Archive for May, 2010
Forum Added to Coltzilla
May 28th
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I have added forums to Coltzilla in an effort to provide those who frequent the site an opportunity to socialize and discuss the Colts outside of the parameters of posted stories. In my time writing about the Colts and as an active member of the Colts blogging community I have found that there are positive aspects to many different approaches.
One of the approaches which is novel and I think enjoyable for those who visit is the ability to post directly in response to stories as they are submitted on the front page of the website. Guided conversations, feedback, and providing opinions on the topics each story discusses allows readers here to get involved, start healthy debate on issues, and come up with new ideas regarding the future of the Colts and possible stories.
Another part of a healthy blogging environment, I think, is that people who become a part of blogs enjoy the community aspect of making friends and talking about things, Colts-related or otherwise, that are not guided by the confines of stories that writers post on the front page, or that some of the readers submit for posting on the front page. Instead, having a place to put together tailgating, talk about recent NFL news that the finite number of stories on the front page cover, and generally just toss ideas and debate about a variety of other topics is enjoyable.
Threaded commenting systems allow this to a degree, and even opening up front page threads that are “open” is nice but forums allow those live discussions to continue and evolve beyond the time they move off of the front page and outside of easy view of the rest of the community.
Still, building a forum community is a slow process and I hope that some of you who visit will take the time to start posting ideas, links to stories, and thoughts about the Colts. The community will come together over time and I am excited to be a part of its evolution. I imagine numerous story ideas for the front page will come from these discussions so this will be a great place for viewers to drive the direction of the site and help Coltzilla evolve to offer the material, the work product, that each of you look for most.
Stop in, register, and visit regularly while the forum grows!
Thanks!
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Ugoh’s Move Inside is Encouraging
May 28th
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Colts fans entered the 2010 NFL Draft expecting the Colts to upgrade at left tackle. After that did not happen, many thought that Pete Metzalaars promotion to Offensive Line Coach after the departure of Howard Mudd would open up the competition between Tony Ugoh and Charlie Johnson for the starting spot once again (this writer included). Instead, the Colts are taking a look at Ugoh inside to potentially fill Ryan Lilja’s vacated spot, and this is a change that excite fans. Ugoh is a physically dominant player who has exceptional speed and has displayed the ability to get down-field as a lead blocker since he joined the Colts.
The toughest transition for Ugoh has been learning the footwork and lateral mobility required to slide outside stay in front of pass rushers on the edges. When he has been asked to simply square up, keep his body low, and block in-line, he has excelled and helped open holes down-field for Colts rushers. will display some of Ugoh’s in-line blocking strengths.
Dilip Vishwanat | Getty Images
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Colts 2011 Super Bowl Favorites
May 27th
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A whole lot will happen between now and serious discussions about who has the best shot to win Super Bowl XLV. One of those things, which is typically rather frustrating for fans in Indianapolis, is that the so-called experts will generate predictions many will find unsatisfying.
For one reason or another, despite the Colts unmatched regular season success and Bill Polian’s reputation for getting the most out of his players, sports media tend to short-sell Indy’s post-season projections. NFL Odds makers see things differently, listing the Colts as favorites to win their second championship in five seasons.
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Something to Prove: Fili Moala
May 27th
The Indianapolis Colts have a long history of doing more with less at defensive tackle. In the 1995 NFL Draft the Colts selected Ellis Johnson in the first round and in 2002 it drafted Larry Tripplett in the second. It took another seven years for the team to draft a defensive tackle in the first two rounds of the draft, taking Fili Moala in the second round in 2009.
Beyond that, the Colts have had horrible luck with defensive tackles, including the Corey Simon failure, Booger McFarland’s career-ending knee injury in the 2007 off-season, and Ed Johnson’s drug possession and weight control problems ending his short career in Indianapolis. Even former third round pick Quinn Pitcock out of Ohio State, who showed promise in his rookie season, unexpectedly retired on his way to summer workouts in 2008.
If it was not for successful scouting and acquisition of players from other teams, including starters Daniel Muir and Antonio Johnson, along with the development of undrafted free agent Eric Foster, the franchise would have been unable to continue its streak of regular-season success. In order to improve the position long-term and hopefully attain top-tier talent the Colts drafted Moala.
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More Trouble for Colts Future?
May 26th
Mike Chappell of the Indy Star reported this morning that Robert Mathis is choosing to not participate in the team’s organized team activities because he is unhappy with his contract. Adding a player to the mix of players who will need to negotiate new contracts at the end of the 2010 season, which I discussed in this article is certainly not good news.
Mathis has been selected to the Pro Bowl each of the last two seasons and is second only to Dwight Freeney in career sacks in franchise history (63). Despite this production, Mathis is set to make $2.3 million and $2.4 million in salary over the final two years of this contract, or $5.8 million and $4.4 million including bonuses. By comparison, Freeney will make $8.6 million and $11.1 million in salary over the same two seasons, or $13.6 million and $16.1 million including bonuses.
David J. Philip | Photo
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Understanding the Colts Defense
May 26th
Recently the National Football Post started a series that hopes to give football fans a basic understanding of how traditional NFL defenses work. To start, Matt Bowen wrote a piece explaining the basic Cover 2 defensive arrangement in this story.
The diagram shows how the safeties and middle linebacker traditionally will drop into a what amounts to a cover 3 arrangement, meaning there are three players who drop back in a “deep zone” in their respective areas on the field. This defense encourages opponents to get rid of the ball in a short field, limits yards after the catch, and relies on the defensive linemen to generate pressure before opposing receivers can stretch the field and get behind the zone coverage.
Mohammed Alo | The Football Times
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Don’t Forget Ervin Baldwin
May 25th
Any time a team drafts a player at a certain position in the first round of the draft, the dynamic of the depth chart at that position will undergo noticeable change. When that first round selection coincides with the release of a player who was amongst the longest tenured defensive linemen on the team, the certainty of change is even greater.
It is easy for drafted players to steal all of the attention away from the depth a team already has, when that depth has yet to see extensive time on the field. Still, the importance of players the Colts took the time to acquire in previous seasons should not be overlooked, as they have had the benefit of learning the team’s system, working with the team’s coaching and training staff, and playing at the faster speed of the NFL.
One such player, who showed promise in his limited opportunities is Ervin Baldwin, who was added off of waivers after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, a team that plays a very similar defensive style to the Colts.
Mark Cowan | UPI Photo
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Tough Road Ahead for the Colts?
May 24th
The Indianapolis Colts have built the most consistent team in NFL history, setting the NFL record for consecutive seasons with 12 or more wins (7). Needless to say, the single biggest reason for the Colts’ rise to NFL greatness is Peyton Manning, who is the unquestioned team-leader and may go down in history as the best quarterback to ever play the game. But no single player can carry a team to the Colts’ level of success, and Indianapolis has developed one of the most talented units in the league.
Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis have become the most feared and powerful pass-rushing tandems in the NFL. Bob Sanders won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2007. Antoine Bethea has been selected to two Pro Bowls and has been the most consistent safety on the team. Gary Brackett is one of the best linebackers in football, and has been dangerously close to winning a Pro Bowl bid each of the last three years. Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne, and Jeff Saturday are also key offensive facets that have been around for a long time, during the Colts’ run to greatness.
Getty Images
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Summer Showdown: Adam Terry v. Ryan Diem
May 23rd
When the 2009 season ended an era ended in Indianapolis. After 12 years serving as the offensive line coach for the Colts, having developed some of the best offensive lines in the NFL during his tenure, Howard Mudd retired. Replacing him is Pete Metzalaars, former NFL tight end who played for 16 years and whose 235 games is the most for any tight end in NFL history.
Any time a new coach takes over, change is inevitable. It is possible that one of the changes Metzalaars will make is beefing up a notoriously small offensive line, which is known for excellent pass protection but poor run blocking. In that effort he will likely take a fresh look at all of the offensive linemen on the Colts roster and choose the five players he thinks are best suited to fill in as starters.
This season, for the first time since Ryan Diem took over as the starting right tackle for the Colts in 2003, Metzalaars will have to legitimately decide whether Diem should retain his job.
Adam Terry, former right tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, was added to the roster and at 6-foot 8-inches tall and 330 pounds he is definitely a larger option who blocked for the fourth ranked rushing offense in the NFL in 2008. With the Colts focusing on improving the team’s running game, Terry may be given his chance.
AP Photo
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