The 2008 Colts are 3-4? NFW...

by MaPatsFan on Oct 31, 2008 6:00 AM EDT Comment 16 comments

msnbc.com

I'd be lying if I didn't admit that my Patriots homer of a brain is getting a slight bit of satisfaction from this. A little schadenfreude, if you will. The record probably should be 2-5 given Houston's QB Sage Rosenfels gift wrapped that game with his silliness. On the flip side, it takes a good team to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. Also, if Sage didn't hand the game over, we would never have seen Reggie Wayne's insane catch; a thing of beauty to any football fan.

What strikes me as nuts is how strong out of the gate this team is. The stats on this are pretty self explanatory:

Season	8 game Record	Season Record
2007	7-1	13-3
2006	8-0	12-4
2005	8-0	14-2
2004	5-3	12-4
2003	7-1	12-4
2002	4-4	10-6
2001	4-4	6-10
2000	6-2	10-6
1999	6-2	13-3
1998	1-7	3-13

In the Manning era, only 1 season, ONE, was sub .500 for the first half of the year and that was Peyton's first year holding the reins. It would be easy to say recent fans have been spoiled, but this has been a darn good run for a long time, 9 years long.

All the more reason why a 3-4 start in 2008 is so strange, and so painful. Now, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't formulate some sort of opinion as to this weirdness we call the 2008 Colts season. Defensively, things are ok with the Horse running at 15th for total yards, neck-and-neck with the 14th ranked Patriots, btw. Not bad. Where things get a little wonky is in offensive yards per game: 21st. Interestingly enough, passing yards per game is 9th, but the real difference maker is rushing: dead last at 32nd for rushing yards per game.

I am not at all surprised to see passing at 9th. Granted, compared to years past, 9th is incredibly mediocre, but I do believe Manning's injury and subsequent repair has something to do with this. No proof, but you just can't have that serious a surgery, miss the whole preseason, and expect to come back on fire. To my eye, the communication with Manning and his receivers is off and this may not be all on his shoulders, either. Some of those incompletions were mitten handed receivers.

One of the biggest issues is the running game. As shake has written, Dominic Rhodes is good, but he ain't no Joseph Addai. The sooner Addai is back and behind a healthy Jeff Saturday, the better for the Colts and the more nervous this Patriots fan will be. Oh, and Sanders is back, too. Crap.

0 recs | Comment 16 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

this game will be the defining moment for the Colts season

If they win, I easily see them picking up some steam and making a second half push to make the playoffs.

If they lose, well, stick a fork in them because they’ll be done, their season will definitely be over because no way they go 7-1 or even 6-2 the rest of the season with games at Pittsburgh, Jax and SD not to mention Tenn again.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Oct 31, 2008 8:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Right now

Jax an d SD do not scare me so much

by metal_militia on Oct 31, 2008 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they're still good teams

who have beat Indy when the Colts have been playing better.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Oct 31, 2008 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

actually no

we lost to the chargers and jags when we were banged up. that six pick game, the line was decimated and alot of our weapons were unavailable. Not to mention special teams allowed 2 TD’s in that game.

Until Jax and SD improve, they dont put a lot of fear into their opponents.

by metal_militia on Oct 31, 2008 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The jags beat Indy this year…did you forget that? Oh wait, let me guess- injuries, right? Well the Jags had a good amount of injured guys that game too.

I agree that Indy should easily handle them but sheesh, it didn’t happen earlier and there is no guarantee it will happen later. Same with San Diego…Indy likes to lose to them even when they clearly outplay the Chargers. See the playoff game from January. Also, San Diego is a pretty good team and is struggling. There is nothing to say they couldn’t turn it around.

Until Indy improves they don’t put a lot of fear into their opponents.

by loregnum on Nov 2, 2008 10:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Great write up by the way MaPatsFan

Ive always been optimistic about this teams chances, but its great to hear from a third party that thinks the Colts aren’t dead, especially from a hated rival. Hopefully this goes through to some of the pessimists

by metal_militia on Oct 31, 2008 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

NFL Network's Adam Schefter

was asked on Boston sports radio station WEEI this morning if he thought a loss on Sunday to the Patriots would be time to stick a fork in the Colts for the season. While Schefter did concede that the division would likely go to the Titans, anything can happen in this league, and he still had hopes for the Colts. It’s all about what happens in November and December.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 31, 2008 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, anything is possible in this league

however if the Colts don’t improve their play significantly in the second half of the season, no way they win 6 or 7 games during that stretch.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Oct 31, 2008 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I may be going out on a limb here...

but I have a gut feeling that this is the week we start to see the consistency they’ve lacked. I saw it in the Tennessee game – until late in the 3rd quarter.

I think we may be there now…of course, new injuries this week won’t help.

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Oct 31, 2008 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you saw consistency in the offense in the 1st half? Interesting. Well, I guess it was consistency of mediocrity.

Here’s is the problem- they were amazing vs the ravens then regressed huge the next 2 games. Even if you saw some in the tenn game it doesn’t mean much since again, they showed it vs the ravens.

I do hope you’re right and this week is the start of the Colts playing like how they are supposed to play. They NEED this game or at the very least, they need to play well. If they lose by playing like shit then they’re done for the season. If they play well but still lose then there is still some hope.

by loregnum on Nov 2, 2008 11:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ugh

Simmons took the Colts

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 31, 2008 2:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He can't hide his reverse jinx wishes, tho.

A transparent attempt to get the Patriots on the right track.

I hope it works. I love the Manning face.

As Mr. Sloan always says, there is no "I" in team, but there is an "I" in pie. And there's an "I" in meat pie. Anagram of meat is team... I don't know what he's talking about. --Shaun of the Dead

by JohnHannahRules on Oct 31, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm on the same side as him on too many picks

10 of 14

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 31, 2008 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chillax

Last week he took the Titans, remember? Could be a change in the air!!

(I’ve gone from anger and despair to homer hope in under a week)

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Oct 31, 2008 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am picking the Pats and of the 2 games I have gone against Indy I am 1-1. I picked the ravens and titans…so hopefully after tonight it will be 1-2.

Thing is I thought they would get killed by Baltimore and got the reverse while I picked the Titans but I thought Indy may well show up and pull it off. Tonight I am leaning more towards my Tenn game prediction where I think Indy will lose but they have could pull it off.

One thing is I keep expecting the run D to get destroyed and 3 games in a row they have done well. I don’t know if I should think they will do well tonight or still think they will get destroyed. Oh and I have no faith in the pass D tonight so maybe they’ll play the game of their lives and pick cassel off 5 times.

by loregnum on Nov 2, 2008 11:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep, Indy has started out well and it is why this season sucks as a fan.

They need to repeat the 2002 stuff but unless they turn their play around I could see a repeat of 2001.

This pats game would be a nice win and then an upset vs Pittsburgh next week. They do that and they could possibly run the table and go 12-4 or maybe 11-5.

by loregnum on Nov 2, 2008 11:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs