Posts tagged Defensive Back
Desirable Colts Defensive Changes
Dec 12th
Broncos receiver Brandon Lloyd catches an uncontested pass in front of loose Kelvin Hayden coverage. (Justin Edmonds | Getty Images)
Since Peyton Manning and Bill Polian converged in Indianapolis in 1998, the Colts draft and player acquisition blueprint changed to an imbalanced focus on providing the franchise quarterback with all of the pieces he would need to carry the team into the new pass-first NFL. During this time, the Colts have maintained one of the league’s most powerful offenses and given defenses and defensive coordinators fits.
The defense changed to a Dungy, Tampa-2 system which focuses on speed, takes advantage of under-sized talent, and keeps defensive cost down by getting the most out of players who have limited options on the open market due to so few teams running a system that would take advantage of players with the skill set Indianapolis targets. The primary focus of this system is to limit big plays by utilizing the speed and swarming defensive style to keep running backs from breaking long runs and playing a loose zone-based coverage designed to keep plays in front of the defense — allowing the defensive backs to hit receivers shortly after they make a reception. More >
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Game Stats: Chargers v. Colts
Dec 4th
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Blair White catches his breathafter scoring against the Chargers(Don Larson | Colts.com)
The Colts offensive struggles have doomed the team the past two weeks — as poor decisions and poor timing stifled a last minute come from behind victory against New England, and handed the Chargers 20 points. While the team won’t make excuses, fans should realize that Manning’s limited options at wide receiver, running back, and tight end have ruined Indy’s offensive cohesion. Add poor performances from both offensive tackles, and the situation gets even worse.
While there were numerous things for fans to complain about, there were also enough positive signs to make one hopeful. The biggest was the fact that despite common perception, Jeff Linkenbach has actually been an improvement over Mike Pollak at right guard (albeit a modest one). Receivers Blair White and Jacob Tamme are becoming very stable for Manning, showing both good timing and hands. The Colts also found a use for Donald Brown. He may not function as a pass blocker, or have the vision to effectively run through a gap, but he showed an edge on quick slant routes that gives him a tangible positive.
Let’s move on to the stats. More >
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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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After Review: Texans v. Colts
Nov 3rd
Jacob Tamme's first NFL touchdown against the Texans on Monday night. (AJ Mast | AP Photo)
The Indianapolis Colts won convincingly against the visiting Houston Texans. The surprising part of the victory is that it was without key players like Joseph Addai, Jerraud Powers, Dallas Clark, and Austin Collie. During the course of the game, rookie tight end Brody Eldridge left the game due to injury, first-time starting running back Mike Hart hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter, and wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez took a hard hit on the sideline, which kept him from finishing the game.
The game had major contributions from players like Hart, who ran for 84 yards on 12 carries (7.0 yards per carry) and caught all three of the passes his way for an additional 19 yards. He had the best game of his career and was on pace to break the 100-yard rushing mark. Cornerback Justin Tryon got his first start with the Colts for Jerraud Powers. Pat Angerer started his first game at strong-side linebacker in place of Philip Wheeler. Jacob Tamme got his first career start for the injured Dallas Clark and managed 64 yards on 6 receptions, out of 9 targets, and his first NFL touchdown. Even rookie Jerry Hughes saw his first action, got his first NFL tackle, and a quarterback hurry. More >
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In the Training Room: Colts Safety Bob Sanders
Oct 20th
Bobzilla's not worried - are you?
With Colts safety Bob Sanders currently sitting out with a torn biceps (his second in two years), most fans assume that the team is just prolonging the inevitable. But instead of shipping Bobzilla to injured reserve, they are holding out hope that he can rehab his way back to the field as early as the San Diego game (November 28). At the very least, they hope he will be available for the final two or three regular season games and a playoff run, should the Colts get in. Even if Sanders is available only for those final three games, that could prove significant, as two of those games are against division rival Tennessee – imagine Sanders laying wood on Chris Johnson, denying him a second consecutive 2000-yard season, while propelling the Colts into the playoffs! More >
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Quick Thoughts: Colts 27, Redskins 24
Oct 18th
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Addai leaves the game injured in the third quarter. (Jonathan Ernst | Reuters)
The Colts limped into Sunday night’s match-up against the Washington Redskins needing a win to keep pace with the Houston Texans in the AFC South. They were able to overcome numerous turnovers and Father Time’s persistence to get that win, and now enter the much needed bye week at 4-2.
The Colts should have won the game with a little more ease. Four fumbles (three lost), two missed field goals, and a slew of missed tackles that brought back memories of 2006, gave the Redskins an opportunity to win the game at the end. On top of their miscues, the Colts lost Joseph Addai, Dallas Clark, and Pierre Garçon to injuries. After the jump I’ll give my quick thoughts on the win… More >
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Colts Quarter-Season Review
Oct 6th
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Peyton Manning looks for communication from the sideline in the fourth quarter against the Jaguars. (Dan Dean | Reuters Photo)
With four games in the books, the team that hails from the state known as “The Crossroads of America” finds itself at a crossroads of its own. The Colts entered their Week 4 game against the Jaguars at 2-1, seemingly poised to enter another one of their patented runs to another ho-hum 12-win season. They left the game with a 2-2 record, humbled, and with more questions than answers.
Just who are these Indianapolis Colts? Are they the team that lost games against Houston and Jacksonville because of defensive breakdowns, mental errors, and uncharacteristic mistakes? Or are they the team that dominated the New York Giants and won by two scores on the road against a good Denver team?
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Quick Thoughts: Colts 28, Jaguars 31
Oct 3rd
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Josh Scobee celebrates after hitting a 59-yard game winning field goal. (John Raoux | AP Photo)
So, about that preview column from Saturday, let’s just keep that between you and me, okay? The Colts traveled to Jacksonville and were served a big dose of “running game pie”. As with the Houston game, however, defensive lapses and breakdowns don’t excuse the multitude of undisciplined plays from the offense. After the jump, I’ll give you the rest of my quick thoughts on the Colts loss.
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Should Fans Worry about the Colts Defense?
Sep 30th
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The defense of the 2010 Indianapolis Colts has run the gamut of breakdowns in their first three regular-season games. Against the Houston Texans in Week One, they allowed over 250 yards rushing due to a breakdown in gap-discipline. In Week Two, the Colts gave up two long touchdown passes against the New York Giants, due to poor technique from the cornerbacks. Finally, this past Sunday, overly aggressive play from the Colts’ defensive backs consistently turned short completions into long plays. The consistent breakdowns have some Colts fans wondering: Will the defense prevent this team from winning a Super Bowl?
After the jump we’ll look at the three defensive performances, tell you what went wrong, and if the Colts can fix it. More >
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Colts Forward-Looking Observations
Sep 28th
Blair White's first NFL touchdown. - Justin Edmonds | Getty Images
The Colts are in a situation that has become all too familiar for fans each year. They have suffered a rash of season-ending injuries, starting in rookie mini-camp, with third-round cornerback Kevin Thomas. The Colts added four more defensive backs to that list: including veteran safety Jamie Silva, safety David Caldwell, safety Donye’ McCleskey, and cornerback Jordan Hemby — each were lost during training camp and preseason.
Tight end Tom Santi and kicker Brett Swenson also failed to make it to the regular season. Since the season’s start, linebacker Ramon Humber has been waived due to injury and starters Bob Sanders, Clint Session, Pierre Garçon, Charlie Johnson, and Anthony Gonzalez have all suffered injuries that have kept them out of games. Starting linebacker Clint Session’s replacement, rookie Kavell Conner, suffered a broken bone in his left foot in Denver that will keep him out for weeks as well. Even 2007 second-round pick Tony Ugoh suffered a toe injury that led to his release from the club. More >
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