I'm here for Colts and Pats week

[workhorse]

Boy this game sure did look better before the season started. I'm not sure where to start, so I will start with a little reaction to the Titans game. I was surprised at how well the held the White/Johnson combo in check. The Colts D played well enough to win the game, but the offense never got clicking. It's obvious that rust with the lack of training camp and preseason still shows up. I thought the O-line did a decent job against one of the better front 7s in the league, I realize that KVB wasn't there, but Peyton was upright most of the game and Rhodes had running lanes. I sure am sick of seeing balls tipped by receivers getting picked. I think at least half of the picks this year should have been catches.

On to this weeks match up. The Colts are finally starting to get healthy. Minus Ryan Lilja, the starting left guard, the Colts are healthy on offense and had the closest thing to their projected line in the Titans game for the first time. Addai is expected to be back, though I'm not sure how much they will use him coming off the injury and with the success that Rhodes has had filling in. On defense Sanders should be back and Hayden will be close. Hagler, one of the projected starters at linebacker played for the first time since coming off the PUP list against the Titans.

This has been a Jeckle and Hyde team this season. They have only played one complete game this year, the Ravens game, but they looked awesome doing it. But it was the Ravens. Peyton and the receivers just aren't quite clicking. That said, they aren't too far off most of the time. Peyton has made some poor throws as a result trying to make something happen though. The running game is starting to come around, so that may make the play action more effective.

I'm not overly familiar with all of the injuries going on with the Patriots minus Brady, the running backs and Harrison. I haven't been following as closely this season since each team has their issue to make this year unlike the past. So, I'm not quite sure how much your injuries will impact things. Harrison being out should help the Colts running game. I've seen just enough o Cassel to know that he's playing, but not enough to see how well his decision making is going. He does seem to hold onto the ball for a while, that could be one area that plays into the Colts scheme. If Morris isn't back I think Faulk can be effective, but more as a receiver than a runner.

A couple questions and then I'll wait to see how you guys feel about the match up. One, is your line doing enough to allow your linebackers to drop back into coverage and are you guys comfortable with them matching up with Dallas? Two, how has your secondary been playing? The Denver game is probably hard to judge since Cutler was hurt right away and they were forced to play catch up. And last, how is the health of you O-line?

 

[JSn]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

Welcome (back, I assume)!

A lot of the concerns for this team on offense have been answered in the last two weeks. From watching last night's game, our offense, is better than the Titans with the possible exception of our O-Line.

Our secondary is tough to gauge, but they seem to do just enough to keep teams out of the EZ and our Red Zone D is downright excellent. Obviously a stress point in camp/practice.

Gonna be a fun game and I personally hope to see both teams playing well so it's a nice match-up.

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

Thanks for the breakdown of your team.......now with the gratuities out of the way the Colts suck

A couple questions and then I'll wait to see how you guys feel about the match up. One, is your line doing enough to allow your linebackers to drop back into coverage and are you guys comfortable with them matching up with Dallas? Two, how has your secondary been playing? The Denver game is probably hard to judge since Cutler was hurt right away and they were forced to play catch up. And last, how is the health of you O-line?

D line has played Good at times and been invisible at times but is coming off the best two week stretch for the unit.

THe LBers are playing much better in pass coverage than years past Mayo and Guytons speed have alot to do with it. I am comfortable with a lot of guys covering Dallas (Guyton, Mayo, Thomas, or Merriweather) though Dallas does seem to kill us.
Secondary is a hurting unit right now with the Loss of Rodney and Hobbs being his normal Hobled self. But Hobbs has stepped into his number one role and Merriweather has been a beast. Everyone else has had their moments good and bad. Overall I would say the unit could be playing better as whole but not the worst we have fielded under BB.
Knock on Wood the O-line seems to be healthy and we recently got back Neal off the Pup who should be just about ready for full game action...BB has been using a rotation until he gets his stamina up to football level.

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

Boy this game sure did look better before the season started. I'm not sure where to start, so I will start with a little reaction to the Titans game. I was surprised at how well the held the White/Johnson combo in check. The Colts D played well enough to win the game, but the offense never got clicking. It's obvious that rust with the lack of training camp and preseason still shows up. I thought the O-line did a decent job against one of the better front 7s in the league, I realize that KVB wasn't there, but Peyton was upright most of the game and Rhodes had running lanes. I sure am sick of seeing balls tipped by receivers getting picked. I think at least half of the picks this year should have been catches.

On to this weeks match up. The Colts are finally starting to get healthy. Minus Ryan Lilja, the starting left guard, the Colts are healthy on offense and had the closest thing to their projected line in the Titans game for the first time. Addai is expected to be back, though I'm not sure how much they will use him coming off the injury and with the success that Rhodes has had filling in. On defense Sanders should be back and Hayden will be close. Hagler, one of the projected starters at linebacker played for the first time since coming off the PUP list against the Titans.

This has been a Jeckle and Hyde team this season. They have only played one complete game this year, the Ravens game, but they looked awesome doing it. But it was the Ravens. Peyton and the receivers just aren't quite clicking. That said, they aren't too far off most of the time. Peyton has made some poor throws as a result trying to make something happen though. The running game is starting to come around, so that may make the play action more effective.

I'm not overly familiar with all of the injuries going on with the Patriots minus Brady, the running backs and Harrison. I haven't been following as closely this season since each team has their issue to make this year unlike the past. So, I'm not quite sure how much your injuries will impact things. Harrison being out should help the Colts running game. I've seen just enough o Cassel to know that he's playing, but not enough to see how well his decision making is going. He does seem to hold onto the ball for a while, that could be one area that plays into the Colts scheme. If Morris isn't back I think Faulk can be effective, but more as a receiver than a runner.

A couple questions and then I'll wait to see how you guys feel about the match up. One, is your line doing enough to allow your linebackers to drop back into coverage and are you guys comfortable with them matching up with Dallas? Two, how has your secondary been playing? The Denver game is probably hard to judge since Cutler was hurt right away and they were forced to play catch up. And last, how is the health of you O-line?

Workhorse -
You said 2 questions, but you gave 4.

The Pats secondary is a work in progress. The loss of Harrison is obvious. That being said, there is not a lot of drop off from the starting CBs to the Rookie CBs. Richardson, Wheatley (in limited time) and Wilhite have all been playing well.

The D-line has improved significantly since the Miami game. Though they do seem to be giving up too much running yardage at time, they do seem to be stacking up the line just at the right time to make the critical stop.

The linebackers are doing well. Mayo hasn't looked out of place. The matchup between him and Clark is going to be an interesting one.

The Patriots O-line is doing much better the last 2 games. Stephen Neal, the starting RG from last season who started this year on PUP, is being slowly brought back. The rotation of him and Yates seems to be working very well. Mark LaVoir has been a find at RT, more than solidifying that position. However, he will be tested against your front 4. I actually expect to see Freeney lined up across from him more than Mathis, but only time will tell that.

 

[Metaphors]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

Boy this game sure did look better before the season started.

Still gotta love Indy week. Interested to hear your take on Manning. I've noticed Manning's throws have looked different since (ironically) their SB year. His passes don't seem to have the same pace on them...they just seem to be in the air a loooooooong time.

Manning is still the best I've ever seen on timing routes...throwing to a spot, not a player...but he doesn't seem to be able to have the same success when stronger downfield throw is needed. You notice the same thing or am I imagining things based on the limited Colts games I get to see?

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

A couple questions and then I'll wait to see how you guys feel about the match up. One, is your line doing enough to allow your linebackers to drop back into coverage and are you guys comfortable with them matching up with Dallas?

The line was dominant last week. If it plays this week the way it did against the Lambs, Manning might not survive the game. As for the LBs, Mayo and Guyton are very quick for ILBs, so the Patriots have genuine speed in the linebacking corps. The key for Manning will be fooling them and making them look like rookies if he can.

Two, how has your secondary been playing? The Denver game is probably hard to judge since Cutler was hurt right away and they were forced to play catch up.

Meriweather has been playing very well, Hobbs has played adequately as a #1 (Samuel isn't doing any better in Philly), O'Neal has had his ups and downs along with Sanders, Wilhite's been ok as a nickel and Wheatley has struggled on the outside. The loss of Harrison will likely make for different ways of covering your tight ends coming off the line.

And last, how is the health of you O-line?

It's getting better, as Neal is working back into a starting role.

 

[workhorse]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

Workhorse -
You said 2 questions, but you gave 4.

The Pats secondary is a work in progress. The loss of Harrison is obvious. That being said, there is not a lot of drop off from the starting CBs to the Rookie CBs. Richardson, Wheatley (in limited time) and Wilhite have all been playing well.

The D-line has improved significantly since the Miami game. Though they do seem to be giving up too much running yardage at time, they do seem to be stacking up the line just at the right time to make the critical stop.

The linebackers are doing well. Mayo hasn't looked out of place. The matchup between him and Clark is going to be an interesting one.

The Patriots O-line is doing much better the last 2 games. Stephen Neal, the starting RG from last season who started this year on PUP, is being slowly brought back. The rotation of him and Yates seems to be working very well. Mark LaVoir has been a find at RT, more than solidifying that position. However, he will be tested against your front 4. I actually expect to see Freeney lined up across from him more than Mathis, but only time will tell that.

I said couple, not two. I was using it as an expression more that literally, so cut me some slack.

Do you feel the Rams and Broncos defense can give you an accurate assessment of your offense? I haven't seen Mayo in the limited amount that I have seen of the Patriots, so it should be interesting to see how that match up goes.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

I said couple, not two. I was using it as an expression more that literally, so cut me some slack.

Do you feel the Rams and Broncos defense can give you an accurate assessment of your offense? I haven't seen Mayo in the limited amount that I have seen of the Patriots, so it should be interesting to see how that match up goes.

I don't know if the Rams or the Broncos defenses are the best way to assess the Pats offense, but I don't know if the Colts are either. Their pass defense is suspect the last two weeks and run defense has been suspect at other times this season. I don't think the Pats offense gets another true test until Buffalo comes to town.

 

[workhorse]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

Still gotta love Indy week. Interested to hear your take on Manning. I've noticed Manning's throws have looked different since (ironically) their SB year. His passes don't seem to have the same pace on them...they just seem to be in the air a loooooooong time.

Manning is still the best I've ever seen on timing routes...throwing to a spot, not a player...but he doesn't seem to be able to have the same success when stronger downfield throw is needed. You notice the same thing or am I imagining things based on the limited Colts games I get to see?

I think they are still a half beat out of synch. Missing all those reps in the off season is lingering longer than I thought it would. When it comes to the deep ball, I think Peyton is waiting too long to throw it. In years past it seemed that he would release it earlier and let the receivers make a play on the ball. By holding it just a little bit longer it is allowing the DBs to recover and to have a chance to break it up. I'm not sure why this is happening. If he is wanted to make all his checks or if he wants to make sure there isn't a sure thing underneath or what it is.

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

Do you feel the Rams and Broncos defense can give you an accurate assessment of your offense?

I think with a QB who only has 7 games under his belt any success VS any Defense is good. Sure he will face some better defenses but he is showing more and more that he can make all the throws, his reads and pocket presance are getting better but still a good way to go there. The key is he is showing improvements and its not like we have played the best defenses this year so he was worse vs bad des earlier in the year than he is now.

 

[workhorse]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

The line was dominant last week. If it plays this week the way it did against the Lambs, Manning might not survive the game. As for the LBs, Mayo and Guyton are very quick for ILBs, so the Patriots have genuine speed in the linebacking corps. The key for Manning will be fooling them and making them look like rookies if he can.

Do they bite on play action? With the Colts finally starting to get their running game going, that could be key.

 

[workhorse]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

I think with a QB who only has 7 games under his belt any success VS any Defense is good. Sure he will face some better defenses but he is showing more and more that he can make all the throws, his reads and pocket presance are getting better but still a good way to go there. The key is he is showing improvements and its not like we have played the best defenses this year so he was worse vs bad des earlier in the year than he is now.

How has his decision making been going? Will he throw it away instead of take a sack? Does he force it into coverage?

I think the Colts are going to bring the pressure if your running backs are still dinged up, especially if Bob is back.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

Do they bite on play action? With the Colts finally starting to get their running game going, that could be key.

Well, you know how rookies are, because the Colts have so many year after year. The good thing is that Mayo and Guyton are actually linebackers with makeup speed. The bad thing is that Mayo has to use it quite a bit more than I like, because he's still slow to make reads and still making misreads. However, like Cassel on the offensive side of the ball, he's getting better almost daily, and Bruschi seems to be really responding well to fewer snaps by being able to go all out on every play.

However, the key to the Colts possibly having a running game may not have anything to do with the linebackers, and may have a lot more to do with Omissioner Clouseau and how he deals with Wilfork.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

on offense, we need either Morris or Jordon back to have an effective running game. Cassel should do fine as long as we aren't having to do everything through the air. A lot will depend on stopping that pass rush and establishing the run.

on defense, I'm not sure what to expect. Our run D has been suspect at times, but other than Miami and their wildcat formation, it has not been exposed as a weakness. Our LBs are faster this year, so that may help in covering Clark.

Our secondary is good, but inconsistant. Oneal has had some very good games and some bad ones as well. Hobbs has played fairly well but is a bit injury prone and appears to have a bad shoulder right now. Lewis Sanders may be back for this game. Wilhite, Wheatley, and Richardson have all played quite well in limited playing time subbing or in nickel/dime packages. Meriwheather has been superb. James Sanders has been average at best at the other safety position. Spann has subbed in at safety at times with little to no drop off from Sanders.

In short, our secondary is short on star players but is a deep group of dependible starters that occassionally blow assignments. Expect to get a couple of deep passes receptions at some point in the game.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

How has his decision making been going? Will he throw it away instead of take a sack? Does he force it into coverage?

I think the Colts are going to bring the pressure if your running backs are still dinged up, especially if Bob is back.

Cassel is more like to take a sack than to force it into coverage. He is a safe QB in that he doesn't take a lot of chances and turn the ball over a lot. Many of our interceptions haven't really been his fault (tipped passes, WR falling down during his route, etc). You will see a lot of short to intermediate passes with an occasional long pass (which so far haven't been very successful). He's been working on just throwing the ball away rather than getting sacked, but it's a work in progress.

Whether or not the colts bring the pressure will definitely depend on our ability to establish the run. We desperately need either Morris or Jordon back for this game. They are both good at pounding the ball are are fairly comparable in ability.

 

[dhamz]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

Do they bite on play action? With the Colts finally starting to get their running game going, that could be key.

Is Manning healthy enough to run the stretch play? I did not see last night but he certainly has not been in previous weeks. They were running tosses and even when they did try the stretch he just couldn't get out there wide enough to make that play work.

If the Colts can't run that stretch play really wide as they have in the past, it limits their play action tremendously. That is where their big plays have always come. They get that stretch working and then Manning pulls the ball back and hits a WR crossing behind the LBs. If they can't run it wide, then they don't get the LBs and safeties flowing to that side of the field.

 

[AStack75]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

Hey Workhorse, did you know you guys are 7-0?

 

[JSn]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

Hey Workhorse, did you know you guys are 7-0?

LOL - Gotta love short-formed headlines with bad punctuation!

 

[BionicPatriot]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

LMAO, with all your injury excuses your talking to the wrong crowd. Sorry, had to be a **** :-D you like the Colts.

I think Manning and co' will put up a few big plays on the secondary enxt week. I think it's like what everyone said. They're a young improving secondary. They have brain farts and give up the occasional play (which is frustrating) but they hold their ground. IMO, if we give Manning all time to throw they're going to die. If we attack Manning they'll do just fine. All up to the front , man I'm tired of preaching this.

On offense you can see improvement. Neal is getting back up in gear, giving us our line from last year. Yates has been an absolute disaster at RG, I pray Neal starts because surely he'll give your team 2 sure sacks. The running game is better when it's healthy. It's hard to produce a lot when your healthy runningbacks are Kevin Faulk and a UDFA. I think they'll do alright against the Colts, assuming the line holds their ground. I don't really know what to predict them to do because we have yet to see them do things constantly on offense. I would say they'd pound that run D, but they just don't have the bodies to do it.

I think it'll be a close game, absolute must win for your squad. I give each team a 50/50 shot honestly.

 

[AStack75]

Re: I'm here for Colts and Pats week.

LOL - Gotta love short-formed headlines with bad punctuation!

Ahhhh.....now I see what they were trying to say.