Rather than engage in the debate “Is the NFL better with dynasties or open competition?”, I would prefer to address the question of what led to the decline of dynasties in the NFL (with all due respect to the New England Patriots). Shorter tenures of coaches? The game is and always has been won by the players on the field. Fewer franchise quarterbacks? Although it may be the single most important position on a team, it is still a team game. Rule changes benefitting the offense? Maybe, but playing defense has always been reactionary, requiring more energy than offense. The draft? Please — we all realize what a crap shoot that process is.
I would submit that the decline can be readily traced to free agency, but not for the reasons you might surmise. If you review the recent dynasties (Cleveland and Baltimore in the 50’s, Green Bay in the 60’s, Miami and Pittsburgh in the 70’s, San Francisco in the 80’s, Dallas in the 90’s), the one thing they had in common was an offensive line that had been together as a unit for multiple seasons. Offensive line play establishes the running game, protects quarterbacks and keeps the defense off the field. From the 50’s to the 70’s, offensive linemen were groomed for 2-3 years (much as quarterbacks were) and the units were kept together as players could play into their mid-30’s. Imagine trying to orchestrate 5 huge bodies (250 lbs. average in that era), moving in unison within close quarters, cross-blocking, trapping, pulling — all at full speed, without running into each other – that precision did not happen in one training camp!
Today’s offensive linemen exceed that weight average by more than 50 lbs. and due to free agency do not stay together as a unit for 5-6 years, as in the past. I would submit that precision in OL play has been lost. To paraphrase Mike Tyson, “All the strategy in the world goes out the window after I hit you in the mouth!”, I would state that it doesn’t matter if you run a pro-style offense, run-and-shoot, shotgun spread, wishbone or single wing, if my “big eaters” whip your “big eaters”, I’m probably going to win.
As you’re enjoying the U.S. Open at beautiful Torre Pines, feel free to comment, debate, or totally trash my hypothesis.
From the Texas heat in Big D,
Long Ball
