Indianapolis Colt's Week 10 Eric Foster 'Keep Choppin' Player of the Game

by nopuntintended on Nov 15, 2011 10:00 AM EST

Another rough outing, which left a lot to be desired, Eric Foster's heart and attitude are needed more than ever. Few guys were able to do enough to warrant a spot on this list, but there were a few who didn't necessarily shine, but at least offered glimmers of hope for betters days down the road.

Here are the Eric Foster 'Keep Choppin' Players of the Week candidates:

Dan Orlovsky: 7-10 passing for 67 yards. Not much of a body of work, but when Orlovsky replaced Painter he supplied a much needed spark to the offense.

Donald Brown: 14 carriers for 53 yards. Again, not enough carriers to do much, but with a 3.8 yards per carry average it was another better than decent outing for Brown.

David Caldwell: 11 tackles (4 solo) A career high for the youngster out of William and Mary.

Jerraud Powers: 5 tackles (3 solo, 1 for a loss) 1 interception. Powers recorded his second INT in as many games revitalizing his season after a disappointing start.

Robert Mathis: 6 tackles (2 solo) 1 sack. Another sack for Mathis but that's about it.

Pat McAfee: 6 punts 246 yards (41 yard average) 2 punts inside the two. His success has more to do with the failings of the offense, but McAfee had another strong outing in a Pro Bowl season.

Poll

Who is the Indianapolis Colts Week 10 Eric Foster 'Keep Choppin' Player of the Week

Orlovsky

45 votes

Brown

67 votes

Caldwell

49 votes

Powers

186 votes

McAfee

296 votes

643 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Since when is 3.8 ypc better than decent?

I’m a fan of Brown’s work this year, but you can’t just say that he was good because he had 3.8 ypc. W/O context that number actually would signify below average.

by James Broschat on Nov 15, 2011 10:09 AM EST reply actions 2 recs

Thank you

He has improved, yes. But people on this site jump on anything Brown does and build it up like he’s finally proven that he is an elite RB. This is nonsense. He is improving. I’m glad. But he is not “great”, or “more than decent”, or “on a roll”, or “the hot hand”, or any of these other ridiculous hyperbole-ridden statements I’ve seen on SB.

I do think he and Carter would make a solid running tandem since their styles complement each other well. Carter is a strong between the tackles runner that can still break a big play. Brown is a change-of-pace back with some speed and has shown the ability to break a tackle or two that he hasn’t shown before. Especially in space.

Both need more carries and need to be used in a smarter way, in situations that limit their weaknesses and magnify their strengths. Brown on draws, delays, counters, sweeps. Carter between the tackles, short yardage situations, goal line plays, and when blocking is needed.

by FatDT on Nov 15, 2011 10:19 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Combining the two is a good combo.

The problem is that the coaches ride one for a good period of time until replacing them. If they mixed it up more it would be much more effective, IMO.

Brown’s had some very good performances, and as a whole I think his play has been very good this season. But aside from two long runs on Sunday, he wasn’t very good.

by James Broschat on Nov 15, 2011 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

It's just bad situational football

Having Brown slam into a wall in short yardage situations is a bad coaching move. Putting Carter in the doghouse for fumbling (where’s the swift and harsh punishment for everyone else’s mistakes this year?), is a bad coaching move. Having Painter continue to throw when yardage via run is there for the taking is a result of bad gameplanning and poor understanding of situational football. It makes it hard to even evaluate talent because our players are so scheme and decision-limited right now.

by FatDT on Nov 15, 2011 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Good point

I’d like to see both guys have depth understudies to replace Addai on the roster next year.

Jonas Gray behind Carter

Chris Rainey behind Brown

Both guys should be available 6th round or later. Rainey could return kicks as an added bonus.

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on Nov 15, 2011 8:11 PM EST up reply actions

Brown has played well.

In an article I wrote, I mentioned of Brown improving throughout 3 seasons. And he has. He wasn’t great against JAX. But then again I never said he was great. No one is saying he is great or elite. But he is becoming consistently good. He has improved to the point where people can thinking of him as more than a draft bust.

No, he’s not going to be the #1 back for Indy, at least not for now, but he shows lots of potential. But I do agree with you with Brown and Carter as a dual tandem. I now see no need for Addai. Carter and Brown compliment each other well. Their body type and play type are in complete contrast. Carter being a power back with strength and can block fairly well. Brown is a speedy back and can be a receiver out of the backfield much better than Carter. He can run the outside carries well too. Addai is like a mix of the 2. If Indy can use Carter and Brown together like the Jets with LT and Greene, or G-Men with Jacobs and Bradshaw, or the Raiders with Bush and McFadden, Colts can have success with the running game, of course, first, you gotta kick Jeff Linkenbach to the curb

Pat McAfee 2012 Pro Bowl bound!
Anthony Calvillo - 72,382 passing yards - pro football's all-time leader
Jon Stewart for President 2016
OCCUPY BILL POLIAN'S OFFICE

by KBUnitz on Nov 15, 2011 10:47 AM EST up reply actions

Addai

I like Addai a lot and think he’s been under-appreciated in his time here. That said, I agree that the team probably doesn’t need him after this season. I think the OL will be much improved next year with a full offseason for the rookies to get healthy and learn, and for more talent to be added. Plus they will have a real QB with some semblance of pocket awareness. Hopefully.

I don’t think Addai is on the list of first cuts or anything, and I doubt he is getting paid a ton. So it wouldn’t hurt to keep him and just use the three of them. Addai is still the best blocker and pass catcher of the three, and his experience is a plus as well. But he is not critical like many (myself included) thought prior to this season. I can’t believe I’m actually entertaining the idea of extending Brown, as long as the price is low.

by FatDT on Nov 15, 2011 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

Addai is making 4.66 million

Just a shade more than Andrew Luck will get in 2012.

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on Nov 15, 2011 8:14 PM EST up reply actions

If that's true

then I think they can let him go. Assuming that cutting him will mean saving all or most of that against the cap.

by FatDT on Nov 16, 2011 6:57 PM EST up reply actions

With all the extra cap space coming this year

I say we go ahead and eat the dead money that Brackett, Bullitt and Addai would provide regardless.

I’d rather eat the money when we have 30-80 million in cap space than when we are up against the cap ceiling.

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on Nov 17, 2011 12:21 PM EST up reply actions

Orlovsky was Garbage.

His first pass was pretty much a sack-INT situation, so great job to the o-line there. And the passes he did make was in garbage time with Jags in prevent defense. Painter would’ve gone 7-10 too with the prevent defense out there. Manning would go 10-10 with the prevent defense being shown. It doesn’t prove Orlovsky did crap. Though if he doesn’t get the next start, I’ll be baffled.

Somewhat good game for Brown, Jags have a pretty good run stopping defense, and any back running behind our o-line is doing well if they can get positive yardage, I’d say lol, but it’s not lolish at this point.

Powers is still overrated by everyone on this website. Gabbert threw a gimme, big Mookie would’ve picked that off.

Caldwell played a good game, shows promise.

Mathis was a dominating force. Freeney played well too, especially being double teamed the whole game. I’d vote Mathis but there’s no option for him.

So comes down to Pat McAfee. I feel depressed to give him the game ball week after week, but he is the only standout for the Colts at this point.

Pat McAfee 2012 Pro Bowl bound!
Anthony Calvillo - 72,382 passing yards - pro football's all-time leader
Jon Stewart for President 2016
OCCUPY BILL POLIAN'S OFFICE

by KBUnitz on Nov 15, 2011 10:27 AM EST reply actions