Recap: Colts 27-Dolphins 23
by Brad Wells on Sep 22, 2009 8:53 AM EDT
in Game Recaps
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PrintLots of people make a big deal out of three statistics: Time of possession, running the ball, and stopping the run. Pundits, coaches, and fans alike talk endlessly about the need to control all three, often saying they are vital to any team winning a football game. But, as we have often said here in the past, these three statistics are highly over-rated.
This is a throwing league. If you can throw the ball and stop the throw, you will win. It's that simple.
Last night's game, coupled with the NY Giants beating the Dallas Cowboys the night before, prove that running the ball is a highly over-rated and over-valued statistic. You must throw the ball to score and win in this league.
Now, before I go into the details and who-done-whats of this wild and entertaining game at Landshark Stadium in Miami, let me clarify why throwing the ball and stopping the pass are more important than running the ball and stopping the run. This is a league built around quarterbacks and scoring TDs. Rules like enforced illegal contact, pass interference, and new low hit rules to protect the QB (aka, the "Brady rule") are all designed to make it easier, safer, and more entertaining to throw the ball than to run it. As ESPN's Ron Jaworski astutely says during just about every Monday Night Football telecast, Points come out of the passing game. And if you cannot score throwing it in this league, especially in the red zone, you are going to lose football games.
For the Dolphins last night, and the Cowboys the night before, both teams ran for well over 200 yards. They used a combination of both power and finesse to control the line of scrimmage. In the case of the Cowboys v. Giants, NY was unable to get a consistent running game going themselves, and running the ball is their bread and butter. They managed just 3.7 yards rushing to 8.7 for the Cowboys. The difference in the ball game was the net yards per passing play. The Giants averaged 8.7 yards a pass; the Cowboys 4.4, and several costly turnovers from QB Tony Romo. By the way, turnovers factor into yards per completion in passing statistics.
When you look at this stat in the Colts v. Dolphins contest, the average yards per pass jumps out at you like a land-walking shark with a laser cannon strapped to his back. Indy averaged 12.3 yards per pass; Miami a measly 4.7.
I'll type it one for time, and even throw some bold in just to be obnoxious: Running the ball is over-rated.
You must throw the ball effectively in this league to win. Anyone who says otherwise simply does not understand modern football. More breakdown after the jump.
The formula to "beat" the Colts is simple, according to Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano (an intelligent coach who seemed to whine and cry his way through the post-game press conference). The formula involves running the ball, controlling the clock, blah, blah, blah, blah. All are typical Bill Parcells keys to winning, and all are over-rated and out-dated, especially in the regular season. The Dolphins used conventional and "wildcat" formations to hold onto the football for over 45 minutes. They also converted 71% of their third downs, and limited the Colts to just one series (a three-and-out) in the third quarter.
The problem for Miami is the same problem everyone else has when they play "keep away" from the Colts: When you only average 4.8 yards per play and score just 23 points, you are not likely to beat a Peyton Manning-led team. Hell, you can't beat an Eli Manning-led team doing that.
With a Colts passing game averaging over 12 yards a competition and a running game averaging 5.5 a carry, Indy didn't need 45 minutes to score over 20-plus points. The first play from scrimmage in the ball game was an 80 yard bomb from Manning to Dallas Clark, who is now firmly established as the best TE in football. When Jason Witten or Antonio Gates can make an 80 yard TD like Clark's last night, call me. Until then, shut up with calling them "the best." Clark is the best, no doubt.
Indy was able to score quickly and efficiently, answering almost every Miami score with a score themselves. Indy took advantage of Miami's poor corner and safety play, gaining large chunks of yardage throwing over the middle to the TEs and on crossing routes. Indy also did a good job protecting Manning using only five or six blockers, while the Dolphins seemed to be in max protect all night. This also used a lot of TE motion to chip players like Freeney and Mathis.
Here are more key observations from the game:
- Charlie Johnson played very well, and the Colts o-line overall was very good. 5.5 a rush against a very stout Miami defense is a step in the right direction.
- Peyton Manning continues to show why he is the best QB in the league. You do not see teams try and play keep away from Tom Brady.
- The Wild Cat offense gave the Colts fits all game long. Despite practicing all week for it, the Colts looked lost, confused, and frustrated by it. Tackling was piss poor, and both Ed Johnson and Antonio Johnson were routinely blown off the ball. They simply did not know what to do.
- Tim Jennings was hot and cold all night. One second, he makes a great tackle on a run play. The next, he's giving ten yard cushions to Ten Ginn Jr. on a 3rd and 7.
- Gary Brackett seemed to hurt his knee late in the fourth quarter. I pray to God he is OK.
- Pierre Garcon is one fast dude. He outran the entire Dolphins defense on that screen TD pass from Manning.
- Adam Vinatieri is money. And yes, he called bank.
- The Colts did not commit a turnover on offense and committed only one offensive penalty (5 yards), which they overcame. Outstanding!
- Colts special teams outplayed the Dolphins. Playing "keep away" can work against the Colts, but only if the opponent's special teams play very well (see San Diego Chargers in the playoffs last year). Miami was unable to really pin the Colts using their kicking game, and Indy's coverage units played well all night. Miami's Dan Carpenter also missed a crucial 49 yard FG badly in the third quarter.
Now, all that said, Indy's "formula" for winning cannot sustain. The Colts simply must do a better job stopping the run if they want to have any kind of meaningful success this year. However, four other teams rushed for over 200 yards on their opponents this past weekend, and only one of those teams won (the 49ers). So, before people start pressing the run defense panic button, just know that a stout defense like the Giants got run over as well. Yet, like the Colts, they still won. Indy has good DTs, excellent coaches, and a strong system. Their run defense will improve.
The positives you can take away are that the offensive line played brilliantly, Adam Vinatieri seems healthy enough to make clutch kicks, and Manning is god. Also, young receivers Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie stepped up big while Miami double covered Reggie Wayne all night. Joseph Addai averaged 5.5 a carry, and made several strong runs on first down. And rookie Donald Brown looked like he was shot from a cannon on his fourth quarter TD run off a draw play.
As always, great job by Matty I and the Dolphins fans at The Phinsider. Check their post-game recap here.
Unlike last year, our team is 2-0 and looks ready to improve. Props to Jim Caldwell, who got his first road victory as a head coach, and to Peyton Manning, who passed John Unitas as the all-time "winner" at QB for the Colts.
Go Colts!
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If running the ball is so over-rated
Then why is it that running (and lack of run defense) is the downfall of the Colts in the playoffs almost every year, and the only Super Bowl win came because of the playoffs having a strong run game/run D?
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Over-rated
Over-rated is not the same thing as “useless.” In the regular season, running the ball and stopping the run are over-rated. In the playoffs, they are vital. You throw the ball to get into the playoffs. Once there, you run.
Also, just FYI: The Steelers and Cardinals were in the Super Bowl last year, and neither team had dynamic running games. The Cardinals actually had the worst running game in football in 2008, and almost won the game.
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Also, the wild cat is over rated when you play against Peyton Manning!
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
Don't patronize me with your FYI
Of course, you need to run AND pass to win. The Dolphins horrid mis-management showed that.
Either way, the keys the victories are in the trenches, and in the turnover battle.
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Patronize?
It’s not patronizing. I’m just responding to your question. If running the ball and stopping the run are so vital, what was Arizona doing in the Super Bowl? Hell, what was Pittsburgh doing there? They dominated a team (Baltimore) that was amazing at running and stopping the run.
I agree feel that running and stopping the run are important to winning in January. But, they are not the foundation, or the “building block” to winning. Those foundations belong to throwing and stopping the throw. If you cannot do those two things, running and stopping the run will not help you win.
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Realistically, the foundations of winning
Is Offensive Line/Defensive Line play, and the turnover battle. That trumps being able to pass/run, because you simply can’t run/pass or stop it without the line play.
Turnovers is pretty simple as well.
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I think you just proved
BBS right!
The key is O-line and D-line play. The O-line must protect the QB long enough to allow the play to develop and the D-line must rush the passer and create turnovers either thru sacks or forced throws that turn into INTs.
by canadiancolts on Sep 22, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
That's half the battle
The other is the run game, obviously. You have to have the O-Line open holes for the running back, to tire the defense down (And control the clock), all while setting up play-action much for successful.
The D-Line shuts down the run, forcing the offense to be one dimensional, allowing full focus on pass rush, creating potential turnovers with forced fumbles and INTs.
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Response
Tennessee shut down Houston’s run and made them one dimensional… and lost. Cowboys did the same thing.
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Because their defensive line sucked balls
And couldn’t generate pressure.
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Exactly
they couldn’t create pressure and therefore failed to defense the pass.
by canadiancolts on Sep 22, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
YES PRESSURE
the key component of pass defense.
It's not just your perceptions that can be wrong. Even your memory is often incomplete or possibly flat out wrong.
by shake n bake on Sep 22, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I absolutely agree
Our lack of ball control, run game and a rushing defense can be overcome by our incredible offense and Peyton Manning during the regular season against lesser and sometimes even good teams, like last night. If this type of game happened in the first round of the playoffs against the Chargers, Ravens, Jets or Pats… the Colts would be going home early yet again. If we want to win a Super Bowl this year, our team MUST improve in the categories BigBlueShoe defines as being “overrated.”
by MileHighHoosier on Sep 22, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't know about MUST
but it’d be a big step.
and the few rushing attempt Indy had time for worked reasonably well.
It's not just your perceptions that can be wrong. Even your memory is often incomplete or possibly flat out wrong.
by shake n bake on Sep 22, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Preach on, dude.
The playoffs are the only thing that matter, and in order to win in the playoffs, these aspects of the Colts’ game must improve.
Well
The point here is that if you cannot throw and stop the throw now, you are in deep crap. The Titans are outstanding at running and stopping the run. They ran for 240 yards this past weekend and held the Texans to 2.2 a carry this past weekend… and lost. At home. Schaub had 4 TDs and the Texans passing attack killed the Titans, who play the Jets this weekend, and if they lose, their season is over. You don’t start 0-3 in this league and make the playoffs. And a major reason they are 0-2 right now is their pass defense stinks.
Also MileHighHoosier, please go back and re-read this sentence I wrote:
Now, all that said, Indy’s “formula” for winning cannot sustain. The Colts simply must do a better job stopping the run if they want to have any kind of meaningful success this year.If you are going to criticize me, at least have a sound argument. Don’t suggest I said something I did not. If running the ball and stopping the run were THE key to winning, then teams like Tennessee would not be 0-2 and the four teams this past weekend that ran for over 200 yards on their opponents would not have gone 1-3.
Yes, the Colts must do a better job stopping the run. I think they will. But stopping the run and running the ball are not the “key” ingredients to winning in this league despite nearly everyone saying they are. Thus, they are over-rated.
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AGREE
Another key point is that at the end of the game Miami needed a touchdown to win and all they could muster was field goal range. Simply because they had no threat of a downfield passing game, the whole game all they did was run. So it worked exceptionally well for the first 55 minutes of the game but failed them when they needed to score.
Most (90% correct me if I am wrong) games are decided in the final minutes (ie last 5 minutes of a game), this is when you need a good QB to make the throws that will win you the game. Conversly you need a defense that will stop the pass and therefore stop the other QB from making those throws. So yes BBS is right!
by canadiancolts on Sep 22, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd be shocked if the percentage is that high.
…unless you’re using a very, very loose definition of what decides a game.
Nice Win
I would still be nervous about that defense – I know you say that running the ball is overrated – but it can hurt you badly in certain types of games.
Regardless – when you have Peyton you have a chance. He is the best QB in football and is just ridiculous.
I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying
A couple things...
1) I don’t think running the ball is so much “overrated,” but if you can’t throw the ball in this league, you are not going to win. Period. I would say a run game is essential (looked good last night for the most part with little TOP), but a pass game is a must. You can win without a run game, you cannot win without a pass game.
2) I really hope Brackett is okay. He seemed to walk off on his own strength, but that usually doesn’t indicate anything. And with the way our LB corps played, we REALLY need him. Also, any work on Hayden? He got hurt as well, and we cannot have that.
3) Jennings is not good. On draft day, you never thought you’d say, we need Jerraud Powers out there, but man, did we. There is not a doubt in my mind he would have been all over the short routes and maybe even snagged a pick. Unlike Jennings, who was allowing about 10yd cushions every freaking time.
4) Why is Simpson on the team again? And why isn’t Rushing returning kicks? I know I should not hope for touchbacks when we return kicks, but I do.
5) McAfee had a rough first road game. It happens. He’ll bounce back. Although it wasn’t “bad,” just not as good as we saw last week and the preseason.
6) Peyton Manning is the best QB in the game. After this game (and the Jets), anyone who doesn’t think that is contractually obligated to say otherwise (cough, ESPN).
7) The Cardinals have a GREAT passing game, and if we don’t straighten up on D, it could be a long game next week. We need Powers and Hayden (and Jackson) healthy, and Bullitt and Bethea cannot let guys get by them like the Dolphins did. Fitz, Boldin, and Breaston will not drop wide open passes in the endzone.
Dare I......
Hope that Sanders is ready by next week?
McAfee
Averaged 48 yds. a punt. Other than the one he put through the end zone (which happens more times than not) I thought he did a good job. Sure would like to see punt and kick return guys go down on first contact sometimes though.
I'm not going to worry about our defensive showing from last night.
They got the stop when they needed to.
Freeney got his sack.
I’m going to enjoy this win and not whine about how we couldn’t stop the run.
If Peyton keeps playing like he did last night, with only 15 minutes of field time, The sky is the limit! Peyton Manning- our leader and our king of football. THIS IS WHY I LOVE THE COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
And That touchdown on one play in 32 seconds,
right off the bat! Dallas Clark you ARE RIDICULOUS!
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
Dallas' TD was 12 seconds
Garcon, 32 seconds
"Do I believe in aliens?" Stephon Marbury asked. "I don't know, because I've never seen one. But I believe in Jesus because I saw him in the shower the other day."
OOPS
You’re right, my bad. 12 freaking seconds! And did you see Tiger Wood’s reaction?
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
Yes!
Having Tiger on the sidelines was pretty awesome especially with J-Lo and Mr. Lopez, the Williams sisters, and Gloria and Emilio Estefan there for the “orange” carpet event. Also loved that fact that he had one his Colts blue golf shirt! Now I better not see Tiger at any Cowboys and Steelers games…he better show his loyalty to Big P! lol
"Do I believe in aliens?" Stephon Marbury asked. "I don't know, because I've never seen one. But I believe in Jesus because I saw him in the shower the other day."
the ball control formula works against the Colts
just not when you allow over 10 yards a play to the Colts.
It's not just your perceptions that can be wrong. Even your memory is often incomplete or possibly flat out wrong.
Keep Away
The Keep Away strategy probably isn’t exactly what the other coaches are thinking when they gameplan against the Colts. The talk of keep away from Peyton is way overblown. The coaches are going to come up with an offensive gameplan that attacks the Colts’ defensive weakness, which is stopping the run, especially up the middle on Iso’s and Dives (at least in the past). This leads to methodical running which keeps the clock running and fewer big plays, and leads to the illusion of dominating the TOP. What people fail to realize is that it doesn’t matter how long your drive takes, just the end result.
There are multiple ways to consider your offensive drive a win. A touchdown is a win always. A field goal is a win unless your drive started in field goal range. A drive that goes from your end zone and leads you to pinning the other offense within the 5-10 yard line can be considered a success because it will likely lead to good field position the next time. The thing is that usually, when these things happen, you have had the ball for 4-5 minutes on offense at minimum. That is why people look at the TOP to take a rough estimate of which offense outperformed the other. An offense that consistently 3 and outs will have a small TOP.
The problem is that TOP does not matter when your offense is a quick firing offense like the Colts were last night. The key is not to win the TOP battle. The key is to have your offense outperform the other team’s offense, and usually that will be seen in the TOP but not always. The Miami Dolphins offense did very well with an offense that runs the clock. The Colts did slightly better with an offense that scored very quickly every time they scored. It’s not about which team had the ball longer, it’s about which team scored more successfully per possession. Winning the TOP does not matter against the Colts in most situations. If the Colts score a TD on 100% of their drives, they will win the game unless the other team does the same. If you take 8 minutes to drive, kick a field goal, and then the Colts score on an 80 yard TD their first play, you lost. TOP is only an illusion of good offense.
With that though, I must qualify my statements. Keep away with Peyton Manning does not work unconditionally. Keep away does not work by limiting Peyton’s possessions. It also limits the other offense’s possessions which leaves them likely to score much less. It looks good on the stat sheets, but playing keep away does not win games and I do not believe that coaches go into a game thinking that they will play keep away with the Colts. They likely go into the game planning on running down the Colts’ throat, and that gives the illusion of playing keep away with the TOP. The only time keep away is a viable strategy is when the other team has at least a 1 possession lead on the Colts and they have the ball. They are banking on a small sample size statistically falling in their favor. Offensively, stats show us that in the long run, very few teams can score as much per possession as the Colts can. When a team has a lead against the Colts, they know that if they let the game continue forever, eventually the Colts offense will outscore theirs statistically. By playing keep away from Peyton, they lower the sample size as small as they can when it is already in their favor. Think of the Chargers in the 2005 week 15 game. Think of the Steelers from a few weeks later. They were winning on offense early, and they did not want to give us chances that would even the score which they knew would happen eventually.
This is the reason we always stumble in the playoffs or in the occasional regular season game. There is a team that strikes early against us, they then need to limit the number of possessions we have because statistically we would catch them eventually, and our defense has played right into their hands. If we allow a TD early and then go without scoring on offense the next time, we will often lose against a good team.
Think of it like a weighted coin. If it lands heads 75% of the time, and you were betting on it landing tails more than heads in a series of flips, you would want there to be as few flips as possible. If it lands tails the first time, then you would want as few flips as possible.
by Daniel B on Sep 22, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
thats very long
(thats what she said)
But I think what you’re sayng, and I agree with and have been laughing at it for years is: time of possession doesn’t matter if the Colts score on 100% of their possessions. Actually, thats even incorrect. Time of possession doesn’t matter, because this is football, unless there is an onside kick, the Colts are guaranteed a possession after you score.
In reality, the only people that are truly affected by the paper cut offense are the fans who can’t handle sitting there for 45 minutes per drive (when factoring in TV timeouts, etc…
Great Victory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Got . to fix the D. Bob please get the knee fixed quick. We have an entirely different team when he plays.
Also, that final drive by Miami was probably the worst time management I've ever seen in football
They should have had another 4-6 plays if they had run it even averagely.
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Agreed.
Was I the only one shocked that Peyton and Tom Moore (he’s still your OC, right?) didn’t try to run more time off the clock before giving the ball back to Miami for the final drive?
I think Manning took what the Miami D was giving...
Miami just kept giving up big play after big play.
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Sep 22, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I think MrNFL was referring to Miami's time management
The fact that the Colts scored so quickly is about opportunity – we had to get at least 3, but getting 7 was obvioulsy preferred… best to do so when the opportunity strikes because they just don’t present themselves that often.
How can you not love a team that does this?
I got what he was saying and wholly agreed.
And I get that you take what the D gives you (in this case, big passes)….I was just shocked you guys even gave them the chance for a drive. I don’t completely buy the line that you take it while you can because the opportunity doesn’t present itself, because it had been presenting itself all night. If you run the ball a couple times in that drive, you bleed the clock and make it much harder for Miami once they’ve got the ball back. Or, best of both worlds, tell your receivers to get down in-bounds instead of heading for the sidelines. (Obviously it worked out for the Colts, but that was partly due to Miami screwing up.)
Agree
We went out of bounds on every play before the Garcon TD play. I was hoping they would take up more time too because, even though I didn’t think Miami could score if they only had 2:00 to go the whole field, 3:35 was a lot of time to me.
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
My point had nothing to do with the Colts
But everything to do with Miami’s Fail-Ness, wasting 35 seconds AND a timeout, and then wasting another 30. That’s 4-5 more plays they could have had to win the game.
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No
You take the points when you can get them. The Dolphins couldn’t drive the ball in under 7 minutes so 3 minutes would be nearly impossible.
"Brett Favre was a man who thought he was retired, but he knew it wouldn't last."
That's what I thought (and posted)
right before the Dolphins’ final drive. I honestly was more relaxed during that drive than at any other point in the whole game.
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: I blazed through my test in 20 minutes and sprinted back to my room just as the MNF theme song ended. Good thing too, with that 1st play. So, my streak of seeing every minute of every game since 2003 Tampa still stands. So, my Chem TA lives (for now).
a couple things
BBS i agree that its a passing league, you are right about that.
But something i havent seen mentioned in the article or posts (i could have missed it) is the emphasis on a BALANCED attack on offense. I’ll say it now, if the Colts play like they did yesterday and ride it all the way to a super bowl win (wont happen) i could care less. I want this team to be successful and bring home another championship. I dont care if its on Peyton, Brown/Addai, Vinny, or the defense.
that being said, if the team is one dimensional on offense, or has glaring weaknesses on defense they do not stand a very good chance of going the distance.
There isnt any doubt in my mind that Peyton Manning is the best QB in the game, and if given a chance, i wouldnt want anyone else at the helm in a fourth quarter comeback. But he cant put on a superman cape and save games every single time we need him to. If Manning would have had an off night, and the offense just couldnt get it going, im sure the defensive performance last night would have had a much different spin on it.
There is going to be a game this year where the offense will sputter and will need handful of drives to get it together, and if the defense performs like they did yesterday it WILL NOT HAPPEN.
The year we won the super bowl, had we not been effective on defense, and been able to run the ball, i seriously doubt we would have won the games
all that aside………….didnt McAfee take care of kickoffs last night? anyone have the numbers on it?
Balance
Balance is VERY key. I agree with you. My point is this: Everyone talks about how you MUST run the ball and stop the run to win. They make the point that if you cannot do those two things, you will. not. win. the. football. game.
As I pointed out, that is simply not true.
I cited the Cowboys v. Giants game, but also look at the Titans v. the Texans. The Titans totally controlled the line of scrimmage running and stopping the run… and lost at home.
My point is that the foundation for winning is throwing and stopping the pass, not running and stopping the run. Thus, the run is “over-rated.” It’s the pass. Always has been in the modern NFL.
Now, if you want to win in the playoffs, which is a totally different animal than the regular season, running and stopping the run are important in order to balance the team.
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There is no doubt Manning is the player of the game
no QB can do what he did with only 15 minutes of possession and 34 plays
I wonder if that was a record?
Can anyone look it up and find out?
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
i thought i heard
it was a record for the first team since 1977 that won the game with that amount of time on offense. ill catch it when i watch the game over tonight.
Glad for the win.
But BBS you have gone completely overboard with stopping the run is overrated. The D better study those tapes of the Wildcat last night, because we are going to see it for the rest of the season now. We had an excellent gameplan and execution in game one for our defense, but last night’s was awful and even executed worse.
The D did step up when needed to, and the team never gave up on the game. But we stole one last night. I like this D though, and think it will get better and better throughout the season.
Lets not kid ourselves that TOP, stopping the run, and running the ball are overrated though.
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Sep 22, 2009 12:08 PM EDT reply actions
overrated does not equal unimportant
passing O and passing D are more important to winning.
It's not just your perceptions that can be wrong. Even your memory is often incomplete or possibly flat out wrong.
by shake n bake on Sep 22, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea...
but lets not chamion that it is overrated after being the first team to win a game with less than 15 minutes of offense.
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Sep 22, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Bingo
The running game and run defense are not unimportant. However, they are indeed secondary to throwing and stopping the throw.
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can you guys imagine
what this game would look like if TOP would have been 50/50 between the teams.
we might have seen Sorgi take a snap or two.
Mr. Clipboard?
Haven’t seen him in garbage time in forever. Wouldn’t that have been something.
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: I blazed through my test in 20 minutes and sprinted back to my room just as the MNF theme song ended. Good thing too, with that 1st play. So, my streak of seeing every minute of every game since 2003 Tampa still stands. So, my Chem TA lives (for now).
Stopping the throw
One thing that hasn’t been addressed much is that Powers and Marlin weren’t a part of the game either. Jennings is horrible as we all know and Powers’ ability to play man-to-man coverage would have stopped a couple of those drives early and the TOP battle would have been much different.
Powers is a very underrated piece of this defense for his ability to play as a cover corner. I would almost go as far to say having he and Hayden healthy is among the top 3 things we need to be in our favor to make a run this year (Freeney and Brackett are the other two).
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
winning formula
All true, but Sparano’s plan might well have worked if:
1) he hadn’t changed his play-calling strategy on their 2nd-last drive, the one where they took a 23-20 lead.
2) he hadn’t changed his defensive approach (and dared Manning to beat him) on the drive ending in the Garcon score.
and 3) he and Chad hadn’t shown a comical ineptitude at clock management on the last drive.
or if their recievers held onto touchdown catches.
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Sep 22, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Those were tough catches
Fasano wouldn’t have caught that after the hit, one of Ginn’s was far out of reach and the other was great D by Lacey. Those would have been tough for even Reggie Wayne to make.
"Brett Favre was a man who thought he was retired, but he knew it wouldn't last."
Oh and the penalties HAVE TO STOP.
Two things I loved about Dungy, he preached not fumbling and not having flags. On Miami’s second to last possession, our d got a stop on 3rd and long only for an offsides to give Miami new life which is when they drove for a field goal. I hope Caldwell stomps that out like Dungy would.
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Sep 22, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions
It was a problem in the preseason too
The D line simply CANNOT keep jumping offsides like that. There is no excuse for it. All they have to do is watch the ball!! Once is unacceptable, but 4-5 times is just downright maddening.
I thought that Muir was the only one that did it, but now Antonio, Freeney and Mathis are jumping too. Very frustrating.
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
If it was so easy to win games after being absolutely owned in the running game
We wouldn’t have just set an NFL record, since time in possession stats started being kept, for winning with the least amount of possession.
This game is an outlier. Thinking it proves anything other than that the Dolphins have a spectacularly bad pass defense, and that Peyton Manning is pretty damn good still, is overreacting.
Worth noting that if the Fins made their field goal, they’d have been able to kick a FG for the win at the end rather than relying on Chad “Useless” Pennington to pass into prevent coverage.
If we think we can play like that every week and win because we’ve got Peyton Manning, we’re not going to make the playoffs.
You're a downer.
The playoffs are a looong way off. And BTW didn’t we make the playoffs last year with no running game and a defense that couldn’t stop anybody?
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
We didn't play as badly last year as that
On defense. Not consistently.
by eltharion_doa on Sep 22, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes we did
The Jags-Colts game last year was just as bad as that. The only difference is that the Colts scored one less TD.
"Brett Favre was a man who thought he was retired, but he knew it wouldn't last."
I guess I’ll give my two cents. I’ll try my best not to make it seem like I’m attacking anyone, because I’m not, but I’m sure there are some people who will take it that way anyways.
Ok, first off, BBS you are contradicting yourself on many levels here. You start off by claiming that running the ball is overrated, but go on to say that it’s vitial in the playoffs. That makes absolutely no sense to me. Throwing the ball to get into the playoffs also makes no sense to me. You win games to get in the playoffs, and to win in the playoffs you have to be firing on all cylinders, especially if you want to win the Super Bowl. And by firing on all cylinders I mean being able to run the ball and stop the run. All you have to do is look at the past Super Bowl winning teams to realize this.
Secondly, it’s disturbing to me that you (BBS) and not surprisingly shake are totally fine with this even though during the time the offense was “dominant” the entire offense was predicated on the play-action pass. What setup the play-action pass? That’s right, the run did.
Thirdly, using the term overrated to describe running the ball in the regular season is a bad choice of a word in my opinion. It wasn’t that long ago that the Colts were infamous for maintaining 10, 6+ minute drives because they were a very good running team. Nowadays, we have to rely on Peyton to pull wins out of his ass just so we can even make the damn playoffs so we can subsequently lose in the first round because the running game blows. If that’s how you want to the Colts to stay, a pass reliant team, then don’t expect them to go far in the playoffs.
Hit em with your groin!
by KingRichard on Sep 22, 2009 12:25 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
lol i meant i'll try my best to make it seem like i'm NOT attacking anyone
Hit em with your groin!
by KingRichard on Sep 22, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Anyways, I meant to add this but forgot.
I respect your opinions but I completely disagree big guy. =P
Hit em with your groin!
by KingRichard on Sep 22, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Heh...
Even when we disagree with you BBS,
YOU’RE MY BOY BLUE!
Go Colts!
by Marked Hoosier on Sep 22, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't feel like Peyton pulled this win out of his ass.
Not after watching him throw that first TD on the first play of the game. Plus the Fins didn’t turn the ball over to give us a miracle win.
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
One vastly undercovered part of the game:
Did everyone notice how epically bad the Dolphins’ defense was? They are really horrible. Makes me appreciate our defense a little bit more.
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: I blazed through my test in 20 minutes and sprinted back to my room just as the MNF theme song ended. Good thing too, with that 1st play. So, my streak of seeing every minute of every game since 2003 Tampa still stands. So, my Chem TA lives (for now).
I noticed,
They had no answer for Peyton. Plus and this is a big plus, their D wasn’t tired! They were hardly on the field.
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
agree and disagree
I think BBS’ comment on running vs passing in the regular season vs playoffs is oversimplifying and repeats the myth I hate that the playoffs are different in any way other than the strength of the opposing teams. What it takes to win in the playoffs is exactly the same as what it takes to beat a good team in the regular season.
Running the ball and stopping the run are significant contributors to winning, just less so than passing O and D. The Colts could win without being able to do the first two, but it’s a lot easier if they don’t have to play spectacular pass O and D in order to win.
It's not just your perceptions that can be wrong. Even your memory is often incomplete or possibly flat out wrong.
by shake n bake on Sep 22, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Disagree
I actually disagree with this. Winning in the playoffs is different than the regular season. Teams like the Dolphins and Titans are playing very sound playoff football… in September. Running and stopping the run are key in January because weather is often cold, players are hurt and tired after four months of playing, and turnovers take on added value (more TOs come from passing than running).
Thus, running is more key in the playoffs. But, we are not in the playoffs. This is September, not January.
SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.
why does being tired and hurt effect the pass and run differently?
I believe that running and run D takes increased importance in cold weather games, which are more common in late season/playoffs, but that’s far from universal across the with the playoffs with the number of domes and warm weather stadiums.
T.O.s having added value is an effect of increased running not a cause.
It's not just your perceptions that can be wrong. Even your memory is often incomplete or possibly flat out wrong.
by shake n bake on Sep 22, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Well said KR!!
I don’t care who said anything…things have to change for this team to move forward in the playoffs. I have said it in the past and will say it again now…I really don’t give a rats butt about regular season stats…show me the post season…that is when it counts. Sure, get into the post season with great stats…but once game 17 starts it means nothing. The Colts need to improve by leaps on defense. Peyton is now got to be considered one of the best all time…no room for arguement.
That being said…I hope Indy Lori does not think I am too much of a downer.
"If me and King Kong went into an alley, only one of us would come out. And it wouldn't be the monkey."
"I don't really trust a sane person."
"I never met a man I didn't want to fight." The one and only Lyle Alzado
I don't.
I was just mad because he said we couldn’t get INTO the playoffs if the D and running are bad. And I think we did just that last year. Now once we reach the playoffs and things are the same, that’s a different story. Anyway, since you said Peyton has to be considered one of the best of all time- I LOVE YOU! In a love my fellow Colts fans kind of way!
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
But you can’t rely on #18 to do everything every single game. The rest of the team has to show up too, and by that I mean the defense has to do something also or else we won’t be able to pull out those kind of wins week in and week out. Peyton isn’t always on fire like that.
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
Agree, but,
Even with a D that most of the NFL thinks is ranked low, we still are the winningest team in the reg. season for a RECORD long time.
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
Well... he was on fire eight of the last nine games of last season so it's not impossible but we can't go 16-0 playing that way. (Not that I think we will)
http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/needell/index.ssf/2009/09/needell_on_the_nfl_moving_the.html
Great article by Paul Needell of the New Jersey Star-Sentinel on the Colts’ Monday Night win.
________________________________________________________________
“QB Peyton Manning is as close to a one-man team as we’ll ever see. But what a one man he is.”
________________________________________________________________
Thought that was a great quote.
"Pressure is something you feel if you don't know what the hell you're doing."-Peyton Manning
I'm glad someone else saw what I saw
That was a bad performance rescued by a great QB.
by eltharion_doa on Sep 22, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with you on that.
Sorry I called you a downer, sometimes my mouth runs before I think. But regardless of whether I agree with you or not, I still respect your right to your opinion.
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
KingRichard
Are we in the playoffs now? Last I checked, it was September, not January.
Playoff football is completely and totally different than regular season football. Strategies, tactics, and methods of winning all change. That’s why the call it the “second season.” I stated my opinions assuming most people knew that.
If running the ball and stopping the run were as important as you say, than Tennessee, Miami, and Dallas should have won in Week Two. They didn’t. All lost at home to teams that lit up their secondary and controlled their passing attacks.
Again, everyone here is talking “going far in the playoffs.” IT’S FRIGGIN WEEK TWO. We’re not guaranteed anything. You have to get there first before you start talking about what it takes to win in the playoffs. And to get there, you must be able to throw the ball and stop the pass. This past weekend reinforced that for everyone with two eyes.
SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.
Your point holds water...
however, we have been here way too many times before. In only one season did we turn it around for the playoffs. As a Colts fan I am sick of the same damn issue every year. We come into the season and see the same thing! We were lucky that Miami didn’t have a better offense..that bailed us out as much as anything!
This could all change by week 3 or 5 or even 10, but it is a recurring issue.So week 2 or not….I am frustrated as hell!! All we heard in the offseason…getting off the field on 3rd down…so far…we are a total failure at that…can’t even be debated.
"If me and King Kong went into an alley, only one of us would come out. And it wouldn't be the monkey."
"I don't really trust a sane person."
"I never met a man I didn't want to fight." The one and only Lyle Alzado
We're lucky they didn't have a better defense
A team with even a remotely average pass D beats us last night.
by eltharion_doa on Sep 22, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Agree 100%
I didn’t read your post before I put my 2 cents in, but it basically says the same thing. We have issues that we need to work on before we can be Super Bowl confident and they are the same issues we face every single year.
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME
haha dont know why i thought of that………..
BBS you are right about it being week two………we have a long way to go. but this is where we have to get it RIGHT. we have a LITTLE breathing room to get these shitty games out of our system and get things on the right path down the stretch.
The expecations with this team is to make the playoffs and win the super bowl. we arent the Lions, their expectations are to win a handful of games and make some much needed progress in fundementals of football.
Playoffs
If the playoffs are the 2nd season, and the Colts (according to you and some others) should alter the way they play the game once the playoffs start in order to be effective and win, why wait until the playoffs start to do that? We should be creating a solid, balanced team led by one of the greatest QBs of all time so we can be a finely tuned machine in December and January.
Also, the Colts don’t even switch up their game plan once the playoffs start, so I don’t understand that point either. The only year the Colts stayed commited to the run and stopping the run was in 06. I thought they would have learned that in 07, but we went back to throwing the ball too much and that led, in part, to our playoff demise (Marvin’s fumble, KK tipped pass, throwing 3 times after 1st and goal late in the 4th quarter).
Being a balanced team is the best way to ensure playoff success when you have a great QB. Let Peyton be great when needed, don’t force him to be great all the time.
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
It's a win but...
I think the Colts were very fortunate to win this game.
If they’re going to have to count on Manning to pull out games like this on a regular basis, I don’t see them going very deep into the playoffs.
For all the attention given in the off-season to the run-stop aspects of the defense, I don’t feel good about this game at all.
The LB’s and DT’s are still suspect.
If Brackett is injured and has to miss some time, the problem gets even worse.
We are too harsh on the run D
They did hold them to a 4.9 yard avg. and to boot most of the yards came from R. Brown, which means it was out of the wildcat. Considering Miami ran the ball 49 yes 49!!! times i think they did a adequate job, not stellar but adequate. Lets not be too harsh on them guys.
What?
I don’t consider 4.9 yards a carry holding them to anything.
"If me and King Kong went into an alley, only one of us would come out. And it wouldn't be the monkey."
"I don't really trust a sane person."
"I never met a man I didn't want to fight." The one and only Lyle Alzado
Your missing the point
We had more success running the ball (when comparing YPC), when you compare the stats out of a normal formation we had even more success. When Miami ran the wildcat they had alot of success, I believe the “poor” showing as some are calling it was more of a miscalculation. Thinking Miami would run less wildcat formation than they did, which meant we where caught off guard.
The problems on D where to many third down conversions where the corner gave alot of cushion and all Pennington had to do was throw it to the sticks and it was a conversion.
by canadiancolts on Sep 22, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
This is a good point.
And why were those receivers open? I don’t blame the players on this point. I blame the coaching? If those guys were told to press or play man, they would.
I suspect that we were even playing some Cover 3 on clear passing situations.
People aren't going to agree not to run the wildcat
Just because we suck at defending it.
If anything, the Dolphins erred in not running more wildcat plays. We couldn’t defend it to save the universe.
by eltharion_doa on Sep 22, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think they did
They where trying to pass with Pennington (ie trying to win), which is why we didn’t see 100% wildcat. But when we did we did a piss poor job defending it.
by canadiancolts on Sep 22, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I hate the Wildcat
But I hate not being able to defend it even more. It is such a basic play…one that HS teams have run for years and years, and yet professionals can’t stop it.
It’s way to basic and probably flawed to think this, but why not bring 2 of the LBs up to the line when they went into Wildcat mode. Either the LBs blitz and help the D line fight off blocks and penetrate, or the LBs back off and play conventionally. Even if they back off, it at least gave the other team something to think about which may cause some confusion and help defend the play.
Also, leaving 2 safeties back on the Wildcat is silly because it is a run 99% of the time. I just don’t think they watched enough film of the Wildcat because everyone knew what was going to happen but the D couldn’t stop it.
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
No other team can run it as well as the Phins
So I’m not worried.
"Brett Favre was a man who thought he was retired, but he knew it wouldn't last."
Hey I agree with everyone saying we have to run and stop the run
We have to play well in all phases of the game come playoff time. You have to throw the ball well, run the ball, stop the run, stop the pass, create turnovers, and play well on special teams. Im happy we got the W cause at the end of the day, thats all that matters, but when it comes down to it, we need to do well in every single phase of the game if we want another lombardi trophy so in a way all of you are right.
I'm happy we got the win
But BBS is way wrong on this one.
Manning can’t do it alone, regardless of his greatness. We need to run the ball well (which we did last night in our limited opportunities) and most importantly, get off the field on third down.
Miami’s gameplan last night, if followed by a talented club like San Diego, would be too much to overcome in the playoffs. I think that’s been proven.
Run run run
We still aren’t commited to the running game. That game was close throughout and Peyton shouldn’t be called on to pass for 20 yards per completion for us to win. We need a more balanced attack, especially if we are running effectively to start the game.
That 3 and out in the middle of the 3rd quarter was maddening, coming after an 8 minute drive and only taking 35 seconds off the clock.
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
Donald Brown
had quite a gallop on his TD run. I’m not sure he knew to stop running, he was pushing so hard to move the ball. I wish I could have seen more out of the young receivers, but what I did see wasn’t bad.
Be careful in citing the Dolphins passing average
Yeah, they only averaged 4.7 per catch, but that’s all they really needed to. How often did they have 3rd and 3, 3rd and 4, 3rd and 5, completed a short pass for the first, and kept marching? It’s dink and dunk, and it’s a valid strategy that would have won them this game if they had a QB with a better long ball. Pennington completed 66% of his passes, and if you take out anything over 10 yards it was probably something like 90%. Not good.
Like last year, the Colts’ passing offense only looks good on paper, because teams rarely have to pass. Why pass when you can run? And when they do have to pass, it’s short little easy passes that the CBs are giving huge 10-yard cushions on for some reason. So on paper it looks like we’re containing the pass, when in actuality we’re just playing into the other team’s hands.
The Colts have very often had good passing DVOA which accounts for not just the down and distance
but the strength of opponent.
BBS, have you checked if this concern troll is someone’s second account?
It's not just your perceptions that can be wrong. Even your memory is often incomplete or possibly flat out wrong.
by shake n bake on Sep 22, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
The run defense looked bad
but so did the Giants and Texans, and those two teams were able to pull out a win also. The Giants D is suppose to be a top 5 defense in the league, but they allowed a sorry Marion Barber and Felix Jones to run all over them. The Texans forgot that Chris Johnson was even out there and didn’t have anyone on him.
We just have to get off the field…smh.
"Do I believe in aliens?" Stephon Marbury asked. "I don't know, because I've never seen one. But I believe in Jesus because I saw him in the shower the other day."
Huh?
Marion Barber and Felix Jones are an elite RB combination and Dallas can run block pretty well.
And the Giants D isn’t back to it’s 2007 best, not even close. It may not ever be that good again, things change fast in the NFL.
by eltharion_doa on Sep 22, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Giants defense
They sport Justin Tuck, Osi, Rocky Bernard, Kiwi, and Pierce in their front seven. That indeed is a Top 5 defense. No doubt.
SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.
On paper, maybe
Shame they were playing on grass. They’re not there. I don’t know why, but they’re not playing to ability.
by eltharion_doa on Sep 22, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
All teams
Everyone in the league right now looks to have significant weaknesses. The Giants running game and their run defense look terrible. Teams are scoring points routinely on the Ravens. The Broncos offense is pedestrian at best, and their first two opponents were the friggin Bengals and the Browns. Atlanta’s pass defense still looks shaky.
Yet, all these teams are 2-0.
No team right now looks dominant except… the Vikings. Their first two opponents were the Browns and Lions. need I say more about their “dominance?”
The point is, the problems we have are the same problems many other 2-0 teams have. However, the team in REAL trouble right now (Titans, Bucs, Lions, Dolphins, Cowboys, etc.) all have one thing in common: They can’t throw consistently, and the pass defenses stink. Yet, for teams like the Titans and Cowboys, they have strong running games and stout from seven defenders. Yet, in Tennessee’s case, if they don’t beat the Jets this weekend, their season is over.
SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.
You're putting the Cowboys in the same bracket as the Lions?
Dude, they’re 1-1 and only narrowly lost to one of the NFC’s best teams.
by eltharion_doa on Sep 22, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Cowboys
Their one win was against the Bucs, and if their pass attack and pass defense continues playing like their did against NY, that one win is all they will have in 2009.
SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.
You're kidding me
They lose by two points to one of the NFC pre-season favourites and you’re considering them going 1-15?
Whatever you’re smoking, man…
by eltharion_doa on Sep 22, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
He didn't say 1-15.
He said in trouble.
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: I blazed through my test in 20 minutes and sprinted back to my room just as the MNF theme song ended. Good thing too, with that 1st play. So, my streak of seeing every minute of every game since 2003 Tampa still stands. So, my Chem TA lives (for now).
Sorry Marion Barber and Felix Jones?
What?
"Brett Favre was a man who thought he was retired, but he knew it wouldn't last."
Maybe "sorry" wasn't that right word
I think he’s heartless.
"Do I believe in aliens?" Stephon Marbury asked. "I don't know, because I've never seen one. But I believe in Jesus because I saw him in the shower the other day."
After reading all the post-game comments
I would love to be a fly on the wall in the Defense film sessions this week.
How can you not love a team that does this?
Get off the field
I don’t think the issue is ability to stop the run per se. The issue is that the defense needs to get off the field. Fine if teams gain 9 yards in 3 plays, because they still have to punt on 4th. The Colts problem last night was consistently allowing Miami to sustain drives.
What drive me nuts was how soft the Colts corners seemed to play on 3rd and 5/6. Pennington does not have a strong arm, yet is accurate; why allow him these uncontested third-down throws that moved the chains?
A great win last night but it was historic (winning with less than 15 min. TOP), meaning it ain’t likely to happen again.
Some Comments
The Colts need to improve on two things in order to be serious Super Bowl contenders.
1. Staying commited to the run. Just like Brady can’t win throwing 50 times a game, the same goes for Manning. Not only does staying commited to the run help keep defensive backfields honest, it helps control the clock which keeps our defense off the field. Yes, we score TDs more often than other teams, and even though we may score so quickly at least we are scoring, but the defense is forced to be on the field way too long….leading me to
2. 3rd down defense. I didn’t say run defense because I think that will improve over time as a given, once gap control is managed and guys continue to watch film. However, last years failures to stop good teams on 3rd down, and our resulting early playoff exit, is still a part of this team even though Caldwell attempted to address that problem first. If we can’t get off the field on 3rd down, bad things happen. First, more 7 minute drives. Then, #18 continues to have to try to score quick (I don’t understand why we always have to score quick because I prefer those long, time consuming drives too and I know we can do that as well). Then, the defense is back on the field again and with all of these drives by the other team, plays add up for the defense and players have a greater chance of getting injured.
Injuries are my biggest concern. When the defense is always on the field, they have greater chances of getting injured and injuries always kill us. I was expecting Coyer to “show blitz” at times. I’m not asking them to blitz all the time, but give the other team something to think about. Who knows what would happen with the Wildcat if we gave the Fins the thought that we might bring 6 guys?? Even if we backed off, their O line might have been confused enough to miss at least 1 blocking assignment, which helps our D line get into the backfield and disrupt the play. One of the few times we actually showed a blitz, Pennington was forced to call timeout because he didn’t like what he saw. Last night was a lot of the same and it was very discouraging.
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
Easy problems to fix
Start Eric Foster over Tokes Johnson. Big Ed was pathetic last night.
Get Jerraud Powers healthy. If Powers was healthy there would have been 3 and outs.
Start Donald Brown. He’s ready.
Don’t go offsides
Problems fixed. I’m not concerned. Peyton Manning is the best QB in the history of the game.
"Brett Favre was a man who thought he was retired, but he knew it wouldn't last."
Agree somewhat
Except for Johnson. I think he is better than Foster on run downs against a conventional running attack. They couldn’t stop the wildcat no matter who they lined up last night. I was almost calling for them to put a 5-2-4 defense out there to try and help.
And that 3 down with 1 roaming DT is never going to work. I was hoping they would have packed that with Meeks’ bags on his way out.
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
Tim Jennings
Sucks. There’s no other way to say it. A lot of the Fins’ first downs came from the same route. Jennings with a 10 yard cushion, curl route at the marker, first down. Ginn ran free most of the night. I hope Powers can play or Kurt Warner and Co. are going to have a field day.
You and Colts Homer
would get along well.
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: I blazed through my test in 20 minutes and sprinted back to my room just as the MNF theme song ended. Good thing too, with that 1st play. So, my streak of seeing every minute of every game since 2003 Tampa still stands. So, my Chem TA lives (for now).
Injuries
[Caldwell about Kelvin and Gary]
“In both of those cases there was a medical issue,” the coach said. “We’re just not certain quite how extensive it is.”
This does not sound good… At least Powell should be able to play against Arizona, but we need all the 3 useful corner vs. the Fitzgerald-Boldin-Breaston trio. Plus maybe Freddy gonna play az MLB, which would be is a real disaster. Do NOT even think about it…
(Powers) needs to play and that will change everything in the passing game defensively, just like when Bob comes back it should change everything in the running game defensively.
After watching a DVR game replay, I couldn’t even tell why Brackett went down. The camera wasn’t on him, but he seemed to be by himself at the time. He was stretching his leg while the trainers were out, but it didn’t appear to be cramps. I just hope it wasn’t serious. It could be a hamstring or something though (pure speculation on my part). I think he walked off on his own power which is good.
If Freddy has to play vs AZ we are doomed unless Peyton scores a TD on every drive.
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
My thoughts
There are certainly positives to be taken away from this game……the win, Peyton’s greatness, and the emergence of Garcon and Brown. As far as the negatives go, I’m really concerned about the Colts inefficiency in making stops on third down, as well as the coach’s inability to make effective adjustments on defense. The Colt’s D was embarrassed on national TV. Peyton and the offense saved them. I’m hoping that this is our ‘Jacksonville’ abomination for this year, and they’ll fix it. Imagine if Peyton had one or two more times on the field? We’d probably have at least ten more points and the game truly would have been out of reach…..instead of a crap shoot. Go Colts!
Most frustrating to me
Is that the team talked about how they would be more aggressive on 3rd downs this season, with an emphasis on taking more chances, creating more pressure and getting off the field so the offense could get the ball back. I didn’t see much of that at all against Miami and it wasn’t because of the Wildcat because I’m not sure if they ever ran the Wildcat on 3rd down and more than 2 if at all.
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
On Sarurday CHFF said that Tom Brady is the best QB ever at carrying his team.
Well after seeing how he played Sunday, granted the Jets did a good job of getting pressure on him and he didn’t have Welker but Manning didn’t get great protection until the fourth quarter and didn’t have Anthony Gonzalez for this game so…, and what Manning did last night, I think that argument officially ended.
"Pressure is something you feel if you don't know what the hell you're doing."-Peyton Manning
by P0RKINS2 on Sep 22, 2009 6:10 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
"Running the ball is over-rated"
Go ask the Patriots what they think about that right now. Perhaps we could tell them about how good we did in the playoffs without a running game.
A single game does not a season make. Yes, we do need a running game and no, it isn’t over-rated. I expected better out of your blog.
by the_iowa_hawkeye on Sep 22, 2009 9:12 PM EDT reply actions
one example does not a trend make
I’ve posted the numbers before and I’ll post them again. Running the ball and stopping the run (in efficiency terms) are much better predictors of success.
http://www.advancednflstats.com/2007/07/what-makes-teams-win-part-1.html
It's not just your perceptions that can be wrong. Even your memory is often incomplete or possibly flat out wrong.
by shake n bake on Sep 22, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I think I found the perfect song to describe this game:
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: I blazed through my test in 20 minutes and sprinted back to my room just as the MNF theme song ended. Good thing too, with that 1st play. So, my streak of seeing every minute of every game since 2003 Tampa still stands. So, my Chem TA lives (for now).
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