Official Indianapolis Colts Forum Thread

[Bear Pand]

Dudes not going to immediately switch to a 3-4. I think in his presser he said he might not even run a 3-4 and wouldn't try to fit square pegs into a round hole. I'm interested to see how he'll use freeney and mathis (if he stays).

Regardless, next year will be first time in forever it's more interesting to watch the D than O.

 

[Aso]

Pagano ran a 3-4/4-3 hybrid. More often than not Suggs was a DE with his hand in the ground rather than an OLB. Pagano could very well run a 4-3 straight up as his base defense without the 3-4 at all.

 

[Archer]

http://blogs.colts.com/2012/01/27/joint-statement-from-peyton-manning-and-jim-irsay/

We would like to dispel any misperception that there might be any hard feelings between us.



Since 1998, we have enjoyed a great relationship, based upon mutual respect and trust. We have always been able to talk and address matters we’ve faced over the years, not just as owner and player, but as friends. We had a long talk today and we want to assure Colts fans everywhere that we are both committed to maintaining our close relationship and to working together through any challenges the future may bring.

 

[Rblake]

And Bob Kravitz will spin this: 'Manning and Irsay have come to terms with the fact that they can no longer coexist. Peyton MUST be cut. This statement reaks of the post-breakup agreement to be friends. Irsay is throwing Manning out with the trash.'

 

[MmmmBeeeeer]

So who are our recievers going to be next year? Garcon turned down the 5 year deal he was offered, and Wayne just said on WTHR that he hasn't even been contacted by the Colts and there are only "5 days left". He said flat out he doesn't expect to return and said "its been real"

 

[Rblake]

Bracket, Bullit, Addai, Dallas Clark, and Curtis (who gives a shit) Painter cut...

I'm surprised by the Clark move because I thought a new QB could use a good TE. The rest are overrated...(except Painter...he's not even good enough to be rated)

Aside from the obvious cap casualty nature of these cuts, they signal a huge change in philosophy. We will likely be striving to resemble the Ravens, play a hybrid 3-4(mostly) D, and a ball control offense with a deep threat or two (which is why we tried to keep Garcon). Our Oline will become more of a run blocking unit and Clark was no longer as valuable as a TE that can run block well.

FWIW - Freeney counts as $19M against the cap this yr. If he doesn't restructure (which he won't), he's the next cap casualty.

 

[MmmmBeeeeer]

It is going to be weird for a while now. So many facebook friends were flipping out last night, but they don't understand the reasoning behind all of this.

 

[Aso]

It is going to be weird for a while now. So many facebook friends were flipping out last night, but they don't understand the reasoning behind all of this.

I think it should be obvious why all these cuts are being made. The Dallas Clark one did surprise me a little. I figured he would be a nice safety blanket for Andrew Luck but oh well.

I'm extremely intrigued by the Colts overhaul and will definitely will be following all their moves closely.

 

[MmmmBeeeeer]

The people I'm talking about are casual fans though. Unlikely they even know what the salary cap is

 

[citizenerased]

Still, talk about the nuclear option.

Just blowing the entire team up. May as well just let us take part in an expansion draft as well at this rate.

 

[ThunderHorse]

some of these cuts surprise me and some don't.

we've all known for a while that we've been paying Brackett to much money. IDK why we paid Bullitt all that cash and tried to keep him on, I thought that was a bad move from the start because I never saw Bullitt as a starter in this league.

Anyway, I too am surprised by the Clark cut, and even the Addai one makes me raise an eyebrow simply because he only had 1 year left on his contract as it was, and it's not like he was really hitting against the cap.

Are we going to do this Donald Brown / Delone Carter thing next year? are we going to try and find a RB late in the draft this year?

offensively, who's our most experienced skill player? Donald Brown?

 

[Aso]

I definitely wouldn't trust Carter/Brown as your two main backs. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

I don't watch a whole lot of Colts games but Rotoworld said Clark was dropping passes left and right and was a terrible blocker. I always assumed he was one of the better TE's in the league. Maybe he was a product of Peyton Manning?

 

[Rblake]

we've all known for a while that we've been paying Brackett to much money.

Agreed. He was a good leader, but not a great MLB. He got swallowed up by OL's and was out of position too often.

IDK why we paid Bullitt all that cash and tried to keep him on, I thought that was a bad move from the start because I never saw Bullitt as a starter in this league.

I'm with you. I never thought Bullit was anything other than a GOOD backup. I was shocked when we paid him starter salary.

Anyway, I too am surprised by the Clark cut, and even the Addai one makes me raise an eyebrow simply because he only had 1 year left on his contract as it was, and it's not like he was really hitting against the cap.

My thoughts are that Clark was too $ for his below avg blocking skills, and Addai is not the power back we will want with our new Ravens-esque run blocking OL.

Are we going to do this Donald Brown / Delone Carter thing next year? are we going to try and find a RB late in the draft this year?

Considering how expendable and generally plug & play they are, I expect a bruiser-type FA pickup or two, like Chester Taylor, Peyton Hillis, or Michael Bush.