***OFFICIAL AFC TITLE GAME pats @ COLTS ***

[jstnrgrs]

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I just wonder how many of these Patriots fans were fans in 2000? I never saw this many before.

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Well, I know for me personally, I have ben a pats fan all my life. However, before 2001, there wasn't a lot to talk about, so you probably wouldn't have heard much from me back then.

However, when a team is sucessful, ther will always be some bandwagon fans. It sucks, but I guess it's just the price of success.

[Needle77]

TNM,

Valid points and it is a big difference. Mike Smith did point to Bob Sanders as a big contributor. But, Mike Smith pointed out that it had to do with them not being blown off the ball and filling gaps better, which can be corrected from week to week, trust me on that. Not only that, they have been tackling better. I think we both saw the second Jags game and both can say it was a poor display of tackling.

No one is saying the Colts have all of a sudden woke up and become an elite defense, they are just doing what they are being paid to do. This is the same defense as it was weeks ago. The play-calling is better and the play itself is better. This coming from an outright Colt hater.

Edit: I also want to note, one thing I did notice was that the Colts were asking alot out of Tony Macfarland earlier in the season. It seemed to me he was 2-gapping(protecting 2 gaps so his LB could run free) when he first came over. It looked to me last week he was 1-gapping and was controlling his gap, which he really had not been doing all season. It is alot easier for a DT to take one gap then try to read and take a gap.

[Jack of Arcades]

In the 4 games Bob Sanders played this year, teams ran all over the Colts. I'm talking nearly 6 yards per carry.

[TheRover]

I hope they let Freeney go and use that money to get multiple above average players on defense.

[Richard Tanner]

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it's fine to believe that they're mortal and will never get worse, until you consider every other person who has ever lived [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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Speak for yourself man, I'm 89 and can still run a 4.3 forty, but hey they can't all be winners. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

From what I've seen (alot), I would say Peyton's talent comes not from his arm, though it is great, and not from his legs (take a sec to stop laughing thinking of Peyton taking off running), but from his mind. He's the hardest working man in football, and I doubt highly his mind will fall off after "1 or 2 more years".

Cody

[Richard Tanner]

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In the 4 games Bob Sanders played this year, teams ran all over the Colts. I'm talking nearly 6 yards per carry.

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Yep, back when he was just playing because they had to find someone instead of Matt Giordono and Bethea (who was a capable but not stellar backup). The colts were hurt, badly, all year and payed the price. They had to bring in a new DT to replace the two they lost and lost 4 safteys.

Is Bob Sanders a cureall? Probably not, but he represents the return of a healthy Colts D.

After saying all that, I kinda wish something would go wrong for the Colts before the game, nothing too serious but something. Last time everything went this well for the Colts, Pitt beat them like a red-headed step child.

Cody

[TheNoodleMan]

One of the biggest changes has been putting Rob Morris in. He is probably our least athletic linebacker but he does a much better job of wrapping up the ball carrier. I think it sends a good message to the rest of the defense when they put in the slow small white guy because he'll actually tackle. As I like to say, what he lacks in size he makes up in slowness.

[TheNoodleMan]

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...and not from his legs (take a sec to stop laughing thinking of Peyton taking off running)

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Peyton is an effective runner when he chooses to do it. He is no Ron Mexico but he moves around the pocket very well and doesn't get near the credit he deserves for it.

[Richard Tanner]

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One of the biggest changes has been putting Rob Morris in. He is probably our least athletic linebacker but he does a much better job of wrapping up the ball carrier. I think it sends a good message to the rest of the defense when they put in the slow small white guy because he'll actually tackle. As I like to say, what he lacks in size he makes up in slowness.

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Dammit, I knew I forgot something. Although I'd like to add that more then his abilities as a player, it's his leadership that helps the most. He was the Colts starter for 5 years before losing his job to Brackett, so it's good for the D to have him in there.
On the Pats side, they have Vrabel and Teddy, I'd venture to say that the play of the LBs in this game is going to play a large part in the outcome.

Cody

[CharlieDontSurf]

I only started liking the Pats in 2000.

I like the fact that their coach is like the rainman of head coaching.
I like Bruschi cuz i went to U of A
I like the fact that a lot of their players play 2 ways.
And I also like the fact that they are one of the best "teams" year in year out despite not always having a ton of amazing star players on offense and defense short of their QB and linemen.