2014 NFL Preview: A Preamble

I have the time, the wherewithal and the want to put forth an NFL preview this off season. The plan is to take a look forward by conference of the upcoming campaign and an overarching view of the upcoming season. I'm not sure if I want to do a fantasy portion this season, although the topic is one in which I enjoy both the thought about and enjoyment it is quite the undertaking. So without further ado let us take a journey into the season past and reminisce a bit.

The current state of the NFL strategically, a fascinating microcosm of old school stalwarts, new school ideas, appropriations of by gone strategies and a reconfiguring of decision making that leave many hesitant to accepting the changes that have come about by a new influx of ideas from the college ranks and from statistical analysis. The old stalwarts continue to be argued for by those who learned, played and watched the game for the last 30 years. The foundations of this school of thought are a running game as the starting place for an offense. Defenses that reduce risk and bend but don't break and tactics that are based on gut instincts and conventional wisdom built over many decades. The new school ideas, a passing game that drives the offense, blitzing multiple defenses that take risks and increase the chance of big plays in both directions and more liberal chances taken on third down and when in field goal range. We are also in an era where starting at the more diverse college level we are seeing Wing-T constructs and a rediscovery of the merits of option based offenses leaking more and more into offensive play-calling. We have seen greater research into the risk-reward of play-calling both in the balance between the run and the pass and in aggressiveness on fourth downs both between punting and going for it and the benefits of a touchdown versus a field goal. All of these transformations and competing ideas make this a very exciting time to be an NFL fan and football enthusiast.

Well thanks for enduring my rambling, I look forward to taking a deeper dive into the NFL this preseason and hope to start conference previews soon to offset all of the college football previews I am hoping to get out before the football season begins.