NFL 2021

[CrimsonNBlue]

I get annoyed with so many certain types of coaches being allowed to fail up in the NFL. Kingsbury could end up being a guy like that, but his NFL trend is positive right now, especially when he got a QB. Verdict is still out, and maybe he plateaus.

[Cascadia]

Forgot the playoff game. Technically 7-12 (37%) against NFC West opponents.

[Cascadia]

I get annoyed with so many certain types of coaches being allowed to fail up in the NFL. Kingsbury could end up being a guy like that, but his NFL trend is positive right now, especially when he got a QB. Verdict is still out, and maybe he plateaus.

Murray is entering Mayfield territory next season.

6-7 vs 5-10-1
6-10 vs 8-8
11-5 vs 9-5
6-8 vs ???

93.7 vs 87.4
78.8 vs 94.3
95.9 vs 100.6
83.1 vs ???

[twocoach]

I think a fair question is whether or not the 7-0 start is a fluke?

NFL Divisions are not quite the same as NCAA Conferences, but Kingsbury seems to have a similar problem.

19-35 (35%) in Big 12
7-11 (39%) in NFC West

Who knows. They smoked the Titans in Tennessee in Week 1 when the league was full of head scratching results. The Titans had a healthy Henry and Arizona held him to 58 yards rushing. They beat the Rams in LA by 17 and they beat the 49ers in Arizona. But the Vikings missed a 37 yard FG at the end that should have beat Arizona in Week 2 and then the beat the Jags, Browns and Texans.

Maybe there is something to the league figuring out how to scheme against Kingsbury once they have enough tape on him. That's way too many consecutive seasons of losing down the stretch for that to be a coincidence.

[Cascadia]

I think a fair question is whether or not the 7-0 start is a fluke?

NFL Divisions are not quite the same as NCAA Conferences, but Kingsbury seems to have a similar problem.

19-35 (35%) in Big 12
7-11 (39%) in NFC West

Who knows. They smoked the Titans in Tennessee in Week 1 when the league was full of head scratching results. The Titans had a healthy Henry and Arizona held him to 58 yards rushing. They beat the Rams in LA by 17 and they beat the 49ers in Arizona. But the Vikings missed a 37 yard FG at the end that should have beat Arizona in Week 2 and then the beat the Jags, Browns and Texans.

Maybe there is something to the league figuring out how to scheme against Kingsbury once they have enough tape on him. That's way too many consecutive seasons of losing down the stretch for that to be a coincidence.

I think this is the truth. We also see this a lot with young qb's who can run. Eventually (and usually quickly) the league catches up. The gimmicks only last so long.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Man, I really think Murray and Mayfield comparisons are lazy, as is describing Murray as a running QB. Of course, Murray's still young and his career could go several different ways, so I am not predicting anything.

I do like Murray's chances more than Kingsbury's, but this feels like another instance of Chiefs fans being so drunk right now that every other person in the league sucks. I'm not ready to write anyone with the Cards off, yet. Mayfield on the other hand . . .

[Cascadia]

Murray has finished 4th, 2nd and 2nd in rushing yards by a QB.

He's finished 4th, 3rd and 3rd in rushing attempts by a QB.

How is that not a running QB?

*edit: And he averages 6.8 rushing attempts per game for his career.

[NewtonHawk11]

IDK, I think the Cards going 11-6 was a year ahead of schedule in that division. Everyone expected the Rams to be serious Super Bowl contenders.

I think he'll get one more year. But if it's anything similar with a collapse or a record barely above 500, he'll be an OC or a college HC next year.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Murray has finished 4th, 2nd and 2nd in rushing yards by a QB.

He's finished 4th, 3rd and 3rd in rushing attempts by a QB.

How is that not a running QB?

*edit: And he averages 6.8 rushing attempts per game for his career.

I think being fast and being a running QB are different things. Lamar is certainly a running QB. I don't see that there are a lot of designed runs for Murray--maybe that changed later in the year, but they are usually pretty careful to avoid that.

[NewtonHawk11]

Murray has finished 4th, 2nd and 2nd in rushing yards by a QB.

He's finished 4th, 3rd and 3rd in rushing attempts by a QB.

How is that not a running QB?

*edit: And he averages 6.8 rushing attempts per game for his career.

I think being fast and being a running QB are different things. Lamar is certainly a running QB. I don't see that there are a lot of designed runs for Murray--maybe that changed later in the year, but they are usually pretty careful to avoid that.

Correct. In some ways, Lamar and Josh Allen are RBs1 for their team. Murray is definitely not that.

[CrimsonNBlue]

IDK, I think the Cards going 11-6 was a year ahead of schedule in that division. Everyone expected the Rams to be serious Super Bowl contenders.

I think he'll get one more year. But if it's anything similar with a collapse or a record barely above 500, he'll be an OC or a college HC next year.

He does seem like he is better suited to be a career OC.

[pdub]

Lamar, Hurts and Allen ( i'd add Taysom Hill and Cam Newton in here ) have designed plays where the intention all along is to run.

I think Murray is on that border to where he might have a play drawn up to where, if he reads the defense will give him the space, to just tuck and run - but he's more of a guy who just gives up on his options early and takes off.

Then you have Mahomes or Justin Herbert who have wheels to where they can pick up chunks of yards but that's not their first or second option. Improv deal.

[twocoach]

Man, I really think Murray and Mayfield comparisons are lazy, as is describing Murray as a running QB. Of course, Murray's still young and his career could go several different ways, so I am not predicting anything.

I do like Murray's chances more than Kingsbury's, but this feels like another instance of Chiefs fans being so drunk right now that every other person in the league sucks. I'm not ready to write anyone with the Cards off, yet. Mayfield on the other hand . . .

Agreed. Murray is an excellent QB who seems to be learning and improving. He isn't a true rushing QB as he only averaged 30 yards a game rushing this season. That's just 8 yards a game more than Mahomes and no one is calling him a rushing QB.

[CrimsonNBlue]

TEN -2.5
GB -4.5
TB -2.5
KC -2.5

[CrimsonNBlue]

My prediction:

KC @ TEN
LAR @ GB

Who the hell knows, though. Just glad the awful new WC weekend is over.

[Cascadia]

My prediction:

KC @ TEN
LAR @ GB

Who the hell knows, though. Just glad the awful new WC weekend is over.

Same predictions for me. If Tampa were healthy I'd take them over LA.

[pdub]

I can't bet against Brady.
I think the Bucs get it done.
I could also see a San Fran upset.

[Cascadia]

Tough to see Jimmy G winning in single digit (and maybe snow) weather.

[NewtonHawk11]

Tough to see Jimmy G winning in single digit (and maybe snow) weather.

Weather not horrible there on Saturday. Like 25 and snow before noon. I heard a good thing the other day. The 49ers seem like a team built for bad weather and the Packers seem like the team set up for the warmer weather. Running game and defense matter in chilly weather. 49ers have the edge in both of those.

[holidaysmore]

Are Bosa and Warner healthy for the Niners?