Alliance of American Football

[ELA]

Anyone going to watch?

I feel like this one might have a chance because it's doing something that I always thought was needed, not to try and establish new fanships, but build on existing ones by tying it to existing pro/college teams.  Plus the tv package seems solid.  Downside is the AAF and XFL might cannibalize each other.

I like how each franchise is linked to 4 pro teams, but it's still not a true minor league, I don't think the NFL teams retain any rights over those guys?  I'd like to see something like that, where each division is linked to a team, and then that team is also linked to a conference geographically.  It would be like 1/2 "minor leaguers" and 1/2 guys trying to get signed.

Link it something like

NFC East - AAC/CUSA
NFC North - Big Ten
NFC South - SEC
NFC West - Pac 12
AFC East - ACC
AFC North - MAC
AFC South - Big XII
AFC West - MWC/SBC

Then I've always said, don't worry about playing home games.  Either set up a host city for each division, obviously knowing that it's played in the winter and early spring so (Dallas, Detroit/Minnesota, Atlanta/New Orleans, Phoenix, Miami, maybe omit the AFC North, Indianapolis, LA) and then play all 4 games in a weekend in the same place, so you travel as a unit, and try and get a bunch of fans to come out one time so see a bunch of games.  Or alternatively, don't travel at all.  Set it up in LA or something, with a small stadium, maybe built as a tv stadium, so you can do some cool build ins with cameras you couldn't otherwise do.  Set up some niceish dorms and don't worry about having teams be "from" anywhere.  You cut travel costs, and make guys more willing to participate, because they know where they are going to be for the full season, and I don't think fans are going to care establish rooting interests based on local teams.  I might say, hey I kind of want to follow a team with Lions minor leaguers and a bunch of former Big Ten players on it.  I'd watch that.  Or some guy in Georgia might be willing to watch a team, not because they play in an empty stadium in Atlanta, but because the roster is full of Falcons minor leaguers and former SEC players.

Just my 2 cents

[ELA]

Seems like worrying about blitz pickup is non-existent, could lead to some high scoring games, that seems to be the only way to stop offenses, is to get to the QB

The most notable one is no kickoffs, which is something Polian insisted on if he was going to be involved. They did this because data they collected said the kickoff was largely a non-dynamic play where the largest number of injuries occurred. Also, fans and players dislike the kickoff on the whole, and it affects overall game time. Instead, the ball starts on the 25-yard line after each score or at the start of the game.

Instead of an onside kick, if a team is trailing by 17 points or there's five minutes or less left in the fourth quarter, a team can attempt an onside conversion. They get the ball on their own 28-yard line and have to convert a fourth-and-12. If they do, they keep the ball and keep going. Don't convert, and the opponent takes over from the point at which they stop them.

There are no extra point kicks, so a team is going for two after every touchdown.

Overtime rules have the ball starting on the 10-yard line with four downs and a two-point extra point if a team scores (field goals are not allowed).

There's also a significant change in pass-rushing rules for defenses. Teams can rush only five players and can't blitz players from the secondary. If you have five men on the line of scrimmage on defense, those are the only players who can rush. "With less than a month to get our teams ready to play, the hardest part to get cohesiveness in is the offensive line," Polian said. "So if we came with all the exotic blitzes that we see, which is basically coming out of the secondary, they couldn't pick it up and we're going to get quarterbacks hurt, and it's not much of a game, honestly. Nobody wants to see the quarterback sacked repeatedly."

With replays, officials won't have to go under the hood or watch a tablet. Instead, the official will have an earpiece to communicate directly on the field with the replay official in real time. All of this is designed to help shorten game times. The hope is for games to be two and a half hours or less.

[Brutus Buckeye]

I guess I'm rolling with the Columbus Destroyers, and what's left of the Arena League. 

[ALA2262]

7 questions about the AAF, the brand-new pro football league, answered
https://www.sbnation.com/2019/2/3/18186752/aaf-football-new-league-teams-season-what-is-it


It's time for more football with The Alliance (TV schedule)
https://aaf.com/its-time-for-more-football-with-the-alliance

[rolltidefan]

Seems like worrying about blitz pickup is non-existent, could lead to some high scoring games, that seems to be the only way to stop offenses, is to get to the QB

The most notable one is no kickoffs, which is something Polian insisted on if he was going to be involved. They did this because data they collected said the kickoff was largely a non-dynamic play where the largest number of injuries occurred. Also, fans and players dislike the kickoff on the whole, and it affects overall game time. Instead, the ball starts on the 25-yard line after each score or at the start of the game.
i guess i'm in the minority, but i like kickoffs. and maybe i've missed it, but i've never seen anyone provide the data that clearly shows they're more injuries on ko than other plays. it's always just seemed like conjecture based on belief that if players are running full speed more on ko then there must be more injuries. not saying it's false, just no one has ever provided an article or anything on it, just "data we collected" quotes. and, imo, ko are some of the most dynamic plays. then again, my bias toward cfb might be at play, i don't watch enough of nfl to get a feel for it in that setting.

Instead of an onside kick, if a team is trailing by 17 points or there's five minutes or less left in the fourth quarter, a team can attempt an onside conversion. They get the ball on their own 28-yard line and have to convert a fourth-and-12. If they do, they keep the ball and keep going. Don't convert, and the opponent takes over from the point at which they stop them.
this addresses the onside kick, and i think as far as giving the team a chance, it's fair. i wonder what the onside kick recovery % is vs what a 4th and 12 conversion % is.
but it doesn't address the surprise onside kick. i guess they just aren't worried enough about that to matter.
presumably they'll still have punts, in which case i think i'd rather have seen them just have teams punt from their own 25 or something. that way, you would still run a surprise fake. also would allow for the occasional return td and surprise sp team turnover.

There are no extra point kicks, so a team is going for two after every touchdown.
removing a ton of value from kickers.

Overtime rules have the ball starting on the 10-yard line with four downs and a two-point extra point if a team scores (field goals are not allowed).
that's interesting. a less difficult college style ot. with all of the discourse on the nfl ot rules, i wonder if they asked them to test this out for pro players and see how it goes with fans.

There's also a significant change in pass-rushing rules for defenses. Teams can rush only five players and can't blitz players from the secondary. If you have five men on the line of scrimmage on defense, those are the only players who can rush. "With less than a month to get our teams ready to play, the hardest part to get cohesiveness in is the offensive line," Polian said. "So if we came with all the exotic blitzes that we see, which is basically coming out of the secondary, they couldn't pick it up and we're going to get quarterbacks hurt, and it's not much of a game, honestly. Nobody wants to see the quarterback sacked repeatedly."
i have a feeling the 3-4 is going to be a popular base d in this league, so they can still have disguised rushers and stunts. if any team has a dominant dline, they'll dominate. 

i'll probably watch a little. i like the idea, and i'm happy i have the option of a close team to follow/go to games if i want. hoping it does well.

[FearlessF]

I'll give it a try.

It's live sport and it's similar to football, so it's high on my list when the TV is on.

[OrangeAfroMan]

Onside kick success rate, that I've found, is around 16% when the onside kick is expected.  
Unexpected, or surprise, onside kicks, the success rate jumps to around 42%.

[Cincydawg]

I wonder if someone will go for it on fourth down more often.  I tend to think teams should, depending on the situation, if they are outside their own 30 and its 4th and 2 or less.

The 42% figure surprises me, but then if a coach was known for kicking OS often, that would decline.

[Cincydawg]

As for the new league, for me, it's pretty much CFB and little else sportswise.

[MarqHusker]

I have limited bandwidth for anything TV related.  I may sneak a peek at this in one of my other TVs, but I can't envision a scenario where I commit to viewing.

Checking the schedules.  I predict San Diego draws the worst.  Birmingham the best. 

[rook119]

I might tune in for a few games. The players are getting paid a decent middle class salary so I hope the league succeeds. Unfortunately the stadiums are way too big for a league like this (Birmingham will yes probably turn out tho).

I do like kickoffs too well I did before everything because a touchback. XPs are fine w/ NFL rules. 4th and 12 as an onsides replacement is too easy, should be 4th and 15 at the minimum.  

[OrangeAfroMan]

I'm wondering how long ESPN is going to ignore it.  No scores or updates or anything, except a preseason primer.  Odd.

[RestingB!tchFace]

I like the premise.  Basically regional semi-pro football teams for players that went to school in those areas.  Obviously there are some exceptions.  Cobb (Gophers) plays for SA while three other former Gophers play for San Diego.  San Diego seems to be the most regionally diverse of all the AAF teams after skimming the rosters.  It would be cool if they could expand the league.  I have little doubt that they would have trouble filling the rosters....and I think that they could actually build up some decent fanbases if it's handled correctly.  Plus it gives players a chance to put some more tape out there for prospective NFL teams.

[ALA2262]

I have limited bandwidth for anything TV related.  I may sneak a peek at this in one of my other TVs, but I can't envision a scenario where I commit to viewing.

Checking the schedules.  I predict San Diego draws the worst.  Birmingham the best.

Orlando drew 20K and Birmingham had 17K. Orlando has 26 players from the Florida schools including five from UCF. Their home games are being played at UCF.