Archive for September, 2010
Thursday Practice Report – Colts v Jaguars
Sep 30th
1 comment
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
Sanders, Bob – Biceps
Gonzalez, Anthony – Ankle
Conner, Kavell – Foot
Garcon, Pierre – Hamstring, Cedilla
Brown, Donald – Hamstring
King, Brandon – Hamstring
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
Two players didn’t get the do, or do not, memo today:
Collie, Austin – Heel
Richard, Jamey – Shoulder
FULL PARTICIPATION
Saturday, Jeff – Knee
Powers, Jerraud – Foot
Johnson, Charlie – Foot
Brackett, Gary – Back
Addai, Joseph – Knee
Session, Clint – Hamstring WOOOHOOOOWOOWOWOOHOOOWOOHOO
The first thing that jumps out is Clint Session is back to full participation! If he can practice on Friday, I expect him to play on Sunday. Great news! Next, two full days of practice for Johnson, no setbacks. I hope he’s feeling good, I expect him to play this week. Now, the bad news. Superstar Austin Collie has a heel injury that limited him today, while Jamey Richard was also limted with a shoulder injury. One of those injuries is more significant than the other, I’ll let you guess which.
Will have a complete write up tomorrow.
Should Fans Worry about the Colts Defense?
Sep 30th
6 comments
The defense of the 2010 Indianapolis Colts has run the gamut of breakdowns in their first three regular-season games. Against the Houston Texans in Week One, they allowed over 250 yards rushing due to a breakdown in gap-discipline. In Week Two, the Colts gave up two long touchdown passes against the New York Giants, due to poor technique from the cornerbacks. Finally, this past Sunday, overly aggressive play from the Colts’ defensive backs consistently turned short completions into long plays. The consistent breakdowns have some Colts fans wondering: Will the defense prevent this team from winning a Super Bowl?
After the jump we’ll look at the three defensive performances, tell you what went wrong, and if the Colts can fix it. More >
Wednesday Practice Report – Colts v Jaguars
Sep 29th
No comments
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Sanders, Bob – Biceps
Gonzalez, Anthony – Ankle
Conner, Kavell – Foot
Brown, Donald – Hamstring
Garçon, Pierre – Hamstring, Hands Transplant (okay, only one of these is real)
Session, Clint – Hamstring
King, Brandon – Hamstring (are you sensing the theme for today?)
Freeney, Dwight – Rest
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
As usual, the Colts live by the motto, if you’re going to do something, do it all the way. No one was limited in practice today.
FULL PARTICIPATION
Johnson, Charlie – Foot
Saturday, Jeff – Knee
Addai, Joseph – Knee
Powers, Jerraud – Foot
No commentary until later in the week, but it seems encouraging that Charlie Johnson was able to fully practice today. I was expecting the Colts to rest him until the bye week to give him a chance to get to 100%. At this point, I do not expect Garçon or Session to take the field on Sunday, but will know more by Friday.
Colts Roster Updates (9-29-2010)
Sep 29th
Phil B. Wilson of IndyStar.com is reporting that the Colts have re-signed veteran linebacker Tyjuan Hagler. Indianapolis released tight end Gijon Robinson to make room for Hagler on the regular season roster. Additionally, Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports that the Colts have released practice squad quarterback Tom Brandstater. The roster at Colts.com shows that the Colts signed rookie fullback/H-Back Matt Clapp (Oklahoma) and rookie wide receiver Chris Brooks (Nebraska) to fill the spots vacated by Brandstater and Blair White. It is also worth noting that Donye’ McCleskey is no longer list on the injured reserve list.
We will provide more details as they are available.
18-Game Season? Another Perspective
Sep 28th
Fox analyst and NFL Hall of Fame inductee Howie Long gives his perspective on how an expansion of the NFL regular season from 16 to 18 games would impact players and the quality of play.
Like Mr. Long, this writer sees more downside than upside with the proposed expansion – more injuries, injuries playing an even larger role during the playoffs, the resultant drop in quality of play, and the increased cost of an expanded roster seem like a high price to pay for the possibility of higher ticket sales.
Some have speculated that the talk of expansion has been no more than a threat wielded by money-hungry owners in prep for the serious negotiating soon to come. If not, I sincerely hope the league solicits input from experts such as Howie Long and weighs the negative impact of prolonged exposure to players before a final decision is made.
Colts Forward-Looking Observations
Sep 28th
The Colts are in a situation that has become all too familiar for fans each year. They have suffered a rash of season-ending injuries, starting in rookie mini-camp, with third-round cornerback Kevin Thomas. The Colts added four more defensive backs to that list: including veteran safety Jamie Silva, safety David Caldwell, safety Donye’ McCleskey, and cornerback Jordan Hemby — each were lost during training camp and preseason.
Tight end Tom Santi and kicker Brett Swenson also failed to make it to the regular season. Since the season’s start, linebacker Ramon Humber has been waived due to injury and starters Bob Sanders, Clint Session, Pierre Garçon, Charlie Johnson, and Anthony Gonzalez have all suffered injuries that have kept them out of games. Starting linebacker Clint Session’s replacement, rookie Kavell Conner, suffered a broken bone in his left foot in Denver that will keep him out for weeks as well. Even 2007 second-round pick Tony Ugoh suffered a toe injury that led to his release from the club. More >
Indy Sports Coverage – Week 3
Sep 27th
Each week, Coltzilla brings you highlights from local sports coverage of the Colts with an emphasis on player interviews. Pre-game interviews go up Sunday mornings. Post-game interviews are posted shortly after the game. Hope you enjoy!
Dwight Freeney, Jacob Lacey, and Kelvin Hayden talk about stopping teams in the red zone. On five trips into the red zone on Sunday, the Colts held the Denver Broncos to two field goals.
Kavell Conner Fractures Bone in Left Foot
Sep 27th
5 comments
in Denver tweeted earlier today that Colts rookie linebacker Kavell Conner suffered a fracture in his left foot in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Broncos. The injury will at minimum keep Conner out for a number of weeks and could lead to him being placed on the injured reserve. If so, this will be the second linebacker in two weeks who has had his season end prematurely.
Colts fans will have to hope for Clint Session’s healthy return in the near future, otherwise only Pat Angerer and Cody Glenn are healthy options to play opposite starters Gary Brackett and Philip Wheeler. This is disappointing for Conner, who looked promising in his first five quarters of professional play.
After Review: Colts v. Broncos (Week 3)
Sep 27th
After the Colts 27-13 victory in Denver, taking a step away from the game and reviewing the tape was a big help. The Colts dominated the scoreboard from the beginning of the game, but it was not until late in the second half, following Austin Collie’s second touchdown reception, that the Colts took control of the game.
A couple of things stood out in the second viewing that were hard to catch the first time through. These things go a long way to explain the statistical anomalies in the game, why the Colts gave up so many yards through the air, and made an offensive line performance that might have seemed really bad, at least a little better. More >