Gary Brackett news and a Bob Sanders update

by BigBlueShoe on Dec 2, 2008 1:34 PM EST in Colts News Comment 11 comments

The Colts are awaiting the news on Gary Brackett's x-rays to his ankle. The positive is it is not his knee. The negative is x-rays to an ankle could suggest a break or a severe sprain. One thing is certain about Brackett: He will not play against the Bengals this Sunday. Replacing him at MLB is Freddie Keiaho. Sliding over to replace Keiaho at WILL is Clinton Session and jumping in to replace Session is Tyjuan Hagler. That is a pretty good group of LBers, and if Brackett is out for a few weeks, they should hold the fort nicely. Backing up Keiaho are Philip Wheeler and Buster Davis.

The other injury of note is to DT Keyunta Dawson. He has a pulled hamstring and is likely out a few weeks. Dawson, an under-sized DT at 260 pounds, has played the under tackle spot most of the season. For an under-sized kid, he has played extremely well. But, with Dawson on the mend, look for the Colts to FINALLY activate DT Daniel Muir and actually PLAY him. Why the Colts have deactivated a quality DT for 10 of 12 weeks when the DT position is THE weakest position on the team right now, I have no clue. But, the positive is Antonio Johnson is starting to develop into a good NT for this team. He had 6 tackles against the Browns, and he has done a fine job helping the Colts stop the run. Since Johnson started playing, the Colts have surrendered a respectable 113 yards a game on the ground. Many of those games have been without Bob Sanders. Prior to Antonio Johnson playing, the Colts surrendered 143 yards rushing on the ground.

Speaking of Bob, it seems "The Chuck Norris of the NFL" is slated to return this week against the Bengals. As always, the key to Bob coming back is him playing well and staying on the field week, after week, after week. If Bob plays, that is a big boost to the entire defense, especially with Brackett is out.

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I don't understand...

I thought the Colts’ practiced all their LBers at all 3 spots (much like they do with their O-linemen) so that in case of injury, they had interchangeable parts… It makes more sense in my mind to put Hagler in at MIKE in the base defense and leave Sessions and Keiaho where they have been for the whole year. Then on sub package plays they could slide around, if needed. WILL is just such an important position in this defense and while I like Sessions, he’s growing into the SAM. He’s not hesitating, he’s darting to where he thinks the ball is. You can do that at SAM. Much like we saw Rob Morris do in ‘06, he was able to get right to the ball and disrupt plays. At WILL, Sessions will have to diagnose plays quicker and I’m concerned that he’ll fall back into some of his early season habits – over playing counter/cutback plays, falling for play action, etc…

I’m sure the coaches know best, but just seems like putting Hagler at MIKE would leave everyone else in a much more comfortable situation…

by Nideak on Dec 2, 2008 1:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

They probably do have them learn all 3 spots

but some are probably much better at each one than others. Keiaho got a start at MLB his rookie year and was fine, Keiaho was a MLB in college it probably more natural for him than Hagler who was only a MLB for his sophmore year or Session who played on the outside all through college.

It seemed like (and the small sample of stats back it up) the D was much better against the run without Brackett, but that a lot more opened up in the passing game.

Shonn Greene for Heisman
Big Ten's leading Rusher, Leads FBS
144 yards per game
6.2 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA

by shake n bake on Dec 2, 2008 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

To add

I think the positions these guys are playing fit them the best. Session is NOT a good SAM backer. He is more suited to WILL. Hagler is a good SAM backer, but not so good at WILL. Keiaho has often played very well at MLB.

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by BigBlueShoe on Dec 2, 2008 1:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

...

I agree that Hagler is a good SAM, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him play WILL in game situations. I don’t agree (but I hope to be proven wrong) with Sessions being a good WILL. I haven’t seen him play there, but Im just going on what I’ve seen him do at SAM. He was lost in space for the first 5-6 games this year. He’s finally settling in to the position, and I’m just worried that if he moves to WILL, which has more responsibilities than SAM, he’ll revert to those ways.

Like I said, I hope to be proven wrong.

I guess if push comes to shove we could see Bob, Bullitt and Bethea on the field at the same time in a hybrid 4-3/nickel situation…

Also, if Sessions isn’t a good SAM, why didn’t he lose his job at SAM when Hagler was back and 100%? I’m not trying to be argumentative, but around the Titans’ game, it started to click for him. You could tell, he was playing faster, he wasn’t getting sucked in by play fakes… He wasn’t great, but he was far from bad. IMO…

by Nideak on Dec 2, 2008 2:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think Session was a bad SAM

but that he’s better suited for the WILL spot. Hagler was been good against the run the whole time he’s been in the lineup. Session struggled with that a lot early.

Shonn Greene for Heisman
Big Ten's leading Rusher, Leads FBS
144 yards per game
6.2 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA

by shake n bake on Dec 2, 2008 2:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’d prefer to see Sanders sit out until the playoffs start. BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT TURNED OUT THAT ONE YEAR AMIRITE?!?!?1 WWWOOOOOOOO!!1GADGOJASOGJjOGJAPOJOPAGJOPJASGpogaopjgasg

Anyways, I didn’t think Brackett’s injury looked that bad, although I did watch a replay of it and I heard him yelling at the top of his lungs so, that can’t be good. Let’s just hope it’s an ankle sprain and he’ll be able to return for the playoffs as well.

The King of Anti-Fail and Unofficial Moderator of Stupid People

by KingRichard on Dec 2, 2008 2:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Is it time to have the rest v. rust argument?

I like the idea of keeping Sanders safe and injury-free for the playoffs (assuming we get in), but then there’s the age-old argument of whether he loses a step by not playing. Sort of the same rest ’em argument for meaningless games prior to the playoffs.

Maybe a few reps during each of the next few games to keep Sanders in game shape but not over the top?

by LovinBlue on Dec 2, 2008 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I don’t have a problem with him jumping in a few downs here and there until the playoffs start. But it’s clear that Sanders, coming off of an extended period of rest, is one of the best defensive players I’ve ever seen in my life.

The King of Anti-Fail and Unofficial Moderator of Stupid People

by KingRichard on Dec 2, 2008 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

brackett's injury....

polian described it as a fibula injury. unfortunately, this sounds like a broken fibula. i mean you can get x-rays back pretty quickly. the fact that it is taking so long does not sit well…

by Matic on Dec 2, 2008 2:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

could be a hairline fracture

that would heal a lot faster than if all the way through. Also, I’ve heard of guys playing through a fibula injury even though it hurts like the dickens. The tibia is the main load-bearing bone in the lower leg.

by jedye on Dec 2, 2008 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hagler's preseason injury

is starting to look like a blessing in disguise because it gave Session a chance to develop. We can argue how to shuffle them around, but it sure is nice to have 4 starter quality LB’s for the 3 spots so that if one goes down for a while things don’t have to fall apart.

by jedye on Dec 2, 2008 2:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs