nflWhen will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?
From “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”
There have been two weeks of the NFL season played, an incredibly small sample size and yet there’s no shortage of stories on the league’s diminished passing offense and the stunning accuracy on field-goal attempts of 50 yards or more (35-for-39).
The why question is often asked, which is then sometimes followed by suggestions on how to change it.
As Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said Friday, “I’d stay away from instant evaluation.”
That followed a discussion that began when Gannon was asked about an idea advanced that the NFL ban two-high safety defenses, specifically that those players be forced to play closer to the line of scrimmage to encourage longer pass plays.
The topic was broached to safety Budda Baker Thursday, and he laughed and said, “Wait. What?”
When it was further explained, Baker said, “Yeah, that’s crazy. The rules already changed so much in the offense’s favor. I don’t know what else you need to ask a defensive player to do. So, hopefully, that doesn’t become a rule.”
When it was first brought up to Gannon, he had a dumbfounded look on his face, which elicited laughter from the media corps. It was then noted that a national media personality had made the suggestion, and Gannon asked, “Who said that?”
When told it was ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Gannon said, “Wow. I probably looked like a complete fool. I did not hear that.”
Gannon was then told Baker was asked about it, and the coach asked how Baker responded.
After that answer, Gannon, who earlier said his energy can be traced to drinking espresso, added, “My heart just started … (touched his heart with his hand) and is that espresso or is that the ban of the two-high safety?
“Obviously, no thoughts about that. We’ll play by the rules. I know this: You got 11 guys and you can deploy them how you want.”
He then said, “Wow” again.
It was then mentioned that passing yards were down and Gannon offered, “Offenses find a way to counteract defenses. It’s the evolution of the game, which makes the game the best game in the world. You look at trends and different things and that goes into philosophies and coaches, and your players and who you’re playing.
“I’m sure there’ll be a week where you guys will go, ‘Oh my God, we should play 12 guys on defense.’ There were a million explosives and a million points scored. It’s the ebb and flow of the NFL season.”
And that ebb and flow still has 15 games for most teams to play. Perhaps everyone should take quarterback Aaron Rodgers to heart and just R-E-L-A-X.
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