position don’t get to show their dominant skills in the way that players from previous eras could. The rules have emphasized QB play, while limiting the impact of others. The overall talent of the team is less influential to wins/losses than the past. The 2020 Bills would be total trash without Josh Allen. I’d argue that one player didn’t impact win/losses to the same level in the past.

The Saints defense has also been decent, and the Falcons are definitely a weaker opponent. It’s possible the Saints believe Hill gives them the best chance to play a clean game. Hill might not do much, but Winston can lose a game singlehandedly. Maybe they have a conservative game plan meant to escape with wins while Brees is out. Hill might win some games, I’m just skeptical about him as a long term answer, and that’s the other possible reason Payton wants to start him. Payton has been all in on Hill, and it confuses me why they signed Winston.

I’ll never say never before someone gets a chance, but I just don’t see it. Hill is basically Mormon Tebow in my eyes. I see a one dimensional running QB that teams will be able to load the box against. His throwing motion is awkward, he has that Tebow like muscular build that makes throwing awkward, and he’s never had to win an NFL game with his arm, but he’s 30 years old. A 30 year old “athlete” style of QB with questionable arm talent isn’t where I’d place my bets. Exactly. A thirty year old first time starter who can’t throw the ball isn’t the direction I want my franchise to go. This is what I don’t understand about Payton’s love towards Hill. Maybe, if you can promise we don’t take Allen off the field for Fromm to take important reps.

It does make sense from that prospective. My issue is the fact that anyone would view Hill as possible franchise QB. I don’t understand how anyone sees that potential, and the Saints will actually benefit in the long run if Hill plays terribly. The worse case scenario is Hill fooling Payton into thinking he has his guy. Sean Payton is just a strange coach to me.

That’s the thing people are missing. Show me the running back who performs well on a team with a weak run game scheme and poor blocking. Elite running backs look very average when something is out of place. I don’t understand the harsh criticisms of Singletary around here either. I don’t see either of our backs as having elite potential, but where were all the critics to point out Singletary’s flaws last season ? In fact I recall posts claiming he could become one of the better backs in the league. Suddenly his game is remarkably flawed, and will never translate to the NFL. If you pointed those flaws last season, you probably would have been called an idiot. There are many successful late round running backs, and even undrafted free agents. Those guys are often able to be more productive than Moss and Singletary, especially with the advantage of a top notch passing game. That’s not a swipe at Singletary and Moss, but an acknowledgment that even if they aren’t great backs, the run game shouldn’t be this bad. That leads me to believe the problems run much deeper than just being the fault of our running backs. Singletary was a good football player in 2019. I had several fans of opponents tell me that we had a good one in Singletary last season. Singletary and Moss deserve some blame, but you also need to look at the line, play calling, and schemes. It’s not the fault of Moss or Singletary they aren’t speed guys. Maybe this spread offense doesn’t fit Motor the way last seasons occasional run heavy scheme did. I’m just not ready to believe that Singletary is suddenly a bad football player.

Fair enough, you got me there. Seattle’s defense has been worse than ours this season. I just wish we’d do more to create pressure. A bad defense can have good days when they play aggressively, and I’d like to see more of that. Seattle is a bad defense having a decent night up to that TD. I don’t know if Frazier’s D can have a lucky good day when they are coached so passively. Yep, Seattle’s D isn’t good, but good things happen when you can manufacture pressure and show different looks.

I think the Cards are overrated tbh. The media loves Murray and Kingsberry, which very much influences the narrative. The NFC is relatively weak, and we had them beat last week, apart from the freak play. Our defense has a way to go, so Murray looked pretty good, but I’m not convinced he’s the elite QB everyone wants him to be. I’ll take our offense any day over the Cards.

Playing the Bills D.

Yep, I’d barely feel like playing the next game if my coach/GM pulled that on me. I’m not sure how these type of tricks are supposed go over well with players when you aren’t winning Super Bowl’s anymore.

Good list, except for the 2007 Pats MNF game. I didn’t really think it was heartbreaking, as it was expected. It just turned out to be worse than expected. It was JP Losman vs one of the greatest teams of all time after all. Every other game on the list involved unexpected twists.

I like that idea with a tall experienced/elite WR. I think it might have been Moulds, and I’d definitely trust him out there. I’m just not sure if a youngster like Davis might not be more of a liability for PI calls and the like.

Fair point but do we really trust Gabe Davis or Dawson Knox of all people more than our actual defenders ? Belichick loved putting Gronk on D, and it actually bit him a few times.

Agree, that’s Leslie Frazier’s style of D, and I’ve seen enough of it. His style only works with big time playmakers on the line who can pressure the QB. We don’t have that, and it allows the opponent to pick us apart.

Agree, Nothing happened that I find concerning. We already knew our defense is below average, and we’re going as far as Josh takes us. Josh did his thing late in the game. You’re not going to lose on that type of play very frequently. I’d feel much worse if we got blown out, or Josh played terribly without such a redemptive final drive.

That’s what I saw too. It looked like everyone wanted a pick instead of just knocking it down.

Poyer looking to pad stats, instead of knocking it down.

Awesome to see Josh’s comfort level with Beasley. We haven’t had a QB/WR relationship like that in years. Then you see the talent of Diggs finishing off the drive. Kudos to Josh for being resilient. I don’t take back my earlier post that he is Jekyl and Hyde, but I’ll take good Josh on the final drive everyday.

I love Josh, but I wish he wasn’t such a schizophrenic player. You never know what you’re going to get, it’s either brilliant or awful.

This might be the most indisciplined offensive drive I’ve ever seen, and it ends with a player getting injured. What a mess.

Wow, it’s the right call, but the NFL usually overthinks these type of plays.

I don’t think everyone is seeing it as not being a pick, I just think many people are guessing what the league will say.

Definitely a pick, but the NFL is crazy.