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Colts/titans report card- not near good enough


COLTS7

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A win is a win... there was some slight improvements (not near enough).....we started out strong, had a 14-0 lead , then watched as the titans scored 27 unanswered points, a very strong 4th quarter turned the game around and kept what looked like an almost certain 0-3 start and who knows what might have happened had that been the case, from taking place.

 

Offense: Luck was again up and down, forcing balls that turned into turnovers, but rebounded with a great 4th quarter, which did offer a glimpse of maybe what could be......Gore had a great game, finished 14-86 (over 6 yds/carry) 2 TD's, Hamilton decided to include the tight ends this week and Fleener responded (4-51), Dorsett finally made an (positive) impact with a TD, Moncrief added a TD and Hilton lead the way with 4/94. There was some tweaking on the O-line, moving Mewhort back inside, Reitz was at right tackle and Thortan replaced Herremans, the result-not much better, Castonzo most often considered the one decent lineman we have, is not having a good start and it might be a good idea to move him to the right side next year and get a more legit left tackle (easier said than done). The run blocking seems to be decent, but that may have more to do with Gore, than it does the line play and the pass blocking is horrendous. I thought Gore was going to have a very good season, but with the makeup of this team and the lack of balance, not sure his production is going to be fullfilled.

 

Defense: the run defense looked good, but that could be a byproduct of the titans game plan, which seemed to be testing the injury ratlled secondary. 88 yds rushing yards given up looks good, but here was a 44-27 edge in the pass/run ratio. Brown looks like he will develop into a solid backup CB with all of the reps he is getting and holding his own. Newcomer Thomas made an impact with a forced fumble. Lowery had a great game with 2 picks (including a pick six) and looks like Adams did last year, with key turnovers. Mathis got his first sack and looks like he still has it. Freeman and Parry added sacks. The pass rush really came on during the 4th quarter, but there has been very little pressure all year. Jackson led the way with 12 tackles and one of the bright spots this year-Anderson had 1.

 

Special teams: McAfee has punted better each game and continues to be a major weapon with a 18 yd run on a fake punt, for a first down.

 

We have heard many times.....run the ball and stop the run.....not that we are elite, but that hasn't been the biggest problem, the pass defense is getting torched with 3/4 of our top CB's missing time and what was suppossed to be the strength of the team, the passing game, has been very erratic and for the most part, non productive, including the best young QB in the NFL-go figure???? The win and the 4th quarter does provide some hope, but that was not a very good team we played today and I couldn't help but think about what was going to take place with an 0-3 start and many of the same issues, still showing up. The win, for now, has put that on hold, but this team does not look look they are capable of beating a playoff caliber team, at this point, unless there is a total and complete turnaround going forward, I think this coming off season could be very interesting. The ongoing pattern of penalties and turnovers would seem to indicate a lack of quality overall talent and/or dicipline.

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Yes COLTS7, a win is a win.  But I don't expect that any personnel issues will be addressed effectively  this year as long as the Pagano/Grigson team is in place.  Recent report card on  FA signings is pathetic.  Lance Louis & Todd Herremans were benched  Andre Johnson looked like an old man running slow pass routes.  As it turns out Dorsett (who I think was a draft day mistake) should get more reps over Johnson, if Pagano & Grigson had an ounce of good judgment.  All that cap money blown on so many duds.

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I was thinking the same thing yesterday...the free agent class has not looked very good.....Johnson  looks like a backup...Herreman has been benched....Cole has not played well....although Gore has looked, good as I mentioned, I think his talent, to some degree is going to be wasted....on a positive note, Lowery has looked really good and the draft class appears to be very good ( Dorsett-Geathers-Anderson-Parry-Robinson-Varga ). Grigson has not been good enough and it's only going to get harder, moving forward when Luck becomes one of the highest paid players in the league and there is not going to be a surplus of money to spend as has been the case, most of his tenure. After 4 years, I think he needs to be let go and who knows what will happen with Pagano, the clock is ticking, I still believe that they are going to be major changes coming......

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COLTS7 , agreed, a pretty good draft but only marginally addresses the real needs of the team.  Focus needed to be on offensive line, Luck has to, has to, has to get protection and the running game must compliment his skills.  Some good young draftees on defense, again better than average but we just gave up 33 points and could  easily have lost to a rookie QB, talented as he may be.  Sorry but I still contend SB talent on this roster includes 5-6 players, not including kickers, and while we have some better than average players on the roster, we're still not seeing how they can play together and develop with Pagano & his staff. You want best practices, look at Patriots who lose talented players and still compete for or win SB's.  The guy that won last year's SB with that interception has above average talent but was ready for that play.  Can the same be said of our preparation week in and week out?

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It seems very clear to everyone except Grigson that the lines are not where they need to be and has been the case since his arrival, until that is fixed, it's not likely there are going to be any Super bowl appearances, although it can happen and did happen during the Manning era, everything has to fall into place and in today's NFL, those odds are very slim....this is very similar to that era, great offense (potentially and sometimes) avg. defense, the 1 difference is the special teams are better now. Not putting down Pagano, but the *s have had maybe the best QB ever and maybe the best coach ever, during this era, that is a very tough combo to beat, especially in the post season....Brady has never been surrounded by the weapons that Manning had, not even sure on paper, they even had more overall talent, but it's what they did with what they had that matters and they always seem to make it happen

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Colts7, I mentioned the comment by Warren Moon now here's another one from my former 1st Sgt. He be walking around talking/checking on us and we'd talk. One day we asked him as a 1stSgt doesn't he have a lot of paper work? He said yes but 1. I need to be with my men. 2. ( the great comment) He said the sign of a good administrator is not how good you are but surround yourself with good people! He said I've good 71L (clerks) in the office, good platoon Sgt's and that leaves me time with my troops! C'mon Grigs surround Luck with good troopers!

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thanks KK, I agree, that is a key....when you have great leaders, you can win with less talent, than with a talented team, without the required leaders.

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It seems very clear to everyone except Grigson that the lines are not where they need to be and has been the case since his arrival, until that is fixed, it's not likely there are going to be any Super bowl appearances, although it can happen and did happen during the Manning era, everything has to fall into place and in today's NFL, those odds are very slim....this is very similar to that era, great offense (potentially and sometimes) avg. defense, the 1 difference is the special teams are better now. Not putting down Pagano, but the *s have had maybe the best QB ever and maybe the best coach ever, during this era, that is a very tough combo to beat, especially in the post season....Brady has never been surrounded by the weapons that Manning had, not even sure on paper, they even had more overall talent, but it's what they did with what they had that matters and they always seem to make it happen

Yes...Brady always did well without anyone special...no excuses but we need a hard as nails coach who will make this team tougher than a $2 steak...maybe someone like Bill Cowher 

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