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Colts vs. Broncos

As I watched Joseph Addai run over people for the first touchdown of the game I look back at the running backs in the 2006 NFL draft. I can not help but wonder what happened to DeAngelo Williams (Carolina), Laurence Maroney (Cheaters), and Reggie Bust or I mean Reggie Bush. (On a lighter note I accidentally typed Bust instead of Bush, and decided to leave it.)
Anyway I once again go back to the fact that the reason the Colts are so successful is for two main well we will say 3 main reasons. The first is Peyton Manning is that good, the second is steller draft picks, but the main reason the Colts are so successful year in and year out is consistency, and coaching. Tony Dungy is the best coach in all of sports. The reason that the Colts don’t need to bring in big name free agents is because they develop the players they get. Whether you’re a first round draft pick ala Joe Addai, or an undrafted rookie out of Penn State. Ed Johnson got handled this week, but he is a stud. Booger who?
My number one concern about this week is Marvin Harrison. If he it is as bad as I feel like it is I don’t think Aaron Moorehead can fill the whole at Wide Receiver. In fact no one except for maybe Jerry Rice can fill that gapping whole. That means that Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark will be keyed on big time. PS how funny was it to see a white boy from Iowa kicked the crap out of Champ Bailey. Champ Bailey you got owned by D Clizzle. I think Dallas Clark might be the first huge Cap causalty that the Colts will have. I am still wondering who they are going to keep Bob Sanders or Dallas Clark because I don’t think there is room for both long term. Even though those are two of my favorite players on the team. I still feel as if Bob Sanders does make that much of a difference even though Matt Giordano might be the answer.
As for the Broncos game they ran the ball like they were the ‘06 Jags on our defense. No one not even Bob Sanders could tackle and face it you were worried. Then the D tightened up, and what do you know the offense came through and bam 4-0.
Next week will tell us if the Bucs are for real. I think it will be a tough game, and for some reason all Jeff Garcia does is win games. Now when he was here last year with the Eagles he didn’t fare to well, but he is a good Quarterback, and will probably make the pro bowl in the JV league, I mean the NFC.
I am very worried about the Dallas Cowboys. I am thinking that they are a lock for NFC Champions. You know how much the networks love them. They draw huge TV ratings so look to see Dallas in the NFC Championship game. As for the AFC as of now I think its beginning to look like a two horse race. Well a one horse one cheater race. Circle your calendars folks, November 4, 2007. Colts vs. Cheaters in the RCA dome.
I see the Patriots falling off a lot more than the Colts. If you think about it they have no where to go but down. They are playing too good of football. It is so funny to see them tearing through the NFL and the Colts barely pulling out wins. Randy Moss is a good Wide Receiver but I would still take Reggie Wayne. Tom Brady is Tom Brady but I would still take Peyton. Their defense is still getting old in my opinion. Teddy Bruschi isn’t the same player he once was. Even though he is a solid player, and I don’t think Vince Wolfork is even in the ball park with Jeff Saturday.
Once again another NFL season comes down to another classic match up when the New England Patriots visit the RCA dome to battle the Colts. Ladies and Gentleman it doesn’t get any better than this.

Winning with grace and class, and winning the right way

I never understood what that meant until tape gate. It is always exciting to see the underdog win in sports. I think that is half the reason people watch sports. It is the whole reason why people watch sports when their team isn’t playing.

When Bill Belichick got caught video taping the New York Jets defensive coaches it made a statement loud and clear. It made a statement that everyone of us has known for a long time. Cheaters win! I think this form of the New England Patriots are footballs version of the New York Yankees (or Tony Stewart if your into NASCAR).

It wasn’t the crime that annoyed me. I think there is some form of sign steeling that goes on with every team in the NFL, it was the perpetrator. Bill Belichick is a winner. He is a great coach because of it. But he will stop at nothing to win. He will do whatever it takes. These type of people are who usually win. It was the same thing with the Bulls and Michael Jordan. He knew the NBA wasn’t going to call traveling because he was MJ so he took advantage of it. The same is true with Bill Belichick.

That’s another reason the Colts Super Bowl Championship is so special. Cause the did it the right way. Teams who do it the right way rarely win championships. So for a team to do it the right way is special.

Colts Week 3

This game reminded me of the time the Colts went to Tampa to play the Super Bowl Champion Bucs on Monday Night Football. This was a huge game for the Houston Texans. In fact the Houston media was terming it “the biggest game in franchise history!” And it would have been, had the Texans won.

I think our Indianapolis Colts are in the right state of mind when it comes to defending their title. In fact I don’t see much difference between this year and years past. The Pittsburg Steelers really fell flat last year in attempt to make it back to the promise land but these Colts are different. It seems as if the Colts have had a target on their backs for many years, and they have to continue to “bring their A game” every week.

Houston is a much improved team from the past years. Matt Schaub was obviously worth whatever Houston gave up obtaining him. He is obviously a step above David Carr (I still don’t blame Carr for his record in Houston , that many sacks can not be blamed on the Quarterback). What impressed me the most about the Texans was how the back ups came ready to play when all their guys were going out of the game. It seems the culture in Houston is really changing, but its going to take a while to bring the winning tradition to that franchise.

Looking back on the Colts history in Indianapolis the major turning point year for them was 1995. That was the year we finally realized that we could have some success in the NFL. Jim Harbaugh was exactly what that team needed in that time. He gutted out wins and gave us our first hope at being a successful NFL franchise. 11 years later we became champions and I really hope that this love affair with this team continues for generations.

Back to the game, the Colts Defense really came to play today. What a difference Bob Sanders really makes. I know a lot of people have been saying that, but I believe it’s more mental than anything. The linebackers can play with a different attitude. If they miss a tackle they know Bob Sanders will not. On the defensive side of the ball I think Dwight Freeney is really struggling to get to the Quarterback. He has not registered a sack in a while, and has not changed the face of a game in who knows how long.

As for the offense it was business as usual. I thought Anthony Gonzalez played a solid game except for a dropped pass on 3^rd down. Peyton was Peyton and he was due for a big game. Addai has officially replaced the Edge. In fact I think Addai is playing as well as Edge ever did. He is picking up the blitz well and doesn’t seem to make many mistakes which is exactly what the Colts need out of a half back.

The biggest concern I have so far is Marvin Harrison. Does anyone else feel he is not the big play threat that he used to be? He is one of my all time favorite players, but I am very scared that time is catching up to him. He seems to play when he wants to play. It started at the end of last year. Although I feel as if that was more due to the back that he had a broken wrist thanks to Rodney Harrison’s cheap shot. I think the double teams are really taking their toll on The Great One. His spectacular performances might be fewer and farther between.

And now we can all talk bad about the special teams. The opening kick off was a killer. The Colts have to start covering kicks better. We have solid talent that always develops into pro bowl caliber players but they need to start making some tackles on kick offs. Hunter Smith could possibly be the best kicker in the game, but he keeps out kicking his coverage. That scares me. He is also the most underrated athlete in the NFL. The dude can fly, and he hurt the Texans kick returner.

Pats watch week 3

The New England Patriots keep running over teams on their way to what seems like a for sure Super Bowl Championship. But we must remind everyone that the Indy 500 is not won on lap 1. Presidental Elections are not won in January and the Kentucky Derby is not won in the first turn. In fact one of the coolest stats ever is that the leader of the Indianapolis 500 on lap 190 is rarely the person who wins the race. Just ask last years Chargers or the ’05 Colts.

New England is good, there is no doubt about it. It almost seems as if we have traded them places. It used to be the Colts blowing people out, and New England barely winning games. Now its Brady and the Pats blowing people out and the Colts barely winning games. And the Colts still seem to be under the radar which I like.

Tom Brady is on pace to pass Peyton Manning’s 49 touchdown pass record. This scares me a little. I feel as if Peyton could have had 55 TD passes that season had he played in any of the 4^th quarters, or that final game against the Broncos. That was the insane thing about that record was that he sat out a lot of time that season.

Week 3 Wrap Up

The Colts are doing a steller job defending their title. They might not look the best right now but it is still early. They are setting themselves up for a great season. If we go into the bye week with one loss I think we can consider it a good beginning to the season at 4-1. It should be a fun one next week vs. the Denver Broncos. I am not sold on them as a team yet. Jay Cutler is the real deal, and Mike Shanahan is a great coach. But I don’t think they are there yet. On the other hand the Colts will have to put together a solid game to beat them. And I feel as if Peyton and Marvin are due for a huge game in the next two weeks. It would make me feel a whole lot better to see Marvin catching passes that are not quick routes.

Outside of the New England Patriots the other team that is scaring me is the Pittsburg Steelers. Mike Tomlin was an excellent choice as coach and he seems to have put together a solid squad with championship experience. They seem to be winning games hands down with little to no resistance. Again, it is a long season and they do not play the schedule the Colts do, but still they are team on the rise/ a team to watch out for.

On the final note I think all 4 teams in the AFC South have a legitimate playoff shot. I still think Tennessee will get that 5^th or 6^th seed, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Houston in the mix late in the year and Jacksonville is always tough. They need a Quarterback and that is hurting their ground game, but don’t be surprised to see them make a run for it late in the season

Tony Dungy and Bill Polian

As I look back at Bill Poilan's draft record I can't help but be amazed, how can one man be so good at such an in exact science? Let's look at the Indianapolis Colts draft picks in the last 10 years

1996- Marvin Harrison (Bill Tobin)

1997 Tarik Glenn (Bill Tobin)

1998- Peyton Manning

1999- Edgerrin James

1999- Mike Peterson

1999- Hunter Smith

2000- Rob Morris

2000- Marcus Washington

2001- Reggie Wayne

2001- Ryan Diem

2002- Dwight Freeney

2002- David Thorton

2003- Dallas Clark

2003- Cato June

2003- Mike Doss

2004- Bob Sanders

2004- Jason David

2004- Jake Scott

2004- Jim Sorgi

2005- Marlin Jackson

2005- Kelvin Hayden

2005- Dylan Gandy

2005- Matt Giordano

2005- Tyjaun Hagler

2006- Joseph Addai

2006- Freddie Keiaho

2006- Antoine Bethea

2006- Charlie Johnson

2007- Tony Ugoh

2007- Anthony Gonzalez

Is this an unbelievable draft record, I would say so. The question I would like to ask is this, is it an unbelievable draft record or is it unbelievable teaching? I am going to say it is a combination of both, but I would argue for better teaching. Outside of Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James all these guys were drafted in the second half of the first round or later. Most of these guys were drafted in round 2 or lower.

I think the Colts go into the draft looking for one thing about all others, Character. All these guys are willing to be coached and want to improve. You hear the Colts say it on all the Super Bowl videos that personnel is looking for players that are willing to learn and get better. Making it to the NFL isn't their goal. Their goal is to improve once they get into the NFL.

This is a very hard concept for some professional athletes. See even the 7^th round picks were the best in high school. When they were kids just learning the game it was easy. They just picked up the ball and could run faster and jump higher than everyone else. Then they went into high school where the same was true. They were the best athletes so they played running back and linebacker in high school. Then the player moves onto college where they had to pick one or the other. They were still one of the top 3 or 4 players on the team. After their senior year a scout walks up to them and tells they should go in the second to third round of the NFL draft, but there is a minor problem, you see in the middle of March in Joe Athletes jr. year of college he gets in a fight with his girlfriend. The police get called and now you have a huge black mark on your record. You fall out of the draft.

The athlete that you want on your team isn't the guy who can run faster and jump higher. At the pro level they can all run fast and jump high. You want the player who is willing to work hard to be the best.

It takes all kinds to make a champion level team. You have to have the Peyton Manning, and Marvin Harrison's of the world. But you also have to have the Ben Utech and Antoine Bethea. Guys that are willing to contribute. Ben Utech might have been the most underrated player in that Baltimore game. He played outstanding. In fact he knocked Ray Lewis back to 2000 on a Dominic Rhoads first down play.

I always enjoy rooting for guys like Ben Utech and Matt Giordano. Those guys are what make the Colts into a contender. That's what separates the Colts from a team like Jacksonville.

Colts Week 2

The annual trek to Tennessee has come and gone, and believe it or not this was a huge win for the Colts. The Titans are an improving divisional opponent. In fact Vince Young looked down right scary out there.

First thing is first, I dislike mobile quarterbacks, and there is one reason why. They are always hurt. Running Backs have the shortest shelf life of any professional athlete. Mobile quarterbacks are usually thinner, smaller, and quicker than your typical NFL running back. Running backs take a horrible punishment from opposing defenses, and I feel as if mobile quarterbacks take the same punishment. Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick are always hurt. In fact McNabb rarely scrambles anymore which is good for his health. The reason Michael Vick signed the biggest contract in NFL history is because he puts butts in seats, and sells a ton of jerseys. That was an investment in making money.

Anyway I am starting to get the feeling that Vince Young is different. He made some throws Sunday vs. the Colts that were downright scary. He led that last drive to pull them within 2 points and I was impressed. The difference between college and the NFL is measured in years. In college you have to last maximum of 4 years. After those 4 years it’s over, and the coach has no use for you anymore. But in the NFL you have to play for 10-15 years staying healthy all that time. The number one reason why Peyton Manning is so good is because of his work ethic, but he couldn’t have been out there to make those plays if he was hurt. Vince Young needs to stay healthy and I have a hard time believing that he will make it through the next 3 seasons healthy.

Vince Young played a very good game. He is as good as advertised, but he needs to learn to throw before he runs. Running should be a last resort; this will keep him in the NFL longer. A hurt quarterback is a useless quarterback.

The Colts defense played very well. I think when you look at how the game turned out they only allowed 1 touchdown vs. the Titans. Peyton threw that pick deep in his own end zone which accounted for 7 points, and they held them off at the end of the game. Believe me I was nervous after last years 60 yarder by Rob Bironus. If the Colts defense holds every opponent to 1 touchdown they will not be the reason we lost the game on Monday morning. I say let the opponent kick field goals all day long when you have Peyton Manning on the other side of the ball.

The Colts special teams were a big problem yesterday and had we lost the game I would have pinned it on them. Did Adam Vinitari look especially rattled to anyone else? This is a guy who has kicked game winners in Super Bowls multiple times. Kicking is the most mental position of any in sports. You have nothing to do with the game until there is 10 seconds left and you have to go out there and win it. Yes, you only have 1 job, but I don’t care who you are its mental. I just hope he isn’t entering a slump. If so we still have Adam Vinitari. If he goes 0-43 this year and the Super Bowl is on the line there is still only one player I want to be in that position.

Ps Why hasn’t Vanderjact found a job? Probably because that Pittsburg kick is still lingering.

In conclusion I think it was a good win vs. a tough team. I think the Titans are bordering on a solid squad. I think they will be in contention for that 5^th or 6^th playoff seed come January as long as Vince Young stays healthy. And what about Nick Harper he played a very good game against the best receiver in the game.

Patriots Watch

As I was watching the Patriots (formally known as the Cheaters), dismantle the San Diego Super Chargers I couldn’t help but get a little nervous. I was brought down to earth quickly as I thought about the 2001 Indianapolis Colts. Who started off the season by dismantling the Bills and Jets, to come home to the 0-2 New England Patriots whose Pro Bowl quarterback was sidelined with an injury and they were starting a former Michigan back up by the name of Tom Brady. Anyway I went to that game thinking about how awesome it was going to be to watch the Indianapolis Colts dismantle the Pats. Boy was I wrong. I did get to see a turning point in NFL history in that game. Of course the Pats went on to win 2 of 4 Super Bowls and the Colts went on to a 6-10 record.

My point being that it is a long season. All that matters is you make the playoffs. The Colts are off to a good start. I would rather play the playoff games in the vicious RCA dome, but it is a long season. Randy Moss looks good, Tom Brady looks good, and their over the hill defense looks really good. They have made improvements to the second best team in football last year. That does make me nervous, but it is a long season. It is a marathon not a sprint.

Next Week

Up next the Houston Texans, the Texans are 2-0. Their offense looks good and their defense was improved last year. Everyone will bring their A game for the match up vs. the Colts. Houston is young and talented. I don’t think the Colts ever have a problem with showing up mentally. Everyone has bad games, but I don’t think these are your Dad’s Texans anymore. They will hit you and they are improving. I see a Tennessee like game.

Andre Johnson is playing out of his mind. He had 2 touchdown catches last week and played a solid game in week 1. Matt Shaub is the answer at quarterback, and the anti- Peyton pick Mario Williams looks to be improving that defense. I can see the Texans winning the game. How hard would it be to chase the Texans for the next 12 weeks of the NFL season? This is a very big game. With realignment there aren’t that many divisional games so each one counts big time. We need to win the division to get into the playoffs. So we are going to have to bring out A game.