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AFC South Standings
| W | L | T | PF | PA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis
|
10 | 0 | 0 | 269 | 157 |
|
Jacksonville
|
6 | 4 | 0 | 199 | 235 |
|
Houston
|
5 | 5 | 0 | 232 | 208 |
|
Tennessee
|
4 | 6 | 0 | 209 | 272 |
(updated 11.23.2009 at 11:59 PM EST)
Colts Schedule
|
Jacksonville
|
Sun 09/13 | W 14 - 12 |
|
@
Miami
|
Mon 09/21 | W 27 - 23 |
|
@
Arizona
|
Sun 09/27 | W 31 - 10 |
|
Seattle
|
Sun 10/04 | W 34 - 17 |
|
@
Tennessee
|
Sun 10/11 | W 31 - 9 |
|
@
St. Louis
|
Sun 10/25 | W 42 - 6 |
|
San Francisco
|
Sun 11/01 | W 18 - 14 |
|
Houston
|
Sun 11/08 | W 20 - 17 |
|
New England
|
Sun 11/15 | W 35 - 34 |
|
@
Baltimore
|
Sun 11/22 | W 17 - 15 |
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@
Houston
|
Sun 11/29 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
Tennessee
|
Sun 12/06 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
Denver
|
Sun 12/13 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
@
Jacksonville
|
Thu 12/17 | 8:20 PM EST |
|
New York Jets
|
Sun 12/27 | 4:15 PM EST |
|
@
Buffalo
|
Sun 01/03 | 1:00 PM EST |
Tampa-2 is returning to Tampa Bay: Jim Bates relieved of defensive coordinator duties
by BigBlueShoe on Nov 24, 2009 7:42 AM EST
in NFL General
0 comments
Tampa Bay is returning to the Tampa-2 after head coach Raheem Morris relieved Jim Bates of his defensive coordinator duties.
One of the most puzzling off-season moves this year was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers junking the defensive system that is named after them in favor of a tired, old, stale defensive philosophy championed by former Dolphins, Packers, and Broncos defensive coordinator Jim Bates.
The famed Tampa-2 defense was made a household name in Tampa Bay in the late-1990s by Tony Dungy. He took the defensive philosophy to Indianapolis while Dungy's longtime coordinator, Monte Kiffin, continued the Tampa-2 tradition in Tampa Bay. Other Dungy proteges like Lovie Smith, Herm Edwards, Leslie Frazier, Mike Tomlin, and Ron Marinelli also took the concepts of Tampa-2 with them to places where they coached.
After the 2008 season, Monte Kiffin left Tampa Bay to coach with his son at the University of Tennessee. The Bucs ownership soon after fired head coach Jon Gruden, and replaced him with a young assistant: Raheem Morris. Morris had been Tampa Bay's secondary coach, taking over for current Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin when he left to coach the Vikings defense in 2006.
When Morris took over as coach, he and new General Manager Mark Dominik hired Jim Bates to run the defense, shifting Tampa Bay's philosophy away from Tampa-2. Bates' system, which utilizes very little blitzing and requires serious girth at the DT position, has essentially been made obsolete by the no-huddle offensive attacks brought back en vogue by Peyton Manning; a "nemesis" of Bates since Bates' days in Miami with the Dolphins. Pressure in a Bates system only comes from the defensive ends, and the secondary is forced to play man-to-man far too much.
The result has the Bucs with the second worst defense in the league, averaging 29 points per game surrendered.
After yet another blow out, this time at the hands of the currently undefeated Saints, it seems Raheem Morris had seen enough. During pre-season, Morris fired his offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski. With Bates no longer running the D, it seems Morris will pull double-duty as head coach and DC:
Bates, 63, will remain with the team at least through the end of the season in a consulting role, breaking down film and helping Morris on game day from the coaching box.Morris is expected to immediately return the Bucs' to their Tampa Two scheme, which will allow their undersized defensive linemen to take advantage of their quickness rather than penalize them for a lack of size.
It's hard not to see this latest change as another knock on Morris, who has now fired both his team's coordinators before the season has even finished.
How does this affect the Colts?
Well, with Tampa Bay back in the Tampa-2 fold, it means one more team will be drafting Tampa-2 style players and signing free agents that fit the similar systems.
Regardless, the change just feels right. The Buccaneers playing Tampa-2 feels right. I'm glad they've seen the light, and are going back to what made them great in the first place.
0 comments | 0 recs |
AFC Standings
AFC SOUTH
1. Colts 10-0
2. Jags 6-4
3. Texans 5-5
4. Titans 4-6
AFC Playoffs
1. Colts 10-0
2. Bengals 7-3 (.471 SOV)
3. Chargers 7-3 (.457 SOV)
4. Patriots 7-3 (.371 SOV)
5. Jaguars 6-4 (5-2 Conf)
6. Steelers 6-4 (4-3 Conf, HTH over DEN)
7. Broncos 6-4
8. Ravens 5-5 (5-4 Conf)
9. Texans 5-5 (4-4 Conf, .300 SOV)
10. Dolphins 5-5 (3-3 Conf, .243 SOV)
Week 11: MNF Open thread 2
by shake n bake on Nov 23, 2009 11:09 PM EST
in Game Threads
273 comments
Tied at 17 with 9 minutes to play. It's been dueling freak athletes moving the O with help from competent QB play on both sides so far. Chris Johnson and Andre Johnson have accounted for nearly 200 of the games 320 yards of offense, while the QBs are completing 2/3rds of their passes with a combined 3 TDs and 1 TO.
273 comments | 0 recs
Week Eleven Monday Night Football- Open Thread
by BigBlueShoe on Nov 23, 2009 7:23 PM EST
in Game Threads
627 comments
Tonight we get to watch two AFC South division rivals duke it out in Houston. The Titans will face the Texans in a game that is absolutely HUGE for the Texans. The Titans are pretty much out of things. Even though they have won three in a row, a team does not start 0-6 and make the playoffs. Maybe this year bucks the trend, but I doubt it. They are playing spoiler.
For the Texans, they must win this game. With the Jaguars suddenly resurgent at 6-4, a loss to the Titans would put them at .500 as they head into their Week Twelve match-up with the Colts. The Texans are 1-2 in the division and have already lost at home to the Jags. A loss to the Titans would severely jeopardize their ability to make the playoffs.
So, tonight on ESPN's Monday Night Football, look for two our most heated rivals to really battle. The last time these two played, a fight broke out on the sideline.
BTW, speaking of ESPN and Monday Night Football:
Dear Tony Kornheiser*,
Go f*&k yourself. We strongly disagree with your opinion.
Sincerely,
Colts Fans
* Tony Kornheiser said today on PTI (linked above) that the Patriots have a "virtual" win in Indy, despite the Colts actually, you know, beating the Patriots in reality two weeks ago. Thus, if the Pats beat the Saints in New Orleans next week, the Patriots are, in his mind, the best team in football. He also said his two NFL MVPs are Brett Favre and Cedric Benson. Thank you ESPN for firing this laughable schmuck from MNF. Your next step is to fire him from your network. In the meantime, we fans will stick our virtual foot up Tony Kornheiser's virtual ass.
627 comments | 0 recs |
The John Harbaugh penalty that wasn't
by BigBlueShoe on Nov 23, 2009 4:29 PM EST
in Analysis
15 comments
From CBS Sports' Clark Judge:
Here's hoping Baltimore's John Harbaugh didn't start a trend when he threw a flag to challenge a sideline reception, then picked it up after talking the play over with officials. You throw the flag, you must challenge. Period. Harbaugh caught a mulligan, and he shouldn't have. When he challenged a catch late in the fourth quarter, Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning spoke to Harbaugh and referee John Parry and later said he told Parry not to talk Harbaugh out of a challenge. We get the message, Peyton, and the NFL should, too.
Here is how you you prevent such things from happening: When a person throws the challenge flag, they must challenge. Even if the play is so obviously not worth review, it gets reviewed. Thus, the team throwing the challenege is charged a timeout. If a team throws a red flag and then changes their mind after talking with the refs, that's a delay of game penalty and an automatic first down for the opponent's offense.
The onus must be on the teams to know the rules and use challenges appropriately.
Seriously, when you throw the red flag, you should NOT get a mulligan. Harbaugh threw his flag because (in theory) he saw his defense was getting no-huddled to death by the Colts offense and wanted to give them a breather without wasting a timeout. The problem is, that's why teams get three timeouts per half. While this is not the out-and-out cheating Mike Singletary and the 49ers did when they supposedly instructed players to fake injuries on the field in order to stop play and not waste timeouts, it is a pretty shady practice by Harbaugh and the Ravens, and the NFL needs to stop it.
Bottom line, if the NFL wants to stop shady tactics like the one Harbaugh seemed to employ Sunday, flag them for delay of game. That, or force them to challenge a play, and thus forfeit one of their timeouts.
15 comments | 0 recs |
Pierre Garçon is well on his way
by BigBlueShoe on Nov 23, 2009 11:56 AM EST
in Analysis
42 comments
I agree with emiller17. We are seeing second year wide receiver Pierre Garçon grow up right in front of our eyes.
While many Colts fans complain about his lack of consistency or the flags he sometimes draws or the trash talking we see him do on occasion, the fact is Garçon adds an element to the Colts WR corps that they have sorely lacked the last two years.
Big play ability.
Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark are big play machines. However, as we saw in the game against the Patriots, when teams focus their defense on shutting down those two players, it requires players like Garçon, Austin Collie, or perhaps Tom Santi to step up. Against the Patriots, it was Garçon's impressive 29 yard, over-the-shoulder TD catch in the fourth quarter that started Indy's dramatic comeback. Against the Ravens, Garçon's 66 yard reception set up Indy's TD near the goal line; a mind blowing, one-handed TD grab by Dallas Clark.
While players like Collie and Santi have shown dependability, and while Reggie Wayne continues to absolutely dominate the NFL at the receiver position, Garcon has provided a spark for the Colts offense which has been missing since Marvin Harrison injured his knee in 2007. Teams are now forced to take him seriously, respecting his speed and physical play. This has opened up more opportunities for others, like the before mentioned Tom Santi.
A few days ago, we compared Garçon's development with Reggie Wayne during his second year in the league (2002). Back then, Wayne was used much the same way Garçon is today. Qadry Ismail (who today is one of the better talking heads on ESPN's football post-game shows) was the second receiver, starting alongside Marvin Harrison at that time. Wayne, who battled injuries in 2001 and 2002, played outside and in the slot (again, like Garçon today).
After 11 weeks, check out Garcon compared to Wayne in 2002:
Garçon (2009)- 32 catches, 511 yards, 16 yards per reception, 3 TDs
Wayne (2002)- 49 catches, 716 yards, 14.6 yards per reception, 4 TDs
It's also important to keep in mind that wide receivers typically take three years before they develop into truly good players. It took Larry Fitzgerald that long before he started dominating. The same is true for Andre Johnson, who plays tonight against the Titans. Garçon's numbers look even more impressive when you compare him to Anthony Gonzalez's second year numbers (57 catches, 664 yards, 11.4 yards a reception, 4 TDs).
Also worth noting: All the receivers I have compared Garçon to in this story are first round picks. Garçon is a 6th rounder who played college ball at Division III Mount Union. I know we all know this fact, and that it is taking on a status similar to "Marcus Pollard only played basketball in college." But when you really look at what this kid is accomplishing, when you REALLY step back and look at the big picture, it is hard not to be impressed.
This is why I don't get caught up in the moments of inconsistency. Young receivers screw up. This is why coaches like Bill Belichick hate playing young receivers. They run the wrong routes. They drop easy passes. They forget assignments. Garçon is no different, and we have seen him screw up and look foolish in certain moments. However, what this kid has also shown is resilience, and you can tell players like Peyton and Reggie are impressed with him.
So, consider me fully on board the Pierre Garçon bandwagon. I think this kid is a keeper, and likely the longterm solution as the #2 receiver. With Anthony Gonzalez likely to return to the practice field this week, this gives the Colts five excellent WRs (including Hank Baskett) to really spread the field. Throw Dallas Clark and Joseph Addai in there, and the passing game starts looking even scarier.
42 comments | 1 recs |
Colts run defense ranked in top half of the league
by BigBlueShoe on Nov 23, 2009 11:15 AM EST
in Analysis
13 comments
For the first time in what seems a thousand years, the Colts run defense is ranked #12 overall. That number may change, with the Sunday idle Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans playing this evening on Monday Night Football. Both teams are ranked 13th and 14th, respectively, in terms of yards per game. But the Texans are surrendering 4.7 yards per carry on the ground and are facing (arguably) the best back in football in Chris Johnson. So, yeah, I think Indy will likely stay at #12, but we'll see.
Stopping the run is not paramount in the modern NFL, despite what talking heads and even some players say. Stopping the pass is the key element for any dominant (or even semi-competent) defense. If teams can throw at will and score, there is no need to run. However, for the Colts, their new defensive coordinator Larry Coyer made it a point of emphasis to improving the run defense this off-season. And for that reason alone, it is gratifying to see this team really improve dramatically at stopping the run.
Last season, the Colts surrendered 122 rushing yards a game and a 4.2 per rush average. Teams scored 18 rushing TDs on Indy and would utilize game plans designed to run the ball, shorten the game, and limit Peyton Manning's offensive possessions. This year, teams are not using this game plan anymore because it isn't working. The Colts are surrednering 106 rushing yards a game with a 4.1 per rush average. Also, they have allowed only 7 rushing TDs in 11 weeks of play.
Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens was really a coming out party, so to speak, for the Colts run D. Going into the game, Baltimore's running game was one of the best in the NFL, average 115 yards, 4.3 yards a carry, and scoring an impressive 12 TDs. Against the Colts, the Ravens averaged 3.2 a carry, were held under 100 rushing yards, and did not score a single TD. Indeed, one of the biggest plays of the game was Indy's third down stuff on the goal line in the fourth quarter.
Impressive improvement, and all without the services of Bob Sanders and Ed Johnson. We have sung Larry Coyer's prasies here since Week One. It's about time some other media take notice of the outstanding job he is doing.
13 comments | 0 recs |
The Colts win, but are "outplayed" by the Ravens?
by BigBlueShoe on Nov 23, 2009 8:50 AM EST
in Bad Journalism
138 comments
From Paul Kuharsky:
And so concludes a full month of less-than-stellar play from the Indianapolis Colts.
I think it’s a bad thing for the rest of the NFL that the Colts have managed a 4-0 record over those four weeks.
In many ways, they were outplayed Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. Just like after narrow wins over San Francisco, Houston and New England, there are issues that will show up in meeting rooms back at team headquarters, but not in the standings.
I've stated again and again how much I love Paul Kuharsky, but these first few lines in his Rapid Recap are very puzzling. I don't care who you are. If someone were to look me in the face and tell me the 49ers, Texans, Patriots, and Ravens all "outplayed" or "dominated" the Colts, I will simply have to write them off as an idiot who has not taken the time to watch the games or know the team.
Even yesterday's game, the Colts generated more yards than the Ravens, scored TDs on their defense, prevented the Ravens offense from scoring any TDs, were better on third down, and made the critical plays at the end to win it.
Um, I'm sorry Paul, but in what ways were the Colts outplayed?
The Colts defense held a rushing attack that was one of the league's best to 3.2 yards a carry, no TDs, and dominated Baltimore's offensive line on a very critical goal line stance that was likely the difference in the game. In all seriousness, if you actually think the Colts were outplayed by the Ravens, but managed to "steal" a win, you really don't know what you are talking about.
The reason the Colts beat the Ravens is because the Colts have a better offense, defense, and special teams than the Ravens right now. Look at the game and tell me Indy's defense isn't better. I dare you. They are missing Terrell Suggs, I know. We're missing Bob Sanders and Kelvin Hayden. Sorry, but I don't want to hear anything about injuries. And don't give me the old "Indy mediocre defense beat a mediocre Baltimore offense." Baltimore has one of the best offenses in football, and they were held out of the endzone at home.Indy was "outplayed?" Please.
Breakdown the Colts with any of the teams they've beaten during this 5-0 November stretch, and the Colts are simply better.
I honestly have no idea what Paul is thinking with those comments. Love ya, man. But come on!
138 comments | 0 recs |
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