Colts’ Polian critical of offensive line, special teams

[Sportsbuck]

The problem with the Colts is the way their big runs came about. It's not like they were just lining up and really trying to rush it down the Saints' throat in the first half. It was more like "hey they're lined up in this D let me audible to a shotgun draw!"

Actually, I think several of their big runs came from running right underneath a Saints DE. I can recall multiple instances in which one of the DE's got upfield too quickly and took himself out of the play, letting Addai cut it right where he should've been for solid gain.

[ThunderHorse]

The problem with the Colts is the way their big runs came about. It's not like they were just lining up and really trying to rush it down the Saints' throat in the first half. It was more like "hey they're lined up in this D let me audible to a shotgun draw!"

Maybe Peyton failed to recognize these situations in the second half or whatever but still. The Colts were #2 in the league in passing attempts, and #31 in rushing attempts. They had been playing that way all season, they abandoned the run back in training camp. I don't know if that's the o-line's, Peyton's, Addai/Brown's or the coaches' fault but they need to figure it out next year.

It's the scheme, and problems with the people we have playing.

The offensive line is small truthfully, they aren't big enough or talented enough to get a legitimate push during run plays. When we were capable of running the ball effectively a few years back, we still had Tarik Glenn and Jake Scott. Glenn is retired now and Scott is playing for the Titans.

For years our staple was the stretch play, and in the last 2 years we've seen the play utterly fail for the most part. A lot of colt fans and Polian alike seemed to blame Addai for the lack of production on the ground before this season and they decided to pick up Donald Brown in the draft. Then we saw some improvement this year in the run game, but nothing that had lts fans happy or confident in it. I don't think people understand that the superbowl was probably the best rushing game we'd had all season.

They seemed to throw out the stretch play towards the end of the season simply because it wasn't working, The offensive line didn't have the talent to run the play, and because we kept trying to run the play we kept getting hit in the mouth.

Addai is a good runningback, maybe the fact I like him is clouding what I think about him, and no, I don't think he's a Chris Johnson or an Adrian Peterson, but give Addai some decent blocking and he does make some good plays and put up nice #'s. The guy can run, he's an excellent blocker, and he can also line up as a receiver, look like one, and put up numbers like one too.

sometimes I fear people really give the offensive line too much credit, they get caught up in the lack of the sack statistic, and believe that it must mean the offensive line is tops. If you've watched games this year though, the only reason there aren't sacks is because Manning is a stickler about getting the ball out fast. When you're quarterback gets the ball out of his hands faster than any other quarterback in the NFL, and there's usually a defensive lineman in his face when he's doing it, you're offensive line probably isn't as good as it's billed to be.

I believe it's an average pass blocking line and clearly a below average run blocking line, Manning carries them and because of it people believe they're all pro's. Fans have been screaming for an offensive lineman to be picked up next year, and you probably won't find one that wouldn't like the idea. The offensive line clearly has issues, we're losing our offensive line coach over the off-season, I'm curious as to what Polian plans to do in the first round.

as for the return game, as Archer said, this is nothing new. Indianapolis has always had shitty guys returning kicks and punts, and special teams has never been our forte. The last guy to return a kick for a touchdown before Chad Simpson was.... wait for it..... Dominic Rhodes. Another area fans have been begging for change in, although in this regard, I don't believe their requests will be answered.

Indy has a bunch of receivers already, they already have a stable of runningbacks, there really is no room to draft some halfback or receiver out of college that was a beast in the return game.

Indy's needs are along the lines of

Offensive line
Defensive line
linebacker
weak but possible - DB

I think Polian is going to draft multiple offensive lineman this year in an effort to rebuild the line.

then again, who the hell knows WHAT Polian is going to do on draft day. If you would have told me a year ago we were planning on drafting Donald Brown, I would have laughed at you can called you a "Fucking Idiot".

Needless to say, last April was clearly a knock on my mental ability.

[Hasselbeck]

Why is Bill Polian the voice of the Colts? Does Jim Caldwell do anything?

[dave]

I thought it was tacky for Polian to call out his guys like that.

[Archer]

Why is Bill Polian the voice of the Colts? Does Jim Caldwell do anything?

He always was. Even when Dungy was the coach

[davie]

He always was. Even when Dungy was the coach

Dungy had "Quiet Strength" though.

[steeljake]

the problem with indy has always been their lack of defense. normally they cant stop the run but lately they have been getting lit up in the air. how many sacks did manning even take this year? i havent looked it up but i bet if it isnt the fewest among starters then it is 2nd or 3rd at most. the o-line is not built to run block, as mentioned they are too small, kinda like the old 49er lines. they are quick and can pass block pefrectly but they cannot generate a push. this why the only big runs the colts get are usually draw plays or when you have 9 guys dropping into to coverage (i think was mentioned before in this thread as well.) I personally think polian needs to stfu and let his coaches do their job or if he wants to run his yap then he needs to take some of teh blame as he is the one who brought the players he has deemed failures into the organization.

[Prodigal Son]

I like how he blames the offensive line, who kept Manning on his feet. But, ignores the fact that his receivers dropped many big passes. Don't want to piss off the money makers. I'd love to see the O-line to tell him to fuck off and basically just let Peyton get raped.

[Archer]

the problem with indy has always been their lack of defense. normally they cant stop the run but lately they have been getting lit up in the air. how many sacks did manning even take this year? i havent looked it up but i bet if it isnt the fewest among starters then it is 2nd or 3rd at most. the o-line is not built to run block, as mentioned they are too small, kinda like the old 49er lines. they are quick and can pass block pefrectly but they cannot generate a push. this why the only big runs the colts get are usually draw plays or when you have 9 guys dropping into to coverage (i think was mentioned before in this thread as well.) I personally think polian needs to stfu and let his coaches do their job or if he wants to run his yap then he needs to take some of teh blame as he is the one who brought the players he has deemed failures into the organization.

Powers being at 50% for the superbowl [broken bone in his foot] and Freeney playing on a torn ligament didn't help . That's our best pass rusher and cover corner banged up. The Colts D has always relied on pressure from the front four and if that's not there then they will get torn apart

They did a good job in the first half but once Freeney's ankle got worse it showed up big time.