2016 AFC Championship Game: #2 New England Patriots at #1 Denver Broncos

[wwharton]

Quote: Originally Posted by ggsimmonds

I kinda get his comment to an extent only with regards to Peyton because of what was in the past his greatest gift -- deciphering the defense and audibling to a play to beat that defense. Usually I hate the tag "game manager" for the reasons you cited, every QB is expected to be a game manager. But I do wonder if in this point in his career, Peyton may be better off sticking to the script so to speak. I don't know, 20 minutes from now I may change my mind and say its the only reason he is still a good Qb. In the past Peyton was able to pick apart the defense. He knew exactly how to attack a defense and was able to do it. Now he may be better off just taking what the defense gives him instead of taking what he wants. Hopefully that makes sense.

I'd say he's always taken what the defense has given him in relation to his talent. Unless the assumption is that he no longer has a good grip on what he can and can't do, I don't see the difference. And personally, his abilities have been declining for years and we've seen him adjust along the way. The only question I have is if he can adjust enough considering how weak his arm strength has become... but it's definitely not a matter of if he'll try to make throws he should know he can't. Honestly, that's something I'd worry more about with Brock... and BB definitely putting him in situations where he's forced to make decisions beyond the coach's script.

Quote: Originally Posted by slickdtc

This is what I meant. He may see the safeties or corners playing up, and think I'll go over the top or PA and exploit their aggressiveness to the run. But he's not physically able to do it as well as he used to. His mind is ahead of his body, and airing it out may result in a major underthrow that gets picked. He may not be a game manager, but he's gotta be very efficient with the short/intermediate passing game.

I'd say now he'd see them playing up and KNOW he doesn't have the arm to go over the top like back in the Indy days, so he'll audible to another play that may work against that aggressive front.

There's more than one way to skin a cat and I'd think Peyton would be the best QB still playing knowing exactly how many options there are in each situation, and which are best for him and the personnel out there. I think you guys are dead on with where Manning is physically but drastically underselling the importance of where he is mentally, as a leader/coach, and how he prepares. I think it's a toss up if that aspect is enough to overcome the physical shortcomings, but personally I'd much rather roll the dice on that than throw Brock out there in a game to get to the SB against a BB defense.

[The JareBear]

A Denver sports media member (and former Bronco player) is on record as saying "Gronk is not a big play receiver."

This week reminds me so much of Baltimore 3 years ago. Everybody thinks we are bullet proof

Hope I'm wrong, but I think we are in for a rude awakening

[The JareBear]

Also, I like some of the Peyton talk going on, it's how I've felt for awhile.

Nobody can say Peyton isn't smart, he's still IMO the smartest QB of all time, but it's likes giving the best race car driver a crappy beat up car that isn't as fast as the other cars on the track. Eventually the raw physical limitations do you in. Manning cannot improvise. He gets by knowing where everyone in the field is and where they are going to be. He can't afford to be wrong, have to improvise, and then flick a "laser rocket" ala Rodgers. He has to know where he is going with the ball before the snap

Can manning beat a team deep? Yea, but only if he's looking that way the entire time, and only to a certain extent. Just watch any game we've lost since he's been here, literally, they almost all look the same, watch how the defense plays him.

The pats are not going to let him dink and dunk.

[areobee401]

Media members who are former players tend to play up to the local fanbase. Former Patriots players who now work in NE media say the same sorta stuff regularly.

[The JareBear]

Quote: Originally Posted by areobee401

Media members who are former players tend to play up to the local fanbase. Former Patriots players who now work in NE media say the same sorta stuff regularly.

Yeah, I feel you. I still think it's garbage though.

I would have thought after the last three post-seasons we as a fanbase would have learned to respect our opponents. You gotta hear the stuff I hear on a regular basis, it's unreal. I believe in sports karma

A guy I coach with told me yesterday that he'd take Manning right now over "any QB in the league not named Cam."

[redsox4evur]

Quote: Originally Posted by The JareBear

A Denver sports media member (and former Bronco player) is on record as saying "Gronk is not a big play receiver." This week reminds me so much of Baltimore 3 years ago. Everybody thinks we are bullet proof Hope I'm wrong, but I think we are in for a rude awakening

If it makes you feel better we are hearing the same thing here in NE. Except it's Peyton is as useless as a bag of trash and he can't do anything to us.

[The JareBear]

The talk I've been hearing from the "Broncos insiders" is that Harris' shoulder is pretty banged up and they are gonna habe Talib on Edelman more often than not.

[redsox4evur]

Quote: Originally Posted by The JareBear

The talk I've been hearing from the "Broncos insiders" is that Harris' shoulder is pretty banged up and they are gonna habe Talib on Edelman more often than not.

Thinking as a Broncos fan I don't know how to feel about that. Because they would be better off having Talib on Gronk. Like when the Pats played the Saints a couple years ago and he shut down Graham.