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Cobra Brigade The Blogs By Fans Network


Oct
23
2009

10 Paineful Questions

Alyson_Hannigan.jpg
Ten answers to ten questions after the jump.  Before that, let us consider this theory.  Buffy was not the hottest chick on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Jenny Calendar. Anya, and Willow were all sexier.  I am not setting anything in stone, here, just tossing it out.

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Also on the Network:

√ Things to Read: 3/11 [Tremendous Upside Potential]
√ Wounded Birds [C70 At The Bat]
√ Things to Read: 3/10 [Tremendous Upside Potential]


1.       Percent chance the Colts have a letdown against the Rams after the bye week?

It is the NFL, so there is always a chance.  The real risk for this weekend is the Colts seem to be trying to fold some new things in.  It looks like Bob Sanders is going to make an appearance, for whatever that is worth.  The Colts were the best pass defense in the league last year, and it wasn't just because they were the weakest pass defense.  A lot of it is because they give you the underneath and take away the deep ball.  When you get behind, which happens when you play the Colts, and you are running out of time for the underneath, you are throwing into routes they have been sitting on all day.  So the pass defense thing is scheme, not chance.  This season proves that.  So, they were the best pass defense in the league last year with the personnel at the safety position we are seeing now and we are going to take Bullitt out and put Sanders in.  Bullitt is playing well.  Putting Sanders in, even though he is a former MVP, is going to be an adjustment.  On top of that, looks like Fili Moala is going to be getting a chance to make a spot since we let go of Ed Johnson.  That shot will probably come on third down, passing downs, in a rotation that looks like Freeney, Moala, Brock, and Mathis.  That is going to be something worth analysis.  His performance, in a down and distance that exemplifies what we spent a 2nd round draft pick on, needs to be positive.  He must attract the double team and allow Brock to shoot the middle or beat his one on one matchup should Brock get the double team.  Jackson can make a little distance, but when they get into the red zone it is a passing game.  If the adjustments let something weird happen, then something weird could happen.   %12 chance of Rams victory.

2.       Should the Colts really be trying to get Bob Sanders into this game based on his injury history or should they hold him out another week or two as a precaution?

I think he should put into the game in running situations or in obvious pass situations.  Bullitt has played well but we all have to recognize that Sanders is that guy that can wake up on a rainy Tuesday and walk into the stadium and pitch a shut out.  He hasn't been playing, though, and we have to keep him out of situations where the play will tilt on early recognition.  Keep him away from playaction or the first down deep ball.  Let him sit back on 3rd and 14.  In that situation it is intermediate passes he gets to come up on and the occasional draw.  Both kinds of plays will be "in front" meaning he doesn't have to turn his head and shoulders and he gets to lock onto target and pull the safety fuse on the bunkerbuster.  What I would hate to see are misdirection plays lined up against him all day.  I want him getting used to the speed of the game in his first day back at work.  Keep it simple.

3.       At one point in their history the Colts traded for Eric Dickerson from the Rams. If Dickerson suited up on Sunday would he be the best running back the Colts have?

Maybe, everybody loves that high knee kick style.  I think they are alright at tailback right now.  I like Brown's style.  We have addressed what I think are the weak points of Addai's game but he really isn't letting us down right now.  He is doing one thing exceptionally well, and that is finding the open spot on third, catching the ball, and digging for the first.  Whatever he is, he is keeping the drive going once or twice or eight times a game.

4.       Key personnel matchup of the Colts/Rams game?

The right side of the Rams offensive line against Mathis and the strongside backer on the Colts' left flank.  Jackson is going to look to run where they have the extra blocker, that is strongside.  I think he runs a little better to the right so that is where the plug has to go.

5.       If you put Peyton Manning on the Rams team this season, what would their record be?

4-2

6.       Let's go ahead and blow this thing open quickly, have the Bears made a huge, huge mistake in trading Kyle Orton and draft picks for Jay Cutler?

Orton went to an offense that had better personnel.  I like some of the guys on the Bears squad, but they receiving corps is far more reliable and dynamic in Denver.  Orton doesn't throw the pick, he does a better job of determining when and where to take a risk.  There is a little less pressure in Denver.  It is a place better to success and, yes, Orton is better suited to succeed at this point.

7.       Whose decision making ability is worse, Jay Cutler's inside the red zone or Steve Phillips in picking his mistress?

Steve Phillips.  If your ability to entertain viewers is as mediocre as his is, you better make sure you don't poke a crazy bitch, wife or not.  I am a classic debaucher, I have never denied it.  I dance with the one I brung, though.  Know what I mean?  Some of these guys, Reynolds, Phillips, Boomer (I hear), McNair (yeah, I said that) are doing something men (and presumably women but I admit they may be morally superior) have been doing for a long time.  Women are attracted to a lot of different things.  Some women are attracted to very superficial things.  I am unwilling to claim that these are cheap people, but men with recognition or influence that understand its effects on women and have the thin constitutions incapable of sexual restraint certainly are.  If the wife isn't giving it up the way you like your dinner, tell her.  Say, "Woman, I know your hip has been bothering you but I gotta have more boogetyboom and zoom zoom in the car.  I kinda like the stank."  In exchange for your extra zoom zoom, you might want to not poke the horse-faced intern.  Cutler may throw a lot of picks, but he isn't ruining his family by throwing off his back foot.   

8.       After putting up 59 points on the Titans last week, how many points do the Patriots put up on the Bucs this week in Tampa?

At this point in their schedule you just want to make sure you don't unplug the controller while you are saving.  40 seems doable but lets not put the cart before the horse.  The Pats were throwing bombs against weak corners and team that felt like its season ended last two weeks ago when the Colts spanked them.  Titans were on Tilt and the Pats were hungry.  They could put up 35 any week with those receivers, and 60 when they really want it.  If Tampa stays back it's a 35 point game.  They won't give up their sister like the Titans did, but almost.

9.       Three winless teams (Titans, Rams and Bucs) remain, do any of them break the seal this week?

Titans maybe.  Pasted twice in a row and searching for identity.  There are moments when a good leader understands that the campaign is not going his way.  You start thinking about rearguard actions.  You start re-evaluating the victory conditions.  The pyrrhic victory starts looking like an attractive, viable option.  It's a go back to basics moment, and good leaders can get guys on board.  They understand that they have nothing to lose but their job.  I think Keith Bullock is the best player in the league nobody pays attention to.  He may be able to turn the defense around.  Its an opportunity.

10.      Has Ray Rice become the next LaDanian Tomlinson?

Easy, killer, closer to a Jones-Drew.  Tomlinson was (is?) so good he could take the game over as a running back OR receiver.  If you took one way he could still make the other a gamebreaker.  Rice is a good all around guy, but he is a bit slight and not as explosive as Tomlinson. 

7 Comments
Cobra said

Ray Rice and his fourth quarter against the Vikings disagrees with your take on him....that was the best one quarter performance by a running back that I've seen since Emmitt was in his prime.

The thing about Cutler is that you can tell right now that he's not a guy who is going to lead your team to a Super Bowl victory. He doesn't make good decisions and he doesn't seem like a good leader. I know he has a tremendous arm but every time they get into the red zone I can't help but think, "million dollar arm, ten cent head."

Cobra said

Ok, let's see how you did.....First of all, you always go with pics of Charisma Carpenter for second tier Buffy characters. Always.

9. The Titans didn't even play this week so that's a miss.

8. 28 point victory for the Pats and they pulled back the reigns, too. I consider that a hit for you.

7. Three more picks for Cutler this week so this isn't exactly an easy choice. Phillips did lose his job though.

6. The Bears lose again and it looks like they could use some of those draft picks back to bulk up their team.

5. I don't know, the Rams were pretty bad.

4. I think the key matchup was probably the Colts vs. their wake up call on Sunday morning. They obliged and showed up so they won.

3. The colts averaged 6 yards a rush behind the strength of the guys not named Addai.

2. I saw Sanders either walking to or from the trainers room at one point. Not good.

Bruce Paine said

Sanders was on a pitch count. He had X number of plays and then he had an appointment on the training table. To be damned honest, it doesn't bother me if he is in or out. The star of the secondary is Bethea and Bullitt is damned good when he is in.

Brown and Simpson only had a half dozen carries. Addai ran well enough, and he was asked to run in short yardage situations on third and short, so he was getting the job done, he just wasn't mind blowingly spectacular.

That Rams team just doesn't know what to do with itself. Really poor receiving corps. Did you freaking see the fits Freeney was giving them? They didn't have a tackle or combination of tackle and back that could block him. If I was the Ram offensive line coach I think ritual suicide would be an honorable option. I can't tell if the Colts are world-beaters right now, but they are very good on both sides. After the third touchdown I had seen enough. I threw the rifles into the truck and drove out to the range and listened to the rest on the radio. (I was hitting pop cans at 100 yards with my .22 with the nekkid eye. I could keep everything on a 11"x14" piece of paper at 300 yards with the AR, iron sights of course. It was great weather and beautiful country. God Bless America.)

The Pats are a good ballclub, no doubt, but I need to see them against a better team to determine if they are more than one sided. I think that defense could be exposed and the Colts, Giants and Saints might be able to force them into a war of attrition situation where the fist guy to blink loses. We'll see I guess.

I saw Cutler's highlights. I have no idea what he is seeing. I really don't. He isn't calling the safeties, he isn't reading the underneath. He is throwing off the back foot. They get Cutler and try to go vertical but the personnel at the other positions screams West Coast, possession, run after the catch to me.

Bruce Paine said

Charisma Carpenter has giant teeth. Beyond that, I count her as part of the Angel spinoff as she was at her hottest during the first two seasons of that show.

The GM said

by the way, red from your picture, did not get hot until AFTER Buffy. so the hottest girl on buffy, was buffy, or charisma carpenter. since cc did playboy, i'll give her the nod...but red is hot NOW.

Bruce Paine said

Negative there GM, she was just dressed frumpy and made to act a weenie character to be placed as a dichotomy to the Buffy character. if you watch the early seasons, they peal the wrapping off a bit to keep people interested in the character. In the second season episode called "Halloween", you catch a glimpse of what I am saying. And no, taken on a qualitative basis, Cordelia does not match Jeny Calendar or Anya during the run of Buffy. She is hotter in the Angel spinoff. GET OUT OF MY GEEK WHEELHOUSE!

Erin said

I don't really care about any of the other stuff. I just dropped by to say:

Willow. Hands down, no questions asked. Willow.

I would give second place to Jenny Calendar.

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