Well I've batted at .500 since Wild Card weekend, but I most certainly can't do that this week, as there's only one game - and it's the one that matters most. New Orleans and Indianapolis travel to Miami for Superbowl XLIV. Let's take a look at some key factors affecting the game this week.
The Quarterbacks
Yes, it's official: The entire world loves Drew Brees. The New Orleans QB is so likeable that it really is hard not to root for him and the team in which he has made such a huge commitment. He is a model of how a player should deal with the 'business' side of the game, reciprocating the financial ties that the Saints forged by signing him in 2006 by devoting so much of his life to the New Orleans area. You sense that Brees looks likely to see out his career in New Orleans, one way or another.
Of course, if he wants an example of the kind of respect Louisiana has for it's favoured sons, then he can do worse than looking to his opposite number Peyton Manning's father, Archie, who led the Saints through their turbulent growing pains in the 70's. Despite his losing record and self-effacing view of his career, he is regarded as a Saints legend, and whatever happens on Sunday, it's no stretch to say that Drew Brees will join him in that all too small circle.
Peyton himself needs no hype, no introduction. The Colts' offence revolves around his decision-making and ability to read defences, so if he's on song, there is not a defence in the league that can stop him for a full game.
You have to give Manning the edge in this battle, but it is not black and white. Brees is knocking on the door of greatness himself, and I believe that he will be a hall of fame QB if he wins the big one this year. His numbers are actually not far away from Manning's, and with the exception of one year (2003) he has proved himself amongst the elite players in the league. If all that is missing is a ring, then expect a fully focused and more intense than ever Drew Brees this weekend.
Offensive weapons
Here's a key factor: Will the Saints attempt to run against the Colts, or are we looking at another potential shootout as both teams attempt to throw their way into the end zone? The dearth of receiving talent in this game is astounding. Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, Pierre Garçon, Austin Collie, Jeremy Shockey, Lance Moore, Deverey Henderson... the list goes on. Even fringe players such as Saints tight end David Thomas are reliable receiving talents, so don't be surprised to see both teams come out throwing.
I think an interesting conundrum for the Saints is how heavily to emphasise the rush. There has been a lot made of how the Saints should play defensively, but in reality, their play may be dictated by what the Colts do. On the offensive side of the ball though, the Saints have a big advantage in that when they choose to, they can run with far more effectiveness than the Colts can. It should be noted that neither defence is very good against the run, so I like the idea of the Saints getting Pierre Thomas and perhaps Mike Bell involved early.
For the Colts, there is no doubt that the running game is a situational tool. No Colts RB has broken 100yds this season, so don't expect them to drastically change their mindset for this game. Dallas Clark is the player who I feel the Colts have gotten away from in recent weeks and I would like to see them get him involved early and often. Teams seem to be game planning more for Clark now than they did in the regular season, so the question is whether you go with experienced guys like Clark and Reggie Wayne, or continue to ride the hot hands in Collie and Garçon.
The Defences
In many ways the Saints and the Colts are relatively similar as far as how their defences are perceived. I think both have huge holes that can be taken advantage of, yet both manage to come up on just the right side of big games thanks to their playmaking ability. Both teams have savvy veterans and have improved on their traditional frailties, but I consider it somewhat of a falsehood that these are two defences are playing to a particularly high level.
Neither team is impressive against the run or the pass, and the recent weaknesses (The Saints against the pass, the Colts against the run) still remain. I think interestingly they face probably the worst teams they could hope to come up against, in that the players matched up against their weakest facets are quite capable of exploiting them at will.
I loved what the Saints did against the Vikings. I haven't seen a QB look so genuinely shell-shocked since... well whenever the last time I watched Detroit play was. Really though, that was excellently implemented by a team that knows if it allows a player to sit in the pocket, they are not capable of stopping the passing game. Will they go after Manning in the same way? Of course, and it will be the ultimate game of chicken. Can the Saints get there before Manning exploits the gaps they have left, or will they fall just short and allow him to beat them with a quick out to some of the best route runners in the league?
My money is on Manning. Favre was pretty close to doing exactly that last week, and my gut tells me that just as the Saints seemed to tire and become slightly more conservative when the game hinged on them maintaining the pressure that got them a lead, the same could well happen in Miami. The Colts - despite their anaemic rushing attack - will be sure to hold onto the ball after seeing the Vikings come within a whisker of beating the Saints, despite coughing the ball up more times than Victoria Beckham's dinner.
If Gregg Williams has any sense, he will make sure that there is no let up in the defensive strategy and that the team doesn't become over-awed by the fact they are playing against Manning and the Colts.
Prediction
I hate predictions. Do you ever make predictions because you feel like the points you've made are somehow invalid if you don't guess the outcome correctly? It goes back to my feelings about the draft. If a player goes in the first round, but you had him pegged as a third round talent, does that make him a first round talent? Only time can tell you that, but it doesn't mean that either side is 'wrong' per sé.
My suggestion is for you to enjoy what I believe will be more than a match for the excellent Superbowls we've seen over the last couple of years. The last time two no.1 seeds made it this far was after the 1993 season when Buffalo played Dallas. It has become something of a trend that the playoffs throw up so many surprises that you rarely get the chance to see the two teams with the best records in the NFC and AFC face off in the Superbowl, so relish the prospect.
Not only have they made it to Miami, but both teams have managed to be successful without becoming disliked by the majority of opposing fans in the way that the Patriots and Cowboys perhaps polarise opinions. If you want something to root for, then root for Pierre Garçon and the people of Haiti, or root for Sean Payton's Saints and a franchise that needed literally and figuratively rebuilding when they arrived in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2006.
Me? I'm rooting for Drew Brees, not because of his friendly nature, his charisma, his quarterbacking ability, or his role in that rebuilding process... no, I'm going with the guy who suffers the same intolerance to wheat and gluten as me, a guy couldn't be in a Wheaties advert even if he tried.
Showing posts with label Peyton Manning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peyton Manning. Show all posts
Monday, 1 February 2010
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Jets fans get a harsh lesson from Peyton
So the Indianapolis Colts have defeated the Jets, barring an improbable comeback. This week I've been engaged in debate about my prediction of 30 points for the Colts against what has been an excellent Jets defence over the course of this season.
Peyton Manning schooled the Jets defence and really provided the kind of evidence that sets him apart from every other QB to ever play this game. His call to 'go for it' on 4th down when the Colts were up 17-27 and knocking on the Jets door showed his intelligence and ability to process information far more quickly than his peers. It didn't work, but he was attempting to get the Jets to burn their final timeout or jump offside, despite there clearly being no chance of the team going for it. Of course, it's not the first time a team has done that, but Peyton not only made the call on the fly, but he was aware that it is his own reputation and ability in that situation which creates doubt in opponents minds.
Mark Sanchez had a good game today, and really today's loss is difficult to attribute to him. I would add the caveat that Sanchez simply wasn't ready to be in a situation such as coming from behind against a team such as Indianapolis, which technically means I do give him some of the blame. That's a cerebral issue that Sanchez will likely be able to overcome, and one thing I have liked about him is his excellent mental fortitude in what has been a season with some awful performances.
One big worry for Sanchez would be if he struggles over a prolonged period of a season or so, in that he has not done enough to convince people of his natural footballing ability with his initial impression. Much like Chad Pennington almost a decade ago, he is an intelligent guy who perhaps doesn't have elite physical tools. Personally I think physical ability is not a reason to change direction, and whilst Rex Ryan is in charge there is little chance of him eating his words about Sanchez being the future of the organisation, but if another coach comes to NYC, don't be surprised if 'Sanchize' is one of the first casualties.
I don't need to re-emphasise the point that I have laboured over the upcoming draft class, that I consider a mentally exceptional QB to be more important than their physical counterpart. I don't place Sanchez in that category by any strength, but I thought he made a couple of heads up plays that emphasised not necessarily his own decision-making ability, but his ability to process information and to know the context of a game. That attribute is crucial to any QB, and whilst there will be a few questions about how he reads an individual play, his pre-snap ability is not a quality that I have any question about.
The future could be very bright for the Jets under Rex Ryan. They have made great strides under his leadership, and for me the big question is how happy Jet fans would be if next season they missed the playoffs. It's the inability of fans to see the bigger picture that has done for more than one head coach on NYC, and remember that this year with such low expectations coming into the season, the playoffs was a huge bonus. The fact that some fans didn't see how the Colts could put up 30 on their defence is an important lesson about respecting your opponents and not simply concentrating on how well your own team has been playing.
Peyton Manning schooled the Jets defence and really provided the kind of evidence that sets him apart from every other QB to ever play this game. His call to 'go for it' on 4th down when the Colts were up 17-27 and knocking on the Jets door showed his intelligence and ability to process information far more quickly than his peers. It didn't work, but he was attempting to get the Jets to burn their final timeout or jump offside, despite there clearly being no chance of the team going for it. Of course, it's not the first time a team has done that, but Peyton not only made the call on the fly, but he was aware that it is his own reputation and ability in that situation which creates doubt in opponents minds.
Mark Sanchez had a good game today, and really today's loss is difficult to attribute to him. I would add the caveat that Sanchez simply wasn't ready to be in a situation such as coming from behind against a team such as Indianapolis, which technically means I do give him some of the blame. That's a cerebral issue that Sanchez will likely be able to overcome, and one thing I have liked about him is his excellent mental fortitude in what has been a season with some awful performances.
One big worry for Sanchez would be if he struggles over a prolonged period of a season or so, in that he has not done enough to convince people of his natural footballing ability with his initial impression. Much like Chad Pennington almost a decade ago, he is an intelligent guy who perhaps doesn't have elite physical tools. Personally I think physical ability is not a reason to change direction, and whilst Rex Ryan is in charge there is little chance of him eating his words about Sanchez being the future of the organisation, but if another coach comes to NYC, don't be surprised if 'Sanchize' is one of the first casualties.
I don't need to re-emphasise the point that I have laboured over the upcoming draft class, that I consider a mentally exceptional QB to be more important than their physical counterpart. I don't place Sanchez in that category by any strength, but I thought he made a couple of heads up plays that emphasised not necessarily his own decision-making ability, but his ability to process information and to know the context of a game. That attribute is crucial to any QB, and whilst there will be a few questions about how he reads an individual play, his pre-snap ability is not a quality that I have any question about.
The future could be very bright for the Jets under Rex Ryan. They have made great strides under his leadership, and for me the big question is how happy Jet fans would be if next season they missed the playoffs. It's the inability of fans to see the bigger picture that has done for more than one head coach on NYC, and remember that this year with such low expectations coming into the season, the playoffs was a huge bonus. The fact that some fans didn't see how the Colts could put up 30 on their defence is an important lesson about respecting your opponents and not simply concentrating on how well your own team has been playing.
Monday, 8 September 2008
Peyton Manning's Injury
Call it a hunch - and it really is nothing more than that - but after watching Peyton Manning for the first quarter against Chicago tonight, we'd not be surprised if he didn't finish this game without aggravating his knee injury.
Manning doesn't look comfortable at all, and even Al Michaels and John Madden commented that in the ninety minuted before kickoff, he seemed unsure of himself.
As we say, just a hunch, and it would hardly be a shock of epic proportions, but it would complete a wild day for the favourites in the AFC, with Tom Brady injured, and the Chargers and Jaguars losing against opposition they would hope to beat.
Manning doesn't look comfortable at all, and even Al Michaels and John Madden commented that in the ninety minuted before kickoff, he seemed unsure of himself.
As we say, just a hunch, and it would hardly be a shock of epic proportions, but it would complete a wild day for the favourites in the AFC, with Tom Brady injured, and the Chargers and Jaguars losing against opposition they would hope to beat.
Saturday, 23 August 2008
Concerns lingering about Manning's knee
Ok Ok, we'll admit, this will completely contradict something posted earlier on the site - but who cares? Not me, and that's the main thing. It's one of the beauties of having more than one opinion contributing to a common cause.
Anyway...
With the 30th August deadline rapidly approaching for teams to cut their rosters down to 53, one interesting question will be what the Colts do at the Quarterback position. Peyton Manning has spent a great deal of time rehabbing his knee after an infected bursa-sac was removed in mid-July. Despite reassurances early in the process that the injury would not mean missing any regular season time, coach Tony Dungy has sounded more coy over the last week.
- Indianapolis Colts Coach, Tony Dungy
As we always say about these kind of statements, the mere consideration of this eventuality means that the team accepts that Manning could actually miss the start of this season. That's not to say that it's a certainty by any means, as you can bet your house on Manning starting if he's even 75% ready to play. The man is as durable as he is talented, but even he concedes that the challenge has been "something totally different than I've ever had to experience."
Next Saturday should give a clear indication of how close Manning is to making the opener. On the roster are four Quarterbacks: Manning, backup Jim Sorgi, former - and in many ways, current - Giant Jared Lorenzen, and Quinn Gray, who started four games for Jacksonville last year. Sorgi has started the pre-season games so far, but has looked far from impressive.
To us, it feels like the Colts are hedging their bets here. The team is usually set with just the two QB's on the roster by this point in the pre-season, and has rarely entertained the prospect of a third, let alone having an open competition for the spot. It all seems like a remarkable coincidence that the Colts would feel the need to do so this year, and if we were gamblers, we'd probably shorten the odds on him missing the opener right now. During the last week, when he was rolled out at practice to sate the press, Manning has looked like exactly what he is: an injured player. The guy can hardly walk, let alone play, and with just two weeks until the team take on Chicago in a rematch of Superbowl XLI, there isn't a great deal of time for Manning to regain confidence in his knee, let alone his team mates.
Manning has not missed a game in his ten years in the league up to this point, but it seems that at least short term, Indy may be forced to consider what life is like without their talisman.
Anyway...
With the 30th August deadline rapidly approaching for teams to cut their rosters down to 53, one interesting question will be what the Colts do at the Quarterback position. Peyton Manning has spent a great deal of time rehabbing his knee after an infected bursa-sac was removed in mid-July. Despite reassurances early in the process that the injury would not mean missing any regular season time, coach Tony Dungy has sounded more coy over the last week.
"Everybody can say, 'Oh, if Peyton Manning isn't playing, the Colts are going to be a .500 team. I don't think anybody here believes that. Is it easier to win without Peyton? No. It's going to be tougher."
- Indianapolis Colts Coach, Tony Dungy
As we always say about these kind of statements, the mere consideration of this eventuality means that the team accepts that Manning could actually miss the start of this season. That's not to say that it's a certainty by any means, as you can bet your house on Manning starting if he's even 75% ready to play. The man is as durable as he is talented, but even he concedes that the challenge has been "something totally different than I've ever had to experience."
Next Saturday should give a clear indication of how close Manning is to making the opener. On the roster are four Quarterbacks: Manning, backup Jim Sorgi, former - and in many ways, current - Giant Jared Lorenzen, and Quinn Gray, who started four games for Jacksonville last year. Sorgi has started the pre-season games so far, but has looked far from impressive.
To us, it feels like the Colts are hedging their bets here. The team is usually set with just the two QB's on the roster by this point in the pre-season, and has rarely entertained the prospect of a third, let alone having an open competition for the spot. It all seems like a remarkable coincidence that the Colts would feel the need to do so this year, and if we were gamblers, we'd probably shorten the odds on him missing the opener right now. During the last week, when he was rolled out at practice to sate the press, Manning has looked like exactly what he is: an injured player. The guy can hardly walk, let alone play, and with just two weeks until the team take on Chicago in a rematch of Superbowl XLI, there isn't a great deal of time for Manning to regain confidence in his knee, let alone his team mates.
Manning has not missed a game in his ten years in the league up to this point, but it seems that at least short term, Indy may be forced to consider what life is like without their talisman.
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Missing Manning?
Various news outlets, including NFL.com, appear concerned that Peyton Manning & Tom Brady are seriously injured, and could miss a chunk of regular season playing time.
We at Wide-Right are not. Think about it for a second, would Peyton Manning, 2nd to Brett Favre in the QB consecutive starts race, QB for the Indianapolis Colts who are due to officially open their new stadium in their 1st regular season game, QB who makes the Colts special, contemplate missing any games? No; Manning will start (and continue) the opening game of the season, and be just fine with his recovery.
Brady on the other hand is a tricker situation to analyse, primarily because of the Patriots' 'honesty' in injury reports. Hands up who thinks the story will get bigger and bigger, that Brady's foot is going to need extensive surgery, miss the season, will he be the same, etc, only to start the opening day throwing a handful of TD's against the Chiefs?
We at Wide-Right are not. Think about it for a second, would Peyton Manning, 2nd to Brett Favre in the QB consecutive starts race, QB for the Indianapolis Colts who are due to officially open their new stadium in their 1st regular season game, QB who makes the Colts special, contemplate missing any games? No; Manning will start (and continue) the opening game of the season, and be just fine with his recovery.
Brady on the other hand is a tricker situation to analyse, primarily because of the Patriots' 'honesty' in injury reports. Hands up who thinks the story will get bigger and bigger, that Brady's foot is going to need extensive surgery, miss the season, will he be the same, etc, only to start the opening day throwing a handful of TD's against the Chiefs?
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