Bill Polian blames offensive line and special teams for Super Bowl loss
by Brad Wells on Feb 11, 2010 11:00 AM EST
in Colts Analysis
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PrintCan't disagree with this:
Polian said the Super Bowl simply came down to execution.
"… There were certain situations throughout the game where we didn’t execute — most notably, the failure to get the first down and run the clock out at the end of the first half after a magnificent goal-line stand and then, of course, the failure to handle the onside kick," Polian said. "We had four things we could have done positively on that play. We didn’t do any of them. That absolutely changed the game. It went from our getting the ball on their 40-yard line to having them march down for a touchdown. Then, our inability to punch it in from first-and-goal on the 3. Those situations, we did not execute."
One thing to mention here is if Bill Polian is looking for a reason why the offensive line could not get it done, all he needs to do is look in the mirror. I'm not one to bash Bill Polian for draft mistakes, but two very highly drafted players (Tony Ugoh and Mike Pollak) were on the bench for Super Bowl 44 because they kind of, you know, stink!
Ugoh was replaced this year by a utility lineman drafted in the 6th round in 2006 (Charlie Johnson) while Mike Pollak lost his job to a free agent who was playing Arena II football in Boise last year (Kyle DeVan). Blaming DeVan and CJ for the loss is silly because all season long the two have played well above their pedigree. However, there is no denying the o-line lacks talent. Jeff Saturday and Ryan Diem are old, and while I am thrilled Ryan Lilja made a comeback this year, there is no guarantee he will be able to stay healthy next year.
O-line is the #1 concern for this team heading into the 2010 Draft. Polian absolutely must hit a few home runs and get some youth and talent infused into this group.
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There's enough blame to go around
Poor coaching decisions and the defenses inability to get off the field certainly played a part in the loss as well.
I’m sure they would have overcome the other blunders if not for the failed attempt to recover the onside kick.
hopefully polian will actually do something about
special teams this year. two years in a row where we lost due to special teams.
Peyton Manning could have made a pizza with the time his offensive line game him
Bad pick Peyton "Regular Season" Manning!!!
Did this article
say one thing about them not giving him time? NO It’s talking about running the ball…you have been chiming in here on Stampede Blue with bullshit comments for days now. Think before you troll please?
Our heads may be bloody, but they are unbowed. We will be back next year better than ever!
by coltsfan723 on Feb 11, 2010 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
See below...
I don’t think Athletic is trolling…the O line played a strong game. Period.
"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
what exactly did the O-Line do wrong?
99 rush yards (5.2 ypc), zero sacks, 333 passing yards, Peyton rarely hurried or hit…
if i was making a “who’s to blame?” sheet, the offensive line would be pretty far down the list.
by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Feb 11, 2010 11:16 AM EST reply actions
That's what I thought when I first read this week's Polian corner
But Polian harped more on the team’s inability to execute in key situations. The line failed in a lot of those situations (like the 1st and goal from the three and the failed third down attempt towards the end of the first half).
Anyone who has a problem with Joseph should stop watching Colts football. It's unfair to expect a back to replace Edge, and Addai has been excellent in all areas when he is healthy.
by DontHateAddai on Feb 11, 2010 12:20 PM EST up reply actions
i think that should fall more on the play-calling
i was struggling to understand why Hart was taking that 3rd-and-1 carry when Addai had been tearing it up the entire half.
by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Feb 11, 2010 12:29 PM EST up reply actions
The play-calling was crap
There was no reason for us to not be in our two-minute offense at that point. Jim Caldwell should not be calling in offensive plays.
Anyone who has a problem with Joseph should stop watching Colts football. It's unfair to expect a back to replace Edge, and Addai has been excellent in all areas when he is healthy.
by DontHateAddai on Feb 11, 2010 2:26 PM EST up reply actions
BBS has special dispensation
given that he’s the head writer ;-)
How can you not love a team that does this?
This all but screams that Polian will be drafting the O-line yes?
In football, the object is for the quarterback, otherwise known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his recievers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use the shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
Polian is talking about
execution when it COUNTS> yes,they may have produced all those stats. BUT when the chips were down and we NEEDED to punch it in, the offensive line didn’t get it done. Also, there were a number of plays where our backs were stopped at the line of scrimmage or IN THE BACKFIELD. This is why we only ran 19 times. Yes, they are very good at pass protection, but our run blocking is substandard. I think this is one area where Ugoh is better than CJ. He does whiff on some tackles, but I have seen him do some great run blocking (especially when he gets down field in space).
Was this the only reason we lost NO. But it is one thing that had we done better we could have controlled the game better and likely won. Even Polian points out other issues (like the onside kick) that were big as well.
I would guess given his comments that changes on the line – whether from free agents or draft picks are coming..
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
I respect what you are saying...
but I disagree. Puttting the blame on the O line in certain situations is a copout in my opinion. The playcalling was pathetic. Also, for the better part of the 2nd quarter the offense did not have the ball…maybe some of the fallout should hit the D line and the Defense in totality.
As for CJ…I have defended him the entire season without fail…The Colts were 14-0 when they lost their first game. CJ played a strong season. He played a strong post season. I don’t understand why CJ gets all the flack??? My favorite player on the Colts is Jeff Saturday…however, he is not playing nearly as well as in years past…he is getting older. Diem is getting older…maybe those should be areas to look at upgrading in out years.
"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
So Polian apparently thinks asking Stover to kick a 51-yard field goal was a fine idea.
Or else he’s willing to criticize the players but not the coaches.
Either way I don’t like it.
Well said!!!
"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
Two Minute Offense...
Let me see if I understand this…Bill Polian thought the Colts should run the clock out after the goal line stand toward the end of the first half, right? We have one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the game running a two-minute offense, but instead Polian thinks it’s a better idea to sit on the ball for three straight running plays. Brilliant, Bill. Friggin brilliant. Instead of having a winning attitude, why don’t we just lay down and be comfy with a 7-point lead. Playing not to lose usually ends up biting teams in the ass and it did with us. I’m not going to say that we would have scored for certain on that drive, but judging by what Peyton did to the Jets #1 ranked defense in the two-minute drill, I think at least a FG would have been a very likely possibility. I cannot get over the decision to be conservative against a defense that did jack-squat against us throughout the first half.
Wow
Talk about covering his and the coaching staff’s backsides. I thought the primary culprit was once again (I have already mentioned this a couple times) the offensive playcalling. It was horrible and I believe put too much pressure on our “bend don’t break” defense which MVP Bress not only broke but shattered into a million pieces.
Polian Oline Drafts
Earlier this year, on IFR Oesher wrote that Polian acknowledged that he had difficulties drafting lineman. Looking back at his drafting history it is the one spot where he has shown a weakness. Hopefully he has better luck this year. I also wonder if the Colts will stick with Mudd’s replacement or go another route. Mudd’s type of Lineman emphasize athletic ability over sheer strength and size.
"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile—and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. We owe that to ourselves and our crippled self-image as something better than a nation of panicked sheep." - HST
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