Instead of calling for a fresh batch of questions, this week, I thought I’d empty out a few stray queries that found their way to my inbox and the site’s chat.
Kahlyn Kahler did an interesting article in the athletic earlier this year about the combine meeting where all the assistant coaches get together and do a survey on salaries
Guys, the video game character for Goff? Easy. He’s Link from Legend of Zelda. Skinny, unassuming blonde dude, underestimated by everyone, but at the end of the day, whether it’s through his resourcefulness, his motivation that he’s acquired from past trials, or his undeniable skill, he will absolutely get the job done.
St. Brown does not do QB give up slides but it seems about 1/4 of the time he goes down on his own when he has the first down and is about ready to get smashed.
Better to have a first down one yard shorter than a first down and an injured St. Brown.
I agree with Michael’s assessment of St-Brown. It’s not so much that he’s using the qb slide, I just notice that his awareness of the players on the field leads him to go down before taking hits when it’s going to come from multiple players. It makes him in my mind just so intelligent on the field. How many times do we see WR struggling to gain an unnecessary extra yard with one defender holding them by the legs only to get the ball knocked out by another one or two defenders coming to clean up the play? That will never happen with him because of his awareness. Just my two cents.
Exactly! He definitely goes down before contact fairly frequently but it seems to happen more often when he's in the middle of the field and already has a first down or is already down low catching a ball Goff put there to protect him. His awareness helps keep him from taking the brutal shots on a regular basis.
As a gamer who is reaching retirement age (though I may never fully retire) your section comparing Detroit Lions to video game characters was worth the subscription fee I paid this month on its own!
I also like the idea of Dan
Campbell being M. Bison (the boss), Aaron Glenn being Balrog (the enforce), Dave Fipp being Vega (crazy dude), and Ben Johnson being Sagat (second strongest next to Bison).
As for Ben Johnson’s OC salary, why in the world should the Lions care about the rest of the league? Obviously I don’t need to recount the last 50 years versus the rest of the league. We owe them nothing.
Because they'll ultimately pay the price, as well. Raise Ben Johnson's salary, you have to raise Dan Campbell's salary, and the DC's salary, and the tight end coach's salary. No one raise lives in a vacuum and agents for coaches will use it to drive up prices across the league. There's zero reason to pay somebody double/triple the highest-paid person at their position.
Fair enough, but when receivers are making $30 million and QBs $50 million per, there seems to be relative value in paying coordinators, who unlike players don’t count against the cap. If Ben Johnson is worth an extra $2 million, we should pay him that rather than lose him (unless for him it’s more about the challenge of having his own team). If other coaches see that and want more, then the Lions have to evaluate whether they are worth the extra, and if not say no. I don’t really buy the “it drives up prices” argument when the top players are making ten times more. It’s a comparative value to pay top coaches, especially given the no-cap ramifications.
The players money is a direct cost driven by formula as set in the league's collective bargaining agreement between the players and owners. The money left over has to cover all the rest of the operation, including overhead and salaries. I'm not privy to the books but I'm guessing most teams run a modest surplus.
I do agree that St. Brown smartly goes down when there’s no point in absorbing more contact. He doesn’t do the QB slide, but he definitely doesn’t fight for the last inch unless we need it.
I forget where he mentioned it, either on Netflix or his show, but he mentioned being smarter about taking unnecessary hits. I've definitely noticed that in his play
I would actually go with wolverine for Brian Branch. Like BB is with the good guys but sometimes he is a bad guy - double birds to the fans. What is weird though is he is not really a bad guy and we all know it, but it is a fine line and that explains the entire arc of wolverine. And wolverine is the best and so is BB.
Does this mean after I finally figure out what a cover 2 or press coverage is I’m gonna have to start gaming?
Kahlyn Kahler did an interesting article in the athletic earlier this year about the combine meeting where all the assistant coaches get together and do a survey on salaries
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5354248/2024/03/25/nfl-position-coaches-salaries-confidential/
Saint said somewhere that he was saving his body by going down instead of taking the hit.
Guys, the video game character for Goff? Easy. He’s Link from Legend of Zelda. Skinny, unassuming blonde dude, underestimated by everyone, but at the end of the day, whether it’s through his resourcefulness, his motivation that he’s acquired from past trials, or his undeniable skill, he will absolutely get the job done.
I couldn’t agree more. Well done.
Loved the question on the various metrics. Really helpful
St. Brown does not do QB give up slides but it seems about 1/4 of the time he goes down on his own when he has the first down and is about ready to get smashed.
Better to have a first down one yard shorter than a first down and an injured St. Brown.
If I was the Colts, I'd target Arnold with deep passes every play, hoping for a PI. Thoughts? If he plays, that is. Great way to get chunk yardage.
Sadly out
I agree with Michael’s assessment of St-Brown. It’s not so much that he’s using the qb slide, I just notice that his awareness of the players on the field leads him to go down before taking hits when it’s going to come from multiple players. It makes him in my mind just so intelligent on the field. How many times do we see WR struggling to gain an unnecessary extra yard with one defender holding them by the legs only to get the ball knocked out by another one or two defenders coming to clean up the play? That will never happen with him because of his awareness. Just my two cents.
Exactly! He definitely goes down before contact fairly frequently but it seems to happen more often when he's in the middle of the field and already has a first down or is already down low catching a ball Goff put there to protect him. His awareness helps keep him from taking the brutal shots on a regular basis.
As a gamer who is reaching retirement age (though I may never fully retire) your section comparing Detroit Lions to video game characters was worth the subscription fee I paid this month on its own!
I also like the idea of Dan
Campbell being M. Bison (the boss), Aaron Glenn being Balrog (the enforce), Dave Fipp being Vega (crazy dude), and Ben Johnson being Sagat (second strongest next to Bison).
As for Ben Johnson’s OC salary, why in the world should the Lions care about the rest of the league? Obviously I don’t need to recount the last 50 years versus the rest of the league. We owe them nothing.
Because they'll ultimately pay the price, as well. Raise Ben Johnson's salary, you have to raise Dan Campbell's salary, and the DC's salary, and the tight end coach's salary. No one raise lives in a vacuum and agents for coaches will use it to drive up prices across the league. There's zero reason to pay somebody double/triple the highest-paid person at their position.
Fair enough, but when receivers are making $30 million and QBs $50 million per, there seems to be relative value in paying coordinators, who unlike players don’t count against the cap. If Ben Johnson is worth an extra $2 million, we should pay him that rather than lose him (unless for him it’s more about the challenge of having his own team). If other coaches see that and want more, then the Lions have to evaluate whether they are worth the extra, and if not say no. I don’t really buy the “it drives up prices” argument when the top players are making ten times more. It’s a comparative value to pay top coaches, especially given the no-cap ramifications.
The players money is a direct cost driven by formula as set in the league's collective bargaining agreement between the players and owners. The money left over has to cover all the rest of the operation, including overhead and salaries. I'm not privy to the books but I'm guessing most teams run a modest surplus.
I do agree that St. Brown smartly goes down when there’s no point in absorbing more contact. He doesn’t do the QB slide, but he definitely doesn’t fight for the last inch unless we need it.
I forget where he mentioned it, either on Netflix or his show, but he mentioned being smarter about taking unnecessary hits. I've definitely noticed that in his play
Master Chief and Crash are so perfect. Well done and thanks as always for the thoughtful responses!!
I would actually go with wolverine for Brian Branch. Like BB is with the good guys but sometimes he is a bad guy - double birds to the fans. What is weird though is he is not really a bad guy and we all know it, but it is a fine line and that explains the entire arc of wolverine. And wolverine is the best and so is BB.
Goff is "Mr. Perfect"
Loved the video game question and answer. Great stuff.