Superbowl XLIV: Stopping Peyton Manning
I don’t have a predictions in the final score (as Mitchell does), but I do have one idea of how the Saints can beat the Colts I think Greg Williams, the Saint’s defensive coordinator, should consider confusing Peyton Manning as a primary objective–to the extent of using defenses/formations that might really work well. Let me give you an anecdote from Dean Smith, the legendary basketball coach from UNC. When Smith was an assistant to Frank McGuire, they once went into a game where McGuire, at the last minute, changed strategies. He told the team they would be going to a 1-2-2 zone. Smith protested because their team didn’t know the 1-2-2 zone; they never practiced it. McGuire said that it wouldn’t matter because it would confuse the other team. (Besides, if it wasn’t working they could switch.)
That’s the same line of thinking I’m applying to Manning. The Colts depend on Manning to the extent we can say the offense is Manning–not just for his physical ability, but his understanding of the game. Indeed, Manning’s game is predicated on his knowledge and understanding. If that’s true, then his game–and consequently the Colt’s–can be disrupted, if not negated, if he is confused, uncertain, thinking about what’s going on. That’s what need to happen–again, if he the defense scheme might not be good. So confusion should take precedence over actual effectiveness of the defensive scheme you’re using. That’s the theory anyway.
There’s obvious risks with this. Manning may not be confused by what you do, and even if he is confused the defense may be so bad, that it doesn’t matter. Btw, I’m not saying that this should be done on every play, but it should be done enough to keep him off balance. The worst thing you can have is a Manning that feels like he knows what’s going on.
(Btw, I’m basically resigning myself to the fact that the Saints won’t be able to blitz and punish Manning enough to be effective. Now, if the Saints can do that–particularly hurting him without blitzing–then I would hold off on the strategy I’m talking about.)
