Pat Kirwan, the former-NFL general manager who once thought it smart to have Peter Carrol coach the Jets, thinks the Saints have created the ultimate blueprint to stopping the Colts offense:
When the New England Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, they built a defense that became the blueprint for playing "Greatest Show on Turf" in the years to come. The same thing may have happened Sunday when Williams went to a 3-3-5 defense (three defensive linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs).After talking with Saints linebacker Scott Fujita on Monday, I better understand the flexibility the package offers, such as good pressure calls and lots of opportunities to drop eight defenders into coverage. The Saints were fine with the Colts running the ball and bet on the idea that Indianapolis wouldn't stick with the run. With 19 rushes to 45 passes, New Orleans showed it was right.
There's just one problem with Kirwan's little theory: It's horsesh*t. And I love how he feels he gets confirmation on his theory from Saints linebacker Scott Fujita. WTF is Fujita going to say other than his defense is great and is the modern version of the "Purple People Eaters?"
If you listen to Kirwan on NFL Sirius Radio, he likes to talk a lot about how smart he is only to find out that much of what he says turns out to be wrong. He stated all week that if Dwight Freeney plays the Saints will have success running at him.
The Saints ran for 2.8 a carry in Super Bowl 44.
Also, if the Saints defense is so awesome at stopping the Colts offense, how can Kirwan explain Indy's 432 yards of offense, with nearly 100 yards on the ground at 5.1 a carry? Peyton Manning threw for 333 yards, completed 68% of his passes, and had a QB rating of over 88.
Um, this is the blueprint to stop Indy? Maybe defensive "theories" like this are why Kirwan is still not working in the NFL.
If you want a real reason why the Colts lost Super Bowl 44, ask a real GM, not Pat friggin Kirwan.