Official 2008 Season Thread

[MaxV]

WOW, HORRIBLE block by Clark.

I hope our D steps up here.

[MaxV]

It's OK TO MAKE A PLAY DEFENSE!

PLEASE!!!

[MaxV]

Ummm, since when is a block in a back legal????!!!!!

[MaxV]

ADAM!!!!!!!!

Whew. Good win.

[MaxV]

Great drive at the end!

Great play for Manning and Marvin.

I'm sorry Geo, but Marvin can still get it done.

[RCAChainGang]

Oh my god. I don't believe it. MAJOR WIN!

[Geo]

Wow, what a win.

With no Jeff Saturday after the first or second drive too, that is amazing. Jamey Richard is the future and quite possibly the future is now.

[Geo]

Originally Posted by MaxV

I'm sorry Geo, but Marvin can still get it done.

Unless the guy takes a major paycut for next season, I'd cut him without hesitation. And Manning throws another pick trying to hit him deep, come on. Get a clue and stop wasting plays, Peyton.

At least the 4th and 1 was a crossing route, and I heard Deion Sanders say Harrison shrewdly used an official to pick a defensive back. That call was made with serious onions, too bad the Colts didn't try to pass on the 3rd and 1 on the previous drive.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by Geo

Unless the guy takes a major paycut for next season, I'd cut him without hesitation. And Manning throws another pick trying to hit him deep, come on. Get a clue and stop wasting plays, Peyton.

At least the 4th and 1 was a crossing route, and I heard Deion Sanders say Harrison shrewdly used an official to pick a defensive back. That call was made with serious onions, too bad the Colts didn't try to pass on the 3rd and 1 on the previous drive.

Marvin was WIDE OPEN on that play, even Madden saw it. Manning underthrew that ball. This is starting to worry me considering how much it has happened this season. I hate to suggest it, but maybe Peyton is losing some length on his deep ball?

[Geo]

1. Richard came in at center, and although obviously looked like a rookie, looked good for a rookie considering the circumstances and the competition. It's not like the guy had the week to practice for the San Diego front, on the road in a hostile environment. As for Saturday, this just might signal for sure that this is his last season with the Colts. Paraphrasing some I believe I heard from Bill Parcells, players normally don't get more durable with age. More likely the opposite.

2. Plus Joseph Addai was making some decent runs inside right tackle, which might indicate Mike Pollak possible having his best game yet as a pro. Two rookies without any fanfare to the outside fan world, even on this forum, but that's okay because they have serious promise and are helping get the job done. Although still have ways to go in their development.

3. I heart Anthony Gonzalez. Reggie Wayne may not have done much statistically, but he was big as the major source of attention for the Chargers' defense. Marvin Harrison did some good things as well, enough for me to shut down my nickname for him for the time being. Good to see Addai and Rhodes get very involved in the passing game, Colts need that to put scoring drives together. Although I wish he was a tad more patient at times, Peyton played well as he had to for the Colts to win. But I like that he stuck with his RBs.

4. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. The effect of Freeney is considerable and undeniable, even if he didn't register a full sack himself. He definitely created pressure and affected the game, including help set some things up for Mathis. And Mathis' beauty of a forced fumble is probably the difference in the game, they needed that turnover there badly. The defense played the run really well in the first half too, but San Diego made some things happen in the second half unfortunately.

5. Special teams coverage did well to keep the dangerous Darren Sproles in check, I was impressed with linebacker Jordan Senn who made two big solo tackles early. And return-wise, Chad Simpson continues to look promising as a return man. I feel like he just might break one soon. Launch the Counter Strike! LOL

And of course, when you speak of special teams ... getting the clutch win ...



Dear haters, and we know who they are,



Choke on his bust in Canton.

[Geo]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

Marvin was WIDE OPEN on that play, even Madden saw it. Manning underthrew that ball. This is starting to worry me considering how much it has happened this season. I hate to suggest it, but maybe Peyton is losing some length on his deep ball?

1. Harrison has been getting deep this season, and Manning hasn't delivered the ball far enough. Or their timing is screwed on some passes. I just want to make sure everyone knows I see that too.

My frustation comes from, well if it's not working, try to find success with what works and to me that's Dallas Clark and Anthony Gonzalez rather than Harrison. Those guys are more valuable imo.


2. As for Peyton's arm strength: I attribute it to his considerably screwed-up latter portion of his offseason. I think he'll be good to go next season ... although in recent seasons, I can't really recall Peyton going as deep as attempted this year on a few occassions. He's tried some really long balls a few times.

[Geo]

Freddy Keiaho might have had his best game of the season so far last night. And was credited with 10 solo tackles, impressive. He was really flying out there and making a stop when he had the opportunity, he looked those numbers.

Tony Ugoh had two more penalties, continuing from last week, but in terms of actual play I thought he did pretty well. Actually very well, as far as I can recall. The bigger problem was blitzers coming up inside.

For a minute there, it looked like Melvin Bullitt might have hurt his arm or shoulder, and I became terrified. Luckily he came back in the game.

Pierre Garcon and Jamie Silva both came up with big special teams tackles on Sproles late in the game.

Rivers completed a pass on Kelvin Hayden in the third or maybe the early fourth quarter, but oh boy did he defend that well and was an inch or two away from making it incomplete. That might have been one of only two or three balls Rivers threw Hayden's way all night. I hope the team re-signs him, but on the other hand, this defense is designed to work with cheaper corners.

Again, Keyunta Dawson looking more positive as a one-gap tackle. There were times when the Chargers halted him, but a better job than last year's playoff game in January. Experience is big.

Antonio Johnson didn't stand out, from what I saw. Muir was inactive again, he could be gone after this season.

The defensive line stunts the Colts tried to pull were way to long, trying to bing two guys all around to the other side. It didn't work and Rivers had enough time to get rid of the ball.

[RCAChainGang]

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/standi...ffrace/bracket
Alright.

I really don't see us losing the 5th seed. I also don't see the Titans dropping to #2 seed. So we play the Titans 2nd round in the playoffs. Now, the thing I want to know is who do we want to play in the wild card game? Broncos? I think so with the Broncos pass defense as it is. As well as The Jets. I would rather not hit up the Steelers again though... they seem to do better the second time around.

AFC wild card is scary tis year. I think it will be the Patriots and the Colts !>:O!

[scottyboy]

guys, honestly, from guys who don't have crazed, unhealthy man-crushes, how's Eric Foster really doing? what's the buzz with him and what are the coaches and players saying? I really hope he keeps the starting job in Indy...

[RCAChainGang]

Originally Posted by scottyboy

guys, honestly, from guys who don't have crazed, unhealthy man-crushes, how's Eric Foster really doing? what's the buzz with him and what are the coaches and players saying? I really hope he keeps the starting job in Indy...

He has been playing very well from what I have seen. He is extremely valuable against the run.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by RCAChainGang

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/standi...ffrace/bracket
Alright.

I really don't see us losing the 5th seed. I also don't see the Titans dropping to #2 seed. So we play the Titans 2nd round in the playoffs. Now, the thing I want to know is who do we want to play in the wild card game? Broncos? I think so with the Broncos pass defense as it is. As well as The Jets. I would rather not hit up the Steelers again though... they seem to do better the second time around.

AFC wild card is scary tis year. I think it will be the Patriots and the Colts !>:O!

Don't give up on the division yet. Granted, Houston is probably going to have to beat Tennessee, but Albert Haynesworth hasn't played a 16 game season since his rookie year (2002), and the Jets just made them look pretty bad even with Haynesworth. Titans losses to Houston and one of Detroit, Cleveland, or Pittsburgh combined with the Colts winning out (including Tennessee) gives the Colts the AFC South title. If Houston can't manage to beat Tennessee, the Titans would have to lose all three of their other games to give the Colts a shot at the division in Week 17.

Originally Posted by scottyboy

guys, honestly, from guys who don't have crazed, unhealthy man-crushes, how's Eric Foster really doing? what's the buzz with him and what are the coaches and players saying? I really hope he keeps the starting job in Indy...

He hasn't really stood out other than the one play against the Steelers (that was a HUGE play), but from what I've seen, he's definitely better than Keyunta Dawson as a DT. I wouldn't mind having him as a backup UT in the future (provided the Colts actually draft a starting UT).

[Geo]

This game against the Cleveland Browns is a big game, Colts can't afford to slip up and this is a conference game. Even though the Texans beat the Browns at Cleveland last weekend, don't overlook this team imo. They have a big offensive line and two tall receiving threats, plus their secondary seems to be playing much better in the last two games since that Denver loss. As we all know, the Browns are the only team to beat the Giants this season so far, and even if their wild card chances are nil, you know they'd love to knock the Colts' chances after what happened last year.

I've just read that Brady Quinn is done for the season, so that means the Colts will be seeing Derek Anderson. Maybe that means a slightly greater chance of turnovers, but it's not drastic I don't think.

The Browns have a big front three on defense, but those big boys can get tired if they stay on the field. The key for the Colts is to make that happen, and thus win the second and fourth quarters. The running game might get going if/when they wear the Browns down.

But until then, Shaun Rogers needs to be a foremost concern up the middle, with rookie center Jamey Richard now the starter for the foreseeable future.

Here's the weather.com forecast for the game. Right now they say cold with some snow and wind. At least it's a 1 PM EST game, I think is good for the Colts.

[Dam8610]

One thought I keep coming back to about the Chargers game: The more I think about it, the more it made perfect sense to throw the ball on that 4th and inches play. Not only did the Colts pretty much put the game in their (probably the NFL's) best player by doing it, but they also did exactly the opposite of what the Chargers were expecting, as evidenced by the presence of Jamal Williams on the field for that play. I went back and watched some of the situational portions of the game, and I noticed that in obvious passing situations (3rd and longs), Williams was not in the game, whereas in run tendency situations (3rd and shorts, most 1st and 2nd downs), Williams was in the game. I also noticed that on a few of the 3rd and shorts prior to the 4th and inches play, the Colts exploited the Charger defense for long gains in the pass game (~20 yarder to Wayne, TD to Gonzo, etc.), so it seems to me the Colts pretty much figured that if Jamal was in, they were expecting a run. Obviously that was the case with a chain link to go on that 4th down, so the Colts decided that a pass would be the best option. Not only did it work just as planned, but on the play, Williams showed why the Chargers pull him off the field in passing situations. On that play, Jamal Williams drew a single blocker in Jamey Richard on the play, ended up beating the block of Richard (no surprise there) and had nothing but green between him and Manning about a second before Manning threw the ball, but being so big, he was too slow to get to Manning, and all he could do was jump in a desperate attempt to bat the ball down, which of course failed as the Colts converted.

As an aside: Anyone who says the Colts would benefit from having a DT like Jamal Williams either doesn't understand this scheme or doesn't understand the drawbacks of a big, strong NT like that. If you disagree, simply watch that 4th and inches play again, and remember that this scheme RELIES on the front 4 to get pressure on the QB.

[RCAChainGang]

Originally Posted by Geo

This game against the Cleveland Browns is a big game, Colts can't afford to slip up and this is a conference game. Even though the Texans beat the Browns at Cleveland last weekend, don't overlook this team imo. They have a big offensive line and two tall receiving threats, plus their secondary seems to be playing much better in the last two games since that Denver loss. As we all know, the Browns are the only team to beat the Giants this season so far, and even if their wild card chances are nil, you know they'd love to knock the Colts' chances after what happened last year.

I've just read that Brady Quinn is done for the season, so that means the Colts will be seeing Derek Anderson. Maybe that means a slightly greater chance of turnovers, but it's not drastic I don't think.

The Browns have a big front three on defense, but those big boys can get tired if they stay on the field. The key for the Colts is to make that happen, and thus win the second and fourth quarters. The running game might get going if/when they wear the Browns down.

But until then, Shaun Rogers needs to be a foremost concern up the middle, with rookie center Jamey Richard now the starter for the foreseeable future.

Here's the weather.com forecast for the game. Right now they say cold with some snow and wind. At least it's a 1 PM EST game, I think is good for the Colts.

Yeah I glanced and saw Cleveland as a win. You make a good point Geo you can't count em out so easily. The probably really want this upset.

[Geo]

Colts' Week 13 injury report

Ugh, Bethea didn't practice all week. So the Colts could be without him and Sanders. I really don't want to see Matt Giordano out there, he's a much much better athlete than he is a football player (safety or special teams).

I just hope the Colts can get over this last hump and pull out the win before the December stretch.

[RCAChainGang]

Originally Posted by Geo

Colts' Week 13 injury report

Ugh, Bethea didn't practice all week. So the Colts could be without him and Sanders. I really don't want to see Matt Giordano out there, he's a much much better athlete than he is a football player (safety or special teams).

I just hope the Colts can get over this last hump and pull out the win before the December stretch.

Yeah that is frustrating. Bullit had his participation in practice Thursday and Friday. So that is good news.

[Geo]

Per Rotoworld:

Colts declared WR Roy Hall, S Bob Sanders, C Jeff Saturday, DB Brandon Foster, LB Buster Davis, TE Jamie Petrowski, DT Daniel Muir, and DE Curtis Johnson inactive for Week 13.

[MaxV]

Run-blocking continues to be below-average. We should've had a TD there.

I hope they go for it on 4th down and get a TD.

[MaxV]

WOW.

There is NO LIMIT how horrible that was.

Get Mike Pollak, Jaime Richard and Charlie Johnson the Heck out of here. We need better interior OLs.

[MaxV]

Wow, there is a stupid way to play, there is an idiotic way to play and then there is the way we are playing today.