Blog: BLOG/VLOGs w/Jeffro
No Huddle and Rushing Woes!
11/4/2008 9:54 PM
|
[report]
Categories: none selected
|
+ Subscribe to this Blog
+ Add to my Blog Roll |
|
I have really missed doing these the last few weeks but everyone has just been so busy that it just hasn't worked out - thanks Jeffro for getting them going again!
The Hurry-Up has become such a staple for this football team and I too have anxioulsy been awaiting the return of the more up-tempo version over the one we have been treated to more often than not this season. As you point out, the revolving door on the offensive line has DEFINITELY had its impact on what CAN be done. What I think that most people may not understand is that while Peyton is standing behind center making HIS play calls, Jeff Saturday is taking that information and then communicating the blocking schemes for the linemen based on what HE is reading from the defensive alignment. With new players in new positions that HAS to become pretty difficult to get all five guys on the same page - especially with THIS offense! I think we will be seeing more and more of a transistion to the faster paced version of the Colts no-huddle, and hopefully sooner than later. It is truly a BIG disadvantage for the defense when they cannot make the personnel substitutions like they would like.
The OTHER subject you touch on is a little mystery to me as well, given the futility with which we have displayed to date at being able to get it done, and that is running the ball. Again, as you have already pointed out, in THIS particular offense, you have to be able to show the threat of being able to run the ball in order to keep the defenses honest - if you don't do that, then you make it much more difficult to open up passing lanes as well forcing coverage assignments on your recievers.I have to agree with Jeffro here though that at times, it simply looks like we are wasting a play here and there, and when you are not any more successful than what we have been at times, are you really achieving the advantage you are looking for?
The biggest thing that I see that is STILL missing from the Colts approach though, is the STRETCH play (the way only the Colts can run it)! The Colts do not now, nor have at any time in the last five-six years, had that type of running back that can bull rush it up the middle and get you three to four yards everytime they touch the ball. We have shown some instances of being able to run inside with Dominic (much more successful at doing this than Joseph), but with the size of some of the defensive lines that the Colts have played against, I do not think you can say we have had any repeatable success at doing so. Early in the season, when Peyton was first coming back from the injury, the Colts tried to use the PITCH instead of the stretch, to try and get the ball to the outside - it was not very effective either, as when you pitch it, it takes all suspense out of the equation as to whether Peyton is actually going to pull the ball back OUt at the last minute and make a pass, or give it up to the back and let him look for the openings. This is where Joseph Addai is at his best, looking for the smallest seam with the entire defense all movign in one direction, and then cutting it back against that flow and picking up big yardage. I have heard many comments about his ineffectiveness this year, but believe me when I say it is not a result of a lack of effort, but a change in scheme!
And this is where I think we can see the biggest lingering issue with Peyton's knee - his ability to run the stretch like he always has, and make the sudden stop and then drop back to throw! On the few occasions where they HAVE ran the stretch, I cannot conciously remember Peyton holding onto the ball at any time - they may have but I don't recall any! THIS is the one thing I see as being DIFFERENT than in years past, and I am holding out hope that it makes a return very soon to the playbook!
Thanks again for the question and I'll look forward to the next one!
GO HORSE!
[permalink] |
|
|
Bye Weeks - Is Early Bad?
9/12/2008 9:11 PM
Categories: none selected
Thanks for the great question Jeffro - I really enjoy doing these.
So far we have pretty much been on the same page with the topics we have discussed, and this one is no different. When I first saw the schedule come out, I was pretty upset with getting a BYE so early in the season - the last couple of years it was only a few weeks later, but WEEK 4?? That leaves you a pretty long stretch to get through to the playoffs, without being able to rest your players. My initial reaction was that IF the Colts were able wrap up the Division early, there would be NO WAY Coach would let any of the starters play with having to play that many weeks in succession - history would say they wouldn't play anyway, but this seemed to SEAL THE DEAL.
Now given everything that has happened, I am not sure it could come at a BETTER time! We still have TWO very tough ballgames to play in Minnesota (on the road) and Jacksonville (at home), but then we can use the BYE week to allow some players to heal up a little more, and more than anything else, get back some continuity that seemed to be missing in Week 1.
I am already reading a lot of negative comments around the site after just one bad week - it truly amazes me how easy it has become to think we are going to go out each week and walk all over whomever we face. Sunday night was a wake up call not only for our team, but should have been for our fans. While I personally do not want to believe there is a chance we could lose the game this Sunday, it IS a possibility - Minnesota is a very tough team and they, like Chicago, come into the game very healthy! It will not be easy - in fact, under the circumstances it might be the toughest game on our schedule.
We need to get through these next two weeks - the BYE does come at a good time, but only if we make it work to our advantage - I am sure they will!
GO COLTS!
[read/comment]
|
Joint Venture - Round Two!
8/7/2008 6:05 PM
Categories: none selected
Here is the next chapter in something I am having a lot of fun with. In this one, Jeffro and I were actually able to finally meet, so we did this one LIVE together, back in mid-July. I hope you enjoy it!
Jeffro's first question was one the Colt's get criticized for a lot - Are the Colts too small on the Defensive side of the football? As I stated, I am one who does not buy into that. It boils down to what you are trying to accomplish. The Tampa 2, as it has come to be called, is intended to keep everything in front of the Defense - it is kind of a bend, but don't break philosophy. It has taken quite a few years to get the all of the personnel in place to effectively run the Defense, but last year the Colts led the league in the fewest number of plays allowed of greater than 20 yards. It is predicated on putting a lot of pressure on the Quarterback, and then everyone flying to the ball once it is in motion. Injuries are part of the game, and can occur to anyone, at anytime. I look at the major injuries that occurred last year, and size had nothing to do with them. The injury to Marvin Harrison occured when one of his own players were blocked into him and rolled up the backside of his leg. Dwight Freeney was working a spin move during a pass rush when he sustained his foot injury. While I don't have any stats to support this comment, I would venture to say that the number of total injuries incurred last year, were not statistically different than most years. What made it seem so bad, was the profile of the players that were injured.
By being so late in getting this posted, I can actually talk about the lastest news in Jeffro's second question about Bret Favre. His reign in Green Bay has come to an end, and as I felt in the video, that is the best thing for BOTH sides. It has been a circus for three or four weeks now, and I am glad it is finally over. Bret will still be wearing Green, but that of the New York Jets! Another future Hall of Fame QB playing in the AFC. I think it brings instant credibility to the position for the Jets, but he will have very little time to learn the system. How effective he will be will not be known for some time, but it is definitely an upgrade over what they have had. I am a fan of Bret Favre, and this allows me to continue being so - I don't know if I could have felt the same way had he forced the hand of the Packers in any other way.
Until the next time,
May the HORSE Be With You!
[read/comment]
|
A New Adventure
5/13/2008 5:54 PM
Categories: none selected
A few weeks ago, a fellow MyColts.netter approached me about doing a joint effort and I couldn't wait to get started. Jeffro has been a huge supporter of mine, and I know many of you are aware of his work with the VLOGs. I won't go into a lot of detail here, because Jeffro will elaborate more in detail where we hope to takes this. Please watch the video below, and I will leave my comments at the bottom of the Video.
What a controversial opening subject - but you all know me and I was never one to hold back my thoughts on such things!
I'll start with the particulars on Marvin and go from there. Marvin is currently 35 years old, but will turn 36 on August 25th. His contract, that was signed in 2004, will account for $7.6M against the cap this year, $9M in 2009, $10M in 2010 and $11.4M in 2011, for a total of $38M over the remaining life of the contract. All guarenteed money though, was paid PRIOR to the 2006 season, from what I was able to find out. This IS a huge committment by the Colts, for a player of his age.
However, Marvin does not have the body of a 36 year old, and while he often has been criticized for avoiding contact, it is what has helped him be so productive over an extended amount of time. Obviously I have no medical background, but I personally choose to believe the injury that he incurred last year, is behind him and expect to see the same production from him that we have grown accustomed to.
With that said, you have to turn to the current set of circumstances that have come about, and it gets real tricky. Everyone will have differences of opinion on something like this, and the violence aspect that goes with it. I have chosen to be supportive of him at this time, as I believe is deserving of nothing less from us. None of us know what is like to be in the spotlight like athletes today are, and few of us were probably exposed to some of the things he was during his upbringing. Should we question his committment to try and put money back into his neighborhood - whether we understand it or not? He has been the epitome of what a Colt player should be, and while he has chosen to be very private about his personal things, what crime is there in that?
Even if Marvin is cleared of any wrong doing in the shooting, he still stands to be charged with a misdemeanor for being the owner of a gun that was used in a crime (Philadelphia law). If that happens, he also stands the risk of a suspension by the NFL, which has a rule that if a player's gun is involved in a crime, the player could be disciplined by the league.
I am hoping for the best from all of this. I do NOT believe it is in the Colt's best interest to try and unload him, especially with so much doubt still attached to the cirucumstances. He is a True Blue Colt, and will remain so in my eyes, until evidence is uncovered that suggest he is not worthy of that description.
This story is far from over, but just today I found a very interesting article from Philadelphia based website (http://www.philly.com). It sounds bizarre, but hasn't the whole story from the very beginning? Here is the article - I'll leave it up to you to draw your own conclusions at this time.
6ABC sports anchor Keith Russell has reportedly supplied wholly unsubstantiated details to a Florida radio station about last week's shooting linked to Marvin Harrison, the Indianapolis Colts and Roman Catholic football star. Harrison is being investigated by Philadelphia police following the April 29 shooting in which a gun he owns was used to shoot a man who had just beaten him up.
According to ProFootballTalk. com, Russell appeared with Jason Jackson on Miami's WQAM, and said his sources told him that the man who was shot had come to carry out a gangland-style hit on Harrison. According to the Web site, Russell said during the segment that the issue relates to Harrison's father, who Russell told the radio station was incarcerated.
According to a Sporting News article from 1999, Harrison's father died when he was 2. The as- yet-unidentified 32-year-old man was shot on Thompson Street near 25th in North Philly after a fight with Harrison that took place two weeks after the victim was kicked out of Playmakers, a bar that Harrison owns, on 28th Street near Cambridge, police sources tell the People Paper's David Gambacorta.
Our efforts to reach Russell have been unsuccessful. A 6ABC spokeswoman declined comment but says the station is looking into the matter of Russell's remarks.
I want to thank Jeffro for approaching me with this idea, and I certainly hope you enjoy what we are trying to do!
GO COLTS!!
[read/comment]
|
Previous Entries
|
|
|