Are the Colts a better team than last year?

[cringelyindy]

I am not in denial. COLTS= shakey at best. No, they haven't been tested. I am a huge fan but being realistic. The Pats, regardless of the level of competition thus far, look real good. Anything can happen, but I am sure I am WAY more nervous about the season then you.

 

[He Ban Me]

The Colts only lost one offensive player since the start of this season for what, two to three quarters last week. The Colts have not been shorthanded offensively this season except for portions of the Denver Broncos game. Stop posting lies and falsehoods on the New England Patriots message board.

He Ban Me = a complete football idiot

By posting THIS:

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.

you are in fact saying that the Colts are severely shorthanded this year. No lies, your statement.

I would assume to you that off season losses like Stokely, Glenn, and Rhodes are also part of your ammunition for saying the Colts are not as good this season??

 

[He Ban Me]

I agree with this assessment. Your corners look big and physical and are quick in a short area. Keiaho is stout against the run. But, without Sanders, I think it all falls apart.

I wonder, how will your corners fare against Moss? Not well if you don't get tons of pressure on Brady. Although the same can be said for us.

Agree on the Moss thing. I assume we might suffer the same fate as your first 4 victims. If we don't put a little heat on Brady, could be a long day. Either we attempt to make you beat us soley with Brady to Moss, OR we give you Brady to Moss, and try to contain everything else. I'm certain Dungy is rounding up old Vikes footage to see what circumstances were when he had off games in his earlier days.

 

[onegameatatime]

Hate to side with the troll, but I think Indy's fine. The Texans were missing their best WR, but the game was not as close as the score -- opening kickoff return and garbage time is where the Texans got most of their points. Titans are a tough, well-coached team.

Pats have played the schedule, and never been in any trouble -- have the Pats been up by less than 2 TDs in the 4th quarter? Even Pats have looked a little out of sync at times, especially first 1/3 of Bills game and first 1/3 of Bengals game.

Right now, Pats/Colts look like 1A and 1B (in some order), and with the possible exception of Dallas, there are not even any #2s.

No sense in puffing chests -- it will all be decided on the field.

 

[He Ban Me]

Hate to side with the troll, but I think Indy's fine. The Texans were missing their best WR, but the game was not as close as the score -- opening kickoff return and garbage time is where the Texans got most of their points. Titans are a tough, well-coached team.

Pats have played the schedule, and never been in any trouble -- have the Pats been up by less than 2 TDs in the 4th quarter? Even Pats have looked a little out of sync at times, especially first 1/3 of Bills game and first 1/3 of Bengals game.

Right now, Pats/Colts look like 1A and 1B (in some order), and with the possible exception of Dallas, there are not even any #2s.

No sense in puffing chests -- it will all be decided on the field.

I think I have made pretty lucid, intelligent, well thought out arguements. The question is are they better than last season? The answer is a resounding yes. Offensively, so far, they are at least on par. Not sure that we averaged 32 PPG last season though. Manning is on pace for 32 TD's and 4 picks, Addai is up and running, Clark has been really good, O-line hasn't buckled. Defensively, DID we get run over last week? YUP!! Did they run for 375?? Nope. Will we give up 173 YPG on the ground? NOPE. Are we tird for league lead in T.O. differential? YUP. Did we beat two divisional opponents on their home turf, 2 opponents that we lost to last season on their turf? YUP. No brainer. But again, who cares? Keep the pace, and show up on Nov. 4th.

 

[onegameatatime]

!!!

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

2006 Arizona Cardinals 16 16 337 1,159 3.4 18 6 38 217 5.7 14 0 3 3
2005 Indianapolis Colts 15 15 360 1,506 4.2 33 13 44 337 7.7 20 1 2 1
2004 Indianapolis Colts 16 16 334 1,548 4.6 40 9 51 483 9.5 56 0 6 2

4 games is a rather small sample size.

It might be hard to read above, but James had about 2000 yards combined in 2004 and 2005, then drops to 1400 in 2006. YPC drops a lot. YPpass drops a lot. And this is playing against NFC defenses, not Pats and Steelers and Titans and JAX.

James may be close to Jim Brown in YPC before leaving Indy, but James is no Jim Brown.

 

[ATippett56]

By posting THIS:



you are in fact saying that the Colts are severely shorthanded this year. No lies, your statement.

I would assume to you that off season losses like Stokely, Glenn, and Rhodes are also part of your ammunition for saying the Colts are not as good this season??

The Colts defensive deficiencies have been masked by opponents who have not been offensively at full strength this season.

I have yet to discuss the Colts offensive losses.

 

[BelizePats]

The Colts on paper are worse than last year but they are managing to open my eyes to their talent. I hate them and will quickly dismiss their prospects but the reality is that their QB and receivers are overpowering to the majority of the league. Their best defence is thier offence. Teams can't score when Manning is marching up and down the field. One other element that has kept them on top this year and that is the seamless skill of Joseph Addai. This kid is so far ahead of Maroney that it pisses me off. He's the real deal and already better than most backs in the NFL. And it kills me to say that!!!
Their GM is a total puke but his draft record is as good as ours, maybe better? He's done a superior job when you compare his drafts to the rest of the NFL's. And it really kills me to say that!

 

[He Ban Me]

The Colts defensive deficiencies have been masked by opponents who have not been offensively at full strength this season.

I have yet to discuss the Colts offensive losses.

Ok, throw out N.O. and TN, because they weren't missing anyone.

How did TN rack up 282 yards against the Jags, but "only" half that (141) versus the Colts? Meanwhile, the Donks only get 47 yards on the Jags. Not certain when Walker got hurt, but he caught a pass in this game with 6 minutes to play, so he was obviously on the field, but didn't help with the running game OR the passing game.
Denver is 3rd in the league in Pass defense, yet Manning throws three wicked TD passes on them, and Clark burns Champ. Lynch is an old man, who got his butt kicked by us last year in Mile High. Stop making excuses for these other teams.

I didn't say Texans were world beaters, but we beat them up fro three quarters to the tune of 27-10, WITH a Texan return TD to start the game. So, make it 27-3 before our defense made them earn every single yard in their two second half scoring drives. Ate the clock, ran it out as a matter of fact.

Bottom line is that 1 game does not a season make. The Texans ARE an improved team, but no one thinks they'll go undefeated. No one is surprised at a road loss. They are just not as bad as they traditionally have been.

I also assume you are on the Bullseye bandwagon, right? I mean, we ARE supposed to get everyones BEST shot. Yet you sound surprised that Texans made a game of it at home in their biggest game since their first in franchise history, and turn around and lay an egg on the road in a let down game.

And I'M the idiot??

 

[Bo0MeR]

where to start, the Colts ARE better this year

 

[danny88]

where to start, the Colts ARE better this year

Slow down there boss. First tell me why the colts beating the horrid saints, getting slapped around and squeaking by the titans by two points (a solid team at best), beating up on the Texans (minus there best offensive players), and beating the run d less broncos manned by a young qb and missing there best wr and best defensive player is impressive in some way?

 

[Bo0MeR]

Slow down there boss. First tell me why the colts beating the horrid saints, getting slapped around and squeaking by the titans by two points (a solid team at best), beating up on the Texans (minus there best offensive players), and beating the run d less broncos manned by a young qb and missing there best wr and best defensive player is impressive in some way?

If thats the case, then how are the Pats wins over teams with a combined 4-12 record any good? None of the teams the Pats beat have 2 wins yet

 

[He Ban Me]

Slow down there boss. First tell me why the colts beating the horrid saints, getting slapped around and squeaking by the titans by two points (a solid team at best), beating up on the Texans (minus there best offensive players), and beating the run d less broncos manned by a young qb and missing there best wr and best defensive player is impressive in some way?

LOL, Bailey is their best defensive player. We rolled up 34 on Jon Lynch last year in Denver.

 

[danny88]

If thats the case, then how are the Pats wins over teams with a combined 4-12 record any good? None of the teams the Pats beat have 2 wins yet

The pats destoyed those teams. Indy didnt All the indy fans seem to think Indy has played this big time compeition. Throw out the records. When Indy played these teams they where suffering big time loses due to injury. Not to mention the Saints are horrid as a whole.

 

[danny88]

LOL, Bailey is their best defensive player. We rolled up 34 on Jon Lynch last year in Denver.

Still waiting for the answerrrrrrr. The mighty (maybe make the playoffs)Titans! The mighty 70% healthy Texans! The mighty NO aints The mighty 80 percent broncos! My god the colts absolutly dominated the TEXANS when they where missing there star wr and starting running backs. What an impressive win!

 

[He Ban Me]

Still waiting for the answerrrrrrr. The mighty (maybe make the playoffs)Titans! The mighty 70% healthy Texans! The mighty NO aints The mighty 80 percent broncos!

My answer is written up and down this thread, go read it.

 

[danny88]

My answer is written up and down this thread, go read it.

I did, they suck. All excuses pony. The facts are this. Colts beat a horrible saints team. Colts beat a injury ridden texas team. Colts barley beat the titans and got slapped around doing so. Colts beat up on the broncos after getting taken to the woodshed on the ground. Had the Broncs had some sort of run d and or some of there play makers in the game , it may have been closer. Not to mention the colts are soft. You think the steelers or the pats are physical. My god the Titans and the Broncs beat you guys up all over the place.

Colts schedule has been so TOUGH

 

[Silverquick]

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.

I understand that they have lost some big names and that may seem to have amde them weaker on paper, but especially us Patriots fans should know very well that names dont mean much. What matters is the team, and as a team Indy is just as good if not better than last year. This year's defense is playing more consistent football, making less mistakes, and being more cohesive in general. Freddie Keiaho has been great in place of June and is a better run stopper. The DBs are fairly solid if unspectacular and the D-line is very talanted.

As for the offense, there are no questions there. Manning is as superb as ever, thanks to his vision and smarts, and to Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark's awesome route running and catching.

Addai is great and Kenton Keith is a decent runner who can get a couple of yards when Addai needs to rest.

So are they better? Its too early to say. But I dont think they are weaker.

 

[Bo0MeR]

The pats destoyed those teams. Indy didnt

And? They destroyed teams that had been getting destroyed. Derek Anderson passed for 328 yards and 5 td's on the Bengals. Brady threw for 231 and 3 TD's

Trent Green threw for 318 and 1 td against the jets. Brady threw for 297 and 3 td's

Jay Cuter passed for 304 yards and 1 td against The Bills. Brady threw for 311 and 4 TD's.


Farve passed for 369 yards and 3 td's on the Chargers. Brady threw for 279 and 3 td's

What do these stats show? that while yes the Pats do have a really good offense it is nothing close to unbelievable, the teams they have been playing have been getting torched all year and are horrible. In two of those games other QB's put up better numbers than Brady (Farve and and Anderson) I'd like to see how these numbers look at the end of the year I doubt they will stay on the level they are at now

 

[ATippett56]

Ok, throw out N.O. and TN, because they weren't missing anyone.

How did TN rack up 282 yards against the Jags, but "only" half that (141) versus the Colts? Meanwhile, the Donks only get 47 yards on the Jags. Not certain when Walker got hurt, but he caught a pass in this game with 6 minutes to play, so he was obviously on the field, but didn't help with the running game OR the passing game.
Denver is 3rd in the league in Pass defense, yet Manning throws three wicked TD passes on them, and Clark burns Champ. Lynch is an old man, who got his butt kicked by us last year in Mile High. Stop making excuses for these other teams.

I didn't say Texans were world beaters, but we beat them up fro three quarters to the tune of 27-10, WITH a Texan return TD to start the game. So, make it 27-3 before our defense made them earn every single yard in their two second half scoring drives. Ate the clock, ran it out as a matter of fact.

Bottom line is that 1 game does not a season make. The Texans ARE an improved team, but no one thinks they'll go undefeated. No one is surprised at a road loss. They are just not as bad as they traditionally have been.

I also assume you are on the Bullseye bandwagon, right? I mean, we ARE supposed to get everyones BEST shot. Yet you sound surprised that Texans made a game of it at home in their biggest game since their first in franchise history, and turn around and lay an egg on the road in a let down game.

And I'M the idiot??

If you believe allowing 141 rushing yards a game is acceptable, well you are truly an imbecile. As for the Houston Texans, their offense was missing their top two running backs and their best receiver (by far incidentally) against the Indianapolis Colts. Take away the best wide receiver and the top two running backs on the Colts roster, the Colts offense becomes a house of cards, as was the case with the Houston Texans. So injuries are an excuse for the Colts, but not for their opponents.

How many starters on the Colts offense have missed games this season?