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sports Diahuebs 12 November 2020

Germany's Toni Kroos slams UEFA, FIFA over crowded schedule

(AP) — Germany and be June 2022.
Real Madrid midfielder Kroos said he felt such com-
Toni Kroos has criticized petitions were designed "to
soccer authorities UEFA suck everything out finan-
and FIFA for a crowded cially, and of course to suck
schedule, suggesting they everything physically out of
overlook players' interests every single player."
in favor of their own. Kroos also referred to plans
for a European super-league
"At the end of the day, we among the continent's top
players are just the puppets teams, saying it would lead
of FIFA and UEFA with all to a growing gap between the
these additional (compe- big and small clubs.
titions) that are invented. "Sometimes it's good to leave
Nobody is asked," Kroos things alone when they are
said Wednesday in a podcast good," said Kroos, whose
called "Einfach mal Luppen" employer, Real Madrid presi-
that he regularly hosts with dent Florentino Pérez, is one
his brother Felix Kroos, who of the main supporters of
plays for German second-di- the European Super League
vision team Eintracht Braun- plans.
schweig. Club World Cup to include be playing Nations League, FIFA had planned to launch
more clubs. nor a Spanish Super Cup a 24-team Club World Cup Kroos is due to join his
Toni Kroos referred to the in Saudi Arabia, nor a Club in China in June 2021 but Germany teammates on
international Nations League "If there was a players' union World Cup with 20 or more the coronavirus pandemic Thursday ahead of its Na-
tournament, which started in that could take decisions on teams," the 30-year-old has pushed that back and the tions League games against
2018, and plans to expand the these matters, we would not Kroos said. next available slot appears to Ukraine and Spain.

Plenty of reasons for record-setting scoring pace in NFL

(AP) – Passing has never In all, quarterbacks have
been easier and defens- rushed for 4,851 yards and
es are overmatched on a 63 TDs this season, the most
weekly basis. ever through nine weeks.
That's already 22 more touch-
Whether it was the virtual down runs for QBs than the
offseason that hampered de- next-highest seasons through
fensive development, a lack nine weeks in 2002 and 2019.
of screaming fans to hinder Aggressive coaches: With
road teams, rules changes a premium on scoring and
that always seem to favor the more influence from the ana-
offense or coaches willing lytics community, coaches
to be more aggressive, NFL have also gotten more aggres-
clubs are scoring at a record- sive. The 334 fourth-down
setting pace in 2020. tries are the most through
Teams are averaging 25.3 nine weeks since at least
points per game just past the 1991. Teams have converted
midway point of the season, 188 of those into first downs
easily exceeding the previous — 40 more than any other
record through nine weeks season at this juncture — and
of 24.8 in the 1961 AFL. The the 56.3% success rate is also
top mark in NFL history the best ever.
through nine weeks was 24 95.1 the highest ever through who's at home and who's on behind 96 in 2014, excluding Even the misses can contrib-
ppg in 2018. nine weeks and up more than the road, with teams averag- the 1987 strike season that ute to scoring by giving the
The high scoring has led to 10 points than at this point in ing 25.3 points per game in had three weeks of replace- opposing team better field
a record number of come- 2011. each instance. From 2010-19, ment players. The 13,049 position than after a punt.
backs, with 29 teams winning Here are some of the reasons home teams outscored road yards from scrimmage are the Flag football: From the
games after trailing by at least why scoring is up so much: teams by 2.0 points per game. most ever for rookies at this crackdown on hits against
10 points — one shy of the Home field disadvantage: Precocious rookies: The lack point of the season. defenseless receivers to the
record through Week 9 set The coronavirus pandemic of an offseason hasn't had a The quarterbacks have been protections in place for quar-
in the 1987 strike season. It has dealt a blow to home- major effect on the perfor- especially effective, with the terbacks, NFL rules always
has also led to 21 teams los- field advantage, with most mance of rookies, as the col- 96.1 rating for rookie QBs seem to tilt toward the of-
ing games when scoring at games this season being lege game is doing a better job easily exceeding the 79.3 fense. That's true again this
least 30 points, tied for the played without fans and even each year preparing players mark through nine weeks year with officials calling
second-most already for an those with supporters having for the transition to the pros. from the previous 10 seasons. fewer holding penalties.
entire season behind only the much smaller crowds. That Whether it's rookie quarter- DUAL THREAT qbs: The There have been 233 holding
27 in 2018. has eliminated the need for backs like Justin Herbert and quarterback position is no calls this season, down signif-
Teams are scoring on a stag- silent counts for road teams, Joe Burrow, dynamic receiv- longer reserved for stationary icantly from last year's total
gering 41.3% of their drives, making life much easier for ers like CeeDee Lamb and drop-back passers. The abil- of 446 through nine weeks.
up from 32% just a decade offenses. Justin Jefferson, or running ity to run on designed plays That has reduced the num-
ago and easily surpassing the Road teams are 67-65-1 this backs like Clyde Edwards- or scrambles has never been ber of drive-killing penalties
previous high since records season, marking the first time Helaire and James Robinson, a bigger part of the game, and also made it harder to
began being kept by SportRa- since 1983 (68-57-1) that teams are getting big contri- whether it's speedsters like sack quarterbacks. The sack
dar of 36.8% in 2018. they had a winning record butions from rookies. Kyler Murray and Lamar rate has dropped from 6.8%
Much of the offense has been through nine weeks. The class has combined for Jackson, or opportunistic ath- of pass plays through nine
fueled by the ease of passing, There has been no difference 94 touchdowns, the second- letes like Patrick Mahomes weeks last year to 5.9% this
with the average rating of in scoring when it comes to most through nine weeks and Josh Allen. season.