Late night bullshit: are you a defense or an offense fan? (Also, Poe.)

[Direckshun]

Let's make this a poll.

I personally have always been more partial to defense. I think a great defense is like art in motion. An offense can be powered by a great quarterback or an elite player here or there, but a great defense requires an orchestration from all parts that an offense doesn't always require. Sure it helps if the left guard cut-blocks the defensive end on the far side of the field so that Jamaal Charles can have an additional tenth-of-a-second darting towards the opposite side of the field, but a great defense requires 11 moving pieces.

In that sense, I enjoyed the 90s Chiefs more than the 2000s Chiefs, the lopsided-defense teams over the lopsided-offense teams.

I've loved the development of this defense under Pioli and Crennel. We have the best and deepest defensive line this team has had since the days of Dan Saleamua (sp?). Our passrush rivals Allen/Hali from the Herm Edwards days. And our secondary is one of the very best the NFL has to offer.

It's been a bit anticlimactic for me, however. When I watch the big-ass defensive line required by a 3-4 defense, what position holds more fascination than the nose tackle?

You're talking about a humongous brute, whose sheer size is so great he lines up directly over the center with the intention of simply pushing the guy back by being big. He exists on a very small (but crucial) part of the field, and is bigger than everybody else, stronger than everybody else, and on the best defenses, more ferocious than everybody else. We're talking about a guy so big that he creates injuries by simply falling on people.

It's like an invulnerable superhuman, and it just fascinates me to watch it. So little movement all over the field compared to everybody else. Yet the things happening between the hashes, going up against the heart of an offensive line built to punish defenders, totally outnumbered and outgunned, are among the most important on the field.

We finally got one. And he is not small, and he is immensely gifted. 6'4", 350 lbs. He's among the strongest the league has to offer. Among the fastest the league has to offer.

I wasn't thrilled about the pick, but in a way I'm glad we got him. We finally have a player who does things like this:





And you absolutely have to love the primal scream about :33 in when he's getting close to 44 reps...



You see the guys on the sidelines lighting up. It's magnetic. It's something no other position can really do for your defense. It colors the entire defense.

No particular point to this thread. Just a meditation on defense, the nose tackle, and Poe.

It's too easy to hate on this guy, folks. Let's get the positive mojo going.

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

That is kind of interesting.

I tend to think execution is the biggest reason for success (or failure) regardless of which side of the ball is playing.

Well, you aren't a casual fan.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Offense, specifically QB play.

Most important part of the game in today's NFL.

[tredadda]

I would have to say offense. I used to prefer defense, but the rules have changed so much that a defense's hands are tied, thusly minimizing the effect they can have on games.

[Chiefnj2]

Even with all the new rules, nothing is more demoralizing to a team than an offense that can line up and rush the ball at will. It was much more frustrating watching Tim Tebow run the ball successfully than it was Matt Moore throw TD passes.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by tredadda

I would have to say offense. I used to prefer defense, but the rules have changed so much that a defense's hands are tied, thusly minimizing the effect they can have on games.

Yep.

15 years ago, I would have said exactly what Tyton said.

[LOCOChief]

Originally Posted by Satanic Goat

And to answer your question, I have always preferred offense, but the smashmouth variety. I love watching a running game and a great running back crush the opposition's spirit.

Those days are gone, though.

\Those days are gone? The hope of a power running game is all we have.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by LOCOChief

\Those days are gone? The hope of a power running game is all we have.

Then logic would suggest we have no hope.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Then logic would suggest we have no hope.

The Jets made the AFC Championship game 2x in the last 3 years and the 49ers made it pretty far with a power running game.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

The Jets made the AFC Championship game 2x in the last 3 years and the 49ers made it pretty far with a power running game.

They were eventually over-matched by teams with elite QBs. Furthermore, one could argue that such football (ESPECIALLY the Jets) is akin to watching paint dry.

[Easy 6]

Thats like choosing between Cindy Crawford & Elle MacPherson... just cant do it.

Run crushing defense, spirit sapping run game... gotta have both.

[Mr. Arrowhead]

I love Defense, nothing more frustrating than watching a team run up and down the field on you. I enjoyed Marty's team a hell alot more than Vermiels teams.

[Red Brooklyn]

I've always been more of an offensive guy. But that started to shift when we drafted Tamba. His was the first Jersey I ever bought. I bought it after the draft before his first regular season game.

Ever sense, I've become more of a defensive fan. I get more excited to see our D play and our O play. But... frankly, that has a lot to do with Cassel also. His play gives me chest pains.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

They were eventually over-matched by teams with elite QBs. Furthermore, one could argue that such football (ESPECIALLY the Jets) is akin to watching paint dry.

The last time the Jets made it to the AFCCG against the Steelers, Pitt had about 2x as many rushing yards as the Jets and Sanchez had 100+ more yards than Rothlesberger (0TDs and 2 Ints). I don't believe the Jets fell because of elite QB play.

[DumbHillbillies]

I'm with u defense definitely. I loved watching neil smith and derrick thomas come of the ends in the 90s, jared allen and tamba hali in the 00s

[suzzer99]

Defense by far. A great offense is fun to watch, but they can still have on off game. A dominant D like the 90s Chiefs fires me up and makes me want to kill things. There's no play that fires me up more than a big sack.