A question about team chemistry...
by Colts Syndrome on Oct 2, 2009 4:08 AM EDT
17 comments
So I read this fan post ("Some P.Manning Love") and with hockey being my second love it occured to me that the great play of Pierre Garcon might put the offensive chemistry to the test if after working with Pierre for 5/6 weeks Peyton Manning suddenly finds himself attempting to work Anthony Gonzalez back into the mix.
I know the NFL differs from the NHL in that you play the people who give you the best chance to win, but my question is do we risk team chemistry and the continued progress of Pierre Garcon with the return on Anthony Gonzalez?
It may sound like a dumb question, but team chemistry has ruined a lot of good teams (In all sports). It's not like Anthony Gonzalez is going to ruin the locker room and obviously he was drafted the be the #2 guy, but Pierre Garcon has (in my opinion) looked great. He appears to be a great blocker and have excellent ball carrier vision.
Maybe this doesn't even have to be about choosing who stays and who goes? Maybe this will give them a better chance to really move the guys around and try Anthony Gonzalez in the slot, or Pierre in the slot.
So...What do you think?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.
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I don't think there's much question
When Gonzo is back 100%, Gonzo is #2.
Pierre is doing well—very well—and maybe we hold on to him for the eventual day when Reggie slows down or another WR breaks down. Maybe Pierre is gone to be a #2 elsewhere when his contract is up… no idea. Now if Pierre beats out Gonzo in the offseason, that changes things—Gonzo will still be great out of the slot and Collie is odd man out/ #4. Gonzo is already a very good receiver and on the cusp of being a pro bowl caliber player. Garcon is merely a guy who has had a couple good games and has a ton of potential. He has really had two monster plays (hey, bombs happen, but that TD screen was awesome, and I loved his stiff arm—sans the flag—the other night). He’s still got to put together a portfolio of catches, 3rd down conversions, over-the middle get-whacked-and-hold-on catches, some OMG did he make that move catches, etc. When he accumulates about 20 “special” catches as well as 20 ordinary catches in one season, then a high catch % and 18’s confidence that he’ll be in the right place at the righ time every time, then we can talk about him being a legit #2. Gonzo is there already.
I am thrilled to have a guy who could maybe be his equal some day—essentially it could be like when we had 88 and 87 in their primes—two legit #1 WRs. Right now I don’t think Gonzo is there, but in a year or two…? While Reggie still has his full powers, we could have a #1, #1a, and #1b a litle like 2004 with 88, 87, and Stokley. But Reggie is mortal and probably does not have more than 3-4 more years at this level, a couple years as a “crafty vet who is slowing down”. And then we draft a new first round WR to develop in Gonzo’s and Pierre’s and Collie’s shadows…
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
by Bobman on Oct 2, 2009 5:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before,
but your sig is truly awesome.
Now a proud annoyance on Stampede Blue, 18to88, Indy Football Report, and Phil B's blog.
Man, I need a life...
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: The Atlanta Falcons are the only NFL team to never have back-to-back winning seasons in franchise history.
by Cassieper on Oct 2, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
haha yeah i love your signature too, ive always wanted to tell you, dam joe and his smoothness
"You only get intercepted when you don't know what your doing, I knew what I was Doing".
Johnny Unitas
by 805 on Oct 2, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gonzo is the unquestioned #2
but depth chart order doesn’t determine where the guy lines up. We may see Garcon and Gonzo on the outsides with Reggie in the slot.
by slash196 on Oct 2, 2009 6:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If Garcon continues to play well
And continues to make plays, he’ll get time on the field after Gonzo returns. We’ll mix it up. But once Gonzo’s back, 100% fit and in the groove, he’s our #2.
by eltharion_doa on Oct 2, 2009 6:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I second other people's comments on moving guys around
Reggie can play anywhere, as can Gonzo. Garcon however is unlikely to play in the slot when Gonzo comes back.
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
by psvirsky on Oct 2, 2009 7:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rotation
I think its still early to say that they have really accomplished chemistry but they have looked great so far. Hope they gan stay on track.
When Gonzo returns, it will be even better and Garcon has no reason whatsoever to stop improving. Defenses will have to look after more guys and everyone will have more and better chances to make plays.
"We’re only going to score 17 points? haha...OK" - Tom Brady
by Piojocuau on Oct 2, 2009 9:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hear hear
With Garcon on the radar as a scoring threat, that just gives everyone more space to work with. It might even be a blessing in disguise to let him establish himself, and then when Gonzo comes back defenses will have four serious scoring threats to keep track of, and you can’t cover everyone.
by slash196 on Oct 2, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Garcon continues to progress, I think he’ll be the #2 the entire year. The one thing that I liked seeing Sunday night was they used him on more possession plays. They got him on a slant and an in route. He’s not just running bubble screens and go routes every play, which is great to see. Garcon and Reggie might be two of the better blocking WRs in the league, or the Cardinal DBs are really weak. I was amazed at how Garcon muscled his way through that game. On his end around, he just ran through the DB like he was a high school kid. And as people have mentioned before, Garcon has a real edge to him. If he can keep it under control, its something the COlts havent had from a WR.
by SpazMo on Oct 2, 2009 3:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think Gonzo is great.....
but, I still have that ‘drop’ during the pre-season game in my mind. It was right in his hands. Plus, I’m not sure Gonzo can manhandle and toss a defender the way Garcon did against Arizona. I haven’t seen Garcon drop a catch that should have been caught. Everything Garcon has done up to this point has been fabulous. I’ll reserve judgement until a couple of more games have been played. But, I like what I see in Garcon. He’s fast, strong, aggressive, and takes no shit from any defender. The next two games should be interesting. I know Gonzo is a first round draft pick, but the best should start. I’d love to see both play significantly though. I like the idea of Wayne, Garcon, Gonzo and Clark on the field at the same time.
by Ayrshire on Oct 2, 2009 4:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Every team on our schedule just crapped themselves...
When you said “Wayne, Garcon, Gonzo, and Clark on the field at the same time.”
I, on the other hand, just got a football boner.
"Flying blind on a rocket cycle?" -Vultan, from the movie "Flash Gordon", for no particular reason...
by peytonsurdaddy on Oct 2, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Garcon
Dropped alot of passes in the preseason as well
by metal_militia on Oct 3, 2009 2:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's a good thing preseason doesn't count...
But the regular season does. ;)
"Flying blind on a rocket cycle?" -Vultan, from the movie "Flash Gordon", for no particular reason...
by peytonsurdaddy on Oct 3, 2009 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm one of those people who believe everything happens for a reason.
It’s possible that if Gonzo hadn’t gotten hurt, we might not have seen just how well Garcon could play.
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
by Indy Lori on Oct 4, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
agreed
Gonzo is pretty familiar with the slot position, so why not leave Reg on one side Pierre “there’s a fly in my soup” Garcon on the other, and alternate Gonzo,Collie, and Dallas in the slot…..
it’s a pretty nice problem to have
by harbaughmyhero on Oct 5, 2009 4:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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