Luke Links: The "Chicken Little" Edition

I admit to being a broken record this offseason... the O-Line has been my #1 concern and it remains my #1 concern.  I even claim this as a concern since well before the final game of last season, when Polian famously called out the unit and raised fans' expectations of improvement.  I could tell during all of the Colts' games last year (and the year before... and the year before that), that the O-Line needed heft and push.  While the Alleman and Terry experiments failed, I was disappointed, but felt that at least something was done to TRY to improve the line.

Still, I was not panicked at the thought that CJ would return to LT, Ugoh might play LG, Saturday would anchor the center, and DeVan and Diem would round out the right.  Now?  Well let's just say I'm trying to avoid being Chicken Little, but yeah, I'm reaching for the brown paper bag while I hyperventilate.  I was not joking when I tweeted yesterday that "Colts OLine + B. Pollard = Manning better be wearing knee braces Sunday."

I am holding out hope that Linkenbach turns out to the be next Tarik Glenn (minus the obvious alma mater distinction), and that Eldgridge turns out to be the blocker he was heralded to be coming out of the draft.  Regardless of the team's performance, though, I'm mostly hoping for an injury-free game (and yes, that means for the opponent as well - to wish injuries on other teams is just wimpy).  Go Colts!

FROM THE SADDLE
Official Team News

• John Oehser (Special to Colts.com)
  • It was a nerve-wracking weekend for undrafted rookies
  • Adam Vinatieri appreciates having had the offseason to prepare
  • It's time to forge the 2010 identity
• Jeffrey Gorman (Colts.com) catches up with Coach Caldwell
• Jake Thompson (Colts.com) The Colts' defense is ready to face the Texans' weapons
  
• Videos / Media
  • The Colts are ready for a challenge
  • Hear from various players as they prepare for the Texans
    

GREEN APPLES AND ROAD APPLES
Positive and Negative Analysis

• Paul Kuharsky (ESPN)
  • assesses the Colts' new corner, Justin Tryon
  • believes Anthony Gonzalez will contribute
  • wants you to participate in his caption contest, featuring my 2 favorite QBs in the league!
  • reprints Caldwell's comments on Gonzo
  • turns the attention to Charlie Johnson's health
    
• Phillip B. Wilson (Indy Star)
  • The Colts add 5 to their practice squad
  • The Colts' O-Line is limping into the season
  • Interviews Pierre Garcon
  • Second- and third-year players build on their early success
  • Catch up with Phil B.'s blog
• Mike Chappell (Indy Star)
  • Anthony Gonzalez is frustrated with his place on the roster
    
  • Mike Chappell answers readers' questions
• Bob Kravitz (Indy Star) Melvin Bullitt is a true teammate
• John Oesher (Indy Football Report, AOL Fanhouse)
  • looks at the final roster cuts
  • breaks down the final 53-man roster (Note: this was pre-OL changes)
  • gets us prepared for the game against Houston
  • starts up his Magnificent Seven series for 2010
    
• Nate Dunlevy (18to88.com)
  • thinks Nate Davis and Troy Smith are better than Curtis Painter
  • wonders whether Gonzo is really upset, or other forces are at work
  • interviews rookie CB Kevin Thomas
  • explores the "other forces" notion further
  • thinks Ugoh's being waived is a bad sign for CJ's health
  • declares that Ugoh was not a bust
• Brett Mock (Coltzilla)
  • thinks we've missed the context under which Painter was selected over Brandstater
  • looks at the evolving umpire placement rule
  • looks at the Anthony Gonzalez issue
  • offers an update on O-Line injuries
• Jacob Crocker (Coltzilla) profiles TE Brody Eldridge
• Greg Cowan (Coltzilla) looks at yesterday's O-Line roster moves

IN THE PADDOCK
News About This Week's Opponent

• Paul Kuharsky thinks the Texans made a good move to grab Leinart
  
• John McClain (Houston Chronicle) Matt Leinart had an easy first day at practice (Editor's note: insert appropriate USC joke here)
• Richard Justice (Houston Chronicle) promises to be a kindler, gentler journalist when it comes to the Texans
  
• Jerome Solomon (Houston Chronicle) relays 5 myths about the Texans
  
• Dale Robertson (Houston Chronicle) The Texans still make it all about Manning
• David Barron (Houston Chronicle) ESPN's Tom Jackson picks the Texans to make it to the Super Bowl
• Jorge Diaz (Houston Chronicle) Matt Leinart is happy to be with the Texans

OUTSIDE THE STABLE
Around the League

• Jim Wyatt (The Tennessean) Should the Titans re-acquire Albert Haynesworth?
• Vito Stellino (Florida Times-Union) The Jaguars are looking forward to home field advantage this weekend
• Paul Kuharsky (ESPN)
  • tries to get into the heads of the AFC South teams
  • looks at where the AFC South draft picks have landed for Week 1
• Nate Dunlevy
  
  • shares his always-entertaining NFL record predictions, with a Harrison Ford flair
  • evaluates updates to the umpire placement rule