Archive for August, 2010
Friday, August 20th, 2010
The Indianapolis Colts’ inability to win preseason games rivals their ability to win regular season games. For as bad as this team can look in the preseason, they often make amends for the awful August play by performing well for the next 17 weeks or so of the year. However, after yesterday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills the Colts are beginning to show two possible flaws that could show-up during the regular season. The Colts have surrendered over 130 rushing yards in each of the first two games of the preseason, and conversely have shown very little ability to get their own running game going.
Coming into this season two areas of concern for the Colts were the offensive line and the defense’s ability to stay healthy. So far in the preseason the Colts have remained relatively healthy on the defensive side of the ball, but they have not shown much depth. In two games the Colts are allowing opponents to score on average 35.5 points per game, and one of the main concerns is the run defense. Granted, both of the teams that the Colts have playerd, 49ers and Bills, are teams that put emphasis on the run game, but that is no excuse for the Colts’ poor tackling and bad fundamentals. The Colts will need to sure up their defensive fundamentals in these last couple of weeks, but they have never been a team to peak in the preseason.
Just as the Colts are struggling to stop the run, they are equally struggling to run the ball themselves. Although the Colts managed to reach the Super Bowl last season with the 32nd ranked rushing offense, the odds seem to be stacked against them to do the same this season. However, more troubling than the fact that the Colts are once again struggling to run the ball, is the fact that the Colts are struggling on the offensive line. The offensive line is just as important for a solid running game as the running back carrying the ball, and the Colts are anything but solid upfront. With injuries across the line and players underperforming, the Colts will need to find a way to sure up their offensive line and quickly. Along with the inability for the team to run the football the Colts will be placing Peyton Manning in vulnerable positions on a weekly basis if they do not have a sound offensive line capable of protecting the franchise player.
The Colts have become almost a sure thing to lose three or four games in the preseason, and this season will be no different. However, the questions that are arising from the preseason are the same concerns that many people had coming into the season. Although the Colts are never ones to panic or change their course, this team could be faced with one of their more difficult seasons if the trenches are not sured up. C.J. Spiller made several members of this first team defense look foolish with his touchdown run, but the group was able to bounce back and recover. The Colts will look to bounce back from a couple of poor preseason performances, and go to Green Bay with a bit more fluidity. However, the health of this team, especially on the offensive line, is certainly something to keep an eye out for moving forward.
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Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
After losing rookie cornerback, Kevin Thomas, for the season to a knee injury, the Indianapolis Colts got even more troubling news this week. Safety Jamie Silva will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Although he is not a headline name on the Colts roster, Silva was set to be a key component for the Colts on special teams. He is also a key backup for the Colts secondary, and in a secondary that endures a number of injuries every season backups in the secondary can play a vital role on the defensive side of the ball.
With the recent injury to Silva the Colts will now have to find a way to replace his great special teams play and his veteran role in the secondary. With injuries already playing a role in the Colts season, it will be important that the coaching staff does not allow more starters to get injured in the next three preseason games.
Last season we saw the Colts take it easy in the last two weeks of the season by resting their starters. Fear of injuries to key players led to the decision that became heavily scrutinized and debated. Over the past couple of weeks we have seen injuries already effect the Colts and their plans, but nothing to significant has happened yet. However, it is a growing concern to see so many players going down with injuries so early in the season.
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Saturday, August 14th, 2010
On the path to a Super Bowl, just as important as the players and talent on a team is the ability of a team to avoid injury. After a few weeks of training camp the Indianapolis Colts have been able to dodge any serious injuries to key players, but they have been plagued with several minor injuries that could effect this team right out of the gate. Three key veteran pieces on this team have been ruled out for Sunday’s preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, and their availability for the beginning of the season is in question. Dallas Clark, Charlie Johnson and Jeff Saturday are all dealing with injuries that could linger through the beginning of the season, keeping the veterans out through most of the preseason and possibly the beginning of the regular season.
For Saturday, the Colts reported that the veteran center underwent successful arthroscopic knee surgery, which could keep him out 4-6 weeks. With the start of the regular season only a few weeks on the horizon, Peyton Manning may have to take the field against the Houston Texans without the comfort of Saturday protecting him up the middle. Although Saturday has missed time in the past, his absence could be magnified even more because of the other questions surrounding the Colts’ offensive line. The Colts are not as solid and reliable up front as they have been in the past, and without the leadership of Saturday the offensive line could take another step back.
Along with Saturday’s injury, offensive tackle, Charlie Johnson, is expected to miss an extended period of time, meaning only more bad news for a crucial part of this team. With Johnson and Saturday battling through injuries, the Colts will be forced to shift players around and find ways to protect Manning should Johnson and Saturday be unable to go by the beginning of the season.
Jim Caldwell will have to find a way to protect Manning without two of starters up front, but he may also be faced with replacing one of Manning’s top targets over the years. Dallas Clark was carted off the field on Saturday with his leg heavily wrapped. Although Caldwell made a statement that Clark “just got a bit of a little tweak” and that he should be back soon, the overall severity of the injury could be more serious then the Colts are letting on. Clark will not play in the preseason game against the 49ers, but he should reportedly not miss much time. It will be interesting to see whether or not Clark is able to return quickly or if he is nagged be this injury for an extended period of time. As the preseason moves forward one of the major things to keep an eye on will be the health and availability of Clark.
The Colts are no strangers to injuries, and in the past they have found ways to plug-in players and keep on moving. However, with so many questions up front, there seems to be more concern about the depth and ability of the lineman protecting the Colts’ franchise, Peyton Manning. If Manning is not kept upright this team will not be able to contend for a Super Bowl, and he could be placed in situations that could end his consecutive start streak. However, the Colts have dealt with injuries before, and right now they are in a wait and see position with several of their injured players.
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Tuesday, August 10th, 2010
The seamless transition from the Marvin Harrison era of the past to the present day era of Reggie Wayne, showed that this team knows how to draft and develop receivers. Harrison, a future Hall of Famer, set a precedent that has been followed by several receivers after him, and is still being followed today. Although fans were sad and disappointed to see the demise and ultimate retirement of Harrison, Wayne’s ability to step into the number one role alleviated much of the pain felt by fans. However, Wayne will be turning 32 this season, and he will not be getting any younger. With Wayne’s age starting to become a factor, it might be time to start thinking about who is in line to take over the role as Manning’s go to guy in this dynamic offense.
With Anthony Gonzalez, Austin Collie, and Pierre Garcon all showing flashes of being more than just average NFL receivers, the Colts may be able to promote from within. However, are any of the three behind Wayne capable of one day filling his shoes? Although Gonzalez and Collie do not appear capable of being a number one receiver in the league, Garcon certainly has the talent and ability to emerge as the successor of Wayne.
At 6′0″ and 21o pounds, Garcon is not exactly a big receiver, but neither was Marvin Harrison. Harrison was able to excel because of his quickness, intelligence, hands, and route running ability. Garcon has shown that he has the quickness and hands, and although he was very raw coming out of college, his time learning from Wayne and Manning has already shown dividends. As Garcon continues to grow and develop with Manning, his route running and knowledge of the game will only increase. The scariest part about Garcon’s game is that he is more talented than either Harrison or Wayne. Although he is not as polished as either nor as proven, his ability to succeed so early in his career has shown that he has the right stuff.
In training camp Garcon has been taking reps as the outright number two receiver for this team, showing that he has surpassed both Gonzalez and Collie on the depth chart. In drills he has looked very polished, and he has shown good quickness and technique in his routes. Further cementing Garcon’s solid training camp are reports that the Colts are very impressed with how the third year receiver has progressed.
Although Garcon still has a few years ahead of him before he will be able to unseat Wayne as the number one receiver, he is certainly on the right path. Wayne patiently waited in the shadow of Harrison, and Garcon may just have to do the same. Garcon will have to continue to grow and mature if he hopes to secure his position as the favorite weapon of Manning, but don’t be surprised if the Colts are able to once again make a smooth transition from one dominant receiver era to another.
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Monday, August 9th, 2010
Coming out of an offseason that was dominate by NBA headlines, NFL fans and media alike pounced at the slightest sign of any story that could break the stranglehold that the NBA had on ESPN and other news outlets. For Colts fans, the big story of the offseason was the possible holdout of star wide receiver Reggie Wayne. With each OTA that Wayne missed or tweet that was re-tweeted, the fear of uncertainty forced some Colts fans to disregard all love that they once had for the talented receiver. However, that concern and frustration was quickly gone the second that Wayne stepped onto the field at Anderson University prepared to take on the hardships of NFL training camp. It was as if nothing had ever happened and all ill-will had been forgotten. Once again showing the short term mindset of the casual NFL fan.
Outside of Peyton Manning, no player received as much applause and cheers as number 87, showing that he was still number two in the heart of Colts fans. Children attempted to climb the fence, grown men begged and pleaded for autographs, and women just wanted to be closer to the soft spoken receiver, who many were ready to get rid of only a mere month ago. As I watched fans respond to Wayne’s presence at training camp day after day, it became more and more evident that the majority of Colts fans don’t really care about what goes on off the field in the NFL. The only thing they care about is Indianapolis, winning, and who the Colts put on the field on a weekly basis.
Bob Sanders, who would feel the wrath of fans in cities, such as, Philadelphia or Chicago for his inability to stay healthy, still receives one of the largest and warmest welcomes of any of the players. Sure, everyone has their favorite NFL players, and Sanders’ big-play ability dazzles spectators, but is he worth anywhere near the salary that he is making? The answer is no, and although he may be a favorite Colt of many, most would gladly have him traded or released if it meant the Colts winning another Super Bowl. Now I am not saying the Colts should cut Bob Sanders, but fans know this is a business as well, and winning is just as important to fans as it is to the organization. Fans want results now, and although they may be angered by Sanders’ inability to stay healthy or Wayne’s threatened holdout, at the end of the day they want the players who give them the best chance to win. Even if it means overpaying or changing your feelings for a certain player.
With several issues, such as, CBA talks, Tim Tebow, Terrell Owens, Brett Favre, and the New York Jets headlining NFL news on a weekly basis, the casual Colts fan has absolutely no care about any of these situations, because all are outside of Lucas Oil Stadium. As long as Peyton Manning is under center and the Colts are winning, it would seem that Colts fans have no other worries in the world. However, when the day comes that Manning is no longer taking snaps and the Colts are faced with a rebuilding process, the true will and faith of Colts fans will be tested. It will be interesting to see if this town truly bleeds blue or if it simply enjoys a winner.
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