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In the Trenches 2/5

This week we have Dan Vachalek, Dustin Price, Mariner Eccles and David Snipes

1. What WR will have the biggest impact

Marques Colston, Saints
Pierre Garcon, Colts
Devery Henderson, Saints
Reggie Wayne, Colts

Dan Vachalek: I think that Colston will have the biggest impact. The Saints have Sharper back there in coverage, so the deep ball is taken away... plus, he can cover very well (as he has shown with the Packers, Vikings and now Saints). The Colts don't have Bob Sanders, they have rookie CBs starting, and the Saints have a great passing attack (the best in the NFL). Look for Colston to have a big game.

Dustin Price: I think Reggie Wayne makes the biggest impact.  Pierre Garcon has gotten a lot of attention lately, and deservedly so, but he is not on the same level as Wayne.  With all the attention Garcon is getting, the coverage will be split evenly on he and Wayne.  And with them getting equal attention, Manning will go with what he knows best and that is Reggie Wayne.

Mariner Eccles: None of the above. Robert Meachem will be the WR with the biggest impact. He is one guy that goes under the radar and never seems to get covered. He is strong, and has great speed and quickness.

David Snipes: Like I have been saying since the Bucs game- it comes down to Brees throwing down the field. If he waits until the 2nd Q to throw a rainbow- the Saints are done. That being said- Peyton's biggest target is Dallas Clark- not Reggie Wayne- I'm going with Colston, no one on the Colts can cover him in the red zone. 

2. How will Mike Martz do in Chi-Town?

Dan: I don't think that he will do that bad, since he doesn't exactly have the biggest role. The offense has been lacking, and he isn't a bad coach. They need something for the offense, and a new Offensive Coordinator should do the trick, especially someone who was the offensive coordinator for the 1999 St. Louis Rams that went on and won the Super Bowl. The rushing game for Chicago didn't do very well this year and Cutler was very sketchy this year. He was inconsistent and he would have a good game, and then pull a 4 INT or something terrible. They need something, and a great offensive coordinator like Martz should do the trick in Chicago.

Dustin: I not too sure about this set-up.  Mike Martz was an offensive genius back when we was the man in St. Louis, I mean he coached the greatest show on turf.  But it just seems like the game has almost passed him by...don't get me wrong, he's a huge step up from Ron Turner (I know, not saying much).  Overall, they will be better, but not among the best.

Mariner: Mike Martz will take that team from being defensive minded to offensive minded. He will be great for a highly overrated Cutler. He is probably the only guy that can get Cutler to stop throwing 30 INTs a season.

David: I like the hire, but I don't think this works out unless they get a line- If you duct-taped Alex Gibbs to Mike Martz, then you have almost an unbeatable combo- but Martz might shorten Cutlers career and lengthen his playoff runs. 

3. Give me 2 players to watch Sunday that has never been mentioned on ESPN that will impact the game.

Dan: I haven't been watching ESPN, so I don't know who exactly has been named, but I'm going to go with Austin Collie and Mike Bell. I think that those 2 players will be big contributors to the game that are going unnoticed right now (I'm guessing). Collie had a good game against the Jets, so he should have another one against the Saints and really show whats up with him. Another player is Mike Bell, who has been a good RB for the Saints this year, picking up yardage when they need it.

Dustin: Jermon Bushrod, left tackle for the Saints will be a key guy in the Saints offense.  If he can control Dwight Freeney (who I believe will be healthy and playing) then Brees will have time in the pocket.  If he can't control Freeney, they Saints offense will have a big problem getting started.

I don't know how much attention he is getting, but Antione Bethea (spelling??) is going to be a big part of the defense for the Colts.  He'll have to assure the Saints receivers can't get behind for a big play and also need to keep any extra eye on Reggie Bush.  They will be trying to get Bush involved in every way possible and Bethea will be a big piece in keeping Bush from breaking a big one on them.  Bethea could be the difference maker for the game.

Mariner: Jacob Lacey and Jermon Bushrod. Lacey will be covering Meachem most of the time, and as a rookie CB, you can be sure Brees will be trying to pick him apart. Bushrod is going to have one heck of a time trying to contain Robert Mathis (and Dwight Freeney, who is not ex[pected to play, yet seems to want to, and recent reports have said he might now indeed play).

David: Melvin Bullitt - SS when the Saints get on the Redzone- he is going to be keeping Colston in front of him and try to out jump him on fade routes- he's 6-1 by the way. He also plays Special teams so he's gonna see Reggie Bush as well. 
Scott Fujita- other than the whole oh look who overcame all odds to get here- If the Saints win this game- Fujita needs to get defensive MVP votes- He's going to be watching Dallas Clark and he's gonna be on Brown/Addai - I'm setting his over/under of tackles at 12.5 if the Saints win- 4.5 if they lose. 

4. Do Shokey + Thomas > or <  Dallas Clark?

Dan: Shockey + Thomas < Dallas Clark - I think Dallas Clark is better than Shockey and Thomas. Dallas Clark is the best TE in the league and has, arguably, the best QB of all time throwing to him. THat definitely helps his stats and how he makes an impact, but I also think that is why he is better than Shockey and Thomas. He has experience, he can make plays, and he has blocking ability so that if the Colts try to run the ball, they don't completely fail, even though their running game has not been that good as of late.

Dustin: Shockey + Thomas < Dallas Clark -  Shockey and Thomas are no Dallas Clark.  Dallas Clark is a WR trapped in a TE body, he's a mismatch for anybody.

Mariner: Shockey + Thomas < Dallas Clark -  Dallas Clark was acting as a slot receiver at the beginning of the year after the Gonzalez injury and before Manning forged a repore with Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon. The versatility of Dallas Clark, and his instinct to always be open make him the #1 TE in all football, in my opinion. Plus, he has an outstanding atittude and never fakes injuries, unlike Jeremy Shockey. Shockey = classless, while Clark = classy and best TE in the NFL.

David: Shockey + Thomas > Dallas Clark - Sorry, the Saints love the tight end (a little too much) and in the huddle Shockey brings more than Clark does- everyone feeds off Peyton there, JS if he's 100% can control a game. Thomas is the best 2nd tight end in the NFL and is going to make some QB very happy one day (Carolina!)

5. Finally who you got?

Dan: I have the Colts winning this. The Saints barely beat the Vikings, even though the Vikings turned the ball over 5 times, yet still took it to overtime and almost won the game. The Saints couldn't stop the Vikings on defense, giving up over 500 yards of passing. The Saints didn't play very well, and why would they play better (against the pass) with a HoF QB and a great WR corps? I don't see it. Yeah, the Colts are going to be hurting on defense (no Bob Sanders, rookie CBs and Freeney might not play), but the Saints defense has bigger problems.

Dustin: Of course we all know this is going to be a high scoring game and one teams defense will need to make a key stop near the end of the game for a W.   I like the Saints defense better than the Indy D, and I think they can stop Manning one more time than the opposing D.  I'm going with the Saints in a close one.  

Mariner: I hate the Saints, but I have been rooting against them the entire playoffs, and look where that has gotten me. Plus being a fan of the Cowboys and seeing how we put an old school whooping on the Saints IN THEIR OWN BUILDING when they were undefeated, it would make me feel good to see the Saints win. Because that would mean the Cowboys would be better than the champs. I honestly won't be watching though. The Saints make me puke, and Peyton Manning is so systematic and robotic that he bores me, even though he is the best QB ever. Plus the commentary is worse than the doofuses on ESPN and the halftime show is a bunch of old guys again, including a sex offender. How dull and drab. So I wont be watching for the first time in 20 years, but here is my prediction anyway: Saints 44, Colts 41.

David: I got the Saints- Preview coming- TEASE!

Submitted 2/5/10

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