Can Colts do more with less?
The Colts are not the team they were a year ago. The loss of running back Edgerrin James guarantees that. But can they still win the Super Bowl? I pose that question, and some possible answers, in my column, "Can Colts Do It?" today.
An excerpt:
An excerpt:
The Colts may very well still be the best team in the NFL, top to bottom, from players to coaches to front office to owner. When it comes to entertaining football, few peers are even in the discussion. But they’re undeniably leaner in depth and talent.
Will the Colts reach the Super Bowl? Can they do more with less? Let me know what you think. I also ran a piece on the Colts' primary rivals for this season. How would you rank the AFC contenders?
posted by Reggie Hayes at 10:10 AM
5 Comments:
It became evident quickly in the Giants game just how much the Colts are missing Edge. I didn't check the line score but I'd bet the Colts didn't get more than 50 yards rushing.
The real problem is that defenses can key on Peyton in the play-action pass. They don't have to buy the run fake - yet. If that continues, it will be a long, or possibly very short, season for Manning, who has been durable. But, injury gets to everyone in the NFL sooner or later.
The defense didn't look great, but honestly, how do you defend the catches that Plaxico Burress made? Eli looked good and was obviously keyed up for the game. I think the Colts will be OK, but one or two key injuries would likely ruin the season.
10:19 PM, September 12, 2006
You were close. They had 55 yards rushing. However, I liked the speed Joseph Addai showed around the ends and I think he'll be able to break some runs this season. He's no Edge. Who is, besides Tiki Barber? I understand your concern about the run fake, but if Manning could avoid the Giants' rush, one of the best in the league, he ought to be able to survive until some of the running-game kinks are worked out. I'd say we should give Dominic Rhodes and Addai about five games before judging too harshly.
7:37 AM, September 13, 2006
Chad...you can't run the ball when the defense is playing against it. The whole game the Giants played to stop the run. I was at the game and that was my feeling. It was only reinforced from Polian and Dungy's comments (who said they ran great considering what the defense gave them). It's unfair to say the Colts are missing Edge right now because he would have had the same output that night.
11:24 AM, September 13, 2006
Anonymous... I understand that the Giants defense is very good. They are going to be Super Bowl contenders this year, so I don't want to underscore Indy's effort.
The Giants may well have been focusing on stopping the run. I didn't see all of the game, but what I did see was a lot of pressure on Peyton Manning. He was a scrambling fool (term of endearment - don't take it personally).
It is hard for me to believe that the Giants are capable of focusing on stopping the run AND putting ridiculous pressure on the quarterback. If they can continue to do that then the NFL should just hand them the Lombardi Trophy right now.
The fact is that Indy did miss Edge. I'm not saying the Rhodes or Addai won't get the job done, and maybe Edge wouldn't have gained more yardage. But, he is a fantastic blocker out of the backfield, and maybe with Edge in there Payton has a bit longer to make a play. Usually when a pass rusher gets past Edge, he is open in the flat which is where he is dangerous.
Dungy and Polian are going to say whatever is necessary to make fans believe the loss of Edge will not affect the Colts. It does affect the team, and there is nothing that can be done about it now except to get assess what Rhodes and Addai strengths are and play to them.
10:04 AM, September 15, 2006
Wow, please overlook my grammatical mistakes ... I need some sleep. The last sentence should have read that the Colts need to asses... not get assess. Sorry.
10:07 AM, September 15, 2006
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