This is the second installment of our analysis on the Colts schedule. If you haven't yet read my first article it is worth a read, it will give a little bit of background. I predicted the Colts will end up going 13-3 this season.
Here is the first quarter:
Week 1
9/11 @ Houston Texans 1:00 PM CBS
This is a little bit of deja vu for the Colts. We open in Houston last season and got torched. Despite Manning having a career day with 433 yds and 3 TDs, Houston rushed for 257 total yards. Indy came out flat and Houston came out firing on all cylinders. I don't see this happening twice in a row. The Colts got revenge last year on Houston Monday night at the Luke. Due to the beat down we took last season, we won't let it happen again. Our offense is too much for that poor pass defense.
Colts win 31-17
1-0
Week 2
9/18 CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00 PM CBS
Umm, its Cleveland. Aside from Carolina, this may be the easiest game on the schedule. I think the one scare is Peyton Hillis. He is an absolute tank. I think our run defense will be much improved with Moala, Mookie, and Muir, plus an entirely healthy defense. Offensively the Browns defense cannot match up with us. We run away with this game and Peyton [Manning] has a huge performance.
Colts win 38-14
2-0
Week 3
9/25 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 8:20 PM NBC
This will be a great early season test. To this point the Colts have had their way against a couple poor defenses. Pittsburgh is a legit defense. However they are coming into our house. They can pound the ball on the ground, but again look for the defense to be much more improved. Our offense will end up being too much for this defense (I mean Manning has seen this defense a number of times in his career, he'll be ready). Its a nail biter, but home field and prime time are two huge factors to consider. The 12th man plays a big part in this game.
Colts win 21-17
3-0
Week 4
10/3 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8:30 PM ESPN
This game scares me the most on this first four games. Sure Pittsburgh will be tough and @ Houston will provide a similar challenge to last season, but this one seems scary to me. Tampa is a good up and upcoming team. I don't know too much about them except last season every time I would look I would see that TB had a W next to their name. Josh Freeman, their quarterback, is an up and coming player, and they have a formidable offense. They simply find a way to win. I think the thing that will help the Colts most in this game is the fact that it is taking place in primetime. The Colts get up for prime times games. If it wasn't prime time I would choose Tampa. Since it is, the Colts get big and flex their muscles on national TV.
Colts win 27-24
4-0
Conclusion
Tomorrow we will deal with the second quarter of the season. I will choose losses, I promise. But I really believe in this team. If healthy (and that's a huge asterisk) this team conceivable could go undefeated. They are that good.
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Showing posts with label Indianapolis Colts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indianapolis Colts. Show all posts
Offensive Tackle
The main need in the minds of many Colts fans is an offensive lineman. Most mock drafts have us selecting an O Tackle. However, I think there maybe some other pressing needs in the minds of the front office such as... well just read my most recent post. Then again Polian said Manning's impending retirement is sooner than it has ever been (which keep in mind is true every offseason, but the veteran quarterback is 35 years old), which might lead to the selecting of the insurance poicy (like a Left Tackle). The Colts are drafting 22nd this year, highest since 2002, so this could be promising, not to mention there are a number of good tackle prospects.Here we go.
5. Derek SherrodSchool: Miss St. Height: 6'5" Weight: 321 lbs Class: Senior
Sherrod has good arm length, and a great initial first step in pass protection. He does well against speed rushers. He has the quickness to seal the edge (remember the good 'ol stretch play?). He is a bit of a finesse player in the run game and lacks nastiness. He is also experienced (senior) and that is something that would be beneficial to the Colts, we are not looking for a "project" we are looking for someone who could come in and possibly contribute immediately. All indications point to Sherrod as a starting LT in the NFL. If he is ready if we select him, it could go, from left to right:
Sherrod, Charlie Johnson, Jeff Saturday, Mike Pollack/Kyle DeVan, Ryan Diem
To see the source of most of my information for Sherrod, go to draftbreakdown.
4. Nate Solder
School: Colorado Height: 6'9" Weight: 315 lbs Class: Senior
Solder spent a couple years at tight end, but made a seamless transition to LT in 2008. Solder gained 30 pounds from his Tight End days, but remained surprisingly quick. He is strong and quick and has gone up against some of the nation's best D ends. Solder's stock seems to be slipping a big, but he is a project, no question, but the upside is enormous. The question is then will the Colts select a player who is not ready, or at least close to ready to get into the mix. Some are saying that Solder cannot handle some of the speed rushers of the NFL. Again the lineup with Solder could look something like this:Solder, Charlie Johnson, Jeff Saturday, Mike Pollack/Kyle DeVan, Ryan Diem
To read the article I used, click here.
3. Gabe Carimi
School: Wisconsin Height: 6'7" Weight: 314 lbs Class: RS-Senior
Carimi has a soft spot in my heart, as I am a huge Badger fan, and I would love to have him on our team. Carimi took over the position after Joe Thomas went to the Browns as their standout Left Tackle, and has done a great job. I had a friend joke with me that Wisconsin's offensive line was better than the Colt's last year, and I never think a college team is better than a pro team at anything ever, but Wisconsin had a legit O-line. In pass blocking Carimi has a nice kick step and good quickness. Run Blocking is probably his most complete aspect of his game. Powerful at the point of attack and an ideal drive blocker. Carimi too is experienced (5 years with the Red Shirt) and he never seems fooled or out of position. Again if Carimi was ready when being drafted the lineup could look like this:Carimi, Charlie Johnson, Jeff Saturday, Mike Pollack/Kyle DeVan, Ryan Diem
To read the full article, go to draftbreakdown.
2. Tyron Smith
School: USC Height: 6'5" Weight: 307 lbs Class: Junior
Most have Tyron Smith at the top of this list, but for some reason I don't see this guy being a Colt. Whether it is because he is an underclassmen, or what, he does doesn't seem to fit our mold. Don't get me wrong, he is a skillful player. Smith has long arms, which helps him in pass blocking. Smith is a talented athlete who has the chance to excel as a run blocker and can get to the second level pretty quickly. He is quick on his feet, and shows natural athleticism. Smith is a great prospect, but he is younger (compare to Carimi's 5 years of experience, Smith has 3). We are the type of team that wants to win now. If Smith were ready and inserted in the starting lineup right away he would most likely push CJ inside, and the lineup upfront would look something like:
Smith, Charlie Johnson, Jeff Saturday, Mike Pollack/Kyle DeVan, Ryan Diem
Read the source for this article.
1. Anthony Castonzo
School: Boston College Height: 6'7" Weight: 311 Class: Senior
Castonzo is a pretty high draft choice on a lot of boards. He is a senior, and is a top 20 overall pick on the big board. His best possible attribute could be his pass blocking. He is quick off the snap, and has good lateral movement. Castonzo lacks the power in his frame to be a drive blocker, and combined with his athleticism it is apparent that his talents may be best suited for a zone blocking scheme. He is once again an experienced player, as a senior, and one that the Colts would be looking for if he fell to them in the NFL draft. He is a good pass blocker, which is something we tend to look for when drafting a player. Once again, if you haven't figured out the pattern, this is what it may look like if Castonzo is drafted and inserted into the Colts starting lineup.Castonzo, Charlie Johnson, Jeff Saturday, Mike Pollack/Kyle DeVan, Ryan Diem
The original source.
I'm not sure if the Colts will even have the option to draft Smith or Castonzo, they could be gone by 22nd overall pick. I would love to see the Colts select Carimi or Sherrod. Both are solid pass blockers, which is essential to protecting the franchise, but I also like both of their ability to get out and run the stretch. I think Castonzo would be a solid fit, I'm just not sure if we will see him at 22.
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Empty
But tonight I watched the entire Butler-UConn game, and I was pulling hard for Butler. The Indianapolis connection really intrigued me, and I mean its not like they are my favorite team, they took out the Badgers, and that stunk a little bit, but I wanted Butler to win, no doubt.
But I was sitting here reading for a class and just thinking about sports in general, and my girlfriend gives me a hard time about how I need to give up sports (and she's only kidding, I hope...), and I was thinking about the futility of it. I have had this post rattling around in my head for the past couple of years, and I'm just now getting it out there.
Sports are futile. And I know this, but lets think about it practically for a couple of seconds. No matter who you cheer for, you will almost always be disappointed with the outcome of a season. As Butler fans know, this is two years in a row, where they got all the way to the end, and came up short. And as Steelers fans can attest, they played a great season, only to be taken out to the superior sixth seeded Green Bay Packers (you do the logic in your head). All I am saying is, that except for the 2006 NFL season, I end each year, no matter what sport, it has ended in disappointment, but I always come back for more! Why do I do this?
One thing is that the ride is incredible. Following a team in such a way as I do the Colts or Badger football or basketball is just ridiculously crazy, and its fun!
But at the end of the day it will always run out, only UConn fans are excited about their team's collegiate basketball season. There must be more to life.
This became a very real truth to me following Super Bowl XLI. All season, and most of my life, I was rooting hard for the Colts to win this thing. A lot of efforts, studying, and cheering was done in order to see that the Colts would win the whole thing. Finally my time came! I was so pumped.
Then what happened? I went to basketball practice, just like every other day. Nothing changed. Nothing was different. But even though I rooted and cheered and agonized over this season why did it feel like nothing changed. Because the reality was that nothing did change. I love sports, but I need to be careful to not elevate sports, and the Colts above other more important things in my life. Sports will always leave you feeling empty. Sure maybe you are a UConn fan and you're on cloud nine tonight, but a year from now, they most likely won't be on the same place, that is why we need to have our hope in something other than sports. Other than things. Other than people. There truly is only one thing that is unchanging, and never ending.
Butler fans, I feel for you, but just remember that this will happen again. And sports, and things, and people will let you down. Only a life filled with Christ will give you complete satisfaction. Seek in him today, and find your self worth in him, not in the UConn Huskies.
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What's the Deal with the Offense
Whats the problem?
I think its personnel, and personally this is why I think Manning is the greatest.
In my previous post I incorporated the regular season records from the most recent decade, and it marked the team's consistency. In the last 13 seasons, NFL team rosters have turned over, and new and improved players have come aboard. 13 seasons ago, and all the way up until 2009, the Colts number one receiver was Marvin Harrison. In 1996 Harrison was drafted 19th overall by the Indianapolis Colts. Harrison was the Colts number one receiver for multiple years. In 2001 the team selected Reggie Wayne as the next receiver to lead the team. But for multiple seasons Wayne and Harrison ran routes on either side of the field, making it a nightmare for defenses. In 2003 the Colts signed Brandon Stokley and drafted Dallas Clark. Also don't forget Edgerrin James was in there. With those five weapons, and arguably the best quarterback in the league, there is no doubt why the team's offense was, at times, unstoppable.
If you notice, in 1998, Manning's rookie season, which is when the team began its run of dominance, the receiving corps of many teams were very different. The Colts have consistently drafted in the 20's and 30's of the first round, and therefore bringing their chances of hitting on a home-run rookie lower and lower.
Though injuries took away players like Clark, Collie, Gonzalez, and Addai this season, I still think the biggest hurdle for our offense is Pierre Garcon.
Had these injuries set in and the man to the right of Manning was Harrison (obviously in his prime) the season would have been much different. But with the Colts consistency, they have not been able to draft very high in early rounds, so not only has this hurt the skill positions, but also the offensive line, and the running game, etc. Like I said Harrison was the Colts first round pick, Garcon? He was selected in the 6th round.
Pierre is skilled, but his deficiencies, especially in catching the ball, has really hurt the Colts in the past two season. I just remember, sitting on my couch, watching Super Bowl XLIV and seeing that ball hit Garcon right in between the 8 and the 5 and then fall to the ground. It was the turning point, and the onside kick over shadowed it, but his drops have been something that we didn't see much out of Harrison.
I hope his hands don't come back to bite the Colts, but you never can tell with this guy. Sometimes you get some of the most spectacular catches, and other times you get the drop.
Luck of the Draft
Take for example Matt Leinart from USC. In 2005, after coming off a Heisman winning season, Leinart decided to stay in college instead of coming out and he would have been the number one pick. Instead the San Francisco 49ers chose Alex Smith of Utah. The following year Leinart slipped to 10th and was the 2nd quarterback that was taken. Had Leinart come out the previous year then Smith wouldn't have been the number one pick, and therefore we don't know what would have happened to current Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was the second quarterback taken in that draft, if Leinart was one, and Smith was two, then where would Rodgers be? Who knows what would have happened to Leinart who never panned out in Arizona and is now a backup to Matt Shaub in Houston. Leinart's decision affected the 49ers, the Cardinals, and the Packers. One decision affected the outcome of 3 (or even more) teams.
It looks like Bradford made the right decision, and Leinart made the wrong one. It looks like the Rams have a franchise quarterback, and the 49ers have another major decision to make.
The Quarterback is the face of the franchise and the leader of the team, in today's NFL you need a solid quarterback to lead your squad. These decisions affect franchises and lives of people. If Carolina drafted Luck they could be the Indianapolis Colts, or they could become the San Francisco 49ers. Andrew Luck could be the next Peyton Manning, or the next Alex Smith. You never know.
Luck's decision got me thinking about Peyton Manning. In 1997 Manning decided to return to college. Had Manning come out, he would have been a New York Jet. The following season, when Manning entered the NFL it was the Indianapolis Colts who owned the number one pick, and they took Peyton. The Jets lost out on their chance. One decision, two franchises directly affected.
Since Manning has been drafted the record by the respective teams are:
Colts 141-67
Jets 111-97
This is truly the Colts golden era, all the records are held by recent players, all because of that number one overall pick in 1998.
It's either ironic, or a coincidence that the Jets are the team that is coming into town this week. There are plenty of things that could have taken place in between now and then, but lets just imagine the script was flipped.
The Indianapolis Colts were traveling to the New Meadow lands stadium this weekend to face the third seeded Jets. Peyton Manning is wearing a green and white number 18, and the Colts young quarterback Mark Sanchez is sporting the number six in blue and white. Last year the Colts hired a bold, audacious young coach by the name of Rex Ryan, and the Jets are going into a similar situation after recently losing coach Herman Edwards to retirement with their second year head coach, Jim Caldwell.Yeah, I know its weird to think about, trust me I wanted to stop writing it. Plenty of things can happen, but look at what one decision did to an NFL franchise. I mean had Peyton not come to Indy
-They probably would not be making their record 9th consecutive playoff appearance.
-They probably would not have Jim Caldwell as their head coach.
-They probably would not be an offensive minded team.
Manning coming to Indy has influence countless decisions by the Colts, and where a player lands in the draft affects the decisions of a franchise for years after that. You build around the quarterback.
There are a lot of similarities in this situation. Both Luck and Manning were thought to be the number one player to come out of the draft. Both quarterback's led their college team to success. Both quarterbacks stayed in college for another season. Luck can only hope that the deja vu doesn't stop there, but continues on as he dives into an NFL career.We could go on creating would have been scenarios, and look at who was taken in the draft in place of who, but it comes down to the on the field performance with whatever players are dealt to you. All I know is that 13 years ago a young quarterback decided to stay in college, leaving the Jets without their possible franchise quarterback, and it was the greatest decision ever in Indianapolis Colts history. Carolina looks like its missing out this season, and next season some poor NFL franchise could quite possibly be receiving the best Luck they could have asked for.
Early Colts Schedule Outlook
The schedules were released a few days ago, and I'm here to talk about the Colts' schedule. I can sum it up in one word: KILLER. It sucks when you are in a division with 3 other teams that actually can contend. It doesn't help that they are playing the AFC North, who has Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Good thing Favre retired, or else we could feasibly be playing 5 teams that could win Super Bowl XLIII. Here's the schedule*, and which games I think are guaranteed wins and what games the Colts will have to play their best to win.
1
9/7
CHICAGO BEARS
8:15 PM
NBC
2
9/14
@ Minnesota Vikings
1:00 PM
CBS
3
9/21
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
4:15 PM
CBS
4
9/28
BYE
-
none
5
10/5
@ Houston Texans
1:00 PM
CBS
6
10/12
BALTIMORE RAVENS
1:00 PM
CBS
7
10/19
@ Green Bay Packers
4:15 PM
CBS
8
10/27
@ Tennessee Titans
8:30 PM
ESPN
9
11/2
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
8:15 PM
NBC
10
11/9
@ Pittsburgh Steelers
4:15 PM
CBS
11
11/16
HOUSTON TEXANS
1:00 PM
CBS
12
11/23
@ San Diego Chargers
8:15 PM
NBC
13
11/30
@ Cleveland Browns
1:00 PM
CBS
14
12/7
CINCINNATI BENGALS
1:00 PM
CBS
15
12/14
DETROIT LIONS
1:00 PM
FOX
16
12/18
@ Jacksonville Jaguars
8:15 PM
NFL Network
17
12/28
TENNESSEE TITANS
1:00 PM
CBS
Guaranteed Wins
v. Chicago Bears, v. Houston Texans, v. Detroit Lions, v. Cincinnati Bengals, v. Baltimore Ravens, @ Houston Texans, @ Green Bay Packers
The schedule is so tough, I can only find seven games right now that don't worry me at all. The Bears, Lions, Bengals, and Ravens are going to be cellar-dwellers in their divisions. The Packers are too one-dimensional, and the Texans can't beat the Colts.
Probable Wins
@ Minnesota Vikings, @ Tennessee Titans, v. Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Colts are near unbeatable at home in the regular season, and it will be interesting to see if there will be any differences with the move to Lucas Oil Stadium or "The Lube" as it is called. That's why I think the Jags are NOT going to beat the Colts at home. The Titans and Vikings could beat the Colts, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Will Be Close, but the Colts are going to be favored
@ Pittsburgh Steelers, @ Cleveland Browns, v. Tennessee Titans.
The Titans game is only up here is because of the chances that the starters won't be playing after the first quarter. The Browns and Steelers will be tough, but I don't see the games being blowouts either way.
Bring Your A Game, Colts
v. New England Patriots, @ Jacksonville Jaguars, @ San Diego Chargers.
Versus the Chargers-REVENGE! Versus the Patriots-Sort of revenge, but I want to crush them regardless of previous outcomes. Versus the Jaguars-This. Is. Our. Division.
My Prediction: 13-3. I see the Colts beating every team on the schedule besides the road game against Jacksonville, the Titans home game, and the Browns game. The Browns are looking for revenge, the Jags are going to be great, and the Titans will be playing the scrubs. The Colts will be the number two seed in the AFC behind the Patriots. This year, however, they will go all the way.
*Courtesy of Colts.com
1
9/7
CHICAGO BEARS
8:15 PM
NBC
2
9/14
@ Minnesota Vikings
1:00 PM
CBS
3
9/21
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
4:15 PM
CBS
4
9/28
BYE
-
none
5
10/5
@ Houston Texans
1:00 PM
CBS
6
10/12
BALTIMORE RAVENS
1:00 PM
CBS
7
10/19
@ Green Bay Packers
4:15 PM
CBS
8
10/27
@ Tennessee Titans
8:30 PM
ESPN
9
11/2
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
8:15 PM
NBC
10
11/9
@ Pittsburgh Steelers
4:15 PM
CBS
11
11/16
HOUSTON TEXANS
1:00 PM
CBS
12
11/23
@ San Diego Chargers
8:15 PM
NBC
13
11/30
@ Cleveland Browns
1:00 PM
CBS
14
12/7
CINCINNATI BENGALS
1:00 PM
CBS
15
12/14
DETROIT LIONS
1:00 PM
FOX
16
12/18
@ Jacksonville Jaguars
8:15 PM
NFL Network
17
12/28
TENNESSEE TITANS
1:00 PM
CBS
Guaranteed Wins
v. Chicago Bears, v. Houston Texans, v. Detroit Lions, v. Cincinnati Bengals, v. Baltimore Ravens, @ Houston Texans, @ Green Bay Packers
The schedule is so tough, I can only find seven games right now that don't worry me at all. The Bears, Lions, Bengals, and Ravens are going to be cellar-dwellers in their divisions. The Packers are too one-dimensional, and the Texans can't beat the Colts.
Probable Wins
@ Minnesota Vikings, @ Tennessee Titans, v. Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Colts are near unbeatable at home in the regular season, and it will be interesting to see if there will be any differences with the move to Lucas Oil Stadium or "The Lube" as it is called. That's why I think the Jags are NOT going to beat the Colts at home. The Titans and Vikings could beat the Colts, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Will Be Close, but the Colts are going to be favored
@ Pittsburgh Steelers, @ Cleveland Browns, v. Tennessee Titans.
The Titans game is only up here is because of the chances that the starters won't be playing after the first quarter. The Browns and Steelers will be tough, but I don't see the games being blowouts either way.
Bring Your A Game, Colts
v. New England Patriots, @ Jacksonville Jaguars, @ San Diego Chargers.
Versus the Chargers-REVENGE! Versus the Patriots-Sort of revenge, but I want to crush them regardless of previous outcomes. Versus the Jaguars-This. Is. Our. Division.
My Prediction: 13-3. I see the Colts beating every team on the schedule besides the road game against Jacksonville, the Titans home game, and the Browns game. The Browns are looking for revenge, the Jags are going to be great, and the Titans will be playing the scrubs. The Colts will be the number two seed in the AFC behind the Patriots. This year, however, they will go all the way.
*Courtesy of Colts.com
Quick Colts Mock Draft
There is nothing really to explain. The Colts have 9 picks, and here's what I think they will do with them come draft weekend. I will not give us Chris Long, Darren McFadden, Keith Rivers, etc. This will be realistic.
2nd-Chris Johnson/RB/ECU
3rd-John Greco/OT/Toledo
4th-Rudolph Hardie/DE/Howard
5th-Arman Shields/WR/Richmond
6th-Joey Haynos/TE/Maryland
6th-Titus Brown/DE/Mississippi State
6th-Kory Lichtensteiger/C/Bowling Green
7th-Bernard Morris/QB/Marshall
All of these guys have been getting interest from the Colts. The only stretch on their is Lichtensteiger, who is projected as an early 6th rounder. I wish I could have fit in Jack Williams, but Hardie and Shields are too good to pass up right there. Corner isn't a huge need for now, depending on what we do with Hayden this offseason. With this draft, the big needs like running back, offensive line, and defensive end are covered. This may be the best possible draft.
2nd-Chris Johnson/RB/ECU
3rd-John Greco/OT/Toledo
4th-Rudolph Hardie/DE/Howard
5th-Arman Shields/WR/Richmond
6th-Joey Haynos/TE/Maryland
6th-Titus Brown/DE/Mississippi State
6th-Kory Lichtensteiger/C/Bowling Green
7th-Bernard Morris/QB/Marshall
All of these guys have been getting interest from the Colts. The only stretch on their is Lichtensteiger, who is projected as an early 6th rounder. I wish I could have fit in Jack Williams, but Hardie and Shields are too good to pass up right there. Corner isn't a huge need for now, depending on what we do with Hayden this offseason. With this draft, the big needs like running back, offensive line, and defensive end are covered. This may be the best possible draft.
What I Tell You???
Didn't someone say Rob Morris and Booger McFarland would be cut? I remember some great, intelligent blogger saying that Morris and McFarland wouldn't be back. Yep. I called it. Hopefully this luck carries over for March Madness. I would love to win some cash for my psychic ability. Too bad I will go with some homer pick like Notre Dame-Butler in the championship. It's just nature.
Well, if you made it through my ramblings, here is the link to the article. Just ignore the meaningless cuts below. I guess this didn't deserve a full article.
I love this move. According to Colts Cap, the Colts had about $2.58 million in cap, so this move should put them at about 10 million. What does that mean? Polian has some more leniency in the draft, free agency, and resigning. With $10 million, the Colts can resign Matt Giordano, Rocky Boiman, Derrell Reid, and Ben Utecht with enough cap space to sign all of our draft picks. This was a great move, Irsay and Polian. Cutting useless players, so we can improve our team with young players. Way to go. Now make my prediction of a Super Bowl XLIII win come true as well. I'm counting on you guys!
Well, if you made it through my ramblings, here is the link to the article. Just ignore the meaningless cuts below. I guess this didn't deserve a full article.
I love this move. According to Colts Cap, the Colts had about $2.58 million in cap, so this move should put them at about 10 million. What does that mean? Polian has some more leniency in the draft, free agency, and resigning. With $10 million, the Colts can resign Matt Giordano, Rocky Boiman, Derrell Reid, and Ben Utecht with enough cap space to sign all of our draft picks. This was a great move, Irsay and Polian. Cutting useless players, so we can improve our team with young players. Way to go. Now make my prediction of a Super Bowl XLIII win come true as well. I'm counting on you guys!
Catching Up On A Busy Week
I haven't blogged about the Colts for a while, so I have to catch up on two big stories.
Dallas Clark Gets the Franchise Tag and Signs Long-Term Almost Immediately: I wasn't surprised when Clark got the franchise tag. He is the best free agent the Colts had, and normally those players get the franchise tag even if they are expected to sign long term. What I didn't expect was him to sign so soon. It was less than a day after. Someone at Elias needs to see if that is a record. I thought it was a misprint on the ESPN Bottomline. He signed a 6 year contract. That's pretty long. He will be a Colt for the rest of Peyton's career and probably the rest of his.
Ryan Lilja Also Signs: Lilja or Scott? Lilja or Scott? I didn't care who they signed. They are pretty much the same player. I can't say which one is better, and I couldn't tell them apart if they were in a police lineup. However, I can't complain with the money Lilja got. I thought he would get 5 million dollars, but he only got 4. That's a pretty good sign. Hopefully that will leave some cap.
Current Cap Situation: According to coltscap.net, we have 2.5 million and change left. That's enough to resign Utecht or Giordano and Fletcher. With the imminent cuts, the Colts could get that number to between 10 and 14 million. That would be enough to resign all of the good free agents besides Scott, who everyone knows will leave with the Lilja signing. The Colts are in a good place with the cap. This offseason will be better than last year when the Colts lost everyone. Maybe we can put our sights on DeShaun Foster or Julius Jones. They should be pretty cheap. Hey, you never know...
Dallas Clark Gets the Franchise Tag and Signs Long-Term Almost Immediately: I wasn't surprised when Clark got the franchise tag. He is the best free agent the Colts had, and normally those players get the franchise tag even if they are expected to sign long term. What I didn't expect was him to sign so soon. It was less than a day after. Someone at Elias needs to see if that is a record. I thought it was a misprint on the ESPN Bottomline. He signed a 6 year contract. That's pretty long. He will be a Colt for the rest of Peyton's career and probably the rest of his.
Ryan Lilja Also Signs: Lilja or Scott? Lilja or Scott? I didn't care who they signed. They are pretty much the same player. I can't say which one is better, and I couldn't tell them apart if they were in a police lineup. However, I can't complain with the money Lilja got. I thought he would get 5 million dollars, but he only got 4. That's a pretty good sign. Hopefully that will leave some cap.
Current Cap Situation: According to coltscap.net, we have 2.5 million and change left. That's enough to resign Utecht or Giordano and Fletcher. With the imminent cuts, the Colts could get that number to between 10 and 14 million. That would be enough to resign all of the good free agents besides Scott, who everyone knows will leave with the Lilja signing. The Colts are in a good place with the cap. This offseason will be better than last year when the Colts lost everyone. Maybe we can put our sights on DeShaun Foster or Julius Jones. They should be pretty cheap. Hey, you never know...
In and Out
The Colts are getting to the time of inevitable cuts. All teams want to free up cap space for free agency. The Colts have always been a team with a little less cap than the rest of the league. Mike Peterson, Cato June, Marcus Washington, Larry Triplett, David Thorton, Nick Harper, Jason David, and Edgerrin James are just a few of the names of Colts that were not resigned because of money issues. Well, now the Colts are going to have to cut some people. These 3 will be the most probable cuts.
Booger McFarland-First of all, no one call him "Anthony". A nickname like Booger is far too awesome to be replaced with a dumb name like Anthony. Now, the reason he will get cut is because he is set to earn a boatload of cash this upcoming season. $6.85 million is just way too much for a defensive tackle coming off of a major knee injury. He's getting more money than Gary Brackett, Joseph Addai, and Marlin Jackson combined. He's gone. Ed Johnson is a better version of him for less money.
Rob Morris-With the emergence of Tyjuan Hagler and the stacked draft class of linebackers this year, he is really just taking up a roster spot. He can't defend the pass, which is basically what Tampa 2 linebackers have to be able to do to keep their job. He would earn $1.4 million in 2008.
Charlie Johnson-What can I say? Johnson is awful. He's one of the worst offensive linemen I've ever seen play for a Howard Mudd-coached Colts team. He cannot pick up the blitz, and he isn't strong enough to create lanes for running backs. He would earn $465,000 in 2008.
These three are just extra weight for the Colts. With their contracts gone, they would gain about $8.3 million by not having to pay their base salaries. Add that onto the already open cap, and the Colts will have $18 million open. However, most of that would not go to free agency. They still have to resign free agents.
If they resign Dallas Clark, Ryan Lilja, Jake Scott, Rocky Boiman, Ben Utecht, and Ed Johnson, they would have to pay around 17.6 for all of those guys using my contract guesstimations. Add that onto the draft money they would have to pay, and it would be over the salary cap. Last year, they paid around $3.18 million dollars on their draft picks besides Anthony Gonzalez. Since the Colts traded their first round pick this season for Tony Ugoh, I didn't add in the first rounder (props to shakennbaken.blogspot.com for first posting this info).
What does this mean for the Colts? Either Ryan Lilja or Jake Scott will not return at least for the money they could earn. I believe they could get around $5 million on the market each. If you let one of the go, the Colts would have enough money to pick up some free agents off the market. Here are the top 5 players the Colts should look at in free agency.
Derrick Ward/RB/New York Giants-It seems like the Giants have found their backs in Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, making Derrick Ward a probable free agent even with his restriction. Derrick Ward broke his leg halfway through the year, but he was one of the best receiving running backs in the league prior to the injury. If the Colts can afford him, he would be a great addition to the team as a third down/change of pace back.
Chris Clemons/DE/Oakland Raiders-The Colts had trouble getting pressure on Billy Volek and Phillip Rivers in the playoff loss, so a pass rusher wouldn't be a bad addition, especially for a cheap price. Josh Thomas should be gone, and the Colts need another defensive back to replace him as well.
Ernest Wilford/WR/Jacksonville Jaguars-The Colts need a very tall wide receiver. They need a Randy Moss but for the price of a second day pick. Ernest Wilford could give the Colts a deep threat who doesn't have to be extremely talented. He averaged 11.5 yards per catch last year, and that was the worst year of his career! He could be a valuable asset in the Colts offense.
Mike Doss/S/Minnesota Vikings-This idea has been brought up before, and I intend on keeping it alive. Doss was a very good player for the Colts, and if it weren't for his ACL tearing, the Colts secondary in 2006 would have been one of the deepest in recent NFL history. The Colts need another backup safety with experience. Doss fits that bill pretty well.
Isaac Sopoaga/DT/San Francisco 49ers-The Colts don't have a giant defensive tackle on the roster. Quinn Pitcock and Edward Johnson are both around 300 pounds, but they don't have the powerful defensive tackle that Corey Simon gave the Colts. Sopoaga could be that tackle.
These 5 players will all be inexpensive and should be good impact backups. None of them deserve to be starters, but they all could make a huge difference off of the bench.
*Courtesy to Coltscap.net for all of the contract information.
Booger McFarland-First of all, no one call him "Anthony". A nickname like Booger is far too awesome to be replaced with a dumb name like Anthony. Now, the reason he will get cut is because he is set to earn a boatload of cash this upcoming season. $6.85 million is just way too much for a defensive tackle coming off of a major knee injury. He's getting more money than Gary Brackett, Joseph Addai, and Marlin Jackson combined. He's gone. Ed Johnson is a better version of him for less money.
Rob Morris-With the emergence of Tyjuan Hagler and the stacked draft class of linebackers this year, he is really just taking up a roster spot. He can't defend the pass, which is basically what Tampa 2 linebackers have to be able to do to keep their job. He would earn $1.4 million in 2008.
Charlie Johnson-What can I say? Johnson is awful. He's one of the worst offensive linemen I've ever seen play for a Howard Mudd-coached Colts team. He cannot pick up the blitz, and he isn't strong enough to create lanes for running backs. He would earn $465,000 in 2008.
These three are just extra weight for the Colts. With their contracts gone, they would gain about $8.3 million by not having to pay their base salaries. Add that onto the already open cap, and the Colts will have $18 million open. However, most of that would not go to free agency. They still have to resign free agents.
If they resign Dallas Clark, Ryan Lilja, Jake Scott, Rocky Boiman, Ben Utecht, and Ed Johnson, they would have to pay around 17.6 for all of those guys using my contract guesstimations. Add that onto the draft money they would have to pay, and it would be over the salary cap. Last year, they paid around $3.18 million dollars on their draft picks besides Anthony Gonzalez. Since the Colts traded their first round pick this season for Tony Ugoh, I didn't add in the first rounder (props to shakennbaken.blogspot.com for first posting this info).
What does this mean for the Colts? Either Ryan Lilja or Jake Scott will not return at least for the money they could earn. I believe they could get around $5 million on the market each. If you let one of the go, the Colts would have enough money to pick up some free agents off the market. Here are the top 5 players the Colts should look at in free agency.
Derrick Ward/RB/New York Giants-It seems like the Giants have found their backs in Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, making Derrick Ward a probable free agent even with his restriction. Derrick Ward broke his leg halfway through the year, but he was one of the best receiving running backs in the league prior to the injury. If the Colts can afford him, he would be a great addition to the team as a third down/change of pace back.
Chris Clemons/DE/Oakland Raiders-The Colts had trouble getting pressure on Billy Volek and Phillip Rivers in the playoff loss, so a pass rusher wouldn't be a bad addition, especially for a cheap price. Josh Thomas should be gone, and the Colts need another defensive back to replace him as well.
Ernest Wilford/WR/Jacksonville Jaguars-The Colts need a very tall wide receiver. They need a Randy Moss but for the price of a second day pick. Ernest Wilford could give the Colts a deep threat who doesn't have to be extremely talented. He averaged 11.5 yards per catch last year, and that was the worst year of his career! He could be a valuable asset in the Colts offense.
Mike Doss/S/Minnesota Vikings-This idea has been brought up before, and I intend on keeping it alive. Doss was a very good player for the Colts, and if it weren't for his ACL tearing, the Colts secondary in 2006 would have been one of the deepest in recent NFL history. The Colts need another backup safety with experience. Doss fits that bill pretty well.
Isaac Sopoaga/DT/San Francisco 49ers-The Colts don't have a giant defensive tackle on the roster. Quinn Pitcock and Edward Johnson are both around 300 pounds, but they don't have the powerful defensive tackle that Corey Simon gave the Colts. Sopoaga could be that tackle.
These 5 players will all be inexpensive and should be good impact backups. None of them deserve to be starters, but they all could make a huge difference off of the bench.
*Courtesy to Coltscap.net for all of the contract information.
Colts in Canton?
Since the Hall of Fame committee decided who would get in (congrats to Art Monk, Darrell Green, Andre Tippett, Fred Dean, Emmitt Thomas, and Gary Zimmerman), it brought up discussion of who will get in later on in the future. The Colts are one of the most talented teams in the league, and it looks like they will have many future Hall of Famers. Eric Dickerson is the only Indianapolis Colt in the Hall of Fame, but he will be joined by many. Who will it be? Well, let's just see what my elaborate star system says.
Here's the system. Six stars are locks. If they retired today, they would be in for sure. Five stars are a few improvements in a statistical categories, but they will definitely get in barring injuries or trouble with the law. Four stars have had a great career, but need to have very solid years for the rest of his career. Three stars have to step it up and become Pro Bowlers for the majority of the rest of his career. After I rank the veterans, I will do the rankings for the young players. I will just use "In" and "On the Bubble" to measure their chances.
****** (6): Peyton Manning, Adam Vinatieri, Marvin Harrison, Tony Dungy- Peyton Manning has played 10 years. He is averaging more than 4000 yards and 30 touchdowns a season. If he plays eight more years as he intends, he will definitely break every notable passing record. He's a lock even if he retires today. Adam Vinatieri has won 2 Super Bowls on his feet. He is the most clutch kicker in NFL history, and he has been a starter on 5 Super Bowl teams, an amazing stat. He'll get in without a doubt.
Marvin Harrison may end his career coming close or breaking some of Jerry Rice's records. He's been very consistent over his long career, and he hasn't had many injuries until this past year. If his knee can recover, he will add onto his illustrious career. Dungy is the best regular season coach of the 21st century. He has led the Colts to 6 straight playoff births and 5 straight AFC South titles and 12 win seasons. Dungy added a Super Bowl ring to his resume, assuring him of being a Hall of Famer. Being the first black head coach to win a Super Bowl didn't hurt either.
***** (5): Dwight Freeney & Reggie Wayne: Freeney and Wayne are two draft picks that make Bill Polian a genius. Many of the Colts starters have been drafted on the second day or even signed as an undrafted rookie, but these two first-rounders have lived up to their pick. Freeney gets consistent pressure on the QB, and he normally hurries the QB into bad throws. Reggie Wayne came on strong when Marvin Harrison got hurt, and he only needs three or four more good years (1000 yards & 8 touchdowns) to become a lock.
**** (4): Bob Sanders, Jeff Saturday, Dallas Clark: Bob Sanders is the superstar, Clark is the X-factor on offense, and Jeff Saturday is the superstar offensive lineman. Sanders has had injury problems, but it is hard to deny that he does the most with less. He is under 6 feet, I tower over him, but he could kill me with one spear tackle. He won the Defensive Player of the Year last year, and if he can stay healthy, there's a good shot he can win it again. Jeff Saturday has made the All-Pro team 3 straight years, and he anchors the line. Dallas Clark had 11 touchdown catches this year, and when he doesn't drop balls, he is making big plays.
*** (3): Gary Brackett, Robert Mathis, Anthony McFarland: Gary Brackett is the leader of the defense, and he has had 3 good years, but he needs to be a Pro Bowler and have 110 tackles and 2 interceptions for the rest of his career. Mathis is very good, but he has been living in the shadow of Dwight Freeney and does not get much recognition. Booger McFarland's injury hurt his chances, but he has been a solid lineman and has been on 2 Super Bowl-winning teams.
Since the young players have not played enough to be considered, I will base it on the pace they have started at. These players have 2 or 3 years experience.
In: Joseph Addai & Antoine Bethea-Addai has 2842 yards from scrimmage and 23 total touchdowns. He is definitely on a good pace. Bethea will play in his first Pro Bowl this year, and he is a great ball-hawking safety. He's compiled 5 interceptions and 12 batted balls over his two years.
Bubble: Marlin Jackson & Kelvin Hayden-It's hard to separate the two. They both play the same style and have the same role in the defense. If one gets in, the other will. Right now, they will need to improve to become Pro Bowlers, but they have been very good, especially in big games.
I may have overshot some of these, but it is very easy to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hopefully I can come back to this in 15 years and see that all of these guys are in the Hall of Fame. Probably not, but a man can dream can't he?
Here's the system. Six stars are locks. If they retired today, they would be in for sure. Five stars are a few improvements in a statistical categories, but they will definitely get in barring injuries or trouble with the law. Four stars have had a great career, but need to have very solid years for the rest of his career. Three stars have to step it up and become Pro Bowlers for the majority of the rest of his career. After I rank the veterans, I will do the rankings for the young players. I will just use "In" and "On the Bubble" to measure their chances.
****** (6): Peyton Manning, Adam Vinatieri, Marvin Harrison, Tony Dungy- Peyton Manning has played 10 years. He is averaging more than 4000 yards and 30 touchdowns a season. If he plays eight more years as he intends, he will definitely break every notable passing record. He's a lock even if he retires today. Adam Vinatieri has won 2 Super Bowls on his feet. He is the most clutch kicker in NFL history, and he has been a starter on 5 Super Bowl teams, an amazing stat. He'll get in without a doubt.
Marvin Harrison may end his career coming close or breaking some of Jerry Rice's records. He's been very consistent over his long career, and he hasn't had many injuries until this past year. If his knee can recover, he will add onto his illustrious career. Dungy is the best regular season coach of the 21st century. He has led the Colts to 6 straight playoff births and 5 straight AFC South titles and 12 win seasons. Dungy added a Super Bowl ring to his resume, assuring him of being a Hall of Famer. Being the first black head coach to win a Super Bowl didn't hurt either.
***** (5): Dwight Freeney & Reggie Wayne: Freeney and Wayne are two draft picks that make Bill Polian a genius. Many of the Colts starters have been drafted on the second day or even signed as an undrafted rookie, but these two first-rounders have lived up to their pick. Freeney gets consistent pressure on the QB, and he normally hurries the QB into bad throws. Reggie Wayne came on strong when Marvin Harrison got hurt, and he only needs three or four more good years (1000 yards & 8 touchdowns) to become a lock.
**** (4): Bob Sanders, Jeff Saturday, Dallas Clark: Bob Sanders is the superstar, Clark is the X-factor on offense, and Jeff Saturday is the superstar offensive lineman. Sanders has had injury problems, but it is hard to deny that he does the most with less. He is under 6 feet, I tower over him, but he could kill me with one spear tackle. He won the Defensive Player of the Year last year, and if he can stay healthy, there's a good shot he can win it again. Jeff Saturday has made the All-Pro team 3 straight years, and he anchors the line. Dallas Clark had 11 touchdown catches this year, and when he doesn't drop balls, he is making big plays.
*** (3): Gary Brackett, Robert Mathis, Anthony McFarland: Gary Brackett is the leader of the defense, and he has had 3 good years, but he needs to be a Pro Bowler and have 110 tackles and 2 interceptions for the rest of his career. Mathis is very good, but he has been living in the shadow of Dwight Freeney and does not get much recognition. Booger McFarland's injury hurt his chances, but he has been a solid lineman and has been on 2 Super Bowl-winning teams.
Since the young players have not played enough to be considered, I will base it on the pace they have started at. These players have 2 or 3 years experience.
In: Joseph Addai & Antoine Bethea-Addai has 2842 yards from scrimmage and 23 total touchdowns. He is definitely on a good pace. Bethea will play in his first Pro Bowl this year, and he is a great ball-hawking safety. He's compiled 5 interceptions and 12 batted balls over his two years.
Bubble: Marlin Jackson & Kelvin Hayden-It's hard to separate the two. They both play the same style and have the same role in the defense. If one gets in, the other will. Right now, they will need to improve to become Pro Bowlers, but they have been very good, especially in big games.
I may have overshot some of these, but it is very easy to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hopefully I can come back to this in 15 years and see that all of these guys are in the Hall of Fame. Probably not, but a man can dream can't he?
C'mon-Everyone's Doing It!
The Super Bowl is coming up, tomorrow in fact, and everyone has to make a prediction. Even people who don't watch football pick this game. You can gamble on everything from the coin toss to the halftime show. I haven't had an NFL blog in a while--mostly due to post-losing depression--so I felt like I need a short, sweet, and to the point prediction.
Here is the score. You can take this to Vegas, because if I'm good at one thing, it's picking games. 24-23 Giants. Stephen Gostkowski will miss a game-winning field goal off of the crossbar, and Adam Vinatieri will then fly to Glendale, and kick a field goal from the same exact spot, making it easily. All non-Patriots fans will all cheer until they go hoarse, for the Evil Empire of the NFL will have fallen short.
Stats
Eli Manning throws 1 touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress on a 58 yard go route in the third quarter, and he throws one interception which is picked off by Adalius Thomas and returned to the Giants' 35. He throws for 234 yards while going 19 for 34.
Brandon Jacobs has a career day with a 124 yards on 18 carries and 2 touchdowns.
Ahmad Bradshaw comes in late in the game to burn some clock, getting 24 yards on 9 carries.
Plaxico Burress has the touchdown catch along with eight other catches for 108 yards. Most of them are compiled on slants and drags.
Amani Toomer, Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, David Tyree, and Sinorice Moss catch the other 11.
Justin Tuck leads the Giants with 2 sacks. Antonio Pierce has 11 tackles with 2.5 for a loss. Gibril Wilson will have an interception. Osi Umenyiora will force and recover a Laurence Maroney fumble.
Tom Brady will throw an amazing 53 passes for 379 yards, completing 41 of them. He will throw for 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Laurence Maroney will run the ball 10 times for 47 yards. Heath Evans will run it twice for 5 yards, both within the 10 yard line.
Randy Moss will have 3 catches for 61 yards, but no touchdowns.
Wes Welker will have 9 catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Kevin Faulk will have 15 catches for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Donte Stallworth will have 2 catches for 79 yards, 59 coming on a big first quarter pass.
Laurence Maroney, Heath Evans, Jabar Gaffney, Troy Brown, Ben Watson, and Kyle Brady will catch the rest.
Richard Seymour will have 8 tackles, leading the Pats. Adalius Thomas will have a pick and 2 sacks.
MVP: Eli Manning. Like XLI, the backs may have had a better game, but Manning will have led them to victory, shaving 9 of the 15 fourth quarter minutes off of the clock.
GOAT: Stephen Gostkowski. You can't miss a game-winning field goal.
If any of these, especially the score, come true, I will change this blog's name to Manlove for Manning. You can bet on it. You better.
Here is the score. You can take this to Vegas, because if I'm good at one thing, it's picking games. 24-23 Giants. Stephen Gostkowski will miss a game-winning field goal off of the crossbar, and Adam Vinatieri will then fly to Glendale, and kick a field goal from the same exact spot, making it easily. All non-Patriots fans will all cheer until they go hoarse, for the Evil Empire of the NFL will have fallen short.
Stats
Eli Manning throws 1 touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress on a 58 yard go route in the third quarter, and he throws one interception which is picked off by Adalius Thomas and returned to the Giants' 35. He throws for 234 yards while going 19 for 34.
Brandon Jacobs has a career day with a 124 yards on 18 carries and 2 touchdowns.
Ahmad Bradshaw comes in late in the game to burn some clock, getting 24 yards on 9 carries.
Plaxico Burress has the touchdown catch along with eight other catches for 108 yards. Most of them are compiled on slants and drags.
Amani Toomer, Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, David Tyree, and Sinorice Moss catch the other 11.
Justin Tuck leads the Giants with 2 sacks. Antonio Pierce has 11 tackles with 2.5 for a loss. Gibril Wilson will have an interception. Osi Umenyiora will force and recover a Laurence Maroney fumble.
Tom Brady will throw an amazing 53 passes for 379 yards, completing 41 of them. He will throw for 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Laurence Maroney will run the ball 10 times for 47 yards. Heath Evans will run it twice for 5 yards, both within the 10 yard line.
Randy Moss will have 3 catches for 61 yards, but no touchdowns.
Wes Welker will have 9 catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Kevin Faulk will have 15 catches for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Donte Stallworth will have 2 catches for 79 yards, 59 coming on a big first quarter pass.
Laurence Maroney, Heath Evans, Jabar Gaffney, Troy Brown, Ben Watson, and Kyle Brady will catch the rest.
Richard Seymour will have 8 tackles, leading the Pats. Adalius Thomas will have a pick and 2 sacks.
MVP: Eli Manning. Like XLI, the backs may have had a better game, but Manning will have led them to victory, shaving 9 of the 15 fourth quarter minutes off of the clock.
GOAT: Stephen Gostkowski. You can't miss a game-winning field goal.
If any of these, especially the score, come true, I will change this blog's name to Manlove for Manning. You can bet on it. You better.
I Plead the Fifth!
The fifth round. The somewhat late point of the draft. I consider it the forgotten round. It isn't considered very low where the players thank the gods they got drafted, but it isn't high enough for the players to be cocky. Before we get to the 3 prospects, let's see some of the notable Indianapolis Colts to come out of the fifth round.
Golden Tate/RB/1984: To be honest, I don't know anything about him. He was a fifth round pick in 1984, but I can't find anything else on him. But what I do know is that his namesake plays for Notre Dame. Hey dad, have your son study the playbook a bit more.
Brad Scioli/DE/1999: Scioli wasn't very good, but his name sounded like Ravioli, so I think that's why he stayed around for so long.
Robert Mathis/DE/2003: Mathis is a great pass rusher. Pass rushers always seem to fall. How often do you here about the great pass rushers getting drafted in the top 10?
Jake Scott/OG/2004: Scott may have played his last game for the Colts against the Bolts. He's a free agent and may not be back.
Tyjuan Hagler/LB/2005: Hagler was a no-name special teamer at the beginning of the year. Now he's a starting linebacker on one of the top defenses in the league. Funny how a few injuries can make a career.
Roy Hall/WR/2007: Does the name ring a bell? No? Well, it will in a few years. This guy is for real. The Colts offensive machine will continue for a long time with Anthony Gonzalez and Roy Hall.
So that leads us to 2008. Where will the Colts go? Here are the 3 guys the Colts should look out for. The Colts have already touched on running back, guard, and linebacker.
Bobbie Williams/S/Bethune-Cookman: The Colts have had some success with small schools defensive backs (Antoine Bethea ring a bell?), and Williams is a ball hawker. The Colts have some good young corners, but they need another safety.
Johnny Dingle/DE/West Virginia: Dingle could definitely succeed in a pass rushing situation, where the Colts definitely need help.
Joey Haynos/TE/Maryland: Haynos is a giant! 6-8!?!? That's amazing. However, he isn't a blocker. He had 67 receptions combined the past two years.
The Colts have to go with Dingle here. However, like the Colts' Craphonso Thorpe and Kosuke Fukudome of the Cubs, stink it up, and you have a bad nickname forever. No one wants to be called Dingleberry, no matter how immature and funny it is.
Golden Tate/RB/1984: To be honest, I don't know anything about him. He was a fifth round pick in 1984, but I can't find anything else on him. But what I do know is that his namesake plays for Notre Dame. Hey dad, have your son study the playbook a bit more.
Brad Scioli/DE/1999: Scioli wasn't very good, but his name sounded like Ravioli, so I think that's why he stayed around for so long.
Robert Mathis/DE/2003: Mathis is a great pass rusher. Pass rushers always seem to fall. How often do you here about the great pass rushers getting drafted in the top 10?
Jake Scott/OG/2004: Scott may have played his last game for the Colts against the Bolts. He's a free agent and may not be back.
Tyjuan Hagler/LB/2005: Hagler was a no-name special teamer at the beginning of the year. Now he's a starting linebacker on one of the top defenses in the league. Funny how a few injuries can make a career.
Roy Hall/WR/2007: Does the name ring a bell? No? Well, it will in a few years. This guy is for real. The Colts offensive machine will continue for a long time with Anthony Gonzalez and Roy Hall.
So that leads us to 2008. Where will the Colts go? Here are the 3 guys the Colts should look out for. The Colts have already touched on running back, guard, and linebacker.
Bobbie Williams/S/Bethune-Cookman: The Colts have had some success with small schools defensive backs (Antoine Bethea ring a bell?), and Williams is a ball hawker. The Colts have some good young corners, but they need another safety.
Johnny Dingle/DE/West Virginia: Dingle could definitely succeed in a pass rushing situation, where the Colts definitely need help.
Joey Haynos/TE/Maryland: Haynos is a giant! 6-8!?!? That's amazing. However, he isn't a blocker. He had 67 receptions combined the past two years.
The Colts have to go with Dingle here. However, like the Colts' Craphonso Thorpe and Kosuke Fukudome of the Cubs, stink it up, and you have a bad nickname forever. No one wants to be called Dingleberry, no matter how immature and funny it is.
Who Said A Little Depth Would Hurt?
Round 4 now. The Colts have been getting some quality players in the later rounds. Kevin Smith and Adam Kraus would make the offense all the more potent. However, they still need depth at some defensive positions, which will be the main target on the second day. Here are the top 5 prospects for the Colts to get in the fourth round.
Greyson Gunheim/DE/Washington: This is Greyson's second appearance. He is projected as a 4th rounder, so he could be the Colts' pick right here. He is a speedy defensive end who plays like Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney.
Bryan Smith/LB/McNeese State: I guess you could question the level of competition, but the 40 doesn't lie. He is an extremely fast linebacker, and he is pretty good in the pass rush, which may be good if Freeney doesn't regain his form.
DJ Parker/S/Virginia Tech: Parker is an undersized safety who is very strong. Who does that remind you of? Coming from Virginia Tech, he is very fast and could help on special teams.
Zach Bowman/CB/Nebraska: Bowman is coming off of back-to-back serious knee injuries. His draft stock has plummeted due to this. However, he is insanely talented and may have been a star if he didn't get injured. The Colts may want to take a chance on him and see if he can pull and Antonio Cromartie.
Louis Holmes/DE/Arizona: Another defensive end. Holmes has all the talent in the world. He just can't put it together. The Colts may want to give him a chance. He could be great with his combination of size and speed.
The Colts here should take Bryan Smith. Smith is reminiscent of a Tampa 2 linebacker. He is fast and can get to the ball. The Colts need some depth at linebacker. He could be a valuable asset if there would be another trend of injuries like the Colts had at linebacker this year.
Greyson Gunheim/DE/Washington: This is Greyson's second appearance. He is projected as a 4th rounder, so he could be the Colts' pick right here. He is a speedy defensive end who plays like Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney.
Bryan Smith/LB/McNeese State: I guess you could question the level of competition, but the 40 doesn't lie. He is an extremely fast linebacker, and he is pretty good in the pass rush, which may be good if Freeney doesn't regain his form.
DJ Parker/S/Virginia Tech: Parker is an undersized safety who is very strong. Who does that remind you of? Coming from Virginia Tech, he is very fast and could help on special teams.
Zach Bowman/CB/Nebraska: Bowman is coming off of back-to-back serious knee injuries. His draft stock has plummeted due to this. However, he is insanely talented and may have been a star if he didn't get injured. The Colts may want to take a chance on him and see if he can pull and Antonio Cromartie.
Louis Holmes/DE/Arizona: Another defensive end. Holmes has all the talent in the world. He just can't put it together. The Colts may want to give him a chance. He could be great with his combination of size and speed.
The Colts here should take Bryan Smith. Smith is reminiscent of a Tampa 2 linebacker. He is fast and can get to the ball. The Colts need some depth at linebacker. He could be a valuable asset if there would be another trend of injuries like the Colts had at linebacker this year.
The Draft Clock Is Ticking (Round 3)
The Colts really don't have very many needs. They have one of the greatest QBs in NFL history. They have a Pro Bowl running back. They have two future Hall of Fame receivers not to mention a fantastic slot receiver coming off of his rookie year. The offensive line is very good when healthy. Dallas Clark is a great tight end. The defensive line has improved in the run game. The linebackers are great. The secondary is the best in the league. However, it never hurts to get more depth. In the third round, there are some prospects that really stand out. Here are my top 3.
Ben Moffitt/LB/South Florida: Moffitt is insanely fast. Don't pay attention to his 40 time (4.68), he plays as fast as any first round prospect at linebacker. His amazing performance against West Virginia really stood out. The problem with him is apparently he is an idiot. His wife (!?) came out and said she was allegedly doing his work. The Colts don't need someone who is illiterate.
Greyson Gunheim/DE/Washington: First, props to Greyson's parents for giving him the coolest name ever. Second, Gunheim is very fast. Josh Thomas is a good defensive end, but he's slower than a fat guy on a segway. The Colts need a third down specialist. I do think that they should try to get Mark Anderson in a trade with the Bears, maybe using this pick. Anderson is phenominal and would make this defensive line much better in the pass rush.
Adam Kraus/OG/Michigan: Kraus is a very, very underrated guard for Michigan who could also play center in the pros. The Michigan offensive line was one of the best, if not the best, in the nation this year. The Colts need a backup guard, and Kraus could fill that role easily.
My pick here would be Adam Kraus. Remember that I had the Colts taking Kevin Smith in the second round. Kraus should be able to replace Ryan Lilja/Jake Scott next year or be able to wait behind Dylan Gandy. Either way the Colts need a new interior lineman. Kraus should be a star in the future.
Ben Moffitt/LB/South Florida: Moffitt is insanely fast. Don't pay attention to his 40 time (4.68), he plays as fast as any first round prospect at linebacker. His amazing performance against West Virginia really stood out. The problem with him is apparently he is an idiot. His wife (!?) came out and said she was allegedly doing his work. The Colts don't need someone who is illiterate.
Greyson Gunheim/DE/Washington: First, props to Greyson's parents for giving him the coolest name ever. Second, Gunheim is very fast. Josh Thomas is a good defensive end, but he's slower than a fat guy on a segway. The Colts need a third down specialist. I do think that they should try to get Mark Anderson in a trade with the Bears, maybe using this pick. Anderson is phenominal and would make this defensive line much better in the pass rush.
Adam Kraus/OG/Michigan: Kraus is a very, very underrated guard for Michigan who could also play center in the pros. The Michigan offensive line was one of the best, if not the best, in the nation this year. The Colts need a backup guard, and Kraus could fill that role easily.
My pick here would be Adam Kraus. Remember that I had the Colts taking Kevin Smith in the second round. Kraus should be able to replace Ryan Lilja/Jake Scott next year or be able to wait behind Dylan Gandy. Either way the Colts need a new interior lineman. Kraus should be a star in the future.
Draft Time...In 3 Months (Rd. Two)
Well, the Colts aren't in the playoffs. That means we get to enjoy Phillip Rivers, Igor Olshansky, Shawne Merriman, and Rodney Harrison interviews. Here's to those hoping a massive case of laryngitis sweeps through the Chargers locker room. But enough about them, let's get to the point of the blog.
It's draft time, baby! Yeah. I love the Draft. 12 months of prognosticating all comes down to this. We get to see Ted Ginn being taken number 9 and then look around at everyone with a classic 'WTF' look on their faces. The draft is all fun and games before a stupid GM takes a kick returner over your favorite player. But I digress.
The Colts do have some problems that they need to fix. They may lose some people this offseason and need replacements. Here is my 2 cents (but in my case, 2 marks) on what the Colts should do with their 6 current picks.
2nd round
The Colts traded their 1st round draft pick for this year for Tony Ugoh. That was a good deal. Ugoh could end up being a star. However, that means we have to wait through 60 picks before the Colts will end up taking someone barring a draft day trade. Here are the 5 players who are projected around the late 2nd round that I think the Colts should take. For projections and stats, I use WalterFootball.com, my personal favorite draft site.
Anthony Collins/OT/Kansas: I bet most of you are surprised I would pick an offensive lineman, especially a tackle. Let me explain. Either Ryan Lilja or Jake Scott will be gone next year. I guarantee it. Collins is a big guy who could play guard for the Colts. He is pretty mobile with a 4.98 40 time, so I think he would have no problem adjusting to a zone blocking scheme.
Kevin Smith/RB/UCF: Addai slowed down big time at the end of the year. I think he needs someone more reliable than Kenton Keith (catch the ball!) in the running game behind him. Smith dominated in college football last year and should have won the Heisman. I think he will be a fantastic pro, and if he falls down here, he should be snatched up as quickly as possible.
Titus Brown/DE/Mississippi State: If Freeney or Mathis is to get injured again, they need a defensive end that can get to the quarterback. Brown plays a lot like Freeney and Mathis using speed over size. I like him a lot.
John Carlson/TE/Notre Dame: All of the Colts' tight ends are free agents this year, so drafting another wouldn't be a bad choice. I also don't think Hunter Smith and Rocky Boiman are cutting it as Domers. I need some more to feel whole.
Erin Henderson/OLB/Maryland: Henderson is big, but he is also very fast. He runs a 4.58 40 time, yet he is 6-3. If Rob Morris does not come back, he should be a good backup for Freddie Keiaho. Also, Craphonso Thorpe needs some competition for the prized "Dumbest Name Ever" contest. Did his parents think he was a girl. It's A-A-R-O-N if you are a guy. C'mon now, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson. That's a mental slip-up.
So let's say all of these people are there at the 61st pick. If I could choose one of them, I would go with Kevin Smith. Smith is my boy. He is one of my favorite players, mostly for the fact that he is underrated and I feel the need to rate him. I think he could be a valuable asset for the Colts to give Addai a break and transition into a two-back system. I think Addai is great, but a 2 back system is better for a team to win. Look at the 2004 Patriots, 2005 Steelers, and the Colts of last year. Smith would be a great pick.
Rounds 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 should be coming soon.
It's draft time, baby! Yeah. I love the Draft. 12 months of prognosticating all comes down to this. We get to see Ted Ginn being taken number 9 and then look around at everyone with a classic 'WTF' look on their faces. The draft is all fun and games before a stupid GM takes a kick returner over your favorite player. But I digress.
The Colts do have some problems that they need to fix. They may lose some people this offseason and need replacements. Here is my 2 cents (but in my case, 2 marks) on what the Colts should do with their 6 current picks.
2nd round
The Colts traded their 1st round draft pick for this year for Tony Ugoh. That was a good deal. Ugoh could end up being a star. However, that means we have to wait through 60 picks before the Colts will end up taking someone barring a draft day trade. Here are the 5 players who are projected around the late 2nd round that I think the Colts should take. For projections and stats, I use WalterFootball.com, my personal favorite draft site.
Anthony Collins/OT/Kansas: I bet most of you are surprised I would pick an offensive lineman, especially a tackle. Let me explain. Either Ryan Lilja or Jake Scott will be gone next year. I guarantee it. Collins is a big guy who could play guard for the Colts. He is pretty mobile with a 4.98 40 time, so I think he would have no problem adjusting to a zone blocking scheme.
Kevin Smith/RB/UCF: Addai slowed down big time at the end of the year. I think he needs someone more reliable than Kenton Keith (catch the ball!) in the running game behind him. Smith dominated in college football last year and should have won the Heisman. I think he will be a fantastic pro, and if he falls down here, he should be snatched up as quickly as possible.
Titus Brown/DE/Mississippi State: If Freeney or Mathis is to get injured again, they need a defensive end that can get to the quarterback. Brown plays a lot like Freeney and Mathis using speed over size. I like him a lot.
John Carlson/TE/Notre Dame: All of the Colts' tight ends are free agents this year, so drafting another wouldn't be a bad choice. I also don't think Hunter Smith and Rocky Boiman are cutting it as Domers. I need some more to feel whole.
Erin Henderson/OLB/Maryland: Henderson is big, but he is also very fast. He runs a 4.58 40 time, yet he is 6-3. If Rob Morris does not come back, he should be a good backup for Freddie Keiaho. Also, Craphonso Thorpe needs some competition for the prized "Dumbest Name Ever" contest. Did his parents think he was a girl. It's A-A-R-O-N if you are a guy. C'mon now, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson. That's a mental slip-up.
So let's say all of these people are there at the 61st pick. If I could choose one of them, I would go with Kevin Smith. Smith is my boy. He is one of my favorite players, mostly for the fact that he is underrated and I feel the need to rate him. I think he could be a valuable asset for the Colts to give Addai a break and transition into a two-back system. I think Addai is great, but a 2 back system is better for a team to win. Look at the 2004 Patriots, 2005 Steelers, and the Colts of last year. Smith would be a great pick.
Rounds 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 should be coming soon.
Booing Or Beating: Which One's Worse?
Those classless Colts fans struck again. First they pump in sound to the stadium. Wait, I'm sorry. We used our black magic to mess with the CBS broadcast. We are so evil do it with every other broadcast on CBS. Don't forget we turned up the heat in the RCA Dome for the AFC Championship Game, which forced Tom Brady to throw that late interception. Now, we are booing 14 year old girls for wearing an opposing teams' jersey. Aren't we the worst?
Anna Grant, a 14-year-old girl from New Hampshire, won the Punt, Pass, and Kick contest and was being honored at the Colts game. When they got to calling her name, the Colts fans booed. She was so scarred by this that she started laughing. I am just shocked. Booing a rival's fan? That's crazy. I've never heard of that before. Colts fans should be ashamed. Booing is a mortal sin! The Patriots, of course, are perfect and would never do something like that.
They just cheap shot (props for Stampede Blue for referencing readers to this) opposing team's fans and relatives after the game.
Brian Wormstead, his friend, and his cousins (who are Jaguars fans) were leaving the Patriots-Jags game when they were approached by drunk Patriots fans. The fans were being annoying, or as I say, Patriot fans, and were told to make like a banana and split (pwnage). They then proceeded to beat the living daylight out of the fans.
Anna Grant is going to remember the intense booing by getting to flip the coin to start the game. Wormstead and his friends will remember this with their cuts and bruises.
So let me get this straight. Colts fans are terrible people for a friendly booing, and the Patriots fans who assaulted a woman get no mention in the media. That seems fair. Patriots fans seem certain that the Colts are classless for booing someone. In 2006, I went to the Georgia Tech-Notre Dame game in Atlanta, and my sister (10) and I were booed. Where's my story? Why aren't I flipping the coin for Notre Dame? I didn't care. I laughed. It was funny.
What did she expect going into a rival's stadium wearing a rival's shirt? A standing ovation and for us to bow down to her? No way, Jose. That's not how it works. It's booing, get over it. It didn't hurt anyone. She was fine.
The Patriots and Jaguars fans who were assaulted have gotten zilch. This is crazy. This happened on Patriots' property in a Gillette Stadium parking lot. How does booing become front page news on ESPN.com, while this is buried in the Boston Herald. Doesn't make any sense to me.
Speaking of classless
Here is video footage of a giant taunting from the Patriots. Peter Griffin is behind it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q92uRlCpmk
This episode sucked. This was easily the funniest moment in it. I was watching this, and suddenly this becomes a musical. I had to check the TV Guide on my TV to see if I was watching Family Guy. Here's what I noticed.
~The refs have an endless amount flags. That's awesome.
~I like how all of the players besides Brady were dancing, but then when they get back to the locker room, they are all mad at Peter.
~Why is there a marching band? Do the Pats have a band? Why are there bands in the NFL?
~Where are the names on the back of the jersey?
~Peter is a pretty good singer for not being able to speak coherently.
~What is Shipoopi?
That's my blog. Remember fans. Don't boo. Assaulting is all right. Booing is crossed the line.
Anna Grant, a 14-year-old girl from New Hampshire, won the Punt, Pass, and Kick contest and was being honored at the Colts game. When they got to calling her name, the Colts fans booed. She was so scarred by this that she started laughing. I am just shocked. Booing a rival's fan? That's crazy. I've never heard of that before. Colts fans should be ashamed. Booing is a mortal sin! The Patriots, of course, are perfect and would never do something like that.
They just cheap shot (props for Stampede Blue for referencing readers to this) opposing team's fans and relatives after the game.
Brian Wormstead, his friend, and his cousins (who are Jaguars fans) were leaving the Patriots-Jags game when they were approached by drunk Patriots fans. The fans were being annoying, or as I say, Patriot fans, and were told to make like a banana and split (pwnage). They then proceeded to beat the living daylight out of the fans.
Anna Grant is going to remember the intense booing by getting to flip the coin to start the game. Wormstead and his friends will remember this with their cuts and bruises.
So let me get this straight. Colts fans are terrible people for a friendly booing, and the Patriots fans who assaulted a woman get no mention in the media. That seems fair. Patriots fans seem certain that the Colts are classless for booing someone. In 2006, I went to the Georgia Tech-Notre Dame game in Atlanta, and my sister (10) and I were booed. Where's my story? Why aren't I flipping the coin for Notre Dame? I didn't care. I laughed. It was funny.
What did she expect going into a rival's stadium wearing a rival's shirt? A standing ovation and for us to bow down to her? No way, Jose. That's not how it works. It's booing, get over it. It didn't hurt anyone. She was fine.
The Patriots and Jaguars fans who were assaulted have gotten zilch. This is crazy. This happened on Patriots' property in a Gillette Stadium parking lot. How does booing become front page news on ESPN.com, while this is buried in the Boston Herald. Doesn't make any sense to me.
Speaking of classless
Here is video footage of a giant taunting from the Patriots. Peter Griffin is behind it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q92uRlCpmk
This episode sucked. This was easily the funniest moment in it. I was watching this, and suddenly this becomes a musical. I had to check the TV Guide on my TV to see if I was watching Family Guy. Here's what I noticed.
~The refs have an endless amount flags. That's awesome.
~I like how all of the players besides Brady were dancing, but then when they get back to the locker room, they are all mad at Peter.
~Why is there a marching band? Do the Pats have a band? Why are there bands in the NFL?
~Where are the names on the back of the jersey?
~Peter is a pretty good singer for not being able to speak coherently.
~What is Shipoopi?
That's my blog. Remember fans. Don't boo. Assaulting is all right. Booing is crossed the line.
Should They Stay or Should They Go?
It's the offseason now. Man. Offseason time. Well, I guess it is time to talk about free agents. The Colts have 15 contracts that are out. They need to get to work on signing some of them and ditching the rest. Here is are the players they SHOULD (notice I said should, not can) keep and who they shouldn't. These are in order by importance for the ones who should be resigned. The ones who are leaving are in order by how quickly they should be cut.
Keep the Jersey
Dallas Clark, TE: Clark has to stay. I don't care how they do it. Clark needs to be in Indy next year. He is one of Peyton's favorite targets. He will probably get the franchise tag and get a long term contract in 2009 when they get more cap room.
Ryan Lilja and Jake Scott, OG: To be honest, I don't care which one they keep. They just have to keep one of them. The Colts have pretty good depth on the offensive line, and I'm sure they could dig up another player to play guard effectively. They are interchangeable. To be honest, I could not tell them apart. They are just the offensive guards. Just keep one, and let the other walk.
Ed Johnson, DT: Ed Johnson got a one year contract for being an undrafted free agent. I guess 31 teams are bummed they didn't pick up this guy at one point in the draft. Legal problems smeagol problems (hehe Smeagol), he is awesome. He got into a little trouble at Penn State, but I don't think that is out of the ordinary for students there. The 80 year old head coach was in trouble for road rage! He should have been taken much higher than he was. The Colts could get him for pretty cheap due to his inexperience.
Darrell Reid, DT/ST: Darrell Reid deserves to be resigned just for that hit against Tennessee. Chris Henry is probably still dazed. However, Reid was a bright spot on a horrendous special teams unit. He was always the first one down the field, and he's a defensive tackle. He isn't needed on defense, but he is a Pro Bowl-caliber player on special teams.
Bryan Fletcher, TE: Fletcher is a very good H-back who never gets to play due to Utecht. He was phenominal in the first Chargers game, but he couldn't see the field again. I don't know why. He's a good player. The Colts should resign him.
Matt Giordano, SS: Bob Sanders is great, but he has had an injury problem. Giordano nailed Bo Scaife and LACERATED HIS LIVER! He lacerated a liver. Talk about a hard hitter. He had an interception return against New Orleans early in the year. I want him to come back, but he could be a star for another team.
Rocky Boiman, OLB: Rocky Boiman is a very capable linebacker who fits in well with the Tampa 2. He could be resigned for cheap--Under $1 million--and he would be great for rotating in with Tyjuan Hagler.
Dylan Gandy, C/G: Dylan Gandy has been Jeff Saturday's backup for a few years now, but he is ready to be a starter at guard. He will replace Jake Scott or Ryan Lilja.
Clean out your locker, son. You're out of year
Aaron Moorehead, WR: Please, Moorehead. Just leave. You're terrible. If you do come back, you will be behind Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, Roy Hall, Devin Aromashodu, and a new wide receiver I will address later in the blog. Buh-bye, Aaron.
Dan Klecko, DT: Sorry, Kleck. You were a star in 2006 when you came in as a fullback in goal line situations. But now, you have been replaced on offense by Luke Lawton and on defense by numerous new defensive tackles. Adios, Klecko.
Craphonso Thorpe, WR: See Moorehead. He is only ranked higher because he is a good returner, but that's why the Colts have TJ Rushing, who was great at the end of the year. So long, Crap-honso.
Ben Utecht, TE: I can't wait for the sucker team that picks up Utecht. I bet he will get a giant contract due to his fairly good season, but any Colts fan knows that he drops way too many catches, and when he does catch them, he fumbles. See ya later, alligator.
Josh Thomas, DE: Thomas stepped up fairly well when Freeney went down. However, the Colts will get Freeney back next year along with hopefully a more matured Keyunta Dawson and Jeff Charleston. Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya, Josh.
In Other News!!!
~You know that new wide receiver I was talking about? His name is Courtney Roby. Roby was a former receiver for the Tennessee Titans who didn't play in the 2007 season. The Titans are normally taking players from the Colts (e.g. Nick Harper, David Thorton, Corey Simon, Gilbert Gardner, Ben Hartsock), but now the Colts are picking up some old Titans. Courtney Roby, who played at North Central High School in Indianapolis and IU, may make the roster for the Colts come training camp time. The Colts also picked up linebacker Kyle Shotwell, defensive end JJ Milan, tight end Zac Herold and offensive linemen Tala Esera.
~Bob Kravitz, a columnist for the Indianapolis Star, wrote an article that said that Dungy should leave on his terms. Great, the problem is that he talked about he disappointed he was with only one championship. To be honest, I wanted more championships. The Colts could have won more championships, but they won one. Since 1984 (the Colts' first year in Indy), these are the teams that haven't won the Super Bowl-Jets, Dolphins, Bills, Texans, Jaguars, Titans, Bengals, Browns, Chargers, Chiefs, Eagles, Vikings, Lions, Falcons, Saints, Panthers, Cardinals, and Seahawks. I'll take one Super Bowl and some disappointing postseasons over being any of those teams. I don't know about you, but being the Braves of the NFL is better than being the Cubs of the NFL.
~The Colts are in trouble with the media. At halftime, the hometown fans booed a 14 year old girl who won a punt, pass, and kick contest. She was from New Hampshire and was wearing a Patriots jersey. Okay, there are two types of booing. There is agressive and non-agressive booing. Booing does not have to be in bad taste. I'm sure they didn't hate her or want ill on her. It was all in good fun. Ease up. Stop trying to find flaws in a classy organization.
~Tyjuan Hagler was resigned today. 1.417 million dollars for one year. That's a pretty good deal on both ends. We get to keep a starter for very cheap, and he gets a pay raise. Everyone is happy.
~The Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks and quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach Jim Caldwell have interviewed for the Redskins job. I'll consider that the Rooney Rule technique. Gregggggggggggggggg Williams will get the job fairly soon.
Keep the Jersey
Dallas Clark, TE: Clark has to stay. I don't care how they do it. Clark needs to be in Indy next year. He is one of Peyton's favorite targets. He will probably get the franchise tag and get a long term contract in 2009 when they get more cap room.
Ryan Lilja and Jake Scott, OG: To be honest, I don't care which one they keep. They just have to keep one of them. The Colts have pretty good depth on the offensive line, and I'm sure they could dig up another player to play guard effectively. They are interchangeable. To be honest, I could not tell them apart. They are just the offensive guards. Just keep one, and let the other walk.
Ed Johnson, DT: Ed Johnson got a one year contract for being an undrafted free agent. I guess 31 teams are bummed they didn't pick up this guy at one point in the draft. Legal problems smeagol problems (hehe Smeagol), he is awesome. He got into a little trouble at Penn State, but I don't think that is out of the ordinary for students there. The 80 year old head coach was in trouble for road rage! He should have been taken much higher than he was. The Colts could get him for pretty cheap due to his inexperience.
Darrell Reid, DT/ST: Darrell Reid deserves to be resigned just for that hit against Tennessee. Chris Henry is probably still dazed. However, Reid was a bright spot on a horrendous special teams unit. He was always the first one down the field, and he's a defensive tackle. He isn't needed on defense, but he is a Pro Bowl-caliber player on special teams.
Bryan Fletcher, TE: Fletcher is a very good H-back who never gets to play due to Utecht. He was phenominal in the first Chargers game, but he couldn't see the field again. I don't know why. He's a good player. The Colts should resign him.
Matt Giordano, SS: Bob Sanders is great, but he has had an injury problem. Giordano nailed Bo Scaife and LACERATED HIS LIVER! He lacerated a liver. Talk about a hard hitter. He had an interception return against New Orleans early in the year. I want him to come back, but he could be a star for another team.
Rocky Boiman, OLB: Rocky Boiman is a very capable linebacker who fits in well with the Tampa 2. He could be resigned for cheap--Under $1 million--and he would be great for rotating in with Tyjuan Hagler.
Dylan Gandy, C/G: Dylan Gandy has been Jeff Saturday's backup for a few years now, but he is ready to be a starter at guard. He will replace Jake Scott or Ryan Lilja.
Clean out your locker, son. You're out of year
Aaron Moorehead, WR: Please, Moorehead. Just leave. You're terrible. If you do come back, you will be behind Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, Roy Hall, Devin Aromashodu, and a new wide receiver I will address later in the blog. Buh-bye, Aaron.
Dan Klecko, DT: Sorry, Kleck. You were a star in 2006 when you came in as a fullback in goal line situations. But now, you have been replaced on offense by Luke Lawton and on defense by numerous new defensive tackles. Adios, Klecko.
Craphonso Thorpe, WR: See Moorehead. He is only ranked higher because he is a good returner, but that's why the Colts have TJ Rushing, who was great at the end of the year. So long, Crap-honso.
Ben Utecht, TE: I can't wait for the sucker team that picks up Utecht. I bet he will get a giant contract due to his fairly good season, but any Colts fan knows that he drops way too many catches, and when he does catch them, he fumbles. See ya later, alligator.
Josh Thomas, DE: Thomas stepped up fairly well when Freeney went down. However, the Colts will get Freeney back next year along with hopefully a more matured Keyunta Dawson and Jeff Charleston. Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya, Josh.
In Other News!!!
~You know that new wide receiver I was talking about? His name is Courtney Roby. Roby was a former receiver for the Tennessee Titans who didn't play in the 2007 season. The Titans are normally taking players from the Colts (e.g. Nick Harper, David Thorton, Corey Simon, Gilbert Gardner, Ben Hartsock), but now the Colts are picking up some old Titans. Courtney Roby, who played at North Central High School in Indianapolis and IU, may make the roster for the Colts come training camp time. The Colts also picked up linebacker Kyle Shotwell, defensive end JJ Milan, tight end Zac Herold and offensive linemen Tala Esera.
~Bob Kravitz, a columnist for the Indianapolis Star, wrote an article that said that Dungy should leave on his terms. Great, the problem is that he talked about he disappointed he was with only one championship. To be honest, I wanted more championships. The Colts could have won more championships, but they won one. Since 1984 (the Colts' first year in Indy), these are the teams that haven't won the Super Bowl-Jets, Dolphins, Bills, Texans, Jaguars, Titans, Bengals, Browns, Chargers, Chiefs, Eagles, Vikings, Lions, Falcons, Saints, Panthers, Cardinals, and Seahawks. I'll take one Super Bowl and some disappointing postseasons over being any of those teams. I don't know about you, but being the Braves of the NFL is better than being the Cubs of the NFL.
~The Colts are in trouble with the media. At halftime, the hometown fans booed a 14 year old girl who won a punt, pass, and kick contest. She was from New Hampshire and was wearing a Patriots jersey. Okay, there are two types of booing. There is agressive and non-agressive booing. Booing does not have to be in bad taste. I'm sure they didn't hate her or want ill on her. It was all in good fun. Ease up. Stop trying to find flaws in a classy organization.
~Tyjuan Hagler was resigned today. 1.417 million dollars for one year. That's a pretty good deal on both ends. We get to keep a starter for very cheap, and he gets a pay raise. Everyone is happy.
~The Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks and quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach Jim Caldwell have interviewed for the Redskins job. I'll consider that the Rooney Rule technique. Gregggggggggggggggg Williams will get the job fairly soon.
Hey...I've Seen This Before!
C'mon Colts. I mean, I know you were having trouble following up the Super Bowl win, but don't recycle material. The Colts losing in the playoffs? Seen it. One and done seems to be a growing trend for the Colts. Sometimes the breaks are bad, but this time, it was the other team who had the injury problem. LaDanian Tomlinson went down with a knee injury. Phillip Rivers was hurt due to, well, sucking. He wasn't even touched, and it's FieldTurf. Of course, this injury is a benefit. Phillip Rivers is one of the worst quarterbacks in the league. We know that Antonio Gates was hurt, and Lorenzo Neal missed the game. The Colts had everyone not on injured reserve in this game. It is amazing that they lost to such an undermanned team. It shows motivation. Last year, the Colts had no motivation. They were just a normal team. Guess what. They won it all. In 2005, they could have played for the Dungy family. They lost to a Steelers team that was just not as talented. The Colts don't respond well to motivation. I know it's weird, but it's true. Next year, the Colts can hope for NOTHING. They don't need any trouble with the coaches. They don't need high expectations. They need NOTHING. However, there are more outrageous reasons why the Colts lost. Little patterns I have noticed that are a coincidence.
The Year After
Last year, the Colts were coming off of a disappointing year where they were the number one seed in the AFC. They won it all the next year. Eh. That's just once. Or is it. When the Colts lost even when they had home field advantage, the Steelers beat them on their amazing run to the Super Bowl. The year before, they went 15-1 in Ben Roethlisberger's first year. This is a trend that has been going on for a while. The Patriots had the best record in the AFC in 2003, and they won the championship in 2004. However, the Patriots did win the championship in 2003, which is a snag in the pattern. In recent history, this seems to be more than a coincidence. The Chargers were 14-2 last year, and maybe they are on a mission. If the Chargers would somehow win it all, this would have to be mentioned in the main stream media. 4 times in 5 years? That would be too much to ignore.
Football Gods
I don't know who the football gods are, but they must have decided that one was enough for the Colts. I know every team has injuries and blah, blah, blah, but the Colts were without Marvin Harrison, Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Addai, Dallas Clark, Tony Ugoh, Ryan Diem, Robert Mathis, Raheem Brock, Dwight Freeney, Rob Morris, Tyjuan Hagler, Freddie Keiaho, Antoine Bethea, Tim Jennings, Dante Hughes, and Bob Sanders at some point in the year. I would like to see the Patriots win a game without Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, Ben Watson, Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Richard Seymour, Michael Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi, and Vince Wilfork for a road game. That's what the Colts had to deal with against the Chargers. Sure, it didn't mean anything in the playoffs, but what about momentum. You can't continue to build momentum when everyone is missing games. This showed in the playoffs. The Chargers did not have very many injuries until the playoffs. They had the momentum. The football gods decided that the regular season wasn't enough. They needed for Joseph Addai, Kenton Keith, Jake Scott, Reggie Wayne, and Bob Sanders to get banged up. The football gods show no mercy.
DO NOT REST THE STARTERS!
This may not be a reason why they lost, but it is a reason why they didn't win. Let me elaborate. The Giants and Chargers are not the best teams in the league, but they are on a roll and in their conference championships. You know why. They played their starters. Eli Manning is on fire, and the Chargers defense is unstoppable. They didn't rest their starters. This is a simple reason why the Chargers dominated the Colts yesterday.
I have nothing left to say but, Super Bowl XLIII here we come!
The Year After
Last year, the Colts were coming off of a disappointing year where they were the number one seed in the AFC. They won it all the next year. Eh. That's just once. Or is it. When the Colts lost even when they had home field advantage, the Steelers beat them on their amazing run to the Super Bowl. The year before, they went 15-1 in Ben Roethlisberger's first year. This is a trend that has been going on for a while. The Patriots had the best record in the AFC in 2003, and they won the championship in 2004. However, the Patriots did win the championship in 2003, which is a snag in the pattern. In recent history, this seems to be more than a coincidence. The Chargers were 14-2 last year, and maybe they are on a mission. If the Chargers would somehow win it all, this would have to be mentioned in the main stream media. 4 times in 5 years? That would be too much to ignore.
Football Gods
I don't know who the football gods are, but they must have decided that one was enough for the Colts. I know every team has injuries and blah, blah, blah, but the Colts were without Marvin Harrison, Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Addai, Dallas Clark, Tony Ugoh, Ryan Diem, Robert Mathis, Raheem Brock, Dwight Freeney, Rob Morris, Tyjuan Hagler, Freddie Keiaho, Antoine Bethea, Tim Jennings, Dante Hughes, and Bob Sanders at some point in the year. I would like to see the Patriots win a game without Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, Ben Watson, Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Richard Seymour, Michael Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi, and Vince Wilfork for a road game. That's what the Colts had to deal with against the Chargers. Sure, it didn't mean anything in the playoffs, but what about momentum. You can't continue to build momentum when everyone is missing games. This showed in the playoffs. The Chargers did not have very many injuries until the playoffs. They had the momentum. The football gods decided that the regular season wasn't enough. They needed for Joseph Addai, Kenton Keith, Jake Scott, Reggie Wayne, and Bob Sanders to get banged up. The football gods show no mercy.
DO NOT REST THE STARTERS!
This may not be a reason why they lost, but it is a reason why they didn't win. Let me elaborate. The Giants and Chargers are not the best teams in the league, but they are on a roll and in their conference championships. You know why. They played their starters. Eli Manning is on fire, and the Chargers defense is unstoppable. They didn't rest their starters. This is a simple reason why the Chargers dominated the Colts yesterday.
I have nothing left to say but, Super Bowl XLIII here we come!
And He's the Defensive Player of the Year
Bob Sanders can do it all. He can play the run, he can play the pass, and he can beat the Flash and Superman in a footrace. Here is a montage of the ten best Bob Sanders facts circulating on the internet right now. Note that these are all 100% true. Everything said is true*
10. 70% of the Earth is covered by water. The rest is covered by Bob Sanders.
9. They once made a Bob Sanders edition of Clue, but they stopped selling it because the result was always the same. Bob Sanders in the secondary with a spear tackle.
8. Death once had a "Near Bob Sanders Experience".
7. Bob Sanders tackled the inner-city violence problem...for a four yard loss.
6. Bob Sanders' dreads are pound for pound the hardest and most durable substance on Earth, making him the only player in the NFL to wear a helmet for the other team's protection.
5. Bob Sanders let Tom Brady live because Bob doesn't kill women.
4. Bob Sanders knows the ending to the Sopranos, but he won't give away the ending. He did mention that Tony wouldn't be seen wearing a Patriots hat anytime soon.
3. When you rearrange the letters in Bob Sanders name, you find what he told Tony Dungy separates themselves from the rest of the league. "Badness Bro!"
2. Bob Sanders like his ice the same way he likes his New England Patriots: crushed.
1. Bob Sanders invented black. In fact, he invented the entire color spectrum of invisible light. Except pink. Tom Brady invented pink.
I know. You all are probably to busy "LOLing" to continue reading, but there is actual news to get to.
~Ben Utecht is questionable with a shoulder injury and T.J. Rushing is probable with an illness. Utecht needs to play. An H-back like him makes a huge difference in the passing game. Rushing playing would definitely help the return game. He has one kick return for a touchdown this season. However, on defense, he may never see the field. The Colts rarely use the dime package, and they won't against a team who runs a two back formation.
~On the other side of the field, Antonio Gates is doubtful with a dislocated toe, Lorenzo Neal is questionable with a broken fibula, Nate Kaeding is probable with a fibula injury, and Antonio Cromartie is probable with an illness. Gates will not play, and if he does, he will be very ineffective. Neal may play, but a blocker should have trouble coming back from a serious leg injury. Kaeding being injured sounds reminiscent of Adam Vinatieri's injury against the Chargers in Week 10. Cromartie's illness will be about as significant as the af2.
~The Indianapolis Star ran an article on Phillip Rivers' maturity. They are talking about his work ethic, but the big question is his behavior. We've all seen the taunting against Denver. A quarterback taunting is a joke. They can't even be touched, and now they are taunting opposing QBs? Maturity is definitely a problem, but not for the Colts.
~The Patriots and Jaguars play tonight on a game that can only be considered "win-win" for Colts fans. If the Jags and Colts win, the Colts will have one more game in the Dome against a team they have already topped two times this season. If the Pats and Colts win, the Colts can get revenge for a loss earlier in the season, and they get to end the perfect season.
I'd like to thank the guys who came up with the Bob Sanders facts. All of you are brilliant. We (or me) here at Pro-Colts Stuff love the facts. GO COLTS!
*All of the facts are in fact, false. Except for number 2. and 1. and 5.
10. 70% of the Earth is covered by water. The rest is covered by Bob Sanders.
9. They once made a Bob Sanders edition of Clue, but they stopped selling it because the result was always the same. Bob Sanders in the secondary with a spear tackle.
8. Death once had a "Near Bob Sanders Experience".
7. Bob Sanders tackled the inner-city violence problem...for a four yard loss.
6. Bob Sanders' dreads are pound for pound the hardest and most durable substance on Earth, making him the only player in the NFL to wear a helmet for the other team's protection.
5. Bob Sanders let Tom Brady live because Bob doesn't kill women.
4. Bob Sanders knows the ending to the Sopranos, but he won't give away the ending. He did mention that Tony wouldn't be seen wearing a Patriots hat anytime soon.
3. When you rearrange the letters in Bob Sanders name, you find what he told Tony Dungy separates themselves from the rest of the league. "Badness Bro!"
2. Bob Sanders like his ice the same way he likes his New England Patriots: crushed.
1. Bob Sanders invented black. In fact, he invented the entire color spectrum of invisible light. Except pink. Tom Brady invented pink.
I know. You all are probably to busy "LOLing" to continue reading, but there is actual news to get to.
~Ben Utecht is questionable with a shoulder injury and T.J. Rushing is probable with an illness. Utecht needs to play. An H-back like him makes a huge difference in the passing game. Rushing playing would definitely help the return game. He has one kick return for a touchdown this season. However, on defense, he may never see the field. The Colts rarely use the dime package, and they won't against a team who runs a two back formation.
~On the other side of the field, Antonio Gates is doubtful with a dislocated toe, Lorenzo Neal is questionable with a broken fibula, Nate Kaeding is probable with a fibula injury, and Antonio Cromartie is probable with an illness. Gates will not play, and if he does, he will be very ineffective. Neal may play, but a blocker should have trouble coming back from a serious leg injury. Kaeding being injured sounds reminiscent of Adam Vinatieri's injury against the Chargers in Week 10. Cromartie's illness will be about as significant as the af2.
~The Indianapolis Star ran an article on Phillip Rivers' maturity. They are talking about his work ethic, but the big question is his behavior. We've all seen the taunting against Denver. A quarterback taunting is a joke. They can't even be touched, and now they are taunting opposing QBs? Maturity is definitely a problem, but not for the Colts.
~The Patriots and Jaguars play tonight on a game that can only be considered "win-win" for Colts fans. If the Jags and Colts win, the Colts will have one more game in the Dome against a team they have already topped two times this season. If the Pats and Colts win, the Colts can get revenge for a loss earlier in the season, and they get to end the perfect season.
I'd like to thank the guys who came up with the Bob Sanders facts. All of you are brilliant. We (or me) here at Pro-Colts Stuff love the facts. GO COLTS!
*All of the facts are in fact, false. Except for number 2. and 1. and 5.
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