That sure was fun.
A couple of strategy thoughts.
1. If you've followed Fox and his coaching style - here he is with three QB's all with problems which jeopardize the execution of much of his passing offense. He's got a couple of RB's who together have averaged more than 100 yards a game. He's been getting by with one legit receiver (Smith). Colbert hasn't delivered to expectations. Fox comes out of the Parcells (conservative, field-position, low-scoring East Coast) coaching tree. He's beaten us with a smashmouth approach in prior years (remember what Goings did to us when they moved him to RB from FB?)
Ramification - Fox may try to keep the score low and close for most of the game in the hope of stealing it with a late FG.
2. There are two different ways we could attack Carolina offensively -
- At least until Rattay can get up to speed, protecting Warner figures to become an obsession (particularly with Q possibly out as Kurt's 3-step dig route, go-to guy). I could see us running Edge and Marcel directly at Peppers 30 - 40 times, while taking 3 or 4 timely deep shots to Fitz at opportune times.
- With Carolina in trouble at QB and crowd noise in our favor, we could go the opposite route - i.e. take shots early in order to to build an early lead so that our defense could spend the rest of the game teeing off on Carr, Vinnie or Moore.
Or we could avoid the dangers inherent in outhinking ourselves and simply go out and play balanced, fundamentally sound football.