Colts lose 16-10

by BigBlueShoe on Dec 30, 2007 11:28 PM EST in Colts News Comment 34 comments

To all fans of the Cleveland Browns: We're sorry. We're sorry our back-up QB sucks. We're sorry our 4th string WR can't catch a pass on 4th down despite being open. But, most of all, we're sorry we injured Vince Young in the third quarter; because if Vince had played the reminder of the game, the Titans would have lost.

Seriously, Indy injuring Vince Young saved Tennessee's season. Titans fans and U. of Texas fans can continue drinking the Kool-Aid, but what we all saw to tonight was the same crappy "QB" we're used to seeing in Tennessee. It is painfully, pathetically, overwhelmingly obvious that Kerry Collins is better than Vince Young. Take away the Titans opening drive (which was a fluke if you look at the whole game), and Vince did next to nothing for Tennessee despite playing Indy's 3rd and 4th string defense. Vince's pouting on the sidelines, as reported by scary-looking Andrea Kramer, sums up Vince's early NFL career; a pampered idiot handed everything in college and not hacking it in the pros, where they actually make you WORK for a living.

Meanwhile, Collins did what all competent NFL QB need to do: He threw the ball accurately from the pocket, and was great on the out routes on third down.

It's annoying that Tennessee gets their first win in the RCA Dome in five years, but they did so against back-ups who played a helluva lot harder than Tennessee's starters. So again, sorry Cleveland fans. Our 3rd stringers almost gave you a playoff spot, but take solace in the fact that Tennessee should get dominated by the Chargers next week.

As always, Jimmy at MCM will disagree with me (and likely sound more intelligent in doing so), but that's cool. He and the fans at MCM are just happy to be in. The AFC South has three teams in the playoffs and no team under .500. Indeed, the best division in football.

Colts now get a week off, and for the first time in over a month we will see a real, genuine, HEALTHY Colts team. The playoffs are coming, and the NFL better get ready for the team in Indy. Go Colts!

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Terry

5 minutes before Terry comes in here to argue that the NFC East is better.

by Levante on Dec 30, 2007 11:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

maybe not better

but just as good. Its close either way.

by Terry on Dec 31, 2007 10:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

to get your back a bit....

I was shocked to see that the NFC East did nearly as well record wise as the South. It's a discussion that could be had, but the South is still better.

by bleedingblue on Jan 1, 2008 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

some %s

AFC south win %

66%

NFC East win %

63%

AFC win %= 50%
NFC win %= 50%

AFC interconference win% = 50%
NFC interconference win% = 50%

NE
INDY
Playoff teams, tiebreaker losers, and the oft-injured
MIA

Parity is alive and well, and I hope I don't have to hear a bunch of "AFC rulez, NFC droolz" crap...

Mile High Report

by styg50 on Jan 2, 2008 4:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

your only shocked because

fans of AFC teams, especially Pats and Colts, have a conference superiority complex which is complete BS. The NFC is much, much better than you give them credit for and the records and stats prove that.

by Terry on Jan 2, 2008 8:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What?

Considering the Colts and Pats had a combined 8-0 record against the NFC this season, beating NFC playoff teams Dallas, Tampa Bay, NY Giants, and Washington along the way, I'd say the "conference superiority complex" is more fact than BS.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Jan 2, 2008 11:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

you've proven my point BBS

because the AFC consists of a lot more teams than the Pats and Colts.

BTW, last season I remember a certain NFC team beating the Colts if I recall correctly.

by Terry on Jan 2, 2008 12:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

And I also remember that team losing in the playoffs, and the Colts wining it all; making that lose meaningless because the team that wins the Super bowl is better than everyone.

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by BigBlueShoe on Jan 3, 2008 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Vince

14-18 for 157 yards.

4 rushes for 19 yards.

0 Turnovers.

How can you say Vince was having a bad game? Vince was playing great and Collins just continued on that same path. With or without Young, the Titans would have pulled that one out.

Titans Fan

by nvemvp23 on Dec 30, 2007 11:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that's right

Just look at the stats. Forget what actually happened out on the field. Forget what you saw, and what the rest of us saw. Just look at the stats. Here's another one for you.

13-10 Colts when Young was in there. Titans score 2 FGs while he's out, and win.

Amazing how you make excuses for this guy. If you had a real QB, Tennessee would be a dangerous team.

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by BigBlueShoe on Dec 30, 2007 11:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

10-7 Colts I mean

Not 13-10

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by BigBlueShoe on Dec 30, 2007 11:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

From the Outside Looking in

This isn't addressed at anyone in particular, just my thoughts about this debate. Though I do have one thought for BBS: the Titan's are MUCH more dangerous with a healthy VY than anybody else they could be starting. Obviously if he was replaced with P. Manning, the Titan's would be more dangerous, but so would Miami...but the Titan's are limited in what they could do sans Young.

What I see most with the VY bashing is a battle over what a QB should be, sort of a Young or Manning debate. And until a Frankenback can redefine the position, or get some seperation from traditional ways of judging a QB, the debate will always boil down to the best example of one school of thought vs. the best example of the other school of thought.

But it is apples and oranges for now. Teams trying to make a go of a player like VY aren't counting on Manninglike numbers or performances to win games. They are experimenting with a new dynamic, a different type of player. For my part, I disagree with this from a football point of view. The QB position is what it is. But I can appreciate the fact that it is this kind of tinkering that can redefine the game.

The specific issue of VY this year is a little different though. I think a lot of people are upset with his performance this year because it isn't the run of team leading wins that he displayed at the end of last year (and which few people outside of TENN ever saw outside of highlight reels and games against their team). But that is a good thing, not for VY, but for the TEAM he plays on. He isn't trying to force himself into a mold or pretend to be something he is not (though he is adjusting to not trying to do everything himself), he is just trying to make the best decisions for the TEAM to have a chance to win.

Most people don't care (or know) about the Titan's as a TEAM, but everyone has an opinion about them. Or rather, an opinion about VY, the only player they care to inform themselves about on the Titans. But his current state doesn't exist in a vacuum where only his past is relevant. He is doing what he is doing in a TEAM environment, and everything that is happening to the Titans affects what he does and doesn't do.

You shouldn't have to be drinking the Titans kool-aid to see that VY is the future of the Titans and that it is a viable future. Is it experimental? Yes, but Fisher is the right kind of coach for that type of experiment, because he understands the limits and benefits to the approach. He won't let it kill the Titans. Is it the right choice? I don't think so, but it is a choice. There's lots of ways to win in the NFL. And people are always looking for more.

Mile High Report

by styg50 on Dec 31, 2007 6:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Many ways to win

It's true there are many ways to win in the NFL, but it's been proven time and again that starting a running QB who is a mediocre (to put it kindly) pocket passer is not one of them. The debate is not Steve Young vs. Manning because VY doesn't have Steve Young's passing ability. There's a big difference between Steve Young and Michael Vick.

I haven't seen every Titans game this year, but I've seen several of them. In the games I've seen the Titans have won (or had a chance to win) in spite of VY, not because of him. It's been their running game and strong defense that has carried them.

I've said it before: I'm a Colts fan, and if VY is the future for the Titans, then I'm looking forward to the future.

by ctnyc on Jan 1, 2008 10:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

that you can't really compare a VY, Vick, Slash type of QB with a S. Young, Manning, pocket-passer type QB.

My argument is that VY does suck this year, but not because he is trying to be a pocket QB. It is because he is not the focal point of the offense, by design and by direction. Even when he has a chance to break something he is being taught to keep looking. This is about VY learning a few more intellectual skills, and the rest of the Titan's team picking up the slack and getting better. The defense, of course, has been stellar.

They are being successful despite VY, because he is limited this year to right way/wrong way and he chooses wrong way about as often as you would expect a second year QB to. The Titan's have bought themselves time, time to acquire more playmakers to put around vince, specifically WRs. And then they will put another option on the table for him: right way/wrong way/vince way :)

And if I wasn't clear above, I will state for the record I would take a pocket-passer over a slash any day, if they were both considered "playmakers." (i.e. cutler v. young, give me cutler)

Mile High Report

by styg50 on Jan 2, 2008 4:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ha

I was literally hoping you'd be so insecure as to try to take down VY in this post...

Thanks for not disappointing.

VY: 14-18 for 157 yards. KC: 10-13 for 106 yards.

The Titans only TD drive came with VY in the game.

I won't get too much into this, because arguing with you is beyond stupid. I'm literally only chiming in to make an official note of how pathetic you are for trying to make this angle work anyway. Congrats on being the least objective "writer" on the internet. It's funny that you bash the MSM for being ___-biased.

Though the Titans are at least a year or two away from being anything resembling a contender, at least our fans aren't as comically insecure as you are.

Congratulations on another lousy season of providing no analysis and an inordinate amount of unsubstantiated yapping. You give a bad name to bloggers... but you would make a good talk radio host.

by Burnt Orange Nation on Dec 30, 2007 11:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Vince Young

VY is the greatest college player I have ever seen.

He is an average NFL quarterback and is one dimensional for the professional game. I mean, when Madden has to say he should "use his feet" to win the game, that speaks volumes. Worked great for Micheal Vick didn't it? Also, he will have a short career due to his playing style.

by Levante on Dec 30, 2007 11:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

You might be right. It's certainly possible VY won't develop into anything more than an average quarterback. He's got lots of work to do.

I do think it's too soon to say one way or the other. Some of us think he'll make it; others don't. I honestly don't know how he'll do, though I think his work ethic and talent make it likely he'll be successful. But he may not.

What I hate about the blogger on this site is that he talks about VY as though things have been decided. It's indicative of his general level of analysis - i.e. non-existent. We don't actually know yet. VY's done a lot of good things. VY's got a long way to go.

The blogger on this site can't talk about things that way. Which is why I dislike his writing so much.

by Burnt Orange Nation on Dec 31, 2007 12:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

IMO

His commentary is a reaction to the other end of the spectrum where so many VY fans think he is already a great NFL QB and all the pundit talk of what a "winner" he is in the NFL when, as you say, he still has a long way to go and he hasn't really proven anything. IMO, the Titans have had moderate success under him due to a stellar defense - VY has had little to do with it.

Is it a bit extreme at times? Probably. But I do believe there is alot of truth to it. Again, IMO, he hasn't done anything to show he can progress past a mediocre QB who relies on his feet far too often - to a point where he will put his team at risk from injuries to himself with poorly thought out scrambles. That's not the sign of a "winner."

Charlie Weis Ate My Baby

by jdb on Dec 31, 2007 12:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hah

of course if BBS was polishing your boy VY's knob like you want I bet 99.999% you wouldn't be saying that. For you it's all about whether someone agrees with the ludicrous notion that VY is anything more than a great college QB who is only a mediocre at best NFL QB.

Charlie Weis Ate My Baby

by jdb on Dec 31, 2007 12:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That makes no sense at all

Literally none.

See comments above.

by Burnt Orange Nation on Dec 31, 2007 12:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Stirring commentary, as always BON

Tell you what: When you actually write one coherent statement about pro football, you might actually get some respect. However, when you gush over Ben Roethlisberger and make excuse, after excuse, after excuse for Vince Young's crappy play, it is really, really, really hard to take you seriously. You also need to grow a thicker skin, and maybe some balls to hang from that thicker skin, while you are at it.

Seriously, I could compliment every single player to come out of the U. of Texas, but speak the truth about Vince Young and suddenly I "give blogger a bad name."

You may now return to your little biodome BON, where the truth is filtered for your protection.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Dec 31, 2007 1:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I couldn't hear you

Were you saying something about Ben Roethlisberger?

And the idea of the biggest homer in the blogosphere telling me to get out my biodome cracks me up.

Looking forward to the next "___ can lick my balls" story about the mainstream media. You've really nailed that one down.

by Burnt Orange Nation on Dec 31, 2007 2:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Because it's not like there

are far more complete stats out there than QB Rating

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/qb.php

my blog http://shakennbaken.blogspot.com/

by shake n bake on Dec 31, 2007 2:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ouch

Big Ben's only been the 8th best QB this season behind an ungodly bad offensive line.

Thanks, Shake.

by Burnt Orange Nation on Dec 31, 2007 2:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ben

I'm not referring to this season re: Roethlisberger. I'm referring to last season and your "defense" of Ben acting like a moron on a motorcycle. Next time I'll it out more clearly. If you bothered to read more BON, you'd know I've praise Ben most of the 2007 season.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Dec 31, 2007 5:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Happy the season is over

I'm glad the season is over and we are the second seed. We can look at this 2 ways. If we had finished strong, we would have entered the playoffs feeling good about ourselves. With a loss, we know we can get better and will practice harder. Personally, I don't think it matters either way. This team, I believe, knows exactly what they need to do to get back to the Super Bowl, and will do exactly that. After all the injuries we had this year, I think we caught a break by only having to play 14 games that mattered. I must say, I am not impressed by Tennessee. It is probably better for us that Tennessee is playing San Diego and not Cleveland. We need San Diego to win and hope that Jacksonville beats Pittsburgh.

Overall, not a bad year for the defending champs. By the way, we already knew that Sorgi is not a good backup QB. He would probably look better playing with the first team. But we all know what that means, so hopefully, we will never see that.

by Blueisgood on Dec 31, 2007 12:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

As a Colts fan, I'm PISSED.

Long time reader, first time poster.

Big Blue Shoe, your blog is outstanding, and it is a must read for me.

Now to my comment:

As a Colts fan, I'm PISSED that the Colts sat their prime players. Tony Dungy is an awesome coach, and I've even had the chance to meet him, and he is a classy classy guy. However, he gave this game away. I heard all this talk about wanting to win the game at home, not wanting to lose to a division opponent. Yeah right.

By taking Peyton and the other starters out of the game, Tony Dungy basically conceded the game and said "Hey Cleveland Browns, I couldn't care less about you or your hopes for the playoffs." and "Here, Tennessee, have one on us." The Colts accomplished what they wanted. They got Peyton his 4000 yards, and Reggie his receiving title. Big deal. I'd rather have 14-2 than those two milestones. The thing is, they could have accomplished those AND the win.

As if having to watch the disgusting New England Patriots go 16-0 wasn't bad enough, I had to watch my team give away the last game of the season. I spent the most part of the game pissed off because Jim Sorgi, bless his heart, quite frankly, sucks. It just made me sick and made me mad.

I can understand the need to get some key players some rest, but you didn't see the Patriots packing it in because they had wrapped up the number one seed, did you? No, they came out to prove a point. And broke a few records in the process.

I have no doubts the Colts will win in the playoffs, but this seems like an underhanded way to go into the playoffs. Kinda girly and all sissy-like.

by biddlet on Dec 31, 2007 12:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

injuries against a desperate team

i totally disagree.. the last thing we need is to get a starter hurt in a meaningless game against a team desperate for a win to get in the playoffs... didn't you see dungy wince on the sideline after a couple of the hits reggie took... titans have always played a little dirty and did you really want to have something stupid happen and we lose ANOTHER starter right before the playoffs....

by bluegirl on Dec 31, 2007 7:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you

I, too, winced when Reggie took hits, like on the play where he fumbled. What about Tony Ugoh, wasn't it uncomfortable when he went out gently flexing his right arm? So, I'm with you, getting the major assets out early was the right long-term strategy.

I know what Biddlet means. The Pats did go all in, but they did have something to play for: 16-0. The Colts have previously established such a record isn't a franchise goal, but obviously New England thinks differently.

As for Sorgi, who knows exactly what he could do with the first team? He was running for his life a lot Sunday night, looking for the Colts' fourth and fifth receivers. It's frustrating to see him be unable to move the team but I think that frustration stems largely from the fact we're so used to Peyton doing it almost effortlessly.

The defensive reserves played well. As fans, we didn't get cheated by the effort. I'm glad it's over and we can move on to the playoffs.

The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.

by Coltsfan58 on Dec 31, 2007 9:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just as expected

As a Titans fan, I am happy we made it in. I am pleaseed and quite impressed with VY's play last night. Someone said earlier in a blog to just look at the stats and not what vince did on the field. That is exactly what every nay sayer about VY has done since he came in the league. All they do is look at the stats and not how he actually impacted the game. I am not saying he is a great QB, but his presence alone makes you scheme completely different than any onther QB in the league. If he plays every game like he did before he got injured last night the Titans will be a force and the doubters will go away!

O know it was second stringers he was throwing against, but the throws were there.

It is a very long shot, but I hope we see you in the AFC championship that way we can settle it on the field.

BBS like I said I am a Titans fan and I love your posts. This site is great for true fans of their teams. I know and expect that you will tear apart my team and that is why i love reading here. This is what it is all about.

Good luck Colts! If we cant win it I hope that you do!

Someone once said "Vince Young bleeds Titan Blue!" But I disagree, Because the Great One DOESNT bleed!

by TitansFan10 on Dec 31, 2007 8:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good analysis on VY

per 18to88:
http://18to88.com/Articles/vyfiles4.html

by yellowsnow on Dec 31, 2007 8:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm a little bit scared here

Do anyone else also think that this game may affect our playing in the playoffs? Or am I just too crazy about it? It's always nice to go to the playoffs with a W. I don't know. I guess that that Steelers game really won't never go away.

Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone You'll never walk alone

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 31, 2007 10:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs