Are the Colts a better team than last year?

[FrontSeven]

Before all the injuries I thought the Colts were in that class above all the rest with the Patriots. Now I'm not so sure. Especially with Sanders absent that defense might not be so great at stopping the you-know-what. A few guys are going to have to step up, but that seems very shaky at RB and LB to me.

If both teams are healthy then I think the home field might tip the balance. But maybe not, and probably not (in that order). I think the Patriots' defense is going to end up leading the league, but so is the offense. So where is there room to beat them if they bring their A game? Usually the differential between one team's offense and the other's defense is that determining factor, but in this case I think they have the advantage on both sides of the ball.

 

[He Ban Me]

Dream on

Even if the reserves and rooks are better than the 9 starters you lost, their reserves now that they are starting are near non existent. Who's running now that Addai is dinged? Who's taking Harrison's Place now that he is dinged? Who is playing TE now that Utecht is dinged? Dallas Clark? Then who is taking Stokely's place now that Clark isn't doing it? a raw rook?

who is Bob Sander's replacement now that he is dinged?

With just a normal run of injuries you are way worse off.

You luck out that the next two Weeks are against a Team that just lost its RB and LOT to IR. And then you have a Bye Week to rest the dinged.

Keith will run for Addai
Fletcher will replace Utecht
Moorehead for Harrison
Gonzo will see more playing time
Giordanno for Sanders
Hagler/Boiman for Morris

Looks like Hughes, Coe, and Sessions might see more than ST's play this week.

We'll see how we do.

It won't matter, if we win, the company line is Tampa sucks and they were without starters.

If we lose, it's an "I told you so".

No worries.

 

[sebman2112]

Before all the injuries I thought the Colts were in that class above all the rest with the Patriots. Now I'm not so sure. Especially with Sanders absent that defense might not be so great at stopping the you-know-what. A few guys are going to have to step up, but that seems very shaky at RB and LB to me.

If both teams are healthy then I think the home field might tip the balance. But maybe not, and probably not (in that order). I think the Patriots' defense is going to end up leading the league, but so is the offense. So where is there room to beat them if they bring their A game? Usually the differential between one team's offense and the other's defense is that determining factor, but in this case I think they have the advantage on both sides of the ball.

You realize the Patriots haven't even been at full strength once this season? Rodney and Seymour are two of the Patriots best defensive players, and Seymour is one of the best defensive players in the entire NFL. Neal has missed a lot of time already, and they've had some other players miss time or play through injury. As I've said before injuries are a part of life in the NFL, but you can't discount that NE should get even better with the return of those absent starters.

 

[shakadave]

lol, I doubt this is the real Jilla but if so classic first post

Boomer, you've gotta lose the blue ink --- you're not PsychoPat!

 

[Ring 6]

Keith will run for Addai
Fletcher will replace Utecht
Moorehead for Harrison
Gonzo will see more playing time
Giordanno for Sanders
Hagler/Boiman for Morris

Looks like Hughes, Coe, and Sessions might see more than ST's play this week.

We'll see how we do.

It won't matter, if we win, the company line is Tampa sucks and they were without starters.

If we lose, it's an "I told you so".

No worries.

Naming the next guy on the depth chart isn't replacing talent and production.
I don't see yet that there are severe injuries that will cause more than a blip, but if the season turns into what you just wrote, thats a lot of medicority replacing a lot of talent, and there will be a huge dropoff.

I could say: Gaffney steps in for Moss, Rivers replaces Watson, Hochstein takes over for Mankins, Woods replaces Colvin, Gay replaces Samuel, and I've made the same statement as you, but the Patriots would be a different team.

 

[He Ban Me]

Naming the next guy on the depth chart isn't replacing talent and production.
I don't see yet that there are severe injuries that will cause more than a blip, but if the season turns into what you just wrote, thats a lot of medicority replacing a lot of talent, and there will be a huge dropoff.

I could say: Gaffney steps in for Moss, Rivers replaces Watson, Hochstein takes over for Mankins, Woods replaces Colvin, Gay replaces Samuel, and I've made the same statement as you, but the Patriots would be a different team.

Absolutely, I agree. And obviously, that would be a lot to replace all at once. Here's a "quick list" of some key players over the last 2 seasons that the Colts had counted on, but for one reason or another, couldn't play:

*Stokely-Starter (out the majority of '06-played just a handful of games)-FA-07
*Reagor-D-line starter (lost in week 5 or 6 last season)-FA-07(maybe cut??)
*Simon-Starter (fat tub of goo, played 0 games in '06)-CUT-07
*Doss-(Lost in game 6 of 2006)-FA-07
*Sanders-(played in just a few games in '06-notably back for NE game and playoffs)
*Harper-FA-07
*David-FA-07
*June-FA-07
*Booger-IR-07
*Rhodes-FA-07
*Glenn-Retired (very much to the surprise of the fan base)
*Morris-IR'd this week

That's 12 players that were very recently counted on as starters (11 pretty much bona fide starters) or who got a lot of playing time, yet we filled the void, won 16 games last season, and are 4-0 this season. Hell, in the SB, Hayden and Bethea got a lot of PT due to injury to David. PM didn't even know Charlie Johnson was in for Diem(?). The point is that Colts have done an impressive job of replacing these injured or FA casualties. Can we continue to lose 11-12 guys at a clip, no. But, do I have confidence that Giordanno can fill in nicely for Sanders (pick 6 week one, fastest guy on team, saw the field last season). Can Clark, Wayne, and Gonzo pick up the slack for a lost Harrison? YUP. Fletch and Moorehead have been with the club long enough, and have had their fair share of big catches in the last few seasons. They are not green. Boiman and Hagler are certainly capable. I would certainly rather have Morris, but it's funny, because just a few short years ago, he was feeling the heat, but he made an impact on our run D last season. Losing guys like Harrison, Sanders, and Addai for an extended period would be a huge blow, but if guys can step up this weekend, we 've got a bye coming up, and hopefully can heal before heading to J'Ville for week 7.

 

[ATippett56]

Can Clark, Wayne, and Gonzo pick up the slack for a lost Harrison? YUP.

Seriously doubt it.

 

[He Ban Me]

Seriously doubt it.

Well, Wayne and Clark are already 1-2 on the team this season. And they account for 7 of Mannings 8 td's this season.

http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=stats


Thanks for the compliment on Ed Johnson, I mean, a 300 pound starting DT from a defensive minded Big Ten team in Penn State, who goes undrafted but yet STARTS as a rookie in the NFL, must be a player right? Yet all teams passed, hmmmm. How many rookie DT's start this season? You telling me that Polian and Co. were the ONLY team that saw this guy as a prospect? Certainly ALL 32 saw plenty of him, with Levi Brown and Paul Posluszny high on the board to begin with. The absolute ONLY reason he went undrafted was due to his troubles at Penn State, bottom line. If he's a rookie starter in the NFL, what does that tell you about where he should have gone??

 

[ATippett56]

Well, Wayne and Clark are already 1-2 on the team this season. And they account for 7 of Mannings 8 td's this season.

http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=stats


Thanks for the concern on Ed Johnson, I mean, a 300 pound starting DT from a defensive minded Big Ten team in Penn State, who goes undrafted but yet STARTS as a rookie in the NFL, must be a player right? Yet all teams passed, hmmmm. How many rookie DT's start this season? You telling me that Polian and Co. were the ONLY team that saw this guy as a prospect?

He's a rookie starting on a defensive line that can't stop the run. As evident against the Denver Broncos, the Colts porous defense allows 223 yards rushing on 36 carries. SIMPLY PATHETIC!

The Colts string of playing against inexperienced quarterbacks for the last three weeks ends this weekend against Jeff Garcia and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

 

[He Ban Me]

He's a rookie starting on a defensive line that can't stop the run. As evident against the Denver Broncos, the Colts porous defense allows 223 yards rushing on 36 carries. SIMPLY PATHETIC!

The Colts string of playing against inexperienced quarterbacks for the last three weeks ends this weekend against Jeff Garcia and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

127 YPG, obviously blown up by last weekend. Donks are 5th best rush offense btw. Well, it ain't 173 YPG, is it? Yes, Brees has a TON of inexperience. Yes, VY, who has been a pretty good QB (for a Rookie starter), on a team that is SECOND best in rushing in the league. Uhhhh, so, we beat the 2nd best and 5th best offensive rushing teams in the league, but somehow we suck at defending the run? If we can handle the top rushing teams, then I don't understand the issue. Garcia is good, I like him. He went 5-1 in regular season as a fill in for McNabb last season. Know who he lost to? Indy Colts.

 

[ATippett56]

Garcia is good, I like him. He went 5-1 in regular season as a fill in for McNabb last season. Know who he lost to? Indy Colts.

Andy Reid despises running the football. The cornerstone of a John Gruden offense is the power west coast offense. Hence, expect a heavy dose of running by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense against that overrated Colts defense.

 

[Bo0MeR]

127 YPG, obviously blown up by last weekend. Donks are 5th best rush offense btw. Well, it ain't 173 YPG, is it? Yes, Brees has a TON of inexperience. Yes, VY, who has been a pretty good QB (for a Rookie starter), on a team that is SECOND best in rushing in the league. Uhhhh, so, we beat the 2nd best and 5th best offensive rushing teams in the league, but somehow we suck at defending the run? If we can handle the top rushing teams, then I don't understand the issue. Garcia is good, I like him. He went 5-1 in regular season as a fill in for McNabb last season. Know who he lost to? Indy Colts.

I doubt he'll reply to that post directly after you refuted all his points

 

[ATippett56]

I doubt he'll reply to that post directly after you refuted all his points

Hey moron ... the Colts clown has not refuted a single point!

 

[He Ban Me]

Andy Reid despises running the football. The cornerstone of a John Gruden offense is the power west coast offense. Hence, expect a heavy dose of running by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense against that overrated Colts defense.

They got a nice dose of Westbrook early. Colts went up 21-0 pretty quickly. They rushed 25 times, passed 29 times.

Is it the experienced Garcia, or the power rush by Gruden??

Let me give you your excuse. Cadillac and Petigout were IR'd this week. Alstott was IR'd before the season. They are 8th in the League in rushing O, but I assume Michael Pittman is no Cadillac. He's a Ladell Betts type. Not saying he won't be effective, but I wouldn't put your eggs in this basket.

You got nothing, you suck at this.

 

[ATippett56]

They got a nice dose of Westbrook early. Colts went up 21-0 pretty quickly. They rushed 25 times, passed 29 times.

Is it the experienced Garcia, or the power rush by Gruden??

Let me give you your excuse. Cadillac and Petigout were IR'd this week. Alstott was IR'd before the season. They are 8th in the League in rushing O, but I assume Michael Pittman is no Cadillac. He's a Ladell Betts type. Not saying he won't be effective, but I wouldn't put your eggs in this basket.

You got nothing, you suck at this.

You have nothing since you make up stories about player draft ratings without a specific quote from a reputable draft scout.

You are nothing but a pathetic troll whose arguments cannot be defended by the facts since the Colts rush defense is pathetic. If the Colts cornerbacks are better this year than last year, then Jackson and Hayden would have started last year.

OWNED!

 

[He Ban Me]

You have nothing since you make up stories about player draft ratings without a specific quote from a reputable draft scout.

You are nothing but a pathetic troll whose arguments cannot be defended by the facts since the Colts rush defense is pathetic. If the Colts cornerbacks are better this year than last year, then Jackson and Hayden would have started last year.

OWNED!

http://nflexperts.scout.com/a.z?s=211&p=8&c=1&nid=2483316&yr=2007

Pretty much the only reason Johnson was not drafted were his infractions/run ins at Penn State. Bottom line. But again, either Polian and Co. are pure genius, or the guy has first day talent, otherwise he wouldn't be playing. Johnson was also on a Penn State team that ranked 15th in defense his senior year at PSU, and his numbers were solid.

Here's a link from Yahoo, who at least states "he would have been drafted..."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-colts-defense&prov=ap&type=lgns

Hayden and Jackson saw plenty of action last season, and Polian (in the 5th question down) speaks to the youth, and their experience to date:

http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=1ea9267a-9aff-4b66-acdb-c7a582a2eb60

Jackson started 8 games in '06, in 14 games. I assume he was injured for the other 2.

Hayden is also now in his third year. Hey, if you don't HAVE to start a guy in his first or second year, WHY do it?? All it does is REDUCE the TRADE VALUE of your VETERANS, correct?? IIRC, we received a 4th rounder for Jason David(from N.O.). And next season, as we continue to build via the draft, we should see a few more compensatory picks for a few of the players we lost . Now obviously, I do not advocate playing a severely inferior player, as that strategy of retaining value will obviously back fire. But if you are comfortable with your personnel, and you want to give your younger guys a chance to develop, then so be it. They were not pressed into action. Dungy brought them along the right way, and the Colts played it to perfection. More than ample replacements, and a slew of extra picks to boot. It's part of their Organizational philosophy. And in the draft, it's a numbers game. The more picks you have, the greater the chance of success in finding future starters. As you know, ALL of our draft choices made this team. We would NOT have had all those choices had we kept/signed some of our former players.

Owned my ass.

AGAIN, you suck at this.

 

[Deus Irae]

http://nflexperts.scout.com/a.z?s=211&p=8&c=1&nid=2483316&yr=2007

Pretty much the only reason Johnson was not drafted were his infractions/run ins at Penn State. Bottom line. But again, either Polian and Co. are pure genius, or the guy has first day talent, otherwise he wouldn't be playing. Johnson was also on a Penn State team that ranked 15th in defense his senior year at PSU, and his numbers were solid.

Here's a link from Yahoo, who at least states "he would have been drafted..."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-colts-defense&prov=ap&type=lgns

Hayden and Jackson saw plenty of action last season, and Polian (in the 5th question down) speaks to the youth, and their experience to date:

http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=1ea9267a-9aff-4b66-acdb-c7a582a2eb60

Jackson started 8 games in '06, in 14 games. I assume he was injured for the other 2.

Hayden is also now in his third year. Hey, if you don't HAVE to start a guy in his first or second year, WHY do it?? All it does is REDUCE the TRADE VALUE of your VETERANS, correct?? IIRC, we received a 4th rounder for Jason David(from N.O.). And next season, as we continue to build via the draft, we should see a few more compensatory picks for a few of the players we lost . Now obviously, I do not advocate playing a severely inferior player, as that strategy of retaining value will obviously back fire. But if you are comfortable with your personnel, and you want to give your younger guys a chance to develop, then so be it. They were not pressed into action. Dungy brought them along the right way, and the Colts played it to perfection. More than ample replacements, and a slew of extra picks to boot. It's part of their Organizational philosophy. And in the draft, it's a numbers game. The more picks you have, the greater the chance of success in finding future starters. As you know, ALL of our draft choices made this team. We would NOT have had all those choices had we kept/signed some of our former players.

Owned my ass.

AGAIN, you suck at this.

Actually, your cites regarding Johnson don't come anywhere near to backing up your claim.

 

[amazinPats]

I'm sorry that the thread has devolved into this silly arguing back and forth.

The Colts are better than last year by a little bit, but I doubt that they are any more given the injuries from the Broncos game. Indeed, it seems that the team has had their share of bad luck so far this season as far as injuries go, but then it seemed as if they were charmed the previous years.

So far the Pats haven't had to placate the injury gods with too much meat. Dave Thomas was just fed to them as he hit IR this week.

 

[He Ban Me]

Actually, your cites regarding Johnson don't come anywhere near to backing up your claim.

I realize, cannot find anything that says first day explicitly. Yahoo says "would have been drafted". I think his troubles a precluded him from getting consideration. Not a member of Scoutinc. or whatever. I would assume at some point, someone had a take before he headed into more trouble. But cool, I guess Polian is a genius, he's one of the few who have a Rookie starter on a D-line. We need him there, so you could say he was pressed in to action, but why is he starting over a third round selection in Pit****? Why over every other prospect? He's easily a third rounder, but his multiple run ins booted him.

 

[Deus Irae]

I realize, cannot find anything that says first day explicitly. Yahoo says "would have been drafted". I think his troubles a precluded him from getting consideration. Not a member of Scoutinc. or whatever. I would assume at some point, someone had a take before he headed into more trouble. But cool, I guess Polian is a genius, he's one of the few who have a Rookie starter on a D-line. We need him there, so you could say he was pressed in to action, but why is he starting over a third round selection in Pit****? Why over every other prospect? He's easily a third rounder, but his multiple run ins booted him.

For crying out loud. You're wrong with your assertion. Admit it and move on. It's bad enough that you can't be objective about the team as a whole. Is it truly necessary to make an assertion that runs contrary to every discovered fact about individual players as well?