Is NEW Indy run defense for real?

[Gumby]

Anybody think the last 2 weeks of run defense from Indy will hold form?

BB gameplanned NOT to take advantage of it in our first meeting. Was he saving something up???

Note this little tidbit from Pasquerelli who usually has some good solid info.

It's been pretty much overlooked, but Indianapolis inserting former starting middle linebacker Rob Morris into the lineup at strongside 'backer has paid big dividends. Morris doesn't have the range of former starter Gilbert Gardner, who didn't even dress for Saturday's game at Baltimore, but he is a much surer tackler and more physical versus the run.

(OT: So would TE crossing patterns be the way to attack Morris if he doesnt have the range? )

Well; I am not sold that KC was smart enough to take advantage of Dolts 9 in a box defense; nor that Baltimore had enough run threat or overall balance to threaten Dolts enough. I think we can put a hurt on them with a Dillon-Maroney backfield (anvil and the hammer ) and leave them guessing which style of RB is coming at them especially with possibility of either back coming out to receive.

I am a bit more worried about TBs decision making of late. He threw a couple of VERY UN-BRADY LIKE picks yesterday (barring tips etc). Dolts CBs and Safeties have played better this year than in past.

This is going to be another game for the ages.

 

[PatsFan24]

i think the patriots will find something they can exploit for a big play late in the game

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

i think the press coverage messed up their routes. i imagine if the colts try press coverage the pats would put a guy in motion.

but i agree on 8-9 guys inthe box. throw first and loosen it up with spread formation and then run on them

TB has improved his throws and is throwing lower so i don't forsee tip balls.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I read a interesting stat about Indy making it a point to win 1st down situations no matter what. Imo our team has got to force our will over theirs in those same situations so we can make it 2nd and 5 or 6 instead of 2nd and 10 or 9. If we win the first down battle we will be able to run the ball at will the entire game. Our offensive line will have to dictate this to them from the very beginning.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I read a interesting stat about Indy making it a point to win 1st down situations no matter what. Imo our team has got to force our will over theirs in those same situations so we can make it 2nd and 5 or 6 instead of 2nd and 10 or 9. If we win the first down battle we will be able to run the ball at will the entire game. Our offensive line will have to dictate this to them from the very beginning.

this may offer alot of passing opportunities if the colts are gonna send 8-9 guys to stop a run.

 

[scout]

I can't see Indy's defense changing that much for the better, more the other two teams offensive schemes. I'd like to see the Pats open up with a spread offense and then slowly ease into running the ball. Do not want to give Indy anymore confidence by them starting out stopping our run. Hopefully, Indy wins the coin toss and receives to open the game, and we can stop them on the opening drive. Nothing kills me more when Indy scores before the half and gets the ball right back.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Running from a spread formation would get them out of their 8 in the box defense. Why neither the Cheifs or Ravens did that is beyond my thinking.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Running from a spread formation would get them out of their 8 in the box defense. Why neither the Cheifs or Ravens did that is beyond my thinking.

Bingo. That's what I love about the Pats.

Per Reiss:

You were short-arming a couple guys starting that drive in the first half…
“We were trying to throw quick and that wasn’t working. We were trying to throw screens, and that wasn’t working. We were doing everything we could to try to move the ball positive and forward. I could never get into a rhythm. I was like ‘Gosh, try something else.’ It was just difficult. I think that’s what very good defenses are all about. We got a great defense.”


The Pats adapt and feel an opponent out and have no problem changing up their attack from double tight end to spread 3 wr formation.

 

[Oswlek]

Improvement in Indy's run defense is for real. Bob Sanders is most certainly a very good player and if he could ever play a full season I might go as far as calling him a great player.

But, make no mistake; Indy's defense has not played any better than they did the last time they faced NE. That was also a Sanders game and he had some key stops on NE's RBs (particularly Maroney, whom Sanders leveled twice in the backfield) and very good coverage. It is just that KC had one of the worst game plans of all time and Balitmore, for all the superlatives thrown their way, did not have a good offense, and their strengths did not allign well with how to attack Indy.

(BTW, I said this before the game, so this is not a hindsight thing)

If you notice, Lewis' best two runs were ones that he went around LT. However, those plays are few and far between in the Baltimore playbook. Even the two that I remember were runs up the middle that Indy defended so well that Lewis had no choice but to bounce it outside. So far in the playoffs, Indy's DE's are either committing to the middle of the field to stop the run up the middle or rushing the passer on almost every down. Unless they change their style dramatically, the lanes to the outside will most certainly be open.

That said, Indy is tackling better. I have never seen them gang tackling as much even in space as they have in the playoffs. They are improved, but an impotent game plan and a team with no playmakers on O will make a defense look much better than it really is.

BTW, since when is Rob Morris a good tackler?

 

[mosi]

During the Indy-Balti. game, Indy's Def. Coordinator said that no way would the let Lewis beat them. Basically, the stuffed the box and dared McNair to win. He lost.

 

[DieHardColtsFan]

There is no doubt that these 2 teams know each other. BB and TD are very skilled at getting there guys motivated for big games. The colts run D has been revived and revamped and everyone are taking it very personal. Im a big fan of colts ball, but I also am a fan of the game period. I agree..if the pats do come out with a spread offense then ease into the running game with the duo, it probably will give the D and ron meeks big problems. If they go the direction of stuffing it down our throats, then it will come down to the lines basically. If the colts stop them on the first possesion without a score then that gives em a mental victory as well. This is going to be one heck of a ball game and we look forward to it.

 

[mosi]

There is no doubt that these 2 teams know each other. BB and TD are very skilled at getting there guys motivated for big games. The colts run D has been revived and revamped and everyone are taking it very personal. Im a big fan of colts ball, but I also am a fan of the game period. I agree..if the pats do come out with a spread offense then ease into the running game with the duo, it probably will give the D and ron meeks big problems. If they go the direction of stuffing it down our throats, then it will come down to the lines basically. If the colts stop them on the first possesion without a score then that gives em a mental victory as well. This is going to be one heck of a ball game and we look forward to it.

Damn. You know, as a kid growing up near Baltimore, I hate Indy. But the fans that come to this board are actually smart and cool. Makes me want to feel less hatred towards Indy...

Nah. (;

 

[Willie55]

The Colts played two teams that are one dimensional. They have no passing game to speak of. That made it easy for the Colts to crowd the line of scrimmage.

With the emergence of Jabar Gaffney and Reche Caldwell playing, that gives the Pats more options.

 

[BelichickFan]

But, make no mistake; Indy's defense has not played any better than they did the last time they faced NE.

It's important, also, to remember that Graham and Neal missed that first Indy game. Our blocking will be upgraded since that game.

Is Indy's run defense for real ? Compared to having the worst run defense in league history, sure. But, no, they aren't suddenly a good run defense. Given a full game and assuming our defense doesn't get killed and way behind (no reason to think that'll happen), our size and strength should prevail. Not getting far behind is the key to this.

 

[DieHardColtsFan]

Damn. You know, as a kid growing up near Baltimore, I hate Indy. But the fans that come to this board are actually smart and cool. Makes me want to feel less hatred towards Indy...

Nah. (;

LoL mosi..Its all in love for the game...from what I heard on the colts message boards, the fans that did get the chance to attend in ratbirdtown, the fans there are very volatile. Heard they were much worse than squeeltown fans!!!!

 

[Art_Vandelay421]

Improvement in Indy's run defense is for real. Bob Sanders is most certainly a very good player and if he could ever play a full season I might go as far as calling him a great player.

But, make no mistake; Indy's defense has not played any better than they did the last time they faced NE. That was also a Sanders game and he had some key stops on NE's RBs (particularly Maroney, whom Sanders leveled twice in the backfield) and very good coverage. It is just that KC had one of the worst game plans of all time and Balitmore, for all the superlatives thrown their way, did not have a good offense, and their strengths did not allign well with how to attack Indy.

(BTW, I said this before the game, so this is not a hindsight thing)

If you notice, Lewis' best two runs were ones that he went around LT. However, those plays are few and far between in the Baltimore playbook. Even the two that I remember were runs up the middle that Indy defended so well that Lewis had no choice but to bounce it outside. So far in the playoffs, Indy's DE's are either committing to the middle of the field to stop the run up the middle or rushing the passer on almost every down. Unless they change their style dramatically, the lanes to the outside will most certainly be open.

That said, Indy is tackling better. I have never seen them gang tackling as much even in space as they have in the playoffs. They are improved, but an impotent game plan and a team with no playmakers on O will make a defense look much better than it really is.

BTW, since when is Rob Morris a good tackler?

I am not sold on this "new" Indy Defense. Herm Edwards game plan and Trent Green were atrocious. If they had played San Diego instead of Baltimore do you really think they would have "stopped the run?" Baltimore and McNair were just awful this past Saturday. If some of you were like me, we were watching these games and playing the "What would Brady/BB do here" I saw two teams that had no adjustments...