Several factors favor NFL pass defense over pass offense:
1. Advanced scouting. The Legion of Boom is known for studying tape, and knowing the pass tendencies of other teams as well as they do. Someone in the shoutbox brought this up earlier in the year, noting that Sherman studies football tape on nights and weekends instead of partying. Here is one of the many articles about it: http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2013/09/richard-sherman-thanks-prep... The article says that The Seahawks have a scout team that has the tendencies of the team that the 'Hawks are trying to beat.
2. Add to that the psychological aspect of the game. Sherman and other LOBers actively sell their position as if it is uncovered when it really is covered.
3. If the foreknowledge of routes is equal, then the defense is favored for the reason that the defense is already downfield, while the offense has to run to get downfield. This gives the defense extra time to watch the quarterback and see where he is going to throw to.
4. Footballs can only be thrown so fast. Hang time favors the defense, and there is always some hang time. Its not laser tag. Also, arm strength for a quarterback is less rare than the speed of an NFL corner. A star beer league quarterback may have all the mustard of a pro, but he's not playing against Richard Sherman.
5. The game is rigged against the offense. A pass offense has to make a dozen or so passes per game to be successful. A defense has to make only a few interceptions per game to be successful. Also, deflections count for something on defense, but they count for nothing on offense. If neither side catches the ball, defense wins.
Contrast the sophistication and study of the Legion of Boom against your average beer league college flag football stars and you can see why beer league might favor the offense while pro league might favor the defense With no advanced scouting, it is the seeing against the blind; The flag football offense knows what it is going to throw, while the defense is completely clueless. Also, flag football is usually played on part of a 50 yard field, which leads to a higher scoring game; Dr. D's legendary Hail Mary passes might look kind of short on a full size field.
Add new comment
1