Official Indianapolis Colts Forum Thread

[Gonzo]

Reggie Wayne still was doing a slow, quiet, frustrating burn as he deliberately dressed.

"It's bull. It's bull, man," the five-time Pro Bowl receiver said after being a non-factor in the Indianapolis Colts' 17-16 loss to the New York Jets in Saturday night's AFC wild-card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

"I give everything I've got no matter what. Every day, I give it everything. And . . . one ball, that's all."

During the regular season, Wayne finished second in the NFL with a career-best 111 receptions. Against the Jets and Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis, he had one catch for 1 yard.

More frustrating to Wayne was the fact quarterback Peyton Manning delivered only one pass in his direction.

"I shouldn't have even suited up," Wayne said. "I should have watched the game like everybody else. I was irrelevant."

The last time Wayne had just one catch in a game in which he played from start to finish was Sept. 9, 2004, at New England (one catch, 42 yards).

Manning's 26 pass attempts matched his season low. He sent a team-high eight each to rookie receiver Blair White and tight end Jacob Tamme.

Pierre Garcon was the most productive receiver, catching five passes for 112 yards. including a 57-yard touchdown.
Short on third-and-1

Who could argue if third-and-1 is engraved on the Colts' headstone from the loss to the Jets.

Six times Manning stood over a third-and-1. Four times the offense trotted off the field after being unable to pick up 36 inches. The Colts' first three drives stalled because of failure on third-and-1 situations.

"I guess you give (the Jets) credit," left tackle Charlie Johnson said. "That's what you're supposed to do, give them credit for stopping us.

"At the same time, we know it's stuff that we did. It was a bad job on our part."

On the first three possessions, Joseph Addai was swarmed under for a 2-yard loss, a Manning completion to White went for no gain and Manning threw low to Tamme.

The Colts finally got their act together and converted two of their final three third-and-1s. Running back Dominic Rhodes accounted for the two successful ones with a pair of 3-yard runs.

"It's just going out there and getting it in those situations, and we didn't do it," Rhodes said. "Usually it's the team that wants it more. I'm not saying we didn't want it because we did, but they won those particular times."
Rare double losses

If misery loves company, the Colts and New Orleans Saints shared a rare disappointment Saturday.

The last time both Super Bowl teams lost their first playoff game the following season was the last time both Super Bowl teams reached the postseason the following year. It was 2000, and '99 Super Bowl champion St. Louis lost to New Orleans and runner-up Tennessee lost to Baltimore.

The Saints, who beat the Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV, fell 41-36 at Seattle.
Diem forced to sit out

A back injury forced right tackle Ryan Diem to miss practice last week and kept him out of the Jets game. Diem and center Jeff Saturday were the only offensive linemen to start all 16 regular-season games.

Jeff Linkenbach, an undrafted rookie, replaced Diem in the starting lineup.

Diem said he fractured two bones in his back late in the Colts' regular-season finale against Tennessee.

"I got speared in the back," he said.

Surgery won't be required.
Hayden on IR

Prior to Saturday night's game, the Colts placed starting cornerback Kelvin Hayden on the injured reserve list. He missed the final five games of the season with a neck injury.

Offensive lineman Joe Reitz, a product of Hamilton Southeastern High School, took Hayden's spot on the roster but was inactive for the game.
No rush on pick

Cornerback Justin Tryon came up with just his second career interception late in the second quarter. He didn't benefit from the Colts' pass rush.

In a rare move, the Colts rushed only two defenders and dropped nine into coverage. That gave Mark Sanchez plenty of time to throw, perhaps too much time. On third-and-10 from the Colts 19-yard line, Sanchez forced a high pass to tight end Dustin Keller near the left pylon that Tryon went high to grab.

http://www.indystar.com/article/201...lts-WR-Wayne-s-single-catch-leaves-him-fuming

 

[ThunderHorse]

This offseason is going to be very interesting.

I think Indy is officially in re-build mode and I can see guys like Wayne and Addai not being in the picture next year if Polian decides to move in a different direction.

 

[Gonzo]

I'm gonna see if I can dig up some quick Tweets from Irsay.

Those drifter days have all passed me now..I got so much more 2 think about;Deadlines and commitments..what 2 leave in..what 2 leave out...

Shot in the dark really, I'm just speculating feverishly at this point. Could allude to releasing Wayne, Sanders, etc.

Understand this is a stewardship,not just an ownership.I work4 the fans.Here is what's gonna happen;great2011colts squad,newCBA,IND.SUPBOWL!

Could possibly allude to the fans outcry for Caldwell to be fired.

Really just shots in the dark. It should be a rather interesting offseason though.

 

[ThunderHorse]

New rumors flying around that Polian may be inclined to let guys like Session walk this offseason with the depth of the linebackers looking better next year.

I guess they're expecting a big jump from Angerer who was decent enough this year, and with Polian dropping the big $ on Gary Brackett's door step the growing feeling is that he's not going to do the same with a guy like Session.

I have mixed feelings on it, While Session does bring something to the defense which it usually simply does not have, we have needs elsewhere and if Session is chasing after a bigger check IDK if it's worth it to keep the guy, might as well let him walk and build his HOF career elsewhere. :shifty:

 

[ThunderHorse]

I posted this on the Colts Freaks forum but I'm interested into what some of VSN's collective Colts fans think regarding the issue.

I noticed at the second half of the Raiders game that Donald Brown didn't get a snap in the second half at all.

Roto World Link Here

This surprised me as the week before he had a decent game and I figured that they might really try to put him to work. However, what really surprised me was the fact that Brown didn't actually get one snap last weekend against New York.

Donald Brown was active for the Colts' playoff loss to the Jets Saturday night, but didn't play a single down.
Joseph Addai and late-season street free agent Dominic Rhodes played ahead of him. It's a very bad sign for Brown, the team's 2009 first-round pick. Prone to mental mistakes and unproductive when given extended chances to play, Brown is not shaping up as a viable long-term solution at tailback. Jan. 9 - 12:02 am et

Here

Coach Jim Caldwell blamed game flow for Donald Brown's zero-snap day against the Jets Saturday.
Actions speak louder than words. In the biggest game of the season, Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes combined for 27 carries while Brown was left as an innocent bystander. "It doesn't necessarily mean that's how we're going to go forward," Caldwell said. "I still think Donald obviously is a fine back." Jan. 10 - 12:12 pm et
Source: Indianapolis Star

Here

in other threads we've discussed Brown's role next year with the team but nothing in depth, I'm curious to see what REAL opinions individuals have formed of Brown over these last 2 years, and what role individuals believe Brown will play for this team next year.

I'll start from by sharing my own but I'll keep it brief in the interests of not getting OT.

I have no reason to believe Donald Brown will ever be able to carry the load for this team from his 2 years here, and the coaching staff's decision to let Dominic Rhodes essentially jump him in the depth chart based off of only a few weeks tells me that they have little to no confidence in Brown in the first place.

Next year (depending on the draft and what happens with Addai) I think Brown will be given a light load but will not be given the same chances he has been given previously, Assuming Addai is resigned I don't see Donald Brown touching the ball very much next year and unless he does something with the few chances I believe he'll get, I'm starting to feel more and more that the "B" word might apply to the kid.

It shouldn't take 2 years for a running back to pick up the game, it's the most instinctive position in the game, you either have it or you don't.

So let's say, hypothetically speaking, if Indianapolis is incapable of re-signing Joseph Addai (or, of course, if Polian simply chooses not too) do you guys think Indianapolis will address the position in the draft?

Will Donald Brown be the starting tailback for Indianapolis next year if Joseph Addai isn't kept on the team?

Assuming Addai doesn't leave, what does Donald Brown's role become? how much longer will Donald Brown be in Indianapolis if he continues putting up similar #'s to his previous 2 years?

Which running back (if any) do you think could help Indianapolis the most coming out of the draft if Polian did decide it was a need? Or, maybe a more reasonable question at this point, how early do you think Polian would go for a RB assuming we can grab an offensive tackle in the first?

 

[Bear Pand]

New rumors flying around that Polian may be inclined to let guys like Session walk this offseason with the depth of the linebackers looking better next year.

I guess they're expecting a big jump from Angerer who was decent enough this year, and with Polian dropping the big $ on Gary Brackett's door step the growing feeling is that he's not going to do the same with a guy like Session.

I have mixed feelings on it, While Session does bring something to the defense which it usually simply does not have, we have needs elsewhere and if Session is chasing after a bigger check IDK if it's worth it to keep the guy, might as well let him walk and build his HOF career elsewhere. :shifty:

Stupid. I'm tired of Polian letting linebackers go.

Yeah our defense gives up a 10 minute 87 yard 17 play drive and we have enough depth at linebacker to let session walk. SMFH.

 

[ThunderHorse]

Stupid. I'm tired of Polian letting linebackers go.

Yeah our defense gives up a 10 minute 87 yard 17 play drive and we have enough depth at linebacker to let session walk. SMFH.

well, take it with a grain of salt too,

Polian is absolutely notorious for saying one thing and doing another, with him you never really know if it's him being truthful or him putting up a smoke screen.

Session is Easily the most physical linebacker we have and you'll hear some say we haven't had a linebacker like that since this guy

anyway, I don't think Session will walk because I don't think anyone's seen enough of him to offer him anything legitimate that Indianapolis can't afford either.

 

[Bear Pand]

well, take it with a grain of salt too,

Polian is absolutely notorious for saying one thing and doing another, with him you never really know if it's him being truthful or him putting up a smoke screen.

Session is Easily the most physical linebacker we have and you'll hear some say we haven't had a linebacker like that since this guy

anyway, I don't think Session will walk because I don't think anyone's seen enough of him to offer him anything legitimate that Indianapolis can't afford either.

From that #50 to this one:

:facepalm:

 

[Archer]

I really doubt the Colts are giving up on Brown this early despite him not getting a single snap in the Jets game

It saddens me because he is nowhere near good enough to start for this team if Addai was to leave. He has done NOTHING to show that he is better then Mike Hart or Dom Rhodes who all run behind the same shitty o-line (Brown lovers all love to blame the line)

If we did draft a back, I do like Ingram, Vereen, Hunter and Murray in the draft.

 

[Archer]

Also any move at linebacker that involves Wheeler moving up the depth chart makes me sick

Conner and Angerer do look to have a decent future though

 

[Esjay]

Ready for the season fellas?

 

[ThunderHorse]

Should be pretty interesting.

We lost Session like I thought we may, but then we went and signed a guy like Sims - so we might not lose a step there.

Offensive line play should be interesting this year, especially seeing as they've let Charlie Johnson walk to Minnesota and going into the first pre-season game the projected starter is Jeff Linkenbauch (sp?). anyway, it's week 1 on a shortened pre-season so I don't expect any of the offensive lineman to just take the spot straight out. but I'm hoping those 2 kids can play enough that 1 of them can actually start week 1.

People are saying Garcon is still dropping passes in Training Camp, offensive line play has been abysmal (as should be expected though). Jacob Lacy apparently has put on a clinic of how to get beat. Ernie Sims just had an appendectomy. Ricardo Matthews apparently is getting real.. REAL big and some expect to see some legitimate play out of him this year.

Heard good things about Tommie Harris, good and bad things about Jerry Hughes. nothing positive in the slightest concerning the RB's but I've heard one guy say that the 4th back on the roster, Moore, apparently is a shifty guy and some think he's going to help us out in the return game a lot.

I'm ready for football though.

EDIT - Minnesota

 

[Esjay]

Should be pretty interesting.

We lost Session like I thought we may, but then we went and signed a guy like Sims - so we might not lose a step there.

Offensive line play should be interesting this year, especially seeing as they've let Charlie Johnson walk to Seattle and going into the first pre-season game the projected starter is Jeff Linkenbauch (sp?). anyway, it's week 1 on a shortened pre-season so I don't expect any of the offensive lineman to just take the spot straight out. but I'm hoping those 2 kids can play enough that 1 of them can actually start week 1.

People are saying Garcon is still dropping passes in Training Camp, offensive line play has been abysmal (as should be expected though). Jacob Lacy apparently has put on a clinic of how to get beat. Ernie Sims just had an appendectomy. Ricardo Matthews apparently is getting real.. REAL big and some expect to see some legitimate play out of him this year.

Heard good things about Tommie Harris, good and bad things about Jerry Hughes. nothing positive in the slightest concerning the RB's but I've heard one guy say that the 4th back on the roster, Moore, apparently is a shifty guy and some think he's going to help us out in the return game a lot.

I'm ready for football though.

would help a lot for one of the rookies to impress enough to start ..

I like that we signed a few veterans on 1 year deals to improve the defense. Ernie Sims and Tommie Harris are intriguing.

Looking forward to the season and hopefully having less injuries. Who is competing for the 3rd linebacker spot?

 

[ThunderHorse]

Looking forward to the season and hopefully having less injuries. Who is competing for the 3rd linebacker spot?

It has to be between Angerer, Wheeler, and Conner.

it IS the SAM spot, so they're going to need a guy who can deal with an offensive lineman and set the edge every once in a while. I don't think Angerer is capable of that, I know Wheeler for the most part can't, and Conner is a young guy.

I really don't know about that last spot though, I thought Conner did a decent job at setting the edge last year, especially after he got a few games under his belt and started playing a little faster.

 

[MmmmBeeeeer]

Ready for the season fellas?

:yep:

 

[MmmmBeeeeer]

Our first game on the road in Houston should be a big test early. They've came a long way over the years.

 

[MmmmBeeeeer]

Saw on my phone today that the Colts supposedly put an offer out to T.J. Houshmanzadeh and he was in town for a bit, but he is now out talking to the Patriots.

I wouldn't mind him being a Colt :dunno:

It doesn't seem likely at this point though because he has better offers from Minnesota and the Patriots.

 

[MmmmBeeeeer]

They cut Ball State QB Nate Davis, no surprise.

Minus whale cut Painter while you're at it.

 

[Bear Pand]

I don't understand the Housh thing. Like when it was rumored Indy had interst in TO and Moss I wanted to see it go down just for the hilarity...but it doesn't make any sense.

Between:
Wayne/Garcon/Collie/Gonzales
Clark/Tamme

I don't see the need for another WR. I don't see how they're even going to utilize what they have now. All six of those players have had at least a 600 yard, 4 TD performance in the last 3 years.

Plus there's the RB corps that'll hopefully get more touches.

Must mean either Collie isn't 100% or Gonzo isn't. Who knows Indy is never honest about injuries.

 

[cf24]

Do you guys have any info on Aaron Francisco? He's still on the team, right?