The Power of Bob (1 Viewer)

[rascal]

I hate the Colts, and I hate Peyton freaking Manning.

But IMO this postseason illustrated just how much impact one one player can have on a football team. Those players have usually been RB, QB's, and occasionally WR's but hardly ever a defensive player, let alone a safety. With Saunders in the lineup the Colts D was a completely different unit, and perhaps one of the top ten in the league. IMO he is an excellent candidate for MVP of the playoffs.

Safety is one of the most underrated positions in football, as shown by the lack of money spent there by teams. It is common to hear teams draft an athletic defensive back and state, "if he doesn't work out at CB, we'll move him to safety". They treat the position as an afterthought (my poor Broncos included).

With the impact that Saunders had on this postseason, will that change the NFL's thought on the importance of the safety position?

 

[djcolts]

It wasn't all Sanders. It was a few other things:

1. The DEs stopped playing the pass every single down, and started to help on run support.

2. Rob Morris replaced Gilbert Gardner in the starting lineup. There wasn't a worse starting LB in the entire league than Gardner. Not even close. Morris being a decent LB against the run, a veteran, and having some girth compared to the other LBs helped a lot.

3. It took time for Booger to get used to playing with his teammates.

4. Once Sanders did get healthy, they could finally use something close to a full DL rotation because they had enough spots on the active roster to do so.

 

[The Shizzle]

Safeties are very important.

Two words.

Rodney Freakin Harrison.

Sanders definately changed the dynamic of the Colt's Defense.

 

[Steeler]

I'm sure there were other factors in the turnaround of the Colts defense in the playoffs; but Bob Sanders is a great player.

 

[Loomba]

Sanders has the same impact as Polamolu does for the Steelers. He is the biggest reason they won the Superbowl -- without him, they would never have made it to the big game. I would have given him the Superbowl MVP if it was supposed to recognize the entire playoffs and not just the last game.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Sanders has the same impact as Polamolu does for the Steelers.

I think that the safety position is becoming much more important in the defenses that teams run today, especially in the Cover 2 (obviously). For many teams, the safety is turning into their QB on defense. MLBers have traditionally been that guy but with all the responsibilities that safeties have today and the ability to read defenses that they have to have, the safety position has become one of the MOST important on the field IMO. A great safety is gold. That's why, ultimately, I wasn't TOO upset about the Bills taking Donte Whitner (and definitely am not upset now).

 

[switz]

It wasn't all Sanders. It was a few other things:4. Once Sanders did get healthy, they could finally use something close to a full DL rotation because they had enough spots on the active roster to do so.

Eliminated the less important stuff... bottom line, even when Sanders wasn't in, towards the end of the season, this D really stepped up.

 

[Franknbeans]

their run D was nothing until Sanders came back. He ignites their run D.

 

[DeCleater]

Now the rest of you see what we have known for years. Bob Sanders is a flat-out STUD.

Bob has been my favorite player for years, want to see why, here you go.

http://www.scothawk.com/flvswfpublish/2003...hitlist2003.swf

Enjoy the destruction.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

And Brown being gone for the season for Chicago...192 yds rushing by Indy. In my weekly RB threads during the season I highlighted the Bears' injuries and Brown going out, I felt it would impact the Bears' run defense. Now the Bears did a good job of stopping the run during the season...but then you add Tommie Harris on IR, Urlacher can't do it all alone.

So yes I agree Bob Sanders had a major impact for the Colts and that is why he was on that podium last night. The Colts knew who helped in winning that trophy.

 

[Ryan_21]

I agree Bob Sanders is a great player, but I would have to disagree. I beleive the Colts defensive turn a round had more to do with the trade acquisition of DT Booger McFarland. The Colts basically traded a 2nd round rookie pick for a Superbowl Championship.