Confidence Polls - AFC/NFC Championships (1 Viewer)

[Jeff Pasquino]

Yes, I stole the idea from "Mike and Mike in the Morning" on ESPN Radio, but I like the idea and it makes for good discussion.

What Defense / Special Teams Units do you like the most to PERFORM WELL this upcoming weekend in their Conference Championship Game, and then rank the remaining D's/STs from 1-4 (1 being the one you have the most confidence i, 4 the least).

All four threads:

Quarterback Confidence

Running backs Confidence

Coaching Confidence

Defense / Special Teams Confidence

 

[comfortably numb]

NE

CHI

NO

IND

NE got the nod over Chi, because of the matchup.

I think NE D/ST matches up better against IND O

then CHI D/ST matches up against NO

 

[Mungo Burrows]

NE

CHI

NO

IND

 

[ATC1]

I actually picked the Colts first. They have had the best two games on defense than any team in the entire playoffs. The defense was the side of the ball that carried the offense for a change, while Manning has struggled. Also, Brady has not played well against the Chargers, so I say they have the most confidence.

 

[boubucarow]

Why are special teams and defense lumped together?

NE

Chi

Ind

NO

 

[djcolts]

NE by a nose over the other 3. I expect all four teams to get into the 20s, so I don't have a lot of confidence in any of the Ds this week.

 

[aposulli]

Confidence in Defense: Bears, Pats, Saints, Colts

Confidence in Kicker: Colts, Bears, Pats, Saints

Confidence in Return game: Bears, everyone else

Bears in a runaway

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Why are special teams and defense lumped together?NEChiIndNO

Because that's how both NFL and fantasy football analysts usually cover them.How would your rankings change if you separated them, and why?

 

[pizzatyme]

Defense: Bears/Patriots/Colts Saints

Kicking game: Colts/Bears/Patriots/Saints

Kick Return Game: Bears/Saints/Colts/Patriots

Overall per the OP, Bears

 

[wildbill]

Bears

Patriots

Colts

Saints

 

[Chaos Commish]

While the answers are predictable so far, this is a difficult situation.

Pats and Bear have the best Ds, but face the better Os. It's hard for me to have much confidence in any defense (any defense) facing Manning at home. It's possible the Colts are playing inspired on D and have a better showing.

The Saints D has not gotten enough credit all year. Facing Grossman isn't nearly as problematic as facing Brees, the RBs and Colston, but being at home and including Hester. Okay.

No big gaps or tiers.

Colts

Bears

Saints

Pats

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Defense: Bears/Patriots/Colts Saints

Kicking game: Colts/Bears/Patriots/Saints

Kick Return Game: Bears/Saints/Colts/Patriots

Overall per the OP, Bears

Maroney in KR last? I think he warrants 3rd over the Colts.I also question having the Saints K (Carney) after Gostkowski - sure he's done fine in the playoffs, but ask any Pats fan and even they would tell you that there's a severe lack of confidence in him all the way to BB.

 

[boubucarow]

Why are special teams and defense lumped together?NEChiIndNO

Because that's how both NFL and fantasy football analysts usually cover them.How would your rankings change if you separated them, and why?

Defensive PerformanceNEIndChiNOI feel both games will be close but the NFC game will be slightly higher scoring. So, considering that NE slowing down Ind is more impressive than Ind slowing down NE, I see the Patriots on top. Same kind of logic for the NFC game especially since I expect a good Grossman game.Special Team PerformanceChiIndNENOIf the Bears win on Sunday, it will most likely swing on whether they dominant in the special teams. I think they will gain the hidden yards on special teams, make the kicks, and then the possibility of Hester returning one. Nod to Indy over NE because of the kickers. Saints are last despite having more confidence in their kicker because the NE kick return game is more dangerous and the Bears should win this phase of the game.

 

[sinatravolta]

I also question having the Saints K (Carney) after Gostkowski - sure he's done fine in the playoffs, but ask any Pats fan and even they would tell you that there's a severe lack of confidence in him all the way to BB.

Really? The Patriots had a 4th and 2 on the Chargers 32 with the score 0-0, and BB opted to go for the 50-yard FG and Gostkowski made it. Right after Marty failed to go for a FG on 4th and 11 on the Patriots 30.If I didn't have much faith in my kicker - I'd definitely go for it on 4th and 2 from the 32. I might even do it if I had faith in my kicker.

 

[pizzatyme]

Defense: Bears/Patriots/Colts Saints

Kicking game: Colts/Bears/Patriots/Saints

Kick Return Game: Bears/Saints/Colts/Patriots

Overall per the OP, Bears

Maroney in KR last? I think he warrants 3rd over the Colts.I also question having the Saints K (Carney) after Gostkowski - sure he's done fine in the playoffs, but ask any Pats fan and even they would tell you that there's a severe lack of confidence in him all the way to BB.

Jeff, I could go either way on both of those. I looked at Carney having to face the conditions of Chicago versus Gostkowski playing in the dome.As for Maroney, the Colts cover team has been playing very well. Also, Wilkins for the Colts is no slouch himself.

Again, flipflop either of those two and I'd be okay with it.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

I also question having the Saints K (Carney) after Gostkowski - sure he's done fine in the playoffs, but ask any Pats fan and even they would tell you that there's a severe lack of confidence in him all the way to BB.

Really? The Patriots had a 4th and 2 on the Chargers 32 with the score 0-0, and BB opted to go for the 50-yard FG and Gostkowski made it. Right after Marty failed to go for a FG on 4th and 11 on the Patriots 30.If I didn't have much faith in my kicker - I'd definitely go for it on 4th and 2 from the 32. I might even do it if I had faith in my kicker.

You may want to dig up our discussions on him when he was 6 for 9, BB didn't want to let him try from 40+, and his trajectory on his kicks was often cited as low. There was a lot of ?s about Gostkowski as recently as December.

 

[jurb26]

D: NE, Chi, Indy, NO

Kicking: Indy......, Chi, NE, NO

Returns: Chi................., NO, NE, Indy

There is only 1 Hester and Chi has him. Thus I voted Chi.

 

[David Yudkin]

I also question having the Saints K (Carney) after Gostkowski - sure he's done fine in the playoffs, but ask any Pats fan and even they would tell you that there's a severe lack of confidence in him all the way to BB.

Really? The Patriots had a 4th and 2 on the Chargers 32 with the score 0-0, and BB opted to go for the 50-yard FG and Gostkowski made it. Right after Marty failed to go for a FG on 4th and 11 on the Patriots 30.If I didn't have much faith in my kicker - I'd definitely go for it on 4th and 2 from the 32. I might even do it if I had faith in my kicker.

You may want to dig up our discussions on him when he was 6 for 9, BB didn't want to let him try from 40+, and his trajectory on his kicks was often cited as low. There was a lot of ?s about Gostkowski as recently as December.

After missing 3 kicks in his first 4 games, Gostkowski has made 24 of 29 FG attempts (82.8%). The huge majority of his kicks have come from inside 40 yards. He's hit on 3 of 5 from 40-49 yards and is 2 of 3 from 50+.In Vinatieri's last year in NE, he too was usually denied kicks of over 40 yards. He was 4 of 6 from 4049 yards and missed his only two attempts at 50+.The past two years Belichick has shied away from long FG attempts.

 

[My_Favorite_Team_is]

I also question having the Saints K (Carney) after Gostkowski - sure he's done fine in the playoffs, but ask any Pats fan and even they would tell you that there's a severe lack of confidence in him all the way to BB.

Really? The Patriots had a 4th and 2 on the Chargers 32 with the score 0-0, and BB opted to go for the 50-yard FG and Gostkowski made it. Right after Marty failed to go for a FG on 4th and 11 on the Patriots 30.If I didn't have much faith in my kicker - I'd definitely go for it on 4th and 2 from the 32. I might even do it if I had faith in my kicker.

You may want to dig up our discussions on him when he was 6 for 9, BB didn't want to let him try from 40+, and his trajectory on his kicks was often cited as low. There was a lot of ?s about Gostkowski as recently as December.

After missing 3 kicks in his first 4 games, Gostkowski has made 24 of 29 FG attempts (82.8%). The huge majority of his kicks have come from inside 40 yards. He's hit on 3 of 5 from 40-49 yards and is 2 of 3 from 50+.In Vinatieri's last year in NE, he too was usually denied kicks of over 40 yards. He was 4 of 6 from 4049 yards and missed his only two attempts at 50+.

The past two years Belichick has shied away from long FG attempts.