PonyExpress
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2006
- Messages
- 4,659
- Reaction score
- 78
Matchup #1
Colvin by and large has stood up well against the run, despite a bad play here or there, such as the first play of the Bills game. Alot has been made about how dominating the left side of the Viking line is. IMO this is an exaggeration. McKinnie is solid but not a pro-bowl caliber player, despite his immense size and hefty new contract. Colvin faced superior players (but different style athletes) in Denver's Lepsis and Cinci's Levi Jones. Lepsis handled him easily, against Jones Colvin sealed well. Of course, Cinci prefers to run between the tackles, so Colvin's opportunities to seal were limited. In those cases when Minnesota runs to the weak side, which they do less frequently than has been portrayed, Hutchinson will likely be able to handle Jarvis one on one (assuming Seymour DNP), leaving Mckinnie to block Colvin. If Minnesota can exploit this matchup, C. Taylor will run successfully and force the Pats to play Harrison in the box, opening up the field for Brad Johnson.
Matchup #2
On the other side of the ball, the key matchup IMO is Mankins against K. Williams. Judging from Koppen's performance against K. Traylor in the Miami game, there is no way our brave C can handle Pat Williams one on one. Neal and Koppen will have to join forces for that task. Light IMO will have much more success against Udeze than he did against Schobel. Udeze does not have that caliber of quickness. However, that leaves Mankins with the enormous job of handling all-world DT K. Williams out of Oklahoma State. When healthy, a good argument can be made that K. Williams is the best DT in the NFL, including Seymour and Harris et. al. in the mix. He had a down year last year due to a knee injury, but during his first 2 seasons boggled the imagination by registering 21.5 sacks from the DT position. Our wonderboy, Mankins, faces the sternest test of his young career Monday Night. It will be mano a mano against this monster, and Mankins will get to prove how much all that offseason strength training has come in handy. Mankins' success will stimy the negative plays that the PP-eaters thrive on against the run and also give Brady time in the pocket to establish rhythm with his wideouts.
Conclusion.
If Colvin and Mankins win the majority of their matchups, the Pats will win this game going away. To do so, those two players will have to play their best game of the year. The most likely scenario? A mixed bag. 16-14 Pats.
Colvin by and large has stood up well against the run, despite a bad play here or there, such as the first play of the Bills game. Alot has been made about how dominating the left side of the Viking line is. IMO this is an exaggeration. McKinnie is solid but not a pro-bowl caliber player, despite his immense size and hefty new contract. Colvin faced superior players (but different style athletes) in Denver's Lepsis and Cinci's Levi Jones. Lepsis handled him easily, against Jones Colvin sealed well. Of course, Cinci prefers to run between the tackles, so Colvin's opportunities to seal were limited. In those cases when Minnesota runs to the weak side, which they do less frequently than has been portrayed, Hutchinson will likely be able to handle Jarvis one on one (assuming Seymour DNP), leaving Mckinnie to block Colvin. If Minnesota can exploit this matchup, C. Taylor will run successfully and force the Pats to play Harrison in the box, opening up the field for Brad Johnson.
Matchup #2
On the other side of the ball, the key matchup IMO is Mankins against K. Williams. Judging from Koppen's performance against K. Traylor in the Miami game, there is no way our brave C can handle Pat Williams one on one. Neal and Koppen will have to join forces for that task. Light IMO will have much more success against Udeze than he did against Schobel. Udeze does not have that caliber of quickness. However, that leaves Mankins with the enormous job of handling all-world DT K. Williams out of Oklahoma State. When healthy, a good argument can be made that K. Williams is the best DT in the NFL, including Seymour and Harris et. al. in the mix. He had a down year last year due to a knee injury, but during his first 2 seasons boggled the imagination by registering 21.5 sacks from the DT position. Our wonderboy, Mankins, faces the sternest test of his young career Monday Night. It will be mano a mano against this monster, and Mankins will get to prove how much all that offseason strength training has come in handy. Mankins' success will stimy the negative plays that the PP-eaters thrive on against the run and also give Brady time in the pocket to establish rhythm with his wideouts.
Conclusion.
If Colvin and Mankins win the majority of their matchups, the Pats will win this game going away. To do so, those two players will have to play their best game of the year. The most likely scenario? A mixed bag. 16-14 Pats.
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