Preview Week Eight: Colts at Titans
by Brad Wells on Oct 27, 2008 12:32 PM EDT
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Jeff Saturday will have his hands full tonight with Albert Haynesworth |
It is late-October and we have our first really big regular season game in the AFC South.
Week Eight: Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
Location: LP Field- Nashville, TN
Kick-off Time: 8:30
Broadcast: ESPN Monday Night Football
The 6-0 Titans look to bury the 3-3 Colts in a game that could, potentially, decide the AFC South. I personally don't give that much credence because if this season has showed us anything it is that nothing is scripted. For example, the once 0-4 Texans (3-4) are now better than the mighty Chargers (3-5). What is known is that both the Titans and the Colts are very good teams, and this should make for an excellent game tonight. Here are the keys:
- Get the lead. The Colts can put themselves at a big advantage if they get the lead early. This will not be easy, but it is doable. The Colts have a quick strike, potent offense with four outstanding receivers. The problems week in and out have been consistency. If it isn't the o-line whiffing blocks it is receivers dropping balls or Peyton throwing TDs for the other team. They've only had one game where they played the way they are capable for playing: Baltimore. the Ravens had the #1 defense going into that game, and the Colts smoked them. Indy rises to the occasion often when playing great defenses, and if their offense can get an early lead, it will force the Titans to throw more than they like to.
- Rally to the ball. With no Bob Sanders for tonight's game, the defense must play together. They have been through a lot this season, but through it all you have seen ZERO finger pointing among the players (in stark contrast to Tennessee). Playing fast, hitting hard, and rallying to the ball are important. Tennessee will try to pound the ball with LenDale White and use Chris Johnson on runs, screens, and passing routes. We all have high praise for Johnson, and it is no surprise he is making an immediate impact in Tac Town. However, the Colts defense is the fastest in football, and when they play together they can destroy opponents.
- Jeff Saturday v. Albert Haynesworth. Albert Hayneswoth is a lazy, unreliable turd. He takes plays off and is a known malcontent. Prior to 2006, he was utter garbage. Then, in 2007, his contract was up. The Titans franchised him, and he played like a madman for a new contract. This past off-season, he was franchised again. Once this guy gets the pay day he has been playing for these last two years, he will revert to the lazy turd we all know he is. For the meantime, he is a legit Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and must be controlled at the line of scrimmage. Jeff Saturday will likely get the task of attacking Hayneswoth, and in Saturday there is no one better. We've seen the Colts use Jeff in this way before. Back in 2004, they moved Jeff to guard solely to match him up on then-dominant-DT Trevor Pryce in a playoffs game against Denver. Pryce got 1 tackle all game. We've seen him destroy cheap shot artist Vince Wolfork. Jeff Saturday is as good as it gets when it comes to attacking big, strong, fast DTs. This will be one of the better "trench battles" this league will see this season.
As always, for a Titans fan's perspective on things, hit Music City Miracles. I went there last week and answered some questions from Titans fans. I don't like game score predictions because they never show the opponent the right respect. And unlike LenDale White, the Colts (and this Colts fan) respect their opponent. The Titans are 6-0 for a reason. They are good. They are a playoff caliber team. They might even win the AFC South. Tennessee fans are looking at this game as an opportunity to get back at a team who has owned their team for years. They smell blood in the water. The Colts, meanwhile, look at this as just another opponent that must be beaten. The Titans are good, but just as good are the Patriots, Steelers, and Chargers (all on Indy's upcoming schedule). It is all about perspective folks.
The homer in me says the Colts will walk into the Titans' house and beat them. I just think Indy is better than Tennessee. The Colts have more talent, are better coached, and have more big game experience than the Titans. This year, they haven't played to their potential consistently and haven't gotten the breaks. Maybe tonight, they will play to their potential and do the little things well enough to beat a good club in their house. I think they well. But, then again, I'm just a homer.
Go Colts!
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Pumped
Is it kickoff yet?!?! Great post BBS, but I’d have to disagree with you on the Colts being better coached. I’d take Fisher over Dungy in a heartbeat and I’m a Colts fan. I would agree that our coaching staff as a whole is better; just not the head coach. I know it is blasphemy for me to say that about Dungy, but I’ve never been drawn to Quiet Strength. I like grabbing facemasks, spitting, ranting, raving. But, then again, I’m a billybob.
hate monday night games
It sucks when you are looking for sunday and the weekend to be over so you can see your team play!!!
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
Totally agree...
I really think that Jeff Fisher is a great coach…regardless. I too don’t like the quiet strenght stuff…some emotion some time would be fantastic, and the inconsistent play? The Colts have been uninspired this season and their record shows it. Also, I am not so sure the Colts team is that much better than the Titans. Heck, I would take Haynesworth any day of the week as it would plug up our porous run defense. Maybe I am overstepping here, but the Titans are a heck of a team and very well coached. Also, I think Collins is every bit as good as Rodgers…with more experience. Remember, he has been to the Superbowl as well….so used to big games. GO COLTS!!
IMHO
I like Dungy, but right now I think someone needs to chew on the Colts and Peyton isn’t the one. Eventually you tone him out so it’s time for someone quiet (Dungy) to blow a gasket.
Proud supporter of Randy going for 300, even next year.
That would definitely get their attention.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Oct 27, 2008 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Fisher is why I don't buy the "tuning out" argument
The longest tenured coach in the league is the coach of the only remaining undefeated.
Shonn Greene for Heisman
144 yards per game
6.5 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA
by shake n bake on Oct 27, 2008 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
true
but Fisher scares me when he loses it. Peyton kinda makes me shake my head, smile and just say, “that’s Peyton.”
Proud supporter of Randy going for 300, even next year.
but people bring the tuning out argument for all type of coaches
Two years ago people were saying it about this guy
Shonn Greene for Heisman
144 yards per game
6.5 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA
by shake n bake on Oct 27, 2008 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
point taken
I’m not saying it always a good argument. I just think it’s a bit valid in this one.
Proud supporter of Randy going for 300, even next year.
Injury report
The injury report on the colts.com has already gone to the pats game… Who is in and out for tonight????
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
Out
Are Bob, Joe and Kelvin…unfortunately.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Oct 27, 2008 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
groan....
I was hoping for at least bob back against the running game.. Kelvin doesn’t worry me so much as collins isn’t the QB rodgers is and he doesn’t have that caliber of WR. Dom can probably handle the running duties, but I hope Addai is back soon, as I think we do better when they both carry less and stay fresher…
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
Yeah, but...
Did you see Jennings in the GB game? Collins doesn’t have to be great, he just has to manage the game for them. If Jennings plays off as much as he did (or cause stupid penalties), Collins will look like Rodgers.
by TouchdownMonkey on Oct 27, 2008 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
yes... I saw
He wasn’t great.. but his bigger problem was the dumb penalties. If he can avoid that we will probably be alright. I didn’t say we won’t miss hayden.. I meant not having bob is the bigger loss in this game given what the titans offense is like..
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
True
Here’s hoping he avoids the dumb mistakes and penalties. Those are HUGE.
by TouchdownMonkey on Oct 27, 2008 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Dude, I am a HUGE Chargers fan, and even I can admit...
… that they suck. They suck. They cannot stop anybody. LT has gotten old. And Norv Turner couldn’t lead his way out of a wet paper sack. In short, they are the softest team in the League. I mean, I LOVED the Chargers when I was a kid, and I STILL wear my #14 Dan Fouts jersey at least once every single week, but this year’s Chargers team is terrible, and regardless of what happened last year, I think letting M. Schottenheimer go was a dumbass thing to do.
The Texans have a better record because they are a better team. They’ve been through a Hell of a lot this season, and are still playing hard. They may well wind up 8-8 or even 9-7, which is not at all bad considering that they got pounded off the bat and then had a hurricane almost destroy their stadium. Meanwhile, the Chargers have as much talent as any team in the League, and yet they don’t seem to want to go to the playoffs because they cannot fly there First Class.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
Go Titans!
my sympathies
I liked the chargers with Schottenheimer there, and figured bringing in Norv was shooting themselves in the foot. Horrible to waste the talent they have, and the chances of LT with a superbowl are fading away.
And the campbell chunky’s curse strikes again… No player who has down those adds has every done well….Poor LT
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
Yep.
Chunky Soup commercial = kiss of death.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Oct 27, 2008 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
and..
Kurt warner, donovan mcnabb, matt hasselback and terrell davis all in the years they got hurt.
It is a curse…
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
Exactly!
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Oct 28, 2008 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
My favorite part:
Where you linked to your own article disrespecting the Titans to make your point about how Colts fans respect their opponents. Very meta.
actually the hypertext read
“unlike Lendale White” so it refers to LenDale White disrespecting the Colts.
If he had hypertexted “the Colts (and this Colts fan)” then you would be making a bit of sense (though still be wrong).
Shonn Greene for Heisman
144 yards per game
6.5 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA
by shake n bake on Oct 27, 2008 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
So you don't think...
…that referring to a member of the opposing team as a “fat, sack of sh*t running back” is disrespectful to the opposing team on the part of the writer? I guess that makes sense. Point rescinded, and, may I say, well played sir.
by Knox the Fox on Oct 27, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
LenDale is fat,
has been ineffective against the Colts and made a comment disrespectful to the opposing team those were the points of the story.
Shonn Greene for Heisman
144 yards per game
6.5 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA
by shake n bake on Oct 27, 2008 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I know, right?
Particularly incensing was when he called the Colts “not a very good football team at this point…a mediocre .500 football team.” Slander like that shouldn’t be allowed to stand. I’m on your side in this whole thing.
by Knox the Fox on Oct 27, 2008 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
There is a difference between how a player should talk about an opposing team to the media
and how a fan can express themselves.
Shonn Greene for Heisman
144 yards per game
6.5 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA
by shake n bake on Oct 27, 2008 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions
On a Serious Note
Any chance we get some Marcus Howard on the field today. I think Dwight and Robert are doing a great job but I’d like to see Howard in there giving them a break once in awhile. It seems like a shame to waste the dude’s entire rookie season. Come on Couch Dungy play the guy.
about the right time of year
This is about the time of year dungy might bring in good rookies.. This is about when he let Freeney start playing…
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
I hope so
Put Howard in and put a Colt Brennan mask on Collins.
by TouchdownMonkey on Oct 27, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions
4 outstanding receivers?
In this article the guy says “the colts have 4 outstanding receivers..”
who is this 4th outstanding receiver? I’ll spot him gonzo as “outstanding” even if it is a stretch, and obviously marvin and reggie are the other two, but who is this 4th outstanding receiver he is claiming the colts have who I have somehow missed all season. thanks for writing some opinions on this
back against the wall
Well not sure if anyone would have predicted the trouble that INDY has gone thru thus far this year. Colts need more energy on defense and need to stuff the run. Have the winner tonight come check it outct
http://www.CTSportsPicks.com
ct
Titans Overratted, and most likely still will be tomarrow!
Yes the Colts have played mediocre so far, and to be objective, they’ve underachieved, and suffered from injuries, and a lack of intensity. Enough said, I have faith they’ll play better, or the changes will be made, to make sure they get better. As a Colts fan I didn’t wait the first 13 years of my life, for a player like Peyton to come along, and then just jump off the bandwagon as soon as we hit a real difficult stretch. Probably the toughest since his rookie season.
However, just as much as my hope for the Colts to come around, I hope for the Titans to lose tonight to just prove, that they aren’t as good as they are said to be. Now hear me out, I base this totally on what they’ve done so far, and so far it isn’t much. http://www.titansonline.com/press_box/schedule/index.php. This is what they’ve done so far, beaten a bunch of teams that are .500 and below. Impressive! I wasn’t too excited about us when we opened 6-0 in 05…why? Because it was against no one. What happened later that year, we beat 13 teams before losing one. Where did that get us…Nothing that year. Tonight if the Titans win, and the Colts play bad, in my eyes they still haven’t beaten anyone.
Now another thing I’d like to add, just say it outright, I’m not saying the Titan’s being a Superbowl contender is impossible, I’m saying shut up and wait and see…wait and see who of real substance they can beat, and can they go out there and run 300 yards against the best of the best,
(not just the Chiefs who are ranked last, and had already allowed over a 1000 yards this season, before the Titans game. Meaning you take away the Titans game, for the Chiefs, and you have over 1000 yards ran against the Chiefs, The Colts haven’t even allowed 950 and that’s with all there games added together, leaving nothing out. That’s how bad the Chiefs are against the run, you can take out there worst game, and it’s still worst than the Colts. Some accomplishment, they ran well against the worst team against the run….awesome, White and Johnson are the best ever…WATCH OUT RUSHING RECORDS!!!)
And lets see them stop the best of the best, No more of this Defense being praised for stopping teams that include only 2 teams in the top 20 in offensive production. They’re compared to the Ravens who won a Superbowl, for 6 wins against all but 2 teams that rank below half the league in offense.
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