upstater1
Hall of Fame Poster
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I've been thinking in the back of my mind that Belichick no longer fears the Colts. not because they lack players anymore, but because Dungy is gone and the OL looks like a sieve. This Caldwell fellow flamed out royally during his first HC gig, and Peyton called him out this offseason.
In most sports, teams are designed with the idea of besting their best competitors. For New England in the last decade, there was no getting to the Super Bowl without getting by Indianapolis. The 3-4 defense was great for frustrating Manning, because Manning loves to grab chunks of yards, and for many years he lacked the patience to take a team downfield and simply settle for a field goal. Belichick's 3-4 was Manning's kryptonite (until that Championship game implosion).
I'm not saying this is anything more than speculation, but I believe that the Patriots were somewhat designed to defeat high flying passing attacks, the likes we've seen from the Colts and Rams of 2001-2002. If the Colts are no longer the threat they once were (and I for one believe that firmly) then it would make sense for Belichick to move away from the one defense that has repeatedly frustrated Peyton Manning.
In most sports, teams are designed with the idea of besting their best competitors. For New England in the last decade, there was no getting to the Super Bowl without getting by Indianapolis. The 3-4 defense was great for frustrating Manning, because Manning loves to grab chunks of yards, and for many years he lacked the patience to take a team downfield and simply settle for a field goal. Belichick's 3-4 was Manning's kryptonite (until that Championship game implosion).
I'm not saying this is anything more than speculation, but I believe that the Patriots were somewhat designed to defeat high flying passing attacks, the likes we've seen from the Colts and Rams of 2001-2002. If the Colts are no longer the threat they once were (and I for one believe that firmly) then it would make sense for Belichick to move away from the one defense that has repeatedly frustrated Peyton Manning.