In 2007, special teams was one of the biggest problems for the Colts. It cost the Colts the first Chargers games, and it wasn't helpful in the 2007 Playoffs Super Bowl run. The Colts haven't had a great returner since Brad Pyatt, who had his career ended by injury. The kickoff coverage is mediocre outside of Darrell Reid. The punt coverage is better than the kickoff coverage because of the team speed, but it still is not where it should be. Well, this is a whole new year, and the Colts have drafted and signed players who could completely revamp the coverage and return games. The Colts may have been anemic in the return game and incompetent in coverage last year, but next year will be different.
Kickoff Coverage
The Colts had a bunch of stupid mistakes last year covering kickoffs. There were multiple offsides penalties and missed tackles. However, the Colts have made some moves with personnel that will make this team one of the premier coverage squads in the NFL.
This offseason, the Colts kept their current special teams stars and then drafted and signed some players with potential to be stars. Darrell Reid, the man who almost killed Chris Henry, and Matt Giordano resigned with the Colts. With those two, the Colts have a great cornerstone for a strong special teams. However, the other 7 coverage men all were subpar. Here is the lineup I would use.
Michael Coe and Matt Giordano are the gunners. These are two of the fastest players on the team, and they should be able to keep the returner from making it to the outside.
Darrell Reid is the wedge breaker. He is big and normally one of the first defenders down the field. He is a Pro Bowl-caliber special teamer.
The other two players on the outside are Jamie Silva and Roy Hall. I would like to keep Hall away from special teams after his shoulder injury, but he is too fast and too big to be on the sidelines on kickoffs.
The five other defenders that I would send out would be Philip Wheeler, Colin Farrell, Brandon Archer, Curtis Johnson, and Ramon Guzman.
With this setup, this is how the kickoff formation would look like:
MC JS PW BA CF AV DR CJ RG RH MG
With this lineup, the Colts will have two of the fastest players in the league in Coe and Giordano being able to shut down the outside. Darrell Reid could very easily be another Colts Pro Bowler this upcoming year. The big defenders are also giants, and the linebackers are solid tacklers.
Kickoff Returns
Since Brad Pyatt's neck injury, there hasn't been a dynamic Colts returner in ages. In the sixth round, a Division III player became the next Colts returner.
Pierre Garcon is the ideal returner for this team. First, he will not play a big role on Sundays when Peyton is on the field. At most he will be a fourth receiver if Marvin is suspended or still injured. Secondly, he is one of the most explosive returners I have seen highlights of. Most would think Joshua Cribbs got put in a Mount Union jersey and starting returning kicks on Pop Warner teams. That's how good he has looked. I don't think there is a question who will be returning punts this year.
However, we have seen returners come and go. Brad Pyatt hurt his neck. Terrence Wilkins became too old. TJ Rushing is now expendable. To be safe in case of a freak injury, the Colts have backup returners. Sam Giguere is a probable practice squad player who could be a quality returner some day. Rudy Burgess and Charles Dillon both were returners in college, and they could be signed to the 53 man roster if Garcon and Giguere would be injured. Speed is never a concern for the Colts.
Here is a Pierre Garcon kick return highlight for those who don't believe how good this kid can be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvzTkNIVEj0
Convinced? I think most Colts fans are, and more importantly, Bill Polian is.
Punt Coverage
The punt coverage and kickoff coverage teams should look similar. Matt Giordano and Michael Coe will be gunners. Coe is not as solid of a tackler as one may want for gunner, but he is as fast as any player on this team. Giordano combines speed and tackling to make an unstoppable gunner. I would like to see the players I listed on my kickoff coverage being on there as well. Philip Wheeler, Curtis Johnson, and Brandon Archer are all solid tacklers who would not let big plays happen.
Punt Return
I think we all know that Garcon will be the returner, but who will be on the line? Last year, Michael Coe made a great block in the Baltimore game. I think he and Giordano should be on the outside to go for the blocks. On the inside, I would like to see big bodies like Quinn Pitcock, Ed Johnson, and Josh Thomas in the middle. Also, an offensive lineman like Jamey Richard wouldn't hurt either for blocking. To drop back and block, linebackers like Tyjuan Hagler and Philip Wheeler would help. With this, they could get some good returns. However, I think we do not have the best blockers for returns, which is why we have had minimal success returning punts.
This is my preseason overview of the special teams. It's mostly guesses, because we don't even know the roster yet. But this is what I think it will look like.
Showing posts with label Darrell Reid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Darrell Reid. Show all posts
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Should They Stay or Should They Go?
It's the offseason now. Man. Offseason time. Well, I guess it is time to talk about free agents. The Colts have 15 contracts that are out. They need to get to work on signing some of them and ditching the rest. Here is are the players they SHOULD (notice I said should, not can) keep and who they shouldn't. These are in order by importance for the ones who should be resigned. The ones who are leaving are in order by how quickly they should be cut.
Keep the Jersey
Dallas Clark, TE: Clark has to stay. I don't care how they do it. Clark needs to be in Indy next year. He is one of Peyton's favorite targets. He will probably get the franchise tag and get a long term contract in 2009 when they get more cap room.
Ryan Lilja and Jake Scott, OG: To be honest, I don't care which one they keep. They just have to keep one of them. The Colts have pretty good depth on the offensive line, and I'm sure they could dig up another player to play guard effectively. They are interchangeable. To be honest, I could not tell them apart. They are just the offensive guards. Just keep one, and let the other walk.
Ed Johnson, DT: Ed Johnson got a one year contract for being an undrafted free agent. I guess 31 teams are bummed they didn't pick up this guy at one point in the draft. Legal problems smeagol problems (hehe Smeagol), he is awesome. He got into a little trouble at Penn State, but I don't think that is out of the ordinary for students there. The 80 year old head coach was in trouble for road rage! He should have been taken much higher than he was. The Colts could get him for pretty cheap due to his inexperience.
Darrell Reid, DT/ST: Darrell Reid deserves to be resigned just for that hit against Tennessee. Chris Henry is probably still dazed. However, Reid was a bright spot on a horrendous special teams unit. He was always the first one down the field, and he's a defensive tackle. He isn't needed on defense, but he is a Pro Bowl-caliber player on special teams.
Bryan Fletcher, TE: Fletcher is a very good H-back who never gets to play due to Utecht. He was phenominal in the first Chargers game, but he couldn't see the field again. I don't know why. He's a good player. The Colts should resign him.
Matt Giordano, SS: Bob Sanders is great, but he has had an injury problem. Giordano nailed Bo Scaife and LACERATED HIS LIVER! He lacerated a liver. Talk about a hard hitter. He had an interception return against New Orleans early in the year. I want him to come back, but he could be a star for another team.
Rocky Boiman, OLB: Rocky Boiman is a very capable linebacker who fits in well with the Tampa 2. He could be resigned for cheap--Under $1 million--and he would be great for rotating in with Tyjuan Hagler.
Dylan Gandy, C/G: Dylan Gandy has been Jeff Saturday's backup for a few years now, but he is ready to be a starter at guard. He will replace Jake Scott or Ryan Lilja.
Clean out your locker, son. You're out of year
Aaron Moorehead, WR: Please, Moorehead. Just leave. You're terrible. If you do come back, you will be behind Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, Roy Hall, Devin Aromashodu, and a new wide receiver I will address later in the blog. Buh-bye, Aaron.
Dan Klecko, DT: Sorry, Kleck. You were a star in 2006 when you came in as a fullback in goal line situations. But now, you have been replaced on offense by Luke Lawton and on defense by numerous new defensive tackles. Adios, Klecko.
Craphonso Thorpe, WR: See Moorehead. He is only ranked higher because he is a good returner, but that's why the Colts have TJ Rushing, who was great at the end of the year. So long, Crap-honso.
Ben Utecht, TE: I can't wait for the sucker team that picks up Utecht. I bet he will get a giant contract due to his fairly good season, but any Colts fan knows that he drops way too many catches, and when he does catch them, he fumbles. See ya later, alligator.
Josh Thomas, DE: Thomas stepped up fairly well when Freeney went down. However, the Colts will get Freeney back next year along with hopefully a more matured Keyunta Dawson and Jeff Charleston. Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya, Josh.
In Other News!!!
~You know that new wide receiver I was talking about? His name is Courtney Roby. Roby was a former receiver for the Tennessee Titans who didn't play in the 2007 season. The Titans are normally taking players from the Colts (e.g. Nick Harper, David Thorton, Corey Simon, Gilbert Gardner, Ben Hartsock), but now the Colts are picking up some old Titans. Courtney Roby, who played at North Central High School in Indianapolis and IU, may make the roster for the Colts come training camp time. The Colts also picked up linebacker Kyle Shotwell, defensive end JJ Milan, tight end Zac Herold and offensive linemen Tala Esera.
~Bob Kravitz, a columnist for the Indianapolis Star, wrote an article that said that Dungy should leave on his terms. Great, the problem is that he talked about he disappointed he was with only one championship. To be honest, I wanted more championships. The Colts could have won more championships, but they won one. Since 1984 (the Colts' first year in Indy), these are the teams that haven't won the Super Bowl-Jets, Dolphins, Bills, Texans, Jaguars, Titans, Bengals, Browns, Chargers, Chiefs, Eagles, Vikings, Lions, Falcons, Saints, Panthers, Cardinals, and Seahawks. I'll take one Super Bowl and some disappointing postseasons over being any of those teams. I don't know about you, but being the Braves of the NFL is better than being the Cubs of the NFL.
~The Colts are in trouble with the media. At halftime, the hometown fans booed a 14 year old girl who won a punt, pass, and kick contest. She was from New Hampshire and was wearing a Patriots jersey. Okay, there are two types of booing. There is agressive and non-agressive booing. Booing does not have to be in bad taste. I'm sure they didn't hate her or want ill on her. It was all in good fun. Ease up. Stop trying to find flaws in a classy organization.
~Tyjuan Hagler was resigned today. 1.417 million dollars for one year. That's a pretty good deal on both ends. We get to keep a starter for very cheap, and he gets a pay raise. Everyone is happy.
~The Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks and quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach Jim Caldwell have interviewed for the Redskins job. I'll consider that the Rooney Rule technique. Gregggggggggggggggg Williams will get the job fairly soon.
Keep the Jersey
Dallas Clark, TE: Clark has to stay. I don't care how they do it. Clark needs to be in Indy next year. He is one of Peyton's favorite targets. He will probably get the franchise tag and get a long term contract in 2009 when they get more cap room.
Ryan Lilja and Jake Scott, OG: To be honest, I don't care which one they keep. They just have to keep one of them. The Colts have pretty good depth on the offensive line, and I'm sure they could dig up another player to play guard effectively. They are interchangeable. To be honest, I could not tell them apart. They are just the offensive guards. Just keep one, and let the other walk.
Ed Johnson, DT: Ed Johnson got a one year contract for being an undrafted free agent. I guess 31 teams are bummed they didn't pick up this guy at one point in the draft. Legal problems smeagol problems (hehe Smeagol), he is awesome. He got into a little trouble at Penn State, but I don't think that is out of the ordinary for students there. The 80 year old head coach was in trouble for road rage! He should have been taken much higher than he was. The Colts could get him for pretty cheap due to his inexperience.
Darrell Reid, DT/ST: Darrell Reid deserves to be resigned just for that hit against Tennessee. Chris Henry is probably still dazed. However, Reid was a bright spot on a horrendous special teams unit. He was always the first one down the field, and he's a defensive tackle. He isn't needed on defense, but he is a Pro Bowl-caliber player on special teams.
Bryan Fletcher, TE: Fletcher is a very good H-back who never gets to play due to Utecht. He was phenominal in the first Chargers game, but he couldn't see the field again. I don't know why. He's a good player. The Colts should resign him.
Matt Giordano, SS: Bob Sanders is great, but he has had an injury problem. Giordano nailed Bo Scaife and LACERATED HIS LIVER! He lacerated a liver. Talk about a hard hitter. He had an interception return against New Orleans early in the year. I want him to come back, but he could be a star for another team.
Rocky Boiman, OLB: Rocky Boiman is a very capable linebacker who fits in well with the Tampa 2. He could be resigned for cheap--Under $1 million--and he would be great for rotating in with Tyjuan Hagler.
Dylan Gandy, C/G: Dylan Gandy has been Jeff Saturday's backup for a few years now, but he is ready to be a starter at guard. He will replace Jake Scott or Ryan Lilja.
Clean out your locker, son. You're out of year
Aaron Moorehead, WR: Please, Moorehead. Just leave. You're terrible. If you do come back, you will be behind Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, Roy Hall, Devin Aromashodu, and a new wide receiver I will address later in the blog. Buh-bye, Aaron.
Dan Klecko, DT: Sorry, Kleck. You were a star in 2006 when you came in as a fullback in goal line situations. But now, you have been replaced on offense by Luke Lawton and on defense by numerous new defensive tackles. Adios, Klecko.
Craphonso Thorpe, WR: See Moorehead. He is only ranked higher because he is a good returner, but that's why the Colts have TJ Rushing, who was great at the end of the year. So long, Crap-honso.
Ben Utecht, TE: I can't wait for the sucker team that picks up Utecht. I bet he will get a giant contract due to his fairly good season, but any Colts fan knows that he drops way too many catches, and when he does catch them, he fumbles. See ya later, alligator.
Josh Thomas, DE: Thomas stepped up fairly well when Freeney went down. However, the Colts will get Freeney back next year along with hopefully a more matured Keyunta Dawson and Jeff Charleston. Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya, Josh.
In Other News!!!
~You know that new wide receiver I was talking about? His name is Courtney Roby. Roby was a former receiver for the Tennessee Titans who didn't play in the 2007 season. The Titans are normally taking players from the Colts (e.g. Nick Harper, David Thorton, Corey Simon, Gilbert Gardner, Ben Hartsock), but now the Colts are picking up some old Titans. Courtney Roby, who played at North Central High School in Indianapolis and IU, may make the roster for the Colts come training camp time. The Colts also picked up linebacker Kyle Shotwell, defensive end JJ Milan, tight end Zac Herold and offensive linemen Tala Esera.
~Bob Kravitz, a columnist for the Indianapolis Star, wrote an article that said that Dungy should leave on his terms. Great, the problem is that he talked about he disappointed he was with only one championship. To be honest, I wanted more championships. The Colts could have won more championships, but they won one. Since 1984 (the Colts' first year in Indy), these are the teams that haven't won the Super Bowl-Jets, Dolphins, Bills, Texans, Jaguars, Titans, Bengals, Browns, Chargers, Chiefs, Eagles, Vikings, Lions, Falcons, Saints, Panthers, Cardinals, and Seahawks. I'll take one Super Bowl and some disappointing postseasons over being any of those teams. I don't know about you, but being the Braves of the NFL is better than being the Cubs of the NFL.
~The Colts are in trouble with the media. At halftime, the hometown fans booed a 14 year old girl who won a punt, pass, and kick contest. She was from New Hampshire and was wearing a Patriots jersey. Okay, there are two types of booing. There is agressive and non-agressive booing. Booing does not have to be in bad taste. I'm sure they didn't hate her or want ill on her. It was all in good fun. Ease up. Stop trying to find flaws in a classy organization.
~Tyjuan Hagler was resigned today. 1.417 million dollars for one year. That's a pretty good deal on both ends. We get to keep a starter for very cheap, and he gets a pay raise. Everyone is happy.
~The Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks and quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach Jim Caldwell have interviewed for the Redskins job. I'll consider that the Rooney Rule technique. Gregggggggggggggggg Williams will get the job fairly soon.
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