Posts tagged Defense
The Colts Mold: Free Agent Cornerback Market Values
Jul 1st
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Any defense that runs a base Cover-2 scheme requires a strong secondary to succeed. The Indianapolis Colts strategy has always been to over-power opponents with a dynamic passing game, while the defense stifles the opponent’s passing game by refusing to give up big plays.
When Tony Dungy and Ron Meeks oversaw Indy’s defense the players needed were — in many ways — interchangeable because cover corners were not necessary. A strict zone discipline was instilled and the scheme itself “did the work.” Under defensive coordinator Larry Coyer that is starting to change, and a greater emphasis on man coverage has developed to support a more aggressive defensive style that includes blitz packages.
With players like Jerraud Powers and Justin Tryon already showing real potential, things could be coming together in Indianapolis. Heading into 2011 there are two primary questions. The first is, should the Colts retain Kelvin Hayden at his $9 million salary cap level? The second is how talented is Indy going to be behind these players? More >
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The Colts Mold: Free Agent Defensive Tackle Market Values
Jun 29th
One of most actively evolving positions for the Indianapolis Colts is defensive tackle. While major trade or free agent acquisitions are atypical for the Colts front office, two of the team’s biggest acquisitions in last six years were defensive tackles.
In 2005, Indianapolis signed Corey Simon, formerly with the Philadelphia Eagles. Simon’s contract was for $30 million over five years. Unfortunately, Simon would never fulfill the terms of the contract on the field as he developed polyarthritis, which forced him into an early retirement.
Mid-season 2006, the Colts traded a second round pick to acquire Booger McFarland from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McFarland’s contract included a $6.6 million salary cap hit. Like Simon before him, McFarland’s career would end prematurely — this time due to a catastrophic knee injury.
Since that time, Indianapolis has been attempting to put together a group of defensive tackles primarily through rookie free agency, second round draft picks, late round picks, and by acquiring players from other teams early in the year. When three of those players enter free agency at one time, the likelihood that new acquisitions occur increases significantly. More >
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The Colts Mold: Free Agent Safety Market Values
Jun 28th
Yesterday, we discussed the proposed salary cap increase and how it will affect the Indianapolis Colts as they enter the free agent signing frenzy that will likely begin in early July. Although official salary numbers are hard to determine, we loosely projected that the Colts should be able to retain most of their own priority free agents — even if Peyton Manning plays at the $23 million franchise tag level in 2011.
With so many players set to enter unrestricted free agency though, there is a possibility that teams like the Colts will sign an uncharacteristically high number of outsiders. The best way to determine who Indianapolis is likely to take a close look at is to determine which players fit the team’s greatest areas of need, which players are most likely to fit in the Colts scheme, and which players are within the team’s budget. More >
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Colts Priority Free Agents: External Options
Jun 23rd
Although Indianapolis does not have a history of signing numerous outside free agents in the off-season, this year could be different. With the very real possibility that veterans like safety Melvin Bullitt, tackle/guard Charlie Johnson, defensive tackles Daniel Muir, Eric Foster, and Antonio Johnson, and running back Joseph Addai could all depart via free agency, uncharacteristic off-season choices may become the rule.
Although rumors have been relatively meaningless during the lockout they may take a step closer to reality in the coming weeks. More >
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Indianapolis Priority Veteran Free Agents: Current Colts
Jun 22nd
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Since it was reported that the players and owners are close to reaching a new CBA agreement, and details have started to spill out into the media, NFL teams have had to get into high gear in order to prepare for a free agency free for all. It has been reported that free agency rules would push back the unrestricted free agency eligibility to four years from five.
The result is that dozens of players who were previously tendered offers by their current teams will be free to negotiate with and sign with the highest bidding team. There is no doubt that this is a win for the players side in the negotiations but it could be a loss for team’s who were previously protected.
The Indianapolis Colts will have to compete with all other team’s if they hope to re-sign veterans like Joseph Addai, Melvin Bullitt, Antonio Johnson, Charlie Johnson, Daniel Muir, and Clint Session. More >
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Why It’s Easy to be an Indianapolis Colts Fan: Perpetual Underdogs
Jun 15th
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Professional sports is a religion for a lot of people, and while they have a variety of reasons for following their favorite players or teams — raised to be a fan, proximity, winning, etc. — being a fan is not always easy.
Consider how frustrating it must be for fans who have to deal with ongoing public relations nightmares from players who get into considerable trouble — or front offices who regularly sign players with troubled histories. Being a fan can also be difficult when a team has built a reputation for failure or mediocrity — Colts fans who have been around for awhile should be very familiar. No time can be more difficult for a fan base than when an elite player retires — a situation the Colts will face when Peyton Manning decides to hang it up.
But there are things about the Indianapolis Colts that will not go away, even when the wins do. It is what makes it relatively easy to remain a Colts fan, and is part of what will hold the fan base together when (arguably) the greatest quarterback to ever play football moves on. More >
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NFL Rookie Defensive Tackles: What to Really Expect
Jun 1st
Each off-season, fans gets excited about the opportunity for their teams to restock and retool talent at positions of need. For as long as most Colts fans can remember, one of those positions is defensive tackle. As a result, when the draft and free agency opportunities come and go, fans clamor for their favorite players and hope that tremendous improvement will be made in whichever area they identify as needing the biggest upgrade.
Over the last four off-seasons, the Colts have added four defensive tackles via the draft, one undrafted free agent, and have three players on the roster signed from waivers or free agency. This means no defensive tackle on the team has more than three full years of experience with the Colts, which partially explains the reason fans will continue to clamor for more options — none of the defensive tackles on the team have really proved themselves to be stalwarts on the defensive line.
How should fans change their lens in reviewing and evaluating the play of defensive tackles entering the league or spending their first seasons with the Colts? What should they really expect? More >
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Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell’s Stamp on Coaching Staff Complete?
May 11th
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With the news that former Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore has left the team, it occurred to me that a great deal of turnover has taken place since Head Coach Jim Caldwell took over for Tony Dungy in 2009. Many considered the initial changes minor, as Caldwell has consistently stated his opinion that he was taking over a team and staff that was not broken, and a team philosophy that he promised to uphold, but the gradual transition from the Dungy coaching staff to the Caldwell coaching staff has been significant — and could be complete after Caldwell’s third off-season behind the wheel.
Since Caldwell took over the team he has:
Replaced former Special Teams Coordinator Russ Purnell with Ray Rychleski
Replaced former Defensive Coordinator Ron Meeks with Larry Coyer
Replaced former Offensive Line Coach Howard Mudd with Pete Metzelaars
Replaced former Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore with Clyde Christensen
Replaced former Running Backs Coach Gene Huey with David Walker
Added Ron Turner as Quarterbacks Coach
Moved former Quarterbacks Coach Frank Reich to Wide Receivers Coach More >
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Coltzilla’s Ultimate Colts Mock Draft
Apr 28th
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As NFL Draft crazed football fans already know, one of the biggest problems with mock drafts is that they are extremely unlikely to be accurate. Knowing how each team will pick, let alone the teams writers are most familiar with, is a shot in the dark scenario. Accordingly, Coltzilla has put together the “Ultimate Colts Mock Draft” which will list those players who may be available when the Colts make each of their six selections.
The Ultimate Colts Mock Draft will include prospects from nearly all positions in each round, and will attempt to rate the players in order in each round based upon our assessment of the raw best player available standard. Each of the players listed should be in contention for the most valuable player on the draft board specifically for the Colts, so this delineation hopes be useful following the draft to subjectively determine how team needs may affect Indy’s draft room. More >
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