Dwight and Mathis not included?

by jack-manning on Dec 2, 2008 7:26 AM EST

According to NFL.com Dwight Freeney and Mathis are not one of the leagues elite pass rushers? They may not have the numbers but look at who they've played against and how well they've done.I might be being an absolute homer but shouldn't atleast one of them be there fo sho?

Who is the best pass rusher in the league?

Falcons DE John Abraham

Steelers LB James Harrison

Dolphins LB Joey Porter

Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware

Texans DE Mario Williams

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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Could you toss us a link? I want to see this.

The King of Anti-Fail and Unofficial Moderator of Stupid People

by KingRichard on Dec 2, 2008 7:54 AM EST reply actions

Its just on the nfl.com homepage

by jack-manning on Dec 2, 2008 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

Tough list to break into as each player listed is playing at a reasonably high level.

Off the top of my head I can’t think of a better tandem in the league.

It's a bird, it's a plane... no it's Supermathis!!!

by AussieColtsFan on Dec 2, 2008 8:19 AM EST reply actions

Will never happen, but..

Imagine if Freeney and Mathis were able to play in a 3-4 like Porter or Harrison or Ware, they would lead the league in sacks. They would NEVER be able to be double teamed, they would come free on great angles against tackles, or they would be one-on-one against TEs or RBs. DeMarcus Ware is probably the best one on that list, but boy, the Texans sure don’t look dumb for taking Williams over Bush now, huh?

by Nideak on Dec 2, 2008 9:26 AM EST reply actions

I was mocked immediately after the draft for saying the Texans got that one right on another site.

I’ve been rubbing it in for 18 months now.

by eltharion_doa on Dec 3, 2008 12:13 AM EST up reply actions

Also...

One more thought. I hit on this in another thread (the shit storm one) but I think people need to realize what has caused this resurgence in Freeney and Mathis: Antonio Johnson. Since Johnson was signed, Freeney has 8.5 tackles, 5 sacks, and 2 FF. Mathis has 11 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 FF. In the Brown’s game he was getting doubled every play he was in by the Center and Guard, leaving Mathis one-on-one most of the time. With a dominant force inside, opposing teams cannot double freeney and mathis. Well, they can, but that means you’re losing 1 or 2 possible route runners. If Johnson can continue to play at a high level the rest of the year, I think we found ourselves a keeper.

And when you think about it, this is what the team needed. Now, we can play rotating door at UT, with Brock, Dawson, and Foster. We have a fierce 4 man pass rush on And Long situations with Freeney – Dawson – Brock – Mathis. Maybe we won’t need to draft someone, maybe we can focus our draft on depth players. I’m not happy that Dawson is hurt, but I am happy that his injury might mean even more play time for Johnson.

Does everyone remember the 2005 season? It didn’t end pretty, but that was really the only year I can remember as a Colts’ fan that I LOVED to watch the Colts on defense, because I knew someone was gonna get (Emmitt Smith talk) BLOWED UP (/Emitt Smith talk). Maybe with Johnson we’ll get back to that.

by Nideak on Dec 2, 2008 9:34 AM EST reply actions

Definitely agree about Johnson

we needed that kind of player up there. And he is only getting better as he has more time with the team. An offseason and training camp and with foster continuing to improve, this might FINALLY be the type of line a cover 2 really needs.

An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...

by bluegirl on Dec 2, 2008 10:13 AM EST up reply actions

Maybe Polian will just learn from his mistakes and just stop drafting DTs. Everytime they pick one up in free agency they become studs and help the team more than anyone he’s ever drafted.

The King of Anti-Fail and Unofficial Moderator of Stupid People

by KingRichard on Dec 2, 2008 10:13 AM EST up reply actions

Well..

The Corey Simon thing is STILL killing the Colts’ salary cap, but yeah, they can’t draft ‘em to save their lives. Part of the problem, imo, is John Randle. When you listen to Dungy talk on draft day, John Randle is definitely his white whale. Look at the ridiculously small DTs they’ve drafted: Dawson, Sweet Pea Burns, was welsh playing inside? I know what they’ve been looking for, but having a 250lb DT would never work until you can get the big, fat, fast guy that requires double teaming to play beside him.,

Here’s what has me even more excited: Sessions, Keiaho, Hagler and Brackett (when he gets healthy) will be allowed to use their speed and instincts even more if Johnson is as good as I’m hoping he is. If the colts can just slow down the run with the front 7, it’ll really improve the play of someone like a Tim Jennings.

by Nideak on Dec 2, 2008 10:43 AM EST up reply actions