Peppers

RE vs LE, for one. Dungy's D vs Fox's D for another. Dungy tends to be a lot more aggressive on defense than Fox, at least on a consistent basis. Maybe that's the heart and soul of the C2, I don't know.

We've been having this debate since Pep was drafted, and I still think it's a matter of scheme, not effort, and a lack of a reliable SLB since Fields was diagnosed with cancer.

 

I'm actually very surprised you wrote this, being a former Bills fan. I've never heard anything like this written about Smith, unless you're referring to his over-the-hill Redskins days. There, I'd agree with you.

 

goddam, here i'm thinking pep's is turning into a complete player, who by the way, has a lot of responsibilities in our defense that other de's don't have.

 

The Colts rarely blitz, and we do quite often.

 

It's not just about blitzing, though. It's more about a philosophy, IMO. Dungy's defenses flat get after the quarterback. Doesn't matter what down, doesn't matter the situation, really. The blindside DE, at least, seems to have one job: rush the passer. If it's a run, get the ball carrier in the backfield. That's probably oversimplified, but I think it's mostly true. I think the sack totals for his D linemen probably bear that out, but I could be mistaken. It just seems like he puts a higher priority on LOS penetration than Fox does. Yes, Fox/Trgovac send guys to rush the passer. But there's also seems to be a lot of read-and-react and containment asked of the front four from what I've seen since he's been in Carolina.

 

Absolutely, but I wouldn't consider their philosophy to be much more aggressive than ours. I would call it unique. Their starting linebackers might have trouble making other rosters, let alone being productive elsewhere. But you're right, in that the Colts scheme is built around front four penetration.

But we have seen how the LOS can be broken down when Jenkins is healthy. It's having Carstens in his spot that forces us to bring more second level pressure.

 

Good point! I think it's important to remember that Pep has a way of making the big spectacular play when needed...Also, it would help him, and the defense, if Turdovac would move him around some and stop dropping him into pass coverage on 3rd and long.

 

It seems to make the most sense to me to have Peppers rush the passer every down. If he gives up a few runs or he does not help in coverage as much so be it. He is a guy who could get twenty sacks in a season if the circumstance were right.

 

I think its mostly true too. I will note he's never had a championship D, and his Ds have been vulnerable to the run. I'm sure its not that simple, but I think you have to stop the run to win, and I don't think you can count on getting him in the backfield. Many OLs can make an overly aggressive DL run themselves out of the play. All that said, I'm not saying that whatever we're doing is the best.

 

yep. Not that Rucker's as athletic or quick as Freeney (who is), but he's also not taking that outside route that much. Neither our ends play it that way that often at all, and I think we'd benefit from it.

But we wouldn't be a top 5 run D, and we were. Rushing the passer so well in 02 may have just been a wonderful byproduct before teams started overprotecting it.