Posts tagged Kyle DeVan
How the Colts can Fix the Offensive Line
Jan 11th
Right guard Mike Pollak and right tackle Jeff Linkenbach prepare to block pre-snap. (Jonathan Daniel | Getty Images)
No unit on the football field lives and dies by the concept that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link more than the offensive line. When one player screws up an assignment along the line it can cause a total breakdown in protection.
Since Tarik Glenn retired following the 2006 Super Bowl Championship season, the Colts have played at least one offensive lineman out of position. Charlie Johnson, the Colts starting left tackle in 2009 and 2010, is not a true NFL-caliber left tackle and was not acquired to play that position. He had success at right tackle in the Super Bowl when Ryan Diem went down with an injury and has looked good at the guard positions, but left tackle is asking Johnson to play over his head. More >
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Navigating the Colts 2011 Off-Season
Jan 7th
Quarterback Peyton Manning watches as running back Joseph Addai carries the football in Denver. (Doug Pensinger | Getty Images)
Although the Colts are heading into the playoffs and will not have to worry about new contracts, free agency, and draft planning until after their playoff run ends, once it does things will start happening fast. With all of the players who have contracts ending this season, it will be important to make good choices in order to keep a very talented football team intact.
One thing about any off-season is the chance that difficult decisions will have to be made about players for whom fans have a great deal of loyalty. That is the unfortunate nature of the business of football and those kinds of decisions and observations will be included in what this writer believes is the best direction for the Colts leading up to the 2011 season.
The most important thing to do to start this process is to identify which players require new contracts in order to play football in 2011, and which players currently have contracts that are not reflective of their value to the team.
The players who will need new contracts in order to return to the Colts in 2011 are listed below, by position. More >
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After Review: Colts v. Raiders
Dec 27th
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Colts offensive lineman Jeff Saturday's bloody fingers exemplify Indy's offensive line effort over the last two weeks. (Jed Jacobsohn | Getty Images)
The Indianapolis Colts took one step closer to the playoffs with a win in Oakland. The scoreboard does not accurately represent the difference between the talent level of the two teams who took the field on Sunday, as the Colts defense stifled Oakland’s offense and the Colts offense moved the ball easily for much of the game.
If not for a special teams touchdown to start the game, a play Colts fans are far too familiar with, the score would have gotten out of hand very early. Still, blow outs are not necessary to finish Indy’s task for a late-season push for the playoffs and leaves them still in the driver’s seat to put away a struggling Titans team at home to finish the job. More >
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Game Stats: Cowboys v. Colts
Dec 9th
After the debacle against the Chargers, and the heart breaker against the Patriots, the Colts dropped another game. They gave the Cowboys 17 points to start the contest, and had the chance to pull out a last minute victory on three occasions. Unlike previous weeks, no single unit can carry all of the blame.
The Colts had multiple series where one good play after another would get completely erased by a horrible play or decision. Manning threw interceptions on the heels of key defensive stands, Eric Foster jumped on top of an opponent to negate an amazing goal line stand, and Wayne tallied his only drop to erase a chance for the offense to win after taking the kickoff in overtime. In the end the Colts fell to 6-6, one game behind Jacksonville, and head into a short week — at least three players left the game with injuries.
It makes more difficult to know that some guys had great games. Antoine Bethea was absolutely everywhere and tallied 15 tackles, Pierre Garcon caught EVERY SINGLE throw his way, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis both had a sack, Jeff Saturday returned to form, and even Manning was not terrible statistically.
On to the stats.
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Game Stats: Chargers v. Colts
Dec 4th
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Blair White catches his breathafter scoring against the Chargers(Don Larson | Colts.com)
The Colts offensive struggles have doomed the team the past two weeks — as poor decisions and poor timing stifled a last minute come from behind victory against New England, and handed the Chargers 20 points. While the team won’t make excuses, fans should realize that Manning’s limited options at wide receiver, running back, and tight end have ruined Indy’s offensive cohesion. Add poor performances from both offensive tackles, and the situation gets even worse.
While there were numerous things for fans to complain about, there were also enough positive signs to make one hopeful. The biggest was the fact that despite common perception, Jeff Linkenbach has actually been an improvement over Mike Pollak at right guard (albeit a modest one). Receivers Blair White and Jacob Tamme are becoming very stable for Manning, showing both good timing and hands. The Colts also found a use for Donald Brown. He may not function as a pass blocker, or have the vision to effectively run through a gap, but he showed an edge on quick slant routes that gives him a tangible positive.
Let’s move on to the stats. More >
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Why the Colts Future is not in Doubt
Dec 2nd
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Peyton Manning speaking gealic to his offense in Super Bowl XLI. (Jed Jacobsohn | Getty Images)
With Indianapolis struggling recently, a lot of fans are questioning the team’s future. Many complain about recent drafts and believe the young talent will be incapable of replacing the perennial Pro Bowl and future Hall of Fame talent that is starting to age.
This negative perspective is premature. As long as Peyton Manning is healthy and playing at a very high level in the NFL, the Colts future is safe. With that in mind, it makes sense to focus on the players who represent the team’s future, consider their talent level, and where that talent can take the Colts moving forward. More >
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Where does the Colts Offense go from here?
Nov 24th
(Charles Krupa | AP Photo)
The Indianapolis Colts are 6-4 with six games remaining; four at home and two on the road, and they are currently in a tie for first in the AFC South. What makes the team’s future uncertain is that through 10 games the Colts offense has been unable to develop an identity — unless that identity is defined by inconsistent production and injuries.
The offense has scored erratically. In the second and fourth quarters of games, the offense has put up 98 and 82 points respectively. In the first and third quarters, they have only managed 40 and 27 points.
Against the Patriots, the Colts offense struggled to find their rhythm. In the first quarter, the offense turned the ball over and punted. In the second they scored two touchdowns. In the third quarter they punted and turned the ball over. Finally, in the fourth, the Colts put together their two best scoring drives — only to turn it over again on the game-tying or winning drive.
In the first half the Colts managed only 9 yards rushing. In the second half they produced 62 yards on the ground. The swings were huge for the offense, going from juggernaut to anemic without warning and seemingly without reason.
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Game Stats: Double Feature – Weeks 8 & 9 Pt. I (Offense)
Nov 18th
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There were consistent statistical themes through Weeks 8 and 9, along with some big differences. Some of the stats are combined for both games, but areas of particular note are separated and highlighted as necessary. Injuries played a big part in both games. The Colts lost Mike Hart and Anthony Gonzalez in Week 8, and Austin Collie in Week 9. Clint Session played well despite severe injury.
As I’ve tried to explain throughout the season, I am always looking to improve the stats I record. In keeping with that philosophy, I am introducing a few new stats into this analysis. The new additions include run play direction and gap on offense, along with opposing run play direction, Colts blitzes, and distinguishing between broken and missed tackles on defense.
* Previously, only “MTs” or missed tackles were recorded, but a better phrasing would have been “broken tackles.” Missed tackles will only be used to track players who take bad angles or fail to hold edges. This should help distinguish between someone physically screwing up a tackle, and someone mentally screwing it up.
More >
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After Review: Texans v. Colts
Nov 3rd
Jacob Tamme's first NFL touchdown against the Texans on Monday night. (AJ Mast | AP Photo)
The Indianapolis Colts won convincingly against the visiting Houston Texans. The surprising part of the victory is that it was without key players like Joseph Addai, Jerraud Powers, Dallas Clark, and Austin Collie. During the course of the game, rookie tight end Brody Eldridge left the game due to injury, first-time starting running back Mike Hart hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter, and wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez took a hard hit on the sideline, which kept him from finishing the game.
The game had major contributions from players like Hart, who ran for 84 yards on 12 carries (7.0 yards per carry) and caught all three of the passes his way for an additional 19 yards. He had the best game of his career and was on pace to break the 100-yard rushing mark. Cornerback Justin Tryon got his first start with the Colts for Jerraud Powers. Pat Angerer started his first game at strong-side linebacker in place of Philip Wheeler. Jacob Tamme got his first career start for the injured Dallas Clark and managed 64 yards on 6 receptions, out of 9 targets, and his first NFL touchdown. Even rookie Jerry Hughes saw his first action, got his first NFL tackle, and a quarterback hurry. More >
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Indy Sports Coverage – Week 8
Nov 2nd
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!
It’s Week 8 of the 2010 season, and the 4-2 Colts host their division rival Houston Texans. Be sure to check back throughout the week for more coverage.
UPDATED with post-game interviews 9:45am, 11/2/2010
UPDATED 12:00pm, 11/1/2010
UPDATED 3:50pm, 10/31/2010
Post-Game Coverage:
Tony Dungy inducted into Colts’ Ring of Honor:
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