Who will stop Dallas Clark?

[tombonneau]

In last year's AFCG, Clark was an assassin, burning us time and again with clutch catches. The simple fact was our old, tired LBs could not play with him.

So who will attempt to neutralize him this year?

Do you think AD will shadow him? Or will BB simply rely on scheme and not any one particular player?

I was hoping that Meriweather would be up to speed by now and be able to serve as the guy to handle Clark in nickel and/or dime packages, but after watching Cooley ride him into the EZ, I don't think he's ready for prime time just yet.

Really, Clark is the only receiver on that team that scares me. With the same corners as last year we were able to pretty ably shut down their WRs. I just don't want the Goatteed One carving us up over the middle again.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

In last year's AFCG, Clark was an assassin, burning us time and again with clutch catches. The simple fact was our old, tired LBs could not play with him.

So who will attempt to neutralize him this year?

Do you think AD will shadow him? Or will BB simply rely on scheme and not any one particular player?

I was hoping that Meriweather would be up to speed by now and be able to serve as the guy to handle Clark in nickel and/or dime packages, but after watching Cooley ride him into the EZ, I don't think he's ready for prime time just yet.

Really, Clark is the only receiver on that team that scares me. With the same corners as last year we were able to pretty ably shut down their WRs. I just don't want the Goatteed One carving us up over the middle again.

I agree but if I see what I usally see from Clark he like to catch passes over the middle and most of the time LBs are in on the play,Seau and Bruschi better have thier running shoes on sunday.

 

[tombonneau]

I agree but if I see what I usally see from Clark he like to catch passes over the middle and most of the time LBs are in on the play,Seau and Bruschi better have thier running shoes on sunday.

If Bruschi or Seau are ever on Clark look for Manning to take full advantage all day.

 

[mgcolby]

Does anyone know how fast clark is in terms of 40 time? He doesn't look that fast when he is running with the ball, but he always seems to have seperation from the defender, regardless if it is a DB or a LB.

 

[jman924]

I'm sure Eric Alexander will have no problem covering Dallas Clark.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Seau wasn't playing in the AFCCG, nor was Harrison, and Thomas wasn't with us, but played well against the Colts for the Ravens in the div game.

The Ravens limited Clark in their game last year. He had 2 completions for 41 yards. But 9 passes were broken up and 1 was intercepted. Clark was covered by Thomas, Johnson and Suggs, all LBs. His 2 receptions were against safeties, Ed Reed and Ivy. Reed also had the pick.

 

[Bo0MeR]

Does anyone know how fast clark is in terms of 40 time? He doesn't look that fast when he is running with the ball, but he always seems to have seperation from the defender, regardless if it is a DB or a LB.

At the 03 combine he ran a 4.68, little old but thats something

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2003/draft/players/8130.html

 

[cbear]

Does anyone know how fast clark is in terms of 40 time? He doesn't look that fast when he is running with the ball, but he always seems to have seperation from the defender, regardless if it is a DB or a LB.

As I recall, he ran about a 4.55 around the time of the combine. I agree he doesn't look particularly fast, but he seems to always out run lb and even safeties. No doubt a big weapon for us.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/draft/2003-04-24-witten-te_x.htm

 

[cbear]

Seau wasn't playing in the AFCCG, nor was Harrison, and Thomas wasn't with us, but played well against the Colts for the Ravens in the div game.

The Ravens limited Clark in their game last year. He had 2 completions for 41 yards. But 9 passes were broken up and 1 was intercepted. Clark was covered by Thomas, Johnson and Suggs, all LBs. His 2 receptions were against safeties, Ed Reed and Ivy. Reed also had the pick.

Are you saying a LB can cover Dallas Clark?

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

Is Clark the priority? The closer the game gets the more I think Addai should be the priority.

If NE wanted to put a guy on Clark you'd have to think Thomas would be it.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Randall Gay.

Regards,
Chris

 

[mgcolby]

As I recall, he ran about a 4.55 around the time of the combine. I agree he doesn't look particularly fast, but he seems to always out run lb and even safeties. No doubt a big weapon for us.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/draft/2003-04-24-witten-te_x.htm

Agreed. He is a very versitile weapon that causes problems.

 

[BelichickFan]

Who will actually do it, I'm not sure - but what I am sure of is that it'll get taken care of. Last year we had no Thomas, no Gay, no Harrison. One of them, or a combination, will slow Clark down just fine.

 

[tedy hagler]

The image of Clark racing by our linebackers was disturbing. Thomas will help, as will Rodney. The Goatteed One is the prime problem on Sunday defensively.

Lucky for us this year is our version of the seambuster: the quick, slick Uncoverable One: Wes Welker.

In last year's AFCG, Clark was an assassin, burning us time and again with clutch catches. The simple fact was our old, tired LBs could not play with him.

So who will attempt to neutralize him this year?

Do you think AD will shadow him? Or will BB simply rely on scheme and not any one particular player?

I was hoping that Meriweather would be up to speed by now and be able to serve as the guy to handle Clark in nickel and/or dime packages, but after watching Cooley ride him into the EZ, I don't think he's ready for prime time just yet.

Really, Clark is the only receiver on that team that scares me. With the same corners as last year we were able to pretty ably shut down their WRs. I just don't want the Goatteed One carving us up over the middle again.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

Wes is only a 4.6 40 himself. The guys in the middle have to be quick, not fast. Both Welker and Clark are that. They also run great routes and can get open. Neither one is going to win a gold medal in the olympics.

 

[Ring 6]

I think this is where our OFFENSE has a big impact on how we play defense.
Last year we left LBs on Clark, and the other TEs in man coverage, because we did not want to open up the deep ball to the WRs.
This year we will be more aggressive on defense, because we are so explosive on offense. If Manning takes them down the field in 3 plays, we have the offense to answer.
I think, more than any other team, we have played the Colts very conservatively with our D. That opens up the TEs, the RBs in the passing game, and the run. The plan was make them get down the field in smaller chunks. I think that plan will be abandoned, primarily because we quite frankly have a better offense. Quick strike used to be the Colts game, but now it plays into our hands.

 

[DGameguy]

Like ANdy just said, I think that the tempo and effectiveness of our offense will effect how out defense plays. However, I do believe AD will be on Dallas Clark a lot, and when he isn't, he will be on Addai. I think the gameplan will be similar to the Pats/Rams gameplan, with some little exceptions. I think BB will see that the offense really runs through Addai and Clark as the security blanket of Manning, and will try to take those things away.

 

[Ring 6]

Like ANdy just said, I think that the tempo and effectiveness of our offense will effect how out defense plays. However, I do believe AD will be on Dallas Clark a lot, and when he isn't, he will be on Addai. I think the gameplan will be similar to the Pats/Rams gameplan, with some little exceptions. I think BB will see that the offense really runs through Addai and Clark as the security blanket of Manning, and will try to take those things away.

The real gameplanning to our pass defense will be disguising coverages.
After watching Manning and seeing how he has evolved as a QB, I think the smart approach is to show coverage over the top, and hammer the short receivers after they catch the ball, and to bring pressure, not to sack him, but to force him to checkdown.

While it is an improvement in Manning as a QB that he will check down rather than force the ball down the field, it is also something that can be taken advantage of.
It is dangerous to blitz a QB who will go for the kill if they pick it up, much less dangerous to blitz a QB who will audible to short routes if he sees it coming, and check down to get rid of the ball before waiting to see if its picked up.

Most observers miss that startegy in blitzing.
Blitzing is not usually intended to get sacks. If its 3rd and 8, and bring enough pressure that the QB will have to get rid of the ball before the receiver can get 8 yards downfield, and by defender plays those 8 yards tight, I'm going to win against a patient QB who will 'take what they give him'.
That strategy against a QB who wants the big play against the blitz will get me some sacks, but I'll let up big plays any time the blitz is picked up.

IMO, Manning has changed from the guy who sees blitz and goes for the homerun to the guy who sees blitz and takes the checkdown.
IF I am correct, BB knows this too.
One of the things about BB that few people focus on is that success against BB leads to BB defending you better. Anything that Manning has done well against us adds to the 'book'. If you are a strong defensive mind, you recognize that whatever an offense is trying to accomplish with scheme creates something you can use against them.

 

[Pujo]

Are you saying a LB can cover Dallas Clark?

I wouldn't like that matchup in man-to-man, but an LB can certainly cover passing lanes by standing in a zone, and an LB can also bump Clark for 5 yards until a DB can take over.

 

[DGameguy]

The real gameplanning to our pass defense will be disguising coverages.
After watching Manning and seeing how he has evolved as a QB, I think the smart approach is to show coverage over the top, and hammer the short receivers after they catch the ball, and to bring pressure, not to sack him, but to force him to checkdown.

While it is an improvement in Manning as a QB that he will check down rather than force the ball down the field, it is also something that can be taken advantage of.
It is dangerous to blitz a QB who will go for the kill if they pick it up, much less dangerous to blitz a QB who will audible to short routes if he sees it coming, and check down to get rid of the ball before waiting to see if its picked up.

Most observers miss that startegy in blitzing.
Blitzing is not usually intended to get sacks. If its 3rd and 8, and bring enough pressure that the QB will have to get rid of the ball before the receiver can get 8 yards downfield, and by defender plays those 8 yards tight, I'm going to win against a patient QB who will 'take what they give him'.
That strategy against a QB who wants the big play against the blitz will get me some sacks, but I'll let up big plays any time the blitz is picked up.

IMO, Manning has changed from the guy who sees blitz and goes for the homerun to the guy who sees blitz and takes the checkdown.
IF I am correct, BB knows this too.
One of the things about BB that few people focus on is that success against BB leads to BB defending you better. Anything that Manning has done well against us adds to the 'book'. If you are a strong defensive mind, you recognize that whatever an offense is trying to accomplish with scheme creates something you can use against them.

That's a good point. Its true, I never really thought of blitzing that way. I think veentually you need to try to get a big stop, but forcing everything underneath and hitting them would work.

The Pats have played the Colts quite a bit the past few years, so you're right, BB has plenty of material against them. The lats couple times they have played, when they were successful early, it looked like the Pats were confused and not set in their defense, but once the ball snapped it was clear they were just disguising their coverages in a unique way. I can see that happening, and I could also see something new and weird by BB using the versatility of Adalius. Maybe something like the old big nickel from 2002, with AD nailing the underneath receivers?