Colts Face Golden Opportunity in Monday Night Game at Miami

Since realignment and the creation of the AFC South in 2002, only two teams have ever won the division: the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans. 

The Titans have won two division championships. Every other title has been claimed by the Colts.

What’s truly astonishing about the Colts’ dominance in the division is this stat: only once, in 2002, have the Colts had a one-game lead in the division and failed to claim the title.

Only once.

Sure, a one-game lead isn’t a lot in the NFL. Even a three-game lead wasn’t enough for the 2008 Denver Broncos. Once the Colts get the slimmest of leads in the division, history suggests that the Colts will win the division.

Now, before you steal from your kid’s college fund to get money ready for playoff tickets, I’m not suggesting the division is wrapped up before the second game even kicks off.

But…look at the rest of the division.

Jacksonville is an atrocious team.

The Colts tried to gift wrap a win in Week One, and the Jaguars politely declined.

In Week Two, the Jags hosted the Arizona Cardinals, a team that went 0-5 in Eastern Time Zone games in 2008. Jacksonville looked like the team in the wrong time zone in an ugly 31-17 loss.

In two games, David Garrard has yet to complete over 54 percent of his passes. Jones-Drew is barely averaging 80 yards rushing.

When the Jacksonville owner is already discussing draft options—he was quoted as having some interest in Florida’s Tim Tebow—you have to wonder if the Jags have a better chance of being in the market for a new coach at season’s end than they do at being a playoff contender.

Then, of course, there’s the curious case of the Tennesse Titans. In most preseason publications, the Titans would have at least been considered co-favorites with the Colts heading into the 2009 season.

After two games, though, the Titans suddenly find themselves at 0-2 with the bottom-dwelling Jaguars.

What’s most bizarre is the way the Titans have lost. First, they lost a 13-10 slug match with the Steelers, and then they lose a 34-31 barn burner with the division rival Texans.

Though a professional player would never admit it, I can imagine that every Colt is happy that the Titans have stumbled out of the 2009 gate.

So, how about those Texans, defeaters of the defending AFC South champions? Well, like the team they beat today, the Texans have been a bit of a puzzle early on.

In Week One they looked absolutely horrible in the loss to the New York Jets. Sure, the Jets suddenly look like a legitimate contender after their huge win over the New England Patriots, but this was the Texans’ home opener. They were the sexy darkhorse playoff pick.

Playoff darkhorses aren’t supposed to lay eggs in home openers.

This week the Texans traveled to Tennessee and came away with a huge win against the Titans. Tennessee isn’t exactly the type of team built to score 31 points and put up over 400 yards of offense.

It’s the maddening inconsistency you typically see with teams that don’t have a history of winning.

How will Houston respond if they suddenly find themselves in a playoff race come December? Remember, the Texans had an opportunity to earn the franchise’s first winning record last season, only to lose to a putrid Oakland Raiders squad.

And so, the Colts head into their Monday Night Football game against the Miami Dolphins with a chance to be 2-0 Tuesday morning and own sole possession of the division lead.

Like the Colts’ offense, the franchise’s philosophy has been to play with the lead. The Colts want the rest of the division looking up at the them all season long, keeping the pressure on Houston, Tennessee, and Jacksonville to keep pace.

A win Monday in Miami will be just one victory, but it could be a huge psychological boost that the Colts could use to sprint out to another fast start.

In four of their title years, the Colts started the season with at least five consecutive wins.

With Miami’s famous Wildcat attack struggling after an opening-season loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the Colts have an excellent opportunity to win the game and set the pace.

A win tomorrow, and the rest could be history.

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For Colts, Answers at Wide Receiver Already in Place

The story of this week is all about how the Colts have lost their starting wide out Anthony Gonzalez for probably a month or more.

It’s just another sign of the acopolypse that is supposed to be a signal of the demise of the Colts as an AFC superpower.

Yet, the are two big points in regards to the loss of Gonzalez that led me to completely believe in GM Bill Polian’s faith in our current crop of receivers.

The first point is, when Gonzalez went out late in the first quarter, he didn’t exactly take a lot of production with him. In fact, not only did Gonzalez have zero catches at that point, but, more importantly, Gonzalez wasn’t even a target of a single Peyton Manning pass.

Not one.

Wasn’t Gonzalez supposed to have a breakout year? The Colts started the game with a pretty impressive drive before Manning’s ill-advised lob to the end zone was intercepted.

Yet, Gonzalez didn’t get a sniff of the action.

Secondly, after Gonzalez left, it would be natural to assume that the Jags would roll their coverage over to Reggie Wayne because surely Jacksonville wouldn’t worry about the inexperienced crop of receivers taking Gonzalez’s place.

Well, if the Jags tried to shut Wayne down, they did a pretty poor job. Ten catches, 162 yards, and a touchdown are impressive stats for any game, especially after the No. 2 receiver goes down with an injury.

And as for those inexperienced receivers? They did just fine.

Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon may not have set the world on fire with their stats, a combined five catches for 39 yards, but with Wayne and Dallas Clark on the team, they aren’t asked to either.

In limited play, Collie and Garcon both showed they are up to the challenge.

Twice Collie caught key third down passes, both times having the sense to know where the marker was and get by it.

Garcon, on one catch, ran Harrison’s old route, the quick slant. Garcon took a good hit, but held on to the ball.

The only negative you could bring up was Collie’s miss on a nice play down the middle seam, but that was more of a great play by the Jaguar defender than a mistake on Collie’s part.

Collie and Garcon are going to be just fine.

Don’t forget that in the game, both Jacob Tamme and Clark would occasionally lineup in the slot. The versatility of the Colts tight ends allows the Colts to alter their offensive setup quite a bit.

The need for another receiver isn’t there when you have three receivers on the roster, plus tight ends that can play the slot. In essence, the Colts have at least five players on the roster who are capable of playing wide receiver positions, maybe even six if you allow running back Joseph Addai to split wide.

Would the Colts really want to bring a wide receiver off the street and expect them to learn one of the league’s more complicated offenses?

Probably not.

As much as I personally like practice squad guys Taj Smith and John Matthews, neither of them would factor enough to bring them up to the senior squad.

And despite what national media would like to think, Marvin Harrison isn’t walking through the front door of the Colts’ complex.

No, the Colts will take what they have to Miami for next Monday’s game, and they’ll be just fine with the talent they have right now.

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Colts Week One: a Little Case of History Repeating

There’s a well known expression about the importance of history.

Those that ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

The Colts nearly lost their season opener to the Jacksonville Jaguars because they ignored history and allowed it to repeat.

The bitter defeat to the San Diego Chargers in the playoffs last season boiled down to the Colts’ inability to convert a third and short play because they couldn’t run to get the first down.

Fast forward to yesterday.

Facing another third and short, the Colts went to the run and came up short. Trying again, the Colts inexplicably decided to run wide on fourth down. Great penetration (or was it poor blocking?) allowed the Jags to stuff the play and get the ball back.

But a funny thing happened on the way to another Josh Scobee game winning field goal (he’s done it twice to the Colts, in Indianapolis no less).

The defense won the game.

Yes, on a day when a vast majority of the crowd inside Lucas Oil Stadium were excited starting the year with a healthy Peyton Manning and his vast arsenal of weapons, it was the defense that saved the day.

The Jags last shot to drive down the field to win the game ended on four very unremarkable plays, punctuated by David Garrard throwing into the turf on fourth down after being pressured by the Colts.

It goes without saying the the game ball went to the defense today. The stat line may say the Colts only registered one sack, that going to Dwight Freeney, but Garrard was harassed throughout the day.

Garrard never had a chance to stay in the pocket long enough to stretch the Colts’ defense. He ended up with a paltry 122 yards on 28 pass attempts.

The defense should also be commended for the play against Maurice Jones-Drew. The Colts’ killer didn’t managed to get his usual 100 yards on Sunday. It’s usually a foregone conclusion that Jones-Drew mauls the Colts’ defense.

Not Sunday.

While Jones-Drew did have one spectacular 26 yard run in the first half, he was held mostly in check throughout the day. And on a warm day where you’d expect the Colts’ defense to wear down, it was Jones-Drew that looked as if the weight of the Jags’ offense was too much as the game wore on. A majority of his yards came in the first half.

Make no mistake. This was an important win, but the Colts have a lot to work on. The Jags, historically, always play the Colts tough, but this is not a very good Jaguar team.

It’s fairly clear that they will go as far as Jones-Drew can carry them…and if the unseasonal heat of Indianapolis slowed him down in the second half, how long will he hold up this season?

Still, the Colts are in the best position imaginable. Week One is done and they have a game lead on the division.

Now that’s a part of the usual Colts’ history worth repeating.

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20 Questions: a Colts ’09 AFC South Preview

In five days, the Colts will kickoff their 2009 season at home against the rival Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ideally, a team less than a week from its opener shouldn’t have any questions about their roster. However, as talented as the Colts are overall, there are some questions that remain.

So, let’s play 20 questions concerning the Colts and how they stack up in the AFC South Division.

 

20. Is Jim Caldwell ready to step into the shoes of a coaching legend?

Regardless of how you personally feel about Tony Dungy, the man left Indianapolis a legend. Things like that happen when you help give the city it’s first Super Bowl victory. As for Caldwell, he has to be ready.

Usually when a coach leaves, it’s because he had a poor record with a bad team. Dungy left on his terms, so the pressure is on Caldwell to step in and keep the momentum going.

Even though the Colts have been winning for years (for me, that’s a wife and four kids ago!), the window has certainly not closed on this team. Only four Colts have over nine years’ experience, and one of them, Peyton Manning, is certainly still in his prime.

The fact is this team has the talent to win for several more years. Caldwell must produce or Irsay will be forced to make a move soon before Manning is too old.

Frankly, for Irsay to name Dungy’s successor a year before Dungy left is a good indication that the Colts feel secure in Caldwell’s leadership.

 

19. Who’s new to the team that we should be watching in ’09?

I’d love to say first round pick Donald Brown, but I think it’s time I admit my bromance for Austin Collie. The fourth-round pick has impressed me with his work ethic, and ability to quickly learn the Colts’ offense. He’ll make plays in the slot and I think he could be a darkhorse fantasy candidate by season’s end.

That’s not to say Brown is a slouch. In face, I expect Brown to be a very productive rookie. But as a first rounder, there’s a level of expectation in regards to his production. Few would have though Collie would be productive as a rookie as just a fourth round pick.

 

18. You mentioned fantasy football. So who’s someone that is a must have for our leagues? Who should we stay away from?

We’ll assume Manning is out of the equation here because he’s a solid choice every year he plays.

As far as who you must have, Dallas Clark is the name that comes instantly to mind. Clark has long been overshadowed in the AFC by the likes of Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates.

However, as Manning and the lesser experienced receivers get to know each other, Clark should blossom this year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get his first 1,000-yard season of his career. Get him if you can. I believe only Jason Witten of Dallas will have a better year.

Now, it’s not that I have anything against Anthony Gonzalez, but the third year wide out has something to prove. I’ve seen his name listed too many times as a breakout player to think that may actually be a curse.

Gonzalez didn’t exactly set the world on fire during the preseason. That’s not a sign of impending doom, but Gonzalez has to be a consistent No. 2 for Manning to keep defenses from rolling to Reggie Wayne’s side. I think Gonzalez will eventually be good, but I wouldn’t count on him to be a quality No. 2 fantasy receiver just yet.

And just as a side note, this is the first year since the Clinton administration that I haven’t had a Colt on my team…and this is one year I’d really like to be a homer. Just a hunch.

 

17. Who finishes last in the AFC South this year?

Jacksonville. They have the most question marks. Maurice Jones-Drew is suddenly the offense there. Well, as a Colts fan, I remember what happened when Joseph Addai became the running game here. Addai couldn’t do it. MJD is more durable than Addai, but still, it’s a lot to ask of him to be the offense.

For some reason, everyone believes that David Garrard will bound back from his 2008 debacle. How do we know that wasn’t the real him and that 2007 was a mirage? SI’s Peter King raved about Garrard’s deep touchdown pass in the preseason to Troy Williamson against the Bucs.

What I saw was Garrard trying the same play later on. He stood in the pocket long enough to make a ham sandwich…and eat it. Garrard got sacked. He still holds the ball too long.

What? Jacksonville just called. They reminded me they spent draft picks this year to sure up the offensive line. Shame they have been mediocre at best.

The defense isn’t as scary once Marcus Stroud left the line. Mike Peterson is gone now too.

The best thing that could happen to this team is that finally get rid of Jack Del Rio, who has been inconsistent at best since taking the Jaguar reins.

 

16. Any truth to the rumor that you had an inclusive interview set up with Bob Sanders, but he was injured on the way to the meeting?

No comment.

Seriously though, the Colts have to been secretly rumbling about the mega-contract Sanders signed at the end of the 2007 season. $20 million guaranteed is a lot for a half time player.

I love Sanders’ play and intensity. There’s no denying his impact when he’s in the lineup.

If you look at his stats, he has always alternated his healthy seasons with an injury plagued one. Last year, he missed over half the season. History tells you this season should be a good one, but Sanders is already a question mark until week five.

If this makes two consecutive seasons of Sanders being sidelined a majority of the time, how much more can the Colts take?

Of course, I reserve the right to immediately jump back on the Sanders bandwagon if he comes back and repeats his 2006 playoff performance. And maybe, that’s what the Colts always hope for as well.

15. What are the must see games of the 2009 Colts’ schedule?

There are several.

The annual slug match with the New England Patriots is, frankly, the best must see game of every NFL schedule. Yes, the Steelers and Ravens are a great rivalry, but I like to see the occasional touchdown now and then.

The Patriots-Colts throwdown features the two best quarterbacks of this generation leading two high powered offenses. Both have underrated defenses that are capable of swaying the game to one side’s favor.

I think NBC starting promoting this game two months ago.

Still, this isn’t the only marquee came on the Colts’ schedule.

I’m excited about the week three match up in the desert with the Arizona Cardinals. Warner and Manning should make for an entertaining shootout.

The two tilts with the Tennessee Titans are always good football as well. Titans coach Jeff Fisher game plans against the Colts better than anyone in the league, save Belichick.

Five of the last six games have been decided by 10 points or less. Plus, with the Titans knocking the Colts off their lofty AFC South throne, there’s a lot at stake this year.

Finally, the other matchup that intrigues me are the games against the Houston Texans. I like this Texans team. They have some playmakers on defense and some talented offensive players.

The Texans have only beaten the Colts once in their franchise’s history, but last season’s games were memorable.

Who can forget Sage Rosenfels’ collapse in the game at Houston? And the rematch and Indianapolis was a hard fought six point Colts win. This is rapidly becoming a very good rivalry.

 

14. Out of those remaining three, then, who finishes third in the AFC South?

Houston, but with an asterisk. I would not be surprised to see Houston finish second in the division. The only real question I see with this team is at quarterback. If Schaub can stay healthy, I think they can finish second.

However, Schaub has yet to play more than 11 games in a season since joining the Texans. In five games, do you see Rex Grossman leading this team to a winning record?

No.

So until Schaub shows me he can make it to that 12th game and beyond, they have to stay third, but this is the most dangerous the Texans have ever been.

 

13. What’s the worst game on the Colts’ schedule?

The game at Baltimore. No, not because of the matchup. I love the matchup of the great Colts’ offense vs. the great Ravens’ defense (incidentally, Jim Mora was the Colts’ coach the last time Indianapolis lost this game).

No, it’s for the incessant ramblings of some, not all, Ravens’ fans about how Indianapolis stole their beloved Colts. The Colts were in Baltimore for 30 years. They’ve now been in Indianapolis for 25.

It’s time to move on. The Ravens are a great franchise with a Super Bowl title of their own. Embrace them, and give the Mayflower sob story a rest.

 

12. Who’s the Colts’ defensive MVP?

Gary Brackett. True Colts fans know Brackett’s worth to the team. The usually sturdy Brackett missed the last four games of 2008 due to a leg injury.

In that time, the Colts has their worst defensive performance, yardage wise, of the season and gave up over 300 yards of offense to the 0-16 destined Detroit Lions. Even out four games, Brackett still had 113 tackles.

Brackett is the leader of this defense. Dwight Freeney and Sanders get the headlines, but the Colts are run by Brackett’s play.

Considering he’s the one consistent player with significant experience in the linebacking core, Brackett’s presence on the field is vital to the Colts success.

 

11. And the offensive MVP?

You finally get a canned answer. It’s Manning. However, Colts fans should be excited about seeing Manning under center from the beginning this year.

The ever-competitive Manning is sure to want to get the Colts off to the fast starts they enjoyed from 2005-2007, and not the stumbling they had in 2008 as Manning’s knee healed.

If it’s even possible, Manning may be more prepared to start this season than ever before.

10. Who is the real Addai, the 2008 one or the 2006 one?

I truly believe it’s the 2006 one. In 2006, Addai and Rhodes split the carries are combined for a lethal running combination. Their 2006 stat lines? 1722 yards and 12 touchdowns. Throw in 76 catches and the one-two punch of Addai and Rhodes was very effective.

In 2007, Rhodes left for the Black Hole of Oakland and Addai was left to carry to burden alone. Addai got nine less yards than he did in 2006, but he had 35 more carries. His average per rush dropped from 4.8 to 4.1.

Injuries made his 2008 stats dip even more.

When Brown was drafted in the first round this year, many wondered if it meant the end of Addai in a Colts’ uniform.

I think Brown was drafted to make Addai better. Addai will no longer be asked to be the Colts’ beast of burden. A fresher Addai will be a more productive Addai. Look for the Addai/Brown combination to put up numbers similar to the Addai/Rhodes combo of 2006.

 

9. Which Colts’ player will have the least impact in 2009?

Easy, Curtis Painter. The Colts obviously see some sort of future in Painter. The Purdue product showed some mobility in the preseason and he has a strong arm. However, Painter has as much chance to see the field in 2009 as Jeff George does.

Manning has missed one snap of his entire career, and even if the unthinkable happens, Jim Sorgi has an impressive 89.9 career QB rating and a six to one touchdown/interception ratio.

Learn, Painter, just learn.

 

8. What formation would you like to see the Colts in this year?

Imagine this. The Colts face a key third down. In comes Addai and Brown. Manning is in the shotgun, with the running backs flanking him. Wayne is wide left, Gonzalez is wide right. Clark is in the slot. Who does the defense cover? Remind me to fire up Madden 2010 to test this out when I’m done.

Seriously though, with Pierre Garcon and Collie also showing some potential in the passing game, the Colts will feature some very attractive spread formations. There’s a lot here to give defense’s fits all season long. 

 

7. Okay, we are saving the tough questions for the end. Will the Colts finally stop the run this year?

Obviously, Jones-Drew and the Jags provide the first test, but for the first time since Booger McFarland was here, there’s reason to hope.

The Colts boast nearly three quarters of a ton at the defensive tackle position. The Colts will finally have a rotation of near or above 300 pounders to constantly plug up the center of the line.

Ed Johnson, back after being cut for violating team policy, looks to prove he belongs back in the league. Starting with him his Antonio Johnson. The Colts snagged this Johnson from the Titans’ practice squad last year and it was a great pickup. Even when the reserves come in, the bulk stays.

This may actually help out the Colts’ undersized linebacking corps. In the past, the smaller defensive line would get pushed back and the linebackers couldn’t get out of the blocks to make plays. With a bigger line taking up space, the speed of the linebackers should enable them to make plays, assuming their tackling has improved.

The space eaters will also allow the Colts’ strength, the great rush end duo of Freeney and Robert Mathis, to do what they do best…get around the tackles and into the backfield.

 

6. Defense sounds good. Does the offense have any other concerns?

I’ve stated before that no unit on the Colts’ roster has more to prove than the offensive line. The line caught a lot of slack for the poor rushing performance last year. However, both Jeff Saturday and Ryan Lilja start the year healthy which will greatly improve the overall line’s play.

The only real concern is at the left tackle position. Charlie Johnson is the starter for now. If he falters, Tony Ugoh will get a chance to win his spot back. Hopefully the Colts have their answer in one of these two players. If one of them can step up and be the anchor on the left side of the line, the line will be vastly improved from 2008.

5. So if the Colts’ have a true Achilles’ heel, what is it?

The return game. Anyone remember Clarence Verdin? It seems the last time the Colts had a real breakaway threat was when this little speedster was running backwards 20 yards to gain 40.

Sure, there’s been the occasional highlight with Terrence Wilkins somewhat recently, but the Colts have suffered with a poor return game for much of Manning’s career.

The Colts need to have a return game that can at least give Manning and the offense consistently decent field position.

The coverage units have also been suspect at times. This team will have great balance if it can limit the number of short drives it gives to the opposition, while giving Manning and company good field position.

 

4. Much as been said of the Colts’ coaching changes. Outside of Caldwell, which change is most significant?

Without a doubt, it’s the hire of defensive coordinator, Larry Coyer. Coyer brings a blitzing philosophy to Indianapolis. The Colts, quite simply, have not been a blitzing team under Dungy. Last season, the Colts were near the bottom in opponents time of possession and third down conversion.

Priority number one for Coyer is to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and limited the number of possessions they have. If Coyer can do this, imagine what the offense could do with the ball more often than before?

The Colts need to escape their bend, but don’t break philosophy. The defense has the speed to get after people, and hopefully Coyer’s schemes produce results this year.

 

3. So, back to the AFC South. Who’s second?

The Titans. It seems a lot of people are split on who will win this division between the Colts and the Titans this year, but the Colts have an edge in one significant area.

Schedule.

The Colts, with a second place schedule, avoid teams like San Diego and Pittsburgh in the regular season. The Titans do not.

In fact, the Titans open the season in the worst possible way, at Pittsburgh on opening night. No defending champ has lost this opening season game.

Remember when the Colts opened the season against the Saints after winning the Super Bowl? New Orleans never stood a chance.

Throw in the fact that the Steelers will remember the terrible towel incident from last season, and it’s easy to see how the Titans season can start off on the wrong foot.

Also, the Titans lost more than the Colts did in the off-season. While Tennessee still boasts a talented defense, teams had to gameplan for Albert Haynesworth.

Without a game-changing defensive force, the Titans lose some of the intimidation factor they had last year.

That, and it’s asking an awful lot for soon-to-be 37 year old Kerry Collins to repeat the magic of 2008.

 

2. That means the Colts win the division?

Yes, this should be their division to lose. Remember, the Titans ended up winning the division by just one game. This was after the Colts’ had spotted them a four game lead after Indianapolis stumbled out of the gate.

The Colts are healthier and have a chance to set the pace early on. And we know how this team performs if they can get a division lead early in the season.

 

1. So just how far can this team go?

Obviously, they are a Super Bowl contender.

This team isn’t without its fair share of questions.

But, if the offensive line gels…

If the defense can get off the field…

And if the running game is consistent…

This is a team that can play in Miami come February. And we all remember who won the last Super Bowl in Miami

Right?

Oh, sorry, my 20 questions are up.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Grading the Indianapolis Colts Final Roster

Finally!

After a long off season and a month of watching the Colts, yet again, post a losing record in the preseason, it’s time for the Colts to start playing games…officially.

Time to get the taste of that San Diego playoff loss out of our mouths.

Time to see how all these changes will impact the season.

Time for Coach Jim Caldwell (pictured) to have his first official game.

Time for the weekly Bob Sanders’ coin flip (heads he’ll play; tails he won’t).

So how does this year’s roster look? Here’s a look at the Colts, position by position, with analysis and grades.

Begin Slideshow

NFL and Media Should Spotlight the Good, Ignore the Bad

One of the first things I experienced when I started teaching a dozen years ago was how to handle behavior in the classroom. College prepared me for teaching my core subjects, but dealing with behavioral issues was a baptism by fire.

Did I want to spend all my time dealing with the five percent of the class that had behavior issues, virtually ignoring the 95 percent of the class who wanted to be there and do well in school? It took some time, but eventually I discovered that by focusing on the good that happened in the classroom, the bad behavior eventually sorted itself out because they saw the attention that the good students were getting.

The relationship between the NFL and the media sits in stark contrast to this.

When you think about the highlights of the NFL offseason, what stories come to mind?

There’s Plaxico Burress’ career going to waste over a firearms mishap in a New York nightclub. There’s Donte Stallworth’s DUI, which resulted in a tragic accident and the death of a pedestrian. There’s Michael Vick’s return to the NFL after his exodus on dog-fighting charges.

And then there’s the saga that is Brett Favre. A Favre indecision story is almost synonymous with “death and taxes.” You just know it’s going to happen.

These stories paint a dark picture of the NFL player. Casual fans may think the league is full of self-centered, egotistical jerks. Do these types of players exist? Of course they do.

But it’s only about five percent of the league.

A vast majority of the players in the league are—just like a majority of people in society—good people. There are plenty of players who do charity events, give generous donations, or volunteer time. Some even do little things that may not seem like much to them, but mean so much to others.

Take the case of Ryan Lilja, who plays guard for the Indianapolis Colts.

As long as I’ve been teaching, the small school I work at has collected items that are donated to a local charity called We Care. We Care auctions items off and the profits are used to clothe need children in our county, one of the poorest in the state.

A few years ago, I decided that maybe we could earn more money if we started a collection of NFL autographs. My class would write players to ask for an autograph and our collection was then donated to We Care.

In 2007, we concentrated on only obtaining Colts’ autographs, since they are our local team. We greatly appreciated the autographs we got back from players like Dallas Clark and Jeff Saturday, head coach Tony Dungy, and even owner Jim Irsay. But we didn’t get one from Lilja.

The 2007 We Care auction was a distant memory when I got a small letter in my mailbox. It was a little note, written on a piece of stationary from some small college. It was from Lilja. He was apologizing that he had just found our note. He seemed upset that he had missed our deadline. He offered that if there was anything we needed, all we had to do was ask. Then, he gave me his email address.

Wow.

It’s one thing to apologize; maybe another to give a fleeting offer of help, but then by giving his e-mail address, I felt Lilja was being genuine. At the time, though, I thought nothing more than a nice gesture and put the letter in my desk drawer.

Thankfully, I’m a pack-rat.

In the fall of 2008, we were getting ready to start our fall letter-writing campaign when the remnants of Hurricane Ike came sweeping through Southern Indiana. A hurricane in Indiana? Seriously? Well, it was serious enough to knock the power out in the county and close school for an entire week.

By the time we recovered from that and surviving the state’s mandatory testing, it was October and we were in jeopardy of not having enough time to hear back from any players before the auction date.

And then I remembered the letter. Thankfully, it was still safely tucked inside my desk right beside some mints I’m sure I got in my first year of teaching.

I took a chance and emailed Lilja, explaining our predicament. Within a day, I had a response. Lilja was all too happy to help. We sent in a football and Lilja signed it, along with nine more of his teammates. Lilja and I exchanged a few e-mails and I thanked him once the ball arrived. All the time, Lilja was friendly and eager to help.  

Hey, I even became a hero in the classroom. Their teacher was emailing a real NFL player!

The ball auctioned for $200. Thanks to Lilja, the money raised helped clothe three or four more kids in our community. Some of the students that received clothing were in my own class. A small gesture by Lilja touched the lives of everyone in my class, and everyone who received clothes because of the time he took to help.

Lilja ended up missing the entire 2008 season due to injury. He’s back for 2009 and he may have a little fan club going into this season.

Last week, one of the students from that class came up to me. He said that his father had read where Lilja was back and eager to play after missing 2008.
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“I’m glad he’s back, “ said the student, “He’s such a nice guy.”

That he is.

Colts Preseason Game 3 Vs. the Lions: A Game That Really Matters

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Earlier this week, Ross Tucker and Don Banks from Sports Illustrated had columns discussing why they like and don’t like the preseason respectively. Frankly, the preseason probably falls somewhere in between.

The strike against the preseason is there are simply too many games. With training camp and OTAs, a NFL coaching staff does not need four preseason games to determine their roster. Also, there are the injury issues. No one wants to see their star player go down in a meaningless game, which is why fans usually end up paying regular season prices to watch backup players.

However, the preseason is a necessity. There is no substitute for game experience. Starters need a chance to get in-sync with each other during live competition. Coaches need a chance to evaluate rookies and backups in real game situations.

During the preseason, no game matters more than the third game for two important reasons. First, it’s the game where traditionally the starters stay on the field the longest and fans can get their best barometer of how their team stacks up for the season, even if the final score doesn’t count.  Secondly, it’s the last chance for the reserves to prove they deserve a roster spot before significant cuts are made the following week.

How, then, did the Colts stack up in their 18-17 loss to the Detroit Lions in their third preseason game?

Offense

So much for being multi-dimensional. Peyton Manning and the Colts started with a magnificent opening drive, though the drive was predominantly a passing one. The Colts only attempted one rush. The drive ended with a Manning touchdown pass to Dallas Clark. Manning and Clark were really the story of the offense while they were in the game. Manning was 12 of 15 for 123 yards and a touchdown. Half of Manning’s completions went to Clark, who ended up with 63 yards to go with the one touchdown.

The Colts’ will go as far as Manning takes them, but Clark could very well be the most important receiver. Clark’s versatility allows him to play the tight end or slot position. Clark can even be used in the running game, as a play action fake to him set up a huge Joseph Addai gain on a screen early in the third quarter.

As sharp as the passing game was, the running game sputtered. Addai and rookie Donald Brown combined to gain only 38 yards on 12 carries against the league’s worst rushing defense in 2008. Their 3.1 yards per carry average is a far cry from 6.3 average they had in the first two preseason games.  Addai, however, did have an excellent cut on a key forth down play that set up Brown’s go-ahead touchdown.

Defense

Late in the first quarter, Colts’ color commentator Mark Hermann commented, after the Lions picked up a long third down, that Dante Culpepper was taking what the defense was giving him. Apparently, the Colts defense was feeling very generous today.

The Colts’s bend but don’t break philosophy was in full view today and is evident in the difference in the stat lines for the Lions’ top two quarterbacks, Culpepper and rookie Matthew Stafford, in this game versus their last preseason game against the Cleveland Browns.

Culpepper/Stafford vs. the Browns: 15-for-29 120 yards, 1 interception.

Culpepper/Stafford vs. the Colts: 20-for-31 227, 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

The Colts surrendered over three more yards per pass attempt than the Browns did last week. That may be cause for concern, especially considered Stafford had an under 50% completion rate (he was over 68% against the Colts).

Early on, the Colts let the Lions convert two long third downs by getting burned on screen plays. Screens and draws were plays the Colts’ repeated outran last year. It was disappointing to see the Colts make these same mistakes again.

The rushing defense did not perform much better. While the interior of the defensive line did a tremendous job of limited inside runs, the Lions managed to get the outside and into the second and third levels of the Colts’ defense. Starting running back Kevin Smith managed to get 50 yards on just eight carries, mostly with runs to the outside.

Is there a silver lining? Giving up only 18 points in a game is usually the formula for victory in the NFL. However, the Colts gave up over 400 yards of offense…to the Lions. The score could have been worse had the Lions not squandered some opportunities with penalties and a failed fourth down conversion. The Colts won’t be able to give up 400 yards to teams like the Patriots or Titans and still expect to win.

Special Teams

The Colts’ special teams play today was pretty nondescript. That’s a  good thing if you are talking about kick coverage. The Lions really did not really break a big run against the Colts’ coverage. Of course, it’s not a good thing when your return game is nondescript. The Lions did a good job of covering kicks, but the Colts simply do not have a threat in the return game. While it’s nice that the coverage teams aren’t giving up big plays, it would be very beneficial for the Colts to have returner that could give Manning and the offense some quality field position.

Roster Roundup

With the first major cuts just a few days away, which guys helped or hurt their case for a roster spot?

Stock Rising

Michael Tuiliili. Tuiliili made the defensive highlights on consecutive plays for the Colts in the second half. Facing third and short near the Colts’ goal line, the Lions twice ran the ball up the middle, and twice Tuiliili was there with a big stop on defense. It’s those types of plays that may help Tuiliili land one of the remaining roster spots.

Pierre Garcon. Garcon wasn’t in risk of getting cut. However, Garcon was desperately trailing Austin Collie in the competition for the third receiver. Garcon may not have caught up, but his 63 yard catch and run showed he has a lot of potential.

Stock Falling

Nick Graham & Dante Hughes: These two are starting to look like the odd men out when the cuts come for the secondary. Neither showed play making ability when the Lions made their comeback in the fourth quarter. The Colts’ defensive backs played off the Lions’ receivers throughout the game, but needing a stop, Graham and Hughes did nothing to make themselves stand out. Derrick William’s 40 yard catch against Graham was a particular low light.

In the end, the Colts can come away from this loss with some positives. Manning and his receivers look to be in top form. The offensive line’s pass protection is infinitely better than it was against the Vikings two games ago, and the defensive interior looks like it will be able to slow down the run.

But, too many times in this game there were flash backs to 2008. No running game. A defense that just can’t get off the field and misses too many tackles. With only one preseason game remaining, the Colts still have some work to do before opening the season against division rival Jacksonville.

Colts Preseason: Some Questions Answered, but Others Remain

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Two down. Two to go.

We’re at the halfway point of the NFL preseason. For most fans, this means we are just that much closer to seeing games that really matter.  However, for the Indianapolis Colts, there is a lot about this preseason that matters just as much as the opening game against the rival Jacksonville Jaguars.

The media mantra this offseason has been how the Colts will handle all the changes they have faced. Many have predicted that the Colts apocalypse is upon us. As long as Peyton Manning leads the Colts, most fans know that the situation is not that dire. However, there were a list of questions.

So, what have we learned after two games? Surprisingly, quite a lot.

 

The Colts Have Found Their Third Receiver

I made three trips to Colts training camp in Terre Haute, Indiana. While there, two players stayed after a practice session to work on drills by themselves. Obviously, one was Peyton Manning, the one man in the world that may actually enjoy training camp. The other? Austin Collie. The rookie from BYU remained on the field on hot August morning to run routes and make cuts for about 45 minutes. Alone.

It’s little wonder that Collie is leading the Colts in receiving in the preseason. Before camp, the man penciled into this spot was second year Mount Union product, Pierre Garcon. Garcon, though, has two drops in the preseason. That’s the same number of receptions he has had. Garcon may have been touted by General Manager Bill Polian as the breakout player for 2009, but it’s hard to ignore Collie’s work ethic and production so far. Collie seems a natural fit for the Colts in the slot.

 

The Colts Offense Will Not Be As One-Dimensional in 2009

Last season, the Colts were 31st in the league in rushing. Joseph Addai was hampered by injuries and the veteran Dominic Rhodes could not repeat the success of his first stint in the Colts uniform. As a result, the Colts drafted Donald Brown.

So far, it looks like Polian’s plan is paying off.

Addai and Brown have combined for 85 yards rushing on only 12 carries. Addai is a productive back, but doesn’t have the frame to be an every-down player. Addai was most productive in 2006, when he and Rhodes combined for 1700 yards and 12 touchdowns. Addai and Brown will keep each other fresh, and the line is improved after getting guard Ryan Lilja back after he missed all of 2008. The Colts will be a much improved rushing team, which will make the passing offense even more effective.

 

The Colts Are Learning to Live Without Bob Sanders…Because They Have to

There’s no denying that Sanders is an absolutely fantastic football player. The 2007 Defensive Player of the Year is a playmaker, when he’s on the field. Unfortunately for the Colts, that isn’t nearly as often as they would like.

Sanders missed nine games during the 2008 season after starting 15 games in his award-winning 2007 campaign. History suggests that Sanders will have a healthy year in 2009, but there are already hints that this year may be a repeat of last year.  

Sanders is already a question mark for the season opener against Jacksonville, and the announcement that he will be visiting Dr. Andrews, one of the leading sports physicians, is not a good sign that his knee is in regular season shape.

However, the Colts can win without Sanders.

The biggest myth in media is that the Colts are sunk without No. 21 in the defensive backfield. Facts are that Sanders was absent during a majority of the games when the Colts finished 2008 on a nine-game winning streak. Also, the Colts set a record by allowing only six passing touchdowns all year.

Not bad for a defense that did not have their leader most of the time.

In the preseason, the replacements have faired very well. Melvin Bullit recorded a sack on Donovan McNabb in the second game, and speedster Matt Giordano is leading the team in tackles. Even without Sanders, safety is one of the deepest positions on the Colts roster. They’ll be just fine with or without Sanders in the lineup.

 

The Colts Will Keep Three Quarterbacks.

For the last several years, the Colts quarterback depth chart has had two names.

Peyton Manning and Jim Sorgi.

This year, though, the Colts spend a sixth round pick on Purdue’s Curtis Painter. Painter’s been a quick fan favorite having been born and raised in Indiana. However, it’s his play that has gotten the attention of the Colts’ staff. Painter has shown some mobility against the aggressive defenses of the Vikings and Eagles. His arm is significantly stronger than Sorgi’s.

Sorgi will remain Manning’s backup, but Painter has shown enough potential that it may be worth it to keep him on the team.

It’s always nice to figure some things out about your team as the preseason winds down. However, there are several questions that remain for the Colts before the season kicks off in about three weeks.

 

Who Will Be the Starting Left Tackle?

The Colts are a legitimate threat to reach the Super Bowl this year. Nothing, however, will derail these dreams faster than having a scrub protecting the blind side of the Colts’ best player.

Tony Ugoh may go down in history as the one black mark on Polian’s drafting resume. The Colts dealt a first round pick to acquire Ugoh in the second round in 2007. After a promising rookie year, Ugoh has failed to live up to the hype. He was finally benched in training camp this year after perennial backup Charlie Johnson recovered from an injury. Johnson is a solid player, best known for his superb job filling in for Ryan Diem in the Super Bowl against Chicago.

However, Johnson is not a long term answer at left tackle.

Ugoh may never live up to his potential.

The third option had been Corey Hilliard. Hilliard, who was praised early in camp, was so horrendous in the opening game against the Vikings that he was cut just days later.

If Johnson or Ugoh do not step up to make a firm claim on the left tackle spot, do not be surprised if the Colts go fishing when the first round of wavers come up.

 

Will Larry Coyer’s Defense Stop the Bend, But Don’t Break approach?

Coyer’s hire signaled that the Colts would play a more aggressive style of defense. In 2008, the Colts ranked near the bottom in third down conversion percentage. The Colts did not give up a lot of points, but opposing teams spent too much time on the field. Coyer’s defenses have a reputation of getting after the quarterback and getting off the field on third down.

However, the results have been mixed in the first two games.

Against Minnesota, the Vikings took the opening drive and converted on fourth down twice before eventually scoring a touchdown. For the night, the Vikings dominated the time of possession by nearly 20 minutes.

The Colts played a completely different game against the Eagles in game two. Twice they sacked Donovan McNabb, forcing a fumble on one. The Colts were winners in time of possession.  The result? The Colts ran 26 more plays on offense against Philadelphia than they did against Minnesota. That’s quite a difference.

It’s hard to judge how Coyer’s defense will do until a pattern is set. That may be difficult as the Colts have been without over half of their projected starters during part or all of the preseason.

Still, the two remaining preseason games are against two of the more dismal franchises in the NFL, the Detroit Lions and the Cincinnati Bengals. Even a depleted defense should perform well in the next two games. If the Lions and Bengals can dominate possession, it may give the league a blueprint for keeping Manning and the offense at bay.

 

What Remaining Position Battles Will Be Decided in the Last Two Games?

There are two positions in particular to watch for in the last two games. Running back and defensive tackle.

At running back, the Colts are going to have to cut a quality player. Brown and Addai are locks, so that leaves three guys battling for one, maybe two, spots.

Mike Hart, a second year player from Michigan, is coming back from a major knee injury. He only had two carries in his rookie year, but the Colts like his knack for picking up the hard yards between the tackles.

Chad Simpson started 2008 on the practice squad, but eventually made his way to the team and contributed in the running game and on special teams. Despite good reviews from training camp, Simpson has done little to impress so far in the preseason games.

Lance Ball is last on the depth chart, but has been the Colts’ workhorse so far. His 23 carries are nearly three times more than the next running back. The Colts may be giving Ball a hard look. Ball played only one game last year, but was spectacular against the Titans in the season finale, tallying 83 yards on just 13 carries.

If they keep one, it will likely be Hart if the Colts believe he’s healthy enough. Give Ball the edge on Simpson if the Colts feel they need another back.

At defense tackle, the battle is getting interesting. The Colts made a point of adding some beef to the defensive line. Five of the eight men on the roster weigh over 300 pounds. Two of the others are above 290. The Colts will likely keep six players as they have historically used a rotation to keep the linemen fresh.

The biggest acquisition for the Colts in 2009 may actually be the resigning of Ed Johnson. Johnson was cut early in 2008 after violating team policies. His return immediately added some experience to a very young defensive line. Johnson has bulked up, and has been the most impressive tackle in camp.

Another Johnson, this one Antonio, is likely to be named the other starter.  This Johnson was plucked from the Titans’ practice squad last year and amassed 31 tackles in his short time with the Colts.

The Colts also spent two draft picks to add depth to the position. Fili Moala and Terrance Taylor are both likely to make the team, but the most impressive rookie so far as been free agent signing Adrian Grady. Grady has led all linemen in tackles after two games. While a bit undersized at 6’1”, 290, Grady may have the motor to make the team.

With rotational player Daniel Muir likely to secure a spot, the odd men out appear to be rookie free agent John Gill, and veteran Eric Foster. Foster, whose touchdown saving tackle on Willie Parker saved the win at Pittsburgh last year, may lose a spot since he is nearly 30 pounds lighter than all the other defensive tackles.

 

Who Could Be the Colts Diamond in the Rough?

Every year, Polian seems to find a free agent rookie who ends up making a big impact on the team. It very well could be Grady at defensive tackle, but another free agent could end up making an impact in the Colts defensive secondary.

Jacob Lacey, from Oklahoma State, has been a solid contributor to the defense through the halfway point of the preseason. Lacey has five tackles, but more impressively, leads the team with six passes defended. While the cornerback position is fairly crowded, the rookie Lacey may be doing enough to push out one of the veterans like Dante Hughes or Michael Coe.  

There are definitely many things for Colts fans to watch for, especially in the third preseason game against Detroit. The 2009 Colts team is starting to take shape, and hopefully the Colts will answer their remaining questions by their September 13th date with the Jaguars.

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