Colts to possibly start Tyjuan Hagler and Jerraud Powers Sunday against the Jaguars
by BigBlueShoe on Sep 8, 2009 8:17 AM EDT
in Colts News
45 comments
I hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day Weekend.
Unlike (hopefully) many of you, it seems the Colts coaches were working over the weekend to fine tune and expand their roster. After days of watching the waiver wire, waiting to see who was cut and signed, the Colts have now thrown us fans another curve ball by subtly announcing via their website depth chart that Tyjuan Hagler is now the starting SAM linebacker.
Apparently, Tyjuan beat out second year backer Philip Wheeler, who had been working as the starter at that position all off-season. Tyjuan had this same job last season, but lost it when he tore a pectoral muscle lifting weights. Clint Session was able to win the job, and Tyjuan Hagler spent much of 2008 as a back-up. He was initially not re-signed when his contract expired this off-season, but eventually signed a one-year deal in the hopes of winning his old job back. Looks like he did.
The other big news is it seems Marlin Jackson is still not 100%. So, the Colts are turning back the clock, allowing Jackson to play as the nickel corner. Jackson played nickel in 2006, the year Indy won the Super Bowl. Replacing him in the starting lineup could be rookie Jerraud Powers, who had an amazing pre-season. From Indy Star's Mike Chappell:
Therein lies the possible opportunity for Powers to become the first rookie cornerback to start a season opener for the Colts since Ashley Ambrose in 1992. Powers could get the nod at Jackson's right-side spot over veteran Tim Jennings.
Lots of Tim Jennings haters out there are doing a little happy dance right now. However, I will point out that Jennings did have a great camp and (arguably) his best pre-season. Bob Lamey made a point of that on last week's Colts Friday Night. He's also seemingly got a pretty good attitude about the whole thing:
"Whatever they need me to come in at, I'll be ready for that," [Jennings] said.
The other little bit of roster news worth mentioning is that we are now five days away from the start of the 2009 regular season for the Indianapolis Colts, and they still have two field goal kickers on the active roster. Indy did not release Shane Andrus in their cutdown to 53. With Adam Vinatieri still recovering from knee and hip surgery, Andrus might be "hanging around" in case Adam cannot go. We already know from the Indy Star's PhilB that rookie punter Pat McAfee will handle kick-offs this year. How long McAfee will do the kick-offs has not been determined. What we can deduce is Vinatieri is still not 100%, and it is possible he will not kick on Sunday.
Also, quick deviation from the main topic of this article, but I feel the need to discuss "the elephant in the room." I'm sure like many of you, all the Phil Simms-James Brown glory painted the background and sides of our little blog is a bit overwhelming. As you can probably guess, Showtime paid SB Nation some cash to advertise the hell out of the new season of Inside the NFL. I know many of you feel as I do that ads like these are troublesome, annoying, and distracting from the reason you visit the site (the content). Unfortunately, these ads are what pay the bills. And, on the positive side, it's not like the ads are for Bud Lite or Viagra or anything like that. Inside the NFL is a good show, and it was stupid for HBO to dump it. So, while having Phil Simms leer at me while I try and read posts is a bit weird, I'm happy to pimp his show for the simple reason that it is good, and worth pimping.
Kindly bare with the ads as best you can while we move forward with the 2009 regular season. As always, we appreciate your support of Stampede Blue and SB Nation.
0 recs |
45 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Interested to see
the looks they come out with at corner. Also glad to see Hagler getting a shot, we all want to see wheeler but we all felt good with Hagler as the starter last year only to see him tear a muscle. Personally I’m leaning towards Jennings, he actually played some pretty solid coverage on one of the best WRs in the league. Powers has some gifts but I’m not sure I’m sold on a rookie put out there on an island, even against the Jags laughable receiving corps.
by slash196 on Sep 8, 2009 8:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
it doesnt matter to me
who starts at either position. i cant begin to think i know more than the coaching staff. i just hope we all arent back here next Monday typing a lot of WTF’s.
i do not want to watch the final minutes of this game and think that i could have run for 5 yards on this defense. may the first Colt to touch the running back actually tackle the guy!
cant wait for Sunday!
by MARVININDY on Sep 8, 2009 9:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Have to agree
How many yards did backs get after contact this preseason and last season? Our first tackler seems to rarely get someone onto the ground. The swarming gang-tackling thing is great and all, but I find it kind of sad that fans get excited about a solo tackle, as rare as they are. That should be the norm.
Sadly, the one tackle I remeber from this pre-season is Giordano’s solo takedown of the human highlight machine A .Peterson – and our guy is on the street now. I liked his play, he just couldn’t cover.
by EnSsRex on Sep 8, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He missed a lot of those tackles too though over the years. He was definitely an adequate backup, but it’s no huge loss.
On an unrelated note, I’d just like to take a moment to stroke my own ego by pointing out that I called the Powers thing back before the Minnesota game, and everyone thought I was nuts. But I’m not nuts. I’m awesome. Go me!
by willyduer on Sep 8, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nah...
I still say your nuts. Maybe not on the Powers’ deal, but on oh so many other things.
lol
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Sep 8, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like Jennings, but he belongs in the nickel. He is a nice back up, but he should not be facing starting NFL receivers,. then again, do the Jags have any starting NFL quality receivers?…
@Andrus. It is quite normal for aging kiskers to lose their leg strength. It was obvious in the case of Morten Andersen, who couldn’t do kickoffs or FGs longer than 40-45 yards in his last few years. Granted, Vinny is not Morten Andersen old yet, but he is getting there and coming of in injury adds a few years to the leg age. As long as Vinny is there to kick FGs in the playoffs, I’m fine with having Andrus to do kickoffs
"It's the greatest job in the world until Peyton comes off the field and you think his thumb might be broken and there's three minutes left in the AFC Championship Game and you're down by three to New England and you haven't taken a snap all year. Yeah, it's a great job until that point." - Jim Sorgi
by gizzardfanny on Sep 8, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jennings actually had PERFECT coverage a few times down the field on Megatron last weekend. It was kind of incredible. While he’s certainly no shut down corner, he’s a lot better at man coverage than people give him credit for. In fact, if he can cut down the penalties, he’s a net positive for the team.
by willyduer on Sep 8, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Inside the NFL ad
It cracks me up. Collinsworth looks like the moron that he is, Simms with that creepy file looks like a freaking pedohpile. JB looks badass, and Sapp….is just sort of there.
Visit FanIQ.com for sports news, bloggings, polls, and more!
by MrNFL on Sep 8, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is that elephant in the room James Brown? Are we making fat jokes?
Yeah it’s a bit odd but you gotta pay the bills. Collinsworth has a really odd look on his face. Brown on the other hand has a nice intensity going on. I don’t mind ads, I just wish this was a bit less intrusive. It’s extremely hard to ignore.
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
by psvirsky on Sep 8, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gosh Darnit
I hadn’t noticed how freaky Simms looks on the right side of the screen until I read this. He looks like he wants me to get in his van.
by hoosierdore on Sep 8, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Sep 8, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mr. Simms, this man would like you to have a seat
Visit FanIQ.com for sports news, bloggings, polls, and more!
by MrNFL on Sep 8, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly what I was thinking.
I can’t even watch him on Dateline anymore without getting this visual in my head. Too funny. =-)
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Sep 8, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know, right?!
Can imagine the expression on people’s faces when goes to the gas station (the lottery ticket scame) or any other place of business. People probably freak out.
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."
by KMR24 on Sep 8, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Laughs whilst drinking OJ, inhales into lungs and regurgitates juice into nasopharynx! Oh, the burning!
by scottishcoltsfan on Sep 8, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ouch
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Sep 8, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
MJD
I’m with Marvinindy, I don’t care about the starters so much as I want to know if Jones-Drew will be playing, or playing at less than 100%. To me, that’s the early key to the game, because it directly effects the most critical defensive question the Colts have this year: can the defense stop the run enough to get off the field?
The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.
by Coltsfan58 on Sep 8, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Can MJD carry the load
Especially if MJD isn’t 100 percent, can he carry the load? He has always split with Taylor, and this is new territory for him being the feature back. Especially if he is a bit sore, he might tire very quickly.
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
by bluegirl on Sep 8, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
MJD carrying the load
I don’t expect the load to bother MJD until about mid-season. Even at 25 carries a game, when healthy, he should do fine up to a point, but then get a little worn down.
Now pain has a way of tiring people out, so if his shin is really hurting, he should be able to run as normal, but he could start to fade late in the game. Probably when they need him most (to preserve a lead or to try a come-back).
I still hold a grudge against him for his 400 yards comment in the 2006 season. It was stupid to say, but he was justified in making it of course—both he and Fred Taylor left the game from exhaustion, not from injuries IIRC. 15 carries for 166 yards, plus KO returns—that shit is tiring!
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
by Bobman on Sep 8, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Against the Colts?
Could be. After all the hoopla our DT core is about the same as it was last year. Both starters were on the roster the last time we played them. MJD didn’t seem to have much trouble carrying the load then – though he was held to under 100 yards.
I find it astonishing that Taylor ( a fourth round pick) gets cut from the team and it isn’t making a bigger buzz. I don’t find it astonishing that he was cut, I never liked the guy in the first place. I new he couldn’t play the position – but I was roundly denounced when I brought that up at draft time.
by the_iowa_hawkeye on Sep 8, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not the only one gloating in this thread, I see :)
I didn’t notice Taylor once all preseason, which makes his cut totally OK with me. But I disagree that it hasn’t gotten buzz. It has gotten plenty of it. I think the Howard cut may have overshadowed it a bit though. But it’s not as if anyone else picked him up either.
I like the DT situation more than I did last year at this time but I don’t think it’s going to be a night and day difference, especially not in Week 1. I fully expect some frustratingly long Jacksonville drives on Sunday. They always come to play against the Colts. They executed very well last year, even though it still took a BS shirt-grabbing INT, questionable penalty, and last second kick to win. Take away Peyton and they dominated that game otherwise. I don’t see the Jags being a playoff contender this year but they’ll definitely be a tough game this weekend.
by willyduer on Sep 8, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, it gets better
About the same time I predicted Taylor wouldn’t play I also predicted that our starting DTs would be “Johnson and Johnson” – for which Shake thought I was certifiable. He insisted that Foster would be starting.
At this point, I think Foster stands a good chance of being cut once Ed Johnson comes back from suspension. Especially with word that we just signed someone to play full back.
by the_iowa_hawkeye on Sep 8, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well Johnson and Johnson aren't starting week 1 ;)
but yeah I was wrong on that one and admitted it before, though I think Grady and Taylor getting the boot, while Foster and Dawson stayed saves me some face.
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 8, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wish I could
It makes it too obvious when I read this blog at work now that I’m not reading up on the latest accounting standards or information management trends…
How can you not love a team that does this?
by LovinBlue on Sep 8, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Has anyone talked about Sanders Health?
According to ESPN, he’ll be missing the first few weeks even though he wasn’t placed on the PUP list. I believe Caldwell was saying he can see Sanders playing before the 5th or 6th week period, but he’s not exactly sure.
Here’s the link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4452693
by ColtsFanNChiTown on Sep 8, 2009 1:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Caldwell is being intentionally vague from what I've seen
won’t rule out Sanders for Sunday, but won’t rule out that he could sit until week 5.
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 8, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And the rules state that he HAS TO
sit out til week six if he’s on PUP, and then they have up to three weeks to activate him, IIRC.
So if there’s a chance he’ll be ready before then, you take him off the PUP as we have done.
I’ll assume Week 4 and if it’s sooner, it’s a bonus and if it’s later, well, we always knew that was a possibility.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
by Bobman on Sep 8, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm going into this season the way I always do,
Trusting the Colts know what they’re doing. About Sanders, I’ll believe he’s playing when I see him on the field. Sunday can’t come soon enough! I’m ready for some Colts Football. BTW-the ads don’t bother me, although Phil Simms does.
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
by Indy Lori on Sep 8, 2009 2:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
chris collinsworth
and his “i’m too sexy for this ego” look is creepin’ me out way more than simms’ pervy grin.
by saintnixon on Sep 8, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Rec'd
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Sep 8, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
dare I say it?
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
by AceOfSpades on Sep 8, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sims is just missing a little white facepaint
to be one of those scary clowns Stephen King writes about.
by HoosierHorseman on Sep 8, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Interesting
Anyone can lose their job. ’Nuff said.
"If you hit somebody hard enough, they will give up. You can feel their body go limp and they'll just surrender. So every time I hit somebody, the goal is to knock myself out. I know that if I hit somebody hard enough that I can feel it, it's hurting them 10 times worse." Bob Sanders
twitter.com/natknowsports
youtube.com/natknowsports
by The Answer 3 on Sep 8, 2009 5:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I personally like Tim Jennings okay.
I won’t be surprised if he or Powers started on that side. I’m okay with both. Marlin in the nickle is fine by me, too. He usually slides there on nickle situations, anyhow. This way the guy who takes his outside spot during the nickle will just keep the outside spot the whole game. No big deal.
I’m also good with Hagler. At least it wasn’t Keiaho. Hagler landed in the doghouse somehow last season, but I never understood why. He seems like a solid player.
by coltsfanawalt on Sep 8, 2009 8:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Keiaho
I keep checking the site multiple times a day searching for a story about how Kieaho was released and they signed someone off waivers.
Another day, another frown on my face.
"Put him on the board. Houshmazilli....got it. CHAMPIONSHIP!"
by AceOfSpades on Sep 8, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I have a feeling that
you’ll be looking at waiting for a very long time.
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: This is how I fell in love with Family Guy. Only 1 question: Where did he get the flamethrower?
by Cassieper on Sep 9, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
*looking and waiting.
SB Nation needs Spell Check as their next big release.
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: This is how I fell in love with Family Guy. Only 1 question: Where did he get the flamethrower?
by Cassieper on Sep 9, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Stampede Blue
Related FanShots on Stampede Blue
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
