AFC Championship Game : Patriots vs. Colts -- Pre-Game Thread

PP2 said:

I meant for the Colts game. They don't quite have anyone like Ngata, so we should get by okay. The Colts still play undersized but quick D, a carryover from the Manning days.

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Arthur Jones.

KontradictioN said:

Both worry me. Kline has been a big, hot pile of suck this season but there is also a reason Wendell lost his job to Stork. As a starter, Wendell is very undersized and underpowered to play center. Especially against a front like the Seahawks. It doesn't worry me as much in this game because Indy doesn't have that force at DT to take advantage of this deficiency but, against Seattle, I have to hope for Stork's healthy return.

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Thank god Stork developed or that line would have been seriously hosed.

Thats the only real beef I have with how BB managed the o-line situation in the off season. He knew damn well that the Mankins situation could take a turn. IMO Connolly is a superior center than Wendell. BB should have gone after a PROVEN G backup and not settle for mediocre players such as Wendy, Kline and Devey to protect TB. With that said, Wendell has done fine. Arguing with myself I guess...

Reminds me of the 2005 linebacker situation...Vrable & Chad Brown at ILB and Monty Beisel doing absolutely nothing. Bru came back and they survived but he was not the same..

Marqui said:

Arthur Jones.

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Not even close.

Bruschi, Law and Brown are honorary captains for the game!

I'm an honorary captain of the game with Ty Law and Troy Brown. We will be sitting in the box with Mr. Kraft and I look forward to watching this team punch their ticket to Arizona.

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Source

Hope they bring some good luck to NE on Sunday.

Marqui said:

Arthur Jones.

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Not the same player skill-wise but close in size

Marqui said:

Arthur Jones.

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Arthur Jones is like Haloti Ngata the same way Chandler Jones is like JJ Watt.

@jeffphowe: Stork isn't practicing. Missed the whole week. He won't play.

Kline, comeon kid, have a game of your life. Channel your inner 2013 Ravens type game in you.

robertweathers said:

Not the same player skill-wise but close in size

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I'm sure there are quite a few folks out there who close in size to Ngata....

TommyBrady12 said:

I'm sure there are quite a few folks out there who close in size to Ngata....

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No kidding...Jones is listed at 337 and hes still 30 lbs lighter than Ngata...sheesh.

robertweathers said:

No kidding...Jones is listed at 337 and hes still 30 lbs lighter than Ngata...sheesh.

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Ravens might need to make a call on him. He has a cap number of $16m and they save $7.5 off the cap if they cut him. In 2015 hes due $16m in cash. Still a very good player but not sure he is worth that much anymore.

colts fans are ****y...

seem to think that if they take away the run, they win easily. they forget that we have tom ****ing brady

dales804 said:

Bruschi, Law and Brown are honorary captains for the game!

Source

Hope they bring some good luck to NE on Sunday.

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It makes me happy whenever I see them put the old guard on display. It always seems to charge the team up and I can only recall one loss in around 10 tries. My confidence level just went up a notch.

Gronkowski123 said:

colts fans are ****y...

seem to think that if they take away the run, they win easily. they forget that we have tom ****ing brady

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They believe in Andrew "Gosh darn it!" Luck

Gronkowski123 said:

colts fans are ****y...

seem to think that if they take away the run, they win easily. they forget that we have tom ****ing brady

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They were ****y before the week 11 game with it being played in their house and claiming that they are a "different team" from the one that lost last year. Pretty much the same thing they are saying now.

I wouldn't put too much stock into it. They're still the same soft team that we will push around and have our way with.

jones is listed at 337 on nfl.com........I think that's an error....last year with the Ravens, he was 295

this is what 6'3" 337 looks like


this is what 6'2" 325 looks like


tell me another one

Ngata is listed at 335 which is probably under his real weight.
Jones is listed at 301 which is probably as much as 20 lbs over his weight.
These guys are as comparable as Vince and Easley.

I've heard quite a few Colts fans say they wanna win with a Vinatieri field goal -- the ultimate slap in the face to us. I'm getting fired up again.

FourierSeries said:

Not even close.

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Definitely not the same, I agree. But I'm going to assume that the person you were quoting was speaking in a more general sense, and in the most general sense there is something to be said for Jones being in and Stork being out making for a significant net change on the interior compared to week 11. I don't expect the Pats to win in the trenches as cleanly as they did earlier this season.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if Kline isn't the guy starting in this game, and I also expect the Pats to be able to scheme past a good amount of it even if Kline does play, because so much of the run game is predicated on how poorly the Colts set the edge. Kline will still need to win his matchups a lot of the time, but there will also be a lot of cases where he isn't being asked to do all that much.

Another thing about the oline situation, BB has had a week to prepare knowing Kline will get the start and thus formulate a gameplan around that in order to minimize the effect of his weaknesses. For as much heat as Bill received in the first 4 weeks (including from me) you have to admit that ever sicne then he has been spot on with the game planning and coaching. One of the best coaching performances I've seen in a long time.

Yet another reason to be confident.