20 Random Super Bowl, Season Wrap Up, and Looking Ahead Thoughts

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AvengerRam

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1. Having no particular allegiance or opposition to either team, I enjoyed that game for its sheer drama.

2. Patrick Mahomes is really a magician. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a QB with his field vision.

3. Jalen Hurts played his heart out, and will be the leader of successful teams in the next few years.

4. Shouldn’t the debate of whether James Bradberry committed a holding penalty end when James Bradberry says “it was holding”?

5. Of course, not… why let facts get in the way of a good sports debate?

6. The halftime show… meh. Not my thing.

7. Best commercial: The Farmer’s Dog. I’m not crying! You’re crying!

8. Worst commercial: T-Mobile. Sorry, but as nostalgic as it was to see John Travolta performing a song from Grease, and as much as I loved Scrubs, that was in poor taste, given how recently Olivia Newton-John died.

9. It was really noteworthy to me how many rookies contributed to the Chiefs’ win, including several players take on Days 2 and 3.

10. Applying that to the Rams, I want them to focus on guys who are ready to play. No projects, no long-term upside guys. Give me plug-and-play players – regardless of position – who can contribute right away.

11. I’m betting that Sean McVay watched the Chiefs score twice in the Red Zone with a fake motion play that left receivers wide open (I mean, I could have made those throws) and thought “hmmm……”

12. Travis Kelce is a great player but, man… let someone else talk!

13. One of the biggest stories of this game was the Eagles’ inability to get to Mahomes, despite his gimpy ankle and their league-leading pass rush.

14. Yes… that is my way of saying bolster the OL!!!

15. “All-in,” “F them picks,” trade for guys, trade away guys for multiple players/picks… there is no formula for success other than this: always be open to making moves that you believe will enhance your team. Fate favors the bold.

16. So the Rams’ reign as World Champs comes to an end. Are they still in the “window” to challenge again? I think they are.

17. And, because I think they are, I’m expecting the unexpected, so to speak. Don’t tell me the Rams can’t afford this or afford that, or won’t have a shot at one guy or another in the draft, or anything else that suggests a limitation.

18. I’m looking forward to the Combine and the draft. With the Rams obtaining comp picks, there will be opportunities to truly enhance the roster.

19. In the end, while yesterday was a relaxing experience as a fan, I want that tension, those butterflies and that elation that we had last year. I’m greedy that way!

20. Offseason? What offseason?
 

bubbaramfan

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I expect to see Rams players get restructured contracts as their first order of business to see how much cap space they can clear.
 

Elmgrovegnome

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Points 10 and 11 speak to my heart. Especially ten. I’m so tired of Snead trading back to get multiple project players that he could literally flip a coin over wether or not the will contribute. The time is now while the SB window is still open.

Lovey leapt into a pool over the Robert Rochelle pick. :wow2: Go back to the smart football player model that landed Kupp.
 

PARAM

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1. Having no particular allegiance or opposition to either team, I enjoyed that game for its sheer drama.

2. Patrick Mahomes is really a magician. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a QB with his field vision.

3. Jalen Hurts played his heart out, and will be the leader of successful teams in the next few years.

4. Shouldn’t the debate of whether James Bradberry committed a holding penalty end when James Bradberry says “it was holding”?

5. Of course, not… why let facts get in the way of a good sports debate?

6. The halftime show… meh. Not my thing.

7. Best commercial: The Farmer’s Dog. I’m not crying! You’re crying!

8. Worst commercial: T-Mobile. Sorry, but as nostalgic as it was to see John Travolta performing a song from Grease, and as much as I loved Scrubs, that was in poor taste, given how recently Olivia Newton-John died.

9. It was really noteworthy to me how many rookies contributed to the Chiefs’ win, including several players take on Days 2 and 3.

10. Applying that to the Rams, I want them to focus on guys who are ready to play. No projects, no long-term upside guys. Give me plug-and-play players – regardless of position – who can contribute right away.

11. I’m betting that Sean McVay watched the Chiefs score twice in the Red Zone with a fake motion play that left receivers wide open (I mean, I could have made those throws) and thought “hmmm……”

12. Travis Kelce is a great player but, man… let someone else talk!

13. One of the biggest stories of this game was the Eagles’ inability to get to Mahomes, despite his gimpy ankle and their league-leading pass rush.

14. Yes… that is my way of saying bolster the OL!!!

15. “All-in,” “F them picks,” trade for guys, trade away guys for multiple players/picks… there is no formula for success other than this: always be open to making moves that you believe will enhance your team. Fate favors the bold.

16. So the Rams’ reign as World Champs comes to an end. Are they still in the “window” to challenge again? I think they are.

17. And, because I think they are, I’m expecting the unexpected, so to speak. Don’t tell me the Rams can’t afford this or afford that, or won’t have a shot at one guy or another in the draft, or anything else that suggests a limitation.

18. I’m looking forward to the Combine and the draft. With the Rams obtaining comp picks, there will be opportunities to truly enhance the roster.

19. In the end, while yesterday was a relaxing experience as a fan, I want that tension, those butterflies and that elation that we had last year. I’m greedy that way!

20. Offseason? What offseason?
Yeah, the GMFB people said, "the Chiefs aren't the one and done Rams, they were built 'brick by brick'". Really?

They rebuilt their OL in 2021 and it paid dividends in 2023.
The Rams rebuilt their secondary in 2022. Will it pay dividends in 2023?
The Chiefs brought in WRs who they knew Mahomes would make better (Juju and Toney)
The Rams did the same thing in 2022 but ARob, though he and Stafford didn't connect and once they started, Stafford got injured.
The Chiefs had 8 rookies play significant roles this year.
Is it impossible for the Rams to find half as many in 2023?

The Rams have a strong core in Donald, Ramsey, Floyd, Wagner, Stafford, Kupp, A Rob, Higbee, etc.
They have a lot of young guys too. And they will add to those groups in 2023.

The Eagles are another example of going "all in" (like Buffalo, etc) bringing in Hassan Reddick, AJ Brown, James Bradbury and then towards the end of the year, Suh. They have a great O line. They led the league in sacks on D. And they didn't win it all. So "all in" is going to have to happen again in 2023. But they have a number of free agents.

Javon Hargrave begins 2023 on his voidable year, no salary and an 12 mil cap hit. Is Kelce going to come back or retire? If he quits that's a significant cap hit (26 mil?). James Bradbury is a free agent and they are taking a 5 mil cap hit for him.

Hurts is talented. But will he have the same supporting cast as he had this year? We see what happens when their RB run game falters and the defense can't get sacks. He did everything he possibly could and it wasn't enough.

FWIW, I liked the Travolta commercial. Too soon? His real life wife just died 2 years ago. I think ONJ might have liked that commercial too.
 

Tano

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FWIW, I liked the Travolta commercial. Too soon? His real life wife just died 2 years ago. I think ONJ might have liked that commercial too.
I think she would have liked it too
 

AvengerRam

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  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6
A thought I neglected to include…

21. I think the NFL will ultimately outlaw the strategy of pushing the QB from behind on sneaks. Just seems too…rugby-like.
 

Oregonram

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I will play along with your #4....The debate isn't whether Bradbury held, the issue has been when the refs decide to call it. It can literally be called on every play...Like blocking or offensive fouls in the NBA, these games are too big to be turned on one call, but they continue to be. Was Smith-Schuster impeded on his route? More than any other WR on a route? Was the pass catchable? KC was the receipent..for what ever reason..of some very favorable calls and 2 great punt returns in the last 2 games. A very dumb anti climactic ending to an otherwise good game. The Rams have received some touchy calls that went their way to the Super Bowl. I heard one of the Referee consultants asked if holding calls can be made on any play...the answer was no, because it would be hard to call a holding penalty on a kneel down ( Real Answer). Too much power in one man's whistle.
 

Flint

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A thought I neglected to include…

21. I think the NFL will ultimately outlaw the strategy of pushing the QB from behind on sneaks. Just seems too…rugby-like.
I think so too, the problem with it is that it can be almost impossible to stop. I think the Eagles were successful every time they used it. It’s a big advantage if you’re confident you can make most every short yardage.
 

XXXIVwin

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I'm intrigued by the controversy surrounding the Bradberry call. And no, I don't think Bradberry's acknowledgment makes it a slam dunk. I just think Bradberry was being a stand-up guy, showing integrity.

For sake of comparison... I don't recall ANY offensive holding calls on either team for the entirety of the game. We all know there were dozens and dozens of plays where an OL held and got away with it. So what if ya find an OL guy who takes the high road and acknowledges he held but got away with it? Does a player's honesty change our opinion of whether the flag should have been thrown?

I think it's important to watch the Bradberry hold in REAL TIME, not slo-mo. In real time the hold was extremely brief.

And lastly: it's important to note that the hold occurred behind the line of scrimmage. As Greg Jennings points out, 9 times out of 10 that hold isn't called if it occurs behind the LOS.

Im of two minds on this one. My brain says, yeah, he grabbed a fistful of jersey and he even admitted it. But my gut says... damn that was a ticky-tack close one, and I think the ref should have let it go.

Here's Jennings arguing against the flag. There's many players on either side of this debate, BTW.

 

Flint

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It was very close to the line and they did get away with a grab on an earlier 3rd down but he grabbed him and then he turned him and it got called.
Should they have called the Bengals for holding Kupp last year? Don’t know but they did.

I didn’t really see any advantage kc got from the officiating, 2 big calls went against them. The fumble that wasn’t took 7 off the board and I thought for sure the Goedert 3rd down catch would get overturned but it stood. There’s always something, of course the most famous no-call in rams history sent them to the SB. It’s all just talk show fodder.
 

XXXIVwin

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A thought I neglected to include…

21. I think the NFL will ultimately outlaw the strategy of pushing the QB from behind on sneaks. Just seems too…rugby-like.
I agree, I think the competition committee will take a look at this. It's become very common... not just for QB sneaks, but 3rd and short for RB's too... multiple players will push the ball carrier forward.

As with all rules changes, it could open up a can of worms. Seems like there could be plenty of grey area on this one.

Frankly I don't even know what the current rule is on this... I wonder why it seems so commonplace this year as opposed to prior years? But yeah, the "rugby scrum" of half a dozen players on each side pushing the ball carrier has become routine. Weird.
 

CGI_Ram

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3. Jalen Hurts played his heart out, and will be the leader of successful teams in the next few years.

Hurts played well. He’s not the rah-rah leader out there and I prefer a little more Field General than we see with Hurts. He mostly stays to himself.

21. I think the NFL will ultimately outlaw the strategy of pushing the QB from behind on sneaks. Just seems too…rugby-like.

I bet with near 100% certainty this happens this offseason.

I'm intrigued by the controversy surrounding the Bradberry call. And no, I don't think Bradberry's acknowledgment makes it a slam dunk. I just think Bradberry was being a stand-up guy, showing integrity.

I am still not a fan of the call. The fact we are debating it tells me it was borderline. And, if borderline, it shouldn’t have been called.
 

Tano

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Hurts played well. He’s not the rah-rah leader out there and I prefer a little more Field General than we see with Hurts. He mostly stays to himself.
Hurts is just another Kyler Murray Lamar Jackson QB who are very good to great as long as their legs hold out.

I see Hurts being a so so QB in 5 years once the beating from running all those plays catches up to him.
 

Loyal

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Yep and I didn't like the halftime show

Her music just does not do it for me

I liked her in Battleship though
"You call that music?!?!? ~ Tano
 

AvengerRam

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  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #17
I am still not a fan of the call. The fact we are debating it tells me it was borderline. And, if borderline, it shouldn’t have been called.
To me, when the player flagged confesses, it’s no longer borderline.
 

Tano

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"You call that music?!?!? ~ Tano
GIF by Giphy QA
 

dang

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To me, when the player flagged confesses, it’s no longer borderline.
Agreed. Every time a pass defender grabs the jersey he is taking a chance of getting called for holding. Bradberry felt he could be beat, took a chance/grabbed, and hoped they would not see. Once they saw it - it should be called. End of case. Also the Eagles/Bradberry would have been better off giving up a TD on that play.
 

rdlkgliders

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A thought I neglected to include…

21. I think the NFL will ultimately outlaw the strategy of pushing the QB from behind on sneaks. Just seems too…rugby-like.
I blieve it used to be in both the NFL and College but was changed "Bush Push" in college.
I liked the Travolta commercial
the foul is a foul letter of the law, player words on fouls are barely relevant but good on him
.