SBNation.com User Blog: MasterRWayne

Has Polian lost his edge?

MasterRWayne — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:45:39 -0000

My motto has always been that I have sacred symbols, cows, or prophets. I call a spade a spade when I see it. Now we all greatly respect Bill Polian. He wrote the book on how to build a team in the modern NFL. Every successful team copies on the techniques that Bill Polian authored.

Now these techniques have made the Colts into one of the elite teams in the NFL. It was a foundation built upon having very good drafts year in and year out. However, I think we are starting to see that Polian is only human after all. I am not writing this to suggest that Polian "sucks" but rather to point out that many of the problems we currently face are directly the result of recent draft years which are sub-par. They aren't necessarily bad drafts they just don't live up to what I would call the "Polian Standard."

I think the best way to go about this is to look at previous drafts starting in 2001 up until 2008. Obviously, the 2008 draft class will not be viewed quite as harshly because the jury is still out on them. However, it's fairly clear to see that the current drafts classes are not living up to the pass draft classes so let's take a look and see.

2001 draft: Grade A+

1. Reggie Wayne- Reggie is one of the best

2. Idrees Bashir- a decent starter, but we traded up to get him. A bit of a disappointment.

3. Cory Bird- was promising, but had too many injuries.

4. Ryan Diem- long time starter for the Colts. Good pick!

5. Raymond Walls- Who?

6. Jason Doering- Poor safety, but solid special teams player.

7. Rick DeMulling- I loved DeMulling back in the day. A very powerful and explosive guard

2002 draft: A+

1. Dwight Freeney- Need I say more?

2. Larry Tripplett- not a great player, but certainly an effective one.

3. Joseph Jefferson- injuries and failure. Standard Polian 3rd round.

4. David Thornton- probably the best LB Polian ever drafted for Indy.

5. David Pugh- only played one season for Indy.

6. James Lewis- Who?

7. Brian Allen- injuries cut his career short sadly.

8. Josh Mallary- believe only played one season for Indy.

2003 draft: A

1. Dallas Clark- currently one of the best TE in the league

2. Mike Doss- struggled at times, but was solid at other points.

3. Donald Strickland- attitude problems hurt him

4. Steve Scullio- I really hoped he would be good but he struggled and only played for one season

5. Robert Mathis- a steal at this pick!

6. Keyon Whiteside- total bust

7. Cato June- great value here!

8. Makoa Freitas- played well in 2003 when Tarik Glenn got hurt. Sadly injuries ended his career.

2004 draft: B

1. Bob Sanders- he gets hurt too much but helped the Colts immensely in 2006.

2. Ben Hartstock- this didnt work out but Hartstock is still in the league.

3. Gilbert Gardner- he sucked and played for Purdue. Need I say more?

4. Kendyll Pope- Never played

5. Jason David- I always liked him a lot. Good pick here.

6. Jake Scott- again another solid pick here. Great value.

7. Von Hutchins- did okay for the Colts and has stayed in the league for awhile

8. Jim Sorgi- the myth and the legend himself

2005 draft: B+

1. Marlin Jackson: again, Polian usually rocks with the 1st round.

2. Kelvin Hayden- a project player that developed very nicely.

3. Vincent Burns- got tasered by the police.

4. Dylan Gandy- played well for a few years then disappeared.

5. Matt Giordano- still players for the Colts and is great on special teams.

6. Robert Hunt- who?

7. Tyjuan Hagler- good size and speed for a LB and still plays for the Colts.

2006 draft: C+

1. Joe Addai- I am not always easy on Addai, but its still a good pick because what he did his rookie year.

2. Tim Jennings- I am so... "meh" about Jennings

3. Freddie Keiaho- just... disappointed.

4. Michael Toudouze- someone I always liked, but just recently got cut.

5. Charlie Johnson- why is this guy starting at LT?

6. Antoine Bethea- anytime you got a pro bowler in round 6 that is awesome.

7. TJ Rusing- ok special teams player

2007 draft: D+

1. Anthony Gonzalez- Gonzo is good. We all agree on that.

2. Tony Ugoh- much like Keiaho... just disappointed. Ugoh just doesn't have the power to play in the NFL.

3. Dante Hughes- just got cut!

4. Quinn Pitcock- we all know this one...

5. Brannon Condren- never did anything

6. Clint Session- thus far a good, but not great player

7. Michael Coe- didn't do anything. Now cut.

8. Keyunta Dawson- jury is still out here.

2008 draft: C (for now)

1. Mike Pollak- struggled mightly in his rookie year. Has a lot to prove.

2. Phillip Wheeler- just now starting. Seems to be a good pick.

3. Jacob Tamme- just now starting to get some playing time.

4. Tom Santi- jury still out

5. Steve Justice- just got cut!

6. Mike Hart- injured then got cut.

7. Pierre Garcon- really good pick here late in the draft.

8. Jamey Richard- jury still out.

So as you can see the Colts had a series of really good draft picks early on that formed the foundation of our Super Bowl team in 2006. Lately, however, and the team has struggled with its drafts, which is starting to affect the O-line in particular.

This just goes to show you how even a few below average drafts can affect the most talented teams like the Colts. I personally think there will be O-Line issues throughout this year that will hopefully be addressed in the off season, but hopefully I am wrong.

Right now the Colts need to start hitting some drafts out of the park like they did in 2001. That would quickly solve a lot of problems.

Vinatieri: End of a legend?

MasterRWayne — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:27:54 -0000

Alright folks lets talk about something we have been ignoring and that something is our good friend Adam Vinatieri. Now Adam V is a revered hero. Almost a legend you could say because he is sort of like a good version of Benedict Arnold. Someone who defected from tyranny (the Patriots) to fight for truth, freedom and American apple pie (the Colts). Now that being said we need to talk about it... we need to talk about the possible end of Adam V.

Lets start with what we know. We know that Adam V has a bum hip. We know that he had an intrusive operation on this hip back in June and we also know that he had his knee scoped at the same time (which could mean anything). Adam V is on the PUP list and the Colts are starting to bring in other kickers for pre-season. The Colts say he will be ready for the season opener, but we know about the history of Colts medical statements.

There are a couple of big red flags that jump out at me; one the surgery was in June meaning there isn't a lot of recovery time for this. For instance, Joe Addai had his knee scoped back in January which gives a much longer recovery period. The second issue is that this is a hip injury. Hip and knee injuries are serious injuries. Any injury that affects the legs is serious for a professional athlete even "minor" ones and it goes without saying that a kicker uses his hips a lot to generate power to... well kick the ball. In Vinatieri's case this is his right (kicking leg) hip and that's not good anyway you cut it. All surgeries, regardless of how talented the surgeon is, lead to muscle atrophy. That is when the muscle loses strength due to disuse. Even if the surgery is 100% effective it remains to be seen if Vinatieri can regain the strength in his leg for this season.

We also know that this hip injury has been affecting him for over a year. Despite this he had a productive 2008 season going 20 for 25 on field goals. He was also clutch in the Minnesota game so there is cause for optimism here. Its not all doom and gloom.

However, its pretty clear that Adam V has been dinged up for awhile now. He struggled in 2007 due to injuries (leading to the infamous Chargers game) then seemed to bounce back last year only to have this hip injury flare up on him recently. He is also now almost 37 years old. It gets tough even for kickers around that age. Finally, it's worth pointing out that he counts a great deal against the cap at around 2.0 million. Is it worth it to keep a 50% effective Vinatieri around at that cap hit? Well maybe for the "Vinatieri mojo" I am not sure.

Now no one is ready to plant roses on the grave of Vinatieri's career. The jury is still out on that. He could still be highly effective for a number of years, but there is some serious doubts that can happen now. I think its a mistake for we, as fans, to just gloss this over and say, "Oh Vinatieri will be fine." This hip injury to Adam V may very well be an issue for the Colts in the 2009 season. We will keep at eye on it.

The Stretch Play

MasterRWayne — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 18:56:00 -0000

Do you guys remember the "stretch play"?

You know, it's the play that the Colts started using back in 1999 with Edge. Peyton sprints to the outside and the O-line stretches horizontally (hence the name) and the RB uses his vision to find a seam and cut back into it. The Colts have been running it every year since then... except, for some unknown reason, they stopped running it last year.

Poof! It was gone like magic.

Many of us thought that it was due to the fact that Manning's knee was too weak to handle it, but then the knee got better and the Colts still didn't run it. Were the rookie guards just not able to handle it? Personally, I doubt that. The Colts have always been able to plug in young guards. Just look at years past when they had the revolving door of Tupe Peko, Steve Sciolio, and Rick DeMulling (and whoever else they could find, for that matter). The Colts were always able to run the stretch play despite injuries and turnover. I am not saying the stretch play is easy, but it's not as complicated as Denver's zone blocking system is, either. We will probably never know exactly why the Colts stopped running the stretch play last year, but it did expose us all to the fact that the running game has become a bit of a One-Trick Pony.

Without the stretch play the backs were lost, the O-line was lost (Jimmy Hoffa lost, that is) and the offense lost its identity (due to the inability to run play-action). It's a testament to the skill of Manning that he was able to work miracles without any running-game support. I know the stretch play is important, but don't you find it a little dumb that the Colts weren't able to at least grind out a mediocre running game using more "basic" run plays? I have always believed that if you can't line up in the Power-I formation and get at least 4 yards, then you might as well not even try. That is pretty much what the Colts ended up doing last year. By the end of the year they just flat out stopped running the ball. Short screen passes and hitches became our new running plays. Teams responded to this by running nickel and dime defenses on 1st and 2nd down. They dared the Colts to run because they knew they couldn't. Miraculously, the Colts managed to squeeze out an existence this way. What happened when the Colts needed just one yard...one tiny yard to defeat the Chargers? Well, we all know that story already...

Now, I've been critical of the RB's and the O-Line, but I also think there is another issue here. That issue is the stretch play itself because (and I know this is a controversial opinion) the over-reliance on this play makes the Colts a soft running team. Sure, the Colts have been able to gobble up big rushing statistics, but when they needed that one big game changing yard yard it always seemed to elude them. Think about it... the Colts have struggled, and I mean really struggled at short yardage. Just look at previous examples:

1. Edge fails to get a goal-line TD in the 2004 Pats game.
2. Same situation with Edge in the 2005 Pats game.
3. Joe Addai, in the 2008 Chargers playoff game, fails to convert on 3rd and short to win the game (and God only knows how many 3rd and shorts the Colts have failed on over the years).
4. Finally, let me just add that you know it's bad when every time there is a 3rd and short or a 3rd and goal you, as a fan, feel this sudden sensation of despair sweep over you.

My opinion is that the Colts' over-reliance on the stretch play is the cause of this. This reason being is that the stretch play is about pushing people to the side rather than pushing them back. It's about the RB using his vision to find seams rather than using his speed and power to run North-South. In short, the stretch play makes the Colts too "cute."

Sometimes, you just have to line up and push your man backwards to get that damn yard! The reliance on the stretch play has created a mentality (in addition to promoting a skill-set of speed over power) that makes the Colts very weak in short yardage. The offense spends most of the game using the stretch play, and/or variations of it, so much so that they are inept when it comes time for them to run the North-South style between the guard and the center.

I have no problem with the Colts running the stretch play some, but the team must get back to basics in terms of running the football. Run more straight ahead and a lot less side to side. As I said earlier, if you can't line up in the Power-I formation and get 4 yards then you might as well just not run the ball. Often times football games hinge on getting that one yard and it's discouraging to see this team rake up all sorts of wonderful statistics only to trip on those last few inches! Hopefully, this year Coach Caldwell will make short yardage conversion a priority. I think a big part of that has to be changing the mentality of our running game (both the RB's and O-line). No more dancing in the backfield, and no more fancy blocking footwork! Run North-South and "put your man down" Sean Connery-style in The Untouchables! I just want to see a little more Bill Parcell's style with the Colts running game.

So, to end this, I think it's important to remember that for one year in the Manning-era the Colts were actually fairly good in short yardage running. They weren't great at it, but they were certainly good enough. That year was 2006 and I think the Colts won something that year...

Lets be real: The O Line

MasterRWayne — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:03:42 -0000

Lets be real here and say honestly that this is a pretty talented Colts team. I mean just look at the defense alone, in which the Colts are stacked at defensive back, linebacker and defensive line. Not only are the starters good, but the backups have talent and experience as well. For instance, a player like Melvin Bullitt could be a starter on a lot of other teams and here he is backing up two excellent starters in Bethea and Sanders. Even on offense at the WR position the Colts I think have a ton of talent despite the fact that they lost Marvin Harrison. This receiving corp is better than the one we fielded last year especially if Garcon is coming along as well as we keep hearing. However, there is a big giant black spot on the Colts roster and that is the Offensive line.

Photo: photos.indystar.com

Now I am a big Colts fan, but many of you know that I don't sugar coat players and performances. When it comes to things like that I am just a football fan and not really a Colts fan because I feel its important to keep an objective point of view on those issues. If I see a player not performing well or a scheme not working I am going to be vocal about it. Last year the Colts Offensive Line struggled and there were no big free agent signings or high round draft picks to correct this. Instead, the Colts signed some little known free agents like Brandon Barnes from the arena league and we spent a 7th round draft pick on Jaimie Thomas. Now these guys may work out, and I hope they do, but they are unproven and therefore it still leaves a number of glaring holes in the offensive line.

Now before I sound negative I think its important to point out that there is some signs of hope and most of that concerns the interior Offensive line. I feel the Colts are very strong here with a healthy Lilja, Saturday, Richards, Pollak and Steve Justice. This is a strong core group of players, but it still has some question marks. Is Lilja 100% healthy? Will Pollak improve on his very sub-par 2008 season? These are serious questions, but the good news is we still have a pro-bowler in Saturday and two good young players in Justice and Richards. I can't help, but feel the interior O-Line has boom or bust written all over it.

Offensive Tackle is another matter because there are some sizable issues here. Last year Diem was dinged up and his performance was average at best. We don't know if he has a long term condition that is bothering him so there is a big question mark regarding how effective we are at RT. At LT Tony Ugoh has been a bit of a disappointment. Now I know Lilja came to Ugoh's defense recently, but the fact remains that Ugoh did not play for a few games last year (he was wretched in the Bears game) and he was not on the injury report which means he was benched due to a lack of performance. Ugoh has been struggling and the Colts are upset that they have spent a 1st and a 2nd round draft pick on a guy that can't stay healthy and has, thus far, failed to develop despite a promising rookie season. He started off strong, but has stagnated recently. Our backups are sub-par as well with Charlie Johnson, Daniel Federkeil, Michael Toudoze and rookie 7th rounder Jaimie Thomas. Some of those guys are "serviceable" but I don't have much faith in any of them to start long term for the Colts in case of an injury to Ugoh or Diem. I see question marks at LT, RT and in our backups.

Again, I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade here. I think this Colts team is very talented. We have depth and talent at every single position. However, as I outlined above, I have real reservations about this Offensive line. Many of you know my position that I put a lot of stock in the idea that you have to be strong at the "point of attack." This means that the O-Line and the D-Line are the two most valuable positions on any team. If you don't have those then it affects everything else. You could have the best secondary in the world, but they will still be carved up if you have no pass rush with the D-line. You could have the best QB in the world (like say... Peyton Manning), but his effectivness will be limited if he doesn't have time. I firmly believe that the success of the Colts this year completely depends on whether the O-Line develops or not. We have the talent at the other positions, but so much depends on the O-Line. If they struggle the Colts might be in trouble, but if they develop then the Colts will be in a very good position.

The Bob Sanders Beatdown Defense is Dead

MasterRWayne — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:57:36 -0000

BSBD (or, the Bob Sanders Beatdown Defense) was a term coined on this site by our very own BigBlueShoe. In the coaching world it is known simply as "Cover 3." Now, I don't want to go into too many details, but essentially Cover 3 is when the corners give a big cushion, one safety plays deep center-field, and the other safety (Bob Sanders in this case) plays in the box to stop the run. Hence, the title "Bob Sanders Beatdown Defense."

Photo: www.maddensecrets.com

Now, the Colts started running this defense to stop teams like the Tennessee Titans from running their "keep away" offense in which they try to shorten the game by running the ball over and over and over again. Cover 3 lets you play 8 in the box without surrendering the big pass play because there are three guys deep. This arrangement worked against teams like the Titans, but ultimately it was a failure in the long run. This is because the BSBD defense was a creative stop gap measure brought about because the front 7 of the Colts just hasn't been very good against the run. They needed Bob's help to do their job for them.

The major problems with the BSBD defense is that first it compromises the health of Bob Sanders. Now Bob is one tough guy, but at 5'8 he should not be used as a 4th LB because the other three LB's can't do their jobs. It turns him into a human kamikaze, leading to nagging injuries. It's reckless of the Colts to expect him to take on a 315lb offensive linemen play after play. They have to be smarter about how they use the Bobzilla.

The other issue with BSBD is that it assumes your opponent can't make plays in the short passing game. Cover 3 essentially dares you to throw curl routes all day and make plays in the short passing game. It works against Vince Young, but against guys like Phillip Rivers its ineffective. Good QB's can make those throws and chip away at you. They have the patience, talent, and experience to do that. As creative as the BSBD is, the Colts have to find ways to win with their front 7. No amount of scheming can change that.

The Colts coaching staff recognizes this during the off-season. That is why there has been a shift in defensive philosophy. The LB's and DT's have gotten bigger and more athletic through the draft and free agency. I have always been a big fan of Dungy's defensive approach, but I think our personel has been way too undersized to play against the style other teams play us now. They know they can't throw deep against the Colts, but they do know they can wear them down if they stay patient. They have adjusted and now the Colts need to be flexible enough to tweak how they do things. Ultimately I feel Caldwell is still going to run a Cover 2 defense, but hopefully the front 7 will be strong enough to not have to rely on Bob Sanders for additional support.

Jim Finn is "The Man!"

MasterRWayne — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:28:40 -0000

Does anybody here remember Jim Finn? He was drafted as "Mr. Irrelevant." You know he played fullback for the Colts from 2000-2002. He fumbled a lot, but he played hard. I remember the 2002 game against the Titans when the Colts were so hurt at running back that they had to start Jim Finn at HB. He had like 2 carries and 2 fumbles before he got knocked out of the game. In fact, in the picture to the right here he is about ready to get hit, hurt and fumble all at once. It was sad, but I always loved Jim Finn.

Anyways, the other day I was searching on Wikipedia because I am a Wikipedia addict and I was like, "I wonder what Jim Finn is up to these days." Yes I know I don't have a life so you don't need to remind me of that. So I was reading that Jim Finn was retired from football and he recently married actress Rosa Blasi. This name sounded familiar so I did a Google image search of her...

via wallpapers.celebritydesktop.com

Oh. My. God! That is one amazing woman! Jim Finn truly is "The Man!" Pretty damn good for a "Mr. Irrelevant." I take back everything I said about your numerous fumbles Mr. Finn!

Also, its worth mentioning that Jim and Rosa welcome their first child together in September 2004. Congrats to both of them! Once a Colt, always a Colt.

Oh and for those of you who don't remember Jim Finn well at least you can appreciate the picture of his wife that I put up here!

At first glance: This was a VERY good draft

MasterRWayne — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:51:30 -0000

It has often been said that you have to wait 2-3 years to judge a teams draft class and I think that is fair. Sometimes guys struggle early or maybe they spend a year or two on the bench before they see significant playing time. We therefore, don't know how good this draft was but we do know a few things thus far.

The Colts really want to get bigger and stronger on defense. We already know this by the fact that they wanted bigger and stronger LB's. That's why the let guys like Kreddie K go, but the additions of Moala and Taylor firmly demonstrate this desire to get bigger and stronger. The type of defense the Colts have run for awhile works when our offense scores early and often thus forcing teams into throwing against our edge rushers and zone coverages. The problem was when teams kept the game close by playing the Jeff Fisher style "run, run, run" game against us. The Colts answer to this is to get bigger and run a different front 4 against people that try and do that. If teams play that style then they are doing to see this...

LDE-Moala
DT- Terrance Taylor
DT-Antonio Johnson
RDE-Raheem Brock

Now try running against that front 4! Then when we get them into passing situations we put Freeney and Mathis in there. What this does is gives us more flexibility against teams that want to run different offensive styles against us to negate our speed and keep our offense off the field.

Also, the additions of Donald Brown and Austin Collie help our offense out. Brown is a quick, straight ahead runner. A very "north-south" style. You won't see him dancing in the backfield. The fact that he fell to the Colts was a miracle. Now I know there is talk about Brown being a 1B or whatever else people say, but the bottom line is the best man will get the most carries. If Addai is healthy and starts running well again then that's great because we now have two really good RB's. That will keep both Brown and Addai healthier and fresher. However, if Addai struggles and Brown does well then Brown will see more carries particularly later into the year. The Colts won't run things like John Fox did in Carolina were he made DeAngelo Williams sit the bench in place of DeShaun Foster because Foster was "the veteran." That's a stupid and ineffective way to run things. If you play well then you get carries and if you struggle you get less carries. Personally I think this might end up looking like Rhodes/Addai in 2006. Either way it's a win-win situation for the Colts. Drafting a guy like Brown just really helps the entire offense.

As for Collie I feel that we got good value when we drafted him. This is a guy that will help out in the slot and can be coached up as you often have to do with all college WR's. Collie also gives depth at the WR position, but hey (similiar to Addai/Brown) if Roy Hall is better in training camp (and stays healthy!) then maybe he will get more playing time while Collie learns and studies for a year. Either way it works out well for the Colts.

Drafted for the Giants

MasterRWayne — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:39:39 -0000

Hey Giants fans its MasterRWayne here. I help run the Stampedeblue site for the Indianapolis Colts. We had our mock draft over there and I picked for the Giants. We did rounds 1-2 and here is who I got...

1. Eben Britton-OT

2. Kenny Britt-WR

3. Asher Allen-CB

I felt that I got good value in my picks and I also addressed need areas for the G-Men. What do you guys think?

1. Eben Britton-OT

2. Kenny Britt-WR

3. Asher Allen-CB

I felt that I got good value in my picks and I also addressed need areas for the G-Men. What do you guys think?

Who The Hell Will They Draft 2009: Oklahoma OG Duke Robinson

MasterRWayne — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:48:36 -0000

A guard? A guard?! A GUARD?!!?!?!!? You can't be serious can you? I mean are you seriously proposing that the Colts take a guard with their first pick? Yes, my friend, that is exactly what I am proposing, and here is why:

Common wisdom is that you take the best available player regardless of position needs. I feel that this is for the most part true, but I have always viewed it as a hybrid of the two; you consider needs, but differ to the best player. In the case of guard, when the Colts pick at 27th the best player on the board will be a guard AND it will fulfill a need. So, who is this "best player" who is a guard late in the 1st round?

Duke Robinson from Oklahoma (and direct relative of the famous "Smokey Robinson) is a beast.

Photo: media.scout.com

Robinson is big (330lbs), strong, tough, durable (never misses games), athletic and quick (5.27 40 time) . He is one of the best offensive linemen to come out of the draft in a long time. He was the anchor and the rock of one of the most prolific offenses in college football history. On top of his superb run blocking he also has excellent pass blocking skills and intelligence because he was part of a pro style offense at Oklahoma. On top of all that he is actually pretty darn quick and can pull well. A 5.27 40 time is very good for a guard.

From Mocking The Draft:

Perfectly sized for a guard, Robinson has the power to engulf defenders one-on-one. Quickly gets into his stance to block in-line on running plays. Does a nice job keeping his feet moving and repositioning himself. An excellent and scary drive blocker. Incredible lower body strength. Typically plays with good leverage keeping a low pad level. Gets good knee bend.

From NFL Draft Countdown:

Huge frame with long arms...Great bulk...Outstanding strength...Very powerful...Tough and physical...Nasty and is a finisher...Gets a great push and can be a dominating run blocker...Is stout at the point of attack...Uses his hands well...Plays with good leverage and bends at the knees...Quick with decent mobility and range...Good awareness and instincts...Versatile...A lot of experience against top competition.

From NFLDraftScout (via NFL.com/Combine):

Can generate movement at the point of attack in short-yardage situations. ... Plays with some nastiness and has the raw power to turn and pancake his opponent. ... Quick, strong hand punch to jolt the defender in pass protection. ... Natural knee-bender who plays with good leverage and balance in pass pro. ... Long arms and strong hands to keep the defender at bay.

But why should we draft a guard ahead of say WR, RB, DT... etc?

Well, first it all, start up front with your offense. A strong o-line helps both your passing game and running game. It is the foundation upon which everything else is built around. Your WR's and QB might be All Pro, but if they don't have adequate time then your play book is going to be severely limited to three step drops and screens like it was for the Colts late last year. Therefore, getting Duke Robinson helps all these areas. He would help both immediately and into the future because he has Pro Bowl potential written all over him and could play in this league for eight plus years. Guys like Robinson can potentially help teams both short term and long term, which is extremely rare to find. They are literally the "gems" of every draft class. Also, factor in that the interior of the Colts line is a big problem right now. We don't know if Ryan Lilja is coming back and Saturday isn't growing any younger. Robinson can start immediately for the Colts and he can be groomed to be Saturday's replacement at center. Getting him instantly upgrades our entire offense.

I know this is not a "sexy" pick, but it is a very sound one. I know WR and DT are the "sexier" picks, but that doesn't mean they are the better ones. With WR's you have to remember it takes 2-4 years to develop those guys so they won't help much, if it all, in the short term. The Colts have the potential to win now so should we not draft players that can help us now? Hall and Garcon already know the playbook and we spent draft picks on them so I say we give them a chance to prove themselves as the #3 WR. Besides passing wasn't our problem last year; our problem was running the ball and the interior of our Offensive Line. Duke Robinson
addresses both of those problems simulataneously. As for DT I really don't think there will be any 1st round DT's at our pick, but we can find talent in rounds 3-5.

Duke Robinson negatives?

From Mocking The Draft:

For any power running team, Robinson is about as good of a guard prospect as there has been in several years. His play is similar to that of Ben Grubbs. Where he struggles most is against quick, gap-shooting defensive tackles who like to get after the quarterback.

From NFL Draft Countdown:

Can be a bit inconsistent...Not a great technician...Isn't real light on his feet...Has lapses in concentration...Poor balance...Will get caught reaching at times...Will have some trouble with quicker defensive tackles...Work ethic has been questioned and tends to skate by on his natural ability...Little immature...Won't be an ideal fit for every team.

From NFLDraftScout (via NFL.com/Combine):

Only marginal balance and lateral quickness to block at the second level, and spends too much time on the ground when trying to block on the move. ... Lack of great quickness shows in pass protection, as he struggles to adjust if his initial punch doesn't slow the defender

I have thought long and hard about this because I am usually of the mindset of not drafting guards until rounds 4-7, but its not unheard of to use a late 1st rounder. The Ravens did it last year and Ozzie Newsome is a very bright GM. I just feel that Duke Robinson addresses so many areas of need for us in addition to being one of the most athletic and talented players in this draft. Besides what is better than being big? Well being big AND athletic... just look.

Photo: i.cdn.turner.com

Editor's Note: View some Duke Robinson YouTube highlights after the jump. --bbs

Duke Robinson dominating at Oklahoma:

Houshmanzadeh Signed by Seahawks

MasterRWayne — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:57:55 -0000

As per www.NFL.com Housh has been signed by the SeaHawks.

I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.I like Football.

As per www.NFL.com Housh has been signed by the SeaHawks.

Just to rub it in...

MasterRWayne — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 02:55:59 -0000

How about them Cowboys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Romo for MVP!)

In defense of Tony Mandarich

MasterRWayne — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:09:35 -0000

Hey guys this is MasterRWayne and I am a writer for the Colts blog at www.stampedeblue.com.

I wrote an article detailing Mandarich's interview on "Inside the NFL" because he made his comeback with the Colts and started for us from 1996-1998. Now I know Mandarich is hated by you guys because he was a draft bust, but allow me to say two things.

1. Mandarich was a VERY good starting NFL lineman for the Colts. In fact, he was a bright spot on an otherwise talented, but inexperienced O-line that featured rookies at LT and LG. The bottom line is that Mandarich turned his life around, got sober and played his guts out for the Colts. In fact, he was part of the Colts 1997 victory over the Packers in which an 0-9 Colts team defeated a then 9-0 Packers team. One of my favorite Colts memories is him running down the field with his helmet off after the game winning field goal went through.

2. I had the pleasure of meeting Tony Mandarich in 1999 shortly after his retirement and he was kind, humble and respectful. I was working at Starbucks back then and I recognized him and he took time out of his day to talk football with me.

My point is that Tony Mandarich seems, both from the "Inside the NFL" and my personal experience, like a good person who made a lot of dumb mistakes when he was in his early 20's and then turned his life around. In short, Tony Mandarich as a Colt was a different player and a different person than Tony Mandarich as a Packer.

So yeah you can be upset about how Tony Mandarich was a "draft bust" for you guys, but you have to recognize that the guy fought hard to turn his life around and never gave up. You just have to respect that.

Hey guys this is MasterRWayne and I am a writer for the Colts blog at www.stampedeblue.com.

Tony Mandarich: One of the Best

MasterRWayne — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:54:45 -0000

Let me just say right off the bat that Tony Mandarich is perhaps one of my favorite Colts players of all time. That is right folks; I rank him right up there with Manning, Harbaugh, The Edge and a slew of other potential/guaranteed hall of famers.

Many of you might not even remember that Mandarich played for the Colts from 1996-1998 so you might be wondering if I have completely lost my mind when I rank him as one of the favorite Colts. You also might not even know that he is widely considered one of the greatest draft busts ever. In fact, even to this day people who are draft busts on measured on a Tony Mandarich scale of "draft bustiness."

In 1989 Tony Mandarich was selected with the second overall pick in the draft which was unheard of, for a left tackle, at that time in the NFL. The Packers picked him ahead of guys named Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas and Emmit Smith. Mandarich only lasted three years in Green Bay. He started off bad by referring to Green Bay as a, "village" in his first interview and by challenging Mike Tyson to a boxing fight. It sounds ludicrous, but it is 100% true and the Green Bay organization had to step in to prevent the fight which was scheduled to take place just prior to the first pre-season game. Despite all of that Mandarich had everything going for him in the beginning. He had a big multi-year contract and he had his face on the cover of SI with the title, "The Incredible Bulk!" Many thought that a player like Mandarich was going to change the game so that left tackles could finally take on rushers like Lawrence Taylor.

However, Mandarich struggled mightily in the NFL. In one Monday night game Reggie White just absolutely abused him up and down the field. After awhile he was benched and then was later cut in 1992. He faded away as easily the greatest mistake in Green Bay’s history.

Mandarich remained a ghost until 1996 when the Colts suddenly gave him a chance. If you recall that was when the Colts were trying to retool their O-line with young guys such as Tarik Glenn and Adam Meadows so we were desperate for some help. Still the pundits thought Mandarich wouldn’t make it, but not only did he make the team, but he started at guard for the Colts. Still can you imagine the shock of going from probably the best LT in college sports to playing guard for a rebuilding offensive line? Yet Mandarich accepted his role (are you listening Vince Young?) and went on to be a very good offensive guard for the Colts. He even got a chance to play his old team the Packers. The Colts went into that game 0-9 and the Packers were one of the best teams in the NFL that year. Yet Mandarich and the Colts, who were QB’ed by Paul Justin, went out there and won the game. It is one of my favorite Colts memories when Mandarich ran down the field with his helmet in his hand cheering after Cary Blanchard kicked the game winning field goal.

I mention all of this because "Inside the NFL" is running a very good two part interview with Mandarich in which he details his addition to drugs, steroids and alcohol while playing for the Packers. He discusses how they just took over his life and that he was so focused on, "getting high" that he couldn’t even bring himself to work out three times a week when he was with the Packers. He also, for the first time, admits to steroid use while playing for Michigan State and on how he evaded steroid detection during the NFL combine. Next week the interview will focus on his recovery from drugs and time as a Colt.

I don’t mean to sound corny guys, but this is an amazing story here and it is an excellent interview. So if you have Showtime check out "Inside the NFL" this week and next week for both parts of the interview. Mandarich also has an autobiography due out this spring, but he makes it perfectly clear in the interview that he will not name other steroid users because he does not wish to, "profit off other peoples personal mistakes."

Always welcome in Indy

MasterRWayne — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:32:54 -0000

Hey Saints fans I heard the news about Hurricane Gustav potentially striking New Orleans and forcing the Saints to practice in Indianapolis. The Saints, and there fans, are always welcome here. While it is almost certain that Gustav wil strike the United States I truly wish that it does not strike New Orleans. A new storm there could cause severe damage to a levee system that has been neglected and it not fully repaired.

I hope a tragedy is avoided for both the Saints the city of New Orleans.

Burleson

MasterRWayne — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:32:26 -0000

Hey guys I write for the Colts blog, but in my fantasy league I drafted Nate Burleson in the finals round because of the injuries sustained to both Branch and Engram. My question is how has Burleson looked? Do you think he will have a successful season this year? I know last year he had some success later in the season so maybe he will be able to replicate that for a full year. Is there anyone else to fill in outside Burleson?

Thanks!

Your defense and a Colts fans advice

MasterRWayne — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:25:15 -0000

Hey I am MasterRWayne and I help write for www.stampedeblue.com which is the blog here for the Indianapolis Colts.

I really liked the article posted yesterday discussing that the Saints really didn't have any true defensive philosophy or identity. This, I feel, is really hurting your team. The Colts run cover 2 and cover 3. That is what we are and that is what we practice. Its not a very advanced scheme, but it works great because we know exactly the types of players we need to draft for it. If you wanted to can read my article about the advantages of Cover 2 here...

http://www.stampedeblue.com/2008/6/18/554149/cover-2-is-the-best

Basically almost all of your defensive problems come from a lack of scheme and this is exemplified in Jason David. When Jason David played for the Colts he was very very good! Yeah you may think I am crazy, but trust me the guy won games for us. In fact, I remember one game four years ago where it was a high scoring game between the Colts and the Packers with the Packers driving for a game winning touchdown. Farve threw a 15 yard pass to Javon Walker and Jason David (who was a rookie) stripped the ball and recovered the fumble thus ending the game.

This just shows that Jason David can be a very good player when he is in the right system such as Cover 2. The system you guys run just has him confused out there. He doesn't know his assignments and after playing Cover 2 for so long the guy just can't play the system the Saints run.

If you want my advice you guys need to have a system and a philosophy on defense because that can make ALL the difference. Eight years ago the Colts had one of the worst defenses in league history and then Tony Dungy came and we switched to Cover 2. We made an effort to draft faster, smaller guys that fit into our system. Currently we drafted a guy named Marcus Howard at the bottom of the 5th round and he has FOUR sacks his pre-season and is amazing. The reason we got him in the 5th was because he was "small" and other teams wouldn't touch him. Its the same reason we got Bob Sanders (last years DPOY) in the 2nd round because he was "small" at 5'8.

Bottom line is you guys need a defensive system that compliments your quick strike offense and Cover 2 can do that. By scoring fast and effectively with your offense it forces teams to throw the ball in order to catch up which in turn plays into the strength of the Cover 2's speed rushers and zone coverages.

Anyways I wish you guys the best of luck. In my 3 Man keeper league this year I thought about keeping Reggie Bush, but decided instead on Larry Fitzgerald. I am just not sure if Reggie has it, but feel free to challenge me on that or on my knowledge of NFL defenses.

Hey I am MasterRWayne and I help write for www.stampedeblue.com which is the blog here for the Indianapolis Colts.

http://www.stampedeblue.com/2008/6/18/554149/cover-2-is-the-best

Preseason: Colts defeated 23-20

MasterRWayne — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:17:52 -0000

Overall a very sloppy game with lots of turnovers.

Recap will come tomorrow. I am heading to bed right now.

Preseason: Indianapolis at Carolina

MasterRWayne — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 22:37:26 -0000

Open thread for todays game.

Go Colts!

Open thread for todays game.

Go Colts!

The deal is on! (again)

MasterRWayne — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:28:58 -0000

Hey its MasterRWayne here from Stampedeblue! You may recall last year I posted on www.stampedeblue.com that if you guys swept us I would, "Eat my keyboard with tartar sauce." Well I am still just as confident this year even though Peyton will never play again *rolls eyes* Anyways I look forward to owning you guys for another year, but hey look on the bright side; at least Matt Shaub can be looking up at the ceiling of a different stadium (Lucas Oil Field) after Freeney sacks him!

Also, I hear that Ahman Green bought a new car! That's hardly surprising because he basically "earns" a new car per yard that he gains with the over inflated contract that you guys gave him.

Oh and even though you guys suck I do hope that you don't have any injuries this camp or during the pre-season.

Peace!

-MRW

Also, I hear that Ahman Green bought a new car! That's hardly surprising because he basically "earns" a new car per yard that he gains with the over inflated contract that you guys gave him.

Oh and even though you guys suck I do hope that you don't have any injuries this camp or during the pre-season.

Peace!

-MRW

Cover 2 is the Best

MasterRWayne — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:23:22 -0000

With this article I wanted to advance a long held belief of mine that the Cover 2 defense is the best defensive approach to use for the modern NFL. Now there is, naturally, a great deal of strategy that goes into defensive and offensive arrangements. Some teams, such as the Patriots, prefer to employ a bigger and more veteran 3-4 defense. While other teams have employed styles different from the Cover 2 and had great success, I still hold that the Cover 2 (Tampa 2 variation) is the best defensive arrangement.

A major advantage that the Cover 2 defense has is that it is much easier to draft for this style of defense than other types of defenses. The reason behind this is that most teams put a high emphasis on size, strength, and height because their defensive arrangement demands these sorts of attributes. Take the DT position for instance; in most other defensive schemes, the DT must be massive so that he can take up two offensive linemen and thus free up the LB’s to flow directly to the football. The Ravens are a team that does this and they drafted Ngata a few years ago just to take up space to free up Ray Lewis from offensive guards that might get to the second level. Therefore, there is great demand for these types of players and they are almost always drafted early and often. They also tend to go quickly in free agency.

Cover 2, on the other hand, places much less emphasis on size. Consequently many players that work great in Cover 2 (such as Mathis, Sanders, June) do not get drafted by other teams because they are worried about size issues. This naturally enables the Cover 2 system to have easier access to talent because it allows for players to thrive in its system that otherwise do not work in other more “traditional” defensive systems. The best example of this would be Montae Reagor who failed to ever get off the bench in Denver’s system, but when he came to Indianapolis he thrived because the system values speed above just pure strength at the DT position. It is based on “knifing” through the line as opposed to engaging offensive guards and centers.

Corner back is yet another great example; guys like Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden were passed up by other teams because they lacked amazing 40 times. However, the Cover 2 defense does not require CB’s to have 40 times speed in the 4.3 range because they play in a shallow zone were size and tackling is more desirable. So when other teams are drafting the Antrel Rolle’s and Fabian Washington’s early in the 1st round, the Colts are able to get bigger more talented CB’s due to the fact that they have skill sets that other defenses put less of an emphasis on.

Cover 2’s other major advantage is that it is a very affordable defense to run effectively. This is due to the fact that young players fit very well into the system and can often times effectively start in their rookie seasons. This is in direct opposition to the 3-4 defenses which requires veterans players at many of its positions because it can take two to three years to get a young player adjusted to the complexity of the scheme. This, in turn, drives up costs for operating this defensive system because your 3-4 defenses have to award veterans contracts to veterans who additionally may have trouble with injuries. A prime example of this is when the Patriots signed Chad Brown and Duane Starks to massive contracts because they desperately needed veterans who understood the 3-4 system.

The Colts, with their Cover 2 system, can employ young, affordable rookies and plug them right in. Guys like Antoine Bethea, Cato June, Freddie Keiaho and Tyjuan Hagler would have never worked out in the standard 3-4 system. But because the Cover 2 is a much simpler system you can make use of young guys who can produce at a much more affordable rate. This, in turn, allows your team to spend more money on its offensive skill position players such as Manning, Harrison, Wayne and Clark. It would be virtually impossible for a team to have big time experienced offensive skill position players and also run an expensive 3-4 defense. This, I believe, is the ultimate doom of teams such as the Patriots, Browns, and Cowboys because there is simply not enough cap space to pay an expensive defense on top of an expensive offense.

Furthermore when you have an expensive offense, you will throw the ball a lot more as the Colts, Pats, and Cowboys all did last year. When you have a great passing attack you will score early and often, and that is when you want a Cover 2 defense because its specialty is stopping the other team from throwing on you whereas the 3-4 defense is focused on blitz packages and stopping the run. The Cover 2 therefore has a great synergy with an explosive offense because you can score early and often and force the other team to throw when you are dropping seven guys into coverage and rushing with four pass rushing specialists. How many times have we seen the Colts destroy teams with that basic and effective system?

So that concluded my brief article on why the Cover 2 is the best defensive scheme in the modern NFL and, as always, feel free to comment on this and challenge my viewpoints.

Strahan Retires

MasterRWayne — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:44:23 -0000

This is one of my favorite pictures!

I know this isn’t Colts news, but I feel it is appropriate to salute Michael Strahan because he has just retired from the NFL. Strahan was always a player that I greatly respected and admired. In fact, back in 2002 BBS asked me, "if you could trade Edge for one player to improve our defense who would it be?" I immediately said, "Michael Strahan."

Strahan is doing the right thing by going out on top. He just won the Super Bowl in one of the greatest games ever played. Therefore let us salute a great player who had a great career.

CNN Blows!

MasterRWayne — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:50:06 -0000

Just so you know before hand I am posting this story as an example as to why us "amateurs" actually do things more efficiently and more democratic than the "experts." It tends to be a theme on this site I know. Besides Colts news is low right now so I have to rant about something!

So today I was just checking the news at work and I came across some political article at www.cnn.com in which the poster took a stand politically to the right of Genghis Khan. Just for giggles I decided to post a comment about the article under the comment section. Mind you I did not use any profanity or any other language that I would deem offensive. After "posting" my comment I was greeted with this response…

"Thank you for contributing. Comments are moderated by CNN and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting. Unfortunately, due to the volume of comments we receive, not all comments can be posted."

Ummmm what?! Do you mean that you are actually so lame as to filter all your comments before posting them on your site? I mean I go www.cnn.com and put up with the trillions of ads you have on your site as well as your often poorly constructed stories so I figure I should be able to post a comment without your screeners pouring over it. Did I suddenly get sucked into a time warp and ended up in Germany circa 1942?

We in the blogosphere allow everyone to post on our site and there is zero "comment pre-approval" process because we adhere to open communication. Now if someone were to post something offensive (such as a racially charged post) then the comment would be taking down and then action might be taken against the poster, but we do not and never will, operate a screening program on here.

Besides its not as if anyone really cares about what CNN writers think anyway. What else can you expect out of a "news" network that spends most of its time discussing missing children cases ad nauseum than actually discussing and reporting the news.

The issue here is that sports "news" sucks and regular "news" sucks when reported by these supposed "experts" who are totally obsessed with sensationalism and have zero regard for the truth.

Yes! The Cowboys are on HBO!

MasterRWayne — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:52:19 -0000

Well for any of you that get HBO they run an excellent series called "Hard Knocks" that chronicles teams in training camp. Last year they did the Kansas City Chiefs and BBS and I always get a laugh watching other organizations mismanage player/personal issues.

This year, however, we struck gold because "Hard Knocks" will be at the Cowboys training camp! Seven years ago the show did the Cowboys and BBS and I watched Jerry Jones sit in on coaches meetings and even special teams meetings to offer his "advice" on how to run the team. Its going to be awesome to watch the Cowboys plant the seeds of their own destruction this year.

Oh and on a side note its worth noting that "Hard Knocks" really only chronicles bad teams like the Cowboys and Chiefs. The reason for this is simple; bad teams have drama such as Larry Johnson not showing up for training camp and as for the Cowboys their entire team/organization is a long brown stain of drama. "Hard Knocks" would never chronicle the Colts because it would just be boring watching an efficient and effective organization that promotes individuals based upon merit and cultivates team work.

The Cowboys are the opposite of that so they are perfect for this show.

Howard!

MasterRWayne — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:02:26 -0000

Colts grab Marcus Howard! He fell several rounds, but I am glad that we got him!

McKinney Released

MasterRWayne — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:27:41 -0000

Seth McKinney was just released by the Texans today. I know he suffered a knee injury last year, but if we can sign him to a low dollar contract I think he would be a great fit for a system considering that he spent his first four years in the league playing for the Colts. Depth is very important at O-line and I think McKinney could provide that.

Why Character Matters: Brady Quinn

MasterRWayne — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:47:45 -0000

I was browsing the "Internets" at work today and I came across this story about Cleveland Browns QB Brady Quinn. It is things like this that really make me sick and disgusted! If this is true just think how lame and pathetic Brady Quinn must be to be attacking homosexuals outside of a Mexican restaurant at 2:35 in the morning. Cleveland does not want someone of such low character to be representing their franchise. If this accusation is true then they should trade this bigoted lard to the Raiders or better yet send him to Detroit where he can work with a fellow bigot in Matt Millen.

Brady just loves touching himself.

BelliCHEAT can't stomach it

MasterRWayne — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 01:16:07 -0000

MJD over at Yahoo Sports (which is usually terrible) has a very good article about how Bill BelliCHEAT couldn't be a man and take a loss. Here is my favorite part...

With :01 left on the clock, and his team just having failed on a last chance 4th down effort, Bill Belichick ran onto the field for a quick handshake, and then bolted for the locker room. Belichick's an important guy and everything, but I wasn't aware that the league had given him the authority to decide when games end.

There's time left on the clock, his team's been humbled, outplayed, and lost their chance at history ... and Bill Belichick doesn't have the stomach to sit there and absorb the pain until the clock read 0:00.

I was planning on writing an article about this today, but MJD really hits the nail on the head with this one. Last night was a game that really showed that the good guys can win in this world. I think in the next few months there is going to be some seriously bad information to surface about what the Pats have been doing over the past few years. Last nights victory by the Giants may have saved the league from complete embarrassment.

A Harbaugh in Baltimore

MasterRWayne — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:59:47 -0000

Well, Baltimore made a great hiring today when they hired John Harbaugh as their head coach. I hate the Ravens and their organization, but they made a good move here. John Harbaugh trained a great special teams unit for the Eagles and he also trained their secondary and helped develop guys like Lito Shepherd and Sheldon Brown. He has a long road ahead of him as he attempts to purge that team of all the "problem players" they have, but I wish him the best of luck (except when his team plays the Colts, of course).

Pats Trolls

MasterRWayne — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:34:36 -0000

Hey, as expected, we are being assaulted by some Patriot fan trolls. I never mind a little smack talk, but some of them have been saying things way too immature. Although I would like to add, in a rare show of respect for the Evil Empire, that most of the Pats fans on here have been very good and offered some great diary posts. To them I say thank you and to guys like Patriot Nation... well maybe he is still suffering from the affects of a fall he took a few weeks ago...

http://www.abc6.com/news/semassachusetts/12841207.html

A cause for conern: Joseph Addai

MasterRWayne — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:19:06 -0000

Now let me just start off by saying that I love Addai. The guy is a great running back and he has a long future with the Colts. However, its clear that the running game has not been that good over the past few weeks. I did some research and came across these stats for Addai over the last 7 games excluding the Titans game at the end of the season. They are as follows...

Att Yards Avg
22      56      2.5
21      72      3.4
10      44      4.4
21      67      3.2
13      32      2.5
15      44      2.9
6      26      4.3

Now stats do not tell the whole story, but I am however a huge believer in the yards per carry stat. I think any good running back should average at least 4.2 yards per carry. Addai started off the season red hot, but has been really cold as of late. At first I thought that maybe he was run down but he has carried the ball 261 times this year versus 226 last year. That is not an excessive number of carries for a running back so that cannot be the reason. Obviously, our offensive line has had some major injuries, but Addai has looked a bit slow out there the last few games, but maybe the recent rest will improve his productivity. I am not saying the sky is falling, but the Colts really need to run the ball better in the playoffs then they have in the second half of the season. Remember last year Dom and Addai were a big reason why we won the Super Bowl.