NFL or bust

3 downs just aren’t enough

Derek Rosin, Volunteer Staff

A debate between the merits of the NFL and the CFL? While we’re at it, why not compare Led Zeppelin to Nickelback, Dom Perignon to Lucky Lager, or Seinfeld to Corner Gas? This will be easier than kicking a rouge from the five-yard line.

I have long assumed that people only claimed to like the CFL out of a demented sense of Canadian nationalism, stubbornly upholding a clearly worse game, their arguments buttressed by little more than inferiority-complex-induced denial.

Let’s start with the most obvious factor that makes the NFL better: talent. Simply put: the NFL has it, the CFL doesn’t. Athletes play in the NFL because they’re the best in their sport. Athletes play in the CFL because they weren’t good enough to make the NFL.

Don’t believe me? Just watch the games. The athleticism of NFL players is phenomenal. Running backs sprint faster, receivers jump higher, and linemen hit harder. In the NFL, the defences are so good that successful passes have to be rifled at finger-breaking speeds through the tiniest of openings — the difference between completions and interceptions is often just inches. In the CFL, sloppy secondary coverage can get a receiver several strides in the clear, but the lousy wobbly floaters thrown by the quarterback will still end in picks.

This reminds me that CFL fans do have an edge on me in one respect. When I watch an NFL quarterback having a bad season by throwing a bunch of interceptions and showing all the mobility of an ankle-bracelet-monitored Lindsay Lohan, all I can think of is when the backup is coming in. CFL fans, on the other hand, start salivating knowing that the guy is likely going to be the CFL’s next MVP.

It’s not only the inferior player’s fault though, as the -down rules of the CFL are also a problem. Having only two plays to safely make a first down before kicking it away means that

Air it out, incomplete. Air it out, incomplete. Punt. Repeat.

riskier plays are common. It sounds exciting, but more often than not it ends up in the following pattern: air it out, incomplete. Air it out, incomplete. Punt. Repeat.

I’d rather spend an hour watching MTV trying to figure out who the hell Tila Tequila is and why anyone would want a “shot at love” with her than sit through one more quarter of that ball-dropping, punt-saturated amateur-fest again.

In the NFL, on the other hand, the 4-down rules and tighter field means that every yard is more tightly contested. What to the untrained eye looks like huge men bashing into one another reveals itself to be a fascinating war of position, where the tactical moves of coaches and co-ordinators can lead to gain or loss, first down, or sack.

Whenever this discussion breaks out, a CFL proponent will usually begin slurring his way through an explanation of how there’s more scoring in the 3-down game. There are two things to say about this. First of all, the scoring difference isn’t that great. In 2007, CFL teams scored an average of 24.5 points per game. This compares to an NFL average of 20.1 points per game per team for their last full season, in 2006. So we’re talking a little more than a field goal per team. Secondly, since when is high-scoring the “sine qua non” of good gridiron? It’s true with football, as it is with other sports, that if you don’t understand the game very well, you’re more partial to high-scoring matches. After all, it’s obvious: someone scores, and you know when to cheer. But real fans know that good defence can be just as compelling and interesting as long-bombs and touchdowns.

Just look at the Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker Ray Lewis in his prime a few years ago. Reading the field with Gretzky-like awareness, Lewis could anticipate the play, then strike with “Madeline Albright-esque” ferociousness to kill any gain. Some games it seemed like he was in on every tackle. It was beautiful. Today, the Chicago Bears’ Brian Urlacher evokes similar feelings. If these guys played in the CFL the league scoring average would drop to zero.

To sum up: if all you want to do is pound the pilsners and cheer for the home team, “’Nuck” ball will do. But for real football fans that want to see the greatest game with the greatest players, it’s the NFL or nothing.

Derek Rosin is a recent graduate of the U of W.





Volume 95 Issue 13	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	November 14, 2007

Home About Us Advertising Rates Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Volunteer Online Classifieds St. Vincent's Academy Diaries	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly NFL or bust 3 downs just aren’t enough Derek Rosin, Volunteer Staff A debate between the merits of the NFL and the CFL? While we’re at it, why not compare Led Zeppelin to Nickelback, Dom Perignon to Lucky Lager, or Seinfeld to Corner Gas? This will be easier than kicking a rouge from the five-yard line. I have long assumed that people only claimed to like the CFL out of a demented sense of Canadian nationalism, stubbornly upholding a clearly worse game, their arguments buttressed by little more than inferiority-complex-induced denial. Let’s start with the most obvious factor that makes the NFL better: talent. Simply put: the NFL has it, the CFL doesn’t. Athletes play in the NFL because they’re the best in their sport. Athletes play in the CFL because they weren’t good enough to make the NFL. Don’t believe me? Just watch the games. The athleticism of NFL players is phenomenal. Running backs sprint faster, receivers jump higher, and linemen hit harder. In the NFL, the defences are so good that successful passes have to be rifled at finger-breaking speeds through the tiniest of openings — the difference between completions and interceptions is often just inches. In the CFL, sloppy secondary coverage can get a receiver several strides in the clear, but the lousy wobbly floaters thrown by the quarterback will still end in picks. This reminds me that CFL fans do have an edge on me in one respect. When I watch an NFL quarterback having a bad season by throwing a bunch of interceptions and showing all the mobility of an ankle-bracelet-monitored Lindsay Lohan, all I can think of is when the backup is coming in. CFL fans, on the other hand, start salivating knowing that the guy is likely going to be the CFL’s next MVP. It’s not only the inferior player’s fault though, as the -down rules of the CFL are also a problem. Having only two plays to safely make a first down before kicking it away means that Air it out, incomplete. Air it out, incomplete. Punt. Repeat. riskier plays are common. It sounds exciting, but more often than not it ends up in the following pattern: air it out, incomplete. Air it out, incomplete. Punt. Repeat. I’d rather spend an hour watching MTV trying to figure out who the hell Tila Tequila is and why anyone would want a “shot at love” with her than sit through one more quarter of that ball-dropping, punt-saturated amateur-fest again. In the NFL, on the other hand, the 4-down rules and tighter field means that every yard is more tightly contested. What to the untrained eye looks like huge men bashing into one another reveals itself to be a fascinating war of position, where the tactical moves of coaches and co-ordinators can lead to gain or loss, first down, or sack. Whenever this discussion breaks out, a CFL proponent will usually begin slurring his way through an explanation of how there’s more scoring in the 3-down game. There are two things to say about this. First of all, the scoring difference isn’t that great. In 2007, CFL teams scored an average of 24.5 points per game. This compares to an NFL average of 20.1 points per game per team for their last full season, in 2006. So we’re talking a little more than a field goal per team. Secondly, since when is high-scoring the “sine qua non” of good gridiron? It’s true with football, as it is with other sports, that if you don’t understand the game very well, you’re more partial to high-scoring matches. After all, it’s obvious: someone scores, and you know when to cheer. But real fans know that good defence can be just as compelling and interesting as long-bombs and touchdowns. Just look at the Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker Ray Lewis in his prime a few years ago. Reading the field with Gretzky-like awareness, Lewis could anticipate the play, then strike with “Madeline Albright-esque” ferociousness to kill any gain. Some games it seemed like he was in on every tackle. It was beautiful. Today, the Chicago Bears’ Brian Urlacher evokes similar feelings. If these guys played in the CFL the league scoring average would drop to zero. To sum up: if all you want to do is pound the pilsners and cheer for the home team, “’Nuck” ball will do. But for real football fans that want to see the greatest game with the greatest players, it’s the NFL or nothing. Derek Rosin is a recent graduate of the U of W.


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