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.