Anyone wonder why Richardson was used in deep in the red zone defense?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I am not sure whether the team was short on DBs at the time or whatever happened or if the defense was set up differently,but did anyone wonder why BB had Richardson out there 1 on 1 with Gonzalez near the end zone in the final TD drive of the Colts?

Wasn't O'Neal or Wheately available or were they injured during that Colts drive? - I think Wheately or O'Neal would have covered a bit better on that corner pass in the end zone (I am not sure if Wheately even returned to action after the injury).

I just think Richardson was a weak CB in the area of the field (deep in the red zone) that needed to be more protected

 

[BlitzFritz]

wheatley was injured.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

wheatley was injured.

Wonder why O'Neal wasn't used then unless BB thinks he was not up to the task and Richardson was

 

[DaBruinz]

I am not sure whether the team was short on DBs at the time or whatever happened or if the defense was set up differently,but did anyone wonder why BB had Richardson out there 1 on 1 with Gonzalez near the end zone in the final TD drive of the Colts?

Wasn't O'Neal or Wheately available or were they injured during that Colts drive? - I think Wheately or O'Neal would have covered a bit better on that corner pass in the end zone (I am not sure if Wheately even returned to action after the injury).

I just think Richardson was a weak CB in the area of the field (deep in the red zone) that needed to be more protected

Wheatley had already been injured. O'Neal was out there covering someone already. And Wilhite had been beaten previously.

 

[Mack Herron]

O'Neal played also but he is on the outside. Richardson took Wheatley's place in the slot. Wheatley made a couple of pretty plays before being injured. I recall he has a inury history with a rod in his wrist. I hope he did not re-injure that in his first start.

 

[DaBruinz]

The wrist that Wheatley had previous had issues with was his RIGHT wrist. The injury last night was to his left.

Just an FYI: Wheatley had broken the plate in his right wrist during his junior year of college.

 

[JSn]

Just an FYI: Wheatley had broken the plate in his right wrist during his junior year of college.

And kept playing. He's a tough SOB.

 

[matt1073]

Richardson was playin cause no one else is healthy

 

[COLT FAN]

Colts were playing 3 WR spread offense on that play and Pats had to play Nickel to counter that, hence the need to use an extra DB.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

The upside is that it is good to see the kids get playing time.

 

[JSn]

Looks like maybe Richardson was playing because Wilhite was floundering.

CB Jonathan Wilhite, who was the first defensive back off the bench in the nickel, did not play a defensive snap in the second half. He was replaced by CB Mike Richardson, presumably because he struggled in the first 30 minutes of action.

Defensive snapshot - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com