IndyTrav
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Posts posted by IndyTrav
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From everything I've found, Vegas has us right around the 10-12 range.
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We are joint 6th at 16-1.
Disagree re 'growing'. We can grow at WR - Garcon can easily improve, Collie can become a great (health permitting), and even Blair can upgrade. Our O-line looks more than capable of growing, which in addition will spring Brown and Carter. Safety? No Francisco means improvement, and our DT's can't get worse. Tyron and Powers will get better, and our DE's are the best of breed. Angerer? I'm sure he'll improve. Tamme and Clare - say no more.
Perhaps QB is our weak spot....oh, hang on a minute...
Who they have us joined with? Where'd you find that?
Our defense is our defense. Its always going to be average, I'm not squre they're could be a whole lot of improvement until we move away from cover 2. It had a good run, but its my opinion that in today's NFL you can't afford to offer yardage to prevent larger gains. Just my perspective.
I think Garçon can upgrade but how far do you project him to go? He can be a 2, but I just can't picture him being a 1 on a consistent enough basis, and to beat the NFLs top corners is a hard task. Collie is the biggest question of them all, because I really like what I see in Collie, quick burst, nice hands, good routes, and he runs well after the catch. I think of Collie as our wild card this year. Hisq injuries are just so mysterious. The nature in which he took the hits etc all factor into him coming back. I'm hoping for the best. As for the run game, once again I think our approach to running is what needs changed, not ness. That we can't run. Obviously our new blockers will help but stretch left, stretch right, dive right, dive left, isn't the approach thats going to garner a bunch of yards in the first place. Or keep an aggressive def at bay.
QBs not going to be a problem if all is well, and we hope it is, and TE shouldn't be a problem, and Collie shouldn't be a problem, and our OL should be better. I'm just nervous about all the 'shoulds' and 'hopefullys'. Not that all the other NFL teams don't have questions, they most certainly do, I just feel ours are a little greater, and involving some very important positions for a team who relys on Offensive greatness to win a majority of football games.
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Ah, I missed the part where the Colts weren't allowed to get better, whilst the rest of the league can.
Let's just use the Vegas line for the SB. That should work...
O, I think we def. Got better this offseason. I'm really pumped to see AC, and if he can man handle, and with that size, he should. But on our team only a few guys are capable of still 'growing' and those guys are the really important ones.
Speaking of odds, I had been looking for some more recent ones, I've found anywhere from 18:1 to 9:1 having us ranked at 11 tied w Dallas and Chi, but then all the way in 3rd with NE GB. I tried bodog but didn't feel like jumping thru the hoops. What ones are you using?
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Noah, Noah, Noah, what are you doing? You MUST give quality intelligent reasons for your ratings, or your post cannot be allowed and it may be removed. Could you re-post, using at least 500 words explaining each team's rating, with an additional 1000 words for your overall assessment.
This should be a pretty simple task, considering the nature of the original question. If you are not sure about the rational to be used, or what we are defining the top ten as, use a simple comparison method, like what are your top ten favourite foods.
Please also be smug and arrogant.
Oh, and if you contradict yourself a few times that may help.
Thanks,
IndyTrav's Agent and Forum Moderator Elect
As clarification you can only use reasonings based solely on good feelings and high optimism.
Reasonings that I will accept for your beliefs:
1. We are the Colts
2. We have Peyton
3. They have done it in the past.
4. They were hurt last year so they should be good this year.
If you fail to meet these requirements I will be required to post purely hypothetical situations in which some players will get hurt, others will not come back healthy, and the general lack of explosion on the roster, and the emergence of the rest of the league. which of course will be met with cheers and agreement from all of my fellow posters.
Thanks
IndyTrav (important enough for an agent, sweet)
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Nonsense. Addai is near universally accepted as one of the best blocking RB's in the game. That has nothing to do with who on the team he is compared against. And even the best lines in the game require their backs to pick up a blitzer.
Even with that, Addai will only be back at the Colts price. RB's have a short shelf life and Addai has to be nearing his.
They've got Addai ranked 14 for Pass Blocking efficiency from 2008-1010, behind several guys who I believe will be FA in the coming weeks. Bradshaw,Snelling, Bush, Portis. Interesting read if you get a chance.
http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/06/17/2010-pass-blocking-efficiency-running-backs/
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Joe-merism at it's best. I don't want a complete back anyway. I want a back that can RUN. If Defenses know we had a threatening running game, Manning wouldn't such 'stud' blocking.
Our running game has been consistently pathetic for years and as Addai has been our No1 guy during this time, he cannot be rated any higher than poor, dodgy O-line or not.
Time to let him go and try something else.
Joemerism. Hahah. I like it!.....I would also like a back who can simply run. I like Joe and wouldnt mind resigning but like Superman said, it has to be for the right price. And althou I do think Joe does a good job at picking up blitzs, our combination of horrible line and horrible Donald brown play, make Joe look a little better at blocking than he is.
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"Def top 10" and "No Injuries 12-4" does not equal top five.
Your expectation of reason for belief isn't the reason I called your post antagonizing. It was the blind homer/ignorant label you placed on everything who thinks the Colts will be better than you expect them to be. You intimated this in your original post, where you inferred that because this is the Colts website that people will be unable to look at them objectively. And that's nonsense. Expecting the Colts to be a 12-4 team isn't blind homerism.
Saying there 12-4 isn't blind homerism. Saying they will be because they have in the past IS. And a majority of reasonings seem to be drenched in 2008, 2009.
It doesn't exist. Any team that we were able to beat consistently wasn't afraid of us. We just had matchup advantages and got some breaks. The Colts weren't afraid of the Patriots back in the day, they were just better. This metaphorical fear is a figment of fans' imaginations. It doesn't exist on the football field.
Not the literal 'fear' or the emotion of being 'afraid', the certain unknown untangibles that take place during a game between two teams that play often. Unknown mental intangibles are absolutely not a figment of fans imaginations. You don't think Houston was relieved to beat us last year? The 'here we go again moments' in certain games.
Injuries ended Torry Holt's career. Same for Marvin, really. Isaac Bruce had nagging issues for many years, but still was productive as a 32 year old, and it wasn't until he got hurt the year later that he really fell off. And like I said before, he was a speedster. Reggie isn't. It's different. Every receiver falls off after a while, and it's going to happen with Reggie. I just don't think he's going to fall off this year, and I don't consider his eventual decline as a major factor in our prospects for 2011.
Yes injuries did end there careers, there ages during those injuries were 30,31,33,35. Reggies age, 32/33.
I could pick your list apart just like you're being critical of placing the Colts in the top ten (or even the top five). Putting the Texans, Cowboys, Giants, Bucs and Browns in the same category as the Colts and Bears is high comedy, if you ask me, considering all we have are projections even before free agency. Any list has problems at this point. But saying the Colts, with a solid foundation and a winning pedigree, don't belong in the top third of the NFL is just wild to me.
Yes, a solid foundation. Aging, and coming off injury, but hopefully a strong foundation. Those teams I listed, aren't relying on 'hopefully'. They have those same pieces in place, only younger, and not coming off injury, and not with a pedigree which other teams crave to take. Feel free to pick that list apart but of those teams, listed 1-8 above the Colts, they all have a better defense, run game, and special teams. The only thing they don't have is 18.
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So your calling out posters on the board for not giving what you call quality, intelligent discussions, but there's tons of quality and intelligent discussion in this thread already. I don't understand why you'd see the need to antagonize a few people you don't agree with when you could engage posters who have thrown down some meat. And I don't mean to antagonize you, I just don't get it, and the whole "blind homer" thing is a lowest common denominator type one-liner that isn't really any better than "We are the Colts!" JMO
I went back through and counted a handful of "Def top 10" "No Injuries 12-4" and an additional sentence, mostly related to games played 2 seasons ago...Im not picking on anyone or 'calling them out'.My expectation of reason for belief shouldnt be considered antagonizing..
Very true. It's trite and cliched, but football is a game of inches. And with a stop on special teams, we probably win that game. One play. Jets might have been the better team, but I think that would hold true even if we got that special team stop and won the game. I don't think it matters that they're not afraid of us, as I don't think any team is afraid, and I certainly don't think we lost because we're afraid of them.
Matter of fact, fear works in a lot of different ways. Rex Ryan held the dogs back, contrary to his every instinct and what he's done throughout his career as a defensive playcaller, because he didn't want to give Manning blitz looks. That fear, if you want to call it that, helped them win the game. Especially when you contrast that matchup with the AFCCG in 2009. Just an aside.
Metaphorical fear silly. The auroa, the "we have that teams #" factor. The unknown intangibles if you will. Certain teams do certain things to other things, its the whole package. The Jets are not one of those teams. Us and Houston (hopefully still), that the 'fear'. Us and Denver back in the day. The 'fear'. Whatever you wanna call it.
Many of the receivers you mentioned had significant injuries as they got older. Some of them were never as good as Reggie. Some of them were burners, and lost their speed. I think the fact that Reggie is a technician as opposed to a speedster could prolong his career. Marvin was still at the top of the game before he got hurt, and it's a "who knows" situation with him. But yeah, everybody gets old. But Reggie hasn't suffered any significant injuries, nor does he get hit with any regularity. He's a smart receiver who relies on his technical skills more than his physical abilities, and he has shown no signs of slowing down. I think it's a super stretch to say that his age is a possible reason that the Colts aren't a top ten team in the NFL.
The only one who had a significant injury was Coles, and he was 30. Marvin and Holt and Bruce IMO are the best comparisons. Bruce was 33, Marvin 35, Holt at 31. That dreaded, Past results indicating future results thing, I know. But something to chew on.
So, in so many words, you'd probably put the Colts in the top ten if you were to break it down team by team yourself, no? That's why I don't get the reply. I think the only reason we didn't perform better last year was the injuries and a few bad bounces (Collie's fumble in the opener against the Texans cost us big time, and a win there might set some things different throughout the year).
Hmm, just off the top of my head, in order and I can be swayed.
1. GB
2. PITT
3. NE
4. NYJ
5.PHI
6.NO
7. ATL
8. BALT
9. Here is where I run into problems. IND,HOU,DAL,NYG,KC,CHI,TB and a sneaky CLE? I just dont know.
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From people who have a clue, you have basically lost all credibility with this post. The statement that Freeney was the 2nd best DE on the team should earn you a lifetime ban from this board. That is a comically uninformed thought.
Almost as bad is the Clark splitting time with Tamme by week 10. The reason given is a beauty - because "you can't do that to Tamme." 100% pure bovine excrement. You know how you do that to Tamme? Because Clark is better. Significantly so.
And Manning's injury? You mention the last time he had a procedure in advance of the season, he only managed to lead them to 12 wins again and won an MVP. Does not mean that will happen again but the common reporting is that he will only miss a few weeks of camp. If that is the case, there is no reason to expect anything less than what he has proven time and again.
Really? You think so? Our inability to stop the run would surely be assisted Dwight shot a gap rather than swim move himself out of 85% of plays. Im sure you've seen it a thousand times, but thats what one magical sack does, it makes people forget that the guy was getting butchered for the last 6 qts. Obviously Dwight is an excellent player, one we are lucky to have, but he is absolutely horrendous at helping defend the run. I would 100% take 2 Robert Mathiss over 2 Freeneys. Esp. from a GM stand point.
Yea, we started 3-4, and had an amazing run to finish the season. Of course I remember, I also clearly remember the 3-4 part b/c of a weakly lead Offense, nearly all of whom will be the starters this year, only 3 years older, some coming off injury, in a very weird NFL off-season.
And yes, we will all be seeing a lot of Tamme this year, how is that even a question? The guy caught 67 passes in 10 games. Two TE sets out the kazoo, and he'll only have progressed more this offseason. Clarks clearly the starter for now, but don't dismiss the Peytons security blanket for 10 games last year, 7 rec a game for the last 3 games, all of which we needed to win. An aging star gets injured, young guy comes in and performs well in his absence. What generally happens in situations like this?
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I see you are bothered by some of the posts in here and some do reek of blind homerism. I am also bothered by some of the fallacies in your arugment as well.
Until I see Manning performing poorly with his neck, it seems reasonable to assume that he will be fine and be at his high level of play.
Wayne caught 100 balls last year as a 31 year old WR. Does it really seem likely to you that one year later his performance will drop significantly? Me either.
Freeney had his Lis Franc issues a few years ago. And he has been All Pro in the years since. These leg injuries you mention don't seemed to have slowed him too much.
I think you dramatically overstate Garcon's drop issues.
Clark was a track to a great year last year. Maybe the time off ultimately does him good. Even still I see no reason to think he won't get back to at least close to his previous level of play.
The HC comment is just a shot in the dark. Under Caldwell, the Colts have won a measely 75% off their games so it seems he has done something right.
One thing you fail to mention was the injuries from last year. Doesn't it seem reasonable to expect a team that gets back Clark and Collie to be better offensively? And I hate to depend on rookies because who really knows, especially this year, but they did address a team weakness with the draft.
Having faith that the Colts are a top ten team this year is not unreasonable as you make it seem.
Im not saying being Top 10 is unreasonable, I am saying Top 5 is a bit of a reach.
The fact that Manning not performing at all should be a bit of an alarm. The last time he did, how many games did it take us to get back on track?
Actually Wayne dropping off significantly in one season is a huge possibility, at this point I'd be willing to say 50/50 this year. My previous post I mentioned some WR who were of similar size,weight, and skill set of Reggie. They were Marvin,Bruce,Holt,OchoCinco,Housh,Driver,Ward and maybe some others, but take a look at the career decline right around the age of 31. Very interesting. Obviously I hope Reggie is the exception, but as I said before, I think its a 50/50 shot. Having Peyton does not hurt his chances of out performing one bit.
Freeney was arguably the 2nd best DE on this team last year. He was 18th in the NFL in sacks, and of the other 17 none of them had less than 33 tackles (2) one at 35/37 and the rest were all well above. Dwight had 21. His sacking is becoming less and less of an impact when he helps allow 90rush yds on his side of the field.
Garcon worries me(see Wayne, Reggie) because I don't believe he has what it takes to be a #1 WR, not even close, and with my worries about Reggie I feel Garcon may be put in that situation.
Honestly with Clark, I expect a 50/50 split with him and Tamme by week 10. Just can't do that to Tamme, he deserves a shot, he proved it.
Its my opinion that 90% the time the other sideline has the advantage over the Colts, it all comes down to the product on the field obviously, but I don't hold the Colts coaching staff in high football regard.
No its not unreasonable to expect the Colts to be better with Collie (maybe he comes back 100%)or Clark (season ending injury) back on the field, but however I think it is unreasonable for most of our team to even come close to replicating past success.
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This is hogwash. First of all, just because someone is more optimistic than you doesn't make them a blind homer, nor does it mean they don't pay attention to the other teams in the NFL. You're the one that's being close-minded.
Secondly, you listed a bunch of facts that you think are issues. Those may be issues moving forward, but what affect will those potential issues have on the performance of the team?
And it's also funny that you discount the real and tangible results of seasons past, and then in the next breath, talk about a bunch of hypothetically bad situations that haven't been realized as even being a problem at this point. You're taking issue with four of our players that are unquestionably top five at their respective positions in the NFL. Let's wait for Freeney, Wayne, Clark and Manning to actually start to decline before we attribute any concern about the team to said decline (which hasn't happened yet).
In reality, people are optimistic about the team because, in the middle of losing a record amount of man-games to injury last season, the team still won the division and was basically one play away from a playoff win. The quarterback that everyone is certain was playing through a serious injury all year (even though he's said himself that he experienced some minor discomfort and wouldn't have had surgery if not for the lockout) basically duplicated his previous season's MVP performance.
How ridiculous this is! "A 32 year old receiver who can't afford to lose a step..." What does that even mean? He caught 111 passes for 1300+ yards last year, much of the time as the only receiving threat on the field.
And then there's the fact that the poll question asks whether the team is top ten, not top five, yet you misrepresent even that. This is all too much. If you don't see reason for optimism, that's fine. But acting like everyone else has something wrong with them because they don't see having a four-time MVP at quarterback and perennial Pro Bowlers at four other positions as reason to strip it all bare and start over is just absurd.
Not once did I say being optimistic was the equivalent to being a homer, but to simply imply that "We are the Colts!" as a reason to be Top 10 is worthless. Why have a forum if you cant have a quality, intelligent discussion. Instead its "def top 5" well, why are they Top 5? They are Top 5 because we won a bunch of games in 08 and 09? Because we have a great Off, and Def gameplan? Explain your position. Obviously this isn't directed at you, because you present the reasons you feel the way you do.
One play from winning the game? That applies to every botched snap, missed throw, and blown call in every game, every week, for every team. The reason we lost is because the Jets were the better team. We were 6-6, won 4 (3Div) and got beat, at home by a team who isn't scared of us.
What about Reggie not being able to afford losing a step is not accurate. Reggie isn't a burner, he runs crisp routes and has hands of gold, but even the best get old, Reggie will be 33 during the stretch run. Some players that were similar to Reggie in there careers were Marvin, Torry Holt, Housh, Chad OchoCinco, Isaac Bruce, L. Coles, D. Driver, H.Ward. All players of similar size and weight (5/11-6/1 180-220), not burners, quality rec, all having seasons of over 90rec... If you get a chance, take a look at those careers and the player ages throughout the season. I think you'd be surprised by the sudden and drastic drop that occurs. Obviously I hope Reggie is the exception, and continues on to be the Farve of WRs, but I just dont see it happening, especially if he has an injury of any kind below the waist, which at this point would only be speculation.
Yes, the poll does say Top 10, which was followed by a plethora(always reminds me of 3 Amigos) of replys saying they're are easily Top 5. I have nothing against people and the optimisim they have. I think we a good healthy season and a few good bounces we could very well be in the SB this year, and win it, but the same can be said for at least 15 other NFL teams, 9 or so that I believe can be better than us on any given Sunday, thats the beauty of the NFL, its the turnover.
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I think the time for this was about 2 years ago. I've been concerned for awhile, and it's continues to build slowly, we made some recent moves in the draft that I enjoy, but IMO this franchises 'wait and see' mentality and lack of aggression in many FO aspects, has this train slowing to a halt.
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Double post
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I see a lot of people mentioning past accomplishments as an indicator to future results, and this bothers me. I really enjoy when people list the Colts resume as if everyone in this forum doesn't know it by heart already. I've narrowed it down to two things, blind homerism, or a blind eye to 31 other NFL teams. I've been expecting to see some interesting thoughts and ideas, but aside from a few posters, it's just been 'blah colts blah'. So let's gets this debate started a little further. We have a 35 yr old QB coming off neck surgery, a 32yr WR who can't afford to lose a step, a 31yr speed rusher with a history of leg problems, a RB who can run N and S, another RB who can't block, a 2 WR that can catch half the time, another WR who's career is still in question, a 32yr TE who's taken a career beating and coming off season ending surgery, and a HC who would probably not be a HC on 30 other teams. And this is the team most of you consider top 5? I love to Colts as much as all of you, but let's be real here.
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Fairly simple question. I personally have them tied @ 10 with a few other teams. This being the Colts forum, Im sure to get blasted and called a hater, but I call it how I see it, and this team doesn't seem to do anything particularly well.
In no order: Patriots, Ravens, Steelers, Jets, Chargers, Eagles, Packers, Saints, Falcons.
Tied with: Texans, Buccs, Chiefs.
Colts Payroll -- 2011
in Colts Football
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Very interesting topic, and I've noticed some of the local stuff underselling the problem recently. I think local media is just terrified of losing Polian as a guest. I expect a Hayden restructure, you cant just cut a quality CB even an oft. injured one. I do expect Diem to be outright cut, he's just not worth the coin. Although a certain OL was playing real well in KC last year after we let him go. It will be interesting to see where they decide to spend what limited money they have. This also doesn't look good for Mathis or Wayne next year. Freeney restructure?