Monday, September 17, 2007

Bob Sanders will destroy all comers...


Lots to like - and lots to dislike - about the Colts peformance yesterday against the formerly lowly Tennessee Titans. It was definitely not a textbook display on either side of the ball, but the point is the Colts held on and won. Last year, we're not sure the Colts pull that game out. For those with short memories, that's the Colts first road win against and AFC South opponent since the 2005 season. Yeah, yesterday's win was big. Here are 10 things we took from it:

1.)Bob Sanders just may win Defensive Player of the Year.
- Surely, Jeff Fischer knew the Colts were going to employ Sanders as a fourth linebacker to stop a solid Titans ground game - especially after they rang up 280+ yards on a normally stingy Jacksonville run "D". If he did, he was powerless to stop Sanders. 11 tackles, three QB pressures and - get this - 2.5 sacks. No one will ever replace Peyton as our favorite Colt, but Sanders gains on him every game he suits up for.

2.)The Colts red zone offense shat the bed.
- Six trips DEEP into Titans territory, and the Colts only turned it into 22 points. They were several opportunities for the Colts offense to break this game open - and they never took advantage. We'll chock it up to early-season kinks, but we're not happy.

3.)The Colts NEED Rob Morris and Freddy Keiaho.
- Playing without two starting linebackers is never easy, but when you're playing on the road against a team known for running it, running it and running it, you're setting yourself up for a fall. But the Colts defense - namely Sanders - made up for the two weak links (Hagler and Boiman)who had trouble all game following the flow of the Titans delayed draw. We support Dungy for holding them out; don't call us unsympathetic for wanting them back in uniform by week four.

4.)Kelvin Hayden can't fall for double moves like that.
- He must see those every day in practice. He has to. Marvin Harrison is the king of the double move. He'll be seeing a lot more of those as the season progresses, and they'll be run by receivers who we've actually heard of.

5.)Joseph Addai's vision continues to improve.
- He barely average four yards per carry, but Addai turned several - 5, 6, maybe more - runs that could have gone for no gain into two-and-three yard lunges. Lost in the scope of the game, maybe, is how exemplary a cutback runner Addai has become.

6.)Our special teams are putrid - again.
- One blocked extra point, one missed chipped shot FG and one momentum-killing long kickoff return. The sad thing is, with these guys, that's a C+ week. Must. See. Improvement.

7.)Lendale White is still fat.
- He got his 60 yards or whatever it was, but he was gassed at the end. Don't bet on him being a second-half horse as the season rolls on.

8.)The Colts won a divisional road game.
- Don't overlook the importance of this. A so-so effort against a good team in a hostile environment resulted in a win. That's gratifying.

9.)Tony Ugoh isn't there yet as a pass blocker.
- Manning was hit more often - and harder - in this game than any we can remember since the Baltimore playoff game. Ugoh is a terrific run blocker, but very average when dealing with a straight-ahead bull rush. Kyle Van-"Don't feel like spelling it out" handed Ugoh his lunch several times Sunday. That can't happen.

10.)Sometimes, it's better to be lucky than good.
- The Colts didn't get all the breaks (illegal contact, anyone?), but they got them when they counted (dropped passes, mental miscues). That helps. It's not reliable, but we'll take it.

1 comment:

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