Keys to beating the Patriots on Sunday
by MaPatsFan on Nov 13, 2009 8:36 AM EST
in Game Preview
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PrintI can't believe I'm writing this, but I'm pretty sure Caldwell isn't scouring the internet, looking for a Patriots blogger with the keys to the kingdom. At any rate, blogs are a chance to turn ourselves into armchair quarterbacks and today, I'm opening up the family safe for all to see.
On last night's Stampede Blue Radio, we talked about 1 surprise player for each team. My pick was TE Benjamin Watson for the Patriots. Watson is not racking up insane numbers and, for all intents and purposes, is flying under the radar. Caldwell probably knows about him, but will Big Ben garner some respect?
Read on...
Another question I get asked consistently during cross blogging exchanges is, "How does my team beat the Patriots? I have my answer, but want to hear yours." I invariably launch into a dissection of our offense and defense, pick out some weak positions, and point to them. 9 out of 10 times, they come back with, "Keep Brady off the field." It's simplistic, but accurate. Like Peyton Manning and the Colts, the Patriots need Brady on the field to score points. But both have proven you can do a lot with very little time. So keeping them off the field, while somewhat accurate, is a bit of a 30,000 ft view.
- Belichick has been sneaking Ben Watson into packages where we need some third down yardage or in red zone situations and the man has been delivering. I would argue he's our "third receiver". While defenses are busy with Randy Moss and Wes Welker, Tom Brady can find Watson. Respect Watson and you'll take away a potent weapon.
- Takeaway the deep ball. In our '07 matchup, Tony Dungy decided to sacrifice the underneath routes to Wes Welker and blanket Randy Moss with coverage. The Patriots ultimately won that game, but it was very, very close. The Giants used a similar strategy in that season's Super Bowl and it worked.
- Dwight Freeney needs to be in Tom Brady's face all...the...time. It is likely that Matt Light will be out and rookie Sebastian Vollmer will take his place at LT. Don't discount Vollmer; he's been playing very well, but has never stood across the "Spin Doctor". Matt Light has a lot of experience with Dwight, so I hope Vollmer is sitting next to Light on the plane ride.
- Offensively, it's almost suicide to blitz Manning. He has the quickest release in the game and defenses burn themselves by sending guys in, only to find the ball sailing over their heads. However, the Patriots defense has been successful rushing the middle rather than the edges. Safeties Brandon Meriweather and rookie Patrick Chung have been lurking in the box a lot and looking for holes to shoot through. This may manifest itself when you see a 4-3. Watch out for those guys.
- Look for a 4-3. NE has been using this formation quite a bit to overwhelm opposing OLs. As mentioned above, they use it to create gaps for safeties and linebackers (think Jerod Mayo) to slice through and get at quarterbacks or disrupt running plays.
- Edge rushing has been weak despite having OLB Adalius Thomas and OLB/DE Derrick Burgess on the team. Right now, I see their responsibility as sealing the edges. I don't believe you'll see a significant pass rush from the sides.
That's that. I'll sit here and wait for Caldwell or Manning to call. I'm sure they're chomping at the bit for this info.
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Why are you taking the time to write from a Colts perspective.
That’s not what’s happening at the Pulpit. Now it’s just two sites talking Colts smack. Bunch of BS.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Nov 13, 2009 9:11 AM EST reply actions
I agree
I love my Colts, but fair is fair. We need to write Pats loving articles for you guys on your blog as well. I will mentally burn them after tearing them up, but fair is fair. :)
Love Brady's facial expression here.
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
"As I grow older, the list of people who can kiss my ass grows longer"-Ancient Hoosier Proverb.
I wonder what he was watching.
Now a proud annoyance on Stampede Blue, 18to88, Indy Football Report, and Phil B's blog.
Man, I need a life...
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: This is my dad's favorite scene from one of my all-time favorite shows. Full of win, IMO.
My guess is
the ball that just left Eli Mannings hand aimed towards a wide open Burress for the winning TD in the super bowl.
DID SOMEONE SAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Or the Tyree helmet-grab.
Either one works.
Now a proud annoyance on Stampede Blue, 18to88, Indy Football Report, and Phil B's blog.
Man, I need a life...
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: This is my dad's favorite scene from one of my all-time favorite shows. Full of win, IMO.
Never doubt ESPN.
Now a proud annoyance on Stampede Blue, 18to88, Indy Football Report, and Phil B's blog.
Man, I need a life...
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: This is my dad's favorite scene from one of my all-time favorite shows. Full of win, IMO.
It could be the
Addai catch-and-run from 2007.
Now a proud annoyance on Stampede Blue, 18to88, Indy Football Report, and Phil B's blog.
Man, I need a life...
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: This is my dad's favorite scene from one of my all-time favorite shows. Full of win, IMO.
No
they have the home jersey’s on.
They are probably showing some awesome highlight from a Colts game on the big screen.
8-0 feels oh so good. Bring on the Pats....
For the sake of making myself happy
Im still going to believe that was the superbowl
DID SOMEONE SAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Moss' face is the best!
I expect to see those looks this Sunday from the same guys. It never gets old seeing Brady look like he’s just been hit in the stomach with a sledgehammer.
Randy Moss
looks like Omar from The Wire. All he needs is a scar across his face. “All in the game, gentlemen.”
Dear MaPatsFan,
Its very cool you’re hangin’ out at this blog. From 2003-2008, I lived in Brookline and got some taste for New Englanders and their feeling for Patriots Football. The few die-hard Pats fans I knew (of course, Boston is Red Sox Country) were,… well, let’s just say I’m glad I only knew a few. The Pats are the perfect example in the NFL of what discipline, preparation and work ethic can achieve. No doubt NE and IND are the two best run franchises in the league. Somewhere in your post you asked, “how does (our) team beat (yours).”
Answer: Simple. IND has been consistently decent stopping the run this year and – for whatever reason – is mediocre at best at running the football. I honestly haven’t seen many Patriot games this year and don’t know how they are in the run game, but word is they are middle of the pack. NE’s run defense will probably not matter in this game. Both quarterbacks need to – and I’m sure will – try to attack downfield. If this game gets played ten times, it 6-4 either way. Whichever team has more big plays in the passing game wins. I think – and indeed hope – that INDY’s pass rush will be the difference maker, forcing Brady into short dump-offs and a turnover or two. Should be an awesome game.
by taipei_coltsfan on Nov 13, 2009 9:48 AM EST reply actions
Nice thread ma.......
Have already stocked the fridge and pantry with goodies for this one……….
I think the key matchup is...
Clint Session, Gary Brackett, and Philip Wheeler…these guys are detrimental to stopping the run, and most importantly, trying to blanket Welker from finding the soft spots within 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and running for another 10. He needs to get hit in the mouth early on to make him think twice about making those catches in the middle of the field!
I'm confused
“detrimental” to stopping the run? If they hurt our Run D, who is better in their places? To quote Inigo Montoya, I am not sure that word means what you think it means….
Anyway, Welker has been around the block a time or two and I doubt a few hard shots early will have much effect. Now I do think hammering him over and over would, as it would affect anybody. But that comes at a cost—if your LB/S goes for the hammer all the time, he sacrifices a little bit of coverage. It’s nice if a receiver is tired and bruised and unwilling to raise his arms all the way to extend and expose his midsection late in the game, but that might come at the cost of allowing 10 catches for 85 yards to him in the first three quarters.
Still, if that’s what we give up in order to shut-down Moss, it’s probably well worth it. If the ending stat line reads that Watson and Welker each caught 10 passes for a total of 200 yards and Moss has less than 50, I think the Colts win.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
I can see
how that was confusing…my apologies..what I meant to say was that the Linebacking core needs to focus more on covering zones to try and limit Welker and Watson as opposed to playing the run first…if we try and stop the run before we try and stop the pass (which seems like Colts football on 1st and 2nd downs), we will get torched. I think we roll over safety help with Bethea on Moss’s side at all times, because of our 2 safeties right now, he has the starting safety experience over Melvin here. There are probably 3 CB’s that can play Moss 1-1 in this leaguel – 1) Reves, 2) Asomoaugh (sp?) and 3) Champ Baily (more in his prime though).
This is fun series
Thanks, MaPatsFan. We appreciate it. Caldwell just Blackberried me to say he appreciates it, too.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
ESPN 30 for 30 on TSN in Canada!
For my fellow Canadian Colts fans out there, i just saw this article on TSN’s website: http://www.tsn.ca/nfl/story/?id=298039 about an ESPN documentary about the old Balitmore colts that’ll be on tonight! I’ve heard good things about this whole series from friends in the US. Sounds like it’s worth watching! Has anyone seen this already?
As a Colts fan
The Baltimore doc wasn’t worth watching. Pretty much the whole film was spent smearing anyone who was involved with bringing the Colts to Indy. The rest of the 30for30 series has been spectacular, but this one just rubbed me the wrong way.
by thejoshbaker on Nov 13, 2009 6:19 PM EST up reply actions
here is a link on the discussion from a couple weeks ago
I didn’t see it but based on the descriptions here it was a piece of crap and very anti-Indianapolis and anti-Jim Irsay
http://www.stampedeblue.com/2009/10/15/1086114/ignorance-is-bliss-why-yahoo-s
espn 30 for 30
I saw that one a few weeks ago, sure it was ani-indianapolis and anti-irsay, but you have to see it from the Balimore side, and from that angle, it was a good show, and I’m from Indianapolis, I would feel angry and disappointing if some other city came and stole our team. I think espn coming out with the new 30/30 show is the best they have come out with in a long time, last tuesday was a good one, Jimmy the Greek, sad sad story, same with Ali-Holmes fight, should never happened, Ali was done at that time….I think each story try to make someone feel sad about the subject.
Jimmy the Greek
I didn’t see the 30/30 on Jimmy the Greek, but assuming there was coverage about the racist comments he made… I have to say that Dr. Harry Edwards, from whom I took a Sociology course at Berkeley, and who is currently a consultant to the San Francisco 49ers, argued the same point that Jimmy the Greek did. Let’s just say that I had to take that class to fulfill a requirement, and opted not to pursue any more classes with him.
How can you not love a team that does this?
I saw the Jimmy the Greek episode.
It was quite interesting. It ended, of course, with the racial comments and the effect they had on the rest of his life. The story began in his childhood. He had a very tragic life, actually. His mother was murdered when he was 10. He lost 3 of 5 kids to Cystic Fibrosis.
I highly recommend watching this one. The Lynn Bias story was also very well told. That one I actually remember.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Nov 13, 2009 5:44 PM EST up reply actions
I think you're right...
Jimmy the Greek, Lynn Bias and Ali-Holmes all mad me sad after. Tragedy makes for great drama.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Nov 13, 2009 6:23 PM EST up reply actions
What, he picked the Cowboys as 4-point road dogs, too?
what an idiot!
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
crap
meant to reply to LovinBlue above.
spoiled the joke.
duh.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
Serious Historical Pats Question
For anyone out there with an eye for research:
Do you remember the old mid-decade rock-paper-scissors theory that went Colts beat Broncos, Broncos beat Pats, Pats beat Colts…? It was probably more about matchups than anything else, but what I want to know is how Coyer’s defenses did against the Pats historically. When the Broncos beat or at least held their own against the Pats, were they primarily defensive wins? Offensive? etc. Did Mile High’s thin air play a role? Or, as I hope, was the main factor Larry Coyer’s steely gaze making Brady mess his drawers? Inquiring minds want to know (but are short on time).
Of course it’s the players on the field who do this and the OCs in Boston have changed a few times since then, but I am wondering if he has some insight into, instnct for, or track record of success against Brady & Co.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
The key match up will be the play of the lines
On offense- if the line can give Peyton time, he will find the open guy. Im not too woried about our receivers getting open
On defense- The front 4 will have to be in Brady’s face all day long. Its just unfair and wrong to asume that 2 rookie corners will be able to shut down a future hall of famer in Moss and the speedy Welker. They were good against Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgareld because the the defensive line put a ton of pressure on the qb. If we dont get to Brady he will truly exploit us. Another match up the pats will try to take advantage of is Phillip Wheeler on one of their TE’s. He is essentially a rookie and has not proved anything yet. .
DID SOMEONE SAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Radical Line Adjustment
Agreed that the pass rush is crucial. However, possibly even more crucial is the Colt’s
ability to run-block; particularly on the right side. While DeVan is an upgrade over Pollak,
he is hardly Pro-Bowl caliber. Diem remains average. To ensure getting positive yardage
on first down, and thereby letting Peyton use play-action, you have to make the defense
‘pick their poison’. This is hard to do when not all threats are deadly: Garcon and Collie
may not be effective in this war. To get a threat overload, how about the following
experimental 1st down shotgun lineup on offense:
FL-Wayne
LOT-Johnson
LOG-Lilja
C-Saturday QB-Manning RB-Addai
ROG-DeVan
ROT-Diem
WROT-Ugoh
TE-Clark
RB / WR-Brown
You get an extra blocker, and Clark and Brown could help each other getting a clean
release off the line: if one gets jammed, the other runs free. Together they could lead
screens for Addai. Ugoh has demonstrated some ability in downfield blocking.
I don’t see where Brown wouldn’t pose a deep threat almost as good as Garcon,
but without dropping passes..
I know, I’ve got too much time and not enough education…..
Kinda of surprising.......
No one has said it yet, but here goes. I think the Colts running game is going to be instrumental in winning this one. As said above, the game may ride on who can keep the opposing QB off the field. The Donald will be back, and as far as I know Addai healthy. I think Mr. Brown breaks out big in this game. I also think the OL will have a big motivation to show they can run block better this week. Sure, the Colts can score fast and often, but if we can lengthen the time of our drives, we are keeping Brady on the sidelines. With the boost Brown gives us, I think our running game can outperform the Pats running game. Conversely, if we can’t run, we may be in for trouble. You don’t beat the Pats by throwing 50 times.
I was just going to say this
The reason why the Pats have won the games they won is because they set the tone early and the Colts (Dungy) were always playing catchup instead of forcing the issue. I expect the Colts to use Brown and Addai to go run heavy at the start or use short check downs to control the clock early. The key is red zone efficiency…we must score TDs 2-1 over FGs and we can’t leave points on the field. Those stupid trick plays have no place in this game.
Unlike most of the national media and many of the fans of this site, I am growing increasingly more confident as the game approaches. The Pats will get theirs and score in the mid-upper 20s, but this is a different Colts team this year with a much different mindset. The team has more vets on it than in years past and their leadership will help guide the rookies.
That, and COYER IS THE BALLS.
8-0 feels oh so good. Bring on the Pats....
Run game
That has been in the back of my mind as well all week. Not sure why but we are almost due for a big game there. VERY due.
Brown will be a big boost and outside the stats Addai has been running a lot tougher the last few games. They eyes dont lie. We are showing improvement there I feel.
And this guys prediction is interesting. He basically says the Colts are underrated and the Pats overrated. I tend to check out his thoughts almost every week.
http://walterfootball.com/nflpicks2009_10late.php
How can the Colts be underrated???? They're undefeated!
If the media was putting them 5th in those power polls I’d agree, but you can’t be pulling the disrespect card here. The only team you’re put behind in some of the polls is another undefeated team.
Keep the faith!
Someone who's actually paid attention to the Colts.
How refreshing.
Thanks for the link.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Nov 14, 2009 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
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