colts vs boys

Yes, Roy Williams might be the best tackling safety in the league and the worst at pass coverage in the league.

Just force him to actually cover someone and you're gold.

 

I wouldn't say the worst--he has got a lot picks this year in a rover mode, but I would say below average coverage strong safety. What has made this worse is the Cowboys other safeties--Davis, Watkins, etcs, are also sub-par in coverage. But the Boys maybe are seeing the light by giving Roy W more freedom and keeping him closer to the LOS the way Palumalo and Lynch are used. The fact the most potent passing offense in the league didn't chew them up is a good sign.

Prior to the Romo switch the Boys problems were penalties, coverage breakdowns and a sitting duck veteran QB who has forcing plays and making bad TOs. The Boys were winning probably 70% of the individual plays, but the ones they lost bad enough to keep them about 500. Romo does take out that last problem--sitting duck TO prone QB. The penalities are still there and coverage is a little better, and new kicking game woes have developed (cost them the Skins game, could have cost the Colts game). With Romo from the start, 8-2 is very possible, Bledsoe had bad TOs in the JV losses and Phily losses that changed those games momentum. Only Giants game 1 I would be hard pressed to say would have been hard to win with Romo.

They were not mistake free at all. Two TOs, two missed high % FGs, and lots of penalities. Luckily Indy matched these mistakes with 3 TOs of themsleves and one very critical penalty. But no question the Boys went toe to toe with them.

He didn't go after them as much because he was on his back a lot. It wasn't like Manning or Indy was giving us a break, the Boys defense hit them (Manning and the Wrs) hard and often and it gets them more tentative.

The mold to beat Indy is clear. Indy is an explosive and potent team, but they are a soft and finese as well. Foremost you have an offense that takes it to their defense physically (obviously to produce points but also to keeps the defenses front 7 rested and ready to attack). Second you have a defense that takes it physically to them, you absolutely must get a pass rush and confusing their protection schemes help. 3-4s (Dallas, Stealers, Pats) have been really effective versus them. JVille, another physical ball control team with a great pass rush also gives them fits. If they get healthy defensively and get any consistent balance out of their offense they can be trouble. I think they have the talent for offensive balance, just haven't put it together.

I would not bet against a Chargers-Boys superbowl. I think the Chargers (they will get Merriman and their D back) are another team very much set up to take out Indy in the playoffs. In fact I might even expect a Chargers at the top of their game to take them out, even at Indy (which it would have to be since they don't have a head to head for SG to make up the game and tiebreaker, right now Indy would have to lose 2 more with SD running the table, neither are likely).

That said even Balt, NE, JVille, KC, Pitt--could all give Indy fits. The only AFC contenders who I think would be hopeless versus them in Indy are Denver (Indy owns them at home in particular and Denver's more sit back defensive style doesn't work no matter how good your secondary is) and Cincy (are explosive and finese like Indy, just not as refined at it). I do think Indy will fail again in the playoffs, I don't think it is an accident in the playoffs the tougher more physical teams usually do better, and Peyton and Colts habitually pull their El Foldo.

 

great win for the boys...and with Donovan out and the Giants losing tonight, the outlook is looking so much better...