Remember when receivers like Marvin Harrison, Michael Irvin, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss and Jerry Rice used to torch defenses for long touchdown passes on a weekly basis?
NFL highlight films used to show the long pass in slow motion set to beautiful music that accompanied the classic NFL, "Big Play."
Poetry in motion.
'Wha' happened?'
Have great quarterbacks like Brees, Big Ben, Brady and Manning been forced to throw shorter passes because of super talented secondaries, or is there another reason?
Is the NFL trying to make the QB a less relevant player?
Is it all about the numbers? Statistics can be deceiving. Big Ben had a 94 yard TD pass, but how far did he throw it?
http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/pl...singTouchdowns
"Shorter passes equal higher completion percentages."
True. In general, it's easier for a QB to make shorter passes compared to long passes, and the numbers prove it in college and pro football.
For the better, or worse though?
http://www.footballstudyhall.com/201...n-matt-barkley
Completion Rates For Different Pass Distances
Geno Smith was very good, but after 20 yards he was horrible.
EJ Manuel was very good, but after 15 yards he went in the tank too.
Is this what the NFL is turning in to? A dink and dunk league, with quarterbacks throwing mostly 5-10 yard passes?
The longest pass I can remember from last year's Super Bowl was thrown by Wilson late in the 4th quarter.
What was the longest completed pass Peyton Manning or Tom Brady made in last year's playoffs?
What happened to the amazing to see 40-50 yard pass down the sideline to an elite wide receiver that gave the NFL the, "Big Play?"