Gort
12-05-2005, 11:00 PM
we all know that the halfwits in the sports media have all but annointed Indy as the next superbowl champion and are even touting them as capable of going undefeated in the process. as Broncos fans, i think we all take some issue with that, but let's set aside those arguments for a moment...
if you're Jacksonville and you have a history of playing Indy tough, then you have a dilemma with your upcoming game against Indy (aside - i can't bring myself to call them the Colts, the Colts name, logo, and colors should have stayed in Baltimore!).
if you're game planning a way to beat Indy, do you tip your hand by implementing the gameplan next week? or do you choose a vanilla gameplan for the regular season game and hold your "real" gameplan for a more meaningful time, such as a playoff matchup?
right now, it looks like Jacksonville will take one of the wildcard spots, but they could still struggle in their remaining games without Lefwich. beating Indy at home would get them to 10 wins, so there is a benefit to pulling out all the stops in the regular season game. also, stopping Potatohead Manning from going undefeated would be a great bonus... this is a division rivalry game afterall. however, beating them in the regular season, making the playoffs, and then losing to them at Indy would not be a moral victory (see Denver vs. Indy 2004, 2003).
of course, there's no guarantee that Jacksonville will even meet Indy in the playoffs, so if you don't use your best gameplan during the regular season game and don't meet them in the playoffs, then what was the point?
so, do you play it safe if you're the Jacksonville coaching staff and save your best gameplan for a potential playoff matchup? or do you tip your hand and give the Indy team the chance to counteract your schemes if they meet you a few weeks later?
personally, i think the Broncos are playing for the #2 seed at this point. if Jacksonville meets Indy in the playoffs, it means that Jacksonville upset Denver (IIRC, doesn't the league set the playoffs up in such a way that a dvision champ and wildcard from the same division couldn't meet until the championship game?), so it doesn't help us if Jacksonville holds it's cards for the playoff matchup. i'd like to see Indy lose in the regular season. however, i'd also like to see Indy denied a trip to the SB.
if i were the Jaguars head coach, i'd probably save my best stuff for a possible playoff matchup.
if you're Jacksonville and you have a history of playing Indy tough, then you have a dilemma with your upcoming game against Indy (aside - i can't bring myself to call them the Colts, the Colts name, logo, and colors should have stayed in Baltimore!).
if you're game planning a way to beat Indy, do you tip your hand by implementing the gameplan next week? or do you choose a vanilla gameplan for the regular season game and hold your "real" gameplan for a more meaningful time, such as a playoff matchup?
right now, it looks like Jacksonville will take one of the wildcard spots, but they could still struggle in their remaining games without Lefwich. beating Indy at home would get them to 10 wins, so there is a benefit to pulling out all the stops in the regular season game. also, stopping Potatohead Manning from going undefeated would be a great bonus... this is a division rivalry game afterall. however, beating them in the regular season, making the playoffs, and then losing to them at Indy would not be a moral victory (see Denver vs. Indy 2004, 2003).
of course, there's no guarantee that Jacksonville will even meet Indy in the playoffs, so if you don't use your best gameplan during the regular season game and don't meet them in the playoffs, then what was the point?
so, do you play it safe if you're the Jacksonville coaching staff and save your best gameplan for a potential playoff matchup? or do you tip your hand and give the Indy team the chance to counteract your schemes if they meet you a few weeks later?
personally, i think the Broncos are playing for the #2 seed at this point. if Jacksonville meets Indy in the playoffs, it means that Jacksonville upset Denver (IIRC, doesn't the league set the playoffs up in such a way that a dvision champ and wildcard from the same division couldn't meet until the championship game?), so it doesn't help us if Jacksonville holds it's cards for the playoff matchup. i'd like to see Indy lose in the regular season. however, i'd also like to see Indy denied a trip to the SB.
if i were the Jaguars head coach, i'd probably save my best stuff for a possible playoff matchup.