Luke Links: The "So Close" Edition

by LovinBlue on Jul 26, 2010 9:00 AM EDT in Luke Links

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It's almost here! So close! The 2010 season - woohoo!!!

FROM THE SADDLE
Official Team News

John Oehser (Colts.com)
- Tom Santi is trying to live Coach Caldwell's advice that the best ability in the NFL is availability
- The Colts' DTs have something to prove
- Jeffrey Gorman hosts The Heavyweights, with Coach Ted Marchibroda, Dallas Clark and Mike Hart
Colts Public Relations
- Dallas Clark was Grand Marshall of yesterday's Brickyard 400

GREEN APPLES AND ROAD APPLES
Positive and Negative Analysis

Matt Williamson (Scouts Inc.) evaluates the Colts' O-Line before going into Training Camp
ESPN Jeff Saturday joins ESPN's First Take to preview the season
Mike Chappell (Indy Star)
John Oehser (Indy Football Report) continues his off-season 21 questions series:
- Will the WRs be the best of the Peyton Manning era?
- Can Pierre Garcon be a #1 receiver?
- Can Jerraud Powers be a Pro Bowl corner?

Nate Dunlevy (18to88.com)

spent time over the past weeks delivering reviews of the Football Outsiders 2010 Almanac, covering: The Colts overall, their offense, defense, the AFC South, and fantasy football and the college game
doesn't think Wayne deserves a new contract, but doesn't blame him for trying
reprints a fan letter written from a woman's perspective (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)
summarizes predictions about the Colts from "James the Predictor)
gives his take on Football Outsider's discussion on Plus/Minus (written by Bill Barnwell)

Jacob Crocker (Coltzilla)
- identifies what may be an insidious trend in the Colts' defensive scheme
- profiles players Drew Willy, Joseph Addai, Tom Brandstater, Donald Brown, Mike Hart
Brooks Busch (ColtsChatter.com)
- weighs in with his opinion of Reggie Wayne's situation
- predicts a nice season for Dallas Clark
John Dell (Winston-Salem Journal) Coach Caldwell has received the Living Legend Award from Art Belvins, director of the Hanes Hosiery Recreation Center
Brandi Watters (The Herald Bulletin) The Colts will offer all sorts of entertainment at training camp (Editor's note: but why the heck would you want to do those things with Colts football in front of you?)
Elsa Simcik (Access Atlanta) Jerraud Powers' fiance will be on TV reality show "Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta"
Fox 23 News summarizes key stories headed into of Colts' training camp
Josh Dhani (National Sports Review) is looking forward to seeing Bob Sanders

OUTSIDE THE STABLE
Around the League

John McClain (Houston Chronicle) It's playoffs or bust for the 2010 Texans

Vito Stellino (Florida Times-Union) The Jaguars' WR corps is promising, but unproven

John Glennon (The Tennessean) With Keith Bullock on his way to the Giants, the Titans will have new faces at linebacker

Andrew (12thHorseman.com) muses the state of loyalty in the NFL, with a focus on the Colts

Nate Davis (USA Today) previews AFC teams starting training camp this week

Paul Kuharsky delivers a preview of the AFC South

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Comments

Good morning everyone.

On Oehser’s questions:
1. Its tough to go against Harrison/Wayne/Stokley. It could be the best, but its gonna be hard.
My expectations on both Garcon and especially Collie are very high.
2. I hope so. Still needs to improve a lot.
3. If he stays healthy, he should be. He was very good last season. Hopefully, with Bob’s return, every guy on the D will improve. I’m really excited about the D. We may lack some depth, but we have guys like Lacey, Angerer, Hayden, Powers, a highly motivated Brackett and Bobzilla’s return.
Concerns? Mathis’ contract situation and obviously Freeney’s health.

"We’re only going to score 17 points? haha...OK" - Tom Brady
Last piece of Colts merch added to my collection: Riddell Authentic Revolution Helmet!.

by BlueMark1821 on Jul 26, 2010 9:17 AM EDT reply actions

Saturday in the media?

The offensive line courtroom will be levying substantial fines for that one….

I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.

by Bobman on Jul 26, 2010 11:32 AM EDT reply actions

Best WRs of the Manning era?

This is a joke, right? I guess I’m not on the same giddy page as everyone else, but I still think this is one of the weaker groups of WR that Manning has ever had. For the bulk of his career he has both Wayne and Harrison to throw to. There isn’t anything like that sort of firepower out there now (unless anyone wants to claim that Garcon>Harrison.) There is still uncertainty around Gonzo’s health and we don’t run many 4WR spreads anyway. I’m not saying our WRs are bad. Far from it, they are one of the better groups in the league… but come on… Harrison/Wayne/Stokely may be the best triple threat of all time. And don’t forget that Edge, Pollard and Clark were on that team as well.

by invisibulman on Jul 26, 2010 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

THIS ^

I too am high on Collie and (to a lesser extend) Garcon. But equal or better than Harrison/Stokely? umm… i don’t think so. Not at this point, anyway.

Careful what you wish for... "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have." Gerald Ford, 38th US president

by teej813 on Jul 26, 2010 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions