Top 10 Things We Miss About Football

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The NFL Network has a list of the Top 10 Things We Miss About Football:

1. Well Dressed Coaches
2. The NFL In LA
3. QB's Calling Own Plays
4. Real Fullbacks
5. Goalposts On Goal Line
6. Nicknames
7. Real Grass
8. Angry Opponent
9. Barefoot Kickers
10. Stickum

Regarding Stickum, a current player said that WRs using stickum (Fred Biletnikoff flashed on the screen) should have their stats downgraded. No one ever asks why today's players need gloves.

A consequence of the players being mainly black is they all seem to love each other and often don't seem to care who won.

The Real Fullbacks mentioned were Csonka, Taylor, etc. Former Raider LB Phil Villapiano said you can't score fast enough with fullbacks running the ball.

Interestingly, Bill Bellichik was criticized for wearing a hood.
 

Colonel_Reb

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Interesting list, typical pro caste media responses. You are right about the gloves. No doubt they perform the same function that stickum once did. It always gets to me to see any pro players getting chummy with each other after a game. I can't help but think that if they are so friendly toward each other, they may not be playing their hardest against them. I guess it might just be that I don't understand their mindset though. It may be easy for a lot of NFL players to separate those things, but it seems like it would be difficult to me.
 

white is right

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I miss players looking like hockey players, everybody having buzz cuts and one bar helmets.......:icon_smile:
 

jaxvid

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Ten things I miss about football

1) white running backs
2) staying in bounds and trying to get a few extra yards
3) not celebrating with ridiculous african war dances after every routine play
4) mud bowls
5) pass defense
6) clean tackles
7) full backfields
8) fullback dive off tackle
9) pitch sweep
10) straight on kickers
 

Colonel_Reb

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I agree with all those you listed, white is right and jaxvid. The game has suffered a lot because of the caste system and many other changes as well.
 

dwid

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I guess those old time fullbacks just weren't effieceint enough in moving the ball down the field. Here is a graph for yards per play since the 40's, ypc has stayed around 4, in the 40s he says they counted sacks as negative rushes which is why it is low there.

4293994395_45c4b0b490_o.png



just because I found it interesting, here are the amount of passes/runs per game over the years

4294660554_9dc5b9ed59_o.png


as far as scoring, It looks like the average per game has stayed the same for a long time, somewhere around 20, a few times it dips below to 18.

yr/teams/rushtd/rectd/pr td/kr td/fbl td/int td/other td/all td/2 pm/xpm/fgm/sfty/points


1
2011
32
0.8
1.5
0.1
0.1
2.3
1.6
22.2
2
2010
32
0.8
1.5
0.1
0.1
2.4
1.5
22.0
3
2009
32
0.8
1.4
0.1
2.3
1.5
21.5
4
2008
32
0.9
1.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.3
1.7
22.0
5
2007
32
0.8
1.4
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.3
1.6
21.7
6
2006
32
0.8
1.3
0.1
0.1
2.2
1.5
20.7
7
2005
32
0.8
1.3
0.1
0.1
2.1
1.5
20.6
8
2004
32
0.8
1.4
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.3
1.4
21.5
9
2003
32
0.8
1.3
0.1
0.1
2.2
1.5
20.8
10
2002
32
0.9
1.4
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.2
1.4
21.7
11
2001
31
0.7
1.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.0
1.5
20.2
12
2000
31
0.8
1.3
0.1
0.1
2.1
1.5
20.7
13
1999
31
0.7
1.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.1
1.5
20.8
14
1998
30
0.8
1.4
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.1
1.5
21.3
15
1997
30
0.8
1.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.1
1.5
20.7
16
1996
30
0.8
1.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.0
1.5
20.4
17
1995
30
0.8
1.4
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.1
1.5
21.5
18
1994
28
0.8
1.3
0.1
0.1
2.0
1.4
20.3
19
1993
28
0.7
1.2
0.1
0.1
2.0
1.5
0.1
18.7
20
1992
28
0.7
1.2
0.1
0.1
2.1
1.3
18.7
21
1991
28
0.8
1.1
0.1
0.1
2.1
1.4
19.0
22
1990
28
0.8
1.3
0.1
0.1
2.2
1.3
20.1
23
1989
28
0.9
1.3
0.1
0.1
2.3
1.3
20.6
24
1988
28
0.9
1.2
0.1
2.2
1.3
0.1
20.3
25
1987
28
0.9
1.5
0.1
0.1
2.4
1.3
21.6
26
1986
28
0.9
1.3
0.1
0.1
2.3
1.2
20.5
27
1985
28
1.0
1.3
0.1
2.4
1.3
21.5
28
1984
28
0.9
1.4
0.1
0.1
2.4
1.3
21.2
29
1983
28
1.0
1.4
0.1
0.1
2.5
1.2
21.8
Rk
Year
Tms
RshTD
RecTD
PR TD
KR TD
FblTD
IntTD
OthTD
AllTD
2PM
XPM
FGM
Sfty
Pts
30
1982
28
0.9
1.3
0.1
2.2
1.2
20.2
31
1981
28
1.0
1.3
0.1
0.1
2.3
1.2
20.7
32
1980
28
1.0
1.4
0.1
2.3
1.1
20.5
33
1979
28
1.1
1.2
0.1
0.1
2.2
1.0
20.1
34
1978
28
1.0
1.0
0.1
2.0
1.0
18.3
35
1977
28
0.9
1.0
0.1
1.9
0.9
17.2
36
1976
28
1.1
1.1
0.1
2.1
1.0
19.2
37
1975
26
1.1
1.2
0.1
0.1
2.3
1.0
20.6
38
1974
26
1.0
1.0
0.1
0.1
2.0
0.9
18.2
39
1973
26
0.9
1.0
0.1
2.1
1.5
19.5
40
1972
26
1.0
1.1
0.1
0.1
2.2
1.4
20.3
41
1971
26
0.9
1.1
0.1
0.1
2.2
1.3
19.4
42
1970
26
0.8
1.2
0.1
2.1
1.3
19.3
43
1969
16
0.9
1.4
0.1
0.1
2.4
1.2
21.0
44
1968
16
0.9
1.4
0.1
2.4
1.2
21.1
45
1967
16
1.0
1.5
0.2
2.6
1.0
22.1
46
1966
15
0.9
1.4
0.1
0.1
2.5
1.2
22.0
47
1965
8
0.9
1.5
0.1
0.1
2.6
1.1
22.4
48
1964
8
1.0
1.5
0.1
0.1
2.6
1.1
22.4
49
1963
8
1.0
1.6
0.1
0.1
2.6
0.9
22.4
50
1962
8
1.1
1.5
0.1
0.1
2.6
1.0
22.5
51
1961
8
1.1
1.5
0.1
2.7
0.9
22.5
52
1960
8
1.1
1.5
0.1
2.6
1.0
22.6
53
1959
12
1.1
1.4
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.6
0.8
21.3
54
1958
12
1.2
1.5
0.1
0.1
2.7
0.8
22.6
55
1957
12
1.1
1.2
0.1
2.3
0.9
19.8
56
1956
12
1.2
1.1
0.1
0.1
2.4
0.8
20.4
57
1955
12
1.2
1.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.5
0.8
20.8
58
1954
12
1.1
1.5
0.1
0.1
2.6
0.8
21.9
59
1953
12
1.2
1.3
0.1
0.1
2.6
0.8
21.5
Rk
Year
Tms
RshTD
RecTD
PR TD
KR TD
FblTD
IntTD
OthTD
AllTD
2PM
XPM
FGM
Sfty
Pts
60
1952
12
1.0
1.5
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.7
0.7
0.1
22.3
61
1951
12
1.2
1.4
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.7
0.7
21.9
62
1950
13
1.3
1.4
0.1
0.2
2.9
0.5
0.1
22.9
63
1949
10
1.3
1.4
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.8
0.5
22.7
64
1948
10
1.3
1.6
0.1
0.1
0.1
3.0
0.4
23.6
65
1947
10
1.1
1.6
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.7
0.4
22.0
66
1946
10
1.3
1.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.3
0.4
0.1
19.6
67
1945
10
1.3
1.1
0.1
2.3
0.3
18.9
68
1944
11
1.2
1.2
0.1
2.2
0.2
18.4
69
1943
10
1.1
1.4
0.1
0.1
2.5
0.2
19.8

For some reason it only lists afl teams for 60-65 but the numbers aren't much different, there were 14 teams in the NFL, 13 in 60.
1960- 21.6
1961- 21.5
1962- 22.3
1963- 22.0
1964- 22.0
1965- 23.1

by a glance it looks like the only major difference is the amount of field goals made, even though passing has gone up it hasn't resulted in a significant amount of points. Now I don't know how fast they scored but the game has stayed at 60 minutes. Of course there are things this doesn't account for like field position, returns etc, probably more defensive stops getting better field position but I don't think that negates anything because scoring would be harder for the offense since defenses were better.


What do I miss, well something that hasn't been in the league, variety. Every team wants to copy everybody else. I think something like 80 percent of all offenses are the same, the 20 percent is minor tweaks. The offense Tebow was running was working, the only problem was teams adjusting and the coaches not knowing enough to keep adjusting the offense. No matter what the offense you have to keep making adjustments, what they ran is no different, plus they played Bellicheck is one of the best coaches. They say well he won because of defense blah blah, the defense wouldn't have held teams to that low if they didn't have possession of the ball for so long. Navy, Air Force and all of those teams are competitive despite not having best talent. Yes they get quite a few White kids who should be playing for big programs but their black players suck and get burnt easily, and I don't know why most insist on using a black quarterback. What happened with Tebow happens every time something different comes up in the NFL "oh it will be figured out, nfl defenders are too fast blah blah". What really happens is they don't make the adjustments and then it is less effiecient and fades out. People declare the run n shoot a gimmick that phased out, but many of the concepts are still used today.


I guess I miss more smash mouth football with running. Chiefs ran the ball the most the other year. It would be pretty exciting if it was Hillis getting 245 carries to Charles 200 carries instead of Thomas Jones. You probably would want to eat up a ton of clock with the guys they have now, probably 3 busts on dline.

I miss when teams actually used to scout. Now they have Scout inc. telling them "these are the best available players" and then teams sorting through that. Pretty much every team in the NFL uses this. The Patriots are the exception which is why his board never looks like anybody else's, and his 2nd round pick was surprise to everyone. The only thing that confuses me is why doesn't it result in more Whites?. With College football I miss the same thing, real scouting, scouts driving out to see players play more, not caring about stars behind the name, of course they have to deal with the boosters etc. Now they are sucking up to these college kids "please come to my school" when they aren't even sure if they are the best player for the program, they just want to have that recruit with the 5 stars by his name.

I miss mud bowls as well. I remember a game in high school when it was raining and everything got muddy, probably one of the funnest games I have ever played. I like snow games but growing up in the South I never got to experience playing in one.

I like soccer style kickers, it would be cool to see a big lineman trying to make a kick once in a while, and if anyone beats Dempsey's field goal record it should be noted that he did it straight on, regardless if he had toes or not.

Jaxvid, here is a mudbowl for you with straight ahead kickers, well the muddy game is the first one. The Packers with Taylor, Hornug, Star. Sometimes its hard to tell who is who but you can sometimes tell by the way they run.
Not sure what the last part of the video is, random stuff, track, baseball[video=youtube_share;8PlR_Pnts9A]http://youtu.be/8PlR_Pnts9A[/video]
 
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Colonel_Reb

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Nice info there, dwid! That video was fun to watch.
 

Carolina Speed

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My list includes a few things sports historian/jaxvid mentioned, but I added a few names to the things I miss about football:

1. playing in the backyards with childhood friends
2. Notre Dame Highlights on Sunday morning
3. The NFL Today with Phyllis George
4. Early 70's Dallas Cowboys, Roger Staubach, Walt Garrison, Bob Lilly, etc.
5. Dick Butkus
6. Miller Light Commercials featuring Dick Butkus and other football players
7. Guys like Brian Piccolo
8. White Safeties, Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters
9. Well dressed coaches, Tom Landry, Vince Lombardi, Hank Stram
10. Teams like the 70's Pittsburgh Steelers; Although I'm obviously an old school Dallas fan, I really respected those tough Steeler teams; Ham, Lambert, Greene, Bleier, and Bradshaw, etc.
 
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dwid

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My list includes a few things sports historian/jaxvid mentioned, but I added a few names to the things I miss about football:

1. playing in the backyards with childhood friends
2. Notre Dame Highlights on Sunday morning
3. The NFL Today with Phyllis George
4. Early 70's Dallas Cowboys, Roger Staubach, Walt Garrison, Bob Lilly, etc.
5. Dick Butkus
6. Miller Light Commercials featuring Dick Butkus and other football players
7. Guys like Brian Piccolo
8. White Safeties, Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters
9. Well dressed coaches, Tom Landry, Vince Lombardi, Hank Stram
10. Teams like the 70's Pittsburgh Steelers; Although I'm obviously an old school Dallas fan, I really respected those tough Steeler teams; Ham, Lambert, Greene, Bleier, and Bradshaw, etc.
yeah those were the good ole days. In the neighborhood I grew up in we had enough to do 7 on 7, nowadays going back there you don't see as many kids playing backyard football. I wish there was an adult version, but apparently only in NJ, PA and Florida called Town Beef. http://www.townbeef.com no pads tackle football. The only thing here is flag football.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL344561468EB12FB2&feature=player_embedded&v=e7WKrZ1kTgY

looks fun

At least some of you were old enough to see these things you miss. I grew up and remember the all black Saints with Jim Mora, so I can only imagine what it was like seeing all the footage I have when it originally aired.
 
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I first started watching pro football on TV every week in 1958, age 8. One thing about the TV coverage in those days, you hardly noticed the announcers. They were low-key, didn't get in the way and were easy on the ears. This is something else I miss about football.

I can recall seeing the great players of the late 50's and 1960's play on TV, which is different from highlite films. This is a perspective I try to bring to the Forum.
 

DixieDestroyer

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Ten things I miss about football

1) white running backs
2) staying in bounds and trying to get a few extra yards
3) not celebrating with ridiculous african war dances after every routine play
4) mud bowls
5) pass defense
6) clean tackles
7) full backfields
8) fullback dive off tackle
9) pitch sweep
10) straight on kickers

Jaxvid, we could not be in more agreement with # 3.
 
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