2009 Position Battles: Where do people stand after second pre-season game
by BigBlueShoe on Aug 21, 2009 4:05 PM EDT
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25 comments
Camp has broken and two pre-season games are down. It's time to re-visit the key positional battles.
Third wide receiver
This one is a bit mis-leading because the third WR battle is really a battle for who will play slot receiver. Both Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez have played slot, but both are much more effective playing on the outside. So far, Austin Collie has been the best, working solely as the slot receiver. Last night, Collie caught 2 passes for 32 yards and looked sharp running routes (save for one in the red zone in the first quarter). His main competition, Pierre Garcon, has shown flashes but has not been consistent. Garcon caught a five yard pass last night and swung around to gain seven more. But, he has dropped some passes... again. This is becoming a theme for Garcon, and a WR who drops the ball is a waste of space. Taj Smith and Sam Giguere have not really distinguished themselves.
Driver's Seat: Austin Collie
Starting defensive tackles
Antonio Johnson and Ed Johnson have started at DT for the last week, and both played very well in last night's game against the Eagles. Mookie is playing NT while Big Ed is at undertackle. Daniel Muir looked very good in camp, but didn't look good starting for Mookie at NT last week. Rookies Fili Moala, Terrance Taylor, and Adrian Grady have looked good at times, especially in some short yardage situations last night, but none are ready. I have seen very little of Eric Foster of late.
Driver's Seat: Mookie and Big Ed
Kick and punt returner
Jerraud Powers, Sam Giguere, and Chad Simpson have looked awful returning kicks. However, last night. T.J. Rushing returned a kick 45 yards, putting some nice moves on the Eagles' gunners in order to get to the sideline and gain yards. To quote the Indy Star's Bob Kravitz:
Good to see T.J. Rushing give the Colts the rarest of all commodities, a big-time punt return. T.J., the job is yours.
Driver's Seat: T.J. Rushing
Third RB spot
Mike Hart seemingly won this job in camp, but Hart has not been all that lucky staying healthy. He injured his knee last season, and after fighting back from that, last night he left the game early with an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Lance Ball ran with authority last night behind a poor o-line of back-ups, many of which will not make the final roster. Hart's ankle better heal quick, for his sake. Ball is making a strong case for the #3 RB spot.
Driver's Seat: Mike Hart
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Rushing
looked pretty darn good last night. I’d be happy with him. I missed him last year. I just really don’t want Simpson back in there at all.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Aug 21, 2009 4:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Foster
What are the chances of him being a FB on the roster to keep him and still use him in the DT rotation like they did with Klecko and Reid (even though they were DTs on the roster)? This way they could have more options.
by Sanders_fan89 on Aug 21, 2009 4:39 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
RB
BBS, I disagree about the RB situation. I think it’s Ball in the drivers’ seat, not Hart. If tomorrow was Sept. 5, when the final cuts happen, Simpson would go for sure. I think Hart would be cut and re-signed to the PS (assuming eligibility). Staying healthy is a skill and Hart may not have it. I think many who post here think Hart is the kind of guy we wish the Colts had more of, but he’s got to produce, and he hasn’t this year. And, for what it’s worth, Ball ought to get a roster spot to repay him for all the crappy blocking he had to deal with last night. Except for Eric Foster, his new personal fullback.
The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.
by Coltsfan58 on Aug 21, 2009 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think Hart is eligible
he went to IR after 5 games, so should fit under “players with less than 9 games on the active list in their only accrued season(s)”
It's shocking what you can miss sometimes. The amazing color changing card trick.
by shake n bake on Aug 21, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree
Hart is starting to show fragility and I don’t like it. If he can’t stay healthy, not sure if Caldwell will keep him on the 53 man roster.
"I'm looking for Ray Finkle....and a clean pair of shorts."
by AceOfSpades on Aug 21, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can't produce if you aren't given the ball
Hart showed last year he can produce. He hasn’t been given any playing time to speak of thus far this year. If you were to judge any of the RBs on just one or two runs you could make the same claim – that they haven’t produced. No one can make an informed judgement on Hart until he’s been given some serious playing time like Ball was last night.
by the_iowa_hawkeye on Aug 21, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it doesn't matter if you can't get healthy
prime example Roy Hall
OH NO WE SUCK AGAIN!
by colts9318rock on Aug 21, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Addai has proved he can produce in the NFL
Hart hasn’t.
OH NO WE SUCK AGAIN!
by colts9318rock on Aug 21, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
One season - and had been injured ever since
What’s more, Hart has only had one season and had someone blow his knee out. That was hardly his fault. What’s more still – with all of the injuries on this team it is narrow minded to single out ONE guy.
by the_iowa_hawkeye on Aug 21, 2009 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
agreed
but you get only one chance in the NFL. If you can’t get on the feild (hart or addai) then your off the team
OH NO WE SUCK AGAIN!
by colts9318rock on Aug 21, 2009 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The guy is entering his second year. Give him a shot. He was ultra-productive at Michigan and has the kind of attitude the Colts look for. I think he makes the team.
by 2ndBlueGeneration on Aug 22, 2009 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not saying he gets cut
all I’m saying is that he must get on the field to show that he is part of the team and worthy of a roster spot.
OH NO WE SUCK AGAIN!
by colts9318rock on Aug 22, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
"I'm looking for Ray Finkle....and a clean pair of shorts."
by AceOfSpades on Aug 22, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, I like Mike Hart, But Ball clearly looks like a better player
He runs hard, is big enough to block capably & he is hungry. TJ Rushing looks like he is back to full health, so there should be no debate on the primary KR. Good to see Mookie back…the DL was much better with he and Ed starting. Looking forward to 9/13!!
by raiders1980 on Aug 21, 2009 4:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Approvingly quoting Kravitz
I’m… I’m… not um… somebody better throw a blanket over me….
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
by Bobman on Aug 21, 2009 5:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
KR
is there any good reason why rushing couldn’t return punts AND kickoffs?
by saintnixon on Aug 21, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
we was just mediocre at it when healthy in 2007
but mediocre would be an improvement from last year. So no reason I know of.
It's shocking what you can miss sometimes. The amazing color changing card trick.
by shake n bake on Aug 21, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Punt returner and kick returner require different skills.
Kick returners require lot of lateral speed and an ability to follow your blocks. Most kicks returned for a touchdown are because of the blocking, not necessarily the returner.
Punt returners require being able to turn quickly and make quick decisions. Most punt returns for touchdowns are the work of the returner being able to slip and cut through the coverage.
It’s the different skill set required for each position that makes many teams have different returners for punts and kickoffs. Does Rushing have the skill sets required to do both? I don’t know, but I suspect not.
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: Whenever i think of Tom Brady, my thoughts immediately turn to this.
by Cassieper on Aug 22, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right
And for as fast as the Colts are as a whole, they don’t have any burner type of kick returners that can commit to a running start and bust through a hole. Giguere looked awful and whoever returned in the first game (Simpson?) was worse.
Where’s Dante Hall when you need him?
"I'm looking for Ray Finkle....and a clean pair of shorts."
by AceOfSpades on Aug 22, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Old and washed up
"I saw a commercial on late night TV, it said,'Forget everything you know about slipcovers.' So I did. And it was a load off my mind. Then the commercial tried to sell me slipcovers, and I didn't know what the hell they were."
-Mitch Hedberg
by Colts Homer on Aug 22, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
returners usually have a pretty short shelf life
For as electrifying as Devin Hester was his first two years he wasn’t even the most efficient/productive returner on the Bears last year.
It's shocking what you can miss sometimes. The amazing color changing card trick.
by shake n bake on Aug 22, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And it doesn't look like he will be this year.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Aug 22, 2009 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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