Peyton's Troubles in the Red Zone

by clownsaw on Nov 9, 2009 7:55 PM EST Comment 15 comments

I'm watching the Texans game on DVR, and it is becoming clear that our problems yesterday in the Red Zone were due to Peyton's passing. It isn't Addai's running or anyone catching the ball. There doesn't appear to be problems with pass protection, nor is the Texans defense shutting down our receivers.

Strangely, it appears to be that Peyton is making uncharacteristic throws at critical times that are preventing us from scoring.

Some examples from the first quarter (when we could have gone up 14-0 or 21-0). Peyton overthrows Pierre Garcon by 3 yards on a toss that he normally puts right in Pierre's hands. We score on a toss to Addai later on, but that is just the first of a few odd throws that Peyton makes.

After the first Schaub interception, we're at 3rd and goal at the 3 yard line. Addai is close to the goal line, and Peyton throws at his back, causing Addai to twist and lose the ball. If Peyton throws that ball in front of Addai, his momentum brings him into the End Zone, but by throwing it at his back, he makes Addai lose the ball (even if Addai kept control, Cushing would have wrapped him up since he had to turn around to grab it).

Beginning of the second quarter, after the GREAT pass to Collie is called back, Peyton throws it too high and too hard for Addai to catch. Two plays later, Peyton, again, overthrows Addai in the end zone, and we settle for another Field Goal.

We all saw the game, so we know what happens next. It looks like our problems the last two weeks have been in two areas: The O-Line letting Addai get trapped behind the line for a gain of nothing (if not negative yards), and Peyton just flat-out missing guys. Not terrible throws, nothing Jamarcus Russell-esque, but...missing the touch, the pinpoint accuracy.

I dont know why this is happening, but it looks to me like Peyton is missing receivers hands by a few feet. I hope (and expect) we get these issues figured out by next Sunday night. Maybe Peyton is just in a bad stretch, maybe he has Swine Flu, maybe he's just playing coy, but against both the Texans and the 49ers, I'm seeing a lack of his usual accuracy that would have helped us put away both of these teams by halftime.

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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Maybe he is losing confidence in his receivers

both Garcon and Collie have had many drops these past two weeks, so maybe he is hesitating maybe a half second but enough to throw off the timing and I think this maybe directly related to the number of dropped passes the last couple of weeks

Back when I was picking beans in Guatemala, we used to make fresh coffee, right off the trees I mean. That was good. This is shit but, hey, I'm in a police station.

by TouchdownColts on Nov 9, 2009 8:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think the inability to run in the redzone puts more pressure on the passing game. Remember the window for completions is much tighter inside the opponents 20.

None the less Manning has been a bit less accurate (especially with the deep ball) the last few weeks than I remember him being in the Dolphins, Cardinals, Seahawks stretch of games. He was still FO’s most efficient quarterback through week 8.

by torontocoltsfan on Nov 9, 2009 8:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think

it’s more important to throw a ball uncatchable by a defender than it is to throw one catchable by the receiver. I think it’s more likely that the receiver isn’t getting to the spot he’s supposed to be at and Manning isn’t going to go hunting and risk an interception. There doesn’t have to be a decision to throw the ball away when it’s an indefensible pass to begin with. New receivers, lots of incompletions, makes sense.

by wcwills on Nov 9, 2009 8:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Two thoughts

1. Hurt finger(s). I posted this after last week’s game, and I saw it less this week ,but Peyton has thrown a lot of wobblers. A hurt pinky or ring finger could explain less-than-tight spirals like that. It could also explain his over-compensating and over- or under-throwing receivers. For those who say we would have seen some sort of wrap or cast, I believe he would opt to go without for (a) better feel of the football, and (b) the secrecy factor.

2. Nerves. I know that Peyton has an excellent command of his nerves, he has ice in his veins, and he’s been there before. But for every game this season, it seems like he’s come out over-throwing on the first series and finally “calms down.” Maybe as receivers drop balls or he gets hurried more and more, it’s getting to him.

How can you not love a team that does this?

by LovinBlue on Nov 9, 2009 8:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Finger

I doubt it is anything like a hurt finger. He is still able to make some quality throws, just not as many as I would expect in critical situations. I’m hoping it was just a two game skid

by clownsaw on Nov 9, 2009 9:08 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree that he's come out overthrowing receivers in every game

Maybe in some, but I still maintain that its more about the coverage they are seeing njow and the lack of protection

Being an asshole doesn't make you wrong. :)

by SpazMo on Nov 10, 2009 1:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Peyton doesn't always

throw tight spirals, some of his greatest plays are wobbly throws. Its more about him putting at exactly the right spot at the right time. So i don’t buy the hand injury thing.

by UnofficialPants on Nov 10, 2009 2:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's just making it interesting

He gets a bonus from the TV networks for keeping games close and people watching.

by eltharion_doa on Nov 9, 2009 11:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yup. Conspiracy Theory Alert!

He’s actually throwing the Pats off (pun intended) with his play that is “just good enough to win” the past two weeks.

They come in assuming a shoddy 65% passer and easy body shots on over-extended receivers, and are shocked to see the pin-point 75% passer hitting guys perfectly in stride.

There is no defense for the perfect pass. Even better is when the D expects a lesser throw.

He’s also gaming the system for his 4th MVP. After all, nobody roots for Goliath, and at 8-0, the only way he cannot be a giant ugly inevitability is to appear human. Bwa-ha-ha! Believe that at your own risk, mere mortals! But if the voters see him falter and then throw up a perfect day with 4 TDs vs the Pats, well, he’s overcome “adversity” despite being 9-0. It’s all about selling the story.

Oops, my tinfoil hat is slipping. Gotta go fix it.

I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.

by Bobman on Nov 10, 2009 3:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Another vote for lack of running game

with people playing more zone now, its harder to force it in the closer you get

Being an asshole doesn't make you wrong. :)

by SpazMo on Nov 10, 2009 1:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think we have had these problems in the past

And the times I think about it are probably the years Edge (or Rhodes in 2001) struggled.

Scoring from close-in already artifically limits a passing game (there is a nearby limit to the field depth to defend, so the closer the O gets, the less territory the D has to protect), so when you are pass-reliant, you are affected by the small field size to a disproportionate extent.

Adding insult to injury, when you are too pass-reliant, the D can focus more on your main weapons, making it that much tougher.

So I agree with the run game assessment.

I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.

by Bobman on Nov 10, 2009 3:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I honestly think his arm is about to fall off during the games because of all the passes he has to make. So again comes back to lack of running game. And all of those passes he has to make are made pretty quickly as well. It’s not like he has that much time.

by diagenesis on Nov 10, 2009 7:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I honestly think his hand is about to fall off during the games because of all the passes he has to make. So again comes back to lack of running game. And all of those passes he has to make are made pretty quickly as well. It’s not like he has that much time.

by diagenesis on Nov 10, 2009 7:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I have a feeling, he'll get it back together

in time for Sunday night’s game.

by Ayrshire on Nov 10, 2009 9:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think...

The Colts are one of the best screen passing teams in the NFL, and with Brown’s speed, I think they can utilize that to pick up good chunks of yards…also, by not being able to run, we’ve noticed that it has taken away the deep pass in the past few weeks because the other defenses don’t respect our run game. I really believe that with a couple of successful screens, we can get the corners and safety’s to start creeping in a little bit, and that is when we line up in a screen formation, pump fake the screen pass and go over the top. I know Brady is going to do it to our rookie corners…underneath to Welker over and over, and then Moss over the top.

Damn, I wish we had a big corner, or an experienced corner (Kelvin) around to help out with the receivers in this weeks game…I really think we need to shop for a veteran ASAP. I was worried after Andre Johnson went nuts on us; it seemed like anytime her wanted to find the soft spot in our zone he did, and it is not like us to give up 3rd and longs…that is what we strive for with our quick and undersized defense.

by Z.Pain on Nov 10, 2009 9:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs