Luke Links: The "Goldilocks" Edition

I'm dedicating this edition of Luke Links to the 3rd game of the season, where we saw not the worst Colts team (@Houston), not the best Colts team (v. the Giants), but some blend in between (@Denver).  Ok, maybe the analogy is a stretch, but hey, it's what I got today.

One of the things that really struck me as I reviewed the print and media coverage was how truly business-like the Colts are.  It's something that's been impressed on me week after week, year after year, but after a really hard-fought win, the guys still say there is room for improvement, a lot to learn, and it's back to work.  In a way, I'd really like to see more emotion from the team, but I think their approach keeps a little energy submerged just below the surface, where it's ready to explode in a game.  THIS is where we need the Colts to break loose - not in pre-game chants, not in press conferences, and not in locker room interviews.

FROM THE SADDLE
Official Team News

• John Oehser (Special to Colts.com)
  • Fili Moala continues to look ahead
  • Prior to the Broncos' game, the Colts were looking to return to their winning ways on the road
  • Coach Caldwell characterizes the win in Denver as a great team win
  • "Next man up" - more than just a mantra around the Colts
• Jake Thompson (Colts.com)
  • Monday's Colts Notebook focuses on Austin Collie and Pat McAfee
  • The defensive leaders praise the goal-line stop of Maroney
• Videos / Media
  • Post-game locker room interviews
  • Coach Caldwell's post-game press conference
  • Coach Caldwell's Monday press conference
  • Sounds of the game
• Press Release: The Colts partner to build a school playground

GREEN APPLES AND ROAD APPLES
Positive and Negative Analysis

• Paul Kuharsky (ESPN)
  • The Colts played with their usual precision
  • Manning and Collie are putting up ridiculous numbers
  • Caldwell thinks Jeff Linkenbach has an opportunity to be as successful as other young tackles have done
• Phillip B. Wilson (Indy Star)
  • Dwight Freeney doesn't like being left out of Top X lists
  • sums up the game against the Broncos
  • predicts the Colts will win against the Jaguars, though in a closer game than the Jags' previous ones
  • Caldwell keeps the players focused in short timelines
  • Catch up with Phil B.'s blog
    
• Mike Chappell (Indy Star)
  • Had Adam Vinatieri not been an NFL kicker, he would have been a cardiothoracic surgeon
  • Jeff Saturday has had a blessed career in the NFL
  • Jerraud Powers is helping with punt returns because... he was asked to
  • answers some readers' questions
  • Jacob Lacey credits film study for his interception; Pat McAfee eclipses a record previously held by Adam Vinatieri
  • The back-up receivers stepped in nicely
• Phil Richards (Indy Star)
  • The "two-headed monster" is nice to have (Editor's note: would have been nice to see it in Denver)
  • Orton carved up the Colts' D, even with their young O-Line
  • The Colts won, despite giving up yards in bunches
• Bob Kravitz (Indy Star)
  • thinks long snapper might be the way to go
  • Manning just keeps getting better and better, so much so that...
  • he now thinks Manning has surpassed Elway
• John Oesher (Indy Football Report, AOL Fanhouse)
  • credits red zone defense as the key in the Colts' win
  • the Colts' D came up big when they needed to
  • Caldwell blames missed tackles for Orton's big day
• Michael Silver (Yahoo!) thinks he's coined the term "Blair White Project," and highlights how open Manning is to suggestions, even from the new guys
  
• Greg Cowan (Coltzilla) offers his quick thoughts after the game
• Brett Mock (Coltzilla) thinks the big plays against the Colts' D are correctable
• TJ Higley (Coltzilla) corrals local coverage of the Colts
• Josh Dhani (Colts Gab) Orton's IN...COM...PLETE! on 4th-and-3 sealed the game
• Arnie Stapleton (Associated Press) Manning stays in high gear against the Broncos
• Sean Leahy (USA Today) Playboy picks the Colts to beat the Cowboys in the Super Bowl... because Sanders and Gonzo are healthy  (Editor's note: methinks Playboy ought to stick to photographing naked women)
• SportsXchange (ColtPower.com) The Colts are back on track in the AFC South
• SportsXchange Colts notes and quotes, inside slant, and strategy and personnel
• Associated Press
  • Manning throws 3 TDs on the way to victory
  • The back-ups just perform

IN THE PADDOCK
News About This Week's Opponent

Looking left (last week):

• Dennis J. Georgtos (AOL Fanhouse) Peyton Manning taught Perrish Cox a lesson
• Mike Klis (The Denver Post) Manning wins the air duel; Broncos undone by red zone failures
• David Ramsey (The Colorado Springs Gazette) Josh McDaniels has plundered the Broncos' once-proud offense
• Lindsay H. Jones (The Denver Post) McDaniels was not happy with the Broncos' performance

Looking right (next week):

• Vito Stellino (The Florida Times-Union) Are the wheels falling off the bus for the Jaguars?
• John Oehser
  • The Jaguars think Maurice Jones-Drew is due for a break-out game
  • The Jags are prepared to hear more criticism after their loss to the Eagles
  • The Jags have some soul-searching to do
  • QB David Garrard may see competition from Keith Null (Editor's note: why do I have a feeling that Freeney and Mathis are ready to play this game tomorrow?)
• David Nelson (NFLTouchdown.com) There is nothing to celebrate about the Jags right now
  

OUTSIDE THE STABLE
Around the League

• Jim Wyatt (The Tennessean) thinks Vince Young has answered his critics (Editor's note: tee hee hee)
  
• Paul Kuharsky appreciates Kubiak's candor regarding the Texans' pass defense
  
• Paul Kuharsky imagines what the AFC South teams are thinking
• Michael Marot (AP) The 18-game season is a done deal, according to Polian
• Associated Press Work for the 2012 Super Bowl is under way
• Andy Kent (AOL Fanhouse) LOL