Are the Colts a better team than last year?

[amazinPats]

I've been thinking about this. In terms of personnel, they are weaker than last year, owing to free agency losses, player retirement, injuries, etc. However, things aren't so simple. They've got a confidence now they didn't have last year. This confidence comes from winning the Super Bowl. It comes from knowing they can come back from behind. If you take the two factors together: player loss compensated by championship confidence and knowledge, then I think the confidence and knowledge wins out. They are better than they were last year.

The only problem is that we are significantly better than last year. It will be an interesting season.

 

[PATRIOT64]

I am truly impressed by Indy and in particular Manning and Addai and the new corners which I did not give enough chance to be any good.

Just like the Pats this team is more than just talent,Its great coaching - Unbelievable Quarterback play and total team chemistry where almost everyone on defense and offense knows where the other guy is.

Is Indy as good as last year? - On offense I say NO because they seemed to annihalate everyone in thier path last year where this year they are winning but its not really over early like in many games last year and that may be due to the fact that Addai is becoming a special back in that offense and therfore they are running the ball more and chewing up clock more.

On defense (not counting the playoffs last year) they are MUCH better as a group with no area particularly standing out.

Just one very solid,cohesive and very good football team at this time and if you don't respect how the Colts continue to find a way to win even after a SB victory then you don't know football.

I hate em with all my heart but I respect them just as much as football performers on the field and the fact that those players stay away from negative issues off the field.

 

[jct]

IMO what they have done so far is just smoke and mirrors.
Wait till they play us.
Wait till the playoffs.

 

[alamo]

IMO what they have done so far is just smoke and mirrors.

Too early to say that. In fact if you look at it completely objectively, you might be more likely to say that about us. We have dominated our opponents but our opponents so far have all been terrible... 4-12 combined record. We don't yet truly know how good the Patriots are.

 

[Fencer]

It must be pretty depressing to be most franchises in the AFC right now.

Any one team can wind up a lot worse than they seem, or getting beaten on a bad day.

But getting past whichever of Indy or NE holds up BETTER? That's got to look like a humongous mountain to climb.

 

[Patjew]

I've been very impressed with Addai. The Maroney vs. Addai debate is dead for the time being.

 

[jsinger121]

Too early to say that. In fact if you look at it completely objectively, you might be more likely to say that about us. We have dominated our opponents but our opponents so far have all been terrible... 4-12 combined record. We don't yet truly know how good the Patriots are.

I think we know how good the Pats are regardless of who they beat. Beating 4 teams in a row by over 20 points especially 2 2006 playoff teams shows me this team can beat anyone at anytime. This team is loaded and on a mission.

 

[richpats]

I knew the injury bug would finally it Indy after it won a SB - just look at last Sunday's game - FOUR key players hurt. It's a long season too. If they don't have guys like Addai, Morris, Harrison and Sanders around, then NO they are not a better team.

 

[Mike the Brit]

IMO what they have done so far is just smoke and mirrors.
Wait till they play us.
Wait till the playoffs.

I couldn't agree less. Sunday's victory was solid and immensely impressive. I don't discount New England's chances against them, but it will be a real challenge against a great team.

 

[cringelyindy]

NO. No they are not. Absolutely and a resounding NO !!

By the by, barring some whacky crazy injuries, if you guys don't make it to the AFCC then your whole organization blows top to bottom.

Anything short of a SB appearance should be a complete failure of a season on your part I think.

 

[ATippett56]

The Colts are far worse than last year especially on defense. Between free agency and injuries, the following summarizes the Colts defensive losses:

Anthony McFarland, DT (injured reserve)
Rob Morris, LB (injured reserve)
Cato June, LB (free agency)
Nick Harper, CB (free agency)
Jason David, CB (free agency)

Finally, the Colts have no depth at running back after Joseph Addai.

 

[ATippett56]

Anything short of a SB appearance should be a complete failure of a season on your part I think.

I could care less what an Indy fan thinks.

 

[PATSNUTme]

I always down play the Colts because I hate them so much. I didn't think that they were that good last year and had fortunate circumstances fall their way to make it and win the SB. If they had played the Chargers at SD last year in the playoffs, they would not have made it to the SB.

When I say that they are a good team, I think they are a top 5 team in the NFL. We will see how good they are after 3/4 of a season vs 1/4 of a season.

 

[Bella*chick]

No, not better. To me, they are exactly the same. The trouble is, a whoooole lot of teams are much worse than last year, at least so far. Like New Orleans and Denver, IMO.

 

[onegameatatime]

Indy kept its core offensive players and will be a very dangerous team.

I believe its opponents are 8-4 excluding the 4 losses Indy has handed them; Pats opponents are 4-8 excluding the losses from the Pats.

One interesting thing about the Pats: the teams they beat seem to be more than just beat, they are demoralized, esp. SD and Cincy.

Addai looks good, but consider how good E. James looked when at Indy and how unimpressive he looks at AZ. Age ... or OL? When Indy runs the stretch, it often seems like the RB does not get touched for a few yards after the line.

Maroney v Addai? Too early and bad comparison. They are in different systems and expected to do different things.

I've seen a few posts that this season will be a bust if we do not win SB. There are other good teams and the ball can bounce funny. In any given game, we could have 4 turnovers (like against Denver) and a 98-yard INT return. Throw in a few bad calls against DBs and you have a bad playoff loss with a lopsided score.

 

[He Ban Me]

I've been thinking about this. In terms of personnel, they are weaker than last year, owing to free agency losses, player retirement, injuries, etc. However, things aren't so simple. They've got a confidence now they didn't have last year. This confidence comes from winning the Super Bowl. It comes from knowing they can come back from behind. If you take the two factors together: player loss compensated by championship confidence and knowledge, then I think the confidence and knowledge wins out. They are better than they were last year.

The only problem is that we are significantly better than last year. It will be an interesting season.

Personnel wise, the Colts ARE better than last season. They are more athletic, more physical, and quicker than they have been in quite some time. The Colts secondary never really got much respect in the past, yet now that those guys are gone, they become unreplaceable?? Remember '05? How did Harper and David look then? How did David look in the opener? Experience wise, one could say they are lacking, but many of our current defensive starters were drafted in rounds 1-3, and none of them are rookies (save for Ed Johnson). Certainly would like to have guys like Booger and Morris (and Reagor) in the mix, but what team goes an entire season without suffering an IR or three?

Someone mentioned that offensively, we are not as good. That we blew folks out last year. They really didn't. 1 point win at home V. TN. 7 point win at home V. Jax. 5 point win @ Giants, Buffalo @ home by 1, Miami @ home by 5. Throw in 4 losses. Blew out Eagles abd Texans at home, that's about it.

Tarik loss hurts, but you wouldn't know it. Rhodes hurts, but you wouldn't know it. Harrison for the 2nd half last week, but you wouldn't know it. Hell, Sanders 2nd half last week, and you wouldn't know it. Colts, over the last two seasons, have sustaine the loss of a lot of players, but they keep playing strong.

 

[ATippett56]

Personnel wise, the Colts ARE better than last season.

You are completely deluded.

 

[He Ban Me]

Indy kept its core offensive players and will be a very dangerous team.

I believe its opponents are 8-4 excluding the 4 losses Indy has handed them; Pats opponents are 4-8 excluding the losses from the Pats.

One interesting thing about the Pats: the teams they beat seem to be more than just beat, they are demoralized, esp. SD and Cincy.

Addai looks good, but consider how good E. James looked when at Indy and how unimpressive he looks at AZ. Age ... or OL? When Indy runs the stretch, it often seems like the RB does not get touched for a few yards after the line.

Maroney v Addai? Too early and bad comparison. They are in different systems and expected to do different things.

I've seen a few posts that this season will be a bust if we do not win SB. There are other good teams and the ball can bounce funny. In any given game, we could have 4 turnovers (like against Denver) and a 98-yard INT return. Throw in a few bad calls against DBs and you have a bad playoff loss with a lopsided score.

!!!

James is 8th in the league in yaradge. averages 4.4 YPC, with 3 TD's. Not bad for a 8 year vet who sustained a pretty substantial knee injury:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player?statsId=4652

 

[He Ban Me]

You are completely deluded.

And you are diluted!!!

WTF are you to say that?

Take a look at those defensive stats and get back to me.

Stated here before season started that we would be among the leaders in take aways. So far, so good. They are actually (IIRC) tied for 1st in T.O. margin. And were it not for 4 straight FF that were not recovered, we'd be well ahead.

What's you beef with what I said, smart guy??

 

[He Ban Me]

The Colts are far worse than last year especially on defense. Between free agency and injuries, the following summarizes the Colts defensive losses:

Anthony McFarland, DT (injured reserve)
Rob Morris, LB (injured reserve)
Cato June, LB (free agency)
Nick Harper, CB (free agency)
Jason David, CB (free agency)

Finally, the Colts have no depth at running back after Joseph Addai.

Would love to have McFarland, but Johnson had been filling in nicely.

Morris is a casualty as of last week

Keiaho is more than ample replacement for June (just because June was Brady's favorite receiver last year doesn't make June an All Pro)

David- Are you kidding??

Harper would be nice to have, but in the end, I'll take Jackson and Hayden over Harper and David.