Hughes

[OLD FAN MAN]

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF HUGHES EVER PLAYED LINEBACKER? he is big and quick could he play middle linebacker.

[ColtsLegacy]

Hughes is not a linebacker. He's a DE or bust.

[Andy]

Never has and never will. Period.

[Phil J]

he is big and quick could he play middle linebacker.

not versatile enough to plug into a different position. can't even play his own position at a pro level yet.

[Jason_]

I certainly wouldn't mind seeing them try it in practice with either Hughes or Mathis but highly doubtful it would work. Unless they only brought them in on running downs as a LB but then the other team would recognize this and check to a pass play to take advantage.

[esmort]

This is the perfect time to try Hughes out at LB as well as other experiments ... move some players around, give the rookies more playing time, and try out some new plays. We may find some diamonds in the rough or maybe there is some slim chance Hughes can play LB ... who knows. This season is shot anyway we may as well get something positive out of it, who cares if we only win 2 games instead of 4 or 5 ... thats a better chance at the #1 draft pick.

[braveheartcolt]

This is the perfect time to try Hughes out at LB as well as other experiments ... move some players around, give the rookies more playing time, and try out some new plays. We may find some diamonds in the rough or maybe there is some slim chance Hughes can play LB ... who knows. This season is shot anyway we may as well get something positive out of it, who cares if we only win 2 games instead of 4 or 5 ... thats a better chance at the #1 draft pick.

The guy is a dud. He should be cut now. Why should his failures stop a real LB getting his shot? More FO incompetence.

[Jason_]

The guy is a dud. He should be cut now. Why should his failures stop a real LB getting his shot? More FO incompetence.

No one said to just throw them into the game and see how they do at LB. There's nothing wrong though with giving it a try in practice and see how it works out. Both Hughes and (especially Mathis) have ideal size, strength and speed to play MLB but the question is would they be able to do so effectively both against the run and in pass coverage. If they can then they may be an upgrade over one of the LB's we currently have on the roster, such as Brackett. If they can't do it in practice then by all means don't ever both with trying it in a game.

Overall, I think we have a better LB core than we've had in the past few years but that's still not saying much....of anything. We've always had a weak LB core so anytime we can take an opportunity to try to upgrade then we'd be crazy not to.

Oh and I'd also like to say once again that it's way premature to call Hughes a bust. It's only his second year and he hasn't exactly gotten much playing time in the little time he's been here so far.

[John Waylon]

lol! hughes at LB?! When you first came here, jim, you were quick to tell us all how we knew very little about football and about how most of our starters should be doing menial labor elsewhere because they weren't talented enough to play football.

And then you start this topic?

... Wow...

[dn4192]

At this point what would be the harm to try him there?

[ruksak]

At this point what would be the harm to try him there?

Its week frickin 2. "At this point"?

Patience young jedi.

[dn4192]

Its week frickin 2. "At this point"?

Patience young jedi.

Didn't say start him, but I would begin having him work there in practice, see what he can or can't do.

[coltsfanej]

Our LBs are asked to do a lot in zone coverage and very little in blitzing. Hughes was brought in to be a pass rush specialist. So far he hasnt grown to his potential on that, and that was is strong suit. He has never been a coverage guy, so idk how he would fare in coverage when the strongest part of his game hasnt been good enough to get on the field yet.

[Greenoughrunner]

We coverd for are linebackers

[LUVTHESHOE]

Didn't say start him, but I would begin having him work there in practice, see what he can or can't do.

for one i dont think he will make it period. second making a change like that would be stepping outside

the box and heaven forbid we do that. the SCHEME is perfect they tell us all the time, they are still just trying to execute it. to EXECUTE the SCHEME now that is an excellent concept. did'nt you here bill polian say it worked

once last year against kansas city so i am sure we will stay the course and keep working on it. pick it up D remember

you were offended by the way everyone was dissing you guys last week.

[John Waylon]

Its week frickin 2. "At this point"?

Patience young jedi.

I think he means "at this point in Hughes career"

I mean, I understand trying drastic measures to mine any kind of useful peanuts from the turd, but I think the best we're going to get out of Hughes at this point is a vernon gholston stunt double.

[ruksak]

I think he means "at this point in Hughes career"

Dunno. He had a chance to clarify and didn't choose to.

I mean, I understand trying drastic measures to mine any kind of useful peanuts from the turd, but I think the best we're going to get out of Hughes at this point is a vernon gholston stunt double.

You have such a way with words, John....lol

Sucks that he was a 1st round pick and what we could have gotten blah blah and so on....but, hey lets just forget about that cat unless injury riddles our D-line. He certainly isn't worth a spit on the trade block.

[John Waylon]

hey lets just forget about that cat unless injury riddles our D-line.

That'll be easy if we keep him inactive for most the season again. ^_^

[mystrymaster]

Anyone know why he was inactive last week?

[Jason_]

Anyone know why he was inactive last week?

According to GoColts8818 it was not injury related. Oh and I like your avatar but it's slightly flawed...it should be "Legen......dary"

[ruksak]

Anyone know why he was inactive last week?

I heard he got lost on the way to the game. Apparently he thought that the "R" on his gear shift meant 'really fast'.

[Jason_]

I heard he got lost on the way to the game. Apparently he thought that the "R" on his gear shift meant 'really fast'.

No no, he thought the "R" was for "Run" as in the opponents are going to run the ball so naturally he jumped out of his car, ran to his Panic room and started sucking his thumb.

[21isSuperman]

Our LBs are asked to do a lot in zone coverage and very little in blitzing. Hughes was brought in to be a pass rush specialist. So far he hasnt grown to his potential on that, and that was is strong suit. He has never been a coverage guy, so idk how he would fare in coverage when the strongest part of his game hasnt been good enough to get on the field yet.

Agree with this post. But part of the reason why he hasn't seen the field yet is because of the guys in front of him. Freeney and Mathis are All Pros. It's hard to justify taking those guys out of a game just to give a rookie some experience

[John Waylon]

Anyone know why he was inactive last week?

Because he's jerry hughes.

[John Waylon]

But part of the reason why he hasn't seen the field yet is because of the guys in front of him. Freeney and Mathis are All Pros. It's hard to justify taking those guys out of a game just to give a rookie some experience

Ok, sure, but he HAS seen the field. And when he has, it hasn't been pretty. I mean just because he's lined up behind Freeney and Mathis isn't a reason for him to be inactive on gameday the way he has throughout his career. I mean, we played Eric Foster and keyunta dawson at DE over him last season, and Jamaal Anderson and Tyler Brayton are over him this season...

We're not holding him out of games to use him as a secret weapon at some point in time... The fact that he's inactive for as many games as he is seems to indicate that he's not producing enough results in practice to warrant a spot on the field even as a backup, which for a first round draft pick in his second year who was projected higher than he was taken in the first round, is really pretty discouraging...

[Dito29]

You guys are sounding just as unimaginative as the coaching staff. He was projected as an OLB coming into the draft. He can come in on certain packages and just rush the QB, there is nothing complex about that. Also, Freeney and Mathis don't play EVERY down. Hughes could come in and.......rush the QB. Again, nothing complex about that. If he isn't capable of giving the two starters a breather then why on God's green earth is he still on the roster. Coaching staff is grossly overpaid and underworked. D coord. needs to be fired ASAP!!!! I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Colts need to stop drafting system players and just get football players period. With the Colts mentality, they would draft Addai over Peterson because he is a better pass catcher out of the backfield, and a better blocker. Why not just get the more talented player?????? Colts need to make some drastic changes!!!!!!!

[GoColts8818]

According to GoColts8818 it was not injury related. Oh and I like your avatar but it's slightly flawed...it should be "Legen......dary"

and I got that off Kevin Lee on the Colts pre-game show now with that said he also said Gonzo and White were also healthy scratches and Lamey later said they were both hurt but really close to being able to go but Lamey didn't say anything about Hughes which leads me to think he was a healthy scratch as well.

[manningstheman]

I will say if he played in a different defense maybe. Not in our defense. Wade Phillips would try him out at outside LB though.

[manningstheman]

Ok, sure, but he HAS seen the field. And when he has, it hasn't been pretty. I mean just because he's lined up behind Freeney and Mathis isn't a reason for him to be inactive on gameday the way he has throughout his career. I mean, we played Eric Foster and keyunta dawson at DE over him last season, and Jamaal Anderson and Tyler Brayton are over him this season...

We're not holding him out of games to use him as a secret weapon at some point in time... The fact that he's inactive for as many games as he is seems to indicate that he's not producing enough results in practice to warrant a spot on the field even as a backup, which for a first round draft pick in his second year who was projected higher than he was taken in the first round, is really pretty discouraging...

Which brings us all to alot of other posts on here. Are the Polians slipping. I hate to say it, but maybe. Gonzo..hurt all the time. Brown..well u make ur own comment...Hughes..sorry, but bust. I just hope the O lineman that got drafted this year can use this year to develop for Peyton next year. Who knows, in some strange other worldly knowlegde that noone else knew but the Colts, they had known Peyton needed this operation for a while and this year was always going to be a bust. Get some young O lineman in here and get experience. Then, next year dominate.

[GoColts8818]

Which brings us all to alot of other posts on here. Are the Polians slipping. I hate to say it, but maybe. Gonzo..hurt all the time. Brown..well u make ur own comment...Hughes..sorry, but bust. I just hope the O lineman that got drafted this year can use this year to develop for Peyton next year. Who knows, in some strange other worldly knowlegde that noone else knew but the Colts, they had known Peyton needed this operation for a while and this year was always going to be a bust. Get some young O lineman in here and get experience. Then, next year dominate.

Clealy Polian has had his struggles in the first round but he has also been very good in rounds beyond that and people tend to just over look that when talking about his recent draft classes. I think his struggles in the first round are just a product of the odds catching up to him because look at how many home runs he hit in 1998-2006? The worst player taken there was Rob Morris who was a key part of our Super Bowl team. 2007 was Gonzo and he's a bust only in the sense he can't stay healthy which is something no one could see coming. He isn't a bust in the same way Brown or Ugoh was where they just aren't good enough. Gonzo had the talent he just couldn't stay healthy and frankly no one saw the injury concerns coming because he wasn't an injury riddled player in college. 2008 I would call Ugoh and that was a bust all the way around. What else can you call it? Although he did play well at the start, he got hurt his rookie year and was never the same after that. I think it could be he got by on talent till he got hurt and then he had to work some and he wasn't willing to do that. 2009 was Brown and I have never liked that pick. 2010 was Hughes and while the jury is still out on Hughes it's not looking good right now. I do think they got it right this year with Castonzo though.

I think the Colts have been honest about the Peyton situation which is sorta scary in it's own right. From what I have gathered Manning was on track to play till the Saturday we made final cuts and he started having the back pain and everyone went oh crud this isn't good and it was down hill from there.

[GoGoColts]

Apparently, Hughes can't play at all.

[a06cc]

Watched that "Concerns in Indy" video at NFL.com. The only valid point was change how we played defense. But I think it should've been done years ago. If we have the fastest defense in the league why not blitz more? I'd put 3 DE's in and keep 2 DT's. Jerry is fast enough to make this happen. He could be that SAM/DE on the field. He plays much better standing up IMO.

[Jason_]

Watched that "Concerns in Indy" video at NFL.com. The only valid point was change how we played defense. But I think it should've been done years ago. If we have the fastest defense in the league why not blitz more? I'd put 3 DE's in and keep 2 DT's. Jerry is fast enough to make this happen. He could be that SAM/DE on the field. He plays much better standing up IMO.

They would have to be zone blitzes because our CB's (at least besides Powers) aren't good enough to play press-man coverage. We'd get burned deep every time. And with zone blitzes you have to also keep in mind....our zone got gashed on Sunday even with only rushing with 4 guys. Taking additional guys out of the zone coverage could be even worse.

I'm all for us becoming a more aggressive defense, but in that regard for now I mean playing the LB's closer to the LOS. Stop having the MLB start every play dropping back 5 yards. By the time he realizes it's a run he's too far out of position. I think we also need to start mixing up our personnel packages more because people will audible to a run when they see our pass rushers on the field and will gash us all day long with screens and draws. Then they'll audible to a pass if they see the run stuffers knowing there will be more time in the pocket to read the coverage and throw the ball.

I'd love to see us become more aggressive with blitzes, and while I do think we should throw one in here and there, especially run blitzes, but I think we need to pick up a big time CB before we can do this with the risk not outweighing the reward.

[zachb]

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF HUGHES EVER PLAYED LINEBACKER? he is big and quick could he play middle linebacker.

[JoKeR]

Never ever do you want Hughes playing MIKE.

DE and rushing OLB only!

[OLD FAN MAN]

You guys are sounding just as unimaginative as the coaching staff. He was projected as an OLB coming into the draft. He can come in on certain packages and just rush the QB, there is nothing complex about that. Also, Freeney and Mathis don't play EVERY down. Hughes could come in and.......rush the QB. Again, nothing complex about that. If he isn't capable of giving the two starters a breather then why on God's green earth is he still on the roster. Coaching staff is grossly overpaid and underworked. D coord. needs to be fired ASAP!!!! I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Colts need to stop drafting system players and just get football players period. With the Colts mentality, they would draft Addai over Peterson because he is a better pass catcher out of the backfield, and a better blocker. Why not just get the more talented player?????? Colts need to make some drastic changes!!!!!!!

caldwell is going to make some adjustments, these things are correctable

[GoColts8818]

caldwell is going to make some adjustments, these things are correctable

I know people get tired of hearing that but it really is true. Frankly are large part of it is tackling. If they tackle better our defense will do better. Frankly most of the time rather our defense is doing well or strugging often goes hand and hand with how our tackling is doing. Now rather the Colts improve it or not remains to be seen.

[OLD FAN MAN]

Watched that "Concerns in Indy" video at NFL.com. The only valid point was change how we played defense. But I think it should've been done years ago. If we have the fastest defense in the league why not blitz more? I'd put 3 DE's in and keep 2 DT's. Jerry is fast enough to make this happen. He could be that SAM/DE on the field. He plays much better standing up IMO.

Belichick does this very thing with his guys and it works for him, caldwell will probably make some adjustments and do it too

[Jason_]

Belichick does this very thing with his guys and it works for him, caldwell will probably make some adjustments and do it too

Ok forgive me here, but has anyone else read this guy's posts and gotten the feeling that he's trying to pretend to be the real Jim Caldwell? Every post sounds like something Caldwell would say in a press conference. Or...who knows...maybe the real Jim Caldwell DID create an account to be closer to the fan base.

[Pancake Block]

This is the perfect time to try Hughes out at LB as well as other experiments ... move some players around, give the rookies more playing time, and try out some new plays. We may find some diamonds in the rough or maybe there is some slim chance Hughes can play LB ... who knows. This season is shot anyway we may as well get something positive out of it, who cares if we only win 2 games instead of 4 or 5 ... thats a better chance at the #1 draft pick.

The season is shot? After 1 game? You gotta be kidding or you're not a true fan. Defect to the Pats why don't you.