Anticipation is the process of imaginative speculation about the future.
By the time that the Indianapolis Colts host the Buffalo Bills Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium; every team in the NFL will have already played their first Preseason game.
Both squads will feature young quarterbacks, marking the debut for Bills first-round pick E.J. Manuel who has been named to start the game.
While competition in house keeps both teams busy during training camp; everyone involved has shown not only their lighter side, but the excitement to finally get back out there playing against other teams for that full speed, hard hitting play they are accustomed to.
For the Indianapolis Colts, it’s all about keeping up with the momentum they finished with last year—even with the disappointing loss to the Ravens in the playoffs. Cornerback and second year Colt Vontae Davis spoke about the secondary making plays and about team chemistry: “Yeah we are just having fun. We love being around one another, Coach Pagano preaches about family and we go out every day as if it was just fun.” Davis was also asked what it was like being in training camp for the first time with the Colts: “It’s been good. I am getting accustomed to the defense and I am able to play fast without thinking. It’s just playing fast and trying to limit the mistakes. I just feel comfortable playing with the guys, bonding with the guys. It’s different for me now then it was previously coming in during the season.”
Dwayne Allen, second year TE with the team, explains his nickname (Chuckie) as well as why he has dubbed QB Andrew Luck ‘Meal Ticket’ in this quick yet funny video:
On the other side of the field we have Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett chest bumping his players and celebrating right along with the team as if he was a player! After training camp on Wednesday, he was asked about his enthusiasm and if he could tone it down: “No. I can’t do it. Always has been. You should see my son. My son, all my kids are wild, I don’t know how my wife does it. I’m telling you, you think I have energy? You put all the Hackett’s together, oh my goodness. Then you add my dad in there; he’s still the same way, too.” Right after this, he was asked about his celebratory chest bumps because of a touchdown bomb from EJ Manuel to rookie WR Marquise Goodwin:” I almost pulled a hamstring. That was a long, long run. Those throw and catch by 88 (Marquise Goodwin) and 3 (EJ Manuel), that’s something I hope we get to hear a lot. Then you get to hear that sweet song, Buffalo “Shout” song and be in there. I can’t wait to hear that and see that go down. I’ll be up in the box though and I won’t be running down the stadium to go give them a chest bump, so I’ll have to stay up there for that one. Anytime you score a touchdown, it’s unbelievable. It’s hard to score a touchdown; I don’t care what anybody says. In practice versus defense, on the field, it doesn’t matter. Anytime you score, you can celebrate and you should get used to it. The more you celebrate, the more you want to do it, the more touchdowns come.” It was also noted that there was a bet placed on which man (Kolb or Manuel) could overthrow these fast, young receivers first—Kolb took that one!
What does both of these teams have in common more than the high expectations of a great season? How about the fact that in April this year, the teams decided to trade Linebackers and sent Jerry Hughes to the Bills in exchange for Kelvin Sheppard. Although both men are happy to still be an NFL player, they have different views of the trade: “It goes both ways,” said Sheppard. “One day I’m there, starting at middle linebacker and the next day you’re here. It’s exciting because I came to a very good organization and a very good team but at the same time it’s a very humbling experience, to say the least. Being somewhere and knowing at least in your mind that you thought you were their guy and then – boom – they call you up to the GM’s office.” Hughes, who produced 62 tackles and five sacks in three seasons with the Colts, has decided to re-write his resume in Buffalo.
He told The Associated Press earlier this week that it was tough “not getting the opportunity to play” his first two seasons in Indianapolis but said he looked at it like “they really didn’t know what they have.”
This game has all the makings of a Super Bowl matchup, minus the fact that both teams are in the same conference and its only Preseason! The Colts started a rookie QB last year that helped them to the playoffs, HC Chuck Pagano leaves for most of the season while his team fights in his name, and oh yeah, all of this a year into losing arguably the best QB in history.
The Buffalo Bills haven’t seen a playoff game in 13 years; they have gone through QB after QB, Coach after Coach just trying to find the one who owns the “glass heel”. Finally, it appears as if there is some light at the end of the tunnel. 1st round draft pick EJ Manuel is looking very impressive and the coaching staff/scheme has everyone already in “anticipation” of what could happen in Buffalo.
