2006 Colts had the 31st ranked run defense

[jpo287]

Meeks did well in Indy and it's really too early to panic yet but Meeks system has always relied on strong safety support to stop the run. In case you don't remember, the Colts in 06 had the absolutely worst run defense in the league during the regular season. In week 14, they gave up 375 rushing yards to the Jaguars! But that was with their starting safety Bob Sanders out with an injury. Once Sanders got back, they went from one of the worst to one of the better defenses - it was almost like flipping a switch. In fact, after allowing an average of around 130 yds during the regular season, they only allowed 75 yards in the three games leading to the SB COMBINED!

Another team based loosely on the same system are the Bears and like Indy, when their safety, Mike Brown, was healthy, their defense was as good as any. But again, when he was hurt, their defense faltered (the year we beat them in the post-season, he started the game bad had to leave after the 1st quarter due to injury).

I remember reading a couple of years back that the most important piece in his scheme (Cover 2) was the play of the safety. Corners were replaceable but not safeties. I guess what I am alluding to is that his system relies heavily on the safety and as such, while we are all concerned with getting a DT, even if they do, without a strong safety - and while I like Harris, he could hardly be considered above average - their run defense will never be above average at best.

Case in point, wasn't that Godfrey that got ran over for the TD last night?

[jasonluckydog]

Well to be fair to Godfrey that guy was really big.

[TylerDurden]

Harris is tough and is really good at what he does. He's one of the better safeties in the NFL out of the 32 that start. But he is FAR from Bob Sanders.

The thing that concerns me about our safeties is that Harris plays fast, but in a foot race, he's not really gonna out run many skill players. Godfrey is really fast, but often strikes me as being really soft. Harris will definitely come up and knock someone out on the run, he did it to Jacobs when we played NYG last year. But Godfrey, not so much.

Look at Bradshaw's run last night... Gamble got trucked while another guy, who I believe was Godfrey flailed his arms around Bradshaw's legs and fell off. That's what can't happen with our safeties. Godfrey got up there, but didn't bring the pop that Harris would. Honestly, I think Godrey is a poor tackler overall.

The safeties have to come up and knock a runner's teeth out for the system to work. They've gotta cover a lot of ground and be physical at the same time. Harris does this pretty well, but Godfrey just seems to be a liability in run support. Harris and Godfrey compliment each other's weaknesses well in coverage, but their run support is suspect as a duo.

[koolkatluke]

Meeks did well in Indy and it's really too early to panic yet but Meeks system has always relied on strong safety support to stop the run. In case you don't remember, the Colts in 06 had the absolutely worst run defense in the league during the regular season. In week 14, they gave up 375 rushing yards to the Jaguars! But that was with their starting safety Bob Sanders out with an injury. Once Sanders got back, they went from one of the worst to one of the better defenses - it was almost like flipping a switch. In fact, after allowing an average of around 130 yds during the regular season, they only allowed 75 yards in the three games leading to the SB COMBINED!

Another team based loosely on the same system are the Bears and like Indy, when their safety, Mike Brown, was healthy, their defense was as good as any. But again, when he was hurt, their defense faltered (the year we beat them in the post-season, he started the game bad had to leave after the 1st quarter due to injury).

I remember reading a couple of years back that the most important piece in his scheme (Cover 2) was the play of the safety. Corners were replaceable but not safeties. I guess what I am alluding to is that his system relies heavily on the safety and as such, while we are all concerned with getting a DT, even if they do, without a strong safety - and while I like Harris, he could hardly be considered above average - their run defense will never be above average at best.

Case in point, wasn't that Godfrey that got ran over for the TD last night?

Lets be real Bob sander is not stopping a 220lb RB coming full speed (because nobody at the line touch him) 3 yards from the end zone. Now the Db's do need too work on their tackling but I can't blame them for that play. The play with Hickson the Wr on that screen is a different story.:eek:

[jpo287]

Lets be real Bob sander is not stopping a 220lb RB coming full speed (because nobody at the line touch him) 3 yards from the end zone. Now the Db's do need too work on their tackling but I can't blame them for that play. The play with Hickson the Wr on that screen is a different story.:eek:

The problem is they misread the play. If they had read the run, they would have been closer to the line and they wouldn't have had to try to bring down a RB at full speed 15 yards past the LOS. But even so, their job is to bring them down whether that be at a crawl, walk, stroll or at full speed.

[pantherdad]

They also had Peyton Manning.....cough, cough.

[Fireball77]

The problem in 06 wasn't Sanders missing as much as it was their run fits. It is encouraging that they did tighten that up and were dominant in the postseason though.

[Cyclonus]

They also had Peyton Manning.....cough, cough.

Beat me to it!

[The Link]

Lets be real Bob sander is not stopping a 220lb RB coming full speed (because nobody at the line touch him) 3 yards from the end zone. Now the Db's do need too work on their tackling but I can't blame them for that play. The play with Hickson the Wr on that screen is a different story.:eek:

I think Sanders would have laid the wood to said RB.

[beastson]

Harris is tough and is really good at what he does. He's one of the better safeties in the NFL out of the 32 that start. But he is FAR from Bob Sanders.

The thing that concerns me about our safeties is that Harris plays fast, but in a foot race, he's not really gonna out run many skill players. Godfrey is really fast, but often strikes me as being really soft. Harris will definitely come up and knock someone out on the run, he did it to Jacobs when we played NYG last year. But Godfrey, not so much.

Look at Bradshaw's run last night... Gamble got trucked while another guy, who I believe was Godfrey flailed his arms around Bradshaw's legs and fell off. That's what can't happen with our safeties. Godfrey got up there, but didn't bring the pop that Harris would. Honestly, I think Godrey is a poor tackler overall.

The safeties have to come up and knock a runner's teeth out for the system to work. They've gotta cover a lot of ground and be physical at the same time. Harris does this pretty well, but Godfrey just seems to be a liability in run support. Harris and Godfrey compliment each other's weaknesses well in coverage, but their run support is suspect as a duo.

You right, he stays healthy 100x more

Harris >>>>>>>>> Sanders

[koolkatluke]

The problem is they misread the play. If they had read the run, they would have been closer to the line and they wouldn't have had to try to bring down a RB at full speed 15 yards past the LOS. But even so, their job is to bring them down whether that be at a crawl, walk, stroll or at full speed.

They were closer too the line. Harris came from behind to catch bradshaw in the end zone. The giants Online just got great kick out blocks both guards got great blocks. One pushing Hayden out the way then made a block on someone else to seal. Not too mention didn't they have 3 wr in the play running routes. Gamble was in his coverage responsibilities and godfrey was coming across field. The Lb and the safety in the box was suppose too make that play but again the line pulled 2 guards who both got too the 2nd level. Leaving Godfrey too run across field and get run over and gamble too turn around and get run over.

[CRA]

They were closer too the line. Harris came from behind to catch bradshaw in the end zone. The giants Online just got great kick out blocks both guards got great blocks. One pushing Hayden out the way then made a block on someone else to seal. Not too mention didn't they have 3 wr in a running routes. Gamble was in his coverage responsibilities and godfrey was coming across field. The Lb and the safety in the box was suppose too make that play but again the line pulled 2 guards who both got too the 2nd level. Leaving Godfrey too run across field and get run over and gamble too turn around and get run over.

Gamble was playing so far off the WR that he wasn't really covering a route and should have recognzied it was a run. Why would Gamble have to turn around? The entire offense was right in front of him....

[Zod]

70% of their money was tied up in the offense. They only needed to have a defense that allowed around 27 points to win a bunch.

[jpo287]

They also had Peyton Manning.....cough, cough.

I didn't know manning played defense:mad2: