Dr Z's take

[SVN]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/dr_z/01/22/look.ahead/1.html

i know we made a lot of mistakes and there are no excuses but the fatigue mentioned here is quite a big factor...wish we had run the ball more in the 2nd half..ah well

 

[DarrylS]

Here is a part of that article that is very, very true.

The Patriots were exhausted. The no-huddle had drained them

And it brings me to my next pissed off moment...WHERE THE HELL WAS OUR NO HUDDLE. MCDANIELS HAD HIS HEAD UP HIS ASS, AS USUAL.

OTOH we were trying to let our D get some rest, catch their breath so to speak, if we went to a hurry up and went three and out may have given our guys little time to recover. The Indy D was all fired up and well rested, if we had kept them on the field for more than 3 minutes may have been more appropriate then.The no huddle is great sometimes, but I question its use here.

 

[lobster]

My assessment is McDaniel's likely panicked in the 2nd half. He saw the Pat's lead sinking and the Colts coming on and panicked. He called only 5 running plays in the entire 2nd half by my count - listed below, and Dillon got exactly 1 run! What ever happened to pound it at them when you are ahead, and give the D a break?

It's true that the blocking for the run was not too great in the 2nd half - and the OL deserves a lot of the blame for that - however without a running game no team is going to make the Super Bowl.

McDaniel's 5 running plays in the 2nd half:
1. K.Faulk up the middle to NE 26 for 8 yards.
2. L.Maroney left tackle to IND 22 for -1 yards.
3. C.Dillon left end to IND 6 for -1 yards.
4. L.Maroney up the middle to NE 29 for -2 yards.
5. H.Evans right tackle to IND 25 for 4 yards.