It seems clear from all of the draft conversation that the consensus among fans is that left tackle is the greatest need in the draft.  Ugoh seems to be a bust and Charlie Johnson doesn't have the tools to be an elite left tackle.  I agree that the Colts should look to solidify the offensive line in the draft, but they may have already found a player who can compete for the tackle job.  Gerald Cadogan was recently signed by the Colts.

I tried to find some pre-draft analysis for Cadogan and the best I could come up with was from Walter Football.  Walt said, "2/22/09: Gerald Cadogan may have moved himself into mid-to-late round consideration; he ran a 5.12, benched 26 reps and his arms measured 35 inches - the third-longest of all the offensive tackles at the 2009 NFL Combine."   At that site, he was projected to be drafted between rounds two and three.  Another draft site, Scott Wright Draft Countdown rated him the 11th overall offensive tackle.

This should all be taken with a grain of salt, however, because nobody drafted Cadogan and he has been signed and released by three teams (Carolina, Cincinnati, San Diego).  To his credit, Cadogan came from a big-time program and seems to be the type of player who fits well with the Colts - smart and hard-working.  Hopefully he pans out.  Thoughts?

Baltimore's win over the Patriots was impressive.  They are playing very well right now and deserve a lot of credit for knocking off the Patriots at home.  When you look at how the Patriots lost, however, it is easy to see why the Colts shouldn't share the same fate as the Patriots.

1) The Patriots gave up big plays.  The most obvious play of the game is Rice's TD run on the first play from scrimmage.  I still don't understand why BB chooses to defer the opening kickoff.  As we all know, the Colts don't give up big plays.  The Ravens will have to move the ball methodically and this means Flacco will have to complete more than four passes to win.

2) The Patriots turned the ball over...and gave up touchdowns as a result of those turnovers.  The Colts don't do either of these things.  Sure, Manning is not immune from throwing interceptions, but the Colts rarely fumble the ball and Manning is about as steady as a quarterback can be.  When the Colts do turn the ball over, they don't give up touchdowns (only one this season).

3) The Patriots weren't healthy.  Welker was out.  Brady and Moss didn't look right.  Edelman was knicked up during the game.  The Colts, on the other hand, are rested.  As much as some of us may disdain the Colts for sitting at the end of the season, I think it will help.  This team is too mature to come out flat because of the rest.

Go Colts!

Congrats to Peyton Manning for passing 50,000 yards and on being the youngest quarterback in the history of the NFL to accomplish the feat.  Perhaps more impressive was the fact that, although he had just hit this very impressive milestone, he was clearly disappointed that his team would not win a "meaningless" game while he stood on the sidelines.  More than anything else, Manning is a winner.  While we may be disappointed in Caldwell and Polian today, I hope we can all find some solace in the fact that we are watching the best player in the history of football.

1. Indianapolis (12-0).  Remaining Schedule: Den, @Jax, NYJ, @Buff.  Projected Record: 15-1.  The number 1 seed is all but wrapped up. 

2. San Diego (9-3).  Remaining Schedule: @Dal, Cin, @Tenn, Wash.  Projected Record: 12-4.  We should know if the Chargers are for real after their next three games.  I think they will wrap up the number two seed with a home win over Cincinnati.

3. New England (7-5).  Remaining Schedule: Car, @Buff, Jax, @Hou.  Projected Record: 11-5.  I think the Patriots will pull it together and win out.  As explained below, I think they would win a tie-breaker with Cincinnati, but please forgive me if I messed up with a tie-breaker.

4. Cincinnati (9-3).  Remaining Schedule: @Minn, @SD, KC, @NYJ.  Projected Record: 11-5.  I don't think they'll win at Minnesota or San Diego.  I've gone through the tie-breaking procedures and if NE wins out and Cincinnati loses at Minnesota and at San Diego, the tie-breaker would come down to strength of victory.  I did not calculate that out, but Cincinnati has played Cleveland twice and Detroit once.  New England has played Tampa Bay, but no other really bad teams.  I think that will be the difference.

5. Denver (8-4).  Remaining Schedule: @Indy, Oak, @Phil, KC.  Projected Record: 10-6.  There are two games they should win on the schedule.  That will be enough to get a wild card.

6. Baltimore (6-6).  Remaining Schedule: Det, Chi, @Pitt, @Oak.  Projected Record: 9-7.  Three games they should win on the schedule.  Looking at tie-breakers, Baltimore seem to be in a good position to beat out Jacksonville if the teams end the season with the same record. 

Remaining Contenders:

Jacksonville (7-5).  Remaining Schedule: Mia, Indy, @NE, @Cle.  Projected Record: 9-7.  Jacksonville's schedule is really unbelievable when you look at it.  The only teams it has played with winning records are Indy and Arizona in its first two games of the season.  I don't think Jacksonville is that good, but it should beat Cleveland.  The game with Miami will be winnable and the Colts may be beginning to rest players when they play.

Pittsburgh (6-6).  Remaining Schedule: @Cle, GB, Bal, @Mia.  Projected Record: 8-8.  Tough team to predict - I could see them winning out and claiming the 6 seed or losing three of the last four.  Right now, I say they lose to Green Bay and split with Baltimore and Miami.

Miami (6-6).  Remaining Schedule: @Jax, @Tenn, Hou, Pitt.  Projected Record: 8-8.  Too inconsistent to win three of the next four.

New York Jets (6-6).  Remaining Schedule: @TB, Atl, @Ind, Cin.  Projected Record: 8-8.  Could get to 9-7 if the Colts don't play starters.

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With six games left in the season, I don't think it is too early for fans to start thinking about the playoffs and playoff seeding.  Here are my predictions.

1. Indianapolis (10-0).  Remaining Schedule: @Hou, Tenn, Den, @Jax, NYJ, @Buff.  Projected Record: 15-1.  I can't imagine the Colts lose more than two games.  The only way I can see them losing three is if they don't play anyone at Buffalo because they don't need the game.  Either way, they end up the #1 seed.

2. San Diego (7-3).  Remaining Schedule: KC, @Cle, @Dal, Cin, @Tenn, Wash.  Projected Record: 12-4.  I think they win all of their remaining games other than dropping one to Dallas, Cincy, or Tennessee.

3. New England (7-3).  Remaining Schedule: @NO, @Mia, Car, @Buff, Jax, @Hou.  Projected Record: 12-4.  They either lose at New Orleans or one of the three games between Miami, Jacksonville, or Houston.  They could swap with San Diego for the #2 seed depending on tie-breakers.

4. Cincinnati (7-3).  Remaining Schedule: Cle, Det, @Minn, @SD, KC, @NYJ.  Projected Record: 11-5.  They beat Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, and the Jets.

5. Pittsburgh (6-4).  Remaining Schedule: @Bal, Oak, @Cle, GB, Bal, @Mia.  Projected Record: 11-5.  I think they lose this weekend at Baltimore and then win out.  Cincinnati gets the division based on head-to-head.

6. Baltimore (5-5).  Remaining Schedule: Pitt, @GB, Det, Chi, @Pitt, @Oak.  Projected Record: 10-6.  They lose at Pittsburgh, but win the rest and sneak into the final playoff spot.  Depending on tie-breakers, they may sneak in front of Pittsburgh.

Remaining Contenders:

Jacksonville (6-4).  Remaining Schedule: @SF, Hou, Mia, Indy, @NE, @Cle.  Projected Record: 9-7.  I don't see them beating the Colts or Patriots and would be surprised if they take more than three of their four remaining games.

Denver (6-4).  Remaining Schedule: NYG, @KC, @Indy, Oak, @Phil, KC.  Projected Record: 8-8.  Clearly, Denver isn't the elite team it pretended to be for the first part of the season.  They might be lucky to get to 8-8, even with three games against weak division opponents.

Houston (5-5).  Remaining Schedule: Indy, @Jax, Sea, @ St. Louis, @Mia, NE.  Projected Record: 9-7.  I think they will control their own destiny going into the final week of the season, but they won't beat New England which will be fighting for a first round bye with San Diego.  If they can pull out a win against the Colts this weekend, they will be the six seed in front of Baltimore.

Miami (5-5).  Remaining Schedule: @Buff, NE, @Jax, @Tenn, Hou, Pitt.  Projected Record: 7-9.  I see four losses in their games with New England, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Houston, and Pittsburgh.

Tennessee (4-6).  Remaining Schedule: Ariz, @Indy, St. Loius, Mia, SD, @Sea.  Projected Record: 8-8.  Running the table will be tough with games against Arizona, Indy, and San Diego.

Let me know what you think.

Paul Kuharsky is reporting that Clint Session was wearing a walking boot on his left foot at practice today.  With Bracket already being "day-to-day," this could be trouble.  I didn't think he missed any snaps during the Dolphin game.  Has anyone heard anything else about Session being injured?  I hope it isn't as serious as it sounds.

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