Qiuck Hits

A quick review of what has happened this week, which directly impacts this match-up between the 5-2 New England Patriots and the 3-4 Indianapolis Colts.

Vince Wilfork

You’ve probably heard all about the meeting Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork had with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to review Wilfork’s hit on Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler’s head. What you may not realize is that the commissioner’s decision NOT to suspend the Patriots defender has a direct impact on the outcome of today’s game. 

Without Wilfork in the middle of the defense, the Patriots were shredded by the Colts in the AFC Championship game two seasons ago. Wilfork, along with a group of Patriots players were trying to rebound from a case of the flu.  He was sidelined for chunks of time late in the game when pressure up the middle could have changed the outcome.  Mike Wright and LeKevin Smith are Wilfork’s primary backups, and neither has the capability to replace the big man in the middle

According to the Boston Herald, Wilfork was pleased with the outcome. 
http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/patriots/index.php/2008/10/31/wilfork-reacts-to-fine/

”I’m happy it turned out without a suspension,” Wilfork said. “Like I said a couple days ago, I think that it was a good meeting. It was very productive. Both sides gave good points. … It could have been a lot worse than that. Now I can concentrate on playing football now.”

With the threat of his next violation becoming a suspensoin Wilfork promised not to let that completely change his game.

”It’s tough. It’s tough knowing the next violation may lead to a suspension,” the Herald report stated. “You always have to think about it. But like I tell them, I’m a ballplayer. Things happen, and they understand things happen. But, there are some things that I can probably prevent.”

The Patriots desperately need to pressur ePeyton Manning in the game tonight if they’re going to give their secondary a rest.  Wilfork is a big part of that pressure. It’s tough enough for New England to win without marquee players like Rodney Harrison and Tom Brady.  Although he probably won’t admit it, those circumstances certainly had to creep into the Commissioner’s mind when doling out the punishment.

Injuries Hamper Patriots

Sure injuries are part of the game, but the Patriots have had to deal with more than their fair share of them. Being banged up is a problem for the Patriots at runnign back where Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan were both downgraded to OUT for Sunday night’s matchup against the Colts.  Morris – as I’ve posted before – is nursing a knee injury which was expected to sideline him for a few games.  Jordan, is still nursing a calf injury he suffered againast the 49ers. 

Also downraded on Saturday were LB Shawn Crable (shin) who hasn’t been active all season; WR matt Slater (ankle) who has been part of the Patriots special teams success and DB Lewis Sanders (hamstring). 

When I asked Sanders in camp if he felt frustrated that injuries have caused setbacks during his career, he was accepting of things beyond his control. He was thankful for being given the opportyunity to put them in the pas asn start over with a team like New England.  Unfortunately for Sanders, injuries continue to plague him, which is unfortunatel for the Patirots as Sanders is one of the better defensiv ebacks on the roster, and New England will need all their DBs against teams like the Colts.

The list of injured Patriots players is pretty impressive. You could almost start a winning team with them.

QB Tom Brady, OT Ryan O’Calaghan, OL Barry Stokes, RB Laurence Maroney, S Rodney Harrison, DL Kenny Smith, DB Tank Williams and LB Bo Ruud all on IR.  RB LaMont Jordan, RB Sammy Morris, WR Matt Slater, LB Eric Alexander, OL Stephen Neal, OL Nick Kaczur, DL Jarvis Green, LB Shawn Crable, DB Lew Sanders, CB Ellis Hobbs and WR Randy Moss  all missing time recently.

Colts Walking Wounded

The Colts have their own issues with injuries, but are pleased that RB Joseph Addai and S Bob Sanders will be available for Sunday’s game.  Addai has been a force in the backfield since the Colts Drafted him after Maroney in the 2006 NFL Draft, and Sanders has been labeled “the eraser” by Colts head coach Tony Dungy. Both players wil immediately improve the Colts roster for this game.

Players nicked up for the Colts include: DB Dante Hughes, DB Marlin Jackson (I/R), LB Freddy Keiaho (knee), RB Dominic Rhodes (Ankle),  WR Reggie Wayne (knee) and DB Kelvin Hayden (Knee/Hamstring).

Cassel Making Strides

Criticism has been leveled at Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel for many reasons, most prominently for holding onto the ball too long.  Cassel is second in the NFL for sacks (28). One thing people aren’t giving Cassel credit for is his improvement with making decisions.

That improvement hasn’t gone unnoticed by Patriots head coach Bill Belichick who was asked this week to compare Cassel’s development this season with Tom Brady’s in 2001

“I think [Cassel] has had more time and background in our offense than Tom did when Tom took over in ’01,” said Belichick.  “They have both gotten in there, have done a good job, have worked hard, made plays to help us win and have managed the game the way they should offensively in terms of time management. I think Matt’s done a real good job of managing the game with the two minute warning at the end of the half with the time, getting out of bounds and throwing the ball away and making all those kinds of decisions. Those are the kinds of things that a quarterback has to do to be a good quarterback.”

Cassel is making strides, but Sunday night will prove if he can actually beat one of the better teams in the NFL.