Posts tagged Pittsburgh Steelers
Colts’ GM Bill Polian Talks More Offensive Line Philosophy
Dec 16th
Last week, Bill Polian gave several Colts fans hope that he would consider dipping into free agency to bolster the offensive line in an attempt to improve the running game. This week, while not directly retracting that statement, he reminds the fan base of who the Colts really are… a pass-first team.
We are a team basically built to pass protect. We’re a team that’s going to be three wide receivers most of the time, one back virtually all of the time….
We’re not going to be the Dallas Cowboys, for example, where you have five 350-pound guys up there who are going to double-team and pull and blast away with the power running game.
This suggests that, while Polian may focus on the O-Line during the draft or even in free agency, he will still favor pass-blockers. More >
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Colts v. New England – Another Instant Classic?
Nov 17th
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Reggie Wayne's game-winning touchdown catch over the Patriots in 2009.
No rivalry sticks out more in the NFL over the last decade than the one between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. As fate would have it, the two teams would meet in 2003, 2004, and 2006 for big-time playoff games. The Colts lost to the Patriots in the 2003 AFC Championship game. Again the Colts lost in the 2004 Divisional Round when the two teams were considered the best in football. Finally, the Colts defeated the Patriots in the AFC Championship game, prior to winning Super Bowl XLI.
From 2000-2004 the Patriots owned the head-to-head record 6-1. Since that time, the Colts are 5-1, including wins in Foxborough in 2005 and 2006. This is the first time since the regular season in 2006, when the Colts hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, that the two teams met at Gillette Stadium. Two of the teams’ last four games have been won by miraculous or historic comebacks by the Colts. More >
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Succeeding in Face of Injuries is Par for Colts Course
Oct 26th
(Brent Smith | Reuters)
Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. It is often said that “NFL” stands for “Not For Long,” and this idea flies in the face of teams who have had sustained success, particularly in the salary cap era. Somehow, someway, the Indianapolis Colts are a team that have found a way to be nearly immune to the forces at play in professional football that exist to make it next to impossible for teams to dominate.
If the Colts are going to continue their success in 2010, it has become clear that they will have to overcome a rash of injuries to key players. In some ways, the task seems insurmountable. The likelihood that the Colts can maintain their record of consecutive 12-win seasons shrinks by the week and by the day. How or why should fans expect the streak to continue, foresee a playoff berth, or have even a shroud of hope that the Colts could actually compete for another chance to play for a world championship?
The reason is pretty easy to locate. Over the last five years the Colts have had to overcome adversity, perform in the face of obvious team weaknesses, and have regularly been considered one of the best teams in the league — and one of the top contenders to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. In all but one of those years they have dealt with the loss of key players for dozens of games. Take a look. More >
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Health Screen: Colts RB Andre Brown
Oct 19th
Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
Andre Brown was acquired on waivers from the Denver Broncos on Monday, October 18. The Training Room takes a look at the investment from a medical perspective.
Brown’s injury history begins in October 2006 when, as a member of the North Carolina State Wolfpack, he fractured his left foot in the game against Florida State. He underwent surgery and – defying all expectations – returned to the field less than a month later to complete the season. During spring drills preceding the 2008-09 season, he fractured the foot again. He underwent surgery, rehab, and went on to start all 13 games.
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Colts Claim Second-Year Running Back Andre Brown Off Waivers
Oct 18th
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Andre Brown returning a kick
during preseason in 2009.
(Nick Laham | Getty Images)
Mike Chappell of the Indy Star is reporting that the Colts have signed second-year running back Andre Brown off of waivers from the Denver Broncos. Brown entered the league as a fourth round draft pick in 2009 (New York Giants), and received attention from a lot of Colts fans who considered him a solid option as a bruising change-of-pace to Joseph Addai. Unfortunately, his rookie season ended when he tore his Achilles tendon, and that he has not been able to stick in a Broncos backfield that has struggled to get anything going this season is not a shining endorsement.
Still, as he entered the 2009 draft I compiled a full scouting report on Brown, comparing him to fellow 2009 rookie Rashad Jennings who is now the primary backup to Maurice Jones-Drew for the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars. To this point, who will be released to make room for Brown is unknown. His signing is not good news for Joseph Addai’s injury. Read more about Andre Brown after the break.
*NOTE – Brown does have some NFL return experience, which makes it possible that his signing has less to do with Addai and more to do with Colts returner Kenny Moore. More >
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The Role of Safeties in the Colts Defense Part 2
Oct 9th
Jamie Silva helped off of the field after tearing his ACL, ending his 2010 season. (AJ Mast | AP Photo)
At no time could it be more relevant to write a story about the role of safeties in the Colts defense than during a year which has seen five, FIVE!, strong safeties go out for the year or for a significant portion of the season. This rash of injuries puts the Colts in a position to put a player into a starting role for the first time in a meaningful regular season game not named Bullitt, Bethea, or Sanders for quite a few years. Don’t get me wrong, there have been occasional one game fill-ins in the past, but never a player who was expected to play somewhere between one-quarter, one-half of the season, or longer.
Undrafted rookies Mike Newton and Brandon King will be competing against journeyman veterans DaJuan Morgan and Aaron Francicso for the responsibility. This story will discuss what these players will be asked to do, the role safeties play in the Colts defense, and how it is possible that so many players could get injured at one position in one season. More >
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AFC North: Regular and Postseason Predictions
Sep 10th
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The season is here, so naturally it is time to look ahead to the playoffs. No? This eight-part series takes a look at each division and discusses the outlook for every team in the NFL — in both the regular season and playoffs.
Greg Fiume | Getty Images
AFC NORTH
TEAM: Baltimore Ravens
RECORD: 13-3 | Win Division
REASON: The offensive and defensive lines are better, and they have two free agent receivers who should give quarterback Joe Flacco upgraded targets. The biggest question for Flacco’s weapons is probably at tight end because of age. On defense they still have Ray Lewis. Their biggest question-mark defensively is their cornerbacks.
TEAM: Pittsburgh Steelers
RECORD: 8-8 | No Playoffs
REASON: With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out for at least four games it is more difficult to predict the Steelers fate. The offense will take a step back this season as they probably will not hit their stride till at least Week 7 or 8 — Roethlisberger’s four games, the bye week, and two games for him to get back in the swing of things. Their defense should be better this year with Troy Polamalu’s return. More >
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Behind Enemy Lines: Houston Texans
Sep 9th
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“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”. This phrase was coined by a famous Chinese military strategist and philosopher named Sun-Tzu. Essentially, what Sun-Tzu was trying to say is to always keep tabs on your enemy so you will be prepared to face whatever they will throw at you.
In the NFL teams are always changing, for better or worse. One season, a team could be 12-4, the next, they have a top ten selection in the NFL draft. However, you would rather be safe than sorry in this league. Underestimating a team based on previous performance is a risky proposition. Last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers were stunned as they lost to the then lowly 4-8 Oakland Raiders. To ensure this does not happen to the Colts, we will examine each opponent week by week. We’ll start with the Texans.
Doug Benc | Getty Images
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Colts Sign Former Steeler Deshea Townsend
Aug 1st
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just tweeted that the Colts have signed 12 year veteran CB Deshea Townsend, formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Townsend should provide the Colts more experienced depth in the secondary, and should have a positive impact on the rookie CBs around him. Contract info to follow…
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Importance of NFL Organizational Stability to Winning
Jun 9th
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In 2004 the Washington Post wrote a story titled The Formula for Success discussing the New England Patriots’, Pittsburgh Steelers’, and Philadelphia Eagles’ success during the 2004 NFL season. The article generally considers the importance of organizational stability to winning in the NFL.
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