Week 11 Q&A: Patriots Writer Jeff Howe
Nov 20th
Peyton Manning and Tom Brady shake hands after the teams last met in Foxboro in 2006. (AP Photo)
Each week Coltzilla will preview the upcoming game by speaking with fellow bloggers or writers who cover the week’s opponent. This week Coltzilla speaks with Jeff Howe from NESN to get a Patriots perspective on our upcoming match-up.
*UPDATE – Visit NESN’s interview with Coltzilla here.
CZ: No matter how lazy or disappointing a player like Randy Moss may be in terms of production and effort, he has always had the impact of taking some pressure off of other targets no matter what offense he plays in. What consequences have the Patriots noticed since he has departed New England? How has it affected Wes Welker’s production or impact?
JH: Welker’s production has dipped, as defenses have had the luxury of focusing more on him with Moss out of the picture. However, there’s no way the Patriots beat the Ravens without Deion Branch, who only had two catches through three quarters (when the Patriots trailed, 20-10) but had seven receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter and overtime. No chance Moss has that type of production in that game. The offensive identity has changed, and while it hasn’t always been as fluid, players have noted that all 11 guys are fighting for the same goal, which was an obvious dig on Moss. It’s a work in progress, but the Patriots’ offense is looking more and more like the one from the beginning part of the decade. More >
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Friday Injury Report: Colts v. Pats
Nov 19th
It’s a sad statement that when in most weeks, this injury report would be considered disastrous, there is actually a lot to cheer about in this one. Collie and Addai look set to make their comebacks, potentially as soon as Sunday. Blair White will see the field again. And Jacob “Fort Worth” Tamme didn’t even appear on the report all week, despite the fact that we’ve heard he is still hurting.
I did not include those players (Freeney, Mathis) who appeared on the report throughout the week due to rest.
| Injury | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Game Status | |
| J. Addai | Neck | DNP | LIMITED | DNP | QUESTIONABLE |
| G. Brackett | Toe | DNP | DNP | DNP | QUESTIONABLE |
| A. Collie | Concussion | LIMITED | FULL | FULL | QUESTIONABLE |
| B. Eldridge | Rib | DNP | DNP | FULL | QUESTIONABLE |
| A. Francisco | Rib | NONE | NONE | LIMITED | QUESTIONABLE |
| M. Hart | Ankle | DNP | DNP | DNP | QUESTIONABLE |
| K. Hayden | Neck | NONE | LIMITED | FULL | QUESTIONABLE |
| B. Sanders | Biceps | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
| C. Session | Elbow/Forearm | DNP | DNP | DNP | QUESTIONABLE |
| J. Tryon | Foot | DNP | DNP | DNP | QUESTIONABLE |
| R. Wayne | Knee | DNP | FULL | FULL | QUESTIONABLE |
| B. White | Shoulder | LIMITED | FULL | FULL | QUESTIONABLE |
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
Colts Practice Squad Shuffle Continues
Nov 19th
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Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports that the Colts have released wide receiver Ray Small from the practice squad and replaced him with wide receiver Kole Heckendorf. Heckendorf has bounced around the league from Green Bay (originally signed as an undrafted free agent), to Detroit and Seattle, but was most recently cut by the San Diego Chargers. Heckendorf was North Dakota State’s top receiver for four years, but at 6-foot 2-inches tall and only 191 pounds, his frame is alarmingly small to play against NFL defenders.
The Colts also re-signed wide receiver Chris Brooks to the practice squad after he cleared waivers in the move re-sign Chip Vaughn to the active roster.
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
Check it to Pancakes, Episode 15: Week 11 – Colts at Patriots
Nov 19th
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This week’s podcast includes special guest Nate Dunlevy (that’s Done-Lev-EE not Done-leave-EE), founder and lead blogger at 18to88.com. Last name pronunciation aside, he will always be Sensitive Mike to Coltzilla. Episode 15 reviews the Colts victory over the Bengals, provides updates and insights into the health of Colts players, and previews the big game on Sunday afternoon against the New England Patriots in Foxborough.
As always, we invite you to listen to the podcast and provide any comments or feedback on our performance. We work hard to provide fans with the content they are looking for in a podcast. If we’re missing the mark, let us know.
*A personal note: please visit 18to88.com to order your copy of Blue Blood: Tales of Glory of the Indianapolis Colts. Frankly, having read the book myself, I think it is a must own and must read for any Colts fan, young or old, and one of the easiest Colts fan Christmas gifts of the holiday season. Stocking stuffer? Your friend is a Colts fan? Get them a copy of Blue Blood. A personal thank you to Nate for participating this week.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
Questioning the Toughness of Players like the Colts Sanders or Gonzalez is “Ignorant”
Nov 19th
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Dallas Clark on the sidelines prior to the Colts and Texans Week 9 match-up. (Darron Cummings | AP Photo)
Ross Tucker of ESPN wrote a story yesterday regarding an oft-discussed issue with injured NFL players, particularly ones who miss time more often than fans think they should. His response is clear, questioning the toughness of NFL players because they suffer from injuries that hold them out of long stretches of football games, even multiple times, is ignorant.
Too often fans and a lot of writers in the media, particularly fan writers on blogs, will throw around labels like “injury prone” or say things like a player is not “tough enough” to play professional football. These comments are almost always uninformed, lack depth, and are only written because those writing the comments are ignorant to the kinds of injuries players often suffer, the gravity of those injuries, and the difficulty of overcoming not only the pain but the rigorous rehabilitation processes that go along with them. More >
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Inside the Play: Bengals
Nov 18th
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Every week, ColtsBrasil‘s Paulo Netto selects a game-changing or representative play from the prior week’s game and breaks it down in fantastic graphic detail. Paulo has graciously agreed to share his analysis with Coltzilla in this series.
In this week’s edition, Paulo evaluates the on-the-field chemistry that is developing between Peyton Manning and Jacob Tamme:
Picture 1: 2nd & 8. Two wide receivers on the right and one on the left. Tamme as tight end.
More >
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
Thursday Injury Report: Colts v. Pats
Nov 18th
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DID NOT PARTICIPATE
Gary Brackett – TOE
Brody Eldridge – RIBS
Mike Hart – ANKLE
Robert Mathis – REST
Bob Sanders – BICEPS
Clint Session – ELBOW/FOREARM
Justin Tryon – FOOT/ANKLE
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
Joseph Addai – NECK
Kelvin Hayden – NECK
FULL PARTICIPATION
Austin Collie – CONCUSSION
Dwight Freeney – REST
Reggie Wayne – KNEE
Blair White – SHOULDER
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Disagreements Continue Regarding Donald Brown
Nov 18th
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Scott Bolander of Blue Sunday blog, writer of What Peyton Manning is Doing (and how to beat him), adds his perspective to the ongoing debate regarding Donald Brown’s progress in his second year with the Colts. Scott responds to commentary in last week’s Check it to Pancakes podcast discussing Brown’s performance. He believes that the podcast unfairly judges Brown, and suggests that one legitimate reason for Brown’s slow start in his starting role has to do with a lingering hamstring injury. For more on Scott’s opinion, visit the Donald Brown’s progress link above.
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Colts Roster Moves Week 10-11
Nov 18th
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Earlier this week the Colts released wide receiver Chris Brooks from the active roster and re-signed safety Chip Vaughn. The move increases the likelihood that wide receiver Austin Collie will return for the match-up against New England Sunday afternoon. It also suggests that the Colts saw enough in Chip Vaughn during his recent stint with the team to bring him back to the active roster and take a closer look.
I was a little disappointed when I learned that the Colts released Vaughn as he was a pre-2009 NFL Draft favorite of mine. Hopefully he will stick around long enough to have a chance to learn the system and compete with Mike Newton and Aaron Francisco for a long-term spot on the roster and chance to compete the 2011 off-season. More >
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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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