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 Bob Sanders dumps Jones-Drew on fourth down for a big stop. First half defensive MVP right there.
It was perfect end to a nearly perfect day. I left work early, my insomnia has been back the last week, and I had no business operating machinery at work. A slow day, I left early. I got up in time to find my softball game rained out, so Hot Tub and I went to Smokin Jack's Rib Shack on 17th Street and got carry out for the game. (I had the half rack with beans, fries and cornbread, he had the same without the cornbread. My gut is full of goodness.) My prediction for the score was again very close (Colts 28 Jags 16) to the real final (29-7) and the Colts came out on top. The key players I selected for the Colts had huge days and the guys I selected for the Jaguars were neutralized. (Sigh) I hope I can sleep tonight, that might make it perfect all around. I hope the episode of The Boondocks that I recorded is good...
The Colts were very disciplined on defense and looked real sharp. The only allowed 226 total yards and less than 120 rushing yards. Jaws was all about Bob Sanders and Kornheiser was questioning him about Sanders' impact and importance. Sander has 5 tackles an interception and two passes defenced in the first half and doesn't even have to play the majority of the second half. I also loved the continued comparison of Bob Sanders to Chuck Norris.
Jacksonville never appeared to be able to put up enough points to stay with the Colts. Even before Garrard went down he was dinking and dunking for plays. Nothing went downfield. Jacksonville turned the all over on downs three times with short yardage against the "soft" Colts D.
The Colts were productive in a variety of offensive sets with different personnel. I don't know what to say, they are a machine. With about 5:15 to go in the first the Colts ran a stretch left and Addai nearly scored. He could have scored if he had not over run the block and gotten stuck behind it, if anybody watched the game and recorded it, rewind it and look at that. I wrote a post a while back about that situation, and that play showed a good look at what I was talking about. He runs to deep behind the block and gets stuck. Outside of that, he runs well. That was the reason the Colts instituted more quick hitters and gut runs. They look good doing it. I don't mind. The Jags, like everyone else, stayed deep in zone coverage all game, rarely going to man and only using zone blitzes for the most part. They got good pressure in the middle, like they often do, but it wasn't enough to change the face of the game. They are a good team, and solidified their place as the front-runner for a Wild Card spot (if there is such a thing in week 7), but the aren't as good as the Colts.
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8 Comments
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2008 Cubs Preview
Color me unimpressed. Once Gerrard went down the Colts were like vultures waiting for their dinner. That backup QB was so horrendous that it negated anything Jax tried to do on offense. Their (Jax) d-line seemed to give the Colts some problems....2 sacks and numerous 'hurries'.
It was nice to see Freeney with some actual sackage last night (2).
Colts took out a quarterback. That is a game changing thing you put on the defenses head, not something you really take away from them. Jones-Drew was still alive.
Manning passed for 259 and the Colts ran for 141, 50 of which was Keith. Whatever problems they caused were minimal
My point is that without Gerrard the Jags pretty much became the Rams on offense since the Colts D could play the run. I understand that the Colts took down the QB, but my point is that they didn't really beat a good team last night.
Manning was under pressure all night. Jaws spoke of this many times. I didn't catch what happene to Ugoh, but I know he was out for awhile. I wonder what will happen if Marvin doesn't get better soon. No way Gonzalez/Clark is enough to get the job done.
And...that 141 came on 33 carries for an average of....4.27 yards, which was less than the Jags averaged 4.33. Gray coming in, and the 2 horrendous INT's he threw, changed the face of the game since Gerrard hadn't thrown an INT all season and the Jags missed his efficiency.
Garrard played the first half....and the halftime score was 17-0. With Garrard in the game, the Jags still never got their running game on track. Were it not for a 60 yard kickoff return (Colts' special teams sucks) the Jags probably would not have scored at all, but they got a short field and decided to run the ball a little. Taylor and Jones-Drew had a few good runs apiece, but they never put anything together. Sure Gray's INTs hurt them, but the Colts were dominating the Jags long before he came into the game and started throwing the ball away.
Garrard didn't throw and interception but he nearly threw two. he had one that hit Sanders in the chest on one of William's post routes and he had one that was about an inch too low for Hayden to pick up off the grass. The Jags were just dominated. Look at how poorly the outside parts of their line blocked. They were completely disrutped by Freeney, Mathis, and Brock. Discombobulated. Yeah Mannign saw a little ressure, b8t it was never enough to change anything. Look at the drive chart. pressure only caused one punt. ONE PUNT. The jags were beat soundly.
I should put this disclaimer before all of my Colts comments:
(I think the Colts are a very good team...just not as good as the Pats)
Look, the Colts did what they were supposed to do. I have no problem agreeing with every word you say/write. I'm just looking for a little more out of them right now. I thought the Jags were still in the game with 10 minutes to go, when they should have been done by early in the third quarter.
I'm more worried about their offense than their defense, I can't believe I just wrote that. I don't like to see Manning pressured (he's my fantasy QB) and I don't like seeing Harrison limping around. I'm also bothered by their O-line, specifically left tackle
Indeed, the Pats are the cream of the crop. It would require an amazing letdown in my opinion for them to lose to anyone this season, and that includes the game in Indy in less than 2 weeks. The only way they go down is if Brady gets hurt. This year, more than any other season, the Dolphins' alumni should be shaking with fear that their undefeated season will be surpassed.