Colts run defense ranked in top half of the league

by BigBlueShoe on Nov 23, 2009 11:15 AM EST in Analysis Comment 13 comments

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Gary Brackett celebrates with the ball after intercepting a Joe Flacco pass intended for Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009 in Baltimore. The Colts won 17-15. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

2 months ago: Indianapolis Colts linebacker Gary Brackett celebrates with the ball after intercepting a Joe Flacco pass intended for Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009 in Baltimore. The Colts won 17-15. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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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.

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Just saw this on nfl.com stats page

Our Passing Defense is actually ranked considerably lower than our running D (!)

We’ve given up 7 Rushing & Passing TD’s each, not bad at all

and we still have the #1 ranked D in the league in Points allowed!

by LBizZLE on Nov 23, 2009 11:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Merrill Hoge (One of the better analysts out there-maybe the best)

said after analyzing the colts Goal line stand and Brackett’s pick gave credit to the new things the Colts D was doing and finished by claiming “this D is legit. Watchout!”

by newportVOL on Nov 23, 2009 11:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

He also was talking about Peyton

Last night he said when you look at the quarterback positions, there’s Peyton, and then there’s everyone else including Unitas, Montana, Marino, and Elway. That’s a HUGE compliment!!! It’s like that quote from Magic Johnson where he says, “There’s Michael Jordan and then there is the rest of us.” Peyton is definitely out of this world.

Peyton Manning makes it Wayne on them hoes!!!!

by KMR24 on Nov 23, 2009 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hoge really is good

To me it seems like he dumbs it down when he’s asked to be on one of the main shows, like guesting on primetime or sportscenter, but when they put him on matchup or NFL Live, his tape study and knowledge shines through.

I think he still tends to overrate some things, like the importance of the run game, but that’s natural, given his history. But overall he’s pretty much the most unbiased guy they’ve got, and it shows when they just ask him to talk football instead of giving opinion or manufacturing stories, which is what most everyone else’s job there is.

by willyduer on Nov 23, 2009 3:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why, oh, why do I continue to get sucked into the empty void

that is First and 10. This morning The Joker aka Skip Bayless and that Jamele chick both said that the Pats are the best team in the AFC because they are more “balanced” than anyone else in the AFC. Yeah, Maroney is really tearin’ it up, NOT! They still hold the Colts’ close wins vs. playoff-caliber teams against them, and The Joker is stil talking about the 4th and 2 spot and how Peyton has thrown 4 INTs in the last two games. Also, he believes that the Ravens would’ve won the game in Flacco hadn’t attempted the pass that Brackett picked off…what a loser!!

Anyway, there was a silver lining when Jamele Hill said that the Colts’ defense is very underrated and has kept the Colts in games (something we all know). Freeney and Mathis are still doing their thing and the whole Colts D needs its’ props.

Peyton Manning makes it Wayne on them hoes!!!!

by KMR24 on Nov 23, 2009 11:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It's rather ironic

that the Patriots needed some “help” to win their game vs. the Ravens yet nothing is mentioned about that.

Patriots – close loss to the Colts/close win over the Ravens = best team in AFC

Colts – Close wins over both Patriots/Ravens = lucky team

Skip Bayless is a moron, and the guy is a complete fairweather fan. This guy has zero credible reporting skills….and even a 10 yr old blogger has more facts than this idiot..

by DevilsReject on Nov 23, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, there was an 8th grader on here

who had better analytical skills than most of those chumps over at BSPN.

Peyton Manning makes it Wayne on them hoes!!!!

by KMR24 on Nov 23, 2009 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Skip is a moron

1st and 10 has become a joke. I used to like it b/c Skip was the outlandish one and they had his opponent usually be pretty smart and argue the other side of thins. Now, everyone agrees with him. As long as it has to do with NE….Biiiiaaaaaassssssssssss.

He hates the Colts and hates Manning. That is a fact. Maybe it is because he is a Vandy guy and holds some UT hatred towards Manning, maybe it is the ESPN bias, maybe just because he is a boob. The Pats beat the Jets, who for lack of a better word, suck, and did at home, and had to rely on Mark Sanchez throwing four awful picks. It was 24-14 and the Jets were driving with plenty of time left in the 4th. This was supposed to be a bitter bloodbath laid down by the Pats, but they played just meh. Sanchez won that game for them.

Right now NE is maybe a top 5 team. We are better, the Saints will likely beat them next week, the Chargers are far better, the Vikings are better, and despite laying eggs last week against teams they clearly took for granted, I’d say the Bengals and Steelers are better. That’s the way it is, though, the Pats beat a bunch of cupcakes and are called unstoppable. We go into a harsh Baltimore stadium in a must win game for them and win with defense, and it’s the Ravens aren’t that good and we got lucky. Same BS, different day. Skip needs to remove the long cylander object from his back side and maybe he’ll lighten up and see things for how they are.

by npb1985 on Nov 23, 2009 5:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Skip is there for his outlandish oppinions

And nothing more. He gets the shock value ratings, but he’s logically inept. Last year, he blamed the Jets’ loss to the Seahawks on jet lag. . . That’s when I stopped listening to him.

by chewylettuce on Nov 23, 2009 12:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Literal jet lag. . . no pun intended!

by chewylettuce on Nov 23, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not run D related

and he receives plenty of props, but Jerraud Powers is the best rookie corner in the league. Period. Even though Mason came down with the ball on that deep ball in the second half, Powers played the ball perfectly and caught it simultaneously with Mason (tie goes to receiver). That was a veteran hard fought play by our future star corner. I love this kid. I remember thinking after the draft, “Great draft, other than that random 3rd round corner. He might be good, but it was just random when we could have gotten a d linemen. Maybe he’ll return kicks?” That is why I’m just a fan, Polian is a genius, and Powers is the man.

by npb1985 on Nov 23, 2009 5:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+25

very well said

How can you not love a team that does this?

by LovinBlue on Nov 23, 2009 5:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

stopping the run

We need to stop the run with a few lineman and not 8 guys in the box like the last two years. Slowing, altering, or stopping the run with 4 or 5 men on the line allows the other 6 or 7 to play position to stop the pass. Realize that are complement of Antonio Johnson and Daniel Muir have allowed the secondary to be just that while allowing our power bookends of Freeney and Mathis to operate. It is a passing league but when you play the run like last year no one respects your speed in the secondary because they don’t have to. Remember the playoff game with SD last year?

by jules62 on Nov 23, 2009 6:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs