Nice article.
SVN said:
http://www.startribune.com/508/story/777537.html
"The Patriots might not have the most athletic linebackers in the league, but they are on top of everything," said Dean Dalton, the former Vikings assistant now working in local television. "They know a screen pass is coming before it's called in the huddle
I was just thinking about that this morning (probably when I should have been thinking about other things, like work).
The keys to beating the Colts has always been the intelligence of the defense. McGinest sniffing out a run, faking a drop into a coverage before diving in to stuff Edge in the backfield. Bruschi jumping in front of a Manning TD pass. Rodney doing the same.
It's good coaching, sure, and it's physical play, but BB brought in the guys who can work with him to set up an offense with trickery, giving one look before slipping into another. Manning is pretty good at reading most defenses but not so good at reading a Belichick defense -- because the players themselves are such wily veterans.
It's Seymour, it's Harrison, it's Hawkins. Samuel, too, is a pretty crafty guy. But absolutely, it's those 4 guys in the middle: Colvin, Seau, Bruschi, and Vrabel, some of the smartest LBs in the game.
