I get the feeling Bill Polian will not want to bring Hank Baskett back next year
by Brad Wells on Feb 11, 2010 2:00 PM EST
in Colts Analysis
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PrintJohn Oehser continues to transcribe The Bill Polian Show and have it up and visible on the net long before Colts.com does so. Here is Polian on the reasons why the Colts lost Super Bowl 44:
Polian said while many have pointed to [wide receiver] Pierre Garcon's dropped pass in the first half or QB Peyton Manning's fourth-quarter interception as poorly-executed plays, he considered two plays far more indicative.
One was the inability of WR Hank Baskett and the Colts' special teams to recover an onside kick on the first play of the second half, and the other was the inability to gain one yard on 3rd-and-1 late in the first half. Those plays led to 10 points that turned a 10-3 Colts lead into a 13-10 deficit.
"You can say, 'Well, Pierre should have caught the ball,''' Polian said. "It would have been a tough catch. I don't think every receiver ought to catch every ball. They're going to drop one or two every now and then. You're going to throw an interception now and then. But when you can't gain a yard when you have to gain a yard in order to go into the locker room ahead, 10-3, with all the momentum on your side, then you didn't execute.
"When you fail to handle an onside kick when there are four positive things you can do to handle it to make it go in your favor and you don't do it, then you didn't execute. That's not a question of preparedness. That's not a question of mental acuity. It's not a question of what hotel you're staying in. It's simply a question of simply executing when the play is to be made and it's in your hands to do it. We didn't do it. It's that simple. The Saints did."
Again, Pierre's dropped pass and the onside kick are not the reasons the Colts lost, in my mind. After the onside kick, the Saints drove the length of the field and scored a TD. Sorry, but why didn't the defense, you know, STOP THEM! And even after that, the Colts took the next possession and scored a TD off that, making the game 17-13. So, all that "momentum" from the onside kick? Yeah, pretty much crushed.
However, after that point, the Saints offense would score another TD, a two-point conversion, and a FG to go up by seven with 5 minutes left in the game. The Saints controlled the clock, gained first downs at will, and scored TDs in the red zone. That's a lock down formula to beat the Colts, and the reason they were able to do it was because the Colts defense could not get them off the field.
A big reason the Colts could not get them off the field in the second half was a lack of pass rush. Dwight Freeney told a group of us after the game that his ankle had tightened up at halftime, limiting his effectiveness in the second half. Injuries happen and they are part of this game, but Freeney's injury was huge.
All that said, with how Polian described "the team" not executing on the onside kick, that is a subtle knock at Hank Baskett, who had the onside kick fly right into his hands only to drop it. Baskett was a good contributor on special teams all season, but right there he wasn't able to make the big play in the key situation. I doubt he returns next year.
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Baskett
Bill Polian tried to hand Hank Baskett his walking papers, but they bounced off his helmet and landed in the trash.
Bill Polian has forgotten more about football than you ever have or ever will know.
by jdb on Feb 11, 2010 2:15 PM EST reply actions 8 recs
lol
rec’d
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Feb 11, 2010 2:36 PM EST up reply actions
LOL
"We’re only going to score 17 points? haha...OK" - Tom Brady
by BlueMark1821 on Feb 11, 2010 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
Baskett has no chance in hell (Which is a good thing since he's mediocre)
But think about it. Gonzalez will be the 4th best WR on this roster when he comes back. Someone will get the 5th spot, hopefully it’s someone who can return kicks.
Insert Clever Statement Here
Gonzalez 4th?
He’s got much more reliable hands than Garcon.
"Fans are the only ones who really care. There are no free-agent fans." - Dick Young
+11
"We’re only going to score 17 points? haha...OK" - Tom Brady
by BlueMark1821 on Feb 11, 2010 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
+72%
(Gonzalez’s career catch rate)
Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.
by shake n bake on Feb 11, 2010 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
People seem to have forgotten how good Gonzo is.
"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: Even though the Colts lost, it was a good season. Random facts will resume next week when I recover.
How the hell does he go from unquestioned starter to #4?
Did you have your brain fried or something? He’s got better hands than Garcon, more explosive and speedy than Collie.
University of Pennsylvania '14
I've never been that impressed by Gonzalez
And I think Collie and Garcon have much more upside and development ahead of them. Granted, Gonzalez is still better than most teams’ 2nd or 3rd options
Insert Clever Statement Here
Are you kidding?
In 2 playoff games with the Colts, Gonzales has been clutch and been their best WR. I love Garcon but AG is an upgrade.
"Clutchiness" is not a real thing, btw
I think Collie will become a better version of Gonzalez and while Garcon is still a bit raw, I think he is going on to big things.
Gonzalez isn’t bad, but he reminds of the type of player who peaks early.
Insert Clever Statement Here
I agree to disagree
Wayne will be 1
Gonzalez will be 2
Collie/Garcon – slots
I think Collie will end up being better than Garcon but that’s just my opinion. The overall matter is that Gonzalez will have 1000+ yards and 8 TDs, if healthy, next season – I can see it.
"Fans are the only ones who really care. There are no free-agent fans." - Dick Young
I'm loving all these updates
I’m not ready to let go of football yet…I wish it were September
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.
It's a natural feeling... it feels as though there's unfinished work. That's probably why few of us are ready to let go.
At least that’s the way I feel.
------
"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."
Duh.
With Gonzo coming back and the way that Collie and Garcon developed this year I kinda figured he wouldn’t be back anyway. They only brought him in after Gonzo got hurt.
And I swear, if Simpson is in the friggin’ endzone he damn well better take a knee. That return to the 10 or 11 was pathetic.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
That return had me yelling at the TV for a long time.
I was furious he took it out of the endzone.
"Fans are the only ones who really care. There are no free-agent fans." - Dick Young
Simpson
Simpson’s poor returns and lack of common sense hurt this team throughout the season. He and Baskett should be the first players replaced this offseason.
The decision by Simpson to try to return a kick while running backwards to catch the kickoff 3 yards deep in the endzone, only taking it to the 11 yard line, was a huge part of the Colts inability to convert that drive into points.
I don't always drink beer....but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.
I'd say
Jennings, Baskett and then Simpson.
"We’re only going to score 17 points? haha...OK" - Tom Brady
by BlueMark1821 on Feb 11, 2010 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
I still find it interesting
that Simpson is listed 3rd on the Depth Chart on colts.com.
Thankfully, that’s not the way it’s been on the field. It was Hart who was on the field when the Colts took over at the 1. He gains 4, then Addai gains 5. They were THIS close to controlling the ball to end the first half… maybe even score. But the OL couldn’t open a hole on 3rd and 1. sheesh.
Anyway, back on topic. While i hope, twelve months from now, we’ll all be gushing about what a great year Simpson had, Magic Eight Ball says it best… ‘Very doubtful’.
Question - what are the 4 things that could have been done?
My thoughts:
1 – catch the friggin’ ball
2 – knock the ball out of bounds
3 – strip it from the Saints’ player who “recovered” it?
4 – kick the referee in the chin after he called it wrong???
How can you not love a team that does this?
Every time I watch that replay
I feel like I am in the twilight zone.
Baskett had the ball bounce straight to him!! There was a Saints player about 2 yards away, but no one else near him at all. The ball did not take a funny hop. Baskett fell to the ground for some reason and the ball hit him in the facemask! Completely rediculous.
I don’t know if he could have knocked it out of bounds, but he could have at least batted it backwards so a different Colts player could take a shot at it.
Agree with 1 and 3.
I don't always drink beer....but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.
Pollian listed the four things...
I’m paraphrasing:
1. Catch the ball. I don’t think he actually used the word ‘friggin’… ;)
2. Bat the ball toward the Saint’s end zone (where another Colts player, already moving in that direction, might recover it?) He listed batting it back but didn’t elaborate on the reason.
3. Bat the ball out of bounds
4. Recover the ball in the pile
I personally rather like the kick the referee option, but i’d humbly suggest some place lower than his chin.
Momentum
I didn’t think Polian believed in momentum. Or is that he believes in it during the course of the game but not from game to game? Or just not in games leading up to the playoffs? I need to understand the correct times to apply the concept of momentum so I can follow his logic better.
I agree
He needs to make up his friggin’ mind. It seems it applies against the Colts, not for the Colts.
"We’re only going to score 17 points? haha...OK" - Tom Brady
by BlueMark1821 on Feb 11, 2010 3:05 PM EST up reply actions
Seems he believes in momentum within a game
but not from game to game. At least, that’s the impression i’ve gotten over the years. Peyton seems to echo that sentiment.
In My Opinion
Polian is right on with this.
Garcon’s drop was huge because it stalled a drive and the play he dropped could have potentially went for a TD or at least a huge gain. However, I think it is more important to note that the Colts basically went to a soft Cover 2 after the first 2 series of the game and allowed the Saints to move the ball with short and mid-range passes all game. The defensive scheme was more important that the Garcon play.
I think the philosophy of the end of the 2nd quarter drive was flawed completely. It’s easy to blame it on 3rd and short, but why weren’t the Colts trying to go hurry up and either catch the Saints off guard or move the ball like they had been doing all game to that point? Made no sense to me.
The call to attempt a FG from 51 yards with Stover was questionable, but I think the plays that led up to that were a bigger detriment than the FG itself. First, Simpson attempts a return for some reason and goes all the way to the 11 yard line….then, the 2nd down play before the FG attempt was a screen to Collie. Collie should have turned to the inside and followed the 5 blockers and zero defenders ahead of him for a decent gain. But he went outside and was tackled behind the line. Huge play. I thought the 3rd and 11 play afterwards was a good play, but Peyton just underthrew an open Collie.
I was most disappointed with the defensive scheme overall and felt that the injuries to Powers and Freeney were huge factors in that.
Nothing they can do about it now but the Colts had a chance to go up big in that game and they didn’t make the plays, the Saints did just like Polian said.
I don't always drink beer....but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.
Glad you mentioned Powers
It hasn’t been said much, but he was obviously slowed by the injury. Definitely hurt us, and more-so after Freeney’s ankle tightened up after halftime.
Also
That picture of the onside kick on the Stampede Blue frontpage says it all. Even after Baskett muffed the kick, he still had the chance to re-recover while it was against the leg of the Saints player and before the rest of both teams came in to pile on, but he failed at that too. Unbelievable.
I don't always drink beer....but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.
Onside Kicking
The recovering team is better off just smacking the ball out of bounds and not even trying to recover. Its easier, safer, and still ends up giving you the ball on the 40.
And our return game blows.
Our last good returner was Dominic Rhodes in my opinion. We need a dedicated returner who does nothing else. We don’t need two place kickers on the roster, draft a young kicker, a young kick returner, and be done with it.
by Bippal on Feb 11, 2010 3:29 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I wish it were this simple...
Simpson proved he has the speed to return if there’s… you know… an actual whole to run through? Blocking is as big a problem as our return man is. You gotta fix both, or you don’t have success. With better blocking, Simpson may be fine. He’s certainly fast enough.
This is what I do know...
We will easily have the best receivers in the league next year. Where Gonzo fits has yet to be determined depending on how he recovers from his knee injury. I am sure that we will see all of them on some kind of rotation. Think about, a fresh Garcon blowing by corners and safteys in the fourth quarter. Could be pretty sweet. As for Baskett, well at least his wife is hot. Well kind of. : )
His wife
also said she was glad the Saints won. What kind of spouse wants their husband to lose the superbowl?
by Playoff Pride on Feb 11, 2010 4:21 PM EST up reply actions
She's not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Clearly.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Feb 11, 2010 6:02 PM EST up reply actions
One who is completely vacuous
Now I’d like to post a clip of The Soup showing her beautiful, melodious laugh
I personally think everyone except dyed-in-the-blue-wool Colts fans
really wanted the Saints to win
How can you not love a team that does this?
THIS^^^
I’ve never (call me biased if you wish) seen a Super Bowl where one team, who has never been an enemy of sorts, was so rooted AGAINST. I get why people wanted the Saints to win but I still think their reasoning is stupid.
"Fans are the only ones who really care. There are no free-agent fans." - Dick Young
to be fair
I think a lot of people rooted against the Pats in 2007, and this year I’d like to think many many more people rooted FOR the Saints because of the media buildup (and probably because of the overload of Peyton-is-the-all-time-great stories, which were annoying even to me)
How can you not love a team that does this?
by LovinBlue on Feb 12, 2010 12:03 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Seriously?
Wow….
"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: Even though the Colts lost, it was a good season. Random facts will resume next week when I recover.
Baskett shocked
Not recovering the onside kick was a big blow but under the circumstances, Baskett must have been in shock, and I think any other player would have been also.
Who would have ever expected an onside kick to start the second half in the Super Bowl?
Caught completely off-guard like that, who’s going to remember to swat the ball around rather than trying to control it?
Under the conditions, I can forgive Baskett for simply reacting and reacting in an awkward way.
If that was you or me, i'd agree.
But these guys are trained (and paid) to expect the unexpected. Think about it; that’s why the receiving team lines up 15 yds from the ball. They’re supposed to stay put until they’re sure the ball has been kicked long.
He didn’t… he had turned and run 2 steps the other direction before the ball was kicked. Actually, the only Colts player that DID hold his ground was Tamme, who was actually cheating toward the ball.
Lots of reasons
There are lots of reasons why we lost – the pick-6 was NOT good, but agreed Peyton should not have been put in that position – he should’ve been leading at that point in the game, not trying to tie it. At worst he should have been going for the go-ahead touchdown because the call on the 2pt conv. was BS, which would’ve totally changed the complexion of that drive – and if it’s 22-17 Porter can’t afford the risk of making a break on that ball. Still you expect your MVP QB to tie it there, and Clark was wide open on the 3rd-n-5.
There are other reasons that have all been discussed – with the onside kick saints said we’re here to win, you’re clearly here to not lose. Running the ball 3 times in a row at the end of the 2nd Q? Collie was uncovered on the line on the WR screen until Peyton called him in motion, where the saints then picked him up and it went for a loss. The D couldn’t get pressure on the QB in the 2nd half. Tim jennings is a special teams player, NOT a nickel back, drew brees spent the entire second half terrorizing that guy – unless jerraud powers had a broken leg, he should’ve been out there the whole game terrible coaching decision on that one, I don’t care if he didn’t practice all week he could’ve been on crutches and done better than jennings. The saints 3-3-5 formation clearly flummoxed manning – why? They should’ve been prepared for anything. TERRIBLE play calling in general on O. I watched every Colts game for the last 10+ years and I’ve never been able to predict run or pass with the accuracy I was in the 2nd half or SB 44 – if I knew what they were doing, you know the Saints did. Leading up to the game, Manning stressed a number of times that having two weeks would give him more time to plan for the Saints – he didn’t seem to realize that it also gave their D an extra week to prepare for HIM. That should have gone without saying. All season long every game someone on the D made a play in the 2nd half of close games – we picked a bad first game not to do that. I could go on forever, but moving forward here’s what you do Bill Polian:
1. Get special teams players including someone who can return kicks. Bad field position / special teams have been an achilles tendon for a long time – how many kickoffs were returned past midfield this season – one?
2. Get MJax and Bob Sanders healthy or draft/acquire accordingly.
3. Try to get a good healthy young LB if possible
4. O-Line aging – draft accordingly
5. Anthony Gonzales
6. Win the division and win the home games – there are some tough home games next season including San Diego and Dallas.
7. If Mjax isn’t healthy definitely draft or find a bigger CB – big receivers like Marshall, saints wrs, etc have kicked our secondary’s butt all year.
8. Get Donald Brown involved in the offense more, he didn’t get enough touches this year and he’s good.
9. If you’re somehow 14-0 next season and leading in the 3rd quarter of the 15th game, play to win out. I didn’t necessarily disagree with the decision to seat the starters this season, but I do believe if the Colts had been 18-0 going in to the SB, there’s no way in hell they lose and go 18-1. After all, what self-respecting NFL football team would ever let that happen?
by FourAces on Feb 11, 2010 11:20 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
oh and I forgot # 10..
10. Hire Bill Cowher and win the next 5 Super Bowls.
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