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We Have Clinched the 5th Seed! Now Do We Rest the Starters?


BobbyMorris94

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We have come a long way as a team this season...Most of the old coaching regime gone, Ryan Grigson hired, Chuck Pagano hired, Peyton Manning released, a new field general selected in Andrew Luck, Pagano sidelined with cancer, Bruce Arians assumes interim HC duties in Pagano's absence & now a 5th round Playoffs spot...WOW!

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I [or the Colts rather] took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." -- Robert Frost "The Road Not Taken."

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The 5th seed is locked up.

 

I say play the starters for a half to keep momentum, but then hand over the reigns to Chandler Harnish and company. I want to see Mario Harvey get some burn at OLB, and Chapman get some snaps at NT as well.

 

What does everyone think? Rest the starters or not?

If the Colts beat Houston and New England beats Miami that would move the Pats up to the #2 seed and the bye.  Houston can't afford to lose the bye so I have a feeling both teams will play for the win....and I'm gonna be there watching the Colts destroy the Texans in front of the Coach who will get to see the fruit of his labor.

No gimmes this year, Chuckstrong! 

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It should depend on how the game goes. If, by the half, the Texans have a 2 TD lead or something and are able to tee off on Luck well enough, the coaches will know how the game is going and if a decision needs to be made. If the game is a 1 score game or less, keep playing, IMO. Resting for a half has never led a team to be flat, IMO, not a wild card team.

 

Teams that play through the last week have still gone one-and-done after a bye week. Teams that have not played through the whole game entirely on the last week have still gone on to the SB (last example was Colts and Saints where Saints were getting Porter and Greer back from injuries). I agree that a half is necessary for a young offense trying to get some rhythm but defensive players and pass rushers need more rest for a fresher set of legs. If they are banged up, rest them.

 

Besides, this fan base will be grasping for straws blaming any half of rest in the last game for playoff failure.

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The 5th seed is locked up.

  

What does everyone think? Rest the starters or not?

The 5th seed is locked up.

 

 

I say play the starters for a half to keep momentum, but then hand over the reigns to Chandler Harnish and company. I want to see Mario Harvey get some burn at OLB, and Chapman get some snaps at NT as well.

 

What does everyone think? Rest the starters or not?

No..not on offrebnse where we have young players who need to play.

Obviously you might rest Freeney and Mathis and Cory Redding because they are old and injured.

But our offense needs work against a good defense..we dont have any momentum

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Ok .. for those that think Colts should play their starters .. how would you feel if a key player such as LUCK got hurt? Then what ..? We are out of a quarterback just cause we are trying to prove a point? Does not make any sense. Colt have battled all year long and are in dire need of a break. Playing in a game that doesn't matter only for bragging right is insane. I say rest the starters.

 

Besides ... that benefits us if Houston gets home field. I would rather play in 80 degree covered stadium then cold Denver/ NE stadium anyday ...

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Ok .. for those that think Colts should play their starters .. how would you feel if a key player such as LUCK got hurt? Then what ..? We are out of a quarterback just cause we are trying to prove a point? Does not make any sense. Colt have battled all year long and are in dire need of a break. Playing in a game that doesn't matter only for bragging right is insane. I say rest the starters.

 

Besides ... that benefits us if Houston gets home field. I would rather play in 80 degree covered stadium then cold Denver/ NE stadium anyday ...

 

Health is paramount. Like I said, get in a half for the offense to maintain some rhythm, rest most of the tired legs on D that have chased around Foster & company and Charles & company the last 2 games on the road. We will have more energy for our playoff game.

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We have many guys that could use rest. I would think this is an excellent opportunity to evaluate players for next year using this playoff birth (I still can't believe it). 

 

We're going to be a Wildcard round troublemaker but I don't see us going any further than that. 

 

Then again, I didn't think we'd be here in the first place, so.......

 

Whatever happens, I would love to see us land in Denver at some point. 

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Amen and well said.

 

Win or lose hit the accelerator. These guys have all offseason to rest and some are quite young as is.

But they DONT have all season to rest. Win or lose(vs Texans) we have to play the Ravens next week in the playoffs.

IMO, the playoffs are more important than a meaning-less regular season game.

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There are what ifs in every single game.  What if Andrew Luck gets hit around the knee area on the very first play of the Ravens game and gets put out for the season.  Didn't the same thing happen to Carson Palmer in a playoff game versus the Steelers? 

 

It could happen versus the Texans or it could happen early versus the Ravens.  There is no way to predict if or when an injury will happen.  Pre-season games have to be played even though starters have a risk of getting put out for the season before the season even starts. Risks are a part of football, and resting people doesn't guarantee you are any closer to getting a win. What if we rest all of the starters, lose momentum, and come out against the Ravens playing like absolute garbage and lose?  Didn't we do a similar thing in the year we lost to the Steelers in the playoffs?

 

I don't think this is a meaning less regular season game at all.  It's an opportunity to experience a playoff level atmosphere, with playoff style intensity, against a top seeded play off opponent who we may have a chance of seeing again in the playoffs by some chance.  I don't know of a better scenario to take advantage of and learn from.  I would take the risk especially with a young team like ours that is lacking in experience in some places.  The experience will be valuable for them to have.

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Play all the starters that are fully fit. They are fit young men. Clearly if any are carrying any knocks etc., they should be rested. We will be facing a tough Ravens D in round one, so use the time wisely to help get this makeshift line some more decent meaningful reps.

The ghost of 2009 lingers on. And even if we rest some of our stars, who is to say they won't get stabbed by their girlfriend!

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You don't "Rest" a Young Team. You "Rest" on Victory Monday. They're gonna go out there with Win #11 on their minds

 

..and why don't you? Young teams get tired too ..right? They are not robots.

Plus injuries are very likely to happen with a team like the Texans. Experince comes with time. Not from one game.

This is a meaninless game. Win or Lose we are in already. Now forget the Texans and let's focus on the Ravens.

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..and why don't you? Young teams get tired too ..right? They are not robots.

Plus injuries are very likely to happen with a team like the Texans. Experince comes with time. Not from one game.

This is a meaninless game. Win or Lose we are in already. Now forget the Texans and let's focus on the Ravens.

"Experience comes with time" <--- If we Rest anyone, they just Lost 60 minutes of "Experience"

And injuries can happen Anywhere & Anytime. For all we know, Reggie could walk & slip on a wet floor in the stadium because a custodian didn't put the Wet Floor sign up & Reggie sprains an Ankle (knocks on wood). Can't be scared to get hurt. If you are, you're in the wrong line of business.

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"Experience comes with time" <--- If we Rest anyone, they just Lost 60 minutes of "Experience"

And injuries can happen Anywhere & Anytime. For all we know, Reggie could walk & slip on a wet floor in the stadium because a custodian didn't put the Wet Floor sign up & Reggie sprains an Ankle (knocks on wood). Can't be scared to get hurt. If you are, you're in the wrong line of business.

 

Experince also provides you with the wisdom to know what the next move is and that takes seconds not 60 mins.

Their a difference between slipping and falling and getting hurt in a meaningless football game. You can aviod the meaningless game by resting.

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Experince also provides you with the wisdom to know what the next move is and that takes seconds not 60 mins.

Their a difference between slipping and falling and getting hurt in a meaningless football game. You can aviod the meaningless game by resting.

It's a Young Team. And the game is only meaningless to us. But Chuck said it best, we don't have the depth to rest people. Chuck has spoken.... Everyone who can play, WILL play

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I'm a Texans fan, but a football fan first and foremost. The problem with this game for the Colts is, even if you play your starters, you are not going to play with a full playbook. Your coaches are going to hold a few things back for the Ravens. Its just the way it is. The game is way more important to the Texans because they have a chance at to be at home, and not playing at NE or DEN vs those QBs and in that weather. The Texans will be pulling out all stops, the Colts will not be game planning as if its an all or nothing game, and that puts your players in a tough spot. In that situation. I've seen 2nd stringers actaully make things happen because they are playing for a job, playing to get good action on film. you don't put your studs in harms way when there is nothing to gain. I know Pagano is saying all the right things, but don't expect any exotic run or pass blitzes from your DC or any inovative play calling from your OC.

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It's a Young Team. And the game is only meaningless to us. But Chuck said it best, we don't have the depth to rest people. Chuck has spoken.... Everyone who can play, WILL play

 

 

 Woohoo .. we beat the Texans, We got eliminated in the first round by Ravens cause our players were banged up and tired but ,,,hey we beat the Texans,

See ya next year ..

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