Posts tagged 2009 Season
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 ...
Former Colts Offensive Line Coach Howard Mudd Joins Eagles
Feb 2nd
Howard Mudd overlooks the Saints offense with head coach Sean Payton. (Bill Haber | AP Photo)
After long-time offensive line coach Howard Mudd chose to retire following the 2009 season, Indianapolis went into a state of transition. There is little argument amongst those in the know around the NFL that Mudd is one of the greatest offensive line coaches in the history of the NFL. With the Colts he oversaw offensive lines that made a yearly tradition of having the least sacked quarterback in the league. While those numbers were certainly aided by having the most pocket-aware quarterback the NFL has ever seen, Mudd did the most with very little during his career in Indy.
The first shocking piece of news after Mudd left the team was his brief stint in New Orleans as a special assistant, helping the team that just defeated the Colts in the Super Bowl get their offensive line squared away. There is no doubt that a sting went through the Colts fan base with this news.
Now, after spending the year off of NFL coaching staffs, that Howard Mudd will replace recently promoted Juan Castillo as the Eagles offensive line coach. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...
Did Injuries Affect the 2010 Colts?
Jan 19th
Colts fans are stuck in limbo. The Super Bowl is still two weeks away, so talking about the off-season seems premature. Before fans get to that point, it is worthwhile to take a look back at 2010 to gauge where the Colts franchise will be when the draft and summer activities roll around.
One of the biggest impacts on Indianapolis in 2010 was the unprecedented number of injuries the team had to play through. The Colts placed 18 players on Injured Reserve, and two others on the injured/waived list — including Taj Smith, who rejoined the Colts. This number does not include injured players who missed multiple games throughout the year, but still managed to hold onto a roster spot.
Below are three ways to examine Indy’s injuries in 2010.
(2 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 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 ...
After Review: Chiefs v. Colts (Week 5)
Oct 11th
8 comments
Philip Wheeler breaks up a pass from Matt Cassel to Dwayne Bowe, saving a first quarter touchdown. (Brent Smith | Reuters)
After watching the Chiefs game a second time, it was easier to pick out which players and plays hurt the Colts offensive effort, and which defenders or defensive plays allowed the Chiefs to generate the bulk of their offense. Although the Colts won the game 19-9, at no time before Mike Hart’s touchdown run in the fourth quarter could Indianapolis or its fans get comfortable.
The common theme for the Colts offense throughout the day was a failure to consistently execute, primarily by the offensive line, quarterback Peyton Manning, and the Colts receiving corps. When each group of players did their jobs correctly, the Colts had a great deal of success dictating the pace of the game, keeping the Chiefs off-balance with a productive running game, and exploiting holes in the crowded Kansas City secondary. Outside of a couple of untimely penalties, and situations where linebackers were out of position or cornerbacks were giving receivers too much cushion, the defense had an outstanding performance — without which the Colts would not have won. More >
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
Week 5 Q&A: Chiefs Blogger Joel Thorman
Oct 8th
No comments
Chiefs rookie running back Jamaal Charles. Kevin C. Cox | Getty Images
Each week Coltzilla will preview the upcoming game by speaking with fellow bloggers who write about the upcoming opponent. The Colts face the Chiefs this weekend, who are 3-0 and the last undefeated team this year. Joining Coltzilla this week is Joel Thorman from Arrowhead Pride to give us some answers.
CZ: In your opinion, how well has Ryan Lilja performed since you picked him up, after the Colts released him following the 2009 season? Some fans in Indianapolis feel like this was the wrong move for the Colts offensive line, do you agree?
JT: I think he’s been just fine. The Chiefs are running a zone blocking system so they need athletic guys like that. From what I understand, he was released in Indy because they were going bigger on offense. I don’t think that’s a knock on Lilja — it’s just the system. But for KC, he’s been very good, and more than anything he’s been consistent at a position that caused a lot of problems last year. More >
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
Colts v Jaguars, and Things of that Nature (Week 4 Preview)
Oct 2nd
5 comments
On Sunday, the Colts will make their annual trek to the frozen tarps of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium EverBank Field to take on the Los Angeles Jaguars of Jacksonville. On paper, it would appear to be a contest between two teams built with similar philosophies: build through the draft, have stability at head coach, have stability at quarterback, and never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line. Looks, as Colts President Bill Polian would tell you, can be deceiving.
Photo by Sam Greenwood | Getty Images
More >
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
Behind Enemy Lines: Denver Broncos
Sep 24th
1 comment
Michael Conroy | AP Photo
Kyle Orton
The Colts Week 3 opponents, the Denver Broncos, are a somewhat familiar foe. These two teams have met on quite a few occasions this decade, but there has been significant turnover for the Broncos. Gone are the days of Mike Shanahan, the west coast offense, zone blocking schemes, and Jim Bates’ conservative 4-3 defense.
In are the days of Josh McDaniels, his spread offense, and a 3-4 attacking defense. Despite the changes, this match-up and the strategies deployed by McDaniels should be familiar as McDaniels is the former offensive coordinator of one of the Colts’ biggest rivals: the New England Patriots.
More >
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...