What can the Pats learn from Indy.

[RayClay]

It's damn hard to go all the way. Indy learned from the Pats and the Steelers how to be patient on offense and take what the D gives you.

I say we learn from Indy to stay with your model.

Indy is built on offense and they kept the receivers and TE intact and spent for a RB in the draft, (along with a fine backup in Rhodes).

Everybody said they should spend big on D, but they've let players go and kept top Pass rushers and a safety only. They patched and schemed when the run D got really rough.

Our strength is our Defense, IMO. Signing Seymour was key, but we're losing talent to age and injuries.

I say we need top players to replace the declining Rodney and Bruschi.

Even if they don't start right away.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I say we need top players to replace the declining Rodney and Bruschi.

Well I say we need bottom players to make us long for Rodney and Bruschi, what would there be to complain about if we had great players taking up the slack?

 

[shirtsleeve]

I agree. We need to stay with OUR model. Patient, grinding offense, a dominant D, and very special, special teams. Our ST's are looking very special again, moreso when you figure in getting the gunners back from IR.

Our offense is developing nicely. Perhaps a LT or WR away from excellent for our scheme again.

Our D needs help. The D line is fine. Our LB's and S positions could use an upgrade. Some of that upgrade and youth is already on the roster (Woods should start to develop this year, and our safeties are good without Rodney, and very dangerous and deeper with him). But we need to look at bringing in some depth at ILB and SS. Both FA's and draft picks at ILB and draft picks at SS.

Corner is kinda up in the air due to Asantes situation. If he is signed, we are deep and good. If he is tagged or walks, then its time to draft another. This doesn't have to be a first. As was mentioned elsewhere, there are very promising projects such as Wilson that should be around in rds 2 and lower.

So lets get a decent (doesn't need to be super for our system) WR through FA, sign Grambo, see whats out there at LT, and focus the 2 first rounders at S and ILB.

That said, we all know that BB value groups draft picks, so who knows how the draft will go.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

There's nothing to learn. Both teams are competitive every year and have a chance. Why did Indy beat us ? They played well in the second half and got every break you could dream of. But they were there and on the field. I probably sound stupid but we win that game 19 times out of 20. They made it to the AFCCG and got the 1 out of 20 (I'm talking about 1/20 after we're up 20-3).

There's no secret, be good every year, be in the playoffs and maybe the coin will flip in your direction.

 

[RayClay]

Well I say we need bottom players to make us long for Rodney and Bruschi, what would there be to complain about if we had great players taking up the slack?

I can always find a problem with the play calling!:bricks:

 

[SoonerPatriot]

This actually something the Pats can learn from Indy: Get someone on the competition committee to bully the league into changing the rules to fit our style of play.

BTW, slightly off topic but could Marvin Harrison be any more invisible when it counts? I wasn't a 49ers fan, but even I'm insulted at Harrison being mentioned in the same breath as Jerry Rice. Rice was a tough SOB who came up big when it counted. Harrison is a ****.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

This actually something the Pats can learn from Indy: Get someone on the competition committee to bully the league into changing the rules to fit our style of play.

BTW, slightly off topic but could Marvin Harrison be any more invisible when it counts? I wasn't a 49ers fan, but even I'm insulted at Harrison being mentioned in the same breath as Jerry Rice. Rice was a tough SOB who came up big when it counted. Harrison is a ****.

It's funny how we all see something different. Rice was certainly the greatest but he was a whiner, something you can't say about the other great 49ers of those great teams, Montana, Lott and Young. Maybe some of it comes with the territory of being a WR, but nobody ever heard Marvin Harrison whine. It doesn't diminish Rice's accomplishments at all, but even watching some of the super bowl highlights last week, there was Rice on film when he played with the Raiders screaming his head off, like TO, "you're not throwing the ball to me, you gotta get me the ball".

 

[SoonerPatriot]

It's funny how we all see something different. Rice was certainly the greatest but he was a whiner, something you can't say about the other great 49ers of those great teams, Montana, Lott and Young. Maybe some of it comes with the territory of being a WR, but nobody ever heard Marvin Harrison whine. It doesn't diminish Rice's accomplishments at all, but even watching some of the super bowl highlights last week, there was Rice on film when he played with the Raiders screaming his head off, like TO, "you're not throwing the ball to me, you gotta get me the ball".

I don't remember that at all when he was with the 49ers, at least not when he was in his prime. But even if he did, he produced in the playoffs. Harrison may not whine, but he doesn't produce in the playoffs either.

 

[DarrylS]

Our model works.. Pittsburgh last year and Indy's game plan this year.. take what they give you, the strength is in the trenches.. the difference is that Indy does not have any cap money right now, and need to tweek a lot of guys to make changes. We have a lot of cash, and I think this roster will look different next year with a combination of red shirted rookies, and a couple of defensive veterans who will be signed for a couple of years to groom the new guys.

I think Indy looked at what worked for the Pats, will be interesting if they can continue to replenish their roster and bring in more complimentary players. Many teams have the post SB letdown, stay tuned.. I know our team will be competitive.

 

[Jimke]

Hold on to as much of your own talent as possible.

What the Pats are beginning to experience is the result of losing

some of their talented players thru free agency, retirement, and

just being too old to play effectively any longer.

We stayed on top for a long time because we retained most of our good

players. We did not lose a whole bunch of players at once like the

other Super Bowl winners but now our losses are starting to

accumulate.

 

[mgteich]

Hire a top Offensive Coordinator who will work wwll with Brady and adjust during the game, especially at half time.

We each have our strengths and weaknesses. The biggest pluses for Indy are: OC and receivers.

mark

 

[ATippett56]

What can the Pats learn from Indy?

The question should be ...................

What did Indy learn from the Pats this past season?

 

[ATippett56]

Some people in this forum are very intelligent.

Not only do you like to stick the knife in but to twist it, as well.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

I don't remember that at all when he was with the 49ers, at least not when he was in his prime. But even if he did, he produced in the playoffs. Harrison may not whine, but he doesn't produce in the playoffs either.

Well, I lived in the SF Bay Area for all those years and it was there with Rice. Nothing like TO of course, but he was even jealous of Joe always getting the headlines until Jerry won his own SB MVP in SB 23.

 

[RayClay]

Hold on to as much of your own talent as possible.

What the Pats are beginning to experience is the result of losing

some of their talented players thru free agency, retirement, and

just being too old to play effectively any longer.

We stayed on top for a long time because we retained most of our good

players. We did not lose a whole bunch of players at once like the

other Super Bowl winners but now our losses are starting to

accumulate.

Indy let a lot of their defensive players go, however. Freeney and sanders are still on their first contract, I believe.

They held onto their key offensive players but they've had a revolving door on D. Of course, know that they've won, they'll really be tested.

EDIT: I forgot about Edgerrin. People questioned that move.

 

[Oswlek]

There's nothing to learn. Both teams are competitive every year and have a chance. Why did Indy beat us ? They played well in the second half and got every break you could dream of. But they were there and on the field. I probably sound stupid but we win that game 19 times out of 20. They made it to the AFCCG and got the 1 out of 20 (I'm talking about 1/20 after we're up 20-3).

There's no secret, be good every year, be in the playoffs and maybe the coin will flip in your direction.

From the moment NE got the ball back near mid-field up 21-3, that game could be played 1,000 times and Indy would win two, tops.

I agree. There really is nothing to learn, other than what any self-refelctive team will take from another consistently good one. Just because Indy happened to win a SB does not make them any more noteworthy of a franchise.

 

[BigEZPatsFan76]

Pioli could do a "Polian" and make complaints to the competition committee that HOLDING needs to be emphasized more. This would not be tweaking the rules to accomodate anyone, just trying to get current rules ENFORCED. Thisnk na-Polian would have a $#!t-fit?



EZ76

 

[Seneschal2]

No, we won't learn from Indy or any other team -- only ourselves.

Just remain true to what got us the 3 V's:

Upgrade the roster from the bottom up with players who fit the system

Add a key FA signing like Rodney, Vrabel, Rosey

Hope for an impact player/playmaker early in the draft and a diamond-in-the-rough later on

Strengthen our weaknesses while maintaining our strengths

Hope for fewer injuries

Field a T-E-A-M

Play the schedule

 

[cstjohn17]

Lesson learned, always important... the Colts followed a time tested and proven formula for playoff success.

1) Make the playoffs, can't get laid if you don't go to the dance.
2) Play your best football at the end of the year. It is not the best team that wins it is team that plays the best in January.
3) Play good defense, the Colts really tightened up the ship during the playoffs.
4) Run the ball and stop the run.
5) Don't make excuses, just go out and play. A hallmark of the Patriots adopted by the Colts.

 

[Oswlek]

Lesson learned, always important... the Colts followed a time tested and proven formula for playoff success.

1) Make the playoffs, can't get laid if you don't go to the dance.
2) Play your best football at the end of the year. It is not the best team that wins it is team that plays the best in January.
3) Play good defense, the Colts really tightened up the ship during the playoffs.
4) Run the ball and stop the run.
5) Don't make excuses, just go out and play. A hallmark of the Patriots adopted by the Colts.

1) Yes.
2) Yes.
3) Yes.... and God no. I will explain further below.
4) Yes.
5) Yes.

The Colt defensive improvement was a complete fallacy. I can assure you that if the Colts faced a stretch of teams like NY, SD, NE, NO the Colts would have averaged letting up 24+ points per game. Indy faced an intellectually neutered team in KC, a tream devoid of offensive playmakers in Balt, a team that lost the two players that had the most success in the first half for most of the second half against NE and a team that they were tailor-made to stop in Chicago.

What Indy accomplished this year is truly special because it really was a 20:1 shot, at best, for everything to fall completely into place for them. They still are a team that cannot stop a decent offense and can be run over by a good one. SD would have put up no less than 30 points on them. Probably around 40. I am not exaggerating or complaining, I am just saying it how I see it.

As muich as I hate them, I respect Pitt's run last year far more than Indy's because Pitt actually faced some quality opposition. Cincy of last year was better than every team Indy faced save for NE. Same for Seattle and last year's Indy team was very good as well.

I am not saying that Indy is not a very good team. They are a great, great offense, that after rolling their dice for the past several years finally came up snake eyes. That doesn't change the fact that, unless they change their dynamic, they will need dozens of things to fall into place for another improbable SB run.