Posts tagged 2009 NFL Draft
Looking Ahead: Colts Running Backs in 2011
Feb 14th
Donald Brown breaks downfield for a 49-yard gain against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2010. (Michael Conroy | AP Photo)
2010 was about as rough on Colts running backs as it was on the team’s safeties.
The opening depth chart included fourth string rusher and kick returner Devin Moore, who went down for the year with a shoulder injury in the Week 4 match-up with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Second-string back, and 2009 First Round pick, Donald Brown missed weeks 4-6 with a hamstring injury. Third-string back, Mike Hart missed weeks 9-12 and 13-17 with an ankle injury. Starter, Joseph Addai missed eight weeks with a shoulder injury.
Fifth-string back, Javarris James played a significant role in four of the Colts 2010 games — which included six rushing touchdowns. Even Dominic Rhodes, former starter behind Edgerrin James, made his way back onto the roster following a full season with the Florida Tuskers of the UFL — he shattered the UFL records for rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and all purpose yards. Rhodes played significantly in weeks 15-17.
In total, the Colts had six different rushers and tallied 32 missed games between the four who started the season on the depth chart. More >
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...
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 >
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
A Fan Salute to the 2010 Indianapolis Colts
Jan 5th
A true Colts fan salute. (Andy Lyons | Getty Images)
With a win against the Titans, the Colts managed to overcome unprecedented team injuries and their worst five game series since 2002 for a NFL record (tie) ninth consecutive playoff berth, and their seventh AFC South Championship in the last eight years. Peyton Manning was able to get through his toughest stretch of games since his rookie year and somehow Indy has managed to enter January with the three seed in the AFC.
It is extremely important for Colts fans to step back and think about the gravity of this accomplishment. Frankly, this team had no business overcoming all of the adversity it has faced in a sixteen game season. More >
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
After Review: Colts v. Raiders
Dec 27th
2 comments
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 >
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
Why the Colts Future is not in Doubt
Dec 2nd
15 comments
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 >
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
Introducing Colts Safety Al Afalava
Nov 25th
Al Afalava intercepts a pass against the San Diego Chargers in the preseason. (Stephen Dunn | Getty Images)
One of the most enjoyable experiences I have had since I started writing about the Colts is when I put a lot of focus on researching players entering the 2009 NFL Draft. It gave me the opportunity to “play scout” for a year. So, when the Colts signed Chip Vaughn, I was excited to see him develop on the team and have a chance to work his way onto the roster. Not unlike most things involving Colts safeties this year, that all ended due to injury.
The Colts replaced Vaughn with second-year safety Al Afalava. I projected that the Colts may select Afalava in the sixth round in 2009, but not unlike most of my predictions, I was wrong. The Bears selected him seventeenth in the sixth round. He started much of his rookie season at both strong and free safety for the Bears before falling out of favor. More >
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
Colts Roster Moves Week 10-11
Nov 18th
1 comment
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 >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...
Introducing Colts Safety Chip Vaughn
Oct 26th
Chip Vaughn is a big hitter. (Marc Serota | Getty Images)
Prior to the 2009 NFL Draft, I put together a series of stories which compared players I thought the Colts may select. Former Wake Forest safety Chip Vaughn was one of those players and was arguably the best run stuffing safety out of the 2009 group. One will notice a lot of similarities in Vaughn’s aggressive style and hard hitting to Colts safeties Bob Sanders, Antoine Bethea, and Melvin Bullitt. The New Orleans Saints selected Vaughn in the 4th round.
Researching the injury that kept Vaughn out of the 2009 season, it appears as though he was placed on injured reserve for much the same reason a lot of young players are when teams want to save them for the future, but have not had the time to work them into their system prior to the coming season. The Colts did the same with safety David Caldwell this year, who seemingly did not have a critical injury and was seen at training camp practices, but his injuries were bad enough to put him on injured reserve, get him healthy, and give him a chance to get ready for the 2011 season. More >
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
Colts Sign Safety Chip Vaughn
Oct 25th
No comments
After the Colts put Dallas Clark on injured reserve with a wrist injury the team had an open roster spot. NFL.com transactions indicates that the Colts signed safety Chip Vaughn. Vaughn was drafted in the 4th round by the New Orleans Saints in the 2009 NFL Draft but was put on the injured reserve and missed all of the 2009 season. The Saints released Vaughn on September 4, 2010 and he spent September 6-21 with the Eagles before he was waived.
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...