Can Sanchez protect the ball? Can Brees produce against the Vikes' defense? And, what about Brett? Matt Bowen
As we get ready to crown conference champions tomorrow in the NFL, let’s look at ten questions for Sunday title games.
10. Can Mark Sanchez protect the football in Indy?
The Jets are going to have to play a field position game to beat the Colts on the road and Sanchez has to understand that punting the football on fourth down is a positive—because of Rex Ryan’s defense. New York needs to play a field position game on Sunday, and giving Peyton Manning a short field to work with after a turnover will prevent the Jets from going to Miami.
9. Can the Vikings count on Percy Harvin tomorrow?
Harvin is a wild card right now, as he is questionable due to migraine headaches. He has made the trip down to New Orleans, but if he can’t go, or can only play in a limited role, how does this affect the Vikings? Having Harvin in the lineup gives the Vikings some creativity on offense and it also causes a mismatch for the Saints on third downs when he aligns inside the numbers. The Vikings rolled last week without much production from Harvin. Can they do it on the road?
8. Does Indy need to establish the ground game to advance to Miami?
Indy ranked dead last in rushing during the regular season (80.9 yards per game), but they overcome this because of the passing game and the routes they run. For the Colts, the 3-step game (slant, smash route, hitch, WR screen) is just as good as a run when it comes to their game plan. Don’t expect it to change tomorrow against the pressure defense of New York. RB Joseph Addai will get touches, but he isn’t the focal point of the Colts’ offense—it still runs through Manning.
7. Does Jets RB Shonne Greene continue his playoff dominance in Indy?
The rookie from Iowa has opened eyes this post-season by having back-to-back one hundred yard games in both of the Jets’ post season wins, and has essentially replaced Thomas Jones as the feature back for Rex Ryan’s club. The Colts aren’t dominant up front, but they are athletic, they can run, and they do a good job of shedding blocks and making plays. They can’t let Greene get to the second level of the defense where he can square his pads and break tackles. A lot to ask against the Jets O-Line—which I believe is the best in the league.
6. Can Drew Brees produce against the Vikings front four?
One of the reasons Brees is so successful is his ability to move within the pocket. He has good feet, keeps his vision down the field and is able to throw the ball with one of the quicker releases in the league. But, some would say that Cowboys QB Tony Romo has some of the same skills when it comes to managing the pocket. If the Saints want to throw the ball down the field, Brees is going to need time, and he might not get it against Jared Allen and the Vikings. The routes will have to be broken off sooner if the Saints O-Line struggles early—and that can limit big plays for the Saints.
5. How much Adrian Peterson will we see in New Orleans tomorrow?
AP carried the ball 26 times in the Vikings victory over Dallas last week, and although his numbers weren’t big (2.4 yards per carry), I still think he has to be featured in the game plan against New Orleans. Minnesota doesn’t want to have to rely on Favre to throw the ball 40-plus times, and the more the Vikings can control the ball and the clock, the less time Brees and the Saints offense sees the field. Yes, Favre and WR Sidney Rice can generate big plays, but using a ball control attack on the road is the way to beat New Orleans. AP needs another 20-plus-carry game.
4. How do the Jets generate big plays on offense?
If I am the Jets, I take one shot—per half—down the field to WR Braylon Edwards through the play action game when they cross into Colts’ territory. But, they still have to generate big plays within the flow of their offense. Look for offensive coordinator Brain Schottenheimer to once again use Sanchez on movement passes (boot, sprint, dash) to get him out of the pocket with a clear throwing lane. This widens the field and allows a player, such as TE Dustin Keller, to get open in the secondary.
3. How big of a factor will Darren Sharper be?
Sharper needs to play big and he needs to take some chances within defensive coordinator’s Gregg Williams’ scheme to jump some routes. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Sharper playing a form of Cover 2 over the top of Rice on third and long situations, as well as playing some combo coverages on third and medium situations—where he can drop down at the snap and jump any inside breaking routes. But, the bottom line is that Sharper needs to be a playmaker tomorrow and flip the field for his offense.
2. How much pressure will Rex Ryan bring?
I don’t think Ryan is going to change at all—no matter who is playing QB. Manning is a tough QB to pressure because of his ability to read coverages and make the proper adjustments from his pre-snap reads, but that shouldn’t stop Ryan from sending five and six man pressure most of the afternoon—with man-free and zero-man coverage in the back end. A lot of pressure on the secondary, but that is how the Jets play defense. Expect Darrelle Revis to be in the back pocket of Reggie Wayne all day.
1. Can Brett win it for the Vikings?
The storyline is great, as is the anticipation of having Favre back in the Super Bowl. But, can he continue to play at a high level on the road? I think he does, and I think he makes media-types—like myself—look foolish once again for doubting his return to the NFL. Favre will have to manage the multiple looks from the Saints defense and make the most of his opportunities when he can get out of the pocket--and I am done betting against him.
Follow me on Twitter: MattBowen41
Can the Aints produce against the Vikes defense? Last week everbody said the Cowboys had the best offensive line, best qb, best running game, and recievers. What happened? The Cowboys dominated the Aints, as well as Tampa and Carolina. The Aints beat a team last week that gave up 90 points in 2 games. I think they will revert back to the team that lost the last 3 games of their season. The Vikings are undeafeated on artificial surfaces this year, have the best defense left of the 4 teams, have the best running game, best recievers, and definitly the best quarterback. Oh yeah, and nobody's talking about the fact that Farve has never lost to the Saints in his 19 year career. Homefield advantage doesn't mean to much when the home team gets blown out in the first half and the crownd is stunned and quiet.
The Viking D line isn't as good as the Dallas O line was bad last week. A decent LT can handle Allen. Brees will have time to throw.
The Jets can't score enough points to win
All four teams have to remember the maxim: any drive that ends with a kick, including a punt, is a good drive. The key to each game will be turnovers, who makes them, who doesn't. I should paid for this brilliance, no?
1) The Jets have the best defense left. The Vikings' secondary is like Swiss cheese; that's why they've had to rely on their pass rush. Unfortunately, Brees can deal with it, and likely will. Worst case, Reggie Bush and Shockey are going to see a lot of traffic. The best the Vikes can hope for is that Favre makes it a shootout; otherwise, we're talking another blowout for the Saints.
2) As good as the Jets' D is, I just don't see them holding Peyton down for an entire game, especially with their lack of scoring offense. I think this is where the J-E-T-S' road ends.
Props to Matt for FINALLY admitting his bias against Favre. Nice job Matt, way to stand down, stand correct.
SKOL VIKINGS!
You know, I'm really tired of the idiot talking heads who throw around numbers when they really don't have a clue. All week I've been hearing how the Colts D shut down the Baltimore running game because Rice only gained 67 yards. Not once did anyone mention that he only carried the damn ball 13 times. Noone mentions the Ravens called 18 rinning plays the whole damn game and threw the ball 35 times. I would say Harbaugh shut down the Ravens running game on the mistaken notion that they had the WR's to take advantage of the Colts secondary. If the Ravens would have chosen to run the ball 5 more times in the first half then they did, the score at halftime would've been 10-3 instead of 17-3. The reason I say this is because the time that would have come off the clock that didn't from incomplete passes would have allowed them to run out the clock even with Indy calling timeout. The Ravens had a perfect game plan against the Pats but didn't trust it enough to do the same to Indy which I find very surprising because the Pats run D was ranked 13th vs. the Colts 24th ranking. The Ravens may have still lost to Indy but their game plan didn't give them a chance......
trojan3z3: Favre and the Pack lost to the Saints in NO in 2002. Not that that will matter in the least on Sunday.
I just realized that the Vikings are going to win tomorrow. It was Matt's question about Sharper that convinced me, how he needs to take chances in order to create a turnover. Matt's a smart guy, so if he thinks this, other people probably do too. And Sharper doesn't need any encouragement from anybody before deciding to "take chances." Unfortunately for the Saints, "take chances" translates to "ignore your assignment." Favre is going to read, recognize and execute.
And the Saints will be done like dinner. Favre in the Super Bowl... crud. Buckle up, people, 'cuz we've got some heavy-duty man-love comin' our way. A solid two weeks of Tom Jackson saying "child-like joy" and Mark Schlereth saying "gun-slinger" and Chris Berman saying "like a kid out there"... and me stabbing out both my ears drums with a pencil.
favre also lost to the saints in 2006
I stopped reading when you wrote Brees and Romo in the same sentence.
You know, I'm really tired of the idiot talking heads who throw around numbers when they really don't have a clue. All week I've been hearing how the Colts D shut down the Baltimore running game because Rice only gained 67 yards. Not once did anyone mention that he only carried the damn ball 13 times. Noone mentions the Ravens called 18 rinning plays the whole damn game and threw the ball 35 times. I would say Harbaugh shut down the Ravens running game on the mistaken notion that they had the WR's to take advantage of the Colts secondary. If the Ravens would have chosen to run the ball 5 more times in the first half then they did, the score at halftime would've been 10-3 instead of 17-3. The reason I say this is because the time that would have come off the clock that didn't from incomplete passes would have allowed them to run out the clock even with Indy calling timeout. The Ravens had a perfect game plan against the Pats but didn't trust it enough to do the same to Indy which I find very surprising because the Pats run D was ranked 13th vs. the Colts 24th ranking. The Ravens may have still lost to Indy but their game plan didn't give them a chance......
I'm thinking Manning gets punched in the mouth early and often.
The Colts are still a finesse team,mug their recievers and harrass Manning.
But don't let up on him,ever;that's my key to Jets win.
Minnesota in a hostile environment?
This is not just any road game,it's the Superdome;the team and the fans
prove too much for the visitors.
It will probably be the loudest game the Vikings have faced all year.
Favre still has the arm,but not the legs.
I'm tired of hearing about the Jets D all week. Fact is this is a team that is playing more confident now, but runs the same exact scheme as they did when they lost to Atlanta a month ago at home, and 2 times to the Dolphins and to the Bills and Jaguars. Maybe it's time to realize you're bitting off more than you can chew. The Jets are a one dimensional running team that can't consistency make pass or special teams play. They hope their opponent will make the mistakes so they can capitalize. Nothing more. No one is talking about the Colts D - a team that had more sacks and a similar number of turnovers than the Jets "great D". Fact is, overall, the Colts are more consistent on both sides of the ball, and the Jets have to hope the Colts hand them the game to stay in it or even win. If the Colts are patient and don't give the game away (like SD did), the Colts will win - end of story.
Frasier has those Bear defense wrinkles in place:
Bracket Shockey early to keep him playing less than full speed.
Same bracket overloads the line opposite Jared Allen so he gets one up blocking or a good blitz.
Then he mixes in some Dungy/two cover items:
Two deep on obvious passing downs
The wrinkle to add, cross keying safeties. New Orleans is so likely to run crossers from the three receiver side that cross keying a safety might let you jump a route in new ways.
Think of pattern reading coverage, with new leverage on it. You need a good pass rush to even try that tactic.
NO has the advantage of viewing what MIN did against DAL last week. The same as they had with AZ from the GB game. Sean Payton and Drew Brees will have a game plan that will counter the Vikings pressure.
The biggest difference between DAL and NO is the Saints have more and better receiving options than the Cowboys. Brees won't let the MIN pass rush get to him. He'll get rid of the ball quickly on time to receivers on quick routes.
The big question is whether the MIN secondary can cover and tackle the NO receivers and especially Reggie Bush out of the backfield. Once NO hits a few short quick routes and the MIN secondary comes up, expect Brees to hit some deeper routes. It may be a long day for the MIN DEF and they will be tired at games end from chasing Brees and the NO receiving group.
I expect MIN to be home watching the SuperBowl for the 34th consecutive year. Hard to believe that Justin Timberlake has been to more SuperBowls than the Vikes in the last 30 years. Then the Vikes can begin the will Queen Brett retire or comeback show. Should be good to watch.
After watching most of both games, I think the Colts are better than both the Saints and the Vikings.
Well, I;m awful proud of my Jets, Congrats to Indy and the Saints. Should be a fun Super Bowl. I'll have to root for the Colts.....
Offseason training is crucial...
Breaking down the slant route...
Why the rest of the NFL needs...
Chalkboard breakdown of the 9...
Breaking down my game notes from...
Jan 23, 2010
03:33 PM
The only chance I give the Jets is if they get at least one score from their defense. If the Colts get any kind of lead on the Jets this is going to force Sanchez and co. move the chains or else see the Manning express roll. Can 1 beat 11? Peyton Manning is the only player in the NFL that is capable of doing it. Think about the Miami game where the Dolphins had the ball almost 45:00 and still lost the game, this is what the Jets face.