Defending the Colts

[Crown Royal]

Keep the ball on offense, be opportunistic on defense.

In short - keep this our style of game - field position, TOP, etc. We need to keep the ball out of Manning's hands and hope our defense holds up when it is in there. The best defense is to sustain drives, keep the clock going and stay up on them.

/gameplan.

[smarta5150]

Keep the ball on offense, be opportunistic on defense.

In short - keep this our style of game - field position, TOP, etc. We need to keep the ball out of Manning's hands and hope our defense holds up when it is in there. The best defense is to sustain drives, keep the clock going and stay up on them.

/gameplan.

Couldnt agree more. We need to learn where the Pat's screwed up. They ran away from their run game and it cost them.

[JFlgn]

Don't even throw a pass until the second half

[Aikbach]

Strike early, strike often, up by three scores then run the ball.

[Novacek84]

To beat the Colts we have to become the '90 Giants vs. Buffalo in the Super Bowl. We have the coach that devised the plan but does he still remember the recipe? We have to use our 2-headed RB monster effectively. That means 40 runs in the game against a lousy run defense. I don't want to see us come out throwing. I love Romo but the best way to beat Manning is to keep him on the sideline because I believe he is going to dissect us defensively (particularly Anthony Henry). They can't stop the run so if we don't run it 40 times and play keep away I'll be disappointed. The problem is I don't have 100% faith that the coaching staff will do the obvious thing and that the players are too weak mentally to execute it. (Based on all the mental errors throughout the season) Manning will score a minimum 24 just by showing up if we keep giving him the ball so we need to also follow the Buffalo blueprint from yesterday. Our offense is better than theirs (Buffalo's) so that gives us a shot.

[ZeroClub]

The Bills stayed in their game with Colts.

The Bills did a decent job of controlling the clock; The A-Train gained 100 yards mostly between the tackles. And the Bills defense scored a TD.

[CrazyCowboy]

No penalities......ok, only 3 total

[Bryan8284]

Look at the Colts games.

What did the opponents do (Jax and Buffalo)?

Run strong and keep running. I would run every play until they prove they can shut it down, which could mean 9 in the box.

Contain Freeney and let the WRs enjoy single coverage. Run on 3rd and long too. Keep that clock running. Take every FG we can, no turnovers, Barber them to death in the red zone.

[Fletch]

We should run it often, but let us not forget that Tony Romo is now considered a weapon. Tony can dictate a game and make big plays.

Manning won't be the only "star" QB on the field.

[JPM]

It's going to be a heavy does of Jones and Barber. Play keep away.

[Bryan8284]

We should run it often, but let us not forget that Tony Romo is now considered a weapon. Tony can dictate a game and make big plays.

Manning won't be the only "star" QB on the field.

I don't think anyone doubts Romo to move the ball, but an incompletion is what we have to avoid. That clock needs to never stop. The more time we have the ball, the better chance we have.

[Canadian BoyzFan]

They have a terrible and smallish front 7 for stopping the run. It's time to put on the big boy pads, and pound them for 60 straight minutes.

[Fletch]

I don't think anyone doubts Romo to move the ball, but an incompletion is what we have to avoid. That clock needs to never stop. The more time we have the ball, the better chance we have.

True, I am just saying that we don't strictly have to rely on the run. Tony can make plays as well that Bledsoe would be hard pressed to make by hiimself.

[Smith22]

30+ carries in the running game would be nice. But 1st, we HAVE TO STOP with the penalties. Against a team like the Colts, those penalties will be almost impossible to overcome, especially if they are on our defense.

[SultanOfSix]

For some odd reason, I think we'll see the real Zimmer this week against the Colts. I don't think we've been seeing the full "true" Zimmer, but just bits and pieces. Whether that is good or bad, we'll have to wait and see.

[Crown Royal]

For some odd reason, I think we'll see the real Zimmer this week against the Colts. I don't think we've been seeing the full "true" Zimmer, but just bits and pieces. Whether that is good or bad, we'll have to wait and see.

This is what bothers me. We play coverage and don't rely on pressure on the QB. The problem is - you can't play coverage all day with manning - because there will always be a hole to find.

This will be an interesting game.

[Martice]

We should run it often, but let us not forget that Tony Romo is now considered a weapon. Tony can dictate a game and make big plays.

Manning won't be the only "star" QB on the field.

Manning wasn't the only "star" QB on the field when the played the Pats and look what happened to them.

The key to victory is to keep the ball away from the offense and do not turn it over!!!! The last thing we need to give this team is extra shots at the endzone.

[TheSkaven]

Keep the ball on offense, be opportunistic on defense.

In short - keep this our style of game - field position, TOP, etc. We need to keep the ball out of Manning's hands and hope our defense holds up when it is in there. The best defense is to sustain drives, keep the clock going and stay up on them.Peyton has had problems with the 3-4 defense, and more specifically against Belichek's style of defense. When the Pats had their streak going against the Colts, they were able to put Manning on the ground. He's not the same quarterback when he's getting hit.

I think the plan must be to take chances against Manning, get his uniform dirty even if it means giving up an occasional big play. On offense, forget trying to control the ball, that justs leads to 70-yard, 8 minute drives that end in field goals. It's not good enough. I expect the Cowboys to open the offense up and try to put points on the board, meaning challenging the secondary and going deep.

[REDVOLUTION]

Drop 9 men into coverage :D
I heard them say that yesterday during one of the many games I watched...

[Crown Royal]

Peyton has had problems with the 3-4 defense, and more specifically against Belichek's style of defense. When the Pats had their streak going against the Colts, they were able to put Manning on the ground. He's not the same quarterback when he's getting hit.

I think the plan must be to take chances against Manning, get his uniform dirty even if it means giving up an occasional big play. On offense, forget trying to control the ball, that justs leads to 70-yard, 8 minute drives that end in field goals. It's not good enough. I expect the Cowboys to open the offense up and try to put points on the board, meaning challenging the secondary and going deep.

I agree with scoring points. I think our offense can play well against them (God it's been YEARS since I have been able to say that).

Honestly - here is the teams Indy has faced thus far:

NY Giants
Houston
Jacksonville
NY Jets
Tennessee
Washington
Denver
New England
Buffallo

Of that list, NY and maybe NE are the best offensively, but NY is inconsistent and really only has a running game with a crazy QB, and they weren't playing good football to start the year. NE is decent with Brady - but not firing on all cylinders, and their game plan was bogus.

I think that we, if WE DON'T SHOOT OURSELVES IN THE FOOT, are the best offensive, and maybe, all around team they have faced yet. We can move the ball on them.

And while we may have overrated our defense, it isn't chopped liver. We might be able to get a stop here and there - you never know.

[superpunk]

I think that we, if WE DON'T SHOOT OURSELVES IN THE FOOT, are the best offensive, and maybe, all around team they have faced yet. We can move the ball on them.
That's a huge if. But it's very true. We're the most balanced squad they've faced. If we turn it over and commit stupid big penalties, it's not going to matter, though.

[Maikeru-sama]

Hopefully we get some consistently "good" play with our Safeties and Henry is out of his "funk" for which I think he has been in since the Carolina Game.

As far as what to do, 9 other teams have tried to figure that out and walked away with a loss.

I think the key is the "Pass Rush" but besides gimmee games, we have not had a consistent one.

[Frozen700]

im not to worried about thier WR's....well maybe who ever henry is guarding(sometimes...we need henry to stop bull****ting and step up) guard there tightends tightly...n no zone coverage

[Clove]

I wonder if we stay in a Dime or Nickel package all game long, and force them to slowly march down field, running the ball predominantly. I wonder if our Dime package can stop their running game?

The one thing we have in our favor is that we never ever ever need to use 8 man fronts to stop the run. So I think we can stop them using a nickel most of the game, and rarely rarely ever blitzing.

[viman96]

Defending the Colts will be a problem for us. They excel where we come up short which of course is the deep ball. As many have already stated, we need to run the ball well Sunday and convert in the redzone to have any chance of winning.

[Rampage]

have roy break peytons leg

[Aikbach]

have roy break peytons legBad form, now Romo will get hurt.

[MichaelWinicki]

The Bills did well against Indy by keeping the two safeties deep play after play. They tried to contain Indy's running game with the front seven. IT WAS NOT DONE WITH A POWERFUL PASS RUSH.

Indy likes the big play and the Bills made them march down the field "dinking & dunking".

Jax typically does well against Indy also using a similar scheme.

I think Newman can take out one of their wide-receivers. Henry will need help with the other. Glenn can handle himself Stokely.

I'm most scared to death of their tight-ends just going "insane" in the middle of the field. The linebackers will need to take deep drops.

I would look for a lot of "nickel" with 5 db's.

[MichaelWinicki]

I wonder if we stay in a Dime or Nickel package all game long, and force them to slowly march down field, running the ball predominantly. I wonder if our Dime package can stop their running game?

The one thing we have in our favor is that we never ever ever need to use 8 man fronts to stop the run. So I think we can stop them using a nickel most of the game, and rarely rarely ever blitzing.

You got it.

Roy will not be "cheating" often towards the LOS.

[LaTunaNostra]

I'm most scared to death of their tight-ends just going "insane" in the middle of the field. The linebackers will need to take deep drops.

I would look for a lot of "nickel" with 5 db's.

So, Mike, do you think they can dink and dunk us to death?

[Billy Bullocks]

Considering that Parcells loves to run the ball no matter what, this week should be no different.

I want to see us pound a soft running defense. Alot. Get them thinking run, then go over the top with some play action passes.

Defensively, I would avoid dropping too many into coverage. Come after Manning. I'd rather get beat going after than giving him time in the pocket to pick us apart.

There's plenty of game film, especially of 3-4 defenses putting the hurt on Manning. You've got a bunch of New England games, you've got San Diego. The Blueprint has been drawn up already.

I think alot of it might also be just being more physical. I look at the Colts as a finesse team. Hit their WR's hard. Punish those ****ers. Sort of like New England vs St. Louis. Make them earn every completion.

[MichaelWinicki]

So, Mike, do you think they can dink and dunk us to death?

They could. But I prefer that to being ripped by 20+ yard completions.

This is the best passing offense in football and I think they are going to get their 24-28 points on this defense no matter what.

I agree with everyone else that the obvious thing is for the Cowboy offense to hold the ball as much as possible... but the flip side of that is to limit the number of opportunites for the Colt's offense. I'm not interested in seeing the Colts have 2 min scoring drives because that means the math works in their favor. If they are going to score then make them take 15 plays and chew up 6 minutes.

I'd use a "bend but not break" philosophy between the 20's but would get gradually more aggessive as they move towards our goal-line. Field-goals given up would be victory for us.

Hey it's like this B. the Bills didn't blitz a lot and they held Manning to what 230 yards on 29 completions? If the Cowboys hold Manning to less than 8 yards per completion I like our odds.

I just don't see our blitz package creating constant pressure. I think our corners can hold their own but the safties and linebackers make my spine twist in fear. :)

[thekavorka]

The Colts/Bills game probably would have been farther apart had not the Colts fumbled a couple times.

That's the key. Force turnovers.

[Doomsday101]

The Colts/Bills game probably would have been farther apart had not the Colts fumbled a couple times.

That's the key. Force turnovers.

Dallas ranks #4 in the NFL on creating turnovers.