OK, I am in a college basketball mood, but don't really have anything specific to talk about so I think I'll toss out some random thoughts, and some mid-season predicitons. I am rarely right with these things, but they are fun, so let's get to it.
Lets go with the biggie right out of the box. If I were going to pick a final 4 right now, this is how it would go:
1. Florida - I do not know how anyone can not pencil these guys into the final four. Not only are they the defending champs but they are currently number 1, they returned all five starters from last years championship team, they are dominating the SEC, and they seem to have a bit of a chip on their shoulders. My guess is that they are a little pissed that so many people picked North Carolina or Ohio State in their pre-season polls. I know how difficult it is to repeat, but a big part of that is that it is so rare that teams return much of their team, let alone the entire starting line-up. The nice thing about this team is that they are taking their frustrations out on their opponents. They killed a Tennessee team that beat them twice last year. They beat Ohio State and Greg Oden by 20 points, and they haven't lost since a close game in Lawrence, Kansas against the Jay Hawks. All in all, I think the Gators are the best team in the country, and they are my pick at this point.
2. North Carolina - This team is sick talented. They were awesome last year and they only lost one real contributor, David Noel. Then, they bring in the best recruiting class this side of Columbus, and here is the crazy thing, the vets and the rooks are playing well together. Tyler Hansbrough is still the team leader, but he has a lot of help. Senior wing Reyshawn Terry seems to be adjusting well to his new role as instant offense and leadership off the bench after finishing second on the team in scoring last year. An extremely talented trio of freshmen, Brandon Wright, Ty Lawson, and Wayne Ellington have played as advertised so far, and continue to get better every week. This team still runs up and down the floor, and coach Roy Williams seems to have them all buying into his defensive scheme. They are deep, talented, and should be very hard to beat come March.
3. Wisconsin - This team boasts the probable player of the year in Alando Tucker, a rotation of 4 players 6-10 or taller, and one of the best pure shooters in the conference in Chris Rock look alike Kammron Taylor. They play stifling defense, led by Big 10 defensive player of the year candidate Marcus Landry, and their flex offense is run as precisely as a Peyton Manning 80 yard touchdown drive. This team may not be as talented as many other but they are experienced, big, deep, and led by a senior who is determined to remind people that there is some good basketball played in the upper Mid-West.
4. Ohio State - Now, I will admit here that this is somewhat of a biased opinion from a transplanted Big 10 guy. Also, I haven't seen enough of UCLA to really know what they are. However, I do feel that Ohio State is one of the 4-5 best teams in the country, and should be even better in a month. Greg Oden seems to finally be growing into the gigantic expectations people had of him before the season. Also, veteran shooters Ron Lewis and Jamar Butler seem to be settling into the idea of having so much more talent around them than in years past. Freshmen phenoms Mike Conley, Jr. and Daequan Cook have been as good as advertised and the Buckeye bench is deep, talented, and adept on both ends of the floor. Coach Thad Mota likes to play an up tempo style that is fueled by their defense. With Oden inside blocking shots, and Conley causing havoc on the perimeter, they are very hard to score against.
Some other teams to keep an eye on are Texas A&M, Kansas, UCLA, Indiana, Southern Illinois and Marquette.
My mid-season All American team would be
G - Acie Law, Jr., Texas A&M - should be Big 12 player of the year, but it will probably be Kevin Durant. Law is leading the Aggies in scoring, is their best defender, and hits the big shots when they need to be hit.
G - AJ Graves, Butler - there is no way he'll be here nationally, but this is my blog, so I'll put him here. he's not the sexy pick, but all he has done is beat Indiana, Gonzaga and Tennessee on the way to the Pre-Season NIT title and MVP award. He's the leading scorer on one of the best stories in the country (ranked in the top 10 nationally when they were picked 6th in their conference).
F - Kevin Durant, Texas - what this freshman is doing is nothing short of ridiculous. He is averging 25 and 12 over all and a remarkable 31 and 13 in the Big 12. The only problem with Durant is that he doesn't seem to really be making his team much better. They are still losing many of these games when he has great numbers. Still an amazing talent though.
F - Alando Tucker, Wisconsin - He should win the national POY award, and probably will. He is a senior who is playing his best basketball this year. He is second in the Big 10 in scoring and leads his team in steals, rebounds and blocks while being the guy that other teams scheme against. Also, plays his best in their biggest games.
C - Tyler Hansborough, North Carolina - it wouldn't surprise me if Greg Oden is here when it is all said and done, and that isn't necessarily wrong, but I give the edge to Tyler. He is leading his team scoring and rebounding while taking about 6 fewer shots this year than last with the influx of young talent on the Heels. Also, like Tucker, seems to play his best when it matters the most.
We can't talk only about the great in this little blog. There are many teams out there that are not living up to their pre-season billing. Ironically, three of the bigger disappointments come from the SEC. They are LSU, Alabama, and Tennessee. LSU and Alabama were both pre-season top 10 while Tennessee was also ranked early on. Duke has also been a disappointment to many, but not me. I think they were ranked on their name, not on their actual roster. This team lost so much from last year that it is no real shock that they are struggling. What is a shock, although it probably shouldn't be, is that they are still ranked so high. Arizona, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Syracuse, and UConn are also teams that were ranked in the top 15 in the pre-season and currently find themselves on the outside looking in of the polls. Many of these teams will still make the dance, and their talent levels mean that they are still going to be tough outs, but people might have believed the hype a little too much early on.
Finally, I will leave you with how I think it will all play out, at least right now. I think that the four teams I mentioned above: Florida, UNC, Wisconsin, and Ohio State will meet in Atlanta. I think you will see a final match-up of Florida vs. Wisconsin and I think the Badgers will shock everyone and cut the nets down. I know earlier on I said that Florida was my pick, but again, I am a biased Big 10 homer, and I am a little drunk right now. But hey, I can dream, can't I?
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
OK, So Now What?
Well it's here. The time that as a Bears fan I have been trying to avoid for the last day and a half. The time when I play General Manager and bore you all with my thoughts on what happened, and where Chicago goes from here. Is anyone of any importance going to read this, or care what I have to say? NO. That being said, I'm still gonna do it, because that is the beauty of having my own blog.
OK, lets start with the obvious, and that is Rex. My thoughts on Rex are very similar to many, logical Bears fan's. He is a young quarterback. Yes, he was totally outplayed by Peyton, but really, shouldn't he have been? Is there anyone in the world that would say that they are at all close talent-wise? Of coarse not. Now, that being said, am I giving Rex a free pass on this? Absolutely not. I have been a staunch supporter of Rex. You can ask anyone who has had a conversation with me, and they will tell you that I am almost irritating in my defense of Rex. Well, now I am having to take a long look in the mirror and ask myself the important question. Can we win with Rex? Here is the answer: I don't know.
Physically, Rex is incredibly talented. He has as big an arm as anyone in the league and can make throws that only 3 or 4 other guys can make. Now, mentally, Rex is all over the map. He doesn't seem to understand the nuances of the position. I know he is young (he has now played essentially one full season) and there were signs of greatness. Still, I wonder. Anyone who follows sports knows that there is a window of time that teams can challenge for titles. That being said, do you want to hang your hopes on Rex's shoulders? Should he get better? Sure. Will he? Who knows.
Here is what I think will happen. First off, this team did go 15-4 and made the Super Bowl with Rex. Also, how many people thought the Bears would win this game? Not many, and they shouldn't have. In games like this, the quarterback is the most important position. It usually doesn't matter if you are better defensively and in special teams if the difference at quarterback is so large. That was the case here, although I am not so sure that the Bears D was better here, but that doesn't change that Peyton should've won this game.
Now, all that being said, Rex will go into next season as the starter, and he should. He has earned that. Now, after that, all bets are off. Will he keep his job? Who knows. Also, keep in mind that he is a free agent after next season. How much better does he need to play to next year to deserve an extension? Are there that many AVAILABLE quarterbacks out there that rational Bears fans would rather have than Rex? Oh yeah, and before you even inch towards me with Jeff Garcia, let me say this. All the "experts" totally wrote him off while he was stinking it up in Detroit and Cleveland. Why is he the answer now?
Now, if there was someone out there that was obviously better, fine make the move. People are going to call for Donovan McNabb. This makes a little sense since he is from Chicago and is very good when healthy, but he has had 1 healthy season in the past 5. Do you want to hang your hopes on a guys with this track record for injuries? I don't know. Is there someone out there in college that could step in and help now and could, realistically, be acquired? No.
So, this is what you have. Rex is the best option. He is better physically than Griese, Gracia, etc. and deserves the chance to learn and improve. Now, if there is minimal improvement next year, then I doubt you'll see him get an extension. It would not surprise me to see them spend a middle round pick on a QB in this draft to hedge their bets. Either way, Bears fans, we will have another year of Rex. Lets just wait and see what happens.
Now, a moment about the great, vaunted Bears defense. They were horrible. Our great linebackers were totally neutralized. The D-line was rarely able to create any kind of pressure. The secondary was shredded by Manning. They missed tackles. They where in the wrong places at the wrong times. They were flat our beat. There were multiple times that the Colts had a 3rd and 6 or more and every time, every time, the Colts got the first. And yes, they were on the field a lot, but that was partially due to their inability to get off the field. So, any discussion of BLAME must also include the defense.
I, myself, place most of the blame on the coaches, namely offensive coordinator Ron Turner. It was common knowledge that the best way for the Bears to win was for them to run the ball, control the clock, and minimize the plays Rex needed to make. Well, even with a 55 yard run in the first quarter, Thomas Jones had only 15 carries. 15 carries! In a deluge, the running game was almost totally forgotten. Then there was the plays called for Rex. Is it any surprise that he struggled when every pass play called for him early on was an underneath route? He was never given any chance to get into a rhythm. Now, if you are running the ball down they opponents throat, I have no problem with this. However, you are calling plays as though you need as much production from the passing game as from the running game. If that is the case, then LET HIM PLAY! If you don't give him a chance to succeed, you can't be shocked when he fails. Now, let me say, I love Ron Turner. I think he is a great coordinator, but he hamstrung his offense in this game, and it really, really hurt their chances to win.
OK, there they are. My thoughts on the game, who you blame, and what to do with Rex. Am I right? Who knows. They're my opinions. Feel free to agree or disagree. They are what they are. Ultimately, I don't think any of this mattered. I don't think there was anything the Bears could've done to walk off of that field with the trophy. Peyton was not going to be denied, no matter what Chicago did.
Scoot Out!
OK, lets start with the obvious, and that is Rex. My thoughts on Rex are very similar to many, logical Bears fan's. He is a young quarterback. Yes, he was totally outplayed by Peyton, but really, shouldn't he have been? Is there anyone in the world that would say that they are at all close talent-wise? Of coarse not. Now, that being said, am I giving Rex a free pass on this? Absolutely not. I have been a staunch supporter of Rex. You can ask anyone who has had a conversation with me, and they will tell you that I am almost irritating in my defense of Rex. Well, now I am having to take a long look in the mirror and ask myself the important question. Can we win with Rex? Here is the answer: I don't know.
Physically, Rex is incredibly talented. He has as big an arm as anyone in the league and can make throws that only 3 or 4 other guys can make. Now, mentally, Rex is all over the map. He doesn't seem to understand the nuances of the position. I know he is young (he has now played essentially one full season) and there were signs of greatness. Still, I wonder. Anyone who follows sports knows that there is a window of time that teams can challenge for titles. That being said, do you want to hang your hopes on Rex's shoulders? Should he get better? Sure. Will he? Who knows.
Here is what I think will happen. First off, this team did go 15-4 and made the Super Bowl with Rex. Also, how many people thought the Bears would win this game? Not many, and they shouldn't have. In games like this, the quarterback is the most important position. It usually doesn't matter if you are better defensively and in special teams if the difference at quarterback is so large. That was the case here, although I am not so sure that the Bears D was better here, but that doesn't change that Peyton should've won this game.
Now, all that being said, Rex will go into next season as the starter, and he should. He has earned that. Now, after that, all bets are off. Will he keep his job? Who knows. Also, keep in mind that he is a free agent after next season. How much better does he need to play to next year to deserve an extension? Are there that many AVAILABLE quarterbacks out there that rational Bears fans would rather have than Rex? Oh yeah, and before you even inch towards me with Jeff Garcia, let me say this. All the "experts" totally wrote him off while he was stinking it up in Detroit and Cleveland. Why is he the answer now?
Now, if there was someone out there that was obviously better, fine make the move. People are going to call for Donovan McNabb. This makes a little sense since he is from Chicago and is very good when healthy, but he has had 1 healthy season in the past 5. Do you want to hang your hopes on a guys with this track record for injuries? I don't know. Is there someone out there in college that could step in and help now and could, realistically, be acquired? No.
So, this is what you have. Rex is the best option. He is better physically than Griese, Gracia, etc. and deserves the chance to learn and improve. Now, if there is minimal improvement next year, then I doubt you'll see him get an extension. It would not surprise me to see them spend a middle round pick on a QB in this draft to hedge their bets. Either way, Bears fans, we will have another year of Rex. Lets just wait and see what happens.
Now, a moment about the great, vaunted Bears defense. They were horrible. Our great linebackers were totally neutralized. The D-line was rarely able to create any kind of pressure. The secondary was shredded by Manning. They missed tackles. They where in the wrong places at the wrong times. They were flat our beat. There were multiple times that the Colts had a 3rd and 6 or more and every time, every time, the Colts got the first. And yes, they were on the field a lot, but that was partially due to their inability to get off the field. So, any discussion of BLAME must also include the defense.
I, myself, place most of the blame on the coaches, namely offensive coordinator Ron Turner. It was common knowledge that the best way for the Bears to win was for them to run the ball, control the clock, and minimize the plays Rex needed to make. Well, even with a 55 yard run in the first quarter, Thomas Jones had only 15 carries. 15 carries! In a deluge, the running game was almost totally forgotten. Then there was the plays called for Rex. Is it any surprise that he struggled when every pass play called for him early on was an underneath route? He was never given any chance to get into a rhythm. Now, if you are running the ball down they opponents throat, I have no problem with this. However, you are calling plays as though you need as much production from the passing game as from the running game. If that is the case, then LET HIM PLAY! If you don't give him a chance to succeed, you can't be shocked when he fails. Now, let me say, I love Ron Turner. I think he is a great coordinator, but he hamstrung his offense in this game, and it really, really hurt their chances to win.
OK, there they are. My thoughts on the game, who you blame, and what to do with Rex. Am I right? Who knows. They're my opinions. Feel free to agree or disagree. They are what they are. Ultimately, I don't think any of this mattered. I don't think there was anything the Bears could've done to walk off of that field with the trophy. Peyton was not going to be denied, no matter what Chicago did.
Scoot Out!
Sunday, February 4, 2007
...And All Is Right With The World
Ah yes, it seems that, for at least one night, things worked out in the right way. I am speaking, of coarse, of the Super Bowl. As a Bears and Colts fan, I was in the enviable position of being able to sit back and truly enjoy this game. Looking back, however, I think I might have rather it been a Colts vs. anyone else game so I could have rooted to my full potential. In this current state, I was hoping for a good game for both teams, and ultimately a Colts victory. Either way, I knew that one of my teams would win, but I missed out on the sheer joy of winning when you could've lost. All in all though, I'll take 'em any way I can get 'em.
The game started out with a bang. Devin Hester, as he is prone to do, burned the Colts suspect return defense for the first opening kick return TD in Super Bowl history. You could actually see it happen. He made one cut, and then was through the first line. After that, it was a done deal. What did this mean, well, ultimately nothing. It turned out to mean exactly as much as the Ohio State touchdown on the opening kick of the college championship game (I wonder how many times both title games have started that way). Both teams started slowly offensively. Peyton threw a pick, which was on 3rd and 12 and really not much worse than a punt, and the Bears struggled to move the ball on their first possession.
The Colts then got on the board 2 possessions later with a 57 yard bomb to Reggie Wayne, who was wide, WIDE open. The Bears chose to blitz, and Peyton evaded it, as he has all year. He then saw that corner Charles Tillman had turned Wayne loose on a go rout, as he is supposed to in the cover 2, assuming that their would be safety help deep. Unfortunately, safety Daniel Manning had bit on the play fake and moved in to cover Dallas Clark. By the time the ball got to Wayne, there was noone within 15 yards of him. He walked in for the score. At this point, there were 2 touchdowns, both on mistakes by the other team, and both by guys from the University of Miami on their return home. The rain then started to really fall, which may have caused Hunter Smith to bobble the hold on the extra point, keeping the Bears in the lead.
Later in the quarter, after a Joseph Addai fumbled hand off that Alex Brown almost took out of Peyton's hand, the Bears embarked on a 4 play, 62 yard touchdown drive. This drive was highlited by a 55 yard run by Thomas Jones on the first play and was capped by a Rex Grossman fast ball to Muhsin Mohammed in the end zone. Little did Bears fans know that this was basically the last thing they had to root for. The first quarter ended with the score 14-6, Bears, with a total of 3 turnovers, 4 busted plays, and one botched extra point try. Not exactly the way old Vince Lombardi drew it up.
From the start of the second quarter on, the Colts dominated all facets of the game. They could pass or run pretty much at will against a Bears D that seemed to have righted the ship against New Orleans. The Colts new and improved D lived up to its billing after the suspect first quarter and totally shut down the Bears offense, with the possible exception of Jones who finished with 100 yards (all be it in large part to the 55 yard run in the first).
The final 3 quarters looked like a clinic by the Colts offense. They mixed up their plays. Peyton seemed to always call the right play or formation, and the Bears seemed to have no idea what was coming. Had the Bears not come up with some key stops in the red zone, and Adam Vinatieri not missed a chip shot field goal (guess it's harder when the game isn't on the line) the half time score would've been much worse than the 16-14 that it was.
In the second half, things continued in the same vain. The game was ultimately decided in true Rex fashion as on back to back possessions he threw INT's, one for a TD. After that, the Bears were dead. Rex's final line - 20/28 for 165 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's, 2 fumbled snaps (one lost to the Colts) and one trip by the terf (or grass in this case) monster. Not what Bears fans were hoping for.
Peyton was "workman-like" if not spectacular. He was 25/38 for 267, 1 TD, and 1 INT. Not his greatest game, but it was all that was needed. The real story was the running game. Dominic Rhodes had 113 yards on 21 carries and Addai added 77 on 19 carries. Addai also had 10 receptions for 66 yards. Combined the running backs accounted for 264 of the Colts 430 total yards. If there was a case for anyone other than Peyton to be the game's MVP, it would've been a co-MVP for these two.
Peyton, of coarse, won the MVP. I think this was as much due to him being Peyton as anything, but in the absence of a true break out star, I think they made the right decision. What I found most interesting was that Peyton seemed to never "freak out", even after the early INT. The Peyton of the past would've started pressing and made more mistakes. This Peyton, just like in the AFC title game, took what was there calmly, and seemed to know things would work out. That to me is the real sign of his improvement. He has always had the great stats, and was always the most cerebral QB in the league. However, that big brain seemed to get him into trouble in big games in the past. This season, from day one, he seemed to stop over-thinking things, and just play the game.
I really think one of the things that helped the Colts this year was the fact that they played so many close games. Even the ones they lost, like at Tennessee gave them valuable lessons on what to do and not do in close games. Last year they blew everyone out and I think that ultimately killed them against Pittsburgh. They didn't know how to play a close game, let alone come back in one. This year, they seemed to almost thrive on the adversity of a close game. Everyone seemed to pick their games up a notch late, when it mattered most.
I also think this Colts team was exactly that, a team. Yes they are still stars, on both sides of the ball, but this group seemed to genuinely care about each other. It was really about winning, not just putting up sick stats. I also think the adversity late in the season only solidified this "team" mantra going into the playoffs, making them all the more difficult for opponents.
All in all, I think the better team won this game. Honestly, I think Rex could've had a fine game and it would not have mattered. Before the 2 INT's, his QB rating was over 100 and his completion percentage for the game was a respectable 74%, and it still was obvious that the Colts were in control. This was about Peyton and the Colts, and nothing the Bears could do was going to change that.
No matter how it would've gone, Peyton would've made the plays necessary to win this game. It ultimately came down to the fact that he was not going to be denied. I think he knew that there was no guarantee of a return trip, so he had better take advantage of this chance while it was here. Now he can join the likes of Favre, Montana, Elway, Brady, Young, etc. as great QB's with rings and leave behind Kelly, Marino, and Esiason that so many "experts" thought he would forever be associated with.
I'm sure over the next few days we will start to see these same "experts" talk as though they always knew Peyton would get his championship, and that they were one of the few that already included him in the "winners club". They will also be quick to call out a return trip for Indy next year.
I would not be so quick here. As my buddy John so insightfully mentioned, the Colts are probably going to lose at least one of the duo of Cato June and Dwight Freeney, if not both. What does this do to a unit that is already a question mark? Also, where do the Colts use their draft picks this year? Do they finally realize that adding more offensive weapons is not the way to go? We'll have to wait and see. Does Tony Dungy retire now that he has his ring having said in the past that he didn't want to coach past the age of 50 (he's 51 by the way)? I honestly believe that there is a better shot of Chicago returning to the Super Bowl than Indy, and that is not even taking into account the strength of the AFC versus the NFC.
However, none of that matters right now, although I'm sure Bill Polian is already thinking about it. Right now, all that matters is that the quest is complete. Peyton, Dungy, Marvin, etc. have their ring. Indy has it's championship. And I have my first in 7 years, and yes, that does matter.
The game started out with a bang. Devin Hester, as he is prone to do, burned the Colts suspect return defense for the first opening kick return TD in Super Bowl history. You could actually see it happen. He made one cut, and then was through the first line. After that, it was a done deal. What did this mean, well, ultimately nothing. It turned out to mean exactly as much as the Ohio State touchdown on the opening kick of the college championship game (I wonder how many times both title games have started that way). Both teams started slowly offensively. Peyton threw a pick, which was on 3rd and 12 and really not much worse than a punt, and the Bears struggled to move the ball on their first possession.
The Colts then got on the board 2 possessions later with a 57 yard bomb to Reggie Wayne, who was wide, WIDE open. The Bears chose to blitz, and Peyton evaded it, as he has all year. He then saw that corner Charles Tillman had turned Wayne loose on a go rout, as he is supposed to in the cover 2, assuming that their would be safety help deep. Unfortunately, safety Daniel Manning had bit on the play fake and moved in to cover Dallas Clark. By the time the ball got to Wayne, there was noone within 15 yards of him. He walked in for the score. At this point, there were 2 touchdowns, both on mistakes by the other team, and both by guys from the University of Miami on their return home. The rain then started to really fall, which may have caused Hunter Smith to bobble the hold on the extra point, keeping the Bears in the lead.
Later in the quarter, after a Joseph Addai fumbled hand off that Alex Brown almost took out of Peyton's hand, the Bears embarked on a 4 play, 62 yard touchdown drive. This drive was highlited by a 55 yard run by Thomas Jones on the first play and was capped by a Rex Grossman fast ball to Muhsin Mohammed in the end zone. Little did Bears fans know that this was basically the last thing they had to root for. The first quarter ended with the score 14-6, Bears, with a total of 3 turnovers, 4 busted plays, and one botched extra point try. Not exactly the way old Vince Lombardi drew it up.
From the start of the second quarter on, the Colts dominated all facets of the game. They could pass or run pretty much at will against a Bears D that seemed to have righted the ship against New Orleans. The Colts new and improved D lived up to its billing after the suspect first quarter and totally shut down the Bears offense, with the possible exception of Jones who finished with 100 yards (all be it in large part to the 55 yard run in the first).
The final 3 quarters looked like a clinic by the Colts offense. They mixed up their plays. Peyton seemed to always call the right play or formation, and the Bears seemed to have no idea what was coming. Had the Bears not come up with some key stops in the red zone, and Adam Vinatieri not missed a chip shot field goal (guess it's harder when the game isn't on the line) the half time score would've been much worse than the 16-14 that it was.
In the second half, things continued in the same vain. The game was ultimately decided in true Rex fashion as on back to back possessions he threw INT's, one for a TD. After that, the Bears were dead. Rex's final line - 20/28 for 165 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT's, 2 fumbled snaps (one lost to the Colts) and one trip by the terf (or grass in this case) monster. Not what Bears fans were hoping for.
Peyton was "workman-like" if not spectacular. He was 25/38 for 267, 1 TD, and 1 INT. Not his greatest game, but it was all that was needed. The real story was the running game. Dominic Rhodes had 113 yards on 21 carries and Addai added 77 on 19 carries. Addai also had 10 receptions for 66 yards. Combined the running backs accounted for 264 of the Colts 430 total yards. If there was a case for anyone other than Peyton to be the game's MVP, it would've been a co-MVP for these two.
Peyton, of coarse, won the MVP. I think this was as much due to him being Peyton as anything, but in the absence of a true break out star, I think they made the right decision. What I found most interesting was that Peyton seemed to never "freak out", even after the early INT. The Peyton of the past would've started pressing and made more mistakes. This Peyton, just like in the AFC title game, took what was there calmly, and seemed to know things would work out. That to me is the real sign of his improvement. He has always had the great stats, and was always the most cerebral QB in the league. However, that big brain seemed to get him into trouble in big games in the past. This season, from day one, he seemed to stop over-thinking things, and just play the game.
I really think one of the things that helped the Colts this year was the fact that they played so many close games. Even the ones they lost, like at Tennessee gave them valuable lessons on what to do and not do in close games. Last year they blew everyone out and I think that ultimately killed them against Pittsburgh. They didn't know how to play a close game, let alone come back in one. This year, they seemed to almost thrive on the adversity of a close game. Everyone seemed to pick their games up a notch late, when it mattered most.
I also think this Colts team was exactly that, a team. Yes they are still stars, on both sides of the ball, but this group seemed to genuinely care about each other. It was really about winning, not just putting up sick stats. I also think the adversity late in the season only solidified this "team" mantra going into the playoffs, making them all the more difficult for opponents.
All in all, I think the better team won this game. Honestly, I think Rex could've had a fine game and it would not have mattered. Before the 2 INT's, his QB rating was over 100 and his completion percentage for the game was a respectable 74%, and it still was obvious that the Colts were in control. This was about Peyton and the Colts, and nothing the Bears could do was going to change that.
No matter how it would've gone, Peyton would've made the plays necessary to win this game. It ultimately came down to the fact that he was not going to be denied. I think he knew that there was no guarantee of a return trip, so he had better take advantage of this chance while it was here. Now he can join the likes of Favre, Montana, Elway, Brady, Young, etc. as great QB's with rings and leave behind Kelly, Marino, and Esiason that so many "experts" thought he would forever be associated with.
I'm sure over the next few days we will start to see these same "experts" talk as though they always knew Peyton would get his championship, and that they were one of the few that already included him in the "winners club". They will also be quick to call out a return trip for Indy next year.
I would not be so quick here. As my buddy John so insightfully mentioned, the Colts are probably going to lose at least one of the duo of Cato June and Dwight Freeney, if not both. What does this do to a unit that is already a question mark? Also, where do the Colts use their draft picks this year? Do they finally realize that adding more offensive weapons is not the way to go? We'll have to wait and see. Does Tony Dungy retire now that he has his ring having said in the past that he didn't want to coach past the age of 50 (he's 51 by the way)? I honestly believe that there is a better shot of Chicago returning to the Super Bowl than Indy, and that is not even taking into account the strength of the AFC versus the NFC.
However, none of that matters right now, although I'm sure Bill Polian is already thinking about it. Right now, all that matters is that the quest is complete. Peyton, Dungy, Marvin, etc. have their ring. Indy has it's championship. And I have my first in 7 years, and yes, that does matter.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
For The Glory Of Old IU
OK, I am going to take a few minutes from my usual ranting about football and touch on a subject that will no doubt dominate my blog as soon as that game on Feb. 4th comes and goes. That is the Indiana Hoosier basketball team. To me, the Hoosiers are one of the more surprising teams this season, and are going to be a very dangerous team come March.
This is the first season of the Kelvin Sampson era. Many times, when a new coach comes in, there is a transition season or two. Many times, the coach struggles to win with the guys that the previous coach has brought in. That being the case, I was going into this season not really expecting much of anything. I was hoping we would make the tournament. A 20 win season would be great. All in all, my expectations for this year were quite low. This team has been more than I could've ever hoped for. A 20 win season and a trip to the dance seem to be all but locks. Now, the only question is how far will they go in March?
They are currently 14-5 overall, and 4-2 in the Big 10. They entered this week ranked 24th in the country, which marked the first time they were in either of the top 25 polls. They also have the third best record in conference.
Their 5 losses are all on the road, and are all to teams that are either ranked, or will be in the tournament come March (Butler in Indianapolis, @ Duke, @ Kentucky, @ Ohio State, and @ Illinois). Also keep in mind that these 5 losses are by a total of 28 points. They have a solid road win in Connecticut and have beaten probable tournament teams Michigan State, Southern Illinois, and Purdue at home. So far, they are doing what they are supposed to do. They are winning at home, usually easily, and they are playing very tough on the road.
The really scary thing is that this team is still learning how to play with each other. Also, Sampson is still figuring out his rotation. They are third in the conference in scoring. Forth in scoring defense. They are third in field goal %, second in free throw %, and tied for forth in 3 pt. field gaol %. As the team gels throughout the rest of the season, they will only get better and better.
Sampson seems to be leaning towards a starting five of DJ White, Rod Wilmont, Earl Calloway, Armon Bassett, and Lance Stemler. He then has AJ Ratliff, Joey Shaw, Mike White, Errek Suhr, and Xavier Keeling coming off the bench. The team has scorers at every position in the starting rotation and their bench players can fill it up as well. The key to this team however is Sampson 's staple, and that is defense.
You watch this team play and they make it so hard for the other team to score. They all hustle, they rotate well, and they really seem to enjoy playing defense. That is the key in my opinion. For a team to really be a great defensive team, they need to enjoy playing on that side of the ball. Rod Wilmont has an outside shot at being the conference defensive player of the year. DJ White is in the top five in rebounding and blocks, and the team is in the top 3 in steals and blocks. What does this mean? It means that come March, teams they play against are going to have to play a great game to advance against the Hoosiers.
Next year, they will lose Suhr, Calloway, and Wilmont to graduation and could lose DJ White to the NBA. However, they have a top 5 class coming in highlighted by Eric Gordon, one of the top two players coming into the NCAA's next year. What does this mean? It means that the program has already turned the corner. We will make the Sweet 16 this year I believe, at least, and we will be a top 10 pre-season team next year. If someone had told me before this season that the transition would be this quick, I would've laughed. However, it appears that it is going to be this quick, and all of Hoosier nation can just sit back and enjoy the ride.
This is the first season of the Kelvin Sampson era. Many times, when a new coach comes in, there is a transition season or two. Many times, the coach struggles to win with the guys that the previous coach has brought in. That being the case, I was going into this season not really expecting much of anything. I was hoping we would make the tournament. A 20 win season would be great. All in all, my expectations for this year were quite low. This team has been more than I could've ever hoped for. A 20 win season and a trip to the dance seem to be all but locks. Now, the only question is how far will they go in March?
They are currently 14-5 overall, and 4-2 in the Big 10. They entered this week ranked 24th in the country, which marked the first time they were in either of the top 25 polls. They also have the third best record in conference.
Their 5 losses are all on the road, and are all to teams that are either ranked, or will be in the tournament come March (Butler in Indianapolis, @ Duke, @ Kentucky, @ Ohio State, and @ Illinois). Also keep in mind that these 5 losses are by a total of 28 points. They have a solid road win in Connecticut and have beaten probable tournament teams Michigan State, Southern Illinois, and Purdue at home. So far, they are doing what they are supposed to do. They are winning at home, usually easily, and they are playing very tough on the road.
The really scary thing is that this team is still learning how to play with each other. Also, Sampson is still figuring out his rotation. They are third in the conference in scoring. Forth in scoring defense. They are third in field goal %, second in free throw %, and tied for forth in 3 pt. field gaol %. As the team gels throughout the rest of the season, they will only get better and better.
Sampson seems to be leaning towards a starting five of DJ White, Rod Wilmont, Earl Calloway, Armon Bassett, and Lance Stemler. He then has AJ Ratliff, Joey Shaw, Mike White, Errek Suhr, and Xavier Keeling coming off the bench. The team has scorers at every position in the starting rotation and their bench players can fill it up as well. The key to this team however is Sampson 's staple, and that is defense.
You watch this team play and they make it so hard for the other team to score. They all hustle, they rotate well, and they really seem to enjoy playing defense. That is the key in my opinion. For a team to really be a great defensive team, they need to enjoy playing on that side of the ball. Rod Wilmont has an outside shot at being the conference defensive player of the year. DJ White is in the top five in rebounding and blocks, and the team is in the top 3 in steals and blocks. What does this mean? It means that come March, teams they play against are going to have to play a great game to advance against the Hoosiers.
Next year, they will lose Suhr, Calloway, and Wilmont to graduation and could lose DJ White to the NBA. However, they have a top 5 class coming in highlighted by Eric Gordon, one of the top two players coming into the NCAA's next year. What does this mean? It means that the program has already turned the corner. We will make the Sweet 16 this year I believe, at least, and we will be a top 10 pre-season team next year. If someone had told me before this season that the transition would be this quick, I would've laughed. However, it appears that it is going to be this quick, and all of Hoosier nation can just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The Real Monster Of The Current Midway
Many people, myself included, were calling this years Bears defenses one of the best in recent memory, if not ever, earlier this season. They were killing people. They were causing turnovers. They were stopping the run. They were stopping the pass. They were pressuring the quarterback. They were keeping opponents out of the end zone. They were dominant. They were everything the Ravens were at the end of the season. Then, in week 6, things started to go down hill.
They started with an injury to Pro Bowl safety Mike Brown. Now, Colts fans will completely understand how important Brown was to the Bears defense since he is everything that Bob Sanders is to the Indy defense. Brown is that guy that does everything well. He is a big hitter. He can play the run. He is good/great in coverage. He makes big plays, and most importantly, he understands where he is supposed to be at all times. That is why these types of guys, and Ed Reed is in this group as well, are always around the ball. They are great athletes, but more than that, they understand their job and their responsibilities. Well, even with an important player like Mike Brown injured and out for the season, the Bears were no more than a step behind where they were prior to his injury.
Then, their defense took another shot, and it changed everything, almost over night. In the December 3rd game against the Minnesota Vikings, Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris went down with what was thought to be nothing more than a twisted ankle. He went out for a few plays, even a series or two, then he came back, for one play. After that play, he was on his back again and had to be helped to the bench. He was out for the year after that. Not with the ankle, but with a sever hamstring injury that was not noticed until after the fact. From this point on, the once dominant Bears defense was giving up points like teams in the bottom half of the league.
They gave up 31 to Tampa, they gave up 26 to Green Bay. They struggled against the run. They had to blitz more which hurt their coverage ability. They still got turnovers, but not in the high numbers they had been. All in all, they looked like a totally different defense, and this was all due to Tommie Harris.
How is this one guy this important? How is he more important than the Bear's Pro Bowl linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. How is he more important that great corners Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher (who both were also banged up late by the way). He is more important because he is the guy that really makes Lovie Smith's cover 2 work.
My buddy John talked about his concerns on the cover 2 in a blog on his site here. He talks about his concerns in respect to the cover 2 that the Colts run, and I think he was dead on. What made the Bears' version of this defense so much better than the Colts' is Tommie Harris. What does he do that makes them so much better than Indy? Well, I am glad you asked.
First off, he is a great pass rushing tackle, just ask Matt Hasselbeck. He is constantly getting pressure on the quarterback. He is often double teamed or schemed against, and he still constantly gets into the backfield. This is not only important for his stats, but also makes the other Bear defensive linemen worlds better. Why? Because the other team has to do so much to stop Harris, that the Alex Browns and Adewale Ogunleyes of the world can walk to the quarterback. This means that they create a great deal of pressure with out having to blitz and bring extra people. They can leave the other 7 guys on the defense back in coverage. This is one of the reasons they caused so many turnovers earlier in the year. The other 7 guys could fly around to the ball and get INT's or rip the ball away from offensive players. This allows the cover 2 to really operate how it should.
The second thing that Harris does that makes the Bears' defense work is he is great against the run. Not only is he the best DT pass rusher since a young Warren Sapp, but he is as good as Gilbert Brown was against the run for the Green Bay Packer Super Bowl teams. He sheds blockers and always seems to be the first guy to hit the ball carrier. This slows the ball carrier up and allows Urlacher, Briggs, Hillenmeyer, etc. to get to the ball before he can get positive yards.
Without a good run stuffer, the cover 2 becomes little more than a line of police tape across the line of scrimmage. Look at the Colts' defense throughout the regular season. Look at the Bears' defense in the games after Harris got hurt. A bad run defense is due to a lack of run stoppers. Now, before you start jumping up and down about the reformed Colts' defense let me tell you that this helps prove my point. Yes, Bob Sanders helps, but what has really changed the run defense is the improved play of Anthony "Booger" McFarlane. He is playing like an All Pro in the playoffs. He's blowing up running plays before they get started. He's in the backfield on almost every play it seems. He is making the tackles that he was missing earlier in the year.
I know that the DT is not a "sexy" position, and that it is much more exciting to say that a safety or linebacker is the reason for a great defense, but it is the DT. This is why I think that the Colts' defense is going to be leaps and bounds better next year (assuming McFarlane continues to get better, like he should). With a quality run stuffer, the rest of the defense can do what they are supposed to. Fly to the ball, cause turnovers, and keep teams out of the end zone. "Well why was their defense so much better last year without McFarlane?" Two words, COREY SIMON. He was a great run stuffer early in his career with Philly and when he was at Florida State. An average pass rusher, but great against the run, and this is what the Colts needed last year. This type of player rarely fits into the dictionary definition of the cover 2 (speed, speed, speed). However it is vital for the defense to be successful. That is what makes Tommie Harris so great. He is both. He is fast, a great pass rusher, and is great against the run. I promise you, had he not gotten hurt, all those "experts" wouldn't be looking so foolish right now for picking the Saints. Everyone with a brain would've picked the Bears, and their dominant defense.
They started with an injury to Pro Bowl safety Mike Brown. Now, Colts fans will completely understand how important Brown was to the Bears defense since he is everything that Bob Sanders is to the Indy defense. Brown is that guy that does everything well. He is a big hitter. He can play the run. He is good/great in coverage. He makes big plays, and most importantly, he understands where he is supposed to be at all times. That is why these types of guys, and Ed Reed is in this group as well, are always around the ball. They are great athletes, but more than that, they understand their job and their responsibilities. Well, even with an important player like Mike Brown injured and out for the season, the Bears were no more than a step behind where they were prior to his injury.
Then, their defense took another shot, and it changed everything, almost over night. In the December 3rd game against the Minnesota Vikings, Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris went down with what was thought to be nothing more than a twisted ankle. He went out for a few plays, even a series or two, then he came back, for one play. After that play, he was on his back again and had to be helped to the bench. He was out for the year after that. Not with the ankle, but with a sever hamstring injury that was not noticed until after the fact. From this point on, the once dominant Bears defense was giving up points like teams in the bottom half of the league.
They gave up 31 to Tampa, they gave up 26 to Green Bay. They struggled against the run. They had to blitz more which hurt their coverage ability. They still got turnovers, but not in the high numbers they had been. All in all, they looked like a totally different defense, and this was all due to Tommie Harris.
How is this one guy this important? How is he more important than the Bear's Pro Bowl linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. How is he more important that great corners Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher (who both were also banged up late by the way). He is more important because he is the guy that really makes Lovie Smith's cover 2 work.
My buddy John talked about his concerns on the cover 2 in a blog on his site here. He talks about his concerns in respect to the cover 2 that the Colts run, and I think he was dead on. What made the Bears' version of this defense so much better than the Colts' is Tommie Harris. What does he do that makes them so much better than Indy? Well, I am glad you asked.
First off, he is a great pass rushing tackle, just ask Matt Hasselbeck. He is constantly getting pressure on the quarterback. He is often double teamed or schemed against, and he still constantly gets into the backfield. This is not only important for his stats, but also makes the other Bear defensive linemen worlds better. Why? Because the other team has to do so much to stop Harris, that the Alex Browns and Adewale Ogunleyes of the world can walk to the quarterback. This means that they create a great deal of pressure with out having to blitz and bring extra people. They can leave the other 7 guys on the defense back in coverage. This is one of the reasons they caused so many turnovers earlier in the year. The other 7 guys could fly around to the ball and get INT's or rip the ball away from offensive players. This allows the cover 2 to really operate how it should.
The second thing that Harris does that makes the Bears' defense work is he is great against the run. Not only is he the best DT pass rusher since a young Warren Sapp, but he is as good as Gilbert Brown was against the run for the Green Bay Packer Super Bowl teams. He sheds blockers and always seems to be the first guy to hit the ball carrier. This slows the ball carrier up and allows Urlacher, Briggs, Hillenmeyer, etc. to get to the ball before he can get positive yards.
Without a good run stuffer, the cover 2 becomes little more than a line of police tape across the line of scrimmage. Look at the Colts' defense throughout the regular season. Look at the Bears' defense in the games after Harris got hurt. A bad run defense is due to a lack of run stoppers. Now, before you start jumping up and down about the reformed Colts' defense let me tell you that this helps prove my point. Yes, Bob Sanders helps, but what has really changed the run defense is the improved play of Anthony "Booger" McFarlane. He is playing like an All Pro in the playoffs. He's blowing up running plays before they get started. He's in the backfield on almost every play it seems. He is making the tackles that he was missing earlier in the year.
I know that the DT is not a "sexy" position, and that it is much more exciting to say that a safety or linebacker is the reason for a great defense, but it is the DT. This is why I think that the Colts' defense is going to be leaps and bounds better next year (assuming McFarlane continues to get better, like he should). With a quality run stuffer, the rest of the defense can do what they are supposed to. Fly to the ball, cause turnovers, and keep teams out of the end zone. "Well why was their defense so much better last year without McFarlane?" Two words, COREY SIMON. He was a great run stuffer early in his career with Philly and when he was at Florida State. An average pass rusher, but great against the run, and this is what the Colts needed last year. This type of player rarely fits into the dictionary definition of the cover 2 (speed, speed, speed). However it is vital for the defense to be successful. That is what makes Tommie Harris so great. He is both. He is fast, a great pass rusher, and is great against the run. I promise you, had he not gotten hurt, all those "experts" wouldn't be looking so foolish right now for picking the Saints. Everyone with a brain would've picked the Bears, and their dominant defense.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Career Maker
What a game Peyton Manning had, or at least what a half plus one drive. There was so much pressure on him you could almost feel the frustration he had after the Patriots recovered the fumble in the end zone. This was a play that the defense should make. More importantly, this was a play that the Patriots would make. Peyton knew that he might need a little but of luck to get the monkey off his back here, and this was one of those plays. Then he throws the pick six to Assante Samuel and it seemed like it was over. Then, it seemed he relaxed. I think the pressure actually lifted a bit. He was supposed to do this. He was supposed to choke, at least according to his detractors. Then he took complete control of the game. He takes the ball, makes all the plays he needs to, and watches his defense seal the deal for him. He finally gets to enjoy the post game celebration. He gets to be the one to thank people. Gets to be the one to do the interview out on the field while holding the trophy. It is about time.
Now I see that many people are taking away from his game. I just watched the 1st and 10 program on ESPN and they went with the "Brady lost the game, not Peyton won it" approach. To me this is not only wrong, but it is a back handed slap at Peyton. Why is it that when the "experts" get things wrong they have to give excuses, basically saying that they were right, they just got unlucky. There are "experts" out there giving more credit to the coaches, other players, the defense, etc. It almost seems that people want Peyton to be that lovable loser guy, and now that he has won this game, they want to make sure that he stays that way. To me, this was the game that will forever prove that Peyton is one of the 4 best quarter backs ever. Now, bare with me as I attempt to prove to you why this win was due to Peyton's brilliance, with some help when he needed it.
My best friend John, who is extremely knowledgeable about the Colts, has the opinion that the player of the game was Dallas Clark. I disagree, but to me if it wasn't Peyton, it is Clark. Here is why I disagree. Clark had 6 catches for 137 yards, a great game. However, to me there are 2 issues with him being the player of the game. First off, he dropped an easy touchdown at the end of the first half. Now, I know that the DB had his hands between Clark's hands and his body, but Dallas missed the ball himself. The ball hit him squarely in both hands, and bounced off. Clark will tell you that this was a drop by him.
The other reason is that on 3 of his receptions for 86 of his yards, Peyton actually made the play, or put the ball in the exact spot it had to be. Lets look at those. The first one was earlier in the drive at the end of the first half. it was a very similar play to the 3rd and 6 reception at the end of the Ravens game. Clark was blanketed. He had no more than a half step on his defender. The window to put the ball was almost impossibly small, yet Peyton puts the ball exactly where it has to be so only Dallas can make the catch, at full speed mind you. Now, I tip my hat to Dallas for making the catch, but if Peyton puts that ball anywhere else, it's batted down, or just incomplete. Noone else in the NFL, and that includes Brady, could have made that pass.
The next play was a huge play for 52 yards to Clark down the middle. This play, however, was made by Peyton before he even threw the ball. Clark was wide, wide open on this play and that is because the Patriots brought almost everyone on a blitz. Peyton, supposedly an immobile pocket passer, avoided 2 Patriots, moved up in the pocket and threw a strike, as he was drilled from his right. Clark should catch this ball. He was open by 5 yards and Peyton, even with getting hit, put the ball right on his hands, in stride. Dallas barely had to even lean to catch the ball. He wasn't even touched for 50 yards.
The final play was on a field goal drive early in the 4th quarter. Clark had come open on a deep slant headed towards the side line and Peyton hit him, once again in stride right on the hands, for 23 yards. Not only this, but he put it in a spot where Dallas could only catch it, and would still be able to keep his feet in bounds. Again, there are very few quarterbacks that can make this pass, and Peyton makes it consistently.
On another similar play, on the final game winning drive, Peyton hit Brian Fletcher, again after evading a blitz, for a key 32 yards. Keep in mind, Fletcher was only out there because Ben Utecht was hurt, so there is even more pressure on Peyton to put the ball perfectly on his hands, since he is not completely into the game yet. Again, only a handful of guys could make this play.
Then, the final play I will discuss was the two point conversion. The throw was nothing short of perfect. It was so perfect, it might have even been a little bit lucky. The Colts surprise NE by lining both Harrison and Wayne up on the right side. At the snap, the safety shifts over to help. Peyton takes 4 steps, then throws the ball to a spot. The spot just happens to be the only hole in between two defenders. Now, obviously Harrison made a great play on the ball, turned his body around and made the catch, but it was Payton who put this ball in the tiny hole so Harrison could make the play.
The Patriots came into this game wanting to do two things. They wanted to pressure Peyton, and they wanted to take Harrison and Wayne out of the equation. They did both of these, yet Peyton still had 349 yards passing. He constantly had Patriots at his feet, or hitting him, and yet still made the plays when he had to. As for Harrison and Wayne, they were non factors. This was partly due to great defense by the Patriots led by one of the more under-rated guys in football in Samuel. However, neither guy took advantage of the opportunities they had.
Wayne tripped twice, by himself, including one in the end zone. He also dropped 2 balls that hit him in the hands, including a play on a third and long that would have been good enough for a first down. he had his defender on his back, and the ball hit him in both hands. He just missed it.
Then there is Marvin Harrison. For my money, the best receiver not named Rice in the history of the league. However, he drops a ball on the goal line on a deep post route. I know Samuel was there, but this is a ball that Harrison catches. Then there was a third and huge, in the first half, on the drive after the pick six, deep in their own territory that hits Marvin, deep down the field, right in the hands. What happens? The ball bounces off his hands then hits him in the head. Now, again, Samuel was there with him, but this is a Hall of Fame player that needs to make this play in these games.
With his two biggest weapons taken away, Peyton had to work that much harder to make plays. Also, lets not forget that they had to come back from an 18 point lead. Also, one of the reasons Peyton didn't have as many TD's as he might usually have is that the Colts ran the ball very well inside the 5. There were 3 TD runs (well, we'll count the fumble recovery by Saturday as a run since that is how it started), one by Peyton, in the second half. Peyton leads the league every year in TD passes inside the five, but if your running game gets into the end zone, then there is not real need to pass.
All things considered, Peyton played maybe the best game of his career, and it was in the most important game of his career. There was all the pressure in the world on him going into this game. He had his two biggest weapons taken away from him. He had a huge hole dug quickly, as much done by him as anyone else. With all this taken into account, he stepped up when he had too, made the plays that needed to be made, and won the game. This is a defining moment in his career. Now, lets hope that he has many more defining moments in the years to come.
Now I see that many people are taking away from his game. I just watched the 1st and 10 program on ESPN and they went with the "Brady lost the game, not Peyton won it" approach. To me this is not only wrong, but it is a back handed slap at Peyton. Why is it that when the "experts" get things wrong they have to give excuses, basically saying that they were right, they just got unlucky. There are "experts" out there giving more credit to the coaches, other players, the defense, etc. It almost seems that people want Peyton to be that lovable loser guy, and now that he has won this game, they want to make sure that he stays that way. To me, this was the game that will forever prove that Peyton is one of the 4 best quarter backs ever. Now, bare with me as I attempt to prove to you why this win was due to Peyton's brilliance, with some help when he needed it.
My best friend John, who is extremely knowledgeable about the Colts, has the opinion that the player of the game was Dallas Clark. I disagree, but to me if it wasn't Peyton, it is Clark. Here is why I disagree. Clark had 6 catches for 137 yards, a great game. However, to me there are 2 issues with him being the player of the game. First off, he dropped an easy touchdown at the end of the first half. Now, I know that the DB had his hands between Clark's hands and his body, but Dallas missed the ball himself. The ball hit him squarely in both hands, and bounced off. Clark will tell you that this was a drop by him.
The other reason is that on 3 of his receptions for 86 of his yards, Peyton actually made the play, or put the ball in the exact spot it had to be. Lets look at those. The first one was earlier in the drive at the end of the first half. it was a very similar play to the 3rd and 6 reception at the end of the Ravens game. Clark was blanketed. He had no more than a half step on his defender. The window to put the ball was almost impossibly small, yet Peyton puts the ball exactly where it has to be so only Dallas can make the catch, at full speed mind you. Now, I tip my hat to Dallas for making the catch, but if Peyton puts that ball anywhere else, it's batted down, or just incomplete. Noone else in the NFL, and that includes Brady, could have made that pass.
The next play was a huge play for 52 yards to Clark down the middle. This play, however, was made by Peyton before he even threw the ball. Clark was wide, wide open on this play and that is because the Patriots brought almost everyone on a blitz. Peyton, supposedly an immobile pocket passer, avoided 2 Patriots, moved up in the pocket and threw a strike, as he was drilled from his right. Clark should catch this ball. He was open by 5 yards and Peyton, even with getting hit, put the ball right on his hands, in stride. Dallas barely had to even lean to catch the ball. He wasn't even touched for 50 yards.
The final play was on a field goal drive early in the 4th quarter. Clark had come open on a deep slant headed towards the side line and Peyton hit him, once again in stride right on the hands, for 23 yards. Not only this, but he put it in a spot where Dallas could only catch it, and would still be able to keep his feet in bounds. Again, there are very few quarterbacks that can make this pass, and Peyton makes it consistently.
On another similar play, on the final game winning drive, Peyton hit Brian Fletcher, again after evading a blitz, for a key 32 yards. Keep in mind, Fletcher was only out there because Ben Utecht was hurt, so there is even more pressure on Peyton to put the ball perfectly on his hands, since he is not completely into the game yet. Again, only a handful of guys could make this play.
Then, the final play I will discuss was the two point conversion. The throw was nothing short of perfect. It was so perfect, it might have even been a little bit lucky. The Colts surprise NE by lining both Harrison and Wayne up on the right side. At the snap, the safety shifts over to help. Peyton takes 4 steps, then throws the ball to a spot. The spot just happens to be the only hole in between two defenders. Now, obviously Harrison made a great play on the ball, turned his body around and made the catch, but it was Payton who put this ball in the tiny hole so Harrison could make the play.
The Patriots came into this game wanting to do two things. They wanted to pressure Peyton, and they wanted to take Harrison and Wayne out of the equation. They did both of these, yet Peyton still had 349 yards passing. He constantly had Patriots at his feet, or hitting him, and yet still made the plays when he had to. As for Harrison and Wayne, they were non factors. This was partly due to great defense by the Patriots led by one of the more under-rated guys in football in Samuel. However, neither guy took advantage of the opportunities they had.
Wayne tripped twice, by himself, including one in the end zone. He also dropped 2 balls that hit him in the hands, including a play on a third and long that would have been good enough for a first down. he had his defender on his back, and the ball hit him in both hands. He just missed it.
Then there is Marvin Harrison. For my money, the best receiver not named Rice in the history of the league. However, he drops a ball on the goal line on a deep post route. I know Samuel was there, but this is a ball that Harrison catches. Then there was a third and huge, in the first half, on the drive after the pick six, deep in their own territory that hits Marvin, deep down the field, right in the hands. What happens? The ball bounces off his hands then hits him in the head. Now, again, Samuel was there with him, but this is a Hall of Fame player that needs to make this play in these games.
With his two biggest weapons taken away, Peyton had to work that much harder to make plays. Also, lets not forget that they had to come back from an 18 point lead. Also, one of the reasons Peyton didn't have as many TD's as he might usually have is that the Colts ran the ball very well inside the 5. There were 3 TD runs (well, we'll count the fumble recovery by Saturday as a run since that is how it started), one by Peyton, in the second half. Peyton leads the league every year in TD passes inside the five, but if your running game gets into the end zone, then there is not real need to pass.
All things considered, Peyton played maybe the best game of his career, and it was in the most important game of his career. There was all the pressure in the world on him going into this game. He had his two biggest weapons taken away from him. He had a huge hole dug quickly, as much done by him as anyone else. With all this taken into account, he stepped up when he had too, made the plays that needed to be made, and won the game. This is a defining moment in his career. Now, lets hope that he has many more defining moments in the years to come.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Scott's Day Of Redemption
Well, now I am totally confused. How do you react when your teams win? You have to understand, most of the teams that I like are great in the regular season, and then completely disappear in their post seasons. Florida State had 14 straight years finishing in the top 4 but only won 2, count 'em, 2 National Titles. The Hoosiers were/are one of the best programs in College Basketball, but haven't won a title since 1987. The Cubs need no explanation. The Colts and Bears have been good for at least a few if not all of the last 5 years, yet had never won the big one. Well now, not only did the Bears beat the Saints, but then the Colts went out and vanquished their own personal demon, Tom Brady. I just don't know how to respond. I am very good at moving on. The line "Well, we should be good next year" is so etched into my mind that I've been saying it all night, even though both teams won. I actually had to call a friend of mine that is a Duke fan and ask her how to act in these situations. Well, now I get the best gig in the country. I get to sit back and watch the Super Bowl and know that no matter who wins, I will be happy. If I had to pick one of the two to put my support behind, it would be the Bears, but I will be rooting almost as hard for Peyton and the Colts. Now, what were my thoughts on the games? Well, I'm glad you asked. Here we go......
1. Lets go with the Bears game first, since they were the first game. I think I can count on one hand the number of "experts" that I saw pick the Bears in this game. Well, the pride of this team showed today as they totally dismantled the NFL's best offense (statistically that is). They won the rushing battle 196-56 (the experts said this would favor Deuce and the Saints). They had no turn overs and no sacks allowed while they turned the Saints over 4 times and had 3 sacks of Drew Brees. The Bears even dominated in penalties with only 1 for 5 yards compared to 7 for 47 yards. Lets look at this. 0 TO's, 0 sacks allowed, and 1 penalty for 5 yards. That is ridiculous. The only area they were beat in was the passing yards (319-144) but this is to be expected since they had a lead the entire game.
This game was total dominance, and there is no other word for it. There was a moment where the Saints had taken the momentum. They were driving with a chance to take the lead, but then the Bears defense stood up, shut the drive down, and forced a long field goal attempt that was very, very short. The Bears then pin them deep on their next possession, and Drew Brees opens up the flood gates with an intentional grounding in the end zone, which is a safety. The game was over at this moment. The Saints were never in it the rest of the game.
Now, as for the Bears, they did what they needed to. They dominated on the ground, and Rex made the plays when he needed to, including a 5-5 for 77 yards and a TD drive. As a Bears fan, this was what I was hoping for. This was what the team looked like earlier in the year. This team has more talent than any other team left going into this weekend on defense, and it is time that people realize it. Now, onto the Colts.
2. Man, where do I start here. I must say, I left the place I was watching the game before the drive to end the first half. I was thinking, this is it. Yet once again, Brady and Belichick have figured Peyton out and the Colts will once again go home with their heads hanging. Then the second half started. The Colts dominated time of possession in the second half and, with the exception of 2 drives, scored every time they touched the ball. They did everything they had to to win, and they did it with the pressure on. People need to shut up about Peyton now. There was no one else playing this weekend, with the exception of Rex Grossman (and he wasn't really close), that had this much pressure on him. He started slow, but when it mattered, he made every play he needed to. I was so impressed with him in the forth quarter.
Then there was the defense. The D didn't shut down the Patriots as they had the Chiefs and Ravens, but they held the Patriots when they had to. The Pats had 4 possessions late in the forth quarter where a TD probably ends the game, and they could only muster 3 field goals, including a drive after their defense stopped the Colts. All they needed to do was get one first down. The Colts would've been out of TO's and the two minute warning would've been the only other way to stop the clock. With all this going on, the defense stands up and, led by inch for inch the best defensive player in football Bob Sanders, gets the stop they need. Then the story of Peyton Manning and the Patriots gets it's final chapter.
With 2:17 left on the clock and down by 3, Peyton and the offense take the field with all the pressure in the world squarely on their shoulders. What do they do? In 1:17 they drive 80 yards and take the lead. Peyton looked cool, calm, and dare I say it Brady-esque on this final drive. He showed everyone that said "Oh Peyton can't win the big one" that they really no nothing about sports. I am so happy for him and Tony Dungy. They deserve this.
Those are my thoughts on what was one of the best single days of sports in my life time. I hope that the Super Bowl is as good a game as I think it will be. Either way though, I am going to be sitting in my Lazy Boy, leaning back with a big grin on my face as I watch my teams battle it out for my first team championship since Florida State won in 1999. Oh , and if you were wondering, yes, this day will be all about me. Anyone who knows me and knows what I've been through with my teams would agree with me.
1. Lets go with the Bears game first, since they were the first game. I think I can count on one hand the number of "experts" that I saw pick the Bears in this game. Well, the pride of this team showed today as they totally dismantled the NFL's best offense (statistically that is). They won the rushing battle 196-56 (the experts said this would favor Deuce and the Saints). They had no turn overs and no sacks allowed while they turned the Saints over 4 times and had 3 sacks of Drew Brees. The Bears even dominated in penalties with only 1 for 5 yards compared to 7 for 47 yards. Lets look at this. 0 TO's, 0 sacks allowed, and 1 penalty for 5 yards. That is ridiculous. The only area they were beat in was the passing yards (319-144) but this is to be expected since they had a lead the entire game.
This game was total dominance, and there is no other word for it. There was a moment where the Saints had taken the momentum. They were driving with a chance to take the lead, but then the Bears defense stood up, shut the drive down, and forced a long field goal attempt that was very, very short. The Bears then pin them deep on their next possession, and Drew Brees opens up the flood gates with an intentional grounding in the end zone, which is a safety. The game was over at this moment. The Saints were never in it the rest of the game.
Now, as for the Bears, they did what they needed to. They dominated on the ground, and Rex made the plays when he needed to, including a 5-5 for 77 yards and a TD drive. As a Bears fan, this was what I was hoping for. This was what the team looked like earlier in the year. This team has more talent than any other team left going into this weekend on defense, and it is time that people realize it. Now, onto the Colts.
2. Man, where do I start here. I must say, I left the place I was watching the game before the drive to end the first half. I was thinking, this is it. Yet once again, Brady and Belichick have figured Peyton out and the Colts will once again go home with their heads hanging. Then the second half started. The Colts dominated time of possession in the second half and, with the exception of 2 drives, scored every time they touched the ball. They did everything they had to to win, and they did it with the pressure on. People need to shut up about Peyton now. There was no one else playing this weekend, with the exception of Rex Grossman (and he wasn't really close), that had this much pressure on him. He started slow, but when it mattered, he made every play he needed to. I was so impressed with him in the forth quarter.
Then there was the defense. The D didn't shut down the Patriots as they had the Chiefs and Ravens, but they held the Patriots when they had to. The Pats had 4 possessions late in the forth quarter where a TD probably ends the game, and they could only muster 3 field goals, including a drive after their defense stopped the Colts. All they needed to do was get one first down. The Colts would've been out of TO's and the two minute warning would've been the only other way to stop the clock. With all this going on, the defense stands up and, led by inch for inch the best defensive player in football Bob Sanders, gets the stop they need. Then the story of Peyton Manning and the Patriots gets it's final chapter.
With 2:17 left on the clock and down by 3, Peyton and the offense take the field with all the pressure in the world squarely on their shoulders. What do they do? In 1:17 they drive 80 yards and take the lead. Peyton looked cool, calm, and dare I say it Brady-esque on this final drive. He showed everyone that said "Oh Peyton can't win the big one" that they really no nothing about sports. I am so happy for him and Tony Dungy. They deserve this.
Those are my thoughts on what was one of the best single days of sports in my life time. I hope that the Super Bowl is as good a game as I think it will be. Either way though, I am going to be sitting in my Lazy Boy, leaning back with a big grin on my face as I watch my teams battle it out for my first team championship since Florida State won in 1999. Oh , and if you were wondering, yes, this day will be all about me. Anyone who knows me and knows what I've been through with my teams would agree with me.
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