Most predictable residue ever. It's identical to the decline in college basketball caliber of play once the 3 point shot was instituted.
The infatuation with passing has softened the league. I have numerous systems that rely on historical percentages of rushing attempts and this year many of them weren't even applicable. The Dolphins are a prime example, declining a full 4 rushes per game, from 509 in 2009 to 445 this season, despite the identical W/L record. Normally a decline of 64 rushes would mean 2 fewer wins. This season it's merely falling in line with the league trend. And somehow Sparano is considered a conservative coach. He was an idiotic coach, substituting short passes for rushes, the most masochistic choice imaginable.
Yesterday I posted the link to the late Bud Goode's awesome stat, Yards Per Pass Attempt Differential. It's obscene. There were only 4 teams at +1.0 or higher and only one above 2.0, a team that didn't make the playoffs (San Diego). I realize it's not a well known category but there have been years with more than a half dozen teams at +1.5 or higher. Neither of the #1 seeds even reached +1.0, when typically both will be above 2.0. I wouldn't have believed it was possible for a #1 seed (Atlanta) to have a negative YPPA Differential but they were -.2.
http://mule.he.net/~budsport/pub/killer.php