Colts Gab

The Broncos will travel to the RCA Dome for an AFC matchup with the undefeated Colts on Sunday.  The Broncos were handed their first loss of the season, 23-14, at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Jay Cutler threw for 222 yards but the ground game struggled to get going, totaling just 47 yards.  Peyton Manning threw for 273 yards with a touchdown as the Colts beat the Houston Texans, 30-24, in Week Three.  Joseph Addai found the end zone twice in the win.  The Colts posted a three-point victory over the Broncos when these two teams met last season in Denver.

Tight end Dallas Clark’s role to the Indianapolis Colts could be compared to a component of a car engine.  In other words, let’s say for the sake of the conversation that Clark was a water pump in the engine (the engine in this case being the Colts’ offense).  If the water pump is not utilized properly, other parts of the engine have to over-compensate for the water pump’s lack of production.

Fortunately for Clark and the Colts, the driver of the car that runs the engine is quarterback Peyton Manning and the mechanic is Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore.  Clark has never been to a Pro Bowl in his career, nor has he even caught 40 balls in any given season.  Despite that, he is considered an integral part of what makes the Colts’ offense go.  This year so far, he has seemed to eclipse the numbers that he has had at this stage of the season during his 5-year career.

His numbers: 13 receptions, 175 yards, with two touchdowns.  Prorate those numbers and you have: 65/875/10 TD’s.  Very Antonio Gates-like, in my estimation.  Yet, for all of you who are Clark fans, don’t expect these numbers to hold up.  What I mean by that is while Clark is producing, there are other receivers in the Colts who figure in the mix as well.  But that doesn’t lessen Clark’s value to the team at all.

He’s athletic enough to get off the line cleanly, his speed is fast enough to outrun most linebackers and some secondary members, obviouslt big enough to block when the need to arises and can play the slot when the offense calls for it.  so as you can see, he is a multi-facted TE.  Colts head coach Tony Dungy has compared Clark’s progression as a receiver to that of Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who like Clark, produced solid numbers his first three seasons before getting his first 1,000 yard season in 2004.

While the Colts’ defense has improved leaps and bounds over last season, it is the offense that defines the Colts.  And Clark in his role as a safety valve has been a big part of that offense’s success.  And there’s no reason that Clark cannot have a “career year” stat-wise and for the Colts not to reap the benefits. 

Colts QB Peyton Manning is Number 1 to his fans, but in business circles, he’s number 13.   BusinessWeek is placing Manning as the 13th most powerful person in sports today in its inaugural Power 100 poll.  That puts Manning ahead of Myles Brand, David Beckham and George Steinbrenner.  Manning is the reigning Super Bowl MVP.  He was the top-ranked football player ahead of San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson and New England quarterback Tom Brady.  A spokesman for the Colt’s says Manning has had no comment on the position.

The Colts are gearing up for their next challenge as they savor Sunday’s victory over the Texans.  Coach Tony Dungy and his guys go after the Denver Broncos in Indianapolis this weekend.  Kick off at 4:15 p.m. in the Dome.

Despite Colts quarterback Peyton Manning’s assessment of the Houston Texans, it is hard to argue that he thrives against them.  Manning offered this assessment to Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star: “The front is good, the linebackers are active and the secondary is athletic.  So it’s a solid, sound defense.”  Perhaps this is true, in light of the fact that the Texans have done a complete turnaround as opposed to seasons past.  But the numbers don’t lie.

In the past, the Texans’ defense has taken a butt-whipping from Manning and Co.  In 10 starts vs. the Texans, Manning has went 9-1 and has completed 71% of his passes with 25 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions (a 6.25-to-1 ratio).  He also has a career passer rating of 119.3 against the Texans.  But that can be put aside as the undefeated Colts take on these Texans (also undefeated) at Reliant Stadium today.

The Colts will perhaps deviate slightly from their usual gameplan against the Texans.  You can expect Texans linebacker Demeco Ryans to key on Colts running back Joseph Addai, which should open up the passing lanes for Manning.  I would also think that the Colts’ defensive line would pay extra attention to DE Mario Williams, especially after what he did last week vs. the Carolina Panthers.  Colts offensive tackle Tony Ugoh will definitely have his hands full protecting Manning’s blind side.

The Texans’ much-improved offensive line will have to continue to play like they have for QB Matt Schaub to pass efficiently against the Colts’ secondary, which features stud safety Bob Sanders.  But with Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson out for at least this week, Schaub’s options at WR will be limited.  With these obstacles facing the Texans, a collective effort on both sides of the ball will be necessary if the Texans hope to upset the Colts this afternoon.

The Colts are placing player Bob Sanders on the high priority list as the next game with the Colts approaches. They say that keeping Sanders available is critical for the team. Whatever helps to keep Sanders on stand-by is worth considering. Coach Tony Dungy says that much of Sanders’ success is due to his versatility, instincts and his speed. The Colts take on the Houston Texans Sunday at 1 p.m. in Houston.

It’s almost like the Indianapolis Colts carry a shopping list to every game and check off a name weekly.  First it was Week One with Jason David and the New Orleans Saints; wide receiver Reggie Wayne torched him.  Check.  Cornerback Nick Harper and the Tennesse Titans; WR Marvin Harrison shooled him.  Check.  Look ahead to October 7, when the Colts see Cato June and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After Sunday’s victory over the Titans, people may finally recognize the Colts’ key to success so far; as defensive end Dwight Freeney told Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports, “Look here.  What we do here is about the scheme.  It’s about the system.  It’s about the coaching staff.  It’s about the veterans.  People need to start recognizing that.”  The Colts were without two of their starting linebackers – Freddie Keiaho and Rob Morris – yet in what can be only described as an ugly game, Colts head coach may have devised one of his best defensive game plans to date, bottling up what was until yesterday a Titans running attack that torched the Jacksonville Jaguars for 282 yards on the ground.

As you’d expect, the Colts’ game plan was simple – shut down or at least minimize the damage of the Titans’ running game.  Part of the plan was to involve safety Bob Sanders more.  And boy did Sanders produce; he had 2.5 sacks and 11 tackles against the Titans’ offensive line.  While Sanders is being increasingly recognized as one of the better defensive players in the league and teams are keying on Freeney, the Colts are adjusting by utilizing Sanders in more defensive schemes (in the case of the Titans, more blitzing).

Sanders’ improved health and his increased role in the Colts’ secondary is lessening the blow from having lost 2 starters from last year’s team.  New starters CB ’s Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden bring some tangibles to the table: additional speed and they have adopted Sanders’ style of play.  A good example of their effectiveness was a play involving Titans QB Vince Young and Hayden late in the first half.  Hayden delivered a hit to Young just as he stepped out of bounds; Young flipped the ball at Hayden’s stomach, drawing a 15-yard penalty from the refs which turned out to be a drive killer.  A simple yet effective strategy. 

While the Colts share the AFC South lead with the Houston Texans (winners over the Carolina Panthers), they seem to be the driver behind the wheel.  What we seem to have here is a young and developing team with an offense that is spreading the ball around quite a bit and a defense that seems to adapt and mature with what can be described as “interchangeable parts”.  QB Peyton Manning best described today’s version of the Colts: “We have got a fairly new team.  Some of our players from last year’s team are playing for the Titans, and some are playing for other teams.  It’s kind of like a new team and trying to establish our identity.  I think we’ll do that throughout the season.”

Peyton Manning threw for 312 yards and a touchdown as the Colts held on for a 22-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans at LP Field.  Joseph Addai rushed 20 times for 81 yards and a touchdown, while Dallas Clark grabbed a 22-yard touchdown pass from Manning. Adam Vinatieri kicked three fields goals as the defending Super Bowl champions improved to 2-and-0.  LenDale White ran for 64 yards and a touchdown, while Roydell Williams caught a one-yard touchdown pass as the Titans fell to 1-and-1.  Vince Young finished 17-for-27 for 184 yards and a touchdown.  The Colts take on Houston next on September 23rd.

 The Indianapolis Colts will be shorthanded at linebacker today; the team has deactivated LB’s Freddie Keiaho and Rob Morris for today’s game between the Colts and Tennessee Titans.  Keiaho played with a dislocated elbow last week in the Colts’ win against the New Orleans Saints.  Morris was listed as questionable with a rib injury; Keiaho will be replaced by Tyjuan Hagler and former Titans LB Rocky Boiman will replace Morris.

The Colts’ shortage at LB could work to the Titans’ advantage as they they rushed for 282 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.  The Titans have deactivated defensive end Bryce Fisher who was recently acquired by the team in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks and defensive tackle Randy Starks.

Last week the Indianapolis Colts looked like a machine on both sides of the ball as they romped the New Orleans Saints.  Everyone expects that from the offense.  Will the defense be able to sustain last week’s play as they go to Nashville to battle the Tennessee Titans?

The Colts offense is the Colts offense.  There is no doubt the Colts offense is as potent and explosive as ever, with Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and the ringmaster, Peyton Manning.  The Colts running game was complete, as well, as Joseph Addai racked up 118 yards on 23 carries and a score.

Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Titans looked impressive on defense, allowing only thirteen first downs, seventy-five yards rushing, and one hundred ninety yards passing.  Factor in three sacks and a recovered fumble, and the defense played as well as any in week one.  Of course, Jacksonville isn’t very strong on offense with David Garrard looking so-so in his debut as permanent starter and the Jaguars possessing a rather mediocre receiving corps.  Fred Taylor was rendered a non-factor by the Titans, but age is catching up with Taylor, and he is not the premier back most considered him to be at one time in his career.

The Titans are a very unbalanced unit offensively, as they blistered an average-at-best Jacksonville defense for two hundred and eighty-two rushing yards, including one hundred seventy-five from a slightly above average Chris Brown.  He won’t torch the Colts defense that way Sunday, as the Colts demonstrated an effective amount of speed and power in shutting down Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister.

Vince Young is not breaking out as the outstanding NFL quarterback many expect.  In week one, he threw only eighteen times, completing eleven passes for a mere seventy-eight yards.  One could argue Young’s lack of a passing threat was due to the success of the running game, as it makes sense to keep the ball on the ground to reduce the risk of turnovers when the ground attack is so potent.  One could also argue Norm Chow doesn’t trust Young enough as a passer, thus causing the team to rely on the running game while maintaining a rather low expectation that Young merely ‘doesn’t mess up’.

The last time these two teams met last year, the Titans defeated the Colts 20-17.  Tennessee may have the home-field advantage, but the Colts offense is too strong and their defense has the potential to easily shut down a middle tier offense like that of the Titans.  This week will not see a repeat of last season’s upset, as the Colts win this South Division battle, 31-17.
Greg Stephens is an analyst for ProFootballNet.Com