Brady: "Dwight Freeney Is The Most Intimidating Player"

I would think that since Light has held Freeney in check most of the time between the meetings of the two teams that Brady would say Aaron Schoebel or Jason Taylor would have been most intimidating to him because they have his number much of the time when we play them and usually get to him or pressure hard once or twice a game.

Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney is the game's most intimidating player | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

Dwight is having quite a great start to the season with 7 sacks already and I really have serious concerns in Dwight 'Intimidating' Brady more in a few weeks when the only thing standing between Brady and the patented spin move by Freeney to the QB is a rookie LT (unless Light is back)

Re: Brady "Dwight Freeney Is The Most Intimidating Player"

PATRIOTSFANINPA said:

I would think that since Light has held Freeney in check most of the time between the meetings of the two teams that Brady would say Aaron Schoebel or Jason Taylor would have been most intimidating to him because they have his number much of the time when we play them and usually get to him or pressure hard once or twice a game.

Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney is the game's most intimidating player | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

Dwight is having quite a great start to the season with 7 sacks already and I really have serious concerns in Dwight 'Intimidating' Brady more in a few weeks when the only thing standing between Brady and the patented spin move by Freeney to the QB is a rookie LT (unless Light is back)

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It basically says what I tried to say, even better than I did. Freeney simply gets to the QB faster than the guys you mention, or someone like Jared Allen.

And LOL at Light holding him in check. Freeney hitting Brady on the INT to clinch the 2007 AFC Championship Game is an example of why stats don't mean much. Light is a top 10 LT, but he gets help from a TE, RB, or LG against Freeney; just like every LT in his career save for Orlando Pace 5 years ago needs against Freeney.

Freeney may not get the sacks against Brady, but the fact that our defense plays your offense better than almost every other defense does is almost all bc of Freeney and Mathis.

Freeney and OLB are a reason you do not see 350 LB tackles anymore .Dummerville is also faster than this guy.Taller tackles will be toast as their no leverage a quick small guys runs around them.with so much speed no big tackle is going to be effective in pass blocking. dummerville runs around tackle at snap. Light is very atheletic for a 310 lb guy.dummerville is having a mvp year and light shut him down.

a reason i think Vol will be a swing tackle backup and RT as right tackles are stocker and bigger than the left ones as the best most atheletic guy lines up against the left tackle.

Freeney is, together with D-Ware, the best pass rusher in the league. Even when he is not getting sacks, he is constantly aplying pressure.

He is a tremendous player and his impact in the game surely is felt every dropback.

Re: Brady "Dwight Freeney Is The Most Intimidating Player"

coltsfan said:

It basically says what I tried to say, even better than I did. Freeney simply gets to the QB faster than the guys you mention, or someone like Jared Allen.

And LOL at Light holding him in check. Freeney hitting Brady on the INT to clinch the 2007 AFC Championship Game is an example of why stats don't mean much. Light is a top 10 LT, but he gets help from a TE, RB, or LG against Freeney; just like every LT in his career save for Orlando Pace 5 years ago needs against Freeney.

Freeney may not get the sacks against Brady, but the fact that our defense plays your offense better than almost every other defense does is almost all bc of Freeney and Mathis.

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I would have to agree generally on Freeney. He is difficult to handle because you have to set your block so quickly to defend against the straight speed outside move. That actually makes me more worried about Light blocking Freeney. Light has lost his focus/technique at some key times this year and the results were defensive TDs.

Vollmer has an advantage in that he has the arm span to engage Freeney effectively. He can ride him around the pocket on outside moves and negate his spin move by preventing Freeney from getting to his body. The question is whether or not Vollmer has quick enough footwork to get his initial set.

The key in my mind actually revolves around the Pats 3rd quarter efficiency on offense. If the Pats can stay on the field, Freeney will be dead in the 4th quarter. Speed rushers start to lose something at 40 snaps, really drop off at 50 snaps and are useless at 60.

In the AFCC game you mention, the Colts D had 59 total plays...but only 11 through the first 20 game minutes of the 2nd half. That is a vacation for Freeney/Mathis and left them relatively fresh for the crucial 4th quarter drives. If that happens again, I see a similar result in a couple of weeks.

Re: Brady "Dwight Freeney Is The Most Intimidating Player"

Metaphors said:

I would have to agree generally on Freeney. He is difficult to handle because you have to set your block so quickly to defend against the straight speed outside move. That actually makes me more worried about Light blocking Freeney. Light has lost his focus/technique at some key times this year and the results were defensive TDs.

Vollmer has an advantage in that he has the arm span to engage Freeney effectively. He can ride him around the pocket on outside moves and negate his spin move by preventing Freeney from getting to his body. The question is whether or not Vollmer has quick enough footwork to get his initial set.

The key in my mind actually revolves around the Pats 3rd quarter efficiency on offense. If the Pats can stay on the field, Freeney will be dead in the 4th quarter. Speed rushers start to lose something at 40 snaps, really drop off at 50 snaps and are useless at 60.

In the AFCC game you mention, the Colts D had 59 total plays...but only 11 through the first 20 game minutes of the 2nd half. That is a vacation for Freeney/Mathis and left them relatively fresh for the crucial 4th quarter drives. If that happens again, I see a similar result in a couple of weeks.

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He has a great bull rush though as well. Light plays him fairly well bc he has the upper body strength to stop that bull rush. A guy with long arms and great feet (but not as much strength) like Joe Thomas though, got whipped on a bullrush that led to a forced fumble and touchdown last year. Vollmer may not have the upper body strength that Light has.

A guy like Terrell Suggs forced a fumble against Light, but you never know where Suggs is lining up bc he's in a 3-4, while you know where Freeney is going to line up. So Light won't be caught off guard by formation like he may have been against Suggs.

Light did handle Dumervil, but Freeney is a good bit better than Dumervil, no matter what the stats may say.

Re: Brady "Dwight Freeney Is The Most Intimidating Player"

coltsfan said:

He has a great bull rush though as well. Light plays him fairly well bc he has the upper body strength to stop that bull rush. A guy with long arms and great feet (but not as much strength) like Joe Thomas though, got whipped on a bullrush that led to a forced fumble and touchdown last year. Vollmer may not have the upper body strength that Light has.

A guy like Terrell Suggs forced a fumble against Light, but you never know where Suggs is lining up bc he's in a 3-4, while you know where Freeney is going to line up. So Light won't be caught off guard by formation like he may have been against Suggs.

Light did handle Dumervil, but Freeney is a good bit better than Dumervil, no matter what the stats may say.

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Vollmer is a beast. Don't remember what his pre-draft numbers were but I seem to remember they were solid...which is impressive given his wingspan. I don't worry about Vollmer getting out-muscled by too many players, especially ones that he has 50 lbs. on. If Vollmer can't get his feet set quick enough, Freeney would be able to rush outside, take a little push and still be able to circle back around to the QB.

On the Baltimore strip sack, Suggs was on the line and Light got faked inside...essentially letting Suggs get a free run on Brady. Just horrific footwork and thought process by Light. On the Buffalo pick-six, Light's only responsibility was to get Schobel to the ground for the screen. Nothing. Schobel not only stayed on his feet but was able to get maximum height on his jump for the pick (nice play by him btw). Light could have poked him in the stomach and the pick probably doesn't happen. Light is generally a fine player but lapses like those lead to losses and early playoff exits.

And nothing against Dumervil, but he didn't miraculously get elite skills this off-season. High effort guy that maximizes his skills, which is a good thing. But he does get bunches of sacks against crap teams (about half his career total are against KC, OAK and CLE). Dumervil and Freeney are close alphabetically but that is about it.

satz said:

Freeney and OLB are a reason you do not see 350 LB tackles anymore .Dummerville is also faster than this guy.Taller tackles will be toast as their no leverage a quick small guys runs around them.w

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Pretty much every elite modern LT was tall. Ogden was 6'9. Pace is 6'7. Jones is probably the midget of the bunch at 6'5.

So, basically, you're full of crap.

Synovia said:

Pretty much every elite modern LT was tall. Ogden was 6'9. Pace is 6'7. Jones is probably the midget of the bunch at 6'5.

So, basically, you're full of crap.

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As well as Jason Peters,Chris Samuels,Jake Long and Joe Thomas all at LEAST 6'5" and all of these guys are the best in the game.

Re: Brady "Dwight Freeney Is The Most Intimidating Player"

coltsfan said:

He has a great bull rush though as well. Light plays him fairly well bc he has the upper body strength to stop that bull rush. A guy with long arms and great feet (but not as much strength) like Joe Thomas though, got whipped on a bullrush that led to a forced fumble and touchdown last year. Vollmer may not have the upper body strength that Light has.

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I'll eat my hat if Freeny out-muscles Vollmer... the guy is freaking huge!

I'm more worried about him getting beat by Freeney's speed around the edge or just effing up his footwork or being unprepared for a spin move.

His relative inexperience may be a risk factor against Freeney compared to Light, but I think he may actually be the better LT and I look forward to seeing how he plays vs Freeney.

While Vollmer is the future at that position he is not nearly as good as Matt Light just yet. Freeney is a class act, and I don't want to see Vollmer up against him, he is far too inexperienced for a tough matchup like that, I hope Light is back for that game.

eagle eye said:

While Vollmer is the future at that position he is not nearly as good as Mike Wright just yet. Freeney is a class act, and I don't want to see Vollmer up against him, he is far too inexperienced for a tough matchup like that, I hope Wright is back for that game.

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WTF???

Wright is a DL Vollmer is an OL. They have nothing in common except both being on the Patriots.

eagle eye said:

While Vollmer is the future at that position he is not nearly as good as Mike Wright just yet. Freeney is a class act, and I don't want to see Vollmer up against him, he is far too inexperienced for a tough matchup like that, I hope Wright is back for that game.

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I'll have to respectfully disagree. I'd much rather see Vollmer ligned up at LT against Freeney than Mike Wright.

Now if the Colts switch to using Jeff Saturday at DE, then I'd have to say your probably Wright.

PatsWickedPissah said:

WTF???

Wright is a DL Vollmer is an OL. They have nothing in common except both being on the Patriots.

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Not True! Their first and last names both only have 1 syllable and both of their first names start with M.

Also, they both like orange sherbet and the Lord of the Rings movies.

They are practically interchangeable.

Lloyd_Christmas said:

Not True! Their first and last names both only have 1 syllable and both of their first names start with M.

Also, they both like orange sherbet and the Lord of the Rings movies.

They are practically interchangeable.

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My bad. You white folk all look the same to me.

PatsWickedPissah said:

WTF???

Wright is a DL Vollmer is an OL. They have nothing in common except both being on the Patriots.

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I've had a long day, Matt Light I meant to say of course. Was talking about Mike Wright in another thread and somehow got it mixed up.

satz said:

Freeney and OLB are a reason you do not see 350 LB tackles anymore .Dummerville is also faster than this guy.Taller tackles will be toast as their no leverage a quick small guys runs around them.with so much speed no big tackle is going to be effective in pass blocking. dummerville runs around tackle at snap. Light is very atheletic for a 310 lb guy.dummerville is having a mvp year and light shut him down.

a reason i think Vol will be a swing tackle backup and RT as right tackles are stocker and bigger than the left ones as the best most atheletic guy lines up against the left tackle.

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Not really true.

Bryant McKinnie

How good can Freeney be? I passed him up in my Madden fantasy draft, so he can't be that good...

Matt Light has had some shut-down games against Freeney. I'm away from home and don't have my notes as to the specific game, but in one of the playoff games against the Colts several years ago, Matt Light handled Freeney one on one the whole game and never let him get even close to Brady and also run-blocked Freeney completely out of the picture on every single running play. Light only had double team help once during the whole game - and, ironically, on that play, Andruzzi let Freeney get by him. I'm not sure what I would expect from a Freeney and Light match up several years later. Freeney makes his living against weaker teams that are forced to a passing game when the Colts have them in the hole. Freeney basically has no run responsibility. There are a lot of DEs that would love to have a cushy job like that and could probably run up impressive stats as well.

Hard to guess how Vollmer will fare against Freeney. Vollmer has done very well in pass blocking with very few plays where he would be rated as less than good. The one sack 'he' gave up was not his fault at all. Kevin Faulk came up and took away the block on his man at the same time Mankins dropped back with his block allowing the DE to cut across behind the DT at the same that Brady stepped up. Vollmer was obstructed out of the play by Faulk and Mankins.

I'd have to think that even if Vollmer has the physical size and talent to handle Freeney, that it is awfully early in his career to not get beaten a few times by Freeney until he gets more experience.

I'll post another thread when I get through complete reviews of the Titans and Bucs games. But there are at least several big plays where Vollmer's run blocking was key. On Maroney's TD run, Vollmer pulled behind Koppen and then up to completely take out the MLB which let Maroney get through. Without that complete block, Maroney would have had a few yards at best. Vollmer has gotten way down field on some of the screens and passing plays and has had blocks key to a YAC TD. If you still have the games recorded, check out some of the TDs, especially the Welker one. As I say, I'll post a thread when I finish the review.

There one big difference for the Colts year that is helping Freeney, the DTs. There is finally some size in the middle. While those guys don't always a ton of pressure, they aren't always getting pushed around making it so the QB can't constantly step up in the pocket as Freeney runs by behind him.