So, can we please stop with the Peria Jerry, Evander Hood, and Ron Brace nonsense?  The same can be said about ANY of the outside LB'ers. 

It is all simple research folks.  Why do so few look at past history when predicting Indy's first round pick?  Fans or anyone working for a sports web site that does a mock draft.  The Colts have a system.  The Colts have a GM that drafts for that system. 

How many years in a row now have we "needed" the meanest and nastiest front 7 defender out there?  For a decade now? For two decades?  Since 1984?

I do know that since we got our franchise QB and the offense has been solid, we have needed that front 7 guy.  In the Polian era, he has drafted only Rob Morris in round 1...and that was pre-cover 2.  I would bet my house that Rob does not get drafted by us in round 1 for a Dungy defense. 

The issue with drafting a front 7 defender early is all about what the other teams value compared to what we value.  The Colts like undersized fast guys.  Most of the rest of the league like really big fast guys.  The Colts can get the front 7 guys they like much later in the draft. 

Why use a highly valued and highly compensated 1st round pick on a guy like Peria Jerry when you can get another DT in round 4 or 5 with simlilar skills?  Sure, he may not be as good as Peria Jerry, but the drop off is and has been very manageable.   Would I like us draft a Warren Sapp like beast that dominates the interior?  Sure, but let's get real.  There are VERY FEW truly dominant 1st round money worthy DT's in the NFL and those rare specimens are never on the board when we pick in the late 1st round.

My point is this...expect us to stick with the plan and go offense.  But, this can be a good thing too.  If we would go off script and get a defender, that guy will be fricking good.  IMO, the only way Polian deviates is if a defender falls that is just WAY too good to pass up.  Maybe someone like one of the highly rated ILB prospects to eventually take over for Brackett. 

We are all waiting for Peyton to get the funk out.  It's well documented....no preseason, he is still not at full speed and strenght, his TD's are down, his int's are up, his yards per attempt are down, and he is just a bit off.  There have been 2 or 3 throws each game that he has missed open receivers that he never used to miss.  A few have REALLY hurt and most likely lead to the Jacksonville loss. 

I am patient.  The flow, rhythm, and timing will come.  Let's just hope that we aren't 3-5 when we start lighting teams up.

Looking at the schedule and then the stats, it's going to get even rougher for Peyton.  The next 3 games are against the 3 best pass defenses in the NFL and 2 of them are on the road.  When you look at the defensive passer rating against them, these next 3 games are going to really test an already shaky offense. 

1) Baltimore:  They are just ridiculous.  QB's have only a  46.2 completion percentage against them for 4.9 yards per attempt.  They have given up only 3 TD's and have picked off 7 passes.  Their defensive passer rating is 44.6.  They are turning every QB into Ryan Leaf.

2) Green Bay:  They are giving up some yards but only a 52.1 completion percentage.  7 TD's and 9 picks.  A 63.5 passer rating against.

3) Tennessee:  An eye popping 1 TD and 10 int's.  A 52.2 passer rating against.

Wow!!  No rest for the weary.  A clicking on all cylinders Peyton Manning would have some struggles against defenses performing this well.  A still trying to find it Peyton Manning faces some tough challenges and might still be looking for it in 4 weeks. 

It's a team game.  The defense and running game had better be on.  We need to get 2 of these 3 games somehow someway.

My first thought is...no, not us.  The Colts just need to execute better to get the running game going.  Plus, when things aren't right, Coach Dungy doesn't like to add things.  If anything, he likes to just do the bare bones basics.  Get those right and then add stuff. 

Basically, I don't see it happening, but how many times have we heard that this is a copycat league.  Remember how Peyton would get ripped by his critics for all of his pre-snap gyrations.  It's a copycat league.  Now, you RARELY see QB's that are not very active post huddle (if there is one) to the snap.

The same could occur with the wildcat.  I'm sure every NFL coach has seen the success the Dolphins are having with it.  The way it torched the Patriots had to add intrigue.

Obviously, you have to have the right point man for it or it could backfire on you. I think that Addai could be that kind of guy.  Joe was his team's QB in high school.  And you can tell by his stats that it was a running attack featuring him. 

HMMMM, Joe has experience as a run first QB.  HMMMM, Joe was succesful at it with the evidence being that he was named a high school all-american by ESPN and Fox Sports as a high school QB.

Folks, we have our Ronnie Brown if we want to give it a shot.   

Not that it matters, but Dwight hasn't got much love for the hustle play that he made there. 

I've seen the play many times on different NFL shows and sports channels.  Each time these guys say that Marlin Jackson and or Raheem Brock knocks the ball from Rosenfelds.  You can't blame them because at first glance Marlin and Raheem seem to be the cause. 

But, when you watch the play from behind Rosenfelds, what happened becomes very clear.....

1)  Marlin hits the legs actually forcing Sage's lower half higher.  Sage was headed for a Marlin caused flip until.....

2)  Raheem smokes him stopping the flip and causing Sage to begin more of a helicopter motion.  In full speed it looks like Raheem's hit freed the ball, but it didn't.  Sage still had it. 

3)  Raheem hit Sage from underneath and forced him even slightly higher.  Dwight was so close behind Raheem that he didn't even hargly touch Sage.  Raheem had pushed Sage up and out of the way of Dwight's bad intentions.  Dwight's helmet hit the ball and caused the fumble.

Marlin and Raheem set it up and Dwight got the ball loose.  Great play by all. 

 I did check the official boxscore of the game and Raheem got the official forced fumble.  Dwight had one earlier on the strip sack, but deserved a second one.    

Like I mentioned earlier, it doesn't matter.  I just wanted to give a shout out to Dwight for making the key and unrecognized play.

I don't know about you, but I'm sure there are others that share my viewpoint on the Brett Favre saga....I am tapping out...waving the white flag....uncle, unCLE, UNCLE!!!!  I am aware that my post actually adds a super small smidge to the total web traffic devoted to the issue, but I am looking for a sympathetic ear that shares my pain. 

I just cannot take another second of it.  Pick the sports show, pick the network, and pick the reporter or writer....when I see the word "Favre", a picture of Favre, or anything having to do with the state of Wisconsin.  I tune it out. 

I know that these shows and web sites are just doing their  jobs.  It is a story of interest to many and warrants the coverage.  But for me, no more.  I am now Favre free and lovin' it.  Wake me when it's week one and he is under center for whomever.  Until then, the wall to wall coverage will be minus 1. 

That got me thinking.  Does the NFL machine make this stuff happen just to stay one page 1 during the offseason?  Wall to wall Favre this year, the Mike Vick dog fighting last year, and the Terrell Owens/McNabb sage prior to that.  I remember getting to the same level of frustration with the 24 hour coverage the Vick saga and the TO/McNabb falling out.

As for the topic of the post....my vote goes to Favre as being the most nausiating of the three.  It's just so fresh in my mind.  The others have faded, but during their runs of attention....they got brutal as well.