Say it isnt so Bill!!!

Here the media is all a twitter with how Bill Polian said the Colt’s Offensive line failed in the Superbowl. Let me first say that Bill Polian knows so much more about football than anyone who would write or read this blog that my opinion, or anyone else’s is of little consequence in the world of any NFL pro-scout, much less one of Bill Polian’s stature. That said, I really honestly believe that the Colts O-line was not the first place to look for the Superbowl loss. The game was ridiculously close, if not for the really bad route by Reggie Wayne and a Oh-My-God-Where-Did-This-Come-From interception (see my previous article on this specific issue) by Tracy Porter we would probably have ended up watching the first overtime in Superbowl history, but I digress.
I look at the statistics and at the gameplay equally. Statistically, Peyton Manning did not get sacked; he did not even get hit often. The Saints decided to battle Peyton from a coverage standpoint which is surprising considering he usually leads his team effortlessly downfield when all he has to do is recognize the coverage, Favre would have given his game check to have seen as little pass-rush attention as Manning did, so that is a win for the Offensive Line. Next up run blocking: during the regular season the colts averaged a bottom dwelling 3.5 yards per attempt, in the Superbowl that average rose to 5.2 yards per carry, one carry of which included a goal to go touchdown run by Joseph Addai. Another win by the Offensive line by just about any standard. I understand Polian being a smidge frustrated, but of all the places to dish out the blame, the Colts Offensive line was not the place.

Wayne not Manning

I am a huge believer that football is a team sport. It takes everyone on the field to win or lose a game. Each effort on every play is equally important. One play can decide a game, a season or even a championship. No single triumph or mistake is the reason for success or failure. That being said, there are some actions whose consequences are greater than others.

Peyton Manning is getting a lot of flak for his late game interception during Sundays Super Bowl that all but sealed the victory for the New Orleans Saints. Many are saying that he lost them the game on one pass. Peyton has even taken the blame for the Mistake that was made, and that is the sign of a great leader. However, that play was not Peyton’s fault, nor was it the fault of the Indianapolis Colts team. The Colts were the better team in this game, and I thought out played the Saints even without their second best player (Dwight Freeney).

So who does the blame fall on? As much as I hate to say it, Reggie Wayne! He is one of the most underrated players of all time, and a staple of the Colts dynasty. His play is part of what has made the Colts so great for so long. All the same, he is the reason for the late game interception, not Manning. If you review the play, Wayne was on an option route. It was Wayne’s responsibility to recognize the coverage (Tracy Porter) playing off the receiver heads up. That reads as a slant route. Instead, Wayne ran a flag route. When a quarterback throws the ball, he does it before the receiver makes a move so the coverage can’t jump that pass (get in front of the receiver and intercept the ball). If Wayne had cut under the cornerback on a slant like he was supposed to, it would have been an easy pass and catch for 12 yards, instead the ball went straight into Porter hands.

To top it all off, Wayne had a relatively easy pass to tie the game with a couple of minutes left to tie the game. This would have at least given the Colts a chance to get an onside kick and the ball back. And we all know that if Peyton has the ball in his hands, there is a good chance he is going to score, especially since the saints had not stopped him all day.

I love ya Reggie, and I would still want you on my team any day. I feel for you, but to those of you blaming Manning, it wasn’t his fault. That was ALL on Wayne.

By: Matthew Walden

Best Worst Call in Super Bowl History

I just want to start by congratulating the New Orleans Saints on their first Super Bowl victory. They had a great season, and brought much needed celebration to a city so deserving. I think they are a hell of a team. I think Swan Peyton is an great coach, Drew Breeze is one of the top three quarterbacks in the league (no longer a two man race of Peyton and Tom), and their Defense was nothing short of stellar all season.

But not that I got that out of the way and can’t be called a Who Dat hatter, let me just say that I am already sick of hearing about Sean Peyton and his gutsy calls. I am disturbed at the fact that he is being applauded for his coaching triumphs. I cannot believe that there are so many sports announcers, columnist, bloggers and analysts out there singing his praises. Are you all stupid? Sorry for the word usage there, I know it’s a little elementary and strong, but no less appropriate.

I like Sean Peyton. I think he is a great coach, but that was the worst called Super Bowl I have ever seen. Yeah, ok I know it is easy to sit here after the win and it looks genius, we all know without a doubt that those fair weather fans in New Orleans would have had his head if they had lost the game.

Those calls were ridiculous. You are down 10 – 3 (1 Touch Down) and you go for it on fourth and short in the 2nd quarter? That is the hardest four yards in football. Then, not only do you go for it, but you take your bruiser running back to the outside against possibly the fastest defense in football. Then you don’t learn your lesson and try it again. That is plain and simply idiotic, not heroic. I though Drew said after the game that Peyton trust them, then why did he feel as though he had to score right then.

Second worst call of the game was the end around in the second quarter. One, the Colts Defense is too fast if you hadn’t noticed. Second, the defense has to be cheating for that to work. I mean even Madden players know that, how come an NFL coach doesn’t?

And for the “Best Worst Call in Super Bowl History”, the onside kick. You were only down four points! And that is after you managed to get three before the half ended after your last mistake! Don’t get me wrong, it was beautifully executed and obviously practiced. If it weren’t for the other awful calls that Sean Peyton had already made, I probably would have just called it gutsy, but he was making every rookie coach mistake he could.

The saints won that game, and even deservingly so, but NO THANKS TO SEAN PEYTON.

By: Matthew Walden

Biggest Keys to the AFC NFC Champ Games

I have worked through the numbers, listened to the talking heads and made myself aware of all the information about this weekend’s games. With so many variable, factors and opinions, I found myself asking the question. If I had to pin these two games down to one of those elements, what would it be? Now I know it is going to take more than one ingredient to achieve success, and make it to the big one, but if I had to narrow its importance to one, this is what it would be it.

New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts

Let’s not kid our self. The Jets are the underdog her. I love them too. I know they beat the Colts once this year already. They have already upset one good team and one great team in this post season, both on the road. However, they are still the underdog here and deservingly so. So key one. Forget that you played once this year. So often in this league you see a team beat another and forget to make adjustments for the next meeting. Thank you Baltimore and New England. New England though they were going to go out, through another half dozen passes to the rock (Wes Welker), holding off the pressure, and focus on cutting down Flaco’s big arm with a lot of deep coverage. It worked before didn’t it? What happened? Adjustments for Baltimore and non for New England! Flaco didn’t even need to play they run the ball so much and effectively against that deep cover. And without Welker, Tom Brady looked like a seventh round pick against the pressure…Ooops. The best thing either of these teams can do, and the key to winning this game is forgetting they even played this season. So much changes from week to week with injuries, venue, officiating crews and so on. Play your game!!!

Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints

I truly believe these two team are superior to the Colts and Jets, and that neither has a real advantage on the field. They are like two run away locomotives heading towards each other on a track. Sure their offensive and defensive systems differ, but show me an “exploitable weakness” on either team. Some would argue the right side of the Vikings offensive line. But that is often negated with a great running back and aware quarterback. Does AP and Favre fit that description? And some would say constancy in the secondary by New Orleans. That is often negated if you can stop the run and drop more back in coverage. Do the Saints who were 5th against the run fit that? I know you want to argue, but its AP. And Favre and Rice are too good to be stopped no matter how many they drop back. Or maybe you want tell me about how poorly Minnesota has run the ball lately. Look, the sun isn’t perfectly round and is full of blemishes in the form of sun spots and solar flare, but would you want to get in its way? Didn’t think so. So what is this games key? I say this, being the last of these two Juggernauts to through a punch, offensively or defensively. It will come down to the last big play of the game. That is the key.

By: Matthew Walden