# Week 5 NFL Discussion

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [October 5, 2010, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106 "2010-10-05T10:14:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/81 "2010-10-08T21:41:53Z")

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I think great arm strength is a negative quality only if you consistently overthrow your receivers. You need the “touch” to know when to throw balls-to-the-wall, and when not to.

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/82 "2010-10-09T01:11:44Z")

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> [@Kolga](#):
>
> I think great arm strength is a negative quality only if you consistently overthrow your receivers. You need the “touch” to know when to throw balls-to-the-wall, and when not to.

Exactly. It was the criticism which was leveled at Doug Williams early in his career: that he had a huge arm, but seemed to be (at least during his Tampa days) unable to dial it down when needed.

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**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/83 "2010-10-09T01:16:00Z")

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Seriously? Are you telling me Chad Pennington doesn’t have a starting job today in spite of his mastery of the short pass? Seneca Wallace? Charlie Batch? Hell, Joe Montana?

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**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/84 "2010-10-09T03:18:34Z")

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Another weird twist in the 49ers season, Glen Coffee, who retired from football during training camp to join the ministry, was arrested for a concealed weapon while driving an unregistered and uninsured Cadillac. I guess he’ll be leading a prison ministry from the inside.

[story](http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Recently-retired-Glen-Coffee-arrested-for-having?urn=nfl-275674)

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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/85 "2010-10-09T03:21:26Z")

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> [@Superhal](#):
>
> I don’t understand how great arm strength is a negative quality. Brett Farve has been living for years on a rocket arm, while others have lost/can’t keep their jobs when they lost velocity because of age or injury.
> 
> Vick is the only QB i know of where the main criticism is that he “throws too hard,” while nearly every single backup qb in the league “can’t throw hard enough.”
> 
> It would be like saying a WR or RB is “too fast.” Well, you can’t teach speed either, and you can’t get someone with a weak arm to throw harder.

> [@Superhal](#):
>
> Seriously? Are you telling me Chad Pennington doesn’t have a starting job today in spite of his mastery of the short pass? Seneca Wallace? Charlie Batch? Hell, Joe Montana?

Your argument is hard to follow here. You seem to be saying that strong arms are a mark of a starter, while weak arms make you a backup. And then you cite Pennington, who was a weak-armed starter for years until his body gave out, and Joe friggin’ Montana. You’re saying Montana got booted out of San Fran because they got tired of his weak arm?

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**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/86 "2010-10-10T00:32:48Z")

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> [@EllisDee](#):
>
> Your argument is hard to follow here. You seem to be saying that strong arms are a mark of a starter, while weak arms make you a backup. And then you cite Pennington, who was a weak-armed starter for years until his body gave out, and Joe friggin’ Montana. You’re saying Montana got booted out of San Fran because they got tired of his weak arm?

Actually Pennington lost his starting job so many times he won the Comeback player of the year award twice. He got lucky in his last two years because of the wildcat in miami where he didn’t have to throw at all.

My point with pennington and montana is that having only great touch doesn’t mean you can be a starter in the NFL, while those who continue to throw with power (Farve) can.

Anyhoo…I feel much better about picking Chicago over Carolina. Deangelo Williams is sick and Steve Smith is out.

Coolest Nickname heard this week on sportscenter: Darren “Run DMc” McFadden. 😃

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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/87 "2010-10-10T16:27:09Z")

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> [@Superhal](#):
>
> My point with pennington and montana is that having only great touch doesn’t mean you can be a starter in the NFL, while those who continue to throw with power (Farve) can.

I still don’t understand what you’re saying, since your examples (Pennington and Montana) are counter-examples of your point.

Pennington won comeback of the year twice not because he got second chances after sucking but because he twice had season-ending career-theatening surgeries on his already weak throwing shoulder, only to come back both times and play well.

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**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/88 "2010-10-10T18:34:00Z")

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The Bengals are sloppy, sloppy, sloppy on offense. Penalties, dropped passes and poor o-line play are killing this team.

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**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/89 "2010-10-10T18:46:52Z")

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Every time you kick a field goal from the one yard line god kills a kitten.

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**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/90 "2010-10-10T18:49:00Z")

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ED - any insight into the Giants game? Is the NY defense doing really well, or has Houston’s offense sputtered?

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**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/91 "2010-10-10T19:24:55Z")

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The Redskins offensive line is ass.

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**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/92 "2010-10-10T19:54:21Z")

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> [@Superhal](#):
>
> Seriously? Are you telling me Chad Pennington doesn’t have a starting job today in spite of his mastery of the short pass? Seneca Wallace? Charlie Batch? Hell, Joe Montana?

I know you already addressed this, but I need more. Is this a random list, or what? Chad Pennington was a very good starting quarterback until his arm fell apart twice, and he still held a starting job until he was 33. Seneca Wallace is in fact starting today, and nobody in any world anywhere has ever said his name and the word “mastery” in the same sentence until you did. Charlie Batch is 36 and was never notable for his accuracy.

And Joe Montana was a good starting quarterback at the age of 38, at which point he _retired because of how old he was_. And that was in 1994. And he was Joe fucking Montana.

Seriously, this isn’t like 99% of the incredibly false things that fly around these football threads. I need you to tell me what this is a list of or I’ll never be able to move on.

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**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/93 "2010-10-10T19:58:02Z")

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Lions are crushing the Rams 37 -6. They have dominated every phase of the game. Just like everyone figured, except SUPERHAL.

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/94 "2010-10-10T20:01:33Z")

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Looks like KC lost - no more undefeated teams this year.

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**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/95 "2010-10-10T20:15:43Z")

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> [@gonzomax](#):
>
> Lions are crushing the Rams 37 -6. They have dominated every phase of the game. Just like everyone figured, except SUPERHAL.

Make that 44 to 6.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/96 "2010-10-10T20:31:24Z")

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Buccaneers knock off Bengals!

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**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/97 "2010-10-10T20:38:46Z")

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Skins knock off Packers!

!

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/98 "2010-10-10T20:39:53Z")

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Lions knock off… _anyone_! Topsy turvy league! Dogs and cats living together!

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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/99 "2010-10-10T20:45:54Z")

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> [@Munch](#):
>
> ED - any insight into the Giants game? Is the NY defense doing really well, or has Houston’s offense sputtered?

The Giants defense played roughly the same as last week, but since Schaub isn’t Cutler and it’s not Martz calling plays, they were able to get the ball out fast enough to avoid sacks. The defensive line pressure is basically a carbon copy from Sunday night, so even though there weren’t that many sacks, many of the passes got deflected or were thrown in a panic, thus being easy incompletions.

One thing of note the Giants were able to do is completely shut down the zone blocking scheme, which is why Foster went nowhere. Moose touched on how/why they were able to do this, but the beers were working their magic on me and I don’t remember what he said. Moose wanted them to pull Foster for Derrick Ward, but instead they pulled Foster for Slaton at the half. (Both are better runners than Foster for the man blocking scheme, whatever that means.) By that time the game was so out of hand they had to pass anyway, so it didn’t much matter.

The offense pulled it together against a weak Texans secondary, though in fairness the offense looked much the same as they did against the Titans, moving it up and down the field at will. The difference is instead of shooting themselves in the foot in the redzone, they were able to punch it in for touchdowns.

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**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/100 "2010-10-10T20:50:38Z")

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That was a good game in Washington. Packers were snakebit with injuries and penalties again, but Rodgers really lost the game throwing an INT deep in his own territory in OT. At least Favre throws them in the redzone.

Congratulations to the Lions for clicking and having a dominating game. Even as a fan of a division rival I still want to see Detroit pull out of their perpetual doldrums and be a vital team.

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