** Official Indianapolis Colts 2009 Season Thread **

[Shank]

Bronchodes?

That's a new one.

[J.T.]

Prahps to the Broncos for playing great defense for the middle half of the game. It seemed between Manning's 3rd and 4th TD drives, he didn't complete a single pass. I'm sure he completed two or three in that span, but it really did feel like he was getting completely shut down and that's something you rarely see a team do to Manning.

What did the Broncos in was the way they tried to play offense. They were doing the whole ball control, move the chains, keep Manning on the bench thing, which is a good strategy in any situation that doesn't involve you being down 21-0. It took them a very long time to put 16 points on the scoreboard, versus the Colts only needing probably 20 minutes to get 3 TDs. The defense is finally getting some respect, and it's just sad that it took a half-bad game from Peyton Manning to make some realize this Colts defense is the best they've ever had. Prahps to Brandon Marshall for grabbing 21 passes in this game. That's insane to do even if you're matched up with small DBs. I also thought it was a classy move to give his two touchdown footballs to Bronco fans in the stands.

Moving on, in today's press conference, Coach Caldwell alluded to the Colts resting only injured guys for the Jacksonville game Thursday. He said something to the effect of "We'll approach this game the same way we have the first thirteen, the only thing that will affect someone's playing time is whether they are injured." I think that's the way to go in this situation. You want to be healthy and have momentum in the playoffs, and wholesale resting players because of injury potential destroys momentum in my opinion. Also, it's unfair to screw Manning out of a fair MVP race if he wants to win it. So prahps to the Colts for at least playing to win the next game.

[J.T.]

That Broncos game was also the first time in the Manning era the Colts have won a game he threw three or more interceptions. This defense is tied for 2nd in points allowed and has given up zero TD and one FG following a turnover by the offense. That last stat is ing incredible.

If I had to guess who's going to sit out against the Glitter Cats on Thursday I'd say Bullitt, Diem, Johnson and Mathis for sure and possibly Addai, Clark, Lacey and Powers depending on how serious their injuries on Sunday were. Clark and Addai both came back in after being hurt, so if I had to guess I'd say they'll play. The thing with Lacey and Powers is the Colts are pretty thin at DB right now anyway so they may get scratched just on the off chance that they could further aggravate the injuries they sustained yesterday and the team could potentially enter the post season without enough DBs to play a dime defense.

[Shank]

No need to sit Bullitt. Just give him about 2 series on the field and he'll be out with an injury anyway.

[LOL texans]

I like that Caldwell is going for undefeated. There is risk of injury in EVERY game, with our recent post game history, we need to balance that out with the benefit of making sure our players are getting game-speed reps so they hit the playoffs in stride. With their first round bye and home field locked up, the Colts don't have a "meaningful" game for another month. So it is crucial to keep the starters sharp for a post season run.

[J.T.]

The one thing that bothers me is the Colts aren't saying about the status of Donald Brown, Anthony Gonzalez or Adam Vinatieri. If healthy, all three could be huge weapons come playoff time, but if any of them aren't going to be good to go in January they need to be IRed now. The Colts pulled this with Marvin Harrison in 2007 and as great a player as he was, he had a costly, uncharacteristic fumble against the Chargers that was wholly related to that being his first in-game experience since coming back from his knee injury.

I don't want that happening again. If Gonzalez can't come back and get 20-25 catches from Manning, not Painter, then he needs to accept the fact that this is a lost season. Same for Brown. Dude needs to come back and get 20-30 carries or ride IR till next year. Having those guys healthy would make the Colts even more dangerous than they are, but if they're not going to be able to play, then the Colts can pick up two DBs for the playoffs to stack up the secondary a little bit. Keiwan Ratliff, who started quite a few games for the Colts last year during their big 9-0 run, is available and probably my first choice, although the Colts have other roster spots they can get rid of to pick him up if they really want him.

[LOL texans]

Gonzalez!

He needs to sack the up.

[LOL texans]

Luckily the J.V. squad(collie and Garcon) are getting it done along with the Varisty.

[SpursFanFirst]

I'm sure you know this, but the final decision on playing comes with Friday practices. If they practice on Friday, they're playing Sunday.
Again, you probably already know this, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

[J.T.]

I'm sure you know this, but the final decision on playing comes with Friday practices. If they practice on Friday, they're playing Sunday.
Again, you probably already know this, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

Yeah, that's been the way they've done it in Indy for a while. Only this week is a little different because the game is on Thursday night. For a short week like this, the league still requires three published injury reports so in lieu of a real injury report on Mondays, teams submit a list of who would and would not have practiced had the team actually practiced today. So this week the final practice day and day to look at as far as who will or won't play would be the Wednesday practice.

[SpursFanFirst]

Yeah, that's been the way they've done it in Indy for a while. Only this week is a little different because the game is on Thursday night. For a short week like this, the league still requires three published injury reports so in lieu of a real injury report on Mondays, teams submit a list of who would and would not have practiced had the team actually practiced today. So this week the final practice day and day to look at as far as who will or won't play would be the Wednesday practice.

Good grief. Why do I keep forgetting the game is Thursday?
I just asked sports, and they said nothing has been said for sure.
So, nothing that you don't already know, but...

[Jacob1983]

Going undefeated is pointless if you don't win the Super Bowl. Besides, why put more pressure on yourself with 16-0 going into the playoffs?

[J.T.]

Going undefeated is pointless if you don't win the Super Bowl. Besides, why put more pressure on yourself with 16-0 going into the playoffs?

Hear that echo? This is Side B of General NFL Fan Opinion on the Possibility of a Perfect Season.

Put yourself in the players' shoes. Winning the Super Bowl is the highest point you can get to in the NFL.... apart from winning the Super Bowl undefeated.

[J.T.]

Likely out for the game against the Sparkle Kittens or Glitter Cats, whatever you want to call them:

Freeney, Mathis, Bethea, Powers and Charlie Johnson

But reports have been that Freeney and Bethea have been held out of practice for rest, not because of injury. So they may play. I'd expect the Colts will deploy at least Freeney and possibly Mathis as well only on 3rd down and sit them all other downs.

Donald Brown and Anthony Gonzalez are out again. My patience is wearing thin with both of these dudes, but in 2006 Dallas Clark came back to play a game against the Dolphins the last week of the year and he ended up being money in the playoffs. I'm willing to give them until Week 17, but again, Gonzalez at least needs to be catching balls from Manning and not Painter. By Week 17 I don't think Caldwell is going to give Manning serious minutes, so if Gonzalez doesn't play in the Jets game following this one, he needs to be IRed.

[SpursFanFirst]

Mathis and Freeney didn't practice today - game time decisions.

[Shank]

Why wouldn't they just put Gonzalez on IR at this point? It's almost a lost cause for the season and Garcon/Collie have exceeded expectations. It's not like they need him at this point.

[SpursFanFirst]

Why wouldn't they just put Gonzalez on IR at this point? It's almost a lost cause for the season and Garcon/Collie have exceeded expectations. It's not like they need him at this point.

Unless they're keeping it the way it is, "just in case...."

[Shank]

Is he even practicing or catching balls with Manning? Wouldn't you think it's a bit late at this point in the season?

[SpursFanFirst]

Is he even practicing or catching balls with Manning? Wouldn't you think it's a bit late at this point in the season?

Yeah, I don't know. I can ask later, if you want.

[SpursFanFirst]

Powers is out.

[monosylab1k]

meh, 16-0 is small potatoes. The Patriots already took all the pressure & mystique of going 16-0 away. The media isn't covering Colts/Saints even 1/10th as heavily as they covered the 07 Patriots.

If the Colts go 16-0, nobody cares because it's already been done. If they go 19-0 that's another story, but someone would have to drop a nuclear bomb on the city of San Diego for that to happen.

[SpursFanFirst]

I'm glad there's not a media frenzy here in Indy. It's been that way for several years now, and it's distracting.
Flying under the radar...that's the best.

[J.T.]

meh, 16-0 is small potatoes. The Patriots already took all the pressure & mystique of going 16-0 away. The media isn't covering Colts/Saints even 1/10th as heavily as they covered the 07 Patriots.

If the Colts go 16-0, nobody cares because it's already been done. If they go 19-0 that's another story, but someone would have to drop a nuclear bomb on the city of San Diego for that to happen.

I want them to go 19-0 because if they don't I'll have to rename my new book something other than Tom Brady Can Suck It.

[LOL@MavsFan]

Who makes these threads "official" and if you know how, let me in on the secret so I can post something "official"

Thanks,
BenJarvus

[SpursFanFirst]

It sounds like Polian may have more say than Caldwell (?)

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/1...pping-mvp-race

Could Colts president Bill Polian’s philosophy toward the postseason cost Manning a chance at his record-setting fourth MVP crown? With Home-field advantage throughout the playoffs already clinched, Polian has said key starters will be rested down the final stretch of the regular season because of health concerns (either recuperative or preventative). After Thursday night’s game in Jacksonville, the only time we will see Manning in Weeks 16 and 17 is during token appearances to keep his career-long starting streak alive.

I hope this is wrong.