Franchise12

I think this game we will utilize thomas' abilities on the outside and pair him up with vrabel. I think you will see this when clark is not in the slot. Thomas and vrabel will give us a relentless pass rush and keep colvin fresh. the patriots always have something new for the colts and thomas on the outside is something that teams havent really seen on tape. MY guess is we've been limiting his abilities for now and the second half of the season when the D usually picks up steam.

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BelichickFan

They may do a little something here and there but in general Vrabel and Colvin will be outside - they're an excellent pair. Thomas will have a lot of responsibility on Dallas Clark.

BradyManny

I wonder if this will be the first time they really mix it up with Thomas this season. So far, he's pretty much been strictly inside, rush the passer occassionally, they haven't done anything too tricky b/c they haven't had to.

But I agree, Colvin-Vrabel on the outside is great, no need to mess with it. I think we'll see a combo of Thomas & Harrison covering Clark, when Rodney gets the call, then Thomas' pass rush ability comes into play. Between the two of them, they can get really physical with Clark and hopefully minimize the damage he can inflict on us.

SVN

i think the dallas game was an indicator of some of the things the pats were trying. They will play rodney,sanders and wilson together. Probably put wilson or sanders on clark. Rodney will be like a linebacker/safety.

spacecrime

If you want to keep the D fresh, it is more important to rotate the ILBs, not the OLBs. They're the guys who get tired quicker. Keep that Bruschi-Seau-Thomas ILB rotation in tact.

Oswlek

Ditto.

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shmessy

I agree. If you move Thomas outside, then you are relying on Bruschi and Seau for the whole game at ILB.....or moving Vrabel to rotate inside at ILB. Either way - - Me no likee.

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FreeTedWilliams

Dallas Clark and Antonio Gates ARE THE REASON THAT THOMAS IS IN THE INSIDE. Vrabel and Colvin (who had an absolute MONSTER 1st half in last years AFCCG, then got hurt/flu) will be on the outside, stuffing the run and pressuring Peyton. As an Inside LB, Thomas will be responcible for Clark down the seam (exactly where he killed us last year). Thomas has the speed and the size to stay with Clark and if he shuts him down, the Colts are in trouble. Colvin was getting to Manning last year, with great regularity, I watched the Panthers get to Manning many times last week, and he (like all other QBs) is just not as good when he is rushed.

I was hoping that by this time Merriweather would have stepped up his game, and would be a big part of the gameplan (ala the suprise addition of Pierre Woods into the Indy defense last year) but after some early good showings, he seems to have disappeared.

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