until I heard (and later got confirmation from the highlights) that the pass pro issues where pretty much entirely on Corey Hilliard.

The rest of the first team line seemed good. Addai had a real nice stretch run, Brown was great. I think once they get Hilliard out of the lineup the line will do ok and they’ll do more than ok if Ugoh earns his LT spot back.

The D doesn’t worry me too much because they played without the top 5 DBs on the roster so the poor coverage and secondary tackling isn’t exactly a shocker especially with some blitzes being sent.

you can catch the whole game right now on channelsurfing.net. Just click on the NFL Network logo and you can watch the replay right now

for a rookie that was thrown to the fire early on in our complex offense, it’s kind of a stretch to say he played horrible.

Pollak looked pretty good. what say you shake?

This was my first outdoor pro football game in Indianapolis. It was nice.

Richard, Ugoh and Pollak were all good tonight. I really think that the offensive line is better than people say as long as Corey Hilliard isn’t playing. I was scared for Peyton. If the run blocking is good, the team will be great. It was tonight. That’s for sure.

Im just now watching the re-air on NFL Network. Wtf is up? where is Charlie Johnson?

Hilliard is horrible!!!

I know it’s a preseason game but I don’t think I’ve ever seen manning go down so many in a four min period. Watching him tonight kinda scared me…but it still is only a preseason game. It’s good that the o-line holds up better on the new madden I’ve ran threw a few people already so if you want to to get down my game tag is specopskidd on the 360.

He definitely played better than Garcon tonight.

Hillard was awful. He will be cut at the next rounds of cuts. The o-line wasn’t as bad as I expected, but Peyton was on his back more than a $2 crack whore. That has to change fast.

Matt Giordano is pretty damn good. Dude grabbed Adrian Peterson by his waist and threw him down! The Colts secondary is gonna really good even if Bobzilla is hurt for some games, but scary good when he’s there.

 I think the 1st defensive unit did well on 3rd downs, but I guess the defense was a little shocked that Minny went for it of 4th down, so they blew some plays…I guess?

I’m still disappointed with the special teams punt/kickoff returns. They better bring it in the next preseason games and regular season.

In 2005 our first team offense scored like 3 points in 4 preseason games and everyone was screaming “Sophomore Slump!” Then we scored 61 points in our first 2 regular season games. Surprised that you gave up 200 rushing yards to Vikes RB’s other than AP, though.

donald brown looked like the same explosive donald brown in college and why I screamed in joy when they picked him in the first round. while alot of other colts fans frowned and wanted D I knew this was a good pick. polian is a master and thats going to be another marvin harrison pick results IMO

the offensive line scares me. when peyton is getting sacked 3 times in preseason and he only plays a few downs that is not good

I think a major reason the defense did (appear) so poor is because they don’t actually tackle in practice. This was the first time they actually got to get out there and hit people. I’d say they can work on some things but some players definately stood out with their ability to wrap up…Giordano comes to mind.

I think the same questions most people have had on here are still there - the downfall of this team will be the O-line. Even if Ugoh gets his shit together – we appear to have absolutely no depth!

The local television coverage was beyond awful. When they weren’t conducting interviews (i.e., prompting players to spout cliches) and not following the play on the field, the camera position was in, say, Beech Grove. For an organization which usually spends its money wisely, the Colts have paid for laughably bad production values.

On the field, a couple of points not mentioned in the game threads or above.

1. While I agree with others that Jacob Lacey made some good hits, on the long ball Jackson threw into the endzone I thought Lacey was out of position. The receiver did not get behind him (good) but a poorly-thrown ball by Jackson (I know you’re shocked) might have been picked. I see potential in this kid, but with the existing depth he looks like the initials PS will appear next to his name on September 6.

2. Kyle DeVan made a nice sealing block on Brown’s first carry.

3. If these are the new, improved special teams I’m disappointed. Kick coverage was about the same as last year. You can’t really say well, these aren’t the units we’ll see in the regular year, because a lot of the reserves who played most of this game will be reserves who play on regular season special teams. Can anyone explain Powers’ decision to field the punt inside the five? I understand (or at least I’m guessing, due to the poor TV coverage) that he thought he had a clear path to some yardage, because perhaps the Minnesota punter out-kicked his coverage, but still. Perhaps this was nothing more than a young guy pressing to make a play.

4. I thought Dante Hughes looked good. Not used to typing that sentence.

5. Could anyone say Eric Foster did anything? I saw him on the field but I couldn’t tell that he made any contribution.

6. Chad Simpson, Chad Simpson. Paging Chad Simpson. You’re asked to meet with the coaches and bring your playbook…Couldn’t get a good handle on how Rushing is coming back, but my handle on Simpson as a returner (ugh) and as a back (ugh again) was all too painfully clear. Lance Ball has got to be ahead of Simpson.

7. Wil Wofford, not usually a font of insight, made the point on post-game radio that the Vikings dressed 79 players (only Pat Williams—apparently out shopping for supplements—didn’t play) and seemed to come into this game with much more of a regular season intensity. The Colts, of course, didn’t have about 15 people available. That doesn’t account for those that did play being a step slow, but the two teams approaches to the game did appear markedly different.

8. I said in a post yesterday I wanted to see something make Caldwell explode and get his red ass on. The sideline shots of him looked like he was either expecting this ugly performance and was internalizing his frustration to channel it back in practice or that he was stunned that his team could play so poorly that he was unable to express his displeasure. The postgame press conference seemed to confirm the former. But if Corey Hilliard’s decision to let the Vikings have a free run at #18 doesn’t piss you off, either you can overlook a lot or you have great self-composure skills.

9. After seeing the Colts play relatively well against Tavaris Jackson, I wish Michael Vick could play Thursday. Defensive speed seems to negate so much of what mobile quarterbacks bring to the table.

My God, let’s get to the regular season.

But I disagree that Painter was bad. For me, he actually showed an ability to throw on the run. Poor Peyton, he never had a chance last night. Howard Mudd needs to get to work with those boys. My only consolation is that the Colts always stink during pre-season.

1. Good thing Corey Hilliard isn’t the starting RT or else we may not win more than 5 games. His play was dreadful.

2. Addai played well, but Brown gives us that big play potential that we have been missing. I am looking forward to seeing how the running game does this year.

3. The defense in general had a really bad game. You can’t really blame it on scheme because they were in the right positions to make plays, but COULDN’T TACKLE ANYONE. It was bad, reminded me of the defense in 01 & 02.

4. The backup DBs and Safeties are decent, but made a lot of backup mistakes. I am looking forward to having the starters out there. The Vikings took advantage of the inexperience and lack of talent with early throws, especially on the first two drives.

5. Curtis Painter is not good.

6. Peyton could have done more. He had no protection, but looked flustered even when he had time to throw the ball. Also, his ability to pull the ball down and make a play while running with the ball is absolutely zero. I know that’s not what we ask of him, but he’ll never be confused with Roethlisberger or even Brady for that matter when it comes to making a play with his feet.

7. This game was about what I would expect from the Colts in a first preseason game. I thought the defense would show a little more movement before the snap and the first offense would do more, but with that many backups in the game it is easy to see why they looked rusty.

BEST PART: No injuries to any key players!

McAfee is a stud, and it seems like he almost kicks the ball too far sometimes.

The kickoff and punt coverage seemed good, but the return game still needs a lot of work. The blocking is alright, but Rushing or Simpson or whoever they had out there seemed really slow and it was pathetic.

1) Brown. Unbelievable performance for first time out. Competition makes all RBs better and our tandem will be a force. DeAngelo WIlliams, for lack of a better word, SUCKED before Stewart arrived. When Stewart arrived, Williams proceeded to be awesome and give me a fantasy championship. Addai will see a season similar to Williams, and if he doesn’t, watch out for Brown taking over the majority of carries.

2) Adrian Grady dominated the Vikings scrubs. He will both make the team and push for playing time. Look out Eric Foster.

3) Marcus Howard will be an absolute stud. Tavaris Jackson is much more athletic than your average QB, most of whom would have spent the majority of time on their back last night, courtesy of Howard.

4) Addai looked great in limited PT with sketchy blocking.

5) Corey Hilliard blows and should have been cut mid 2nd quarter. We were playing with three linemen. Saturday and Lilja looked a bit rusty, but not too bad. They will be fine. Ugoh looked good and will start. Who knows with CJ.

6) Adrian Peterson is the best RB in the game and probably the best overall player. Our run D looked excellent for the most part in that first series. The D held their own without their starting 2ndary.

7) Chad Simpson has no business returning kicks or being on the field ever. Put Garcon or Powers back there or even consider signing someone like Forsett again. Simpson was awful.

8) Collie is a lock for 3rd WR and is a stud. He will be a great player. Garcon looked mediocre at best.

9) Painter did NOT suck as much as everyone wants to say that. He completed his first 5 of 9 for 45 yds. Not bad for your first time out there against many first teamers. After this happened, yeah, he pretty much started to suck. But he showed a little bit of promise. Plus, it’s not like he’ll play in front of Sorgi.

10) Preseason is a constant scare tactic for us Colts fans and I hate it. ROBERT MATHIS BETTER BE OKAY.