YR's My Meaningless Thoughts On The Game...

[Yakuza Rich]

- I believe that historically teams in the NFL that have been up by more than 7 points after the first quarter of play have gone on to win 80% of the time. The Cowboys got down last week 17-0 and almost made the comeback. This week they got up 17-0 and pulled out the win in overtime. Sometimes you need that sort of stuff when you’re playing on the road in December because road wins are hard to come by. But it sure feels good to get the win this time.

- The Manning drive at the end of regulation for a TD didn’t surprise me. It’s part of the Pasqualoni hallmark, whenever the other team has the ball and is driving….play very soft and conservatively on defense thinking that there’s no way they can score that much in such a short period of time. Do this for the last 20 years and never ever learn and adapt.

- I gotta give Mike Jenkins some props. I thought he played alright, but just kept getting beat by a hair by Wayne and great throws by Manning. But he kept playing hard and then made a good read in zone coverage and a good play. He’s a guy that Garrett will need to press hard next season, but I think if he does Jenkins will be a fine corner in this league. The problem was that Wade never really pushed him and he got lazy and reverted back to his old ways.

- I honestly do not get the reason behind Sean Lee not starting now and that was before the INT’s. Brooking was hurting and he was painfully slow to watch out there. Couldn’t get deep enough into zone coverage. The defense looked entirely better before the INT’s when Lee was in the game. I watched Lee pretty intently and I thought he did pretty much everything correctly and in a textbook fashion.

- I thought Ware was the unsung hero of the game. His run defense and willingness to not speed rush and instead bull rush in order to collapse the pocket was huge yesterday. For those wanting a sack fest, the Colts lead the league in adjusted sacks allowed…meaning that they are the best in the league at keeping Peyton upright.

- I think the big weakness with Doug Free, and I’m still relatively pleased with his performance yesterday, is that he struggles against speed rushers who bull rush him. If a speed guy tries to speed rush him, he doesn’t have a problem. If a power rusher tries to bull rush him, he doesn’t have a problem. If a power rusher tries to go to the outside, he doesn’t have a problem. But when speed surprises him with a bull rush, that’s when he starts getting pushed backward.

- This team has a fumbling problem as far as I’m concerned. Garrett would serve himself well by gathering the entire team together, give each of them a football and explain how you are supposed to carry the football. One of the things I dig watching is Navy football because those guys carry the football in a textbook fashion and when they score a TD they’ll continue to carry the football that way as they make their way to hand the ball over to the ref.

- Garrett has almost won me over after the performance against the Colts. I didn’t expect this win because I hated the Freeney and Mathis vs. Free and Colombo matchup and wasn’t sure if Garrett had the patience to run the ball when the Colts are so soft against the run. And I really didn’t like our secondary against Peyton. But they came out and played relatively sound and smart football and had 4 turnovers to get the victory.

Like I said, he’s ‘almost’ won me over. What I need to see is a pretty strong performance against the Eagles because this is a team that tends to lighten up when they come back home, particularly after a good win on the road. But I’m rather pleased with what I see here. The defense sucks, but it’s something he inherited and it has actually improved from earlier this season. I can cut him some slack there and be happy with a team that has gone 3-1 in the last 4 games with Jon Kitna starting (and should be 4-0).







YR

 

[Gaede]

- Garrett has almost won me over after the performance against the Colts. I didn’t expect this win because I hated the Freeney and Mathis vs. Free and Colombo matchup and wasn’t sure if Garrett had the patience to run the ball when the Colts are so soft against the run. And I really didn’t like our secondary against Peyton. But they came out and played relatively sound and smart football and had 4 turnovers to get the victory.

Like I said, he’s ‘almost’ won me over.


YR

Good post YR. I'm pretty much sold on Garrett. While we still make the same mistakes, and have the same weaknesses, the team compensates for them now. And they try harder. I plain don't like him calling the plays, so I hope he gets hired and brings in an experienced playcaller to help him there.

But there's no questioning that Garrett's team is much different, much better, and infinitely more likable than Wade's team. I'll give him credit for that. I'm starting to believe that he deserves to be the next head coach.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

We are averaging 33 points a game under Garrett with Kitna as our QB. I really haven't had an issue with his play calling as HC. People harp on the Barber pitch on 4th and 1, but I thought it was a decent call, the execution was terrible. We had some struggles at the goal line gainst the Colts, but the execution was lacking. I think the calls were good enough to allow the team to execute, they just didn't.

There's not much they can do on defense right now. In a sense I'm sorta glad they are getting scored on because maybe they'll see that Pasqualoni isn't the guy for the D-C job. And if Ron Rivera is available, I think they'd be foolish to pass up on him.





YR

 

[Gaede]

True, we have been producing relatively well with a nearly 40 year old backup QB known to make bad decisions. I think I'm just too hard on Garrett, as OC. I will admit that the offense has looked much improved, more balanced since Wade was fired.

I'm actually surprised by the play of the defense. Obviously, they're giving up a lot of yards and tds, but the turnovers are surprising. And the turnovers aren't just lucky picks. It's typically a guy making a read on the receiver or QB and making a break on the ball (ie, McCann, Lee, Ball). I wonder if, since Garrett took over and said he would attend defensive meetings, that he's making sure that the guys are watching film attentively.

 

[Venger]

- I thought Ware was the unsung hero of the game. His run defense and willingness to not speed rush and instead bull rush in order to collapse the pocket was huge yesterday.

If you watched Ware, you saw him just chewing up people and upping the tempo in the pocket on Manning, even if he couldn't quite get there. The Colts, you know, are sorta good at that, and their QB is also sorta good at that...

For those wanting a sack fest, the Colts lead the league in adjusted sacks allowed…meaning that they are the best in the league at keeping Peyton upright.

See, Indy knows where their bread is buttered, and what basket their eggs are in - Manning. So they went out and deliberately designed an offensive line to protect their investment. The line isn't as important as what it protects. Hint Hint Jerry you ^%)&! clown... when the season rides on your QB, you don't skimp and get cheap and roll the dice. Or you do, like we did, and lose your QB, like we did...

- Garrett has almost won me over after the performance against the Colts.

I'm there. Barring some bizarre collapse, winning 3 out of 4 against the hardest part of our schedule, and almost beating the Saints (damn your fumble Roy Williams!) has shown me that, for now, he can get winning football out of a team lead by 97-year old Kitna. Now, let him pick his coordinators and get some roster upgrades and let's see what we can do...

MEC2

 

[YosemiteSam]

There's not much they can do on defense right now. In a sense I'm sorta glad they are getting scored on because maybe they'll see that Pasqualoni isn't the guy for the D-C job. And if Ron Rivera is available, I think they'd be foolish to pass up on him.

I think they were well aware that Pasqualoni wasn't the answer as a DC, but didn't have a lot of choice in the interim. You don't hire a big name during the season especially with a looming lockout. Pasqualoni was cheap and has NFL DC experience.

 

[dbair1967]

See, Indy knows where their bread is buttered, and what basket their eggs are in - Manning. So they went out and deliberately designed an offensive line to protect their investment. The line isn't as important as what it protects. Hint Hint Jerry you ^%)&! clown... when the season rides on your QB, you don't skimp and get cheap and roll the dice. Or you do, like we did, and lose your QB, like we did...

Without looking, can you name more than one starter on their OL?

I think the guy they used the highest pick on the last 5-6 years got cut recently.

They dont have high draft picks or expensive free agents starting on their OL as fyi. They also cant run block their way out of a wet paperbag.

 

[Duane]

- The Manning drive at the end of regulation for a TD didn’t surprise me. It’s part of the Pasqualoni hallmark, whenever the other team has the ball and is driving….play very soft and conservatively on defense thinking that there’s no way they can score that much in such a short period of time. Do this for the last 20 years and never ever learn and adapt.

Those final drives looked very Zimmeresque.

 

[ThreeandOut]

This defense had four problems this year under Wade: it could not stop the run, lack of a pass rush, lax pass coverage and an inability to produce turnovers. Under Garrett the defense has improved it's run defense and is producing turnovers. I think the coverage issues are primarily related to the lack of pass rush and personnel deficiencies. If they could improve the pass rush, I think you would see a much improved defense. But you have to give the coaching staff credit so far for correcting two of the problems so far.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Those final drives looked very Zimmeresque.

Pasqualoni and Zimmeresque are from the same kingdom.





YR

 

[MichaelWinicki]

See, Indy knows where their bread is buttered, and what basket their eggs are in - Manning. So they went out and deliberately designed an offensive line to protect their investment. The line isn't as important as what it protects. Hint Hint Jerry you ^%)&! clown... when the season rides on your QB, you don't skimp and get cheap and roll the dice. Or you do, like we did, and lose your QB, like we did...

Romo didn't get hurt due to the offensive line.

 

[burmafrd]

The Colts are superb at finding O linemen that play the exact way they want: consistent, steady ball. VERY FEW mistakes.

 

[Duane]

Romo didn't get hurt due to the offensive line.

Yep, a rookie FB missed his assignment. Still it doesn't let Jerry off the hook for not doing more to improve the offensive line.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Yep, a rookie FB missed his assignment. Still it doesn't let Jerry off the hook for not doing more to improve the offensive line.

I think that statement is a little unfair Duane and I'll tell you why...

No, this team hasn't used premium draft picks to draft more offensive lineman– No argument there.

But who don't you want on this team that those picks were used for?

Felix Jones
Jenkins
Bennett
Lee
Spencer

You can't serve more than one master.

Jerry has spent big money on shoring up the line via free agency.

On top of that you've got guys that were pro-bowlers not that long ago.

About the only position where I can say I think they should have been more prepared is having that extra tackle who can step in an play for Columbo. But maybe Young is the guy. We don't know.

 

[Duane]

I think that statement is a little unfair Duane and I'll tell you why...

No, this team hasn't used premium draft picks to draft more offensive lineman– No argument there.

But who don't you want on this team that those picks were used for?

Felix Jones
Jenkins
Bennett
Lee
Spencer

You can't serve more than one master.

Jerry has spent big money on shoring up the line via free agency.

On top of that you've got guys that were pro-bowlers not that long ago.

About the only position where I can say I think they should have been more prepared is having that extra tackle who can step in an play for Columbo. But maybe Young is the guy. We don't know.

I don't want to derail YR's thread but you can go back to 2006 where the entire draft was pretty much a bust. Carp played for a few years, Fasano was traded away for below what we paid for him and Hatcher is a role player.

2007 and 2009 are pretty much the same story. You've got guys who were picked in the top half of the draft that have done nothing as well and were cut.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't want to derail YR's thread but you can go back to 2006 where the entire draft was pretty much a bust. Carp played for a few years, Fasano was traded away for below what we paid for him and Hatcher is a role player.

2007 and 2009 are pretty much the same story. You've got guys who were picked in the top half of the draft that have done nothing as well and were cut.

But that's going to happen Duane.

You aren't going to hit on every pick. You can't assume every draft pick is going to be a winner... Because it just doesn't work that way.

Am I disappointed in the '09 draft? You bet. I think the team reached on both Brewster and Jason Williams.

But it wasn't like Jerry was trying to purposely hurt the team with the Williams choice and the Brewster pick was made with intent of helping shore up the offensive line.

 

[Iago33]

Are ya'll assuming Brewster is done. He might be a good player in a few years, no? Don't we still have him on the PS?

 

[links18]

This defense had four problems this year under Wade: it could not stop the run, lack of a pass rush, lax pass coverage and an inability to produce turnovers. Under Garrett the defense has improved it's run defense and is producing turnovers. I think the coverage issues are primarily related to the lack of pass rush and personnel deficiencies. If they could improve the pass rush, I think you would see a much improved defense. But you have to give the coaching staff credit so far for correcting two of the problems so far.

That pretty much covers the entire spectrum of playing defense.

 

[links18]

Pasqualoni and Zimmeresque are from the same kingdom.





YR

You really have it in for Pasqualoni.......

 

[burmafrd]

We need to get better at drafting. We are much too inconsistent.