Are You Ready for Some Football - Week 16

[Jonny]

Damn.

I just missed the playoffs in the 2nd fantasy league... I lost the tiebreaker by less than 1 point.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Hey, if I started Palmer it wouldn't even be close, so stop your anger .

[Jonny]

But if I had played Duckett instead of Martin, it wouldn't of mattered who you started, so stop cheering me up.

[Kidlicious]

Who's Da Boyz in poly league two?

[Dis]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
Made it above .500 at 8-6 but lost on the tiebreaker so will not be in the Poly League playoffs.

Congrats to Zopperoni for winning our league.

*ahem* *cough* *cough*

there's a little thing called the playoffs.

besides, I scored the most points

[Tuberski]

There were a bunch of squids at TGI Friday's last night watching the gane. They let out a big cheer when KC scored a TD.

I was this close to yelling the final score to them, since the game is on tape delay here.

My wife talked me out of it.



ACK!

[Imran Siddiqui]

But if I had played Duckett instead of Martin, it wouldn't of mattered who you started, so stop cheering me up.

Well, I guess some good news for you is that you won't have to worry about lacking playoff depth at RB (with Duckett out for the last 3 games) .

[Frozzy]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Btw, Priest Holmes was cut from Baltimore. They had to draft Jamal Lewis with an early first round pick because they had no faith in Holmes. Damn he must have sucked too .

He wasn't their type of back. Dick Vermeil has always had exactly the same type of back, and Jamal Lewis is a different style of runner. Apples and oranges...

Rhodes had 10 runs in the game as a change of pace back. There is a reason that 2nd sting RBs whose YPC may be better than the starter but never will supplant the starter. Because if they had to play every down (especially running downs) that would go down.

Well, Rhodes has rushed for 1000 yards in his rookie year at over 4 ypc... I think he wouldn't do as well but never the less the Indy running attack was carving through the NE run defense like a hot knife through butter, no matter who was running.

I'm sure most teams would rather take the win .

A 90 point passer rating wins you 75% of games, so you've still got a nice shot.

I'm still waiting for you to explain why Manning was to blame for James' fumbles.

I'm still waiting for you to explain why Manning isn't to blame for getting intercepted at the NE 6 yard line or getting sacked on the last offensive play, causing Vanderjagt to have a much longer kick.

Being picked at the 6 was Manning's fault. I never disputed that, nor was it brought up.

The sack was Dallas Clark's blown assignment. If you watched the game, you would see our RT Ryan Diem waving his hands like crazy at Dallas telling him to stay home because of the audible, but he either a) didn't hear or b) didn't listen.

Hasn't Stokley ALWAYS been in the slot? I don't recall him doing this well last year and there has been very little change to the offensive personnel. Its because they've started to look at him in the passing game more, realizing his talent.

The reason he didn't do well last year was because he was injured and inactive for the first 16 weeks.

Also, I doubt Manning would have problems knowing Stokely, considering Brandon helps Manning at his summer passing academy and have been friends since they both went into the league Manning was the one who brought him to Indy in the first place, but they haven't been able to use him much because a) We predominantly used a two-TE set until Dallas Clark broke his leg last year and b) Stokely had foot problems all season and in the post-season.

And why wouldn't he do just as good as the play action that Farve would do? Is he not allowed to be in the slot in Green Bay? Plenty of WR2 and even #1 WR line up in the slot. Jerry Rice made a living of lining up in the slot at least a 1/3rd of the time when he was the best reciever in the league.

WR2 has to always line up at the end? Ever play football? Obviously not.

Our WR2 is Wayne... not Stokely. The Colts seldom shift their WRs about. It's a very basic system, there's nothing complicated like personnel packages etc. Stokely plays in the slot 99.9% of the time, and Harrison and Wayne always play right and left unless the formation is twins (which is rare but there). Why? Part of the reason is being used to one position. The main part though is because Stokely is a speed reciever and his role is designed to stretch out opposing players who can't keep up, which leads me to...

Besides, many teams are playing against Indy with more than 2 CBs. Houston, for example, played 3 CBs (Faggins, Robinson, and Glenn).

Which Indianapolis takes advantage of by feeding them Edgerrin James, and he gets most of his yards running at nickel packages. They try to stay in a base defense, and Stokely burns them, or Harrison gets single coverage. Teams play in the nickel and quickly switch back when James gets going. Stokely is part of the reason Edge leads the league in rushing, but Edge is part of the reason Stokely burns LBs and safeties.

Ever play football? Obviously not if you think a speed-orientated CB can take down a RB, or an LB can keep pace with a pacey slot WR.

[Imran Siddiqui]

He wasn't their type of back. Dick Vermeil has always had exactly the same type of back, and Jamal Lewis is a different style of runner. Apples and oranges...

Yeah, a back who has the ability to run for 1500+ yards wasn't their 'type of back'.

Well, Rhodes has rushed for 1000 yards in his rookie year at over 4 ypc... I think he wouldn't do as well but never the less the Indy running attack was carving through the NE run defense like a hot knife through butter, no matter who was running.

And yet only 24 points? Apparently NE bent, but did not break often... the way Buffalo was able to stay on top during the early 90s, mind.

The sack was Dallas Clark's blown assignment. If you watched the game, you would see our RT Ryan Diem waving his hands like crazy at Dallas telling him to stay home because of the audible, but he either a) didn't hear or b) didn't listen.

And who audibles all the time? When you make so many changes, you have to expect blown coverage at some point. Manning should have gotten rid of it as quickly as possible. ANYTHING but take a sack in that situation. That lost the game.

The reason he didn't do well last year was because he was injured and inactive for the first 16 weeks.

And the year before?

Our WR2 is Wayne... not Stokely.

We were comparing him to Driver. Driver is Green Bay's #2.

Which Indianapolis takes advantage of by feeding them Edgerrin James, and he gets most of his yards running at nickel packages. They try to stay in a base defense, and Stokely burns them, or Harrison gets single coverage. Teams play in the nickel and quickly switch back when James gets going. Stokely is part of the reason Edge leads the league in rushing, but Edge is part of the reason Stokely burns LBs and safeties.

You mean like James ripped through the Houston defense with a gaudy 3.7 yards per carry? And Stokley only had 3 catches (yes for 58 yards, but no TDs) against the Houston D. Harrison didn't have a great day either. Wayne, if anyone, had a good day, but no reciever was able to break 100 yards.

Frankly they were kind of lucky that Carr had a crappy game.

And it isn't that teams are moving to stop James. Most teams (well, most teams outside the Bears) are content to let James get his 100-130 yards on the ground. It's the passing game with the 7 options they are concerned about.

Ever play football? Obviously not if you think a team is more concerned with a RB getting 120 yards than they are about the QB getting 4, 5, 6 TD passes.

[Frozzy]

And yet only 24 points? Apparently NE bent, but did not break often... the way Buffalo was able to stay on top during the early 90s, mind.

Yes you insufferable idiot! Only 24 points because of 3 goal-line turnovers and a blown assignment! Which apparantly are all Manning's fault because he audibles to better plays and therefore shouldn't do it so much.

And who audibles all the time? When you make so many changes, you have to expect blown coverage at some point. Manning should have gotten rid of it as quickly as possible. ANYTHING but take a sack in that situation. That lost the game.

Wayne was his hot read, so he was facing away from McGinest. Difficult to see the DE coming when you're blindsided, no? And the blown coverage is Manning's fault how?

And the year before?

Same again. Hammy troubles. He wasn't healthy before the last part of last season.

You mean like James ripped through the Houston defense with a gaudy 3.7 yards per carry? And Stokley only had 3 catches (yes for 58 yards, but no TDs) against the Houston D. Harrison didn't have a great day either. Wayne, if anyone, had a good day, but no reciever was able to break 100 yards.

Who cares about the ypc? As long as it's above 3.3 I'm happy because that means you are moving the chains. Indy had to grind out a win because they weren't playing well. Hell, they had three starting offensive linemen out, with two rookies playing guard, one of whom was undrafted.

And it isn't that teams are moving to stop James. Most teams (well, most teams outside the Bears) are content to let James get his 100-130 yards on the ground. It's the passing game with the 7 options they are concerned about.

Which is why the Colts are 10-3 and James leads the NFL in rushing yards. More than can be said for 25 other teams in the league. Indy lost the NE game because James fumbled twice and Manning was picked once, and the former has only happned once in 12 other games.

Ever play football? Obviously not if you think a team is more concerned with a RB getting 120 yards than they are about the QB getting 4, 5, 6 TD passes.

Indianapolis have enough talent to play defenses inside out. They'll line up in a 3 WR set, forcing defenses to go to a nickel defense, and jam James up the middle. Teams WILL go back to a base defense because of it. It's just football smarts. If the opponent finds a weakness, you plug it. Naturally, the Colts will sneak in Dallas Clark ocassionally in place of Stokley and run it at a nickel set.

Indy's offense will play the opposing defense inside out. When this happens, it's no wonder Stokely leads the team in yards recieved when he's lined up against a safety half the time because they keep rotating. No huddle is the key. If you don't give the opposition to adjust their personnel to your new personnel, then you'll have matchup problems. THAT is why Stokley is doing so well, and THAT is why Manning is getting all these TD passes.

They'll slow it down, let the defense catch up to their personnel (say it's a 2 TE set), then they'll step on the gas, switch Clark and Stokley, and voila, you have a speed receiver on a Linebacker. What a fair fight that is.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yes you insufferable idiot! Only 24 points because of 3 goal-line turnovers!

Boo hoo. They didn't score did they? At some point you have to ask if the turnovers are just good luck by the Pats or do they work at creating them and that's why are so good at it.

Wayne was his hot read, so he was facing away from McGinest. Difficult to see the DE coming when you're blindsided, no? And the blown coverage is Manning's fault how?

You gotta be away in that situation that any small mistake could cost you the game. You have to be extra caution and feel any pressure coming.

Same again. Hammy troubles. He wasn't healthy before the last part of last season.

So he's never been healthy in Indy until last year? Yeah... sure.

Who cares about the ypc?

Most people. That's kinda why Eddie George ain't in Tennessee anymore (or starting in Dallas).

Which is why the Colts are 10-3 and James leads the NFL in rushing yards.

7 passing options.

Indianapolis have enough talent to play defenses inside out. They'll line up in a 3 WR set, forcing defenses to go to a nickel defense, and jam James up the middle. Teams WILL go back to a base defense because of it. It's just football smarts. If the opponent finds a weakness, you plug it. Naturally, the Colts will sneak in Dallas Clark ocassionally in place of Stokley and run it at a nickel set.

Indy's offense will play the opposing defense inside out. When this happens, it's no wonder Stokely leads the team in yards recieved when he's lined up against a safety half the time because they keep rotating. No huddle is the key. If you don't give the opposition to adjust their personnel to your new personnel, then you'll have matchup problems. THAT is why Stokley is doing so well, and THAT is why Manning is getting all these TD passes.

They'll slow it down, let the defense catch up to their personnel (say it's a 2 TE set), then they'll step on the gas, switch Clark and Stokley, and voila, you have a speed receiver on a Linebacker. What a fair fight that is.

And Houston had success this week against Indy because they switched their defense? No, they realized what was important to stop and focused on it. You chose to defend the more dangerous aspects of an offense. That's the passing game. Houston was already burned earlier in the year and realized why. Indy may create matchup problems, but if you know what to focus on defending, you'll have more success. You gotta pick the right poison.

[Frozzy]

So he's never been healthy in Indy until last year? Yeah... sure.

Yes! He had a foot injury which almost ended his career. He sprained his ankle in October, 2002, then in November he sprained his foot which ended his season with the Ravens. Then, Indy picked him up after off-season surgery in March 2003, he injured his hamstring when, quote "I tried to do too much too fast on my sore foot", missing the first six weeks of 2003, then after the bye he suffered a concussion which kept him out until Week 12, and wasn't healthy until Week 16, and he was a major factor in the playoffs.

Look it up before you dismiss it. The guy was inactive for an entire year, starting at Baltimore.

Boo hoo. They didn't score did they?

Yes, fumbles in the red zone do that to you.

Most people. That's kinda why Eddie George ain't in Tennessee anymore (or starting in Dallas).

I doubt Eddie George would mind 3.7 yards in an entire season, let alone a bad game.

7 passing options.

But they're winning, right?

And Houston had success this week against Indy because they switched their defense? No, they realized what was important to stop and focused on it. You chose to defend the more dangerous aspects of an offense. That's the passing game. Houston was already burned earlier in the year and realized why. Indy may create matchup problems, but if you know what to focus on defending, you'll have more success.

23 points surrended, two TDs passing and 250-ish yards. How spoiled we are as fans if that's a bad day for him. Sure, their defense had a "nice" day for a defense playing Indy, but our defense stepped up too. But no, they're 29th in the league, surely they can't do anything like that.

An not to nit pick, but Houston doctored their field before the game to make it highly waterlogged, despite the fact it hadn't rained there since Tuesday and Reliant has a retractable roof. Shame for that Texan player who slipped and got a concussion. If that's the lengths teams have to go to to slow down Indy, it must be something special.

And before you throw the "what if it's like that in the Playoffs", generally teams who go to places where it has been raining and is open air expect it to be wet and prepare for it... you can't prepare for some ground staff watering down the field an hour before kick off when you play in a dry climate and the stadium has a roof.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yes! He had a foot injury which almost ended his career. He sprained his ankle in October, 2002, then in November he sprained his foot which ended his season with the Ravens. Then, Indy picked him up after off-season surgery in March 2003, he injured his hamstring when, quote "I tried to do too much too fast on my sore foot", missing the first six weeks of 2003, then after the bye he suffered a concussion which kept him out until Week 12, and wasn't healthy until Week 16, and he was a major factor in the playoffs.

Look it up before you dismiss it. The guy was inactive for an entire year, starting at Baltimore.

So the guy can't play through pain. All football players sprain things. They usually play through it.

Yes, fumbles in the red zone do that to you.

Boo hoo. They didn't score did they?

I doubt Eddie George would mind 3.7 yards in an entire season, let alone a bad game.

He's had 3.3 for two years straight, which you'd say you'd take. Miami's Travis Minor has 3.8 so far this year. But I doubt he'll be back.

23 points surrended, two TDs passing and 250-ish yards. How spoiled we are as fans if that's a bad day for him. Sure, their defense had a "nice" day for a defense playing Indy, but our defense stepped up too. But no, they're 29th in the league, surely they can't do anything like that.

The Houston offense has sucked lately rather. They've scored over 20+ points only once in the last 6 games.

An not to nit pick, but Houston doctored their field before the game to make it highly waterlogged, despite the fact it hadn't rained there since Tuesday and Reliant has a retractable roof. Shame for that Texan player who slipped and got a concussion. If that's the lengths teams have to go to to slow down Indy, it must be something special.

Any proof? And is that what they did when at home against Jacksonville as well?

[Frozzy]

So the guy can't play through pain. All football players sprain things. They usually play through it.

So why didn't this guy? More so, why wasn't he cleared to play by doctors is he could 'just play through it'? Even moreso, why did he need surgery for it?

Boo hoo. They didn't score did they?

No, because James fumbled twice, which is Manning's fault obviously.

He's had 3.3 for two years straight, which you'd say you'd take. Miami's Travis Minor has 3.8 so far this year. But I doubt he'll be back.

I'm happy with 3.3 in a game, but that's my limit because that's obviously a bad game. How do you figure Peyton is setting all these records, and Edge leads the league in rushing if his ypc isn't very high? Must have been a bad games caused by doctored field conditions...

The Houston offense has sucked lately rather. They've scored over 20+ points only once in the last 6 games.

So? This is the worst defense in the league? Clearly they can't hold even a bad defense to under 20 points!

Any proof? And is that what they did when at home against Jacksonville as well?

Against Jacksonville our offense was rusty. The Colts thrive on momentum. That's why after bye weeks and to begin seasons we've been historically bad, then after have had nice streaks going. After we lost to Denver last year, we had a hot streak going into the Championship Game. Momentum is the Colts' ally.

The proof is there already. Retractable roof, field waterlogged, little to no rain all week... where else did all that water come from?

[Frozzy]

Here you go:

A few Colts complained about the grass playing field at Reliant Stadium.

"The field was wet," quarterback Peyton Manning said. "That surprised me. Has it rained here lately?"

Asked whether he thought the Texans might purposely have wet the field to slow them down, Manning replied with a wink: "You said that, I didn't."

And from Derrick Mason earlier this year:

Titans receiver Derrick Mason blasted the grounds crew at Reliant Stadium following Sunday's game, calling the field the worst he has played on in his eight-year career.
"That footing was horrible, but that's not an excuse," Mason said. "That's probably the worst surface I've played on since I've been in the NFL. Somebody needs to do something about that surface because somebody could seriously get hurt."