SB Nation - Nick Graham

Colts Hobbled? Old Foe Indianapolis has a full infirmary

JohnHannahRules — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:49 -0000

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

This way to the hospital! Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders is among the several Colts suffering with injury as Indy heads into the meat of its schedule. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

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Back in early October, New England squeaked out a home win over the Ravens when a Joe Flacco pass bounced harmlessly to the turf off the chest of his receiver. Looks like the Colts had their Baltimore.

This past Sunday in Indianapolis, Texans' kicker Kris Brown missed a field goal as time wound down. The miss preserved a Colts' home victory in which Peyton Manning had to engineer yet another late-game scoring drive to overcome a furious Houston rally. After taking a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter, Indy surredered 17 unanswered points and the lead. Manning engineered an 8-play 60-yard drive midway through the fourth to go ahead and they survived with Brown's miss to keep their record pure.

Just as New England has hit the serious part of the year, so has Indy -- or what passes for it. Their early season schedule ranks as the easiest in the AFC and the Colts have treated it accordingly in racking up the wins. Nevertheless, losses have been suffered. Indianapolis will play host to New England with many of its most important players holding down the fort in the infirmary.

Veteran cornerback Kelvin Hayden is expected to miss the next 2 - 3 weeks with a sprained knee.

Cornerback Marlin Jackson is now on injured reserve after re-injuring his ACL last week in practice.

Defensive mainspring Bob Sanders has been placed on injured reserve with a torn biceps from the 49ers game.

Receiver Anthony Gonzales had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. A return date has not been specified, but it won't be next week.

These are the recent additions. Other denizens of the IR list include DB Nick Graham; OLB Tyjuan Hagler; DB Travis Key; backup TE Jamie Petrowski. Indy has been trotting out Matt Stover to kick as Vinatieri has undergone knee surgery and his return date is unknown.

WR Austin Collie left Sunday's game against the Texans with an injury.

No one playing in week 10 is at 100%, but it's worth noting that linebacker Gary Brackett and pass-rushing great Dwight Freeney have both struggled with actual hurts this year and are perhaps less fit than most other week-10 NFLers.

Of course, the obvious big hit is Sanders. Bob is an interesting conversation piece for connoisseurs of safety-play. You hear "for a player his size" a lot in those conversations, but it is undeniable that the Colts are a defense of a different character when he is on the field. Like Harrison used to do for the Patriots and like Belichick evidently hopes Seau will do now, Sanders has an electrifying effect on the Colts. Without him they are notably less dynamic.

None of this should in any way be thought to imply that the game will be easier. Peyton has his starting line intact and is making much hay with his recieving corps -- notably old friend Reggie Wayne and new toys Collie and Pierre Garcon. Oh yeah -- Dallas Clark still plays for Indianapolis, meaning Brandon McGowan has another peach of an assignment this week.

It is nice not to be the team with everyone hurt, however. A win at the Oilcan is always a slippery proposition.

2009 NFL Cutdown Day- Open Thread

BigBlueShoe — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:26:53 -0000

By 6pm today, all NFL teams must trim their rosters down to 53 active players. At noon tomorrow, teams may begin making claims for waived players. Teams can also begin signing players to their practice squads.

For the Colts, they've already begun cutting down the roster, releasing Dante Hughes, Steve Justice, and Nick Graham. They need to make 19 more cuts to get to 53. This is your open thread for the Colts cuts and other teams roster moves. We could see some very interesting roster changes, like the Titans cutting Mitch King and Mark Jones.

Throughout the day, we'll update this frontpage story with news about Colts players cut.

[UPDATE]: And the first surprise cut today is Adrian Grady.

[UPDATE]: The Bills have cut former-Colts running back Dominic Rhodes. Also, PTF's douchebag-in-chief, via fellow douchebag extraordinaire Tom Curran, is saying the Colts have cut Marcus Howard. No confirmation yet.

[UPDATE]: The Eagles have cut ties with Dan Klecko.

[Shake UPDATE]: Marcus Howard, John Matthews and Walter Mendenhall have been cut.

Colts cut Dante Hughes, Steve Justice, and Nick Graham

BigBlueShoe — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:32:03 -0000

Dante Hughes, right, never lived up to expectations after a stellar career at Cal. He was cut today as the Colts trim their roster down to 53 active players. Photo: cache.daylife.com

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Special thanks to jumunjis for posting the link to Mike Chappell's Indy Star report. The first cuts towards the 53-man roster have been made, and on the chopping block are 2007 third round pick Dante Hughes, 2008 sixth round pick Steve Justice, and Nick Graham. As jumunjis astutely points out, Hughes is yet another victim of the curse of the third round pick. Former Colts tackle Quinn Pitcock was the other third rounder the Colts took in 2007. Now, both he and Hughes are former-Colts after just two years.

When you look back at the 2007 draft for the Colts, it had so much promise. I even called it "one of the best drafts Bill Polian has ever presided over in Indianapolis." Shows you how much I know.

From that 2007 draft class, only Anthony Gonzalez, Clint Session, and Keyunta Dawson remain (and Dawson is in danger of cutting cut himself). Dante Hughes, Brandon Condren, Michael Coe, and Roy Hall were all drafted by Indy that year, and all of them were cut this off-season. DT Quinn Pitcock quit football last year prior to training camp. That's five picks from just two years ago that are gone. And to top it all off, Indy's second round pick in 2007, Tony Ugoh, was just recently benched. Indy traded a first rounder in 2008 for Ugoh, and now it looks like he is going the way of all the other trash drafted in 2007.

Yikes!

The 2008 Draft for Indy isn't shaping up to be much better. Mike Pollak, a center out of Arizona State who Indy has converted into a guard, isn't setting the world on fire, or anything. Jamey Richard, who played center at Buffalo, is a quality back-up, but that's about all we can ever really expect from Richard. And now, Steve Justice, the third center the Colts drafted last year, has been cut.

Now, before people freak out, it's important to know that many of the players we were hoping Indy would draft from previous years have also recently been cut. The Broncos cut Kory Lichtensteiger and Carlton Powell today, two players we thought the Colts should have drafted in 2008. Kevin O'Connell was also cut recently; another player we wanted Indy to take in 2008.

The draft isn't an exact science, folks. And even future Hall of Fame personnel people, like Bill Polian, are not perfect.

Still, Polian was able to find quality starters like Anthony Gonzalez and Clint Session in 2007, and players like Jacob Tamme and Marcus Howard offer a lot of promise from the 2008 draft. Also, in 2007, Polian found and signed Melvin Bullitt as a rookie free agent. So, it's not like 2007 didn't give the team anything. It just didn't give the team the kind of talent we are used to seeing.

The cutting of Steve Justice likely means free agent Kyle DeVan will remain on the active roster, but we'll see.

The cutdown to 75 complete, now on to 53

BigBlueShoe — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:05:42 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

3 months ago: Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jerraud Powers (49) intercepts a pass intended for Detroit Lions wide receiver Bryant Johnson (80) during the second quarter of an exhibition NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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The Colts cut Marcus Paschal today to get their roster down to 75. After Thursday's pre-season finale against the Bengals, the Colts will have until Saturday to trim their roster to 53 active players. Without considering who will likely get re-signed to the practice squad, I've compiled a list of who will likely get cut on Saturday. Please note that I will cut more than the Colts need to as it is likely they will cut extra players so they can sign some people cut from other teams.

After the jump, you can check out the list. Keep in mind, the Colts have a lot of very good talent on this current 75 man roster. Several good, quality players will get let go. Some may even be high drafts picks from years past.

John Matthews (duh)

Ramon Humbler

The big cuts are Muir, Jennings, Hughes, Foster, and Ball. Based on Muir's poor showing last week against Detroit, and the impressive praise Caldwell has given to Adrian Grady, I think the Colts will want to keep Grady, work Terrance Taylor into the nose tackle rotation, and keep someone like Raheem Brock in reserve at under tackle in case of an injury. Foster falls in the same boat as Muir. Antonio Johnson, Ed Johnson, and Terrance Taylor can all play nose tackle. This makes Muir expendable. Ed Johnson, Adrian Grady, Raheem Brock, and Fili Moala can all play under tackle. This makes Foster expendable. Thus, both Foster and Muir are (sadly) cut.

Jerraud Powers has flat outplayed Tim Jennings and Dante Hughes. Caldwell has also been very pleased by the play of Jacob Lacey. T.J. Rushing is a decent corner who is vital to the return game. Thus, Hughes and Jennings are gone.

Finally, there is Lance Ball, who has (in my humble opinion) outplayed the injury-prone Mike Hart. But, I don't think the Colts are ready to give up on Hart just yet. Since they cannot PUP him, and since the Colts will probably keep three QBs, I think Lance will get cut.

Again, I'm likely wrong with these projected cuts, and we don't know what the injury situation will be until after the Cincy game. But, for right now, this is how I think it will shake out. Thoughts?

First Depth Chart Released: Here's Some Analysis

Colts Homer — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:43:01 -0000

More photos » by Michael Conroy - AP

4 months ago: Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning makes a throw during the NFL team's football training camp in Terre Haute, Ind., Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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Tip to Aerostar and his hilarious avatar for first posting this.

The first depth chart of the year is released. Yes, we all know about Charlie Johnson being the starting left tackle over Ugoh, but I found other tidbits just as astounding and surprising. I need to remember that this isn't the final roster, but it does show Caldwell's impressions. We have been looking at tweets and reports and even first-hand accounts, but Caldwell is the man who makes the final decisions, and this gives us a peek into his thought process. This is also very telling of who will be cut and who will make the roster. Note that the PUP list players are listed at the bottom, so like Aerostar said, don't grab your pitchforks and torches and head out for Caldwell when you see Sanders listed as the #3 strong safety.

My position-by-position analysis is after the jump.

Quarterbacks
Peyton Manning
Jim Sorgi
Curtis Painter
Chris Crane

No surprises there.

Running Back
Joseph Addai
Donald Brown
Mike Hart
Chad Simpson
Lance Ball

Coming into training camp, people would have said you were crazy if you had Chad Simpson, who was just plain bad last year over the promising Lance Ball, but now Simpson is above Ball. Everything I've heard out of training camp has Simpson being a phenomenal player. Ball does have practice squad eligibility left, so there is that. Last year Lance Ball dominated in preseason for the Rams much like Mike Hart did for the Colts and ended up not making the roster, so it is hard to say that if Ball has a great preseason he will make the roster.

H-Back
Gijon Robinson
Jacob Tamme

Again, we are seeing Tamme listed as an H-back while his skill sets fit more of the tight end/slot receiver role that Dallas Clark plays. That confused me.

Wide Receiver
Reggie Wayne
Pierre Garcon
Roy Hall
Austin Collie
John Matthews

Anthony Gonzalez
Brett McDermott
Taj Smith
Sam Giguere

A lot of things to note here. First, Austin Collie behind Pierre Garcon and Roy Hall? That surprised me. Collie has been practicing as the slot receiver while Garcon has been the fourth and Hall hasn't really been heard from. Second, who's this Brett McDermott? Taj Smith has supposedly been very impressive, but he is listed behind McDermott. That shocked me. Giguere is obviously listed last because he is on the PUP list.

Tight End
Dallas Clark
Gijon Robinson
Jacob Tamme
Tom Santi
Jamie Petrowski

So Santi is fourth. That disappoints me since I am such a Santi fan. Gijon Robinson holds onto the second receiver job for now. This could seriously change this preseason. Santi was out for training camp and preseason last year and has battled injuries for his career, so he could surprise the coaches who have seen very little from him so far.

Left Tackle
Charlie Johnson
Tony Ugoh
Michael Toudouze

These are some names that have been around for a while, but usually Ugoh would be above Johnson. That continues to shock me. The Colts gave up a first round pick for Ugoh in the most deep running back class I can remember. Some players that were left when the Niner picked were receivers Donny Avery and Eddie Royal, tight ends Dustin Keller and John Carlson, and running backs Matt Forte, Ray Rice and Kevin Smith. Keep that in mind when deciding whether Ugoh was a bust or not.

Left Guard
Ryan Lilja
Jamey Richard
Jaimie Thomas

It's nice to see Lilja in a depth chart again. That is the biggest addition of the offseason. They are getting back an outstanding offensive guard that will have a chip on his shoulder. I expect left guard to be the strongest position on the line other than center with Jamey Richard being the backup. Richard is going to be one of Polian's diamonds in the rough picks. It isn't looking great for Thomas to make the roster right now, but training camp could change that.

Center
Jeff Saturday
Steve Justice
Kyle DeVan

No surprise with Saturday at the top. Justice really needs to step it up because he was awful last season in both the preseason and regular season. The DeVan signing keeps looking weirder now that he isn't making any impact.

Right Guard
Mike Pollak
Dan Federkeil
Brandon Barnes

Pollak is another young offensive lineman who needs to step it up. This really is a huge question mark. Pollak was not good last year, but at least he will have a training camp to get ready for the season. Federkeil, straight outta Medicine Hat, has been a long time Colt and has played well when given the opportunity. Barnes was another weird signing who hasn't panned out.

Right Tackle
Ryan Diem
Corey Hilliard
Tom Pestock

Diem was the only healthy lineman last year, but he wasn't great. I would not be surprised to see Ugoh starting on the right side one day. Hilliard played well at the training camp I went to and he could make the roster. Pestock is in the same boat as Barnes and DeVan. All three will be in the UFL soon enough.

Left Defensive End
Robert Mathis
Keyunta Dawson
Marcus Howard

This surprised me a lot. Not only is Robert Mathis starting, but Raheem Brock isn't even listed as a left defensive end. Dawson's move to defensive end must be going well now that he is listed above Howard, someone who I think could make a huge impact. I do not want to see Mathis starting. He isn't great against the run, and he is much more effective as a pass rush specialist.

Nose Tackle
Anthony Johnson
Daniel Muir
Terrance Taylor
Adrian Grady

This shocked me to be honest. I thought Mookie was in trouble with his injury, but now he is a starter. He earned it after last season, but with the way Muir has been playing and the drafting of Taylor I thought he may have been the odd man out. Besides AJ, nothing surprises me. Muir has almost guaranteed himself a roster spot now, and things aren't looking good for Grady.

Under Tackle
Ed Johnson
Fili Moala
Eric Foster

I don't know how Ed Johnson is an under tackle. He's a huge man. This doesn't seem right. I think the defense will be a little different next year, which is a good thing. There will be better run defense and hopefully the Johnsons could even get pressure on the QB. Fili Moala isn't starting, but he isn't a wasted pick. Let's see how he does with the preseason. Foster better make the roster.

Right Defensive End
Dwight Freeney
Raheem Brock
Curtis Johnson

Things aren't looking good for Johnson. He could very easily not make the roster after minimal playing time last year. He is a good pass rusher, but there are much better lineman, and I think he is the odd man out. Nothing surprising at RDE.

SAM
Philip Wheeler
Tyjuan Hagler

No surprises here.

MIKE
Gary Brackett
Adam Seward
Freddy Keiaho
Mike Tauiliili

This shocked me. Keiaho is listed as a middle linebacker, and he's third on the depth chart? He may not even make the roster. Special teams may save him. Besides that, no surprises.

WILL
Clint Session
Jordan Senn

Senn is the backup WILL right now. He was a special teams stud, so maybe he will make the roster. The 2008 UDFAs were a very special group. Maybe he will continue to be a part of it.

CB
Kelvin Hayden
Dante Hughes
TJ Rushing
Jacob Lacey

Marlin Jackson
Tim Jennings
Jerraud Powers
Michael Coe
Nick Graham

To me, this looks like Hughes may be winning the nickelback job, something that would please me. Hughes was built for the Tampa-2, and if he can stay healthy, he can be a very good player. He was another third round pick that was starting to look like a bust, but maybe he can end up breaking the curse. Rushing and Coe may be the odd men out when it comes to making the roster. Losing Rushing would disappoint me, and Coe could have been a great special teams player, but when a team has great depth, good players end up getting cut.

SS
Melvin Bullitt
Jamie Silva
Bob Sanders

This may be the most talented group on the team. Bullitt was an absolute stud filling in for Sanders last year, and Silva is a great special teams player. Sanders is obviously an amazing player, but he has to stay healthy. I'm not sure if I can take more of his injuries.

FS
Antoine Bethea
Matt Giordano
Travis Key

Bethea is in his contract year, so I expect him to really step it up. Giordano is a great gunner who has found his place on the roster. Key is a training camp player and nothing more. No surprises here.

P
Pat McAfee

Obviously.

K
Shane Andrus
Adam Vinatieri

PUP players are listed last, so that's why Andrus is the team's kicker. Vinatieri should be healthy by the Jaguars game, so this is what I expected. Keep Vinatieri off the field and let him rehab.

Holder
Pat McAfee
Jim Sorgi

How can you hold the ball AND the clipboard at the same time? Obviously Sorgi isn't going to win this job.

PR
TJ Rushing
Pierre Garcon
Jerraud Powers

This may be the way Rushing makes the roster. He is a great punt returner. I did not know that Powers was a returner, so that surprised me. Garcon is not a good returner so hopefully Rushing makes the roster or Powers beats him out for the job.

KR
Chad Simpson
TJ Rushing
Austin Collie

Simpson being named the starter shows how bad the kick return game is. Hopefully they draft someone like Perrish Cox next year so this isn't a problem anymore.

Long Snapper
Justin Snow
Jacob Tamme

Good old Justin Snow. He's been around forever, and I couldn't be happier. He has a great job.

I do not expect all of these to stand. Obviously Ed Johnson isn't starting Week One because of suspension, but there is no way AJ is going to be a regular starter. I also expect Ugoh to start Week One as well. Overall, this was a shocking depth chart. I can't wait to see these guys play on Friday.

2009 Colts Training Camp: Nickel corner

BigBlueShoe — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:00:13 -0000

Last week we talked about who will win the third running back position (I said Lance Ball; most think Mike Hart). Today, we talk about who will play the all important nickel back spot on defense.

The nickel corner in a Tampa 2 is, essentially, another starting corner. The Colts play a lot of nickel, especially on third down. For years, Marlin Jackson has played in the nickel spot. Even since he has started, in nickel packages Marlin has moved from his normal starting spot to the nickel spot (with Tim Jennings stepping into the spot Jackson normally starts at).

This season, with Marlin coming back from injury, the Colts may not move him down to nickel on third down. They may keep him at his normal spot (where he is very effective) and have a new player work at the nickel back position. In this article, Stampede Blue will breakdown who will likely win the job, and why.

Cornerbacks currently on roster: Kelvin Hayden, Marlin Jackson, Tim Jennings, Dante Hughes, Michael Coe, Jerraud Powers, T.J. Rushing, Nick Graham, Brandon Harrison, Jacob Lacey
Cornerbacks competing for specific roster spot: Tim Jennings, Dante Hughes, Michael Coe, Jerraud Powers, T.J. Rushing, Nick Graham, Brandon Harrison, Jacob Lacey

Traditionally, the Colts carry a lot of defensive backs (6 or 7) on the regular reason active roster. Back-up DBs are often asked to play a ton of special teams and, if possible, fill in at one of the safety positions in case of an injury. In 2006, Marlin Jackson played several games at safety because of injuries to various Colts players, including Bob Sanders. It's likely the Colts will retain six corner backs with the hope that one or two of them will be needed as special team returners.

The starting corners for 2009 are Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson. Hayden just signed a new contract with the Colts this off-season, and Jackson is on the fast track to recovery after a knee injury ended his 2008 season. When healthy, Jackson and Hayden are arguably the one of the best (but least talked about) CB tandem in football. Last year, the Colts set an NFL record for pass defense allowing only 6 TDs (NFL record) and collecting 15 INTs. It is very difficult to throw effectively on the Colts, and nearly impossible to beat them with a big play in the passing game. Their corners play excellent Cover 2 and Cover 3 zone. They also tackle extremely well and play tough in order to come up and handle run support. Corners in Tampa-2 must tackle like linebackers. This is a man's defense. Deion Sanders can wait outside, thank you.

With safety Melvin Bullitt likely to see more playing time in dime situations, the nickel corner is crucial to the Colts having as many quality "coverage guys" as possible. Bullitt is a fine player and a very under-rated safety, but he cannot run with premiere WRs, or even the Wes Welker types of this league. That's where the nickel back must shine.

Necessary attributes: Strong zone coverage skills; good tackler; ball hawk; able to step up and support run defense; physical at point of attack; intelligent, able to stay disciplined in coverage; special teams skills as either a gunner or returner

Tim Jennings

Photo: Colts.com

At A Glance
Position 1: CB	Height: 5-9
Position 2: Gunner	Weight: 185
Year: 4th	Age: 25
Number: 23	Note:

Every fanbase for a team has their "whipping boy." This is the player that fan's consistently blame for EVERY team loss. When the player plays poorly, fan's cite it as yet another excuse as to why that player should be bagging groceries instead of tackling running backs. When the player plays well, fans simply write it off as luck, or say the opponent was so bad a blind walrus could cover their receivers just as well.

For Colts fans, Tim Jennings is their whipping boy.

For years, it was LBer Rob Morris. But, Rob managed to quiet all his critics when he replaced Gilbert Gardner at SAM backer prior to the 2006 playoffs. Rob's play, along with Booger McFarland's and Bob Sanders', was a major reason why the Colts won the Super Bowl. Rob's retired now, and it seems Tim Jennings has filled the "fan whipping boy" void Rob left behind.

For two seasons, Jennings has been Indy's "nickel back." Though he does not play the nickel back spot (Marlin Jackson does), he enters games when the Colts go to nickel and he plays the outside corner spot Jackson vacates when he shifts to nickel. At 5'8, 185 pounds, he does not have the size that Jackson and Hayden have (both roughly 6'0). But, as I often preach (to the point where many are annoyed with me for doing so, but whatever) size is one of the most over-rated attributes when it comes to measuring how good a football player is. The Colts won a Super Bowl with a 5'8'' CB starting. His name was Jason David, and despite the last two years languishing with the Saints, he was a damn fine corner for the Colts, in my not-so-humble opinion.

IFR recently offered readers an interview with Jennings:

I learned just the speed and the mental part of the game. What I mean by mental part is you have to go out there and concentrate. I think that was real helpful for me last year. I was able to go out there and be more healthy than I was before, which was a key factor. Now, as I start to play, I’ll start to pick up on the mental things and the concentration level that you need to be on to go out there and play the game and stay healthy and produce. . . . I wish last season had been my rookie year.

The legitimate knock against Jennings is he is not consistent. In IFR's interview with him, he even hints at this. Last year, he played well against the Baltimore Ravens only to stink it up royally against the Green Bay Packers. In that game, he was called for several bad interference and holding penalties. That was a costly game. If Indy had won that contest, the Colts could have won the AFC South and hosted a playoff game. Indeed, even in the playoff game against San Diego, Jennings could not avoid inconsistency. He was called for a VERY key penalty in overtime. And for a guy with good speed and quickness, Jennings seems to surrender a lot of "cushion" to WRs.

Right now, the nickel corner spot is Jennings' to lose. But, he must prove he can play the position consistently week in and out. If not, Larry Coyer needs to consider other alternatives.

Dante Hughes

Photo: Colts.com

At A Glance
Position 1: CB	Height: 5-10
Position 2: Gunner	Weight: 190
Year: 3rd	Age: 24
Number: 20	Note:

Dante Hughes has been a rather disappointing player for the Colts. He was drafted in the third round in 2007, the same third round that produced DT Quinn Pitcock, who quit on the Colts (and football in general) last year after just one season. Hughes has good height and weight for a Cover 2 corner. He plays well in zone, tackles well, and helps out on run support. But after playing significant snaps in 2007 as the nickel back, Hughes seemed to rarely see the field in 2008 despite injuries to starters Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson as well as reserve corners T.J. Rushing and Michael Coe. Keiwan Ratliff managed to leap-frog Hughes on the depth chart last season despite the before mentioned injuries.

The reason Ratliff supplanted Hughes on the depth chart last season was because Hughes played poorly in the month of October. The October 31st Titans games is one example. Hughes dropped an INT and allowed Justin McCariens a big completion during the game. All game long, he gave up too much cushion, and was burned by Tennessee's rather pedestrian WRs. After this game, the Colts seemed to demote Hughes to dime coverage and promote Ratliff. It paid off. Ratliff made several big INTs during the 2008 season, and was also a punter returner. Ratliff signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers this off-season.

2009 is a make-or-break season for Hughes. The coaches have clearly lost confidence in him. While Hughes was never known for having great speed, he simply must stop giving WRs that much cushion. He needs to be more disciplined in his zone coverage and not surrender so many big completions. Otherwise, there is a very real chance Dante Hughes will not survive the cut down to 53. If he doesn't make the 2009 active roster, the 3rd round of the 2007 draft looks like another house of horrors, adding more credence to the notion of the CURSE OF THE THIRD ROUND PICK!

Michael Coe

At A Glance
Position 1: CB	Height: 6-0
Position 2: Punt returner	Weight: 190
Year: 3rd	Age: 25
Number: 25	Note: Returning from injury

Michael Coe, like Dante Hughes, was drafted in 2007. However, after a so-so rookie year, Coe missed all of 2008 after injuring his knee during punt returning drills in training camp. He now seems recovered from his injury, but we have no idea if Coe has lost any speed or quickness as a result of the injury. Unfortunately, because of his 2008 injury, Coe hasn't really shown the Colts that he was worth taking in the 5th round in '07. In fact, other than Anthony Gonzalez, the 2007 draft is looking more and more like a disaster for Bill Polian.

If Coe is healthy, he still has a long shot at making the active roster. His ability to return punts might make him attractive to keep, especially if fellow corner T.J. Rushing is still not 100% after injuring his knee last year. But with Jennings, Rushing, and the rookie Jerraud Powers now on the team I just don't see how Coe can survive the cut down to 53 unless his pre-season is eye out of the skull great.

Jerraud Powers

Photo: Colts.com

At A Glance
Position 1: CB	Height: 5-10
Position 2: Gunner	Weight: 192
Year: Rookie	Age: 21
Number: 42	Note:

The Colts did not draft this Auburn product just so he could sit on the sidelines and take notes. Indy expects Powers to contribute immediately, using his good speed and excellent burst in (potentially) dome situations and most certainly on special teams.

Powers is an odd player for the Colts. He was taken in the 3rd round this year, and his scouting report suggests he is not someone best suited for a Tampa-2 style defense:

Weaknesses:
Does not have the ideal height or bulk that you look for...Isn't very strong...Not a great tackler...Struggles to get off blocks...Won't offer much in run support...Takes too many chances...Durability concerns.

As stated earlier, a corner who cannot tackle and offers little help in run support is utterly useless in the Tampa-2. This is especially true for the nickel back spot. One of the reason the Colts always rotated Marlin Jackson to nickel on third down was because of his ability to tackle and offer excellent run support should the opposing offense decide to run out of a three-wide set. So, unless Powers starts developing better tackling skills, he has no chance to win this roster spot.

Powers does offer some very intriguing coverage skills. He is very fluid with his hips and can stay with receivers once they make their breaks. He has good footwork and can play physical. Powers also has a strong work ethic, and I heard good things about him in OTAs and the camps this off-season. The key for him is tackling. He must show he can be consistent supporting the run defense.

A big positive for Powers is his special teams play. At Auburn he was good as a gunner, blocking a punt against Florida in 2008. Powers will likely have to earn his keep on special teams before he can see any other kind of meaningful playing time. Still, if Powers is not playing consistent snaps in (at least) the dime package by the end of the season, one really has to question why he was drafted in the third round. Third round picks must contribute immediately to validate the reasoning for taking them so early in the draft.

T.J. Rushing

Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Sport

At A Glance
Position 1: CB	Height: 5-9
Position 2: Kick and punt returner	Weight: 186
Year: 3rd	Age: 26
Number: 34	Note: Returning from injury

With so many players returning from injury in 2009, probably the least talked about individual returning after missing all of 2008 is T.J. Rushing. His absence in 2008 severely damaged Indy's ability to return punts and kicks consistently (ranked last in the league in returns). Polian had to play musical chairs with the 53 man roster, signing and cutting players week after week in a seemingly desperate attempt to find someone to replace Rushing, who injured his knee in pre-season.

In 2007, Rushing developed into a pretty decent return man. But, equally impressive was his surprising development as a nickel back. I remember talking to a Colts team official sometime in 2007, and I asked him about how the Colts were going to incorporate T.J. Rushing int the secondary. This person laughed and said That guy wasn't drafted to cover anyone. Four months later, Rushing was the Colts nickel back, and playing very well in the role. He never seemed to back down from a challenge, and developed some strong skills with zone coverage.

More than anyone else in this group, the player that has the best chance to challenge Jennings for the nickel back spot is Rushing. If he is healthy, he has proven (in the past) to be more consistent in coverage than Jennings. If he can prove that this pre-season, he'll unseat Jennings.

Nick Graham, Brandon Harrison, Jacob Lacey

I don't mean any disrespect to these players, but I do not see any possible way any one of them will be able to truly compete for the nickel back spot. If one does (and Nick Graham offers to best potential to do so) than it is a testament to the Colts truly allowing anyone to compete for a job. Graham played significant snaps on defense in the dime package last season, and is returning after getting placed in injured reserve last November.

Free agent rookie Jacob Lacey out of Oklahoma State offers some intriguing speed at the CB position. He ran a 4.42 40 time at his college pro day, and a vertical leap of 41 inches. He shows some skills as a ball hawk. Though Lacey struggled to contain the explosive Jeremy Maclin in OK State's close loss to Mizzu, his speed could offer some interesting options on special teams.

Brandon Harrison proves that Bill Polian really likes players from Michigan. At 5'8, Harrison does not offer much in terms of height. At 205 pounds, Brandon Harrison is one big dude playing CB. I mean, seriously! 5'8 and 205 pounds! I'm 6'5, and I am exactly at my goal weight of 205 pounds! Harrison ran a 4.54 at his pro day. He might offer more on special teams than a legit corner at the NFL level.

Analysis: This job is Tim Jennings' to lose. Jennings, while inconsistent last year, did provide some flashes of what kind of corner he could be. The one player that could really push him is T.J. Rushing, but Rushing needs to prove he is healthy. Hughes and Coe are fighting to stay on the roster, and Powers might not have the tackling skills necessary to play Tampa-2... yet.

For more, check out Colt Homer's roster position rankings. His take on nickel back:

Tim Jennings seems to be the favorite for nickelback, no matter how much that disappoints me. I prefer corners like rookie Jerraud Powers and returner TJ Rushing who are big, good tacklers, but may not be the fastest. Michael Coe could make an impact on special teams. I would love to see Powers or Rushing become the nickelback at some point in the season, but sadly it looks like Jennings job.

2009 Colts Mini-Camp: The Defense

BigBlueShoe — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:55:31 -0000

More photos » by Michael Conroy - AP

7 months ago: Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell, left, calls a play for the defense including, Mike Tauiliili (59) and Pat Kuntz, back center, as the NFL football team practiced in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Browse more photos »

We talked offense. We dissected special teams. Now, we chew the virtual fat on the defense.

Just like the special teams, the Colts are working with a new coordinator as we move forward into the Jim Caldwell era. Gone is longtime coordinator Ron Meeks, who is now coaching for the Carolina Panthers. Early reports say players in Carolina like Meeks and are responding well to him. The same is true for new Colts defensive coordinator Larry Coyer with Indy's players. Whether it's defensive captain Gary Brackett or super-star Dwight Freeney, Colts players are taken by Coyer's knowledge and experience.

"Larry has a lot of energy. He’s an older gentleman, but he has a wealth of football knowledge," Brackett said. "You’re just blown away every time you meet with him. You’d better have a notebook because there will be a lot being said."

Reading between the lines, the Colts will run the same base Tampa 2 defense they've had since 2002. The wrinkles they will add are likely new blitz and coverage packages aimed at generating more turnovers.

Defensive Ends

The Colts sport the best DE tandem in football with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. Both are Pro Bowlers. Both are studs. Both are effective stopping the run, despite what many an idiot pundit who doesn't watch the games says. Raheem Brock is the under-the-radar DE who often gets little recognition for just how very good he is rushing the passer and stopping the run. He can also switch inside to defensive tackle, though his days as a DT are likely over. Remember, Brock was the starting DT during Indy's Super Bowl run in 2006, but the wear and tear of playing DT at 275 pounds is making Brock susceptible to more nagging injuries.

Likely, the starting DEs will be Freeney and Brock, with Mathis coming in to play significant nsaps at both LE and RE.

Backing up the three headed monster are promising second year players Marcus Howard and Curtis Johnson. Both players are lighting quick speed rushers, in particular Howard. Howard is actually faster than Freeney, and the Colts' defensive line John Teerlick is developing Howard into another Robert Mathis. In very limited playing time last year, Howard amassed 1.5 sacks and 19 tackles. He needs to develop a few pass rushing moves before he can showcase his true potential, but Howard has all the talent to develop into a special player.

Due to the development of Howard and Johnson, no one player at defensive end is on the "hot seat." The Colts typically carry five DEs on the active roster, and they seem very happy with the five DEs they currently have.

One to Watch: Marcus Howard

On the Hot Seat: No one

Defensive Tackle

"Defensive tackle" is very nearly a four letter word with Colts fans. For eight years, this team has tried to find consistency at the DT position, but ultimately failed. Booger McFarland was the best DT this club has ever had, but his career ended in 2007 when he blew out his knee just two days into training camp.

In 2009, the Colts decided to shift their focus to fixing the DT dilemma. Despite the hard, tough play of Eric Foster, Keyunta Dawson, and Antonio "Mookie" Johnson last year, the Colts were not happy with how well the DT position played.Their first action was to draft two promising young tackles from two big time college football programs. Fili Moala was drafted in round two to play the under tackle spot, which requires the tackle to penetrate the gaps in the o-line and create havoc in the opponent's backfield. The other tackle taken was Terrance Taylor. Taylor is more of a traditional "nose tackle," or over tackle in the Tampa 2 scheme. His job will be to occupy multiple blockers so that the other tackle and the DEs can pressure th opponent's backfield. Of the two, Moala could have the biggest immediate impact. Barring some kind of setback, look for him to start Week One.

The other key moves the Colts made on draft day were rookie free agent signings. Indy signed talented rookie DTs in Adrian Grady and Pat Kuntz. Both are "under tackle"-types, using speed, leverage, and quickness to generate pressure. Of the two, Grady seems to have the most talent. Grady's knock is he's battled injuries all throughout. Kuntz is a tough kid who plays 100% all the time. He could quickly become a coach's favorite.

The final move the Colts made to shore up the DT spot is the re-signing of Ed Johnson, a player they had kicked off their team back in September 2008. Big Ed's second go-around with the Colts could see him doing what he did before: Playing over tackle, and playing it well. In 2007, Ed Johnson started every game at DT, replacing Booger McFarland, who worked with Ed dissecting game film while he tried to rehab his knee. The Colts run defense was outstanding when Big Ed played DT. With his head seemingly screwed on straight, Big Ed could return to being a dominant force in the middle for this Colts defense.

Now, all the players I just touched on did not play for Indy in 2008, save for Ed Johnson (who played just one game). Prior to Indy adding these players, they already had four DTs on the roster, each with significant playing time logged in 2008. Raheem Brock also played several snaps at DT, but with the pool of talent now injected into this team, Brock's days at DT are likely over. For a time, he was the best DT Indy had.

Antonio "Mookie" Johnson was signed from the Tennessee Titans practice squad last November. He was thrust into the starting lineup almost immediately, and quickly showcased his talents as a nose tackle. Considering he had all of seven days to learn the defense before he started, I'd say Mookie played outstanding. With a full off-season and training camp under his belt, Mookie could very well retain his starting DT spot. The team is also very high on second year man Eric Foster. Foster seems a natural under tackle but had to play nose tackle much of 2008 due to injuries to other players. At 270 pounds, Foster did his best to hold his own, but often was not successful. He might have more success and development as a under tackle.

The guys seemingly left out in the cold are Daniel Muir and Keyunta Dawson. Muir is an over tackle who spent much of 2008 hurt. Dawson is the whipping boy for many a Colts fan. At roughly 255 pounds, he is a very small DT. But, despite what people think, Dawson has played very well despite the fact he had no true nose tackle playing next to him. The team might consider moving Dawson to DE, as it is doubtful they will retain him as a DT.

With so much talent in the DT position, it is hard to imagine the run defense not improving in 2009. The big question is "Who will play?"

One to Watch: Fili Moala

On the Hot Seat: Keyunta Dawson

Linebackers

The Colts entered 2008 with Freddy Keiaho at WILL, Gary Brackett at MIKE, and Tyjuan Hagler at SAM. They ended 2008 with Tyjaun Hagler at WILL, Freddy Keiaho at MIKE, and Clint Session at SAM. In 2009, the starting linebackers heading into camp are Clint Session at WILL, Gary Brackett at MIKE, and second year player Philip Wheeler at SAM.

This means one-time starters Freddy Keiaho and Tyjuan Hagler are now back-ups.

The Colts also dabbled in free agency a bit, which is extremely rare given that they NEVER signed a free agent linebacker during the entire Tony Dungy era. Indy signed reserve linebacker Adam Seward to back-up at MIKE and SAM. With Hagler, Keiaho, and now Seward, the Colts have one of the deepest corps of linebackers this blogger has ever seen in his three years covering the Colts for SB Nation. With both Seward and Wheeler, the Colts also have a bit more size at the SAM spot. Both backers are 6'2, 240-245 pounds.

The Colts also have speedy Michael Okwo, who they poached from the Chicago Bears, and solid WILL linebacker Jordan Senn (who is a good special teams player as well. The team also signed Ramon Humber, Mike Tauiliili, and Tyrell Sales. Humber and Sales seem like camp fodder, but the team seems to like Tauiliili (though I think the team's jersey and marketing department don't).

One to Watch: Philip Wheeler

On the Hot Seat: Ramon Humber and Tyrell Sales

Cornerbacks

The Colts are VERY deep at cornerback, though they have some guys who need to start proving they can do something to help this team. They also have two significant players returning from major knee surgery, and their status come week one will go a long way to determining just how deep the corner position is.

The Colts re-signed Kelvin Hayden to a big contract this off-season. Hayden is the best corner on the roster. He's big, physical, and can run with anyone. He can also tackle and is a threat to score anytime he gets his hands on the football. Just ask the Bears. Returning, rather dramatically, from major knee surgery is Marlin Jackson. Jackson blew out his knee last year but, astonishingly, he is now running with the team and participating in OTAs. Hayden and Jackson, when healthy, are an excellent corner tandem able to match-up with most receivers.

The nickel back spot, so critical to a Tampa 2 defense, has Tim Jennings penciled in. Jennings started several games last year after Marlin Jackson was hurt. Jennings will likely face stiff competition from another player returning from injury: T.J. Rushing. Rushing developed into a pretty good nickel corner in 2007, but missed all of 2008 after a knee injury in training camp. The Colts also drafted Jerraud Powers in round three of the draft this year, indicating the Colts expect big things from him. Third round picks are expected to make immediate impacts, not simply sit on the sidelines and learn.

The two guys who really need to show something are`Dante Hughes and Michael Coe. Coe has battled injuries for two years, and missed all of 2008. Hughes is the one who REALLY needs to step up. He looked very good in 2007 as a rookie, but seemed to find his way into Tony Dungy's doghouse in 2008. Hughes and Coe need to show they have something to offer this team or both 2007 picks could be camp casualties. Guys like Nick Graham and Travis Key are camp fodder. Brandon Foster is a good special teams player but he hasn't shown much ability to cover anyone.

One to Watch: Jerraud Powers

On the Hot Seat: Michael Coe and Dante Hughes

Safeties

Like the cornerback position, the Colts are stacked at safety. Like the DE position, they have two starters who are Pro Bowlers. Bob Sanders and Antoine Bethea could be the best safety tandem in football. Bob, when healthy, is the best safety, period. Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu are great players, but neither has Bob's ability to flat out destroy ball carriers. Bob Sanders scares people when they run near him. Bob's problem is he cannot stay healthy. He's missed significant portions of the 2004, 2006, and 2008 seasons. With Bob, it seems odd-numbered seasons are his healthiest.

Backing up both safety spots is Melvin Bullitt, who could start for many teams and play at a Pro Bowl level. Bullitt is a speed demon who hits like a boxer. Larry Coyer will likely implement coverage packages in 2009 that feature Bob, Antoine, and Melvin on the field together.

Matt Giordano is also a back-up safety for this team that could start for many other teams. Giordano is more suited for strong safety, but he can run with anyone and is known as a violent hitter. Because this area is so deep with high quality talent, no one player is really on the hot seat. Indeed, if anyone is under the microscope, it's Bob Sanders. He needs to play a full season healthy again.

One to Watch: Melvin Bullitt

On the Hot Seat: No one