Posts tagged Mike Pollak
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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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 >
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Why the Colts have Struggled in 2010
Dec 12th
Peyton Manning looks ahead during the Colts Thursday night game in Tennesee. (AJ Mast | AP Photo)
Colts fans have watched in horror as a team that entered the season as one of the most talented groups Indianapolis has put together in quarterback Peyton Manning’s career has fallen into mediocrity and failed to continue an NFL record streak of consecutive 12-win seasons. Many expected the stretch of games against the Eagles, Patriots, Chargers, and Cowboys would be difficult, but dropping all four games is not something Colts teams have done in the past.
This uncharacteristic run of losses has understandably caused Colts fans to panic. The blame game is in full force, and fans are scrambling to find answers to resolve the issues in Indianapolis before the 2011 season begins. More >
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Game Stats: Cowboys v. Colts
Dec 9th
After the debacle against the Chargers, and the heart breaker against the Patriots, the Colts dropped another game. They gave the Cowboys 17 points to start the contest, and had the chance to pull out a last minute victory on three occasions. Unlike previous weeks, no single unit can carry all of the blame.
The Colts had multiple series where one good play after another would get completely erased by a horrible play or decision. Manning threw interceptions on the heels of key defensive stands, Eric Foster jumped on top of an opponent to negate an amazing goal line stand, and Wayne tallied his only drop to erase a chance for the offense to win after taking the kickoff in overtime. In the end the Colts fell to 6-6, one game behind Jacksonville, and head into a short week — at least three players left the game with injuries.
It makes more difficult to know that some guys had great games. Antoine Bethea was absolutely everywhere and tallied 15 tackles, Pierre Garcon caught EVERY SINGLE throw his way, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis both had a sack, Jeff Saturday returned to form, and even Manning was not terrible statistically.
On to the stats.
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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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Why the Colts Future is not in Doubt
Dec 2nd
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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 >
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Five Things I Think I Know: Crunch Time Edition
Nov 28th
With four loses, the Colts have very little room for error if they hope to achieve a first round bye in the playoffs. Every game from here on is critical, and it starts this week with the visiting Chargers.
1.) I think that if the Colts see the Patriots in the playoffs again this year, they beat them. Last Sunday, the Colts came within an ill-advised throw (physically not mentally since it looked under-thrown) from victory in Foxborough. This was without Austin Collie, Joseph Addai, Mike Hart, Gary Brackett, Clint Session, and Bob Sanders. With these players back and the further development and integration of Blair White into the offense, the slow starts we have been witnessing should be less of an issue. People right now are getting riled up over Manning’s sub-par performance against the Patriots, but it shouldn’t be that much of a concern. Right now, the rhythm and timing are off with the injuries and integration of new players and in Sunday’s match against the Patriots. Manning rushed a lot of throws due to a lack of protection. However, the injury situation is slowly starting to look better and it’s very rare that you fool Manning twice with disguised coverages. More >
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Where does the Colts Offense go from here?
Nov 24th
(Charles Krupa | AP Photo)
The Indianapolis Colts are 6-4 with six games remaining; four at home and two on the road, and they are currently in a tie for first in the AFC South. What makes the team’s future uncertain is that through 10 games the Colts offense has been unable to develop an identity — unless that identity is defined by inconsistent production and injuries.
The offense has scored erratically. In the second and fourth quarters of games, the offense has put up 98 and 82 points respectively. In the first and third quarters, they have only managed 40 and 27 points.
Against the Patriots, the Colts offense struggled to find their rhythm. In the first quarter, the offense turned the ball over and punted. In the second they scored two touchdowns. In the third quarter they punted and turned the ball over. Finally, in the fourth, the Colts put together their two best scoring drives — only to turn it over again on the game-tying or winning drive.
In the first half the Colts managed only 9 yards rushing. In the second half they produced 62 yards on the ground. The swings were huge for the offense, going from juggernaut to anemic without warning and seemingly without reason.
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Game Stats: Double Feature – Weeks 8 & 9 Pt. I (Offense)
Nov 18th
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There were consistent statistical themes through Weeks 8 and 9, along with some big differences. Some of the stats are combined for both games, but areas of particular note are separated and highlighted as necessary. Injuries played a big part in both games. The Colts lost Mike Hart and Anthony Gonzalez in Week 8, and Austin Collie in Week 9. Clint Session played well despite severe injury.
As I’ve tried to explain throughout the season, I am always looking to improve the stats I record. In keeping with that philosophy, I am introducing a few new stats into this analysis. The new additions include run play direction and gap on offense, along with opposing run play direction, Colts blitzes, and distinguishing between broken and missed tackles on defense.
* Previously, only “MTs” or missed tackles were recorded, but a better phrasing would have been “broken tackles.” Missed tackles will only be used to track players who take bad angles or fail to hold edges. This should help distinguish between someone physically screwing up a tackle, and someone mentally screwing it up.
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Week 10 Inactives: Bengals @ Colts.
Nov 14th
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The following players have had a determination made concerning their availability in today’s matchup of the Indianapolis Colts vs. the Cincinnati Bengals.
Joseph Addai - INACTIVE: Continues to rehab from the same injury that put Devin Moore in Injured Reserve
Austin Collie – INACTIVE: While he has improved through the week, the team is not wanting to rush him with a severe concussion.
Mike Hart – INACTIVE: Still no real time-line for Hart’s return, and no changes are forthcoming today.
Brody Eldridge – ACTIVE: Eldridge will return to the field as the starting TE, and may see even more work with no available slot receivers.
Gary Brackett – INACTIVE: Brackett spent the week sitting out of practice and will not play, meaning Pat Angerer will do a position swap yet again.
Clint Session – INACTIVE: Session continues to heal after breaking his arm and dislocating his elbow in Week 8. Tyjuan Hagler is expected to start.
Blair White – INACTIVE: White injured himself during the week, and the Colts have brought up 2 WRs from the practice squad to add depth.
Jerraud Powers – ACTIVE: Powers returns to the lineup, helping to solidify the secondary just in time against a revitalized Terrell Owens.
Jacob Tamme – ACTIVE: Tamme will be active, and may end up seeing significant time in the slot with neither WRs James or Brooks looking particularly hopeful in the position in previous experiences.
Bob Sanders – INACTIVE: Sanders continues to rehab from a ruptured Bicep.
Justin Tryon – INACTIVE: Tryon is also recovering from an injury sustained in the week 8 matchup against Houston.
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