ColtStrong2013
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Posts posted by ColtStrong2013
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This defense is fast. Geathers Fairley and Hooker are going to make a nice safety trio, if they can stay healthy (big if I know). Leonard is the future of this defense. Wilson played well and I hope for continued growth. So much youth and potential with this unit.
Offensively, it's hard to elaborate on. Luck was obviously off tonight. He made some nice plays, but it wasn't a good night. Tackles were miserable. Hines continues to be a disappointment across the board. I really like Wilkins game and think he could be something special paired with Mack when he returns. Receiver core is thin and needs help. Grant struggled. TY missing was obvious. Chester played a pretty decent little game. Doyle and Ebron in the right playcalling will be tough to defend, and I look for Luck to utilize them often early on in the season. Playcalling is so vanilla that it cannot even be brought up in an evaluation right now. They obviously have an emphasis on the short game, and I'm perfectly fine with that. They are going to need a lot of quick hitters if the tackle play continues to be this poor... with that said Ravens defense is good and caused some serious disruption tonight.
Vinny is still wonderful. Sanchez had a few really bad punts, but is still a good punter and should have a good season for us.
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3 minutes ago, Coltsman1788 said:
I can see the Colts winning anywhere from 7 to 9 games depending on injuries and how the breaks and bounces go.
I agree. I think 8 to 8.5 will be the final betting line to start the season. I just don't see how anyone would bet on Luck having a losing season. I can't say I don't care what the record is this year, as I would love to see us win 12... but I don't care about the record as much as the progression. I want to see a more competitive, faster, more intense and physical team this season. And I want to see them getting better over the course of the season. Individually and as units.
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5 hours ago, NorthernBlue said:
Because they are professionals? There's a fine line between high motor, high intensity, and just plain stupidity. I'm glad Reich ripped on em. This is football. You don't win football games by punching and kicking your opponents. You beat em by scoring more points. If you're mad at your opponent, then tackle him, or beat him off the snap, or sack him, or score a TD on him, or juke him out. You know, do something that will help the football team win.
And regarding the second bolded statement, just cause it's practice doesn't mean it don't matter. If that's the case, then we shouldn't care how Luck looks how practice, or how the defense looks, or how the Oline is playing etc. But we do, because practice matters.
Sorry for the rant. But I want the Colts to play intense, not stupid. (even though it seems like the Ravens side is what started the brawl, it's still stupid).
First of all, having a guy on top of one of your boys throwing haymakers and taking issue with it is stupid?... I was waiting for the professional argument. Let's be real here, many NFL players are far from professional in terms of how they conduct themselves. So let me ask the question again, why are we surprised by this and expect anything less?
Secondly, I not once said anything about practice being unimportant. I said getting into a fight in practice versus a game scenario doesn't have the same repercussions... There is a mighty big difference there pal. You don't see fights like this in games because it has devastating consequences (fines, suspensions, possibly a turn in the game that results in a loss)... in a practice, what happens? Frank Reich gets mad, John Harbaugh laughs it off? Big deal.
I'm not on the same page with you on this one. I don't want to see brawls either, but I certainly think this shows they aren't backing down and they have upped their intensity this year.
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1 hour ago, jvan1973 said:
You have no clue about his status or his involvement from a 1 minute video. Calm down. This looks like most of my high school practices at the end of summer
This stuff always gets blown out of proportion. High school practices can get intense. I imagine college is at another level. Why do we expect the professional level to be different? These guys are high motor guys, at the highest level of competition (in this case, preseason training camp where many are fighting for their livelihoods and serious money at stake) and it's a joint practice with very little repercussion to getting in a scrum versus a game scenario. I'm honestly surprised this doesn't happen constantly throughout the preseason. I would have been shocked had it not happened in two days with the Ravens.
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14 hours ago, southwest1 said:
We all know that. We just wanna be relevant again & back in the thick of things late in the year. Nobody is really slamming Pagano at this point just Grigson. Like others have already correctly stated, first time HC gigs seldom flow smoothly. With a new face comes renewed optimism.
We have confidence in Reich strictly off of 1 man's Cinderella success story: Nick Foles. Nobody & I mean nobody thought he'd be holding the Lombardi trophy above his head in February.
Pagano has nothing to do with this team anymore. His mistakes are in the rearview. Grigson's mistakes have a long lasting impact, and we are going to be dealing with them for a few years. Until we see a solid depth chart and a 11-12 win season, we are going to mention that dreadful name...
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3 hours ago, Flash7 said:
I think a good defense is top 1/3 in the league, while an average defense would fall between 1/3-2/3.
A bad defense would be in the last third. I think this is where the Colts Defense will rank.
What constitutes each third?
Yards allowed? Points allowed? Turnovers forced?
You can give the most yardage up in the league and statistically be the best defense across the rest of the board... so I am just curious.
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4 hours ago, luv_pony_express said:
It’s way too soon to say anything so definitive about Reich as a head coach. It’s his first gig, for crying out loud.
I took their comments as a large slam on Pagano's coaching. From a betting standpoint, however, Pagano teams were always consistent. They had some of the most consistent spread covering year after year. So, with that said, it might be Vegas' way of being excited about the unknowns for the Colts for a change, or it might be their way of seriously saying they thought he was really bad, and Reich is a major upgrade, even if he doesn't pan out to what he should do a minimum. I think that's why I found this article so interesting. Trying to see it from a bookkeeping perspective is weird.
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15 minutes ago, Smonroe said:
Again, I hope I’m wrong about the D. What I meant by ‘painful’ is what I’m sure everyone remembers:
Peyton standing on the sidelines waiting for what seemed like endless minutes, just to get his chance back on the field. While the D would play BdB and hope for their O to either make a mistake or settle for a FG. I want to see an aggressive D, even if it results in giving up a big play every now and then.
The other issue with that D is how much pressure it puts on the O. A quick 3 and out puts a tired D right back on the field.
Not saying thats thats what I’m sure its going to happen this year, but it’s my main concern.
This defense is designed to play more aggressive. So compared to years past, I think we will see some big plays that could disrupt a game. Defensively, how our offense plays (sustaining long drives, eating clock and shortening the game, and putting points early) will change the way this defense plays and their success. Early leads and long drives offensively will allow this young defense to take gambles and make big plays that hopefully puts some games away this season.
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9 minutes ago, Smonroe said:
I don’t want to get started on the Pagano bad coach thing, and I agree we were bad in the second half of games.
But lets give some credit to the coaches for keeping us in those games with such a lack of talent. And before we say Reich is such a huge upgrade, how about we wait and see what happens in a few real games?
I agree with @ColtStrong2013 Value of coaching is great, but we really don’t know what that is yet. And I hope I’m wrong, but if our DC is going to run a Bend don’t Break D, we’re in for a painful season.
I will reiterate my feelings on this, however... I completely disagree. Bend but don't break works in today's NFL. No one dominates on defense like they have in the past. Offenses are too smart and too dang powerful today. The Eagles bent in the superbowl, but they made the plays they needed to in order to beat the Patriots. We can win a lot of games and feel good about our defense this season, if they progress as a unit and some young playmakers like Hooker, and Leonard, possibly Basham and Turay come out and make big plays. If we truly bend but don't break, it's a huge win for this defense this season. I don't think it will be painful... I think it will be exciting to watch a young unit get better and make plays over the course of the season.
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3 minutes ago, Smonroe said:
I don’t want to get started on the Pagano bad coach thing, and I agree we were bad in the second half of games.
But lets give some credit to the coaches for keeping us in those games with such a lack of talent. And before we say Reich is such a huge upgrade, how about we wait and see what happens in a few real games?
I agree with @ColtStrong2013 Value of coaching is great, but we really don’t know what that is yet. And I hope I’m wrong, but if our DC is going to run a Bend don’t Break D, we’re in for a painful season.
I should note that I did not post this article to bad mouth Pagano in any way. I've expressed my feelings in this forum about him as a coach, and this isn't meant to reiterate those feelings. I only hope that Reich is a great and better coach, but we have no idea if we will be... We might be wishing for Chuck back.
I only post because it is relevant to this forum, and I found it interesting. 7.5 is a fair line for win total. Much better than the 1 or 2 some experts have predicted early (insane.) I found it interesting that impartial line setters, who could care less about the Colts, Pagano, or Frank Reich outside of a betting scenario, think that Frank is a huge upgrade in coaching for this team, and that it is a big factor in their formula.
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“The Colts should bounce up,” Westgate sports book manager Ed Salmons said. “Reich is a huge upgrade from Pagano. The last few years, Luck would just get knocked on his butt the whole game. I want to see more of Luck, but I like the Colts.”
The Westgate opened Indianapolis’ season win total at 6½ in late April. With Luck showing positive signs, the number has been bumped to 7½.
Thoughts? Interesting to me that the first thing mentioned is the coaching "upgrade." I put that in quotation because no one knows for certain if it is an upgrade or not, but Vegas apparently thinks it is... and a HUGE one at that. They obviously value the coaching tremendously for setting the over/under on win total.-
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Just now, shastamasta said:
I don't think we should be worried...yet. Unless you were expecting immediate impact from the draft class...which isn't really fair. I am looking for development and improvement this season...as well as how the new system operates. That will help me to see Ballard's overall plan better and get behind it. Because right now...I am still in wait and see mode.
And to be honest, I didn't care for either of the picks you referenced...so I wouldn't be all that surprised.
This...
I have seen a lot that says certain players are "underperforming." To whom's expectations? Ballards? We don't know what his expectations are with these guys leading up to the start of the season, but I can assure that it isn't the same as the Bob Kravitz' of the world that are reporting on the progress of camp and us fanatic's discussing it on this forum...
Are we going to say the same when one of those players mentioned goes out in week one and has a really nice game? I'm not worried about anything right now outside of tomorrow and Saturday's joint practices, and hoping for injury free and no team brawls to watch online. That's what I'm worried about. The progress of our draft picks?... Through training camp, when it is going to take a couple years to develop them to where Ballard expects them to be? Not in the least.
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On 8/15/2018 at 4:40 AM, NewColtsFan said:
Teams, espcially young teams learning a new system, tend to get better over the course of a season. Keep watching.....
I'm having a hard time watching people talk about how painful this defense will be to watch. They will absolutely get better every week, and we might see some really exciting and promising players come on over the course. This new scheme could make for some big defensive plays, and that is something this franchise hasn't had much of lately.
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3 hours ago, Pacergeek said:
How is it trolling to expect 2nd round draft picks to start? There is no right or wrong opinion on the matter, but this is not trolling. Just because you disagree with someone, does not make the other person a troll.
1 minute ago, ColtStrong2013 said:Ok troll.
I kid...
I don't actually feel like you are far off with that feeling. If we had landed better 2nd rounders over the last few years, we'd be in a good spot right now. Unfortunately, we haven't...
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3 hours ago, Pacergeek said:
How is it trolling to expect 2nd round draft picks to start? There is no right or wrong opinion on the matter, but this is not trolling. Just because you disagree with someone, does not make the other person a troll.
Ok troll.
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This will make the Jags games a whole lot more interesting...
Enjoy another bust year with your quarterback Jalen. You may shoot for the superbowl, but you'll never win one in Jacksonville.
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On 8/13/2018 at 8:16 AM, Pacergeek said:
In two of his four seasons, he scored only one TD. For a big, physical player, this is not acceptable. If you don't want to call him a bust, that is your opinion, but your standards are too low
... and the other two he scored 9, so what is your point. He averaged 45-500-3 in his four years in Detroit. Less than expected for his draft position, but far from being a bust. You use that term far too loosely... and quite frankly, it's annoying to everyone here.
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41 minutes ago, crazycolt1 said:
I can believe that scenario and it does fit my scenario in thinking Pagano didn't have a chance one way or another. Fall guy or lame duck pretty much means the same thing.
It would be impossible to "evaluate" any head coach when they are coaching a team that was in the shape this team was in last season.
Oh well, thanks for having a debate with me without throwing out the insults that I have been used to getting by even bringing Chuck's name up.
With Ballard, he didnt have a chance. I agree on that. That was Ballard's professional and respectful way of saying he was giving him a chance... but I don't buy it that Ballard chose to keep him. He would have moved on in a heart beat if his hands weren't tied. And the minute his hands were freed, he moved on.
I just don't think Irsay saw it that way. Or he did, and he just wanted Pagano to have one year without Grigson on his hip so he could justify the move more to the fanbase...although we didn't need it.
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1 hour ago, crazycolt1 said:
There is only one problem with that scenario. If Irsay was going to give Pagano one more year to have a healthy Luck and a new GM it didn't work that way. IMO if that is what Irsay had on his mind he would have waited till Pagano had a healthy Luck and a new GM. I have said that the firing of Grigson should have included Pagano. We only have rumors of Irsay keeping Pagano and it was out of Ballard's hands. Ballard was on record he was looking forward to working with Pagano. Was it him being just speaking GM talk or was it really true? As far as I can remember that has never been talked about by Irsay or Ballard.
I know this is not a subject that too many want to look at but I have said all along that Pagano was set up to be the fall guy by Irsay. There was no way he as an owner and as an ex GM he had to think this roster could win games. I also know he is the teams greatest fan and has an alarming way of being too positive in believing the wins will come when it is obvious to most of us it ain't happening.
Just because it didn't work out that way, doesn't mean he didn't intend for it to. If anything, Ballard kept Pagano out of respect to his accomplishments and to truly "evaluate" him as a coach and their working relationship to see if it would work, like he told all of us and the media, when he was hired. I just don't buy it. No GM wants to be stuck with a coach. They want to hire their own, and it was never going to be Pagano that he picked.
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2 hours ago, crazycolt1 said:
But yet Pagano didn't have a losing record in his time here.
I said I agreed it was time for a new coaching staff and had no problem with the changes that were made. I even jumped for joy when McDaniels backed out and Frank was hired.
I am not arguing for the sake because IMO Pagano was set up to be the fall guy the minute last season started. If he was going to fired it should have been the season before right along with Grigson. There is where I had a problem.
It was an impossible job to field a winning team last season but yet it was Pagano who took the blunt for Grigson's mistakes. Most overlook that he didn't have the players to make adjustments and the talent level of this team was void as a competitive team.
Pagano may have done his best coaching job when he went 8-8 with 5 different QBs. Through it all he never lost his locker room.
We always revert back to this discussion, but it wasn't Ballard's decision to keep Pagano and make him the fall guy. It was Irsay's ignorance and possibly his compassion for Chuck, against Ballard's competency and his need for autonomy in running this organization. It was a bad decision and possibly one that set this franchise a year back in Ballard's rebuild efforts. I am thankful it worked out the way it did, because quite frankly, I think Frank Reich has the potential of being a grand slam that fell into our lap... but Pagano was not set up to be a fall guy. He was given one year in which they all hoped Andrew would be back and he could work with a real GM for once...
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2 hours ago, Savage21 said:
Offensively, I feel like we can compete and score enough points to win a lot of games. (IF healthy) but our defense is going to have a long season and will indeed give up a ton of points IMO.
I'm not sure I agree that we will give up a ton of points. Will we struggle at times? Yes. But this defensive scheme is built on speed and a bend don't break approach. I think we will give up a lot of yardage at times, but this defense will limit big scoring plays with the scheme, and closing speed. I also think we might see a better turnover margin, which will extend offensive possessions and speed the game up for us, which should help defensive scoring. It comes down to how well we defend the red zone, because teams are going to get there plenty against this unit, especially early on.
They are obviously young, but I saw traits against Seattle that I am high on. They will get better over the course of the year.
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With a healthy Luck behind an improved line, they can win a lot more now than many think.
However, we are still 2 years out in my opinion. I'm really interested in the development of Ballard's two draft hauls this season, as I believe it is imperative to the growth of this team. We need several guys to grow this season into longterm starters, which is why the Cain injury is so upsetting. He has great potential and I think was on path for a wonderful rookie year. I still have high hopes for him, but it's a huge setback this early on. We need guys to stay healthy, get on the field, and get better.
If Ballard can swing a couple solid free agents next offseason, and we see a solid growth year this season, we might be able to make serious noise next season. Lot of what ifs.
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12 hours ago, NorthernBlue said:
Funny thing is the colts used to be great at finishing with pagano, but would always start slow. Then towards the latter half of the pagano era, we couldn’t finish a game to save our lives. That SNF game against Houston in 2016 still kills me. How did we lose that?!
Oh well. Moving on to hopefully an era with more consistency and winning. Hey, Frank Reich is undefeated in his
I don't think that was Pagano's doing... They always started slow and then would rely on Andrew opening it up with an up tempo pace to get them back in the game... It's also why I have a high optimism in this new offense. It's not going to hold back #12 one bit. Start the game up tempo and if he gets hot early, put the foot on the gas.
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1 hour ago, Pilgrim said:
I went to the Texans/Colts Game in Houston back in November of 2013. It was the game where Case Keenum debuted and put the Texans up huge early, only for Luck and Hilton to come back and tear them to shreds. I will say most of the fans were very classy, and complimentary of Luck.
The Texans fans that I have met have been great people. Very fond of Indianapolis restaurants and Lucas Oil. Heard from many of them talk in disbelief about how many fans wear jerseys at Lucas Oil.
The Nelson Pull Fake
in Colts Football
Posted
That play and its many variations that Reich will install over time, will be the bread and butter of this offense so long as the running game can be established. You have to honor the pulling ability of Q Nelson, and hopefully the speed of Mack / vision of Wilkins, but also honor the playaction pop to Doyle. Hard to commit as a defender.