- Apr 10, 2011
- 981
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- AFL Club
- Melbourne
AFL is great for energy and excitement, but not particularly interesting for strategy. Even the most astute commentators can barely come up with anything more than "The've moved an extra man to this contest", or "They're playing a loose man in defence". Fortunately, the gameplay itself is extremely exciting.
NFL is completely different, and extremely enjoyable if you like tactical games. Yes, it's true, they don't spend much of the time actually doing anything, so if you need constant action and excitement in your sports diet I recommend ice hockey.
NFL is a bit like rock-paper-scissors, in that if you know what the opponent is going to do next you can cream them. Basically, it doesn't matter how outclassed the players on the field are (with perhaps the exception of your offensive line), if you know what your opponent is about to do you will crush them.
Therefore, the entire game is predicated on trying to obfuscate what you're about to do, while guessing what the opponent will anticipate or try to do. On the most basic level, you can think of it as "are they going to run the ball or throw it?" for each play, and in a sense that's the very first guess you have to make as the defensive team each play.
As the offensive team, then, you're thinking "are they going to play deep coverage with their linebackers, which means my running back might find a gap, or are their linebackers going to blitz, in which case I should throw it over them?". Each of those guesses has a whole host of other tactical selections and strategies related to it, which you'll learn over time if you observe the game. Fortunately NFL commentators are generally pretty knowledgeable and spend a reasonable amount of time explaining things in a way which you'll understand by about your third game.
It gets really awesome when you have quarterbacks like Peyton Manning who operate as an onfield strategist. When he sets up his offense, he'll start calling the snap count and as he's watching the defenders line up, he's calling out codes to tell his players how to alter their called play. It's like live-poker with 140kg missiles at your disposal. He's trying to bluff the best hand he can, while simultaneously hiding cards in his sleeve.
Once you're familiar with the game, it is GREAT to watch. Especially if you've recorded it on Tivo or something and can fast forward judiciously
