Post by atpnfl on Oct 22, 2013 15:38:56 GMT
Week 7 in the NFL was one of the worst weeks in league history for injuries. There were a large number of high profile injuries, with at least four being season ending. This seems to be the recurring theme for the 2013 season, with a large number of name brand players having gone down with serious injuries that have either placed them out for a large chunk of the regular season, or with the increasing number of Achilles and ACL/MCL tears, until early next summer.
So many injuries have major impacts on the seasons of the teams they effect, so here are the highest profile names who went down:
With so many season ending injuries having occurred this season, speculation is rife with their cause throughout the league, and one of the causes is plain to see. Over the past few years the league has, rightly so, attempted to remove the head as an element of the game as much as possible, and to administrate as many injury causing plays out of the game as possible. The unforeseen side effect of this is that defenders, in an attempt to prevent penalisation and fines, have lowered their strike zone, which for decades had been the upper chest and head zone to the waist and leg areas, ultimately making plays at the opponents knees. This accounts for the vast number of ACL and knee injuries as a whole, as it appears the league has traded possible cognitive injuries later in life for season ending, and possibly career ending injuries now. Another reason though is that with the shift away from defenders being able to truly stop their opponents to a pass happy league, and the lack of padded practice throughout the week, basic fundamentals of tackling are being left behind, with players instead lowering their shoulders and helmets and going for the big hit in an attempt to dislodge the ball. This makes for exciting games to watch, but the end result is that more injuries are being caused, and the league will have to look at their rulebook and see whether the ending of current player’s careers is really the price they want to pay for increased “safety” throughout the game.
So many injuries have major impacts on the seasons of the teams they effect, so here are the highest profile names who went down:
- Jay Cutler QB Chicago Bears: Chicago have shown vast improvement on offence over the course of the season, with Cutler laying claim to the Offensive Player of the Year award come February, but with his injury, a torn groin muscle, is places the entire Bears season in question, as well as his career. This defence is not the dominant force is was under Lovie Smith, and next year’s quarterback class is filled with talent who should translate well to the NFL. In a contract year, if the Bears don’t play well for the rest of the season, it is entirely possible that the management in Chicago could let Cutler go, and start fresh with a new face under centre.
- Brian Cushing LB Houston Texans: Cushing has torn his LCL and a broken fibula on the same knee that he injured last year. Having got a major contract extension in the offseason, Cushing’s going nowhere, but this could easily mean the end of the Texans season. Case Keenum showed a spark on Sunday, but with both Arian Foster and Ben Tate down with injuries this offence will struggle to function, and the defence has not looked right this season, despite Cushing and J.J Watt playing like the monsters they are. Call it a hunch, but it’s entirely possible that Gary Kubiak is looking for a job if the Texans don’t make the playoffs in January.
- Reggie Wayne WR Indianapolis Colts: Wayne recorded his 1000th career reception this season, and with Andrew Luck at the helm, the Colts were forming into a juggernaut offence that could win in any situation. Then thanks partially to a bad throw by Luck, a bad plant by Wayne caused him to tear his ACL. With the loss of Wayne, there is a concern that the offence might stall due to the lack of an experienced skilled WR able to play the middle of the field, but the Colts are the class of the AFC South at the moment and should continue to be so. This injury means more for Wayne’s career than it does for the Colts season, but it is something to keep an eye on.
- Sam Bradford QB St Louis Rams: The Rams had very little going for them this season, with the defence appearing to have regressed and Brian Schottenheimer seemingly incapable of being able to use this offence to the best of their ability. The loss of Bradford, who is another torn ACL, just compounds the problem. At 3-4, they have been competitive in most games, but without a solid back up the Rams season is circling the drain right now, and it’s entirely possible they could take a quarterback early in the first round this year.
- Doug Martin RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This injury is probably the least important on this list, regardless of its importance to the player. We wish the best to Martin, who could be back before January depending on the severity of the tear in his labrum, but the Bucs have been so bad this season it makes little difference. With McGlennon (thank you Game Day Morning for the nickname) at QB they are playing little better than with Josh Freeman, and Schiano could easily lose his job before the end of the season if things get any worse.
With so many season ending injuries having occurred this season, speculation is rife with their cause throughout the league, and one of the causes is plain to see. Over the past few years the league has, rightly so, attempted to remove the head as an element of the game as much as possible, and to administrate as many injury causing plays out of the game as possible. The unforeseen side effect of this is that defenders, in an attempt to prevent penalisation and fines, have lowered their strike zone, which for decades had been the upper chest and head zone to the waist and leg areas, ultimately making plays at the opponents knees. This accounts for the vast number of ACL and knee injuries as a whole, as it appears the league has traded possible cognitive injuries later in life for season ending, and possibly career ending injuries now. Another reason though is that with the shift away from defenders being able to truly stop their opponents to a pass happy league, and the lack of padded practice throughout the week, basic fundamentals of tackling are being left behind, with players instead lowering their shoulders and helmets and going for the big hit in an attempt to dislodge the ball. This makes for exciting games to watch, but the end result is that more injuries are being caused, and the league will have to look at their rulebook and see whether the ending of current player’s careers is really the price they want to pay for increased “safety” throughout the game.