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NFL Network's RedZone Colts stat of the week: Week Nine

Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Stoverin, right, watches along with holder Pat McAfee as he kicks a field goal against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

More photos » Michael Conroy - AP

3 months ago: Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Stoverin, right, watches along with holder Pat McAfee as he kicks a field goal against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

This post is sponsored by Comcast and their NFL RedZone channel, a new NFL Network channel. Want to see every touchdown from every NFL game as it happens as well as live look-ins to all of Sunday's games in key situations? Then you need Comcast's NFL RedZone.

Colts were 0-4 in TD opportunities in the redzone against the 49ers this past Sunday. They had to settle for field goals, which kicker Matt Stover converted. He was 4-4 in the game. The TD pass from Joseph Addai to Reggie Wayne does not count as a redzone TD because the play started at the SF 22 yard line. So, for the Colts, Sunday's game weakened their impressive redzone offense and defense stats.

Indy's offensive redzone efficiency drops from 66% to 56% after going 0-4 in the redzone. This brings the stats back "down to earth," so to speak. If the Colts went the whole season scoring 66% of their redzone TDs, I have to think that would be some kind of NFL record. No offense scores TDs with that kind of frequency in the redzone over at 16 game haul. 56% is still a damn fine percentage, especially when you factor in that the Colts have generated more redzone opportunities with their offense (25) than they've allowed with their defense (only 14).

Speaking of defense, the 49ers only had one drive into Indy's redzone all game, pushing up the Colts drives allowed to 14. However, the 49ers converted that redzone drive into a TD, knocking up Indy's redzone defensive percentage from 46% to 50%. This means that 50% of the time that a team drives into Indy's redzone, they score a TD. That's not great, but it isn't bad. It does need to be improved upon.

One key change between this year's defense and defense in previous years is the Colts are focusing more on limiting redzone opportunities for opponents by getting them off the field early in their drives. SF had 12 drives in the game and only one of the drives found the redzone. Indy forced 6 three-and-outs on the SF offense, and one other drive resulted in a turnover (Bob Sanders' INT off the Kelvin Hayden deflection). I believe the Colts had 6 total three-and-outs forced all of last year. They forced only 45 three-and-outs in 2008. I still throw up in my mouth a little bit when I think of last year's third down defense.

Much of SF's success occurred in the first half. It was then that Frank Gore got his lucky 64 yard TD run, and it was just before halftime that the 49ers had their lone successful drive of the game, going 89 yards for a TD in just over a minute. In the second half, the 49ers were shutout. They did not work any drives into Indy's redzone, nor did they score any points. They were also limited to only 4 drives in the second half. They had 8 in the first.

We'll continue to keep track of these stats as the year progresses.

0 recs  |  Comment 21 comments |

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Wait what?

We had a combined 6 three and outs last year. The same amount we generated in just this one game?
Larry Coyer for President or something like that. Thats just insane. How did Ron Meeks get another job? I mean really. I’m not entirely used to our defense playing like this yet so I’m still getting used to it. But wow is that a stat.

As long as we have Peyton we will always have a chance to win.

by skywalker on Nov 3, 2009 8:46 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Well, let's be fair

Ron Meeks coached some fine defense from 2005-2007. In 2008, Ed was cut, Pitcock quit, Bob was out, and both Kelvin and Marlin were in and out much of the year. When Eric Foster and Keyunta Dawson have to shoulder most of the heavy lifting as starting DTs, it is going to affect third down defense. I think Meeks did a fine job, especially with what they had last year.

However, Coyer is a bit better. The players respond to him better. The scheme works better. So, he’s an upgrade. Meeks did not stink or anything, and he’s doing a better job in Carolina than the guy before him did (especially given the talent on hand).

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account so you can post a FanPost, make a FanShot, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Nov 3, 2009 9:41 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

The Colts actually had 7 three and outs last year

Against the Ravens. 45 in total.

The defense wasn’t that bad.

by mgrex03 on Nov 3, 2009 10:28 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

It only felt bad.

REALLY REALLY BAD. Everytime there was a 3rd and short. And a 3rd and medium. And a 3rd and long. And a 3rd and OH MY GAWD THEY CONVERTED THAT WTF!?!?!

Go Colts!

by Marked Hoosier on Nov 3, 2009 10:42 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Just because we can't tackle

doesn’t mean Gore’s TD was lucky

Indianapolis Colts, taking focus away from my DBacks every Sunday.

by AJforAZ on Nov 3, 2009 11:29 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I agree

Its not like Gore is some backup who happened to find daylight, hes a feature back who does this with some regularity. Give credit where credit is due.

by UnofficialPants on Nov 3, 2009 11:46 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

We can tackle

The mess up on one play, and he scores. That’s luck. The rest of the game he gains, like 20 yards.

Contrary to expectations, players do screw up some of the time. On the Gore run, Jerraud Powers and Antoine Bethea simply missed their tackles. It happens, and the 49ers took advantage. Yay. Bully for them. For the rest of the game, they were stoned. In the fourth quarter, gore looked as if he were running in quicksand.

Sp please, take care when you say “we can’t tackle.” Our guys tackle very well, thank you.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account so you can post a FanPost, make a FanShot, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Nov 3, 2009 12:23 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

So with your logic

Every time there is blown coverage and Manning punishes them for it it’s luck. Blown coverage happens, players screw up. The Colts messed up Gore made them pay.

Indianapolis Colts, taking focus away from my DBacks every Sunday.

by AJforAZ on Nov 3, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Um, no

If a team routinely blows coverages, they stink. If a team happens to blow a coverage and the other team exploits it, fine. They got lucky and took advantage. Nothing wrong with that. Manning “got lucky” against the Chargers in the playoffs last year and he took advantage of a blown coverage, hitting Reggie Wayne for a long TD.

Your insinuation was our defense “can’t tackle,” suggesting it is something that happens often. Thus, Gore’s run was a result of routine, sloppy tackling.

My counter is to say that’s BS. That Gore “got lucky” on one mistake play, and the rest of the game he was shut down.

Do I need to pull out a diagram next?

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account so you can post a FanPost, make a FanShot, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Nov 3, 2009 3:33 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

so what you're insinuating

is that for blown plays by a good team its luck. So every time someone takes it to the house against the Steelers it is luck? Every time the Colts miss a tackle it is someone getting lucky they missed. It takes nothing but luck and no skill to beat a team at what they are good at. Interesting.

Indianapolis Colts, taking focus away from my DBacks every Sunday.

by AJforAZ on Nov 3, 2009 3:58 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Diagrams make everything easier :-)

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: Viz Media (The creators of my absolute favorite show of all-time and inspiration to my avatar, Naruto) just announced a partnership with the channel Disney XD to bring the English-dubbed episodes of Naruto Shippuden (The continuation of the Naruto series) to that station with a new episode airing each week, starting, well, NOW. With the series recording I just put on it, this is one of the greatest days I've had in a long time. I'm not kidding. I love the show that much.

by Cassieper on Nov 3, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

One game

is not a trend.

by tim55 on Nov 3, 2009 11:37 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

"less than 3, 3 and outs per game in 2008" gets the point accross well

45 sounds like kinda a lot, but over 16 games it isn’t. At all.

Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.

by shake n bake on Nov 3, 2009 11:59 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

howc ,manyc doc wec havec onc thec seasonc soc far?

sorryc forc thec b\rokenc keyb\oard.c Hopec youc c anc readc this

Indianapolis Colts, taking focus away from my DBacks every Sunday.

by AJforAZ on Nov 3, 2009 12:07 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

all that for an extra c in across?

Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.

by shake n bake on Nov 3, 2009 12:23 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

noc ,myc keyb\oardc isc literallyc f'd

whenc ic dontc havec ,myc wirelessc onec itc doesc this.c Ic canc takec ti,mec toc fix\c itc b\utc ic justc tryc notc toc typec atc allc whenc i’,mc stuc kc onc thec laptopc keyb\oard.

Indianapolis Colts, taking focus away from my DBacks every Sunday.

by AJforAZ on Nov 3, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

...

Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.

by shake n bake on Nov 3, 2009 12:53 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

RLY

Indianapolis Colts, taking focus away from my DBacks every Sunday.

by AJforAZ on Nov 3, 2009 12:55 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

25

~3.5 / game.

by mgrex03 on Nov 3, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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