Posts tagged Fili Moala
Colts Fans Discuss Steroid Use in the NFL: Part I
Feb 15th
Shawne Merriman works out before a game with the Chicago Bears in 2010. (Stephen Dunn | Getty Images)
One of the most prevalent issues for the Indianapolis Colts in 2010 was the unprecedented number of injuries the team’s players incurred at almost every position on the team. The Colts were not alone — the World Champion Green Bay Packers were the second most injured team in the league. The frequency and severity of injuries has become one of the most discussed topics in all of football for players, owners, the NFL Competition Committee, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
In 2005, Major League Baseball had to address an unrelated matter that could have some correlation with the number of injuries some NFL teams have experienced over the last few years. Players like Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jose Conseco, Alex Rodriguez and others were all either questioned or openly discussed the use of performance enhancing drugs like steroids. The issue was so important that Congress saw fit to have hearings regarding the use of illegal performance enhancers in professional sports.
Shortly after Congress expressed open concerns with the use of steroids in professional sports, the NFL instituted a crack down of its own, increasing the penalties for use and the frequency of tests to catch violators of their substance abuse policies. As with any change in policy, words on paper or an agreement reached between players and the NFL are meaningless unless those words and the agreement is enforced. It took the league approximately one year to start getting some results by instituting penalties, suspensions, and making good on their word to be diligent with the use of steroids. More >
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Colts Off-Season: A Time for Change and Hope
Feb 9th
Will the Colts make a move for free agent running back DeAngelo Williams? (Chris Keane | Reuters)
The Indianapolis Colts are known for their ability to put together teams that are young and competitive on the field with a chance to win the Super Bowl every year. The team has accomplished this by finding jewels in the draft that other teams simply overlook. As a Colts fan I have nothing but respect and admiration for the front office of the Colts and thank them for the product they consistently put on the field for Colts fans to cheer. It’s time for the next step, and at this point in Peyton Manning’s career it’s now or never for the Indy. Unlike many of the experts out there, I do not believe that Peyton is anywhere close to the end of his career. I do believe that he is at the point where the team can’t just wait for young talent to develop around him.
Starting with the offensive line, Ryan Diem has been rode hard this year for the false starts and his mental mistakes, but I’m one who believes that a lot of his issues were because of having to play through injuries all year long with a lack of depth behind him. The same could be said for left tackle Charlie Johnson. The hope in the franchise should be that Ryan Diem will work with the front office on restructuring his $5.4 million deal that would allow the team to pay him on incentives as opposed to cutting him as cap casualty.
Regardless what happens with Diem, the best answer for the Colts is to not miss out on a chance to get an anchor left tackle early in the draft such as Anthony Castonzo, Boston College, Nate Solder, Colorado, Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin, or Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State. There is also the option of landing a couple solid free agents with both Tyson Clabo of Atlanta and Matt Light being available, Clabo being ideal because of his youth. At guard the best answer without question is to find a way to sign Logan Mankins out of New England. Adding an all pro will allow you to let Jamey Richard and Mike Pollak fight for the starting spot next to Mankins with the loser backing up both the center and guard spots.
Ideal line: LT-Tyson Clabo, LG- Logan Mankins, C- Jeff Saturday, RG- Mike Pollak, and RT- Gabe Carimi. More >
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Looking Forward at the 2011 Colts Defensive Ends
Feb 2nd
Robert Mathis looks on against the New York Jets during the 2011 AFC wild card playoff game. (Jonathan Daniel | Getty Images)
Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis continued to be the NFL’s most dominant defensive end tandem in 2010. Their propensity for pressuring, hitting, sacking, and stripping the quarterback of the football will go down in league history as one of the most intimidating pass rushing units out of the 4-3 defense.
Many hoped that 2010 first round pick Jerry Hughes would immediately step in to bolster Indy’s pass rush, including Colts President Bill Polian, but Hughes did not become a meaningful part of the defense as a rookie. What his future holds is uncertain. While some might believe that Polian’s admission that he should have selected offensive tackle Rodger Saffold in the draft is an indictment of Hughes, coaches and members of the front office have all suggested that slow learning curves are not uncommon for defensive ends transitioning to the NFL. More >
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Forecasting the Colts 2011 Defensive Tackles
Feb 1st
Antonio "Mookie" Johnson tackles Titans running back Chris Johnson. (Andy Lyons | Getty Images)
The Indianapolis Colts have historically had difficulty putting together a group of defensive tackles that are capable of fulfilling their responsibilities in the Tampa-2 defensive scheme. In this scheme, the nose tackle — 1-technique tackle — is asked to be a space-filling, line holding run stuffer. The under tackle — 3-technique tackle — is asked to penetrate the offensive line to disrupt running lanes on the way to the quarterback. For many years the biggest weakness amongst Indy’s interior defensive linemen has been a lack of size. This resulted in opponents running the ball relentlessly off of their centers and guards, right through the middle of the Colts defensive line.
A lot has changed. Now Antonio Johnson, Daniel Muir, and Fili Moala all surpass the 300-pound mark. Only Johnson is well-suited to play nose tackle, while Muir and Moala are reasonably sized 3-technique tackles in a 4-3 defensive front — Muir had great success in 2009 and Moala showed marked improvement in 2010. Ricardo Mathews and Eric Foster are used situationally on passing downs and are better suited for the under tackle role. Foster moves outside to defensive end in run packages — Mathews may do the same in 2011. More >
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Colts Coyer Trying to Make the Meal With the Wrong Ingredients
Jan 31st
The Colts starting defensive line waiting for the Denver offense to get set. (Doug Pensinger | Getty Images)
When Bill Parcells became head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, one of his first moves was to do nothing. What he didn’t do was rush in and change the defense from a base 4-3 to the “Parcells” 3-4 defense that helped him win two Super Bowls with the Giants. When Pat Kirwan asked him why, Parcells explained that he didn’t have the right ingredients for the 3-4. He knew it was going to take about two to three seasons before he could acquire the right personnel to run the 3-4, and be successful. So, he patiently ran the 4-3 until 2005 when he acquired the talent necessary for the switch.
Larry Coyer would be wise to sit down with Parcells, because what he is trying to do defensively in Indy isn’t working. The issues on defense go way beyond injuries — at the root of the problem is the fact that the players and the scheme don’t match up. More >
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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 >
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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 >
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Wednesday Injury Report: Colts v. Raiders
Dec 22nd
By now it’s been widely reported that WR Austin Collie has been placed on IR, and while we will miss him sorely, it is a move that is being applauded around the league, not the least of whom by the Colts fans, who know how much more difficult a playoff run will be without him.
Get well, Austin!
There is some encouraging injury news today, though, as Joseph Addai returned FULL to practice! Mike Hart and Clint Session also saw some practice time. Their status for the game is uncertain, but it’s nice to see that there may be a chance for them to return.
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
Al Alfalava (Ankle)
DE Dwight Freeney (Rest)
LB Tyjuan Hagler (Illness)
CB Kelvin Hayden (Neck)
LT Charlie Johnson (Groin)
DT Dan Muir (Chest)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
TE Brody Eldridge (Rib)
RB Mike Hart (Ankle)
LB Clint Session (Forearm)
FULL PARTICIPATION
RB Joseph Addai (Shoulder)
DE Dwight Freeney (Rest)
DB Mike Newton (Neck)
LG Jamey Richard (Hip)
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Thursday Injury Report: Jaguars v. Colts
Dec 16th
The injury report is getting cleaner, and not a moment too soon. It appears that Austin Collie is headed for a return, as is Kelvin Hayden. The Colts will need as much fire power as they can get with what amounts to their 2nd playoff game of the 2010 season coming up (I counted last week’s game as the 1st because it was at that point).
Phil B. Wilson of Indy Star that we will see Joseph Addai, Mike Hart, Charlie Johnson or Clint Session on Sunday in anything other than track suits.
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
RB Mike Hart (Ankle)
LT Charlie Johnson (Chest)
DE Robert Mathis (Rest)
LG Jamey Richard (Hip)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
RB Joseph Addai (Shoulder)
DT Fili Moala (Knee)
LB Clint Session (Forearm)
FULL PARTICIPATION
WR Austin Collie (Concussion)
TE Brody Eldridge (Rib)
DE Dwight Freeney (Rest)
CB Kelvin Hayden (Neck)
TE Jacob Tamme (Knee)
OG Jaimie Thomas (Illness)
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