Brackett benched? (2 Viewers)

[Sofa King Money]

Had him plugged in for an important playoff game but now considering K Mitchell (who could lose snaps in his own right this week)...

Is Morris/Boiman really an option vs. Bengals' passing game? TIA

Cmon fellas its all ball bearings these days...

December 15, 2006, 11:59

Colts :: LB

LB Brackett Could Be Benched

Phil Richards, Indianapolis Star - http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti.../612150477/1100

Colts LB's Rocky Boiman or Rob Morris or both could play this week in place of Gary Brackett; coach Tony Dungy said he's looking at his options.

 

[Biabreakable]

Benched? Why?I need to read the article I guess. Just got back here.ETA- I read 2 of the linked articles from the blogger but did not see any mention of Brackett being benched. One article (not the directly linked one) did say that Rob Morris may start at SLB over Gardener.

Changes might be looming for the Indianapolis Colts' reeling defense. At strong-side linebacker, that might mean more of Rob Morris. During Thursday's practice, Morris took a good portion of the repetitions with the No. 1 unit in place of 12-game starter Gilbert Gardner.Coach Tony Dungy was noncommittal after practice regarding who will start Monday night against Cincinnati."We're looking at a lot of different things," Dungy said. "We'll see.''Rocky Boiman took his name out of the mix, saying, "I'm not starting this week."Boiman replaced Gardner late in the second quarter last Sunday at Jacksonville and played the rest of the game. When Gardner missed the Philadelphia game with a rib injury, Boiman started.Told he didn't seem happy with the decision, Boiman replied, "I'm not. I don't know exactly what the plan is, but I know I'm not starting."

Bracket plays MLB for the Colts. Morris has played for him before this year when he was out with injury. Morris does not play MLB as well as Brackett. I still don't see anything backing up the blogger headline.

 

[WhoDat]

(BLANK!)

 

[Jene Bramel]

No mention of Cato June here, huh?

He's every bit as guilty of taking craptastic angles and arm tackling lightweights like MJDrew as Brackett. Rudi Johnson may well run for 850 yards if they put Rocky Boiman on the strong side and Rob Morris in the middle.

So many of these pieces miss the point. The Colt defense is close to beyond fixing -- they've ignored it for years. Next to no influx of talent except Bob Sanders from 2003-2005, they've allowed stablizing LBs to leave for lesser talent, and they have no depth.

There is no SLB or NT on this team. The linebackers are replacement level players who fit this system and nothing else. Okay, Gary Brackett may be a bit better than that but he's nothing special. Bob Sanders helps because he functions as a SLB half the time. Filling the hole at the point of attack before anyone else does and he's a sure tackler. But he's not the only missing piece to this run defense.

I can't imagine Dungy wants to relatively weaken another spot. Morris may have been alright against the Jets or the Cowboys (and that's relative -- both teams still had over 110 yards rushing), but the pulling interior lineman and fullback the Bengals have will ruin him. Badly.

 

[jgb95]

nm

 

[Jene Bramel]

Where does it mention MLB or Brackett????

All it mentions is SLB with regards to Morris and Garnder.

Move along nothing to see here.

In the left sidebarEither Boiman or Rob Morris or both could play this week; coach Tony Dungy said he's looking at his options. Morris made 23 total tackles against Buffalo and Dallas when starting middle linebacker Gary Brackett was injured. The Bills ran for 111 yards, the Cowboys for 117, two of the Colts' best days.

I'd like to see a direct quote too but the implication is there. Morris won't be playing SLB, though. If he plays, it'll be for Brackett.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I just felt like adding that the defensive ends are a big part of the problem here as well. They are pass rushers who don't defend the run well at all. They always fly up the field and leave huge gaps for teams to run through.

 

[Biabreakable]

I just felt like adding that the defensive ends are a big part of the problem here as well. They are pass rushers who don't defend the run well at all. They always fly up the field and leave huge gaps for teams to run through.

This is very true. They are undersized and not as physical as an average DE. Although they are great pass rushers.The sidebar of the article the blogger links to does go into this and other ideas/possibilities

HOW TO QUICK-FIX THE COLTS' RUN DEFENSE?The problem is obvious, the solution a lot less so. Nonetheless, the worse the Indianapolis Colts' run defense has become, the faster the quick-fix opinions flood in.Here are some of the more popular theories among fans and pundits, with an analysis of their merits by Star reporter Phil Richards.If the linebackers can't tackle, try someone else.The Colts did that when Rocky Boiman took over on the strong side during the second quarter at Jacksonville. Boiman finished with seven tackles, starter Gilbert Gardner with two.Either Boiman or Rob Morris or both could play this week; coach Tony Dungy said he's looking at his options. Morris made 23 total tackles against Buffalo and Dallas when starting middle linebacker Gary Brackett was injured. The Bills ran for 111 yards, the Cowboys for 117, two of the Colts' best days.Bring the defensive ends into the run game rather than having them rush the passer headlong every snap.That adjustment was made against Jacksonville. Ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis didn't get as deep or as wide as they had most of the season, when they regularly took themselves out of plays and opened gaping voids. Freeney made a season-high six tackles, Mathis had four with a sack. The Jaguars still found plenty of room, and an absence of linebackers.Switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 alignment. Most of the best defenses play it.The Colts don't have the personnel for the three-linemen/four-linebackers set. No 320-pound nose tackle. No 300-pound tackle/end types who are as effective inside as outside. And they don't have four linebackers with the size and versatility needed.Blitz more, particularly with the linebackers.Blitzes can stop the run, if you guess right, but they're more likely to open voids for ball carriers, and the Colts' cover-2 scheme is designed to get pass-rush pressure with the front four. That frees the linebackers and defensive backs to play zone coverages, to face the quarterback and presumably make more plays, against the run and the pass.Move Raheem Brock from tackle back to end and return Robert Mathis to his role as situational pass rusher and special teams standout.End is the 274-pound Brock's natural position, but the Colts have no tackle to replace him who can play at his level. Mathis would be a boon to the Colts' woeful coverage teams, but he has been the team's most effective defensive lineman. They need as many snaps from him as they can get.

None of these things are really the answer imo. The Colts defense is in a situation that I do not think is fixable because they do not have the required personel.When the Colts traded for Booger that was an attempt to fix this. It obviously hasn't I am not sure if Booger is healthy and playing like crap or what but he isn't helping. The Colts are also missing Simon.I think its becoming painfully obvious that the cover 2 defense doesen't perform well without strong DT play. Every good cover 2 defense has a great undertackle and a NT that can at least hold his own at the point of attack and tie up the Center and RG so the rest of the defense can attack.Cato June is a liability imo although he is a great IDP performer. This guy is still a converted safety playing WLB. The Colts defense is set up to play with a lead. As long as they can get ahead in the score thier defense is built to defend well against the passing game but now teams have figured out thier glaring weakness against the run. Its a weakness that can only be covered up by opponents abandoning the run against them. After how much success teams have had with running the ball against them I don't see any team giving up on the run regardless of the score now.I don't think Brackett is a big part of the problem. Like Jene said he isn't special but he is actualy probobly thier most balanced linebacker. Thats why I was shocked to think he would be benched. His tackles are down the past 2 games though. Perhaps he is having to deal with blockers a lot more than he should and losing those battles?Morris is a stronger player than Brackett I think despite his other limitations so maybe that would be a thing for Dungy to try is getting Morris on the field more. Doing that I don't think Brackett would be benched though. Brackett either stays in as the MLB or he could move to SLB. The articles are suggesting he stays and Morris plays SLB instead.Morris is a liability in coverage so teams can pick on him that way with Rbs or thier Te. But that is a lesser concern for the Colts I think at this point. If they can get teams to shift to the passing game it plays into the strength of thier defense and will ultimately help them. Morris can be subbed out on more obvious passing downs as well.

 

[jgb95]

I have in my lineup right now but I think I'll put Gerald Hayes in instead of Brackett!!!!

 

[Biabreakable]

I have in my lineup right now but I think I'll put Gerald Hayes in instead of Brackett!!!!

Hayes is a better player than Brackett is. I wonder if Brackett is still struggling with the injury that kept him out of the lineup for a couple weeks? His play has declined over the past 2 games.The thing about the Colts though is you KNOW teams are going to run the ball a ton against them. So Colts IDPs are very attractive plays.. hmmm.

 

[Biabreakable]

Rotoworld speculating Brackett will be benched also. But I don't see any evidence of that being the case as we have been talking about in this thread.

(Rotoworld) The Colts may be considering benching Gary Brackett this week against the Bengals.Impact: Rob Morris played fairly well when Brackett was out early in the season. After a great first season as a starting MLB, Brackett has been inconsistent at best this year.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Brackett's job looks to be safe, which shouldn't be too surprising, and Morris probably gets the start Monday for Gardner. Colts don't have much problem giving a guy a start with less than a week of practice at the position.

Indy Star

The next time might be Monday night against Cincinnati, when Morris could make his first career start at strong-side linebacker. Inadequate play by first-year starter Gilbert Gardner might result in a relocation and a reinsertion into the starting lineup for the team's 2000 first-round draft pick.

The Colts haven't announced whether Morris will start, but he's preparing as if he will.

 

[FantasyGuru#1]

Ok I have brackett but I have Kameron Wimbley on my bench to i start him.. and bench brackett since here is speculation that he will be benched...

 

[Jene Bramel]

Ok I have brackett but I have Kameron Wimbley on my bench to i start him.. and bench brackett since here is speculation that he will be benched...

See my above post. Brackett will not be benched for Morris. There was confusion over a vague sentence by a beat writer and an expectation that if Morris played it would be at his usual MLB position. Morris took snaps at SLB this week and will play there should he start.

 

[jgb95]

motivational tool i guess!!

7-2 and a FF

 

[Warpig]

Whatever happened to Keiaho?

Also...June looked pathetic for the most part in that game last night. How many tackles did he miss? Rudi made him look like a fool.

I can't believe the poor tackling across the board in the league. I could go out there and lay the wood better than those guys!