by Jay W. Van Hoosier
Well, it’s time for the Colts to make a decision. After having watched now for many seasons, just about any team they play torch their defense for yards and yards of rushing offense, I am going to go ahead and give a big “WHAT THE F%$#!!!!” How long do the Colts stick to a defensive scheme that, with this particular make-up, says to opponents, “please run the football because we can’t stop you.”
Yes, Tony Dungy is a defensive minded coach – the inventor of the Tampa 2 (well, not really – it’s just a modified defensive plan of Chuck Noll) – a 4-3 system that emphasizes tremendous team speed. Tampa 2 teams are known as gang tacklers and practice to always run to the ball.
There are many teams who utilize the Tampa 2 to great success. Even the Colts consistently have one of the best pass defenses in the league. But here’s the catch – they consistently have one of the poorest run defenses in the league as well. Here are a few reasons why.
The Tampa 2 is geared to stop the big play – usually the long pass play. The Colts are excellent in this regard. However, teams don’t have to throw the long pass on the Colts. Why bother when you can run on them at will. Second, to defend running plays, the Tampa 2 is a single gap defense where each player is responsible to defend his own gap. Consequently, there is very little blitzing. It requires that defensive players be fast so that they can plug up assigned gaps, thereby allowing either a linebacker or free safety to help tackle a runner – preferably no more than three yards past the line of scrimmage. The Colts are certainly fast but here’s the catch – they’re small too. The pro game has changed greatly just since mid nineties, when the Tampa 2 came into use. Offensive linemen are now not only huge but they are now fast too. They are able to, with more maneuverability thought unimaginable for men who weigh more than 300 pounds, float those pesky gaps that the defense are supposed to be plugging up. What happens then is that the Colts defense gets manhandled on running plays.
These deficiencies are diminished quite often due to the fact that Peyton Manning and the offense have the ability to put some major points on the board. If they are able to get a nice lead, then the opposing team is forced to pass to catch up and the Colts Tampa 2 works wonderfully at pass rushing (they have two of the best in the game today).
What do the Colts do then? First, fire Ron Meeks, the defensive coordinator. For the last two seasons, he’s been marginal at best in making adjustments during the game. Second, get some big and fast players on defense – look at Tennessee and Pittsburgh. They both run the Tampa 2 defense and are great doing it – all with some pretty big linemen. Lastly, modify the Tampa 2 and use that speediness in the linebackers and safeties to blitz a few times during the game.
I have not lost faith in the Colts – they will always be my favorite team. But how many times do you try the same thing expecting a different outcome???? I believe it was Albert Einstein that said doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result was the definition of insanity. Hmmm.
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While I agree that the Colts defense and its lack of ability to contain the run hurt them during the regular season, I believe their inability to run the ball in their own right cost them as much or more, particularly against the Chargers last weekend. Well ... that and the decision to leave Peyton Manning alone in the shotgun for the first time in the entire fucking game on their last offensive play - when a gain of a measly four yards would have iced a victory.
ReplyDeleteThe defense is fundamentally sound. Add a couple big bodies up the middle at tackle, and a big middle linebacker to rotate in on running downs and possible blitz packages, and you've probably got what you need.
But on offense, you've got to find a way to convert on 3rd and 1 without passing every time. Until they do that, they're not going to move on in the playoffs.
It's 3rd and 1. Your offense is on 3rd down. You're on THEIR 25 yard line. Here's a thought from a guy who got beat up by football teams more than ever play for one: Hand the FRIGGING BALL OFF TO GET ONE YARD. START OVER AND RE-GROUP. Colts prove hands down they are incapable of the 3rd down money shot so perhaps they just need to get the one and reflect every once in a while. DAMN.
ReplyDeleteOr perhaps the Colts ran into some of the Charger CHeerleaders pre-game and it threw their game. In that event, I can understand. But it's not an excuse. Spank it before you it the field and get your mind in the game.