TheKilo

When I have the ball: Y228 thinks the best way to beat my defense is to establish the run and pass off of that. My view is exactly the opposite. When I go four wide, five wide (with McCluster or Hernandez) and spread out this defense horizontally, I don't see any way his defense will be able to slow me down. With regards to Ratliff, he's a physical freak but he can be controlled by Koppen, who in my opinion is the 2nd best center in the game behind Mangold. If I can single Ratliff and contain him, then I can limit his pass rush with Harrison and Ware with my other linemen and backs if need be. The fact is if he can't get pressure with four, Brady will carve his secondary up. Colston and Cotchery will have no problems finding the soft zones in his defense and Roddy White is a mismatch against any corner not named Darelle Revis. If I jump out to an early lead, it's going to be tough for Y228 to come back.

Here goes nothing: When Y228 has the ball: As expected, Y228 will try to establish the run against my front seven. I'm fine with that for a few reasons - I think Ngata is the best player on my defense and I have three linebackers who do nothing but tackle people. I don't view Bush as a between the tackles runner, he's more of a pass catching RB who could presen some matchup problems for my team. I'll probably have Collins shadow him when he comes out of the backfield. As for Bradshaw, he's a great runner but he is undersized and very turnover prone. With Ngata clogging the middle (he commands at least a double team), it will allow Vilma and Dansby to shut down any run between the tackles. I'm confident in Wake/Long's ability to set the edge and allow my defense to close on the running backs. Make no mistake, Y228 could have some success here with the run, but does he have the patience to grind out 15 play drives? When he throws the ball, I am pretty confident my gameplan will allow mento succeed against his wideouts. Holmes is great, but Nicks is still largely unproven in this league IMO. my strategy will be to line up Webster (a very underrated corner) against Holmes and make sure I have safety help for Nicks. I am not getting burned over the top by this offense, because big plays are the only way Y228 is going to be able to match my offense. Besides, do any of you think a guy who was on MTV's True Life is going to be able to slow down Lamarr Woodley? (tongue firmly in cheek)

Theres some weaknesses I see in Y228's lineup as well, but to name a few: I question whether his RBs can shoulder the load for a full season, whether it be from injury or ineffectiveness (Bush) to being turnover prone (Bradshaw). I also think his defensive line can be attacked because of Ratliff's tendency to disappear in big games. And then there's the QB...I'll get into it in more detail but it's one area where I'll have the clear advantage.

Y228, I'm surprised you think so little of Webster. He won't intercept passes, but I think he's a more than adequate cover corner. I also think that Wake is a criminally underrated player but I also have Chris Canty on my bench to spell either him or Long. Both are also young and can adapt to playing Caper's style of defense, often times where he has less than three down linemen.

Don't you have a whole message board devoted to Pats love, though? I mean, what's the point of bumping this thread every week? It's clear who was right in this situation, so why do we need the constant mutual admiration society?

Should we just rename this thread "Pat ourselves on the back when the Pats win"?

Semifinals are set. Found it interesting that 3 of the 4 winners in the last round won by 4-2 scores (and as an aside, I think the two best teams are squaring off in my semifinal)

Vote for the winner of this matchup starting at 8 am Tuesday

Vote for the winner of this matchup starting Tuesday at 8:00 AM

Final: 4-2 Ital

Final: 4-2 Y228

Final: 4-2 WB

Final: 4-0 TK

Sunday @ 8

This was my 1-2 in my power rankings, both teams are phenomenal and in all honesty are very alike in a lot of ways. I like Y228's quarterbacks but like YH's running backs better. I like Y228's wideouts but I like YH's o-line better. I love Y228's front seven but I like YH's secondary better. I've got to say as well, both teams laid out their gamelplan in very detailed and articulate fashion. I think that if we look at talent and talent alone, I'd say Y228's team would be favored by 2-3 points on a neutral field. What that doesn't account for is two things - coaching, as YH mentioned, and the way a QB handles a big game. Belichick is the best in the game, and gives YH a clear advantage when it comes to game planning and scheming. Also, Manning has a Super Bowl MVP and I can count the big games Rodgers has won on one hand. In the end though, how much is that really worth? Y228 has a built in advantage of knowing what Eli's weaknesses are and I feel in this matchup has the personnel to exploit them. There's more certainty with Y228's team. If were talking pure upside, I probably lean YH but there is always a chance that some of his youg guys flame out. I had Y228 #1 for a reason. It's a shame this isn't the finals because I really think these are the top two teams in this thing (excluding mine). Y228 28, YH213 27

What's everyone's fascination with Martin? He has a shredded hip and his peripheral stats have been declining for years.

This game will be a complete shootout. Both offenses are extremely explosive with Super Bowl winning quarterbacks headlining their rosters. Upon review of their selective teams; I think I like WB's defense more than JBays, but the opposite is true for the offenses. In a game this close, it really could come down to scheme and special teams. Tomlin is a great motivator but I think Smith is the most underrated coach in the game. Like the ital/CD matchup, I think it's basically a toss-up as to who would win this game, but I like WB in a close decision. I think Roethlisberger will be able to buy some time with his feet against Jbay's defense and he will look to make plays down the field against what I find to be a defensive backfield who's aggressiveness might come back to haunt them. WB 30, JBay 28

Upon review, I think I'll take Coco's team by the slimmest of margins.

Very, very close matchup. I think Manning and Bradford beat out Flacco and Fitzpatrick but I'm struggling to find any other matchup where I'd call Ital a clear winner. I like Ital's o-line but am still puzzled about the Faneca selection, has he even played this year? WR is pretty much a wash (although with Fitzgerald and Harvin I think Coco has the more explosive options) and I really think Coco's defensive backfield has a slight edge (Vontae Davis is a very, very good cover corner). In my opinion, this would be a pick-'em game (pretty impressive since CD was the #9 and ital was the #1).

Scutaro will start, Lowrie will be the super sub. Also, Cameron is the RHH OF we need now that Crawford is on board some don't need Willingham. A guy like Josh Fields, who rakes against LHP, and can play the corners and LF if needed, makes a lot of sense.

I don't care what Crawford prefers, they just paid him $20 million, he'll do what they say.

As always, the voice of reason. We have a winner. Sure it's an overpay but when is signing a FA not an overpay? And besides, if I'm going with a 6-7 year deal for someone, it's a position player and not a pitcher. Let the Yankees overpay Lee and then have to do the same thing when Sabathia opts out. As for Beltran, you're all high if you think Theo's touching that with a ten foot pole. My guess on the lineup: Crawford Pedroia Gonzalez Youkilis Ortiz Lowrie Drew Salty Ellsbury Put in Cameron v LHP for Drew. Sign Scott Downs, and sign one more RH bat for the bench and see you in Ft. Myers.

If both parties agree to it; voting can begin now.

When yrtb has the ball: it's pretty clear what yrtb's offensive strategy is going to be. Pound the rock until the defense sells out on the run and then go over the top with Orton. Problem is, I think my defense is perfectly set up to beat that kind of running attack. With Ngata, Vilma, and Dansby, I think Peterson/Foster are going to have a lot of problems running between the tackles. I will stack Wake/Greenway on one side and Woodley/Long on another, giving me a balanced pass rush while also protecting against the run with guys who are sound, fundamental tacklers. Unfortunately for yrtb, he selected a coach who is allergic to the running game and will no doubt try to have Orton get it to his tall WRs. I think if the offensive line can give Orton time, he could have success against my defense but I am confident Capers can come up with a defensive scheme to slow him down. The guy invented the zone blitz for crying out loud. My strategy is simple - make Orton grind out 10+ play drives to beat me and not give up the big play. I'll believe Orton can do that in a big spot when I see it. Prediction - BP Spillers 24, yrtb 17