For most of the Colts' season, they have been out of the national media. They haven't been chasing an undefeated season. They haven't had a player with an outburst or controversy. Yesterday, that changed with some great news about Marvin Harrison.
Marvin Harrison has been a Colt since 1996 and before this year, had only missed 3 games all year long. Against the Broncos, the usually consistent Harrison went down with a bruised knee on a freak accident. When Joseph Addai ran to the right, he was tackled right next to Harrison, who was blocking for the second-year running back. When Addai went down, he landed on Harrison's knee. After seeing the highlights, the outlook was not good. He went down awkwardly and looked to be in a lot of pain. However, the bruised knee was much better than what most would have thought. Everyone would have assumed that a bruise couldn't keep Harrison out too long, but that was not the case.
Harrison sat out the next game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After the bye week, Harrison made an appearance against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It appeared that his knee injury was gone, but something must have gone wrong. Nine weeks went by. There was speculation that the injury was much worse, and he may never put on a Colts uniform again. Colts fans were ready to move on with this season. Now, after two days of full practices, Marvin is ready to play in the regular season finale against the Tennessee Titans.
Marvin Harrison is the greatest receiver in Colts history. He is a definite first ballot Hall of Famer. He may not make the biggest impact on the field, but the Colts need another target. With Harrison back for the playoffs, Peyton Manning now has his favorite receiver back in time to play the stingy defense they are bound to face in the AFC Divisional Round. They are either going to play San Diego, Pittsburgh, or Jacksonville. For those teams, they need everyone they can get.
With Marvin in the game, the Colts do not have to use Dallas Clark in the slot like they did last year in the playoffs and for most of this year. With Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, and Anthony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark will now be covered mainly by linebackers. As he has proved time and time again, linebackers can't cut it against him. Work in Ben Utecht, Bryan Fletcher, and Joseph Addai in the passing game, and they are right up there with the Patriots.
What will this mean in the playoffs? This changes everything for the Colts offense and the opponent's defense. The Colts now have three wide receivers that Peyton has a strong connection with. As he proved in the San Diego game, backup receivers do not work well with Peyton. Craphonso Thorpe and Devin Aromashodu are not going to cut it with number 18. Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning are the greatest QB-WR duo in the history of the NFL. Harrison coming back changes the entire playoff landscape.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Sit 'Em or Start 'Em?
The Colts have locked up the division and bye week. This Tennessee game only matters to the Titans. If the Colts lose, bummer. If they win, great. The Colts do not need this game. However, it will be important to keep everyone healthy and rested for the playoff game. This will involve sitting players at the right time and playing others in the right places. This is how I would run this team if I were Coach Dungy.
Peyton Manning has been the key to this team's success over the past 10 years. He is already fourth in touchdown passes for a career, and he will break almost every major passing record over the next seven or eight years. They cannot risk him getting injured. Peyton should play the entire first quarter and maybe the first series in the second. In week 2, the Titans got good pressure on Peyton. The Colts can't risk him going down. If he plays the first quarter, the Colts should be able to score 14 points which may be enough to stay in this game.
Joseph Addai should not get more than five carries. Addai is getting banged up badly. He appeared to hurt his ankle against Houston to go along with a back and shoulder injury. Kenton Keith should be able to do well enough to keep the Colts in this game.
For the receivers, Wayne should play the whole game. He is a very safe player like most Colts receivers. He does not take big hits when he can help it. His chances of getting injured should not be very high. Gonzalez can play in some places, but he did bruise his foot last week. Maybe 15 snaps for him. He is inexperienced. I would also like to see a Marvin Harrison appearance, even if it is only for one snap.
Dallas Clark should play the entire game. I would, however, avoid sending him over the middle. He seems to be getting hit harder than any other Colt. He has to play in the playoff game. Ben Utecht has been getting banged up the past two weeks. No need to play him. Bryan Fletcher should get good playing time against Tennessee.
The offensive line should get regular playing time. No one is truly hurt besides Ryan Diem, but he will probably not play at all. The offensive line needs to protect whomever is playing. They can't let anyone get injured.
The defensive line should be the same as it has been over the past two weeks. Robert Mathis and Raheem Brock can have another week to rest their injuries. Keyunta Dawson, Dan Klecko, and Quinn Pitcock will be able to get some well needed experience. Dawson and Pitcock are both rookies, so any experience is good.
The linebackers should play like it was a regular game. Tyjuan Hagler, Rocky Boiman, Clint Session, Freddie Keaiho, and Gary Brackett all should get their normal playing time. They do not have any injuries, and no one should expect them to get injured.
The defensive backs will also stay the same as last week. Antoine Bethea should not play. He is too vital to this secondary for him to miss a game against a good quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger or David Garrard. Everyone else, however, should get good playing time.
Overall, the offensive stars should see less snaps than they would on a normal game. This Colts defense should be able to shut down a bad Tennessee offense. The offense needs to score around 24 points to win. Even with the backups in, that is more than likely. This strategy should be able to keep the stars healthy and clicking for their playoff game most likely against Pittsburgh or San Diego.
Peyton Manning has been the key to this team's success over the past 10 years. He is already fourth in touchdown passes for a career, and he will break almost every major passing record over the next seven or eight years. They cannot risk him getting injured. Peyton should play the entire first quarter and maybe the first series in the second. In week 2, the Titans got good pressure on Peyton. The Colts can't risk him going down. If he plays the first quarter, the Colts should be able to score 14 points which may be enough to stay in this game.
Joseph Addai should not get more than five carries. Addai is getting banged up badly. He appeared to hurt his ankle against Houston to go along with a back and shoulder injury. Kenton Keith should be able to do well enough to keep the Colts in this game.
For the receivers, Wayne should play the whole game. He is a very safe player like most Colts receivers. He does not take big hits when he can help it. His chances of getting injured should not be very high. Gonzalez can play in some places, but he did bruise his foot last week. Maybe 15 snaps for him. He is inexperienced. I would also like to see a Marvin Harrison appearance, even if it is only for one snap.
Dallas Clark should play the entire game. I would, however, avoid sending him over the middle. He seems to be getting hit harder than any other Colt. He has to play in the playoff game. Ben Utecht has been getting banged up the past two weeks. No need to play him. Bryan Fletcher should get good playing time against Tennessee.
The offensive line should get regular playing time. No one is truly hurt besides Ryan Diem, but he will probably not play at all. The offensive line needs to protect whomever is playing. They can't let anyone get injured.
The defensive line should be the same as it has been over the past two weeks. Robert Mathis and Raheem Brock can have another week to rest their injuries. Keyunta Dawson, Dan Klecko, and Quinn Pitcock will be able to get some well needed experience. Dawson and Pitcock are both rookies, so any experience is good.
The linebackers should play like it was a regular game. Tyjuan Hagler, Rocky Boiman, Clint Session, Freddie Keaiho, and Gary Brackett all should get their normal playing time. They do not have any injuries, and no one should expect them to get injured.
The defensive backs will also stay the same as last week. Antoine Bethea should not play. He is too vital to this secondary for him to miss a game against a good quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger or David Garrard. Everyone else, however, should get good playing time.
Overall, the offensive stars should see less snaps than they would on a normal game. This Colts defense should be able to shut down a bad Tennessee offense. The offense needs to score around 24 points to win. Even with the backups in, that is more than likely. This strategy should be able to keep the stars healthy and clicking for their playoff game most likely against Pittsburgh or San Diego.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Colts-Raiders Preview & Prediction
A year has passed, and not much has changed for these two NFL franchises. The Oakland Raiders are still a laughingstock, and the Colts are still dominant. However, the Raiders aren't everyone's favorite laughingstock. That pseudo-honor goes to the Miami Dolphins. The Colts are also not THE dominant team. That's the undefeated New England Patriots. Randy Moss and Cato June are not with their former teams, and for some, it's noticable. There are about as many JaMarcus Russell sightings in Oakland as there were last year, and the Colts' defense still goes by 'Bob Sanders and those other 10 guys.' Not much has changed for these two franchises, and the game score will show that.
Key Matchups
Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell v. Colts Secondary
The Raiders are probably going to give JaMarcus Russell his first serious look at the playing field in his NFL career. Of course, he gets the honor of facing the leagues best pass defense. Antoine Bethea or not, this secondary is dominant. Bob Sanders is one of the top safeties in the league. Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden punish receivers with their hard hits. If the Colts backup defensive line can get pressure on the QB, Russell may have a tough day.
Colts WR Reggie Wayne v. Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha
This is a battle of greats. Without Marvin Harrison, Peyton Manning has been looking to Reggie Wayne more often, and his stats show it. Wayne has been one of the top receivers in the league and is a great deep play threat. However, he isn't facing a pushover in Asomugha. Asomugha was on All-Pro last year with good reason. He dominated with 8 interceptions and 19 passes deflected. This year, his stats are less prominent, but that may have to do with the Raiders run defense that disappeared after a good 2006. Watch out for this matchup. It may decide if Jim Sorgi comes into the game in the third quarter or in the fourth quarter.
Key Players
Bob Sanders
Sanders is all over the field. Justin Fargas has been one of the best backs in the league this year. If Sanders can shut down Fargas, then the pressure will be on Josh McCown and JaMarcus Russell to make plays.
Derrick Burgess
The Colts' offensive line is banged up. Burgess will need to get pressure on the QB to keep the Colts' out of the endzone.
My Prediction
45-14 Colts
Right now, the game has started and it is tied, but the Colts are driving. My crappy TV keeps on cutting out. I'm going downstairs.
Key Matchups
Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell v. Colts Secondary
The Raiders are probably going to give JaMarcus Russell his first serious look at the playing field in his NFL career. Of course, he gets the honor of facing the leagues best pass defense. Antoine Bethea or not, this secondary is dominant. Bob Sanders is one of the top safeties in the league. Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden punish receivers with their hard hits. If the Colts backup defensive line can get pressure on the QB, Russell may have a tough day.
Colts WR Reggie Wayne v. Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha
This is a battle of greats. Without Marvin Harrison, Peyton Manning has been looking to Reggie Wayne more often, and his stats show it. Wayne has been one of the top receivers in the league and is a great deep play threat. However, he isn't facing a pushover in Asomugha. Asomugha was on All-Pro last year with good reason. He dominated with 8 interceptions and 19 passes deflected. This year, his stats are less prominent, but that may have to do with the Raiders run defense that disappeared after a good 2006. Watch out for this matchup. It may decide if Jim Sorgi comes into the game in the third quarter or in the fourth quarter.
Key Players
Bob Sanders
Sanders is all over the field. Justin Fargas has been one of the best backs in the league this year. If Sanders can shut down Fargas, then the pressure will be on Josh McCown and JaMarcus Russell to make plays.
Derrick Burgess
The Colts' offensive line is banged up. Burgess will need to get pressure on the QB to keep the Colts' out of the endzone.
My Prediction
45-14 Colts
Right now, the game has started and it is tied, but the Colts are driving. My crappy TV keeps on cutting out. I'm going downstairs.
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