Football State?

The state of Indiana has, and will always be, directly tied to the sport of basketball. However, as each year goes by the state slowly becomes more and more football oriented. As a sat and watched the NFL combine this weekend I started to think about how every single elite player that comes out of this year’s draft will have gone through Indianapolis on their way to NFL superstardom. I continued thinking about just how much of an impact and how influential football is becoming to the state of Indiana. 

First of we look at the premier level of football in the state, our NFL franchise the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have become a steadfast part of our culture and there is certainly no arguing the impact they have had on our community. Growing up I was groomed more to follow Indiana University basketball and I certainly attended more Pacers’ games then Colts’ games. However, as I talk to people across the state, it is clear that kids are growing up bleeding blue, and every Sunday they sit in front of the TV glued to Peyton Manning’s every move. Now it is basketball season and we search for places to turn, but other than Purdue we do not find much to satisfy our sport’s needs. Even that is a bit tainted with the loss of Robbie Hummel, and the hope of a final four that once surrounded Purdue is fleeting. Along with the Colts, Indianapolis has been awarded the 2012 Super Bowl, and look to be in the running for hosting more Super Bowls for years to come. Furthermore, they are the yearly hosts of the NFL Scouting Combine, an event that brings all of the brass of the NFL teams together for one event. The Colts clearly are the best professional organization in the state at this time, and the strong impact they are having on the state is unquestionable. 

Now we turn to the collegiate level, and where else can you turn but north? Up in South Bend, Indiana has one of the greatest collegiate football programs of all-time. Notre Dame, although in a bit of a rough patch, still has the attention of the nation every Saturday. Whether you love them or hate them, it seems football fans from all walks of life tune in on Saturday to watch the “gold-domers.” Another collegiate program that occasionally makes it into the national spotlight is Purdue. Although they have just about as much success as IU over the past few seasons, they have certainly developed a strong fan base that has grown accustom to watching top flight quarterbacks. Even IU has been trying to reverse their cultural tradition of football ineptness, and have recently constructed new state of the art facilities. It is clear that all of these schools are either rich in football tradition, or attempting to increase their football culture surrounding their university. 

Finally, we move down to high school football. Warren Central established itself as one of the elite programs in the entire nation, and have played on the national stage on several occasions. Their dominance has also filtered to other Indianapolis programs, and on a yearly basis the state is now producing elite division one prospects. Although our high school level of football is clearly not as well-developed as other states, such as, Ohio, Texas, and Florida. It is clear that the Friday night’s in our state our becoming more and more popular. 

I am not naive nor am I blind. It would be very difficult to make the claim that we are no longer a basketball state, however, a case can be made that we are slowly becoming a more well-balanced state. Football has become the dominant sport throughout the entire nation, so it is only fair to assume that our state will also become more attached to the game of football. The continued success of the Colts paired with the traditional surrounding our universities, has helped play a factor in our growth as a football state. Who knows maybe one day we will also develop into a basketball, football, and baseball state…. Nahh.

Posted in Colts News | No Comments »

Improving the Linebacking Core

With Gary Brackett not receiving the franchise tag from the Colts, he is set to hit the open market. It is clear the Colts would like to keep Brackett, but at what price? This free agency class is severely hindered, because of the ongoing CBA discussions and it looks as if most of the big names will be restricted. However, along with Brackett, Karlos Dansby is another veteran linebacker who has proven himself in this league, and both are set to become unrestricted free agents. The Arizona Republic reported that the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, and the New York Giants are amongst the teams rumored to be interested in acquiring the Cardinals’ veteran linebacker. Dansby would greatly upgrade this linebacking core, and if the Colts can bring Brackett back as well, this group will take a giant step in the right direction. 

However, it seems unlikely that the Colts would be willing to pay not only Brackett, but Dansby as well. Dansby is said to be looking for a contract in the $30 million range, which would be quiet an investment, especially paired up with the money Brackett is looking for. Out of the two it would seem more logical for the Colts to bring back Brackett, not only because he will demand less money, but also because he is a leader on this team and has proven himself in this Colts defense. Putting money aside I believe the addition of Dansby paired with the resigning of Brackett would do wonders for this team. However, there are also questions about where Dansby would play and how he would fit into this defense. With Arizona, Dansby played inside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme, a scheme much different from that of the Colts’ traditional 4-3. So if he were to come to Indianapolis Dansby may have to play on the outside, a position that he has played in the past, just not in the last few seasons. 

At the end of the day I do not believe that the Colts will sign both of these linebackers, but it is fun to think about. However, pending the Colts ability to resign Brackett, they may look to sign Dansby in order to replace, and upgrade, over the loss of Brackett. Neither player racks up sacks, but both are tackling machines, and in all honesty they are fairly similar players. Dansby is bigger and a bit younger, and he also has a bit of a better resume, but not by much. Thus, it does not seem likely the Colts will pursue both, but if they are looking for an upgrade, they might want to look into Dansby.

Posted in Colts News | 1 Comment »

Should the Colts Pursue?

Ladainian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook have recently been released from their respective teams, and many around the NFL aren’t willing to take a risk on these two because of what little they may have left in the tank. The Colts appear to be set at running back with Donald Brown and Joseph Addai both already cementing themselves into this high-powered offense. However, should the Colts still sneak a peek at these two once great backs?

With either of these backs you obtain phenomenal pass catchers who are very comfortable coming out of the backfield. You will also receive two proven leaders who, when in their prime, could change a game with one single touch. However, as of late these two have had their fair share of injuries, and neither has the explosion and big play ability they once had. So why pursue either? Because if either one can return to a shell of their once dominant form, then you gain an impact player at a very cheap price. Neither is as explosive as they once were, however, both are still capable of shaking a defender out of his shoes. 

It is very unlikely that the Colts will go after either one of these players, especially looking at how the Colts have dealt with aging running backs in the past. However, it may be worth signing someone like Tomlinson, who has been rumored to have interest coming from the Houston Texans, just to prevent him from going to a divisional rival. Signing someone like Tomlinson would also give you assurance should Addai and/or Brown go down with an injury, an area where neither Brown nor Addai has been able to stay away from. 

Whichever teams end up signing these two guys will be doing so with the hopes that they still have something left in the tank. It will certainly be a gamble, and if we learned anything from the Colts this season, it is that they do not like to gamble.

Posted in Colts News | No Comments »

Receiving Core, In Depth

The Indianapolis Colts had two young receivers step up this season, and play a major role in the road to the Super Bowl. Coming into the season, the Colts knew what they had in Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, but they did not know who would emerge as the third option in this offense. Anthony Gonzalez was the supposed “safe pick,” but when after suffering an early injury forced the Colts to turn to Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon. 

Reggie Wayne was the number receiver once again racking up 1,264 yards, 100 receptions, and 10 touchdowns. However, Dallas Clark was not far behind, also reaching the 100 reception mark, but only managing 1106 yards and 10 touchdowns. After the two steadfast options in the lineup came Pierre Garcon. Garcon was able to grab 47 catches for 765 yards and 4 touchdowns, but his impact was more than just statistical. Coming into the season the Colts didn’t exactly have the “burner” that could stretch the secondary, and provide that 75 yard touchdown catch on any play. Garcon was able to step up and fill this position, and it prevented opposing defenses from sitting on Clark’s and Wayne’s routes. Following Garcon was fellow youngster Austin Collie. Collie had more receptions and touchdowns this season than Garcon, with a solid 60 catches for 676 yards and 7 touchdowns. 

Although this group has certainly shown a connection with Peyton Manning, they still have room to grow. Clark and Wayne will receive even more looks if Collie, Garcon, and Gonzalez are able to continue their development and force opposing defenses to play single coverage. The growth of Donald Brown and Joseph Addai will also force teams to pay more attention to the run, and if Brown can develop like many of the coaches believe he can, then that will open up the play action immensely. However, this core part of the team must continue to push themselves and not get stagnant and complacent with their success.

Posted in Colts News | No Comments »

Where to Turn?

With the NFL season now over, many Indianapolis natives are looking for something to fill the void left by the end of the Colts season. However, here in Indiana we are fairly lucky to have a plethora of options to turn our sports attention too. From the Hoosiers, Boilermakers, Bulldogs, Pacers, and high school basketball, we are in the midst of the best time of year for basketball. To go along with that baseball fans throughout the country are gearing up for Spring Training, although we do not have our own baseball team there are plenty of Cubs, Reds, and White Sox fans throughout the state. Heck the Fever might just be have the most success of any sports team in the state this year, and their season is just around the corner. However, which of these sports teams should gain the attention of the state?

First let’s look at the collegiate teams in Indiana. In my opinion the attention should go to the Purdue Boilermakers. Being an IU fan it pains me to say this, but the truth is Tom Crean and company clearly aren’t going to the big dance this season. In regards to Butler, even with all of the preseason hype it has been a fairly disappointing season for me, as I had high hopes for the Bulldogs. Even though they should win their conference, I still cannot get over the early season struggles that the Bulldogs had. However, on a positive not, this is still a very young team that still has a lot of room to grow, and although they will make the NCAA tournament I do not believe they will do as well as the Boilermakers. 

Now we look at the professional sports. The Indiana Pacers are all but out of playoff contention this season, and from the looks of things they are priming to make a big splash in the 2011 free agency. Although Larry Bird has this organization headed in the right direction, the focus of this season for the Pacers should be shifted towards developing their young players. Staying in the field of professional basketball,  the Indiana Fever will start their season in May, and look to better their phenomenal performance last season that led to their involvement in the WNBA championship. There is a lot of hype around this team, and in my opinion they have the players and staff to make a serious run at a title. The final sport that the Indianapolis community can turn their attention toward is that of Major League Baseball. Although we do not have our own team, the state is littered with Cubs fans and Reds fans, and both teams come into the season looking to make a playoff push. The Cubs were able to rid themselves of Milton Bradley and look for better team chemistry to improve upon their disappointing record last season. On the other hand, the Reds focused more on free agency then they usually have in the past. The Reds were able to add one of the best young prospect pitchers in the game with the signing of Aroldis Chapman and Scott Rolen and Orlando Cabrera are expected to give this team the experience and leadership they have been lacking.

Thus, after going through all of the professional sports teams, I believe it is safe to say that the Fever have the best chance of being successful this year, and the Reds are the team with the most buzz surrounding the team. The Cubs certainly have a lot of followers, however, they were fairly quiet this offseason, and thus not as much buzz surrounding the team as in the past few seasons. 

Now I understand that nothing can truly fill the void left by the ending of the NFL season. However, it is obvious that sports fans in Indiana clearly have multiple teams in which they can turn their attention too. That being said, I have one more question, how long until the NFL draft? It really  cannot come soon enough.

Posted in Colts News | No Comments »

Locking Down a Vet

This offseason middle linebacker Gary Brackett will become a free agent, and it may be in the Colts best interest to bring him back. A leader on and off the field, Brackett has established himself as a steadfast member of this organization. Brackett has spent his entire career with the Colts, tallying 466 solo tackles in 103 games. Although he is not flashy and doesn’t bring the big “game changing” plays, he does offer consistency and effort. However, Brackett will likely be receiving the last “major” contract of his career, and he will be looking to cash in. Colts President Bill Polian has stated the Colts’ desire to bring back the linebacker, but will only do so at a reasonable rate. 

With the future of Bob Sanders’ time on this team in question, Brackett’s contract discussions with the team could mark the end of two key players tenure here in Indy. The Colts have not been afraid to let defensive players walk in the past, David Thornton, Cato June, and Nick Harper have all walked to other teams who have offered more money then the Colts. None of whom have had nearly as much success as they did with the Colts. Indianapolis tends to know their players better than other teams around the league, and rightly so. I am not saying that the Colts produce players based on their schemes and their system, however, if the Colts are willing to let someone walk, they are usually doing the right thing. 

It would be a shame to let someone with the tenure and ability of Gary Brackett walk away in free agency. However, not overpaying for a player, especially with the league salary cap and CBA in complete shambles, is the absolute key to these negotiations. It will be interesting to see what the Colts end up doing, and whether or not Brackett is more interested in chasing the money or another shot at a ring.

Posted in Colts News | No Comments »

Even More Weapons For Manning Next Year

This season Anthony Gonzalez was expected to step-up and fill the void left by Marvin Harrison. Instead Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon were the two receivers that ultimately provided the needed boost in production, and both solidified spots on this deep and reliable receiving core. Now coach Jim Caldwell will be faced with the difficult task of managing five reliable receiving threats, Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, and Anthony Gonzalez will all vie for touches and there are only so many that can go around. 

However, I wouldn’t exactly call this a bad problem to have, especially for a quarterback like Peyton Manning who seemingly has great connections with all of his receivers. Now pair the addition of Gonzalez with the continued development of Donald Brown, who will certainly be much improved over this season, and you have the makings of an even more potent offense. This youth and depth on the offensive side of the ball will also allow the front office to focus it’s attention on the defensive side of the ball. Granted the defense played well this season, but you will be hard-pressed to find a fan who does not believe improvements can be made. 

Here at the Fanball Network we will be creating a 1st round mock draft showcasing the needs and desires of all 32 NFL teams. This mock draft should give Colts fans a general idea of who will be available late in the first round, and it will be interesting to see what other franchises are looking for in the draft. However, as of now it seems pretty certain that the Colts will not need to bolster their roster at the receiver or running back position.

Posted in Colts News | No Comments »

Coaching the Difference?

Jim Caldwell has taken plenty of heat this season for his decisions, specifically his decision to rest the starters for the final two games of the season. Following the Super Bowl loss to the New Orleans Saints, Caldwell received more criticism and was questioned for his ability or lack there of to match the aggressiveness and fire of Sean Payton. Like predecessor Tony Dungy, Caldwell is not the type of coach who will wear his emotions on his sleeve. Every shot of him on the sideline during the Super Bowl showed him emotionless and seemingly complacent, but on the inside it is safe to assume that he was feeling a lot worse than he was actually letting on. Even after the game Caldwell did not show much disappointment or emotion in the interview following the defeat. However, this calm, cool, and collected style may ultimately lead to his inability to ever connect with Indianapolis fans. 

Trying to follow in the footsteps of Tony Dungy is quite a task in itself, but attempting to follow in these footsteps in the exact same path is proving to be almost impossible. Colts fans have already seen this act before with Dungy, and Caldwell is trying to replicate it just as high school’s try to replicate Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. As much as fans hate Rex Ryan when their team is squaring off against the New York Jets, you would be hard pressed to find a coach who is more beloved by their fans and players. Ryan’s aggressive and explosive personality exudes confidence to everyone around him. The same can be said about Sean Payton, who arguably puts more trust in his team than any coach in the NFL. Payton’s aggressive style puts the ball in the hands of the athletes, and even though he is one of the smartest coaches around he understands that he must trust his players and they must carry out the tasks they are assigned. Oppositely coach Caldwell seemingly took the ball out of the hands of his players time and time again this season. From sitting his starters the last two games of the season to playing it safe throughout the Super Bowl it is clear that Caldwell was reluctant to take the risk that other coaches around the NFL take. 

Certainly Tony Dungy proved that it is possible to win the Super Bowl with a calm and cool coaching strategy, however, I believe most Colts fans are beginning to crave a coach that is willing to put more on the line and gamble more often. Coach Caldwell certainly did not lose the game for the Colts, but it can be argued that events leading up to the game and coaching calls during the game helped play a major role in the Colts defeat. It was clear that fans were very unhappy with the decision not to play for the perfect season, and I believe that affected the momentum of this team going into the playoffs. Fans will always look for a goat after a loss, especially one with the magnitude of the Super Bowl. However, the blame cannot fall squarely on the shoulders of one person, and instead of looking for a goat maybe we should be giving praise to the play of the Saints.

Posted in Colts News | No Comments »

Not So Special Teams

After the anger and disappointment of the Super Bowl has started to subside we begin to take a look back at Sunday’s game and break down what led to the Saints victory over the Colts. In my opinion, the first and most obvious thing that comes to mind is special teams. The Saints clearly won the special teams battle of the game, and as little attention as this third area of the game gets, it sure had a huge impact on the outcome. 

When the Colts got out to a 10-0 first quarter lead, I started to wonder if this game was even going to be somewhat respectable at the end. The Colts had everything going for them, and the Saints were clearly nervous and not as ready at the beginning as the Colts. However, as the first half continued the Saints began to muster a little more momentum as every minute passed, and by halftime they had cut the lead to 10-6. Not only had the cut the lead to four points, but they did so without any scoring from their offensive unit. Garrett Hartley, the two year kicker out of Oklahoma, was able to knock home two 40+ yard field goals, quite a feat for a kicker who didn’t earn the starting job until the second half of the season. But that wasn’t all Hartley was able to do, because in the third quarter he was able to connect on his third, and most important, field goal attempt of 40+ yards, cutting the Colts lead to 17-16. 

Clearly the Saints received a much needed boost in production from their kicker, and in my opinion his kicks in the second quarter gave the Saints renewed hope. On the other side of the coin, all the Colts received was a punch in the gut from their field goal kicker, as Matt Stover missed on a 51 yard field goal at the beginning of the fourth quarter. This not only prevented Indianapolis from putting three more points on the board, but it also gave the Saints great field position and even more momentum in the fourth quarter. The Saints clearly received much more production from their kicker in this game, and it certainly shaped the outcome of this game. However, none of these kicks were the biggest of the game.

The biggest kick of the game was in fact the shortest of the game. Coming out for the second half after a very extended halftime break, thanks to the NFL’s grand idea to have halftime break lasting thirty minutes, the Colts were ready to receive the football and expand on their lead. However, the Saints decided to make one of the most gutty calls ever in Super Bowl history, electing for an onside kick. Sure enough, the Colts had no idea what was going on and Hank Baskett was nailed with the football, ultimately leading to a Saints recovery. 

Now you can talk about Stover’s missed field goal or Peyton Manning’s interception, however, this is what ultimately led to the Colts’ demise. After recovering the football the Saints were able to drive it down the shortened field and score on a pass to Pierre Thomas, giving them a 13-10 lead. This was all that the Saints needed to realize that this game was now there’s to win, and after this play Manning and company never got it going again. Even though you cannot blame a loss on one certain play, in my opinion the onside kick ultimately led to the Colts defeat. Unable to ever regain momentum and stop the Saints, the Colts defense that had looked so stout and promising throughout the season surrendered 25 second half points. In the end it all comes down to taking a risk once in awhile and the Colts took none of them this season.

Posted in Colts News | 1 Comment »

A Chapter Closed

Today, February 7, 2010, the Indianapolis Colts will play for the opportunity to propel themselves into first place for greatest franchise of the decade. The regular season success of the Colts has been nothing less than historic, but even with all of their wins they have very little to show for it. When I say little I am not referring to division titles, first round byes, or individual awards, I am talking about Super Bowl trophies. Along with the New England Patriots, the Indianapolis Colts have been one of the most steadfast franchises in a league that allows for teams to go from worst to playoff bound in a single season. However, unlike the Patriots the Colts only have one Super Bowl to show for their years of excellence, but on Sunday they will have a chance to add another. 

Granted it will only be two for the Colts against the Patriots three, but the Colts gain the edge in regards to regular season dominance. This decade has been headlined by two teams led by two of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, Manning and Brady. It has truly been a unique rivalry, not onlybecause of Manning and Brady, but the subplots that surround the two teams are also unique. Belichick vs Dungy, Bruschi vs Manning, Freeney vs Brady, Sanders vs Moss, the list of elite football talents matching up against one another goes on and on. 

This Super Bowl will mark the end of the decade, and as history has shown as a new rivalry will emerge. By the time the new decade rolls around Peyton Manning will no longer be the quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, and Colts fans will have to face the harsh reality that the other teams around the NFL must face when trying to find a new quarterback. So this is more than just a Super Bowl for the Colts, this is their opportunity to place themselves as a team of a decade, something only four other teams have been able to do in the history of the NFL.

Posted in Colts News | 1 Comment »