Cowboys-Colts quick thoughts

[GoBigBlue88]

Eh, I'm OK with Hooker still erasing big plays on the back end. There's presumably a reason teams aren't airing it out against the Colts. Sure, if you can get a high pick and argue a 2nd-3rd round safety could do the same thing in this system, have at it. But for now, I'm OK with riding Hooker deep.

[southside asshole]

Originally Posted by GoBigBlue88

Eh, I'm OK with Hooker still erasing big plays on the back end. There's presumably a reason teams aren't airing it out against the Colts. Sure, if you can get a high pick and argue a 2nd-3rd round safety could do the same thing in this system, have at it. But for now, I'm OK with riding Hooker deep.

Is Hooker that scary in coverage, or is it just the presence of a body back there deep making intermediate passes more appealing targets?

[omahacolt]

Originally Posted by southside asshole

Is Hooker that scary in coverage, or is it just the presence of a body back there deep making intermediate passes more appealing targets?

He isn’t scary back there. He does his job but he isn’t doing anything special.

[Colt Classic]

Originally Posted by omahacolt

He isn’t scary back there. He does his job but he isn’t doing anything special.

Who do you have in mind for a replacement? Use the draft pick for a rookie or is there a free agent? I don't think much money needs to be spent on safeties compared to a play-maker at some other position.

[GoBigBlue88]

Originally Posted by southside asshole

Is Hooker that scary in coverage, or is it just the presence of a body back there deep making intermediate passes more appealing targets?

Fair question. I don't know. I think he covers a lot of ground and teams aren't going deep for a reason. But systemically, yes, there are easier throws conceded, and you could argue Hooker's position doesn't require a ballhawking centerfielder to play it.

[southside asshole]

Originally Posted by GoBigBlue88

Fair question. I don't know. I think he covers a lot of ground and teams aren't going deep for a reason. But systemically, yes, there are easier throws conceded, and you could argue Hooker's position doesn't require a ballhawking centerfielder to play it.

It seems to me, especially after today, that Eberflus knows his personnel aren't the group who will smother and force 3-and-outs the majority of the time against competent offenses. I think he runs a deep zone cover scheme to force offenses into longer drives, increasing the opportunities for them to make mistakes, so the handful of playmakers we do have out there can take advantage.

Of course I could also be inventing a rationale behind what's really just a team that lacks talent in the defensive backfield and is soft in coverage.

[bertjones]

To me it seemed like the Colts offense was just toying with the Dallas D, it
felt like they could do whatever they wanted to whenever they wanted to.
Amazing. I remember that a lot of us were pining for that Cowboys O line.
well now we have it, and then some.
Amazing how this defense has jelled and become a force. Just add a couple
of free agents and draft primarily for D and I don't see why they can't replicate what
Chicago has done.
The officiating was atrocious. This team never seems to get a fair shake and
I'm getting sick and tired of that.

[albany ed]

I'd give Hooker another year. I suspect he's not been 100% all season. Also, the Colts have played a soft zone all year because their corners aren't that good and would get beat often in man to man. If they can get a quality shut down corner next year and Hooker gets healthy, then, if he still doesn't live up to his expectations, it's time to move on.

[Spike]

Originally Posted by bertjones

To me it seemed like the Colts offense was just toying with the Dallas D, it
felt like they could do whatever they wanted to whenever they wanted to.
Amazing. I remember that a lot of us were pining for that Cowboys O line.
well now we have it, and then some.
Amazing how this defense has jelled and become a force. Just add a couple
of free agents and draft primarily for D and I don't see why they can't replicate what
Chicago has done.
The officiating was atrocious. This team never seems to get a fair shake and
I'm getting sick and tired of that.

Something needs to be done about the officiating. It almost makes the games unwatchable. The officials were trying to keep the Cowboys in the game, but the Colts overcame that bullshit.

[Luck4Reich]

Originally Posted by Spike

Something needs to be done about the officiating. It almost makes the games unwatchable. The officials were trying to keep the Cowboys in the game, but the Colts overcame that bullshit.

Gets worse every year