The Indianapolis Colts this season have gone from a powerhouse team to a laughing stock. The Colts are bascially the same team that won Super bowl XLI in 2007. They have not made any major changes in their lineup offensively or defensively. The most notable departure was Safety Bob Sanders whose now in San Diego. The Colts last season, eventhough they were starting to show signs of aging just a bit, were 10-6. True enough they also had some injuries along the way, but the offense scored an average of 27 points per game to rank 4th. Peyton Manning had a QB Rating of 91.9 and completed 66% of of passes throwing for 4700 yards and averaging 294 yards per game with 33 touchdownds and 17 interceptions. The running game averaged 93 yards per game which wasn’t too bad. Defensively, they averaged 24 points per game that were allowed and were near the bottom in most defensive catergories. But the offense bailed them out especially in close games.
Fast forward to 2011, after week 8, Peyton Manning is still recovering from a second neck surgery and will bascially be lost for the season. The Colts may not say that, but it doesna’t take a genius to realize that if you have neck surgery especially after the season has started, just like Manning did, you’re not not going to be available for a substantial amount of time. So far though offensively, the Colts are 30th in the league in points with 15 per game, 30th in yards with 295 per game, 27th in passing yards with 193, and 22nd in rushing with 102 per game. Those numbers are not going to get it done, especially when you’ve called Kerry Collins out of retirement only to be a bust and Curtis Painter whose hasn’t “painted” a pretty picture of moving his team down the field consistently so far. The only game the Colts have been competitive in was their earlier loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. After a week where the Colts were embarassed 62-7 by the New Orleans Saints on national television the week before, you’d think they would be angry and wanting to get the goose egg off their record this season but it wasn’t the case. In their latest debacle, this past week against the Tennesse Titans, QB Matt Hasselbeck threw for 224 yards and a touchdown en route to a 27-10 win over the Colts to keep the Colts winless at 0-8. The good news for the Colts is that they outgained the Titans 399-311 but couldn’t overcome 10 penalties for 66 yards and QB Curtis Painter being sacked twice, as well as, intercepted twice that lead to 14 Titans points.
Some would believe the Colts are aging, some believe they are too dependant on one player (Manning), some may feel their defense is and has always been sub par. Some may feel this season has been a wash because of coaching. I feel that yes the team is aging, but you have enough veterans on this team to have pride and not want this type of play week to week. Yes, they are too dependent on Manning, and it shows, but that has been going on for years. It’s like a “if ain’t broke don’t fix it” rule as every year the Colts make the playoffs but never considered a “what if” situation such as they are in now. Jim Caldwell is a fine coach, but what is it going to take for him and the rest of his staff to let his players have it so that they can have a somewhat respectable seaon. If I didn’t know any better, it seems like the players were playing to get him fired more so than getting Andrew Luck as the number 1 pick in next April’s draft.
Before then though, the Colts will put their winless streak on the line this week against the Atlanta Falcons who will come to Indianapolis and are getting their stride back. The Falcons are coming off their bye week and have won two straight. Falcons Wide Receiver Julio Jones, Quarterback Matt Ryan’s deep target whose been out the past two games with a hamstring injury, may be well enough to return. Here’s what we do know, the Colts won’t have Peyton Manning and the Falcons have two pass rushers in John Abraham and Ray Edwards who can get to the Quarterback to make it a long day for Curtis Painter and create turnovers for the Falcons secondary. The Colts defense can’t stop anybody and the Falcons offseason transition into a highpowered offense may just happen this week against the Colts. What better team to do it against right? After this one, the Falcons should improve to 5-3 and Colts inching Colts to drafting Andrew Luck.
ABOUT KEVIN TAYLOR
Kevin Taylor is a lifelong resident of Atlanta, GA who loves sports. Kevin grew up watching his favorite NFL team the Atlanta Falcons and was priviledged to cover the team while working as Sports Reporter for WAOK-AM radio station in Atlanta, GA from 1998-2001. It was during this time that Kevin covered the Falcons remarkable run to the 1998 super Bowl. Kevin also provided sports coverage of both the 2000 NFL Super Bowl and Major League Baseball games in Atlanta. Kevin is now the Host of Taylor Made Sports With Kevin Taylor, Mondays from 7-9pm eastern on blogtalkradio.com. Throughout his career as a Sports Reporter or internet show Host, Kevin has interviewed some of the most well-known athletes and personalities such as Atlanta Falcons All Pro Tight End Tony Gonzalez, Running Back Jonathan Dwyer of the Pittsbugh Steelers, and Olympic Bronze Figure Skating Medalist Debi Thomas, to name a few.
Kevin is also a fan of the Atlanta Hawks and Braves, and Georgia Tech Athletics.
