Depressing article -- has anything changed in a decade?

[feltdizz]

I like you believing in the Lions. Load knows those fans have suffered a long time but the Lions didn't make the playoffs last year so I don't see how their so good. They were more prolific but losing flashy and losing bad is still losing.

they were 3-13-1 the year prior. If you don’t see that as improvement not sure what to tell you.

He said take another step in the right direction too so it wasn’t like he implied they were close to a SB last year.

I don’t give a damn if they are good or they implode. Having a history of bad management does not mean they never draft good players or sign good FA’s.

[NorthCoast]

I always thought the zone blitz was outdated since around 2011...Packers under Dom Capers had the same problem, especially in the playoffs, when it was always a disaster in the playoffs for their defense under Capers after their superbowl in 2010

LeBeau was a great coach for a long time, but it was time for a change but unfortunately for the steelers, Butler was not good.

Blame the CBA. If you are trying to build a more complicated defense you're fighting rules that don't make it easy.

The 2011 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) put game-changing limitations on the intensity and amount of offseason workouts and in-season practice. Teams are limited to a nine-week offseason program and can require players to attend only one three-day minicamp. There is a cap of 10 on-field offseason workouts, and traditional two-a-day training camp practices are banned.

During the season, teams can have only 14 full-pads practices. Players love the freedom and gladly take on the responsibility for their own conditioning. But coaches say they don't have enough time to teach fundamentals, or to train offensive linemen and quarterbacks, in particular. That sentiment has not curbed an accelerating trend of keeping veteran players out of preseason games, a practice that will likely lead to a reduction in preseason games when owners enact their option to expand to a 17-game regular season, if not before.

The 2020 CBA added additional parameters to summer training camp. Teams are limited to 16 padded practices. They are also required to hold a five-day acclimation period at the start of camp. No practice can last more than 2.5 hours, and players can't spend more than a total of four hours per day on the field.

It's no wonder the first month of the season the games tend to look pretty bad for those teams that are young (i.e. Steelers recently). If you have a mostly veteran team that have been in the system for a few years it's a big advantage in the early games.

[Polamalubeast]

Blame the CBA. If you are trying to build a more complicated defense you're fighting rules that don't make it easy.

The 2011 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) put game-changing limitations on the intensity and amount of offseason workouts and in-season practice. Teams are limited to a nine-week offseason program and can require players to attend only one three-day minicamp. There is a cap of 10 on-field offseason workouts, and traditional two-a-day training camp practices are banned.

During the season, teams can have only 14 full-pads practices. Players love the freedom and gladly take on the responsibility for their own conditioning. But coaches say they don't have enough time to teach fundamentals, or to train offensive linemen and quarterbacks, in particular. That sentiment has not curbed an accelerating trend of keeping veteran players out of preseason games, a practice that will likely lead to a reduction in preseason games when owners enact their option to expand to a 17-game regular season, if not before.

The 2020 CBA added additional parameters to summer training camp. Teams are limited to 16 padded practices. They are also required to hold a five-day acclimation period at the start of camp. No practice can last more than 2.5 hours, and players can't spend more than a total of four hours per day on the field.

It's no wonder the first month of the season the games tend to look pretty bad for those teams that are young (i.e. Steelers recently). If you have a mostly veteran team that have been in the system for a few years it's a big advantage in the early games.

And the safety rules in the middle of the 2010 season was such a game changer...Since that time,the NFL have 5000 yards passer with 40 TD almost every year

[WindyCitySteel]

I always thought the zone blitz was outdated since around 2011...Packers under Dom Capers had the same problem, especially in the playoffs, when it was always a disaster in the playoffs for their defense under Capers after their superbowl in 2010

LeBeau was a great coach for a long time, but it was time for a change but unfortunately for the steelers, Butler was not good.

That was about the same time Carroll was using a super simple scheme with great athletes in Seattle. I worry we still have elements of that complexity today, Steelers place a lot of value on position flexibility, which creates even more sub-packages and chance for confusion.

[whisper]

I like you believing in the Lions. Load knows those fans have suffered a long time but the Lions didn't make the playoffs last year so I don't see how their so good. They were more prolific but losing flashy and losing bad is still losing.

This year is going to tell A LOT about the Lions. If they are beyond the curse, then they are a playoff team. If it's still the same old Lions, and they miss the postseason again, then, ouchie. Maybe the coach is just hot air.

[Steel Maniac]

I believe, now the lions have a good front office....we need to see the results, but they have improved a lot last year, so hopefully for them, they will take another step forward this year

One thing is certain, their current front office which has only been with the lions since 2021 have nothing to do with the struggles the lions have had in the last 60 years or so!

Taking a runningback with at top 12 pick?? Same old Lions to me. Living in the 1990's when taking a runningback that high.

[Northern_Blitz]

That was about the same time Carroll was using a super simple scheme with great athletes in Seattle. I worry we still have elements of that complexity today, Steelers place a lot of value on position flexibility, which creates even more sub-packages and chance for confusion.

Interesting.

Do we use sub-packages more than other teams?

My understanding is that we like position flexibility (particularly in backups) because it means that you can scrimp on the roster a bit and maybe fit in an extra guy who's good at ST. Doesn't mean it always works. But we can see now that having having too many G's that can't play C will mean that we'll probably end up cutting or trading an NFL level talent

[whisper]

Taking a runningback with at top 12 pick?? Same old Lions to me. Living in the 1990's when taking a runningback that high.

Robinson, taking 8th by Atlanta, could be the exception; he may well be worth taking there.

[feltdizz]

We have no idea if pick 8 and 12 will work out. Same with any other pick in the draft. Its a crap shoot.