maverick4
Banned
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- Jan 17, 2005
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I believe a case can be made that the current 2009 (or even 2007-2009) Patriots teams bear resemblance to the 2003 and 2004 Colts teams:
- High powered offenses with great talent at multiple skill positions, capable of regularly putting up lots of yardage and point stats.
- Elite quarterback play.
- Focus/scheme on playing to your personnel strengths, as opposed to attacking opponent's weaknesses, even if it means repetitive/predictable formations or tendencies. The talent is so good it doesn't usually matter, the execution is usually still there.
- A very strong tilt towards the pass. Pass to gain the lead, run only to keep the D off balance. No strong commitment to the run as a primary method of attack.
- More finesse type offense compared to a physical, in your face unit.
- A defensive wizard at head coach
- Defense which does not physically abuse QB's or play attack-style, with more of passive and bend-don't-break approach.
- Defense incapable of, or scheme-wise avoidance towards, generating pass rush.
I think that going back to our last game in 07 to now, teams are having success beating the Patriots the same way the old Patriots used to beat up on the Colts: lots of pass rush at the QB, physical defenses, and timely offense.
Even the recent loss to the Jets has a similar box score of what an 03 Colts would have after a playoff loss to the Pats of old: Manning throwing 40+ times, completing about half, with very low yardage relative to avg. yards per pass, and exciting Patriots defensive pressure at the end to ice the game.
- High powered offenses with great talent at multiple skill positions, capable of regularly putting up lots of yardage and point stats.
- Elite quarterback play.
- Focus/scheme on playing to your personnel strengths, as opposed to attacking opponent's weaknesses, even if it means repetitive/predictable formations or tendencies. The talent is so good it doesn't usually matter, the execution is usually still there.
- A very strong tilt towards the pass. Pass to gain the lead, run only to keep the D off balance. No strong commitment to the run as a primary method of attack.
- More finesse type offense compared to a physical, in your face unit.
- A defensive wizard at head coach
- Defense which does not physically abuse QB's or play attack-style, with more of passive and bend-don't-break approach.
- Defense incapable of, or scheme-wise avoidance towards, generating pass rush.
I think that going back to our last game in 07 to now, teams are having success beating the Patriots the same way the old Patriots used to beat up on the Colts: lots of pass rush at the QB, physical defenses, and timely offense.
Even the recent loss to the Jets has a similar box score of what an 03 Colts would have after a playoff loss to the Pats of old: Manning throwing 40+ times, completing about half, with very low yardage relative to avg. yards per pass, and exciting Patriots defensive pressure at the end to ice the game.