It seems like a rare gift when the in-game commentary mentions the line play; it seems impossible to expect the post-game commentary to care about it. I think there's some reluctance to confront the fact that having smart, thoughtful people in the "smash their heads into each other" positions makes a big difference to the team. There was a time when all that was expected of the line was to be strong and tough, but since the 90s at least, so many of the best line players are great because they are strong and tough AND have a really deep understanding of the game.
Obligatory disclaimer - I'm not saying that the terrible toll it takes to be a line player in the NFL would be OK as long as they're not that smart to begin with. And it's totally possible that there's some other reason that we never talk about how smart you have to be to be an A-level NFL line player. But it definitely feels like most of the time when we talk about "skill" players we talk about individual ability, and when we talk about line players we talk about coaching decisions.
I'm consistently impressed when I hear current linemen interviewed about plays, or hear ex-linemen doing analysis on podcasts, etc. These guys are really sharp.
Off topic: what does the bedtime routine look like for your 10yo? I have a 9yo and I'm always interested in how other families do things.
Also the salesforce commercial definitely had me tricked into thinking it was like some environmental initiative or something. I found the coinbase QR code screensaver commercial quite clever.
Important background knowledge for the bedtime question: The Pip is an early riser; if he manages to stay in bed until 6am, I'll poke him awake, but that's an extremely rare occurrance. His bedtime is 8:30 pm, and by that point he's often just about asleep on the couch watching anime videos on his tablet. He won't take naps or move bedtime earlier, though.
He insists on having an adult in the room (sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed) as he goes to sleep, which usually doesn't take that long-- half an hour or so after lying down, he's snoring. This is a little tricky, though, because if I guess wrong and get up before he's all the way asleep, he wakes up and then takes FOREVER to go back to sleep. Every now and then, he still wakes up in the middle of the night and then wants someone to lie on the bed with him, which falls on Kate because I don't physically fit in the bed with him. Otherwise, we take turns sitting with him vs. sitting downstairs with SteelyKid (13), whose bedtime is an hour later, and who does homework right up to the deadline (and sometimes well past it).
Mine has always needed far less sleep than everyone wishes he needs 😂 He doesn’t need us in there anymore (his littler brother sleeps in the same room anyway and always goes to bed first) but he’ll not go to sleep usually until we do, around 10:30. Now he’s been in bed reading a lot earlier than 10:30 (and coming out for water, or another hug, etc). But he’ll still often be up by 7-730.
It seems like a rare gift when the in-game commentary mentions the line play; it seems impossible to expect the post-game commentary to care about it. I think there's some reluctance to confront the fact that having smart, thoughtful people in the "smash their heads into each other" positions makes a big difference to the team. There was a time when all that was expected of the line was to be strong and tough, but since the 90s at least, so many of the best line players are great because they are strong and tough AND have a really deep understanding of the game.
Obligatory disclaimer - I'm not saying that the terrible toll it takes to be a line player in the NFL would be OK as long as they're not that smart to begin with. And it's totally possible that there's some other reason that we never talk about how smart you have to be to be an A-level NFL line player. But it definitely feels like most of the time when we talk about "skill" players we talk about individual ability, and when we talk about line players we talk about coaching decisions.
I'm consistently impressed when I hear current linemen interviewed about plays, or hear ex-linemen doing analysis on podcasts, etc. These guys are really sharp.
I have a friend who briefly was a lineman for the Bears. He has an engineering degree from Stanford.
Off topic: what does the bedtime routine look like for your 10yo? I have a 9yo and I'm always interested in how other families do things.
Also the salesforce commercial definitely had me tricked into thinking it was like some environmental initiative or something. I found the coinbase QR code screensaver commercial quite clever.
Important background knowledge for the bedtime question: The Pip is an early riser; if he manages to stay in bed until 6am, I'll poke him awake, but that's an extremely rare occurrance. His bedtime is 8:30 pm, and by that point he's often just about asleep on the couch watching anime videos on his tablet. He won't take naps or move bedtime earlier, though.
He insists on having an adult in the room (sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed) as he goes to sleep, which usually doesn't take that long-- half an hour or so after lying down, he's snoring. This is a little tricky, though, because if I guess wrong and get up before he's all the way asleep, he wakes up and then takes FOREVER to go back to sleep. Every now and then, he still wakes up in the middle of the night and then wants someone to lie on the bed with him, which falls on Kate because I don't physically fit in the bed with him. Otherwise, we take turns sitting with him vs. sitting downstairs with SteelyKid (13), whose bedtime is an hour later, and who does homework right up to the deadline (and sometimes well past it).
Mine has always needed far less sleep than everyone wishes he needs 😂 He doesn’t need us in there anymore (his littler brother sleeps in the same room anyway and always goes to bed first) but he’ll not go to sleep usually until we do, around 10:30. Now he’s been in bed reading a lot earlier than 10:30 (and coming out for water, or another hug, etc). But he’ll still often be up by 7-730.