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I consider Greenville to be in the equivalent to the post-Herm Edwards era, but I think we match up pretty well against Bradenton, as long as some of my key players progress.
Your power running game is going to crash on the rock of my nose tackle, Pat Sims. While not yet a household name among nose tackles, Sims (not that Sims!) is a real space eater that had the best initial campaign among the rookie DTs last year. He has a break out year this season and permanently clogs the middle of my defense. If he fails to develop in to the black hole I envision, you'll have your way running, but I'm counting on Pat. Justin Smith is also a very active run defender, racking up 70+ tackles per year from his RDE position.
After Pat and company have engulfed your blockers, my active group of linebackers will smash your smashmouth. Jonathan Vilma, Takeo Spikes, and DJ Williams are all good for 90+ tackles per year. They'll be making contact at the LOS and arriving in numbers.
This isn't going to leave many tackles for my head hunting strong safety Chris Harris, who has forced 10 fumbles over the last two seasons. That's okay, he'll take out his frustration and aggression on your smurfy little receivers. Better bring lots of stretchers.
While Harris is smashing the short routes, Michael Griffin is roaming the deep secondary. Teams tested him during his rookie year and paid for it to the tune of 7 interceptions. My starting corners aren't great, but there is very little fall off from 1 to 4 (Will Allen, Andre Goodman, Jonathan Joseph and Tyvon Branch). I can match up very well in your 3 and 4 receiver packages. LOOK OUT HERE COMES CHRIS HARRIS AGAIN. Ha ha, your surfs all have alligator arms.
If you get a chance to pass. I'm sending DE John Abraham and LB Greg Ellis (oh yes, I have not even mentioned these two yet!) from opposite sides of the field. Think Neil Smith and DT. Tremble. I also have depth on the DL to give enough rest to the stars so they'll have a 4th quarter burst. HERE COMES CHRIS HARRIS ON THE SAFETY BLITZ. <--Whoops, did you notice that I just sacked your QB? Oh yes, I know how how to disguise my blitzes.
Now I have the ball. Chad Pennington starts the game and he comes out passing. Every play. I've got a couple of book end tackles in (future all world) Jason Smith and Jonathan Stinchcomb. Solid guard play from Justin Smiley and Chester Pitts. Hartwig can hold his own as center, but I actually think my best center is Leroy Harris, but I might have to wait a year to prove that. And I can use FB Le'Ron McClain in max protect schemes. Yeah your pass rush gets to Chad once in a while. Maybe more than once in a while. Maybe you knock him out of the game. Good. I don't really like him as my QB anyway. I've got stout David Garrard waiting in the wings. My QBs aren't great but I've got two of them. And by doing this, I wear down your pass rush to the point where your big guys have their hands on their hips and tongues hanging out by the 3rd quarter. I further wear your guys down (and keep drives alive) by mixing in a few reverses (Maclin and Hixon) and screens (DeAngelo Williams). Your big guys legs are jello. Pass rush neutralized. Oh yes.
Sure you have two shut down corners, to take care of Welker (well maybe) and Hixon (another breakout player this season, wait and see). But who matches up with Dallas Clark, who plays like a 3rd wide out? Then I throw Jeremy Maclin into the mix and uh oh, who is going to cover him?
Now you have tired pass rushers and a bunch of defensive backs in the game to guard my four 1000 yard receivers. Here comes DeAngelo Williams, running out of the single back set. Oh yes.
Marauders 1-0.
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