Colts Gab

By and large, the Indianapolis Colts have been an high-octane offensive team, with a bend-but-not-break defense. But with some astute signings on the defensive side of the ball (Gary Brackett, Antoine Bethea, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and a finally healthy Bob Sanders) totalling in the neighborhood of $242 million since 2006, the Colts should finally be able to reap some benefits.

Fortunately for the team, their defensive coordinator Larry Coyer has a system in place that will enable the defensive line and subsequently the secondary to be able to be more aggressive than in the past.

As in any professional team sports, with so much money invested in the defense, playing time will be hard to come by, save for the usual suspects.

Assuming that Freeney, Sanders and Mathis remain healthy through the entire 2010-11 season, the Colts’ defensive line can be lethal, especially in passing situations. And Sanders – we already know about his pass coverage abilities; that goes without saying.

The defensive line, for the most part, is set with Freeney and Mathis as bookends with wither Eric Foster and Daniel Muir spelling each other at defensive tackle.

Linebacker is likely going to consist of Brackett, Clint Session and either Phillip Wheeler or Cody Glenn starting. Fortunately, the Colts have many options at LB, so this is a position of strength.

The secondary, depending on the health of some players, will probably have Bob Sanders and Melvin Bullitt at safety and Jerraud Powers and probably Jacob Lacey at cornerback.

But when the smoke clears, there will be battles at all of the defensive positions, save for the DEs, a couple of the LBs and certainly playing time in the secondary. Suffice it to say, the secondary is deep. And let’s not forget about Jerry Hughes. Although one would assume he is a defensive end, there is the possibility that he can also do some pass rushing at one of the linebacker slots.

If Coyer can whip the defense into decent shape and resemble or even improve over last year, they will make Peyton Manning’s job that much easier.

After all, that’s what they’re supposed to do, right?

Photos: Colts.com

Yahoo! Sports has a list of players and teams under pressure as they enter training camp of the 2010 season, and one of the players on the list is the Colts Bob Sanders. Here is what the article says about the Colts safety:

The idea of Sanders being healthy for an entire season (let alone 10 games) is so absurd that you’d get better odds in Vegas that Glenn Beck will vote for Barack Obama in the next election. In fact, there are even concerns that his playing career is over. In six seasons, Sanders has missed at least 10 regular-season games four times. Over the past two seasons, he has played in eight of 32 regular-season games. Over his entire career, he has missed more games (49) than he has played (47). That said, he remains one of the keys to the Colts defense even if the team made it to the Super Bowl last year without him. Sanders is primarily a run defender, but he’s so good at it that he allows other guys to focus on the pass. His presence would have significantly changed the way the Colts had played against the Saints in February. Then again, that’s based on limited info because Sanders’ is so limited.

Michael Lombardi of NFL.com reports that there is some concern Colts strong safety Bob Sanders might never be able to play football again, with his shoulder and bicep issues. He reduced his contract, but his rehab has been slow. The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year has only played in more than six regular season games twice (2005 and 2007) in his five years with the Colts, and even in their Super Bowl year, he only played four games during the regular season.

With the Super Bowl a week away, there’s some sad news that has started already for the Colts. Star defensive end Dwight Freeney had a torn ligament which would make it difficult for him to play in the Super Bowl against the high-powered offense of the New Orleans Saints.

“He is under the care of our athletic training staff,” Team Spokesman Craig Kelley said. “Nothing we have seen changes our diagnosis that he is questionable. He has a third-degree, low basketball sprain.”

It means Freeney has a complete tear in the ankle ligament. I see the Dwight playing. I doubt he will not play this game. 100 percent, actually. But even if Freeney does play in my mind, it’s going to be questionable of how effective he will be.

“He has had injuries before where they said [he's] not going to play and he has come back,” Colts tight end Dallas Clark said during the Pro Bowl. “He is a competitor, he is one of the toughest guys on our team and I never expect him to miss anything.”

I think Freeney will be alright. It would be horrible without him. The Colts will lose another important player to squad. There was Bob Sanders and Marlin Jackson. Don’t let it be Dwight this time. Especially if it’s Super Bowl time.

Don’t worry.

The Colts are still rolling along at 7-0, but let’s just say that going undefeated for much longer is going to be a lot tougher as some big name players were put on the shelf Friday. The team today placed CB Marlin Jackson and strong safety Bob Sanders on injured reserve, ending each of their seasons.

Jackson, who missed the second half of the 2008 season after injuring his right knee during practice, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee during a non-contact drill Wednesday. He had been rehabbing the knee after he was hurt against Seattle on October 4th.

Sanders, a two-time Pro Bowler, tore his left bicep against the 49ers last weekend and will need surgery.
The shame of it is he had just gotten back in the lineup two weeks ago. He had missed all of training camp and the first five games of the year after undergoing offseason knee surgery. He has missed 40 of 87 games during his injury-plagued, six-year NFL career.

Indianapolis’ other veteran cornerback, Kelvin Hayden, is also expected to be sidelined for the next three to four weeks after he suffered a sprained knee during the 18-14 win over San Francisco. Hayden is not expected to undergo surgery.

“Not real sure (how long Hayden will be out),” coach Jim Caldwell said. “We’re kind of looking at probably a three to four week window.”

National Football Post reports that Bob Sanders has an elbow injury:

Colts safety Bob Sanders has a new injury to add to his growing collection. Sanders, who underwent offseason knee surgery and made his first appearance of the year against the San Francisco 49ers, was sidelined at practice today due to an elbow injury. Also missing time today: defensive end Dwight Freeney (non-injury related, wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez (knee), cornerback Kelvin Hayden (knee), kicker Adam Vinatieri (knee) and cornerback Marlin Jackson (knee).

If ever there was a time for the Indianapolis Colts to have their bye week, perhaps Week 6 would be the ideal time. Peruse the defensive part of the team roster and then you will see why I submit this week as optimal for the team’s health.

The list of the walking wounded is not of the short variety either: cornerback Kelvin Hayden, offensive tackle Charles Johnson, safety Bob Sanders, CB Marlin Jackson and wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez. The Colts haven’t really suffered offensively with A-Gon’s absence; however, the Colts secondary will be vastly improved with the inevitable return of Sanders and Hayden.

Speaking of inevitable returns, both Hayden and Johnson have assured people that they will be ready for next Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams. Assuming that is the case, it would be welcome news as the Colts’ run defense has on a weekly basis gotten better while Hayden’s presence will also prove beneficial to the secondary.

As for Sanders, it is still not clear when his return will be although there have been whisperings about a possible return on September 25; injured for nearly half of his 85-game professional career, Sanders has had a limited practice schedule for the past two weeks. Team head coach Jim Caldwell seems to be a bit optimistic about Sanders’ return soon:

“He is hungry, there’s no question about that. I think he’s been preparing diligently. He looks good out there. He’s moving around. He looks like Bob. So we’re all anxious. When he gets comfortable with where he is and what he’s doing, we’ll get him in there at some point in time.”

In the meantime while the aforementioned players rest and heal, the Colts secondary will need to continue their inspired play. Key contributions by safety Melvin Bullitt and rookie CB’s Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey will need to continue in order for the Colts to continue winning games.

Johnson’s return is crucial as his fill-in, second-year OT Tony Ugoh, has struggled as of late in protecting Peyton Manning’s blind side – as evidenced from last week when the Tennessee Titans’ Kyle Vanden Bosch had his way against Ugoh.

When Gonzalez returns, what is already a dangerous offense will be even more so; big contributions by Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie have been a major reason for the team’s undefeated start. That doesn’t minimalize what Reggie Wayne has done at all; however, since Reggie is double-teamed, having the safety valves (Garcon and Collie) have made Manning’s job that much easier. Although to be fair, tight end Dallas Clark has made opposing teams’ linebackers and secondaries’ lives miserable, too.

Bottom line here? When the secondary returns reasonably healthy, that is when you will see a Colts’ team that is truly dangerous, week-in, week-out. The offense cannot do it alone, nor should they have to.

Photo: Adam Good, Indianapolis Colts

There’s some good and bad news regarding Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders. I’ll start with the good news first; Sanders did practice for the third time this week on Friday. Now the bad news; the safety was listed as doubtful for the Colts’ game against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. According to NFL rules, the term “doubtful” means that there is a 75% chance the player in question will not play – therein lies the uncertainty.

To further add to the mystery of Sanders’ availability this weekend are statements made by both Colts head coach Jim Caldwell and Sanders; first Caldwell:

“Not real sure at this point.”

Ummm, ok. What say you, Bob?

“Not sure yet. We haven’t made a decision on that. If you hear anything, you’ll hear it from coach Caldwell.”

Sanders further added:

“I feel good. I haven’t really had any problems. I’ve got a lot more work to do. I’m getting my time in, (getting his defensive) fits and all that stuff back to where it has been and just keep going. As long as we don’t have any setbacks, I think I’m going to be cool.”

Fortunately for the Colts, they have a bye week next week, so regardless of whether Sanders plays Sunday or not, the extra week will without a doubt allow him to rest and get further healed. While it would be preferable that Sanders play at 100%, not having him out there will not change things much. The Titans, by and large, subsist on ther running game and will probably attempt to exploit the Colts’ improving run defense.

So the presence – or lack thereof – of Sanders isn’t going to change very much the overall game plan of the Colts, although it would be very helpful for the secondary to heal up as it is very unlikely that Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson will play agaisnt Tennessee.

The Indy Star reports that the Colts are still waiting to see when safety Bob Sanders is going to take the field again:

The Colts still aren’t certain when Bob Sanders will join practice. A consultation is planned with noted orthopedic surgeon James Andrews. Sanders, the 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, missed 10 regular-season games last season after Andrews operated on his right knee in September. Team president Bill Polian said Sanders had a “clean up” procedure in the offseason. Polian said the team “will have a conversation with (Andrews). We’re going to weigh in and let Jim weigh in and see where we are.”

The Tribune Star has a progress report on safety Bob Sanders:

Sanders is currently on the Colts’ physically unable to perform list after undergoing knee surgery during the offseason. However, he is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season Sept. 13 when Indianapolis takes on AFC South rival Jacksonville at Lucas Oil Stadium. “He’s making real good progress. We certainly feel he’s doing everything he can to get back. He’s working extremely hard, he’s keeping himself in it mentally, and he’s into it in meetings and our practice sessions, doing a little coaching on the side as well,” Caldwell said after Wednesday’s one-hour practice session at Cook Stadium.

“When he’ll be back, I’m not certain, but he’s making real good progress so that’s really all we can depend on right now, is the fact that some point in time he’ll be available.” And that’s what the 2007 NFL “Defensive Player of the Year” is aiming for. “I feel OK. This year I’m just going to keep trying to work. And just leave it up to coach [Caldwell] and I’m going to let coach explain the rehab process, the [knee] injury. I’ve been talking about it for so long, I’m going to let coach handle it this year,” Sanders said earlier this week.