SBNation.com User Blog: Stew Blake

2013 NFL Draft: 20 Picks In And Geno Smith Is Sweating

Stew Blake — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:24:19 -0000

Bills No. 16 pick (from STL) - QB EJ Manuel (FSU)

The Bills picked up Kevin Kolb, but this pick shows you how much confidence they have in the former Cardinal and Eagle. Quarterback is an obvious need and the Bills did enough research on quarterbacks for three drafts. This selection is why Geno Smith is sweating bullets as he waits for his name to be called.

Manuel is raw and he's a high-risk, high-reward pick.

Steelers No. 17 pick - OLB Jarvis Jones (Georgia)

They lose a great, but aging pass rusher in James Harrison and then replace him with one of the better pass rushing prospects in the draft. See how that works, people? Jones led the nation in sacks (14.5) and tackles for loss (24.5). Quick linebacker that can play inside or outside.

49ers No. 18 pick (from DAL) - FS Eric Reid (LSU)

The 49ers had a plan and they executed it perfectly. With Dashon Goldson getting paid in Tampa Bay, Eric Reid provides the Niners with a big, physical play maker who will absolutely pair with Donte Whitner to be one of the more dynamic safety combos in the league.

I love the pick and it's so Jim Harbaugh.

Giants No. 19 pick - OT Justin Pugh (Syracuse)

Pugh isn't a big name, but he's one of the more versatile linemen in the draft. He can play guard or tackle on either side and he's a seasoned collegiate starter.

Bears No. 20 pick - OG Kyle Long (Oregon)

The bloodline is definitely there with Kyle Long. His brother, Chris Long, is a defensive end in St. Louis and his dad, well, you know his dad. The Bears were rumored to be interested in Manti Te'o and Tyler Eifert at No. 20, but I like this pick better.

Jay Cutler needs time in the pocket to help prove his worth in a contract year and Long can be inserted as a starting guard, right away.

#	Round 1 - Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	Kansas City Chiefs	Eric Fisher	OT	Central Michigan
2	Jacksonville Jaguars	Luke Joeckel	OT	Texas A&M
3	Miami Dolphins (from OAK)	Dion Jordan	DE	Oregon
4	Philadelphia Eagles	Lane Johnson	OT	Alabama
5	Detroit Lions	Ziggy Ansah	DE	BYU
6	Cleveland Browns	Barkevious Mingo	DE	LSU
7	Arizona Cardinals	Jonathon Cooper	OG	North Carolina
8	St. Louis Rams (from BUF)	Tavon Austin	WR	WVU
9	New York Jets	Dee Milliner	CB	Alabama
10	Tennessee Titans	Chance Warmack	OG	Alabama
11	San Diego Chargers	D.J. Fluker	OT	Alabama
12	Oakland Raiders (from MIA)	D.J. Hayden	CB	Houston
13	New York Jets (from TB)	Sheldon Richardson	DT	Missouri
14	Carolina Panthers	Star Lotulelei	DT	Utah
15	New Orleans Saints	Kenny Vaccaro	SS	Texas
16	Buffalo Bills (from STL)	EJ Manuel	QB	FSU
17	Pittsburgh Steelers	Jarvis Jones	OLB	Georgia
18	San Francisco 49ers (from DAL)	Eric Reid	FS	LSU
19	New York Giants	Justin Pugh	OT	Syracuse
20	Chicago Bears	Kyle Long	OG	Oregon
21	Cincinnati Bengals
22	St. Louis Rams (from WAS)
23	Minnesota Vikings
24	Indianapolis Colts
25	Minnesota Vikings (from SEA)
26	Green Bay Packers
27	Houston Texans
28	Denver Broncos
29	New England Patriots
30	Atlanta Falcons
31	San Francisco 49ers
32	Baltimore Ravens

2013 NFL Draft: Top 15 Picks Are In The Books

Stew Blake — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:47:48 -0000

Chargers No. 11 pick - OT D.J. Fluker (Alabama)

Another pick, another big boy off the board. The Chargers offensive line is hurting badly and losing Louis Vasquez in free agency was a big blow. The selection of Fluker is safe and adds some stability for Philip Rivers and the run game. Fluker should come in and immediately be a starter.

This is the third Alabama prospect (in a row) that has been drafted. Fluker has started 36 games for the Crimson Tide.

Raiders No. 12 pick (from MIA) - CB D.J. Hayden (Houston)

A lot of Colts fans were hoping for D.J. Hayden to fall to No. 24, but the Raiders weren't about to let that happen. More importantly than our desires as Colts fans is the amazing life story of Hayden, who was near death after internal bleeding. Hayden will move into a rebuilding mess in Oakland, but there's no reason to believe he can't be a factor in the Raiders eventual rise.

Jets No. 13 pick - DT Sheldon Richardson (Missouri)

An All-SEC second-team selection, Richardson led all interior defensive linemen in the conference with 75 tackles and 10.5 for a loss. Richardson was a bit of a late bloomer, coming on strong in the SEC in 2012.

Teams were concerned by his lack of consistency, but his big 2012 and incredibly strong performance against an NFL line in Alabama were enough for the Jets to justify selecting him.

Panthers No. 14 pick - DT Star Lotulelei (Utah)

Lotulelei (try spelling that ten times) showed his athleticism and versatility by playing both defensive end and nose tackle in Utah. He's the perfect fit for a 3-4 defense, as he can play inside or outside. Lotulelei will be a major force for the Panthers when paired up with Dwan Edwards.

Saints No. 15 pick - SS Kenny Vaccaro (Texas)

With Rob Ryan installed as the new defensive coordinator in New Orleans, the Saints are looking to totally forget about the embarrassing defensive display from 2012. Kenny Vaccaro is a big step towards making this transition and he should fit perfectly with Ryan's aggressive 3-4 approach.

Vaccaro is a versatile player that can play nickel back, like he did in college, or run with slot receivers, step for step. He's exceptional in man coverage and should benefit, as TJ Ward did, when Ryan was the coordinator in Cleveland.

#	Round 1 - Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	Kansas City Chiefs	Eric Fisher	OT	Central Michigan
2	Jacksonville Jaguars	Luke Joeckel	OT	Texas A&M
3	Miami Dolphins (from OAK)	Dion Jordan	DE	Oregon
4	Philadelphia Eagles	Lane Johnson	OT	Alabama
5	Detroit Lions	Ziggy Ansah	DE	BYU
6	Cleveland Browns	Barkevious Mingo	DE	LSU
7	Arizona Cardinals	Jonathon Cooper	OG	North Carolina
8	St. Louis Rams (from BUF)	Tavon Austin	WR	WVU
9	New York Jets	Dee Milliner	CB	Alabama
10	Tennessee Titans	Chance Warmack	OG	Alabama
11	San Diego Chargers	D.J. Fluker	OT	Alabama
12	Oakland Raiders (from MIA)	D.J. Hayden	CB	Houston
13	New York Jets (from TB)	Sheldon Richardson	DT	Missouri
14	Carolina Panthers	Star Lotulelei	DT	Utah
15	New Orleans Saints	Kenny Vaccaro	SS	Texas
16	Buffalo Bills (from STL)
17	Pittsburgh Steelers
18	Dallas Cowboys
19	New York Giants
20	Chicago Bears
21	Cincinnati Bengals
22	St. Louis Rams (from WAS)
23	Minnesota Vikings
24	Indianapolis Colts
25	Minnesota Vikings (from SEA)
26	Green Bay Packers
27	Houston Texans
28	Denver Broncos
29	New England Patriots
30	Atlanta Falcons
31	San Francisco 49ers
32	Baltimore Ravens

2013 NFL Draft: Browns, Cardinals, Rams, Jets And Titans Select...

Stew Blake — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:59:58 -0000

Browns No. 6 pick - DE Barkevious Mingo (LSU)

Quite a few Browns fans wanted Dee Milliner here, but the Browns look to be following the BPA approach. It's interesting to see them use their first round pick on a pass rusher after spending big money to bring Paul Kruger to town, but I like this pick. Period.

If you envision Mingo as a 3-4 OLB, as the Browns should, lining him up across from Kruger could be a combination that will terrorize the AFC North for years to come.

Arizona No. 7 pick - OG Jonathan Cooper (North Carolina)

This is a safe pick by the Cardinals and is absolutely necessary if Carson Palmer is going to have a chance in Arizona. Palmer called Bruce Arians' "user-friendly" and apparently loves his new team, but things would look similar to his struggles in Oakland if he doesn't have a clean pocket.

Cooper, an All-American and first-team All-ACC selection as a senior, also immediately improves Arizona's running game, which will provide some much-needed relief for the aging Palmer.

Rams No. 8 pick - WR Tavon Austin (West Virginia)

The guy is a playmaker. Period. Jeff Fisher made a bold trade to go after Austin and finally gave Sam Bradford a big-play option in the passing game. A few years ago, a 5'7" receiver going in the top 10 might have been impossible, but with Austin's multidimensional skill set as a receiver and special teams contributor, the Rams made the right choice to trade up.

Jets No. 9 pick - CB Dee Milliner (Alabama)

For the Jets, they swapped a recovering Darrelle Revis for Dee Milliner and a first-round pick. Milliner, who caused a lot of ruckus in days leading up to the draft due to previous injuries, is a cover corner that could have his very own island in a couple years.

If Revis has a hard time in Tampa Bay and Milliner stays healthy, the Jets new general manager John Idzik may look like a genius when all is said and done.

Titans No. 10 pick - OG Chance Warmack (Alabama)

For those counting, that's two Alabama prospects drafted in the top 10. What is Nick Saban feeding these guys? Chance Warmack is the "other" big guard in the draft and if I'm Chris Johnson, I'm celebrating (big time) after the selection of Warmack. Crimson Tide stars like Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram may get all of the fame and glory, but the ridiculously consistent play of Warmack is one of the main reasons they were so dominant.

I love the pick, but the selection of Warmack adds another dominant offensive linemen to the AFC South that the Colts will have to deal with. Boooooo.

#	Round 1 - Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	Kansas City Chiefs	Eric Fisher	OT	Central Michigan
2	Jacksonville Jaguars	Luke Joeckel	OT	Texas A&M
3	Miami Dolphins (from OAK)	Dion Jordan	DE	Oregon
4	Philadelphia Eagles	Lane Johnson	OT	Oklahoma
5	Detroit Lions	Ziggy Ansah	DE	BYU
6	Cleveland Browns	Barkevious Mingo	DE	LSU
7	Arizona Cardinals	Jonathon Cooper	OG	North Carolina
8	St. Louis Rams (from BUF)	Tavon Austin	WR	WVU
9	New York Jets	Dee Milliner	CB	Alabama
10	Tennessee Titans	Chance Warmack	OG	Alabama
11	San Diego Chargers
12	Oakland Raiders (from MIA)
13	New York Jets (from TB)
14	Carolina Panthers
15	New Orleans Saints
16	Buffalo Bills (from STL)
17	Pittsburgh Steelers
18	Dallas Cowboys
19	New York Giants
20	Chicago Bears
21	Cincinnati Bengals
22	St. Louis Rams (from WAS)
23	Minnesota Vikings
24	Indianapolis Colts
25	Minnesota Vikings (from SEA)
26	Green Bay Packers
27	Houston Texans
28	Denver Broncos
29	New England Patriots
30	Atlanta Falcons
31	San Francisco 49ers
32	Baltimore Ravens

2013 NFL Draft: Jaguars, Dolphins, Eagles And Lions Select...

Stew Blake — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:25:30 -0000

Jaguars No. 2 pick - OT Luke Joeckel (Texas A&M)

Luke Joeckel has been the popular choice to go No. 1 overall for months, but Fisher's recent rise on many boards around the country posed a threat. The Chiefs were reportedly leaning towards Fisher and apparently those reports were right.

Joeckel is certainly more safe than Fisher. He's a finesse tackle, fundamentally sound, and can immediately be plugged in to any offense and thrive. In Joeckel's senior year, he was a first-team All-American and received first-team All-SEC honors. Joeckel may not be the athletic specimen that is Fisher or Lane Johnson, but he's a home run selection for the Jaguars who need talent all over the place.

The real problem for Jacksonville is whether they will ever be able to find a quarterback that Joeckel can actually feel proud about protecting.

Dolphins No. 3 pick (from OAK) - DE Dion Jordan (Oregon)

Dolphins are going all-in for 2013 and they don't mind surprising anyone on draft night. Instead of taking Lane Johnson, arguably the best player available, they switched gears and selected Dion Jordan of Oregon. The Dolphins were sniffing the pass rusher market this year, but this pick is a little puzzling.

Jordan is a big, big guy who originally arrived at Oregon as a top-10 nationally rated tight end prospect. Oregon thought Jordan would be better suited as a speed rusher, and they were right. Jordan racked up 5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss in 2012.

Chip Kelly probably wanted Jordan, but you better believe he'll be happy with a superhuman tackle like Lane Johnson to utilize in his extremely fast-paced offense.

Eagles No. 4 pick - OT Lane Johnson (Oklahoma)

Lane Johnson is a freak. There's really no other way to put it. This is a 303 lb tackle who put up a 4.7 40, 36" vertical jump (better than AJ Green's 34.5" vertical, mind you) and a 4.52 shuttle at the Combine. The Eagles were reportedly fascinated by Johnson and showed more interest in him than any other team.

Hmm... I wonder why? Five years from now, Johnson may very well be the best tackle prospect to come out of this draft.

Take that, Miami.

Lions No. 5 pick - DE Ziggy Ansah (BYU)

Ansah is a project player, but he has the talent to be one of the most disruptive players in the league with some coaching. He has a lot of work to do, but the pass rushing potential is there and that's why the Lions took him at No. 5.

Ansah has a tremendous work ethic and he has had no problem adjusting his body to fit specific roles that coaches have asked him to play. Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham has to be grinning ear to ear after this selection.

#	Round 1 - Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	Kansas City Chiefs	Eric Fisher	OT	Central Michigan
2	Jacksonville Jaguars	Luke Joeckel	OT	Texas A&M
3	Miami Dolphins (from OAK)	Dion Jordan	DE	Oregon
4	Philadelphia Eagles	Lane Johnson	OT	Oklahoma
5	Detroit Lions	Ziggy Ansah	DE	BYU
6	Cleveland Browns
7	Arizona Cardinals
8	Buffalo Bills
9	New York Jets
10	Tennessee Titans
11	San Diego Chargers
12	Oakland Raiders (from MIA)
13	New York Jets (from TB)
14	Carolina Panthers
15	New Orleans Saints
16	St. Louis Rams
17	Pittsburgh Steelers
18	Dallas Cowboys
19	New York Giants
20	Chicago Bears
21	Cincinnati Bengals
22	St. Louis Rams (from WAS)
23	Minnesota Vikings
24	Indianapolis Colts
25	Minnesota Vikings (from SEA)
26	Green Bay Packers
27	Houston Texans
28	Denver Broncos
29	New England Patriots
30	Atlanta Falcons
31	San Francisco 49ers
32	Baltimore Ravens

Andrew Luck Needs Your Help To Be The Face Of Madden 25

Stew Blake — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:57:24 -0000

Starting in 2011, the powers that be at EA Sports started a new trend - they let the fans decide who would grace the cover of Madden. Well, cover voting for the horribly named Madden 25 has already commenced and unsurprisingly, Andrew Luck is in the tournament. Whether you play Madden or not (I do), it would be absolutely amazing if we could get a low-key, hard-working guy like Luck on the cover for 2013.

I'm sure someone like Adrian Peterson, Robert Griffin III, or Russell Wilson will win, because, well, they're flashier names and are also very good. But with the help of the Stampede Blue legion, I think we could give Luck a legitimate shot to win the cover title.

And no, there is no such thing as a "Madden curse." If you don't believe me, go ask Calvin Johnson and his new all-time receiving yards record.

Luck (#2 seed) went against Jake Locker in the opening round and crushed him with 89% of the vote. The second round won't be so easy, though. Luck is facing off against Clay Matthews and the Green Bay fan favorite will have many loyal Cheeseheads backing him.

So stop reading, click this link and go vote before the round ends on March 27.

Pretty please?

Andrew Luck To Victor Cruz?

Stew Blake — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 05:23:36 -0000

We're heading into the wee hours of Sunday morning, but if you're still hanging on, you might want to hang on a little longer. The Colts are apparently banging out a deal in the war room that could have Colts fans drooling.

Or salsa-ing.

Over the last few hours, Jim Irsay has been dropping some juicy tweets about the Colts' plans.

ColtFans,we already past the cap cash wise/ we're workin on a deal,1 we've been workin on for 5 days/ we're very,very close 2 making it work
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) March 17, 2013

In Arizona,but the phone lines burning up...we want to win so damn bad our toes ache and our brains are gurgling!!!!!!!
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) March 17, 2013

The fact that these negotations have endured over a five day period, according to Irsay, tells me that the Colts are looking to make a splash move. However, Irsay's ability to, let's just say, exaggerate the impact of his team's deals has been fairly obvious over the last few days.

We were supposed to be "elated" by the Ricky Jean-Francois signing. Before Gosder Cherilus, Greg Toler and Erik Walden agreed to terms, Irsay called them "big announcements" with a whole lot of exclamation points.

I'm not going to complain, though. What other owners are this expressive and in touch with their fans?

Shortly after Irsay's initial tweets of "phone lines burning up" and five day negotiations, speculation about Victor Cruz in a Colts uniform started blowing up the Interwebz.

Irsay then dropped this tweet to verify that the target, Cruz or not, was indeed a wide receiver.

Colt Fans,hint------ it's a Wide Receiver!!
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) March 17, 2013

Of course, this lead to a bit of a guessing game on Twitter with just about everyone throwing their guess into the ring. Doug Baldwin, formerly of Stanford, was picked out of the guess hat, along with Davone Bess. Baldwin makes sense because of his connection with Luck and new Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, but he's hardly a "wopper."

Everyone stand buy,pour strong drink...do ur voodoo,Colts need the strength of it's nation to get this wopper in the boat! DO U UNDERSTAND!?
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) March 17, 2013

And if the Colts have been working to secure a deal to bring Doug Baldwin to Indianapolis for five days, I'd be, uhm, a little depressed. The same can be said for Bess.

The biggest question mark surrounding a deal for Cruz is the Colts' ability, or inability, to afford the receiver. Cruz is obviously looking to cash in, and with the Colts free agency spending spree, there may be some concerns about the remaining cap space to secure Eli Manning's favorite target.

That said, Irsay did mention the Colts being "past the cap cash wise," so obviously they're trying to move pieces around to find some room to make the deal happen. Finding cap space (Colts should have roughly $10 million left) for a game-changer like Cruz certainly makes more sense than spending cash on Baldwin or Bess.

Cruz is also absolutely worth the Colts' No. 24 pick, but it's possible the financials ($8-10 million a year) could be enough to kill the deal.

That, or maybe Irsay's tweet fest. As of now, Irsay's last tweet—a Big Lebowski reference, of course—came over an hour ago.

Stay tuned, folks. We could be doing the salsa before the night is over, and it looks like Pat McAfee would be up for joining us.

I'll tell you what..IF it is Cruz..He's gonna have some competition for best dance moves on the team..These feet are undefeated in danceoffs
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 17, 2013

UPDATE (6:35 AM)

If the Colts are/were preparing a deal to land Cruz, ESPN's Adam Schefter hasn't caught wind of it.

RT @infantal2132: Any update with Giants and Victor Cruz? ... Patience, NY. Don't see a team out there willing to sign him to offer sheet.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2013

It's worth noting that the Colts supposed plan has gone undetected to league insiders for five days. Maybe Ryan Grigson and crew are just that stealth, or maybe the player is that low profile.

2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Kenjon Barner - RB, Oregon

Stew Blake — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:00:11 -0000

Kenjon Barner has always been a exciting prospect to me. He's one of those talents that can work in so many different ways. He is capable of serving as a featured back, a special teams champion and/or a legitimate pass-catching threat out of the backfield. Oregon's system under Chip Kelly thrived due to their impressive speed and diversity in the backfield, and Barner is a testament to that.

As a junior, Barner was featured in a trio of De'Anthony Thomas and 49er LaMichael James. Barner was a back-up, but he still managed to put up 993 yards and 11 touchdowns. After James left, one would think that Barner would slow down with more of the load to carry, right? Wrong. As the feature back in 2012, Barner racked up 1,767 yards and 23 touchdowns (6.4 yards per carry).

Now you can understand why a guy like Barner excites me.

For years, I've envisioned a back that could come to Indianapolis and play with the same diversity that made Darren Sproles, well, Darren Sproles. I can live with the Colts backfield of Vick Ballard, Donald Brown and Delone Carter in 2013, but if a guy like Barner is available in the fourth round, or dare I say it, the sixth round, how do you not legitimately think about taking him?

The Colts may have greater concerns, but Ryan Grigson is a big fan of taking the best player available. Why reach to fill a need?

Barner underwhelmed at the Combine with a 4.52 40, but rebounded during his Pro Day with a 4.38. You don't need a 40 time to see how explosive and quick Barner can be, though. His size is a concern, and it could ultimately be what causes him to slide in April, but I think his oozing talent will cause teams to overlook any physical doubts.

Barner is by no means an inside runner. His lower body does not possess the strength to power through the middle of defenses at the next level, and he can sometimes cost himself yards by cutting outside too quickly, instead of following open lanes. Another concern is pass protection, which he knows he has to improve. Small backs need to make up for their size with polished technique, and Barner must become more efficient in protection.

There's also a notion that Barner was purely a product of Chip Kelly's offensive system. I don't buy into that, though. Talent is talent. There's no reason to think that he can find the right system in the NFL. Who knows? Maybe that system will be in Indianapolis.

Pep Hamilton will put more emphasis on the run in 2013, so whether it's Barner that intrigues him, or someone like Stepfan Taylor, it wouldn't be a shock if the Colts select a back in the later rounds.

Scouting Profile via CBSSports:

STRENGTHS: Shifty runner with the stop-start-go ability to shake defenders in tight quarters and break free for long gains. Possesses excellent straight-line speed and is a threat to score every time he has the ball in his hands. Quick to the hole and shows very good vision to set up his blocks at the first level and downfield. Natural runner who can lull defenders to sleep by changing his gait and then exploding past them to ruin pursuit angles.

Reliable hands as a receiver out of the backfield and as a returner. Experience returning punts and kicks (has returned one of each for a touchdown) and has the vision and running skills to remain in this role at the NFL level.

WEAKNESSES: A finesse runner who only occasionally is able to break free from tackles and generate extra yardage after contact. Relies on cut-blocks rather than taking on pass rushers directly. Has struggled with fumbles over his career, especially when fielding punts and kickoffs.

COMPARES TO: Joe McKnight, RB, New York Jets -- Like McKnight, Barner possesses undeniable athleticism that has resulted in impressive statistics and plenty of highlight reel plays over his career. Each may lack the toughness and physicality, however, to ever serve as more than part of a rotation and special teamer in the NFL.

Height	Weight	40 Time	Bench	Broad Jump	Vertical	3 Cone Drill	20 Yd. Shuttle
5'9"	196	4.52	20	122"	35.5"*	6.87*	4.20

* indicates top performer

2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: John Simon - DE, Ohio State

Stew Blake — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:44:03 -0000

As a huge Buckeyes fan, I've had the pleasure of watching a lot of John Simon over the last few years, and fortunately for the workout warrior Simon, he is one of the top defensive line prospects in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Simon is an incredibly versatile defender, putting in time as a defensive tackle and defensive end. In his junior year, Simon arguably had his best year, finishing the season with seven sacks (16 for loss, which lead the team) and 53 tackles. Simon then followed up his outstanding junior effort with another stellar year - Simon racked up nine sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble as a senior. This was good enough to earn Simon his second selection to the All-Big Ten first team.

In Buckeye land, Simon is seen as a hard working, blue-collar athlete that has the will and confidence to succeed. Teams will be turned off by his size, but will certainly be intrigued by his work ethic and leadership skills (two-time captain).

With his size concerns, I could see Simon making a permanent move to 3-4 outside linebacker. Coverage could be a problem for Simon, but he makes up for it with his strong fundamentals (great use of hands) and willingness to hit the weight room, and hit it hard.

Simon is somewhat polished, but he's not perfect.

One of strongest criticisms of Simon is his difficulty to get off of blocks. He lacks elite burst, and might be better suited if he dropped some weight to help add some quickness.

Simon did not do work out at the Combine or at Ohio State's Pro Day on Mar. 11 due to a lingering shoulder injury. He will, however, be participating in his own workout on Mar. 25.

The Colts signed OLB Erik Walden to a confusing, 4 year, $16 million deal, but they should still be looking to add a play maker that can rush the edge. If Simon doesn't go in the first round and somehow slips to the third, the Colts could definitely be in play.

That said, I would be astonished if Simon makes it out of the second round.

Scouting Profile via CBSSports:

STRENGTHS: Simon has a motor that never quits, playing extremely relentless as one of the best attacking defenders in college football the past few years. He has a strong upper body to swat and use his limbs to beat blocks with the natural power and forceful playing style to keep blockers off balance and shed.

WEAKNESSES: Simon is almost too bulked up, which limits his fluidity, and he lacks ideal arm length, making it tough for him to disengage at times. He is more of a one-speed rusher and doesn't flash consistent explosion, lacking creativity as an edge rusher. Struggled to cover running backs or tight ends in one-on-one coverage at the Senior Bowl, lacking the natural hip movement or footwork to quickly adjust and blanket his man.

COMPARES TO: Allen Bailey, DE, Kansas City Chiefs - It's tough to find an exact comparison for Simon, but Bailey comes close with their muscular frames, quick feet and relentless attitude. Simon isn't as big as Bailey (285 pounds), but he's just as strong.

Ray Lewis' Legacy, As A Man, Still Faces Tough Questions

Stew Blake — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 05:19:47 -0000

With a new Super Bowl champion crowned and the 2013 off-season already in full swing, one of the game's most notable warriors — a warrior that has a lot of history in games against the Indianapolis Colts — is riding off into the sunset.

But not without a trail of mystery, tragedy and sorrow at his heels.

That warrior, is Ray Lewis. His legacy as a one of football's greatest talents ever is ending, but his journey as a regular human being has resumed.

During the next stage of his life, Lewis won’t be celebrating anymore wins on Sunday with his teammates. Lewis, instead, will be taking a shot at life behind the cameras. He'll still be a star, but he will also have a great deal of time to think about the haunting images of two men that were murdered in 2000.

It has been thirteen years, but the answer to what happened on that fateful January night is no closer to being disclosed. If anyone knows what happened, it's still, well, Ray Lewis.

On the field, Lewis was an animal — a rare breed of athlete that ended his illustrious playing career with yet another Super Bowl ring. No one can question Ray Lewis, the player. That’s unarguable.

However, questioning Ray Lewis, the man, is a different story.

After the Ravens thrilling victory over the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, Lewis was ready to provide one of the biggest media venues of the year with his larger than life personality. He was a champion, again, and it was time to let the world know how great ~~God~~ he felt about it. There’s nothing wrong with that, either. But when would questions about 2000 come? You just knew someone was going to ask about it, but I don't think anyone expected it would come from his ex-teammate, now CBS analyst, Shannon Sharpe.

In an awkward moment, Sharpe started his friendly exchange by teetering around the real question Lewis should have been asked: What happened during that night in Atlanta? But to Sharpe’s "credit," he still posed a question to Lewis, softly or not.

"What would you like to say to the families?" Sharpe asked.

Those families, would be the ones of the two men who were murdered after the 2000 Super Bowl — the families of Jacinth Baker and Richard Loller.

Lewis’ answer? The usual. "God has never made a mistake."

No answers. No acknowledgement of Baker or Loller. Nothing.

(via ProFootballTalk.com)

"It’s simple, you know," Lewis said. "God has never made a mistake. That’s just who He is, you see? And if our system — this is the sad thing about our system — if our system took the time to really investigate what happened 13 years ago, maybe they would have got to the bottom-line truth. But the saddest thing ever was that a man looked me in my face and told me, ‘We know you didn’t do this, but you’re going down for it anyway.’"

As Mike Florio pointed out over at PFT, "the saddest thing" about Lewis’ response is the fact that he makes no such mention of the two deaths that changed the lives, forever, of two innocent families.

If anything, he deferred the blame in the best way he could think of — by using the "I’m a celebrity and the police were targeting me" excuse.

After Lewis' skated around the question, he then went on to arrogantly insinuate that the grief-stricken families of Baker and Loller don’t know God as well as he does [emphasis mine].

"To the family, if you knew — if you really knew — the way God works, He don’t use people who commits anything like that for His glory," Lewis said. "No way. It’s the total opposite."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he just say that God wouldn’t have given him his incredible football skills, stacks of cash, trips to the Pro Bowl and two Super Bowl rings if he was a murderer?

Has Ray Lewis ever heard of Joe Paterno?

You know, the winningest coach in college football history? Oh, but some of those wins, however, came at a time in which he stood by and allowed Jerry Sandusky to brutally abuse young boys for what must have seemed like eternity for the victims. Paterno and company tried to cover up the heinous crimes in the name of football, and were successful for many years, but there were just too many victims.

Certainly more than two.

But how did JoePa enjoy so much success while committing such an unspeakable sin, Ray? That's strange.

Throughout the years that Lewis has graced the NFL with his presence on the gridiron, I have been a defender of his right to innocence. The man, as you all know, was never convicted of murder. He's not a murderer, and whether or not he had a hand in the death of two men, is pure speculation.

However, that doesn't mean we should just forget about that night in Atlanta because he was a really, really good football player. The families of Baker and Loller certainly haven't forgotten. They can't forget, though. No amount of money in the world could ever make them forget.

So what could Lewis do?

Does he have information that could give the families some sort of comfort and peace? I firmly believe he does, but he's made no attempt at doing so. Did he offer up phony testimony to save his self and "lose" his white suit in the aftermath of the murders? It sure looks that way. Did he pay for the families silence in the form of two lawsuits, which were settled in 2004? Yes. Was the blood of Baker found in his limousine? Yes.

If I may borrow a few words from Drew Brees, I demand an explanation.

Forget about me, though. What about the families of Baker and Loller? Any information Lewis could provide would certainly be worth much more than any "support money" he was forced to pay to them in 2004. If he’s the great human being and an undisputed man of God that he paints himself to be, why not do the right thing and just...talk?

Until Lewis comes clean, the questions will linger for the rest of his life, as they should. His illustrious career, in many ways, has been tainted. And when his bust is placed in Canton and he’s sitting down for an interview on NFL Network, there will undoubtedly be someone that asks the question that’s on everyone’s mind.

The real question, however, is whether Ray Lewis will ever answer with something more than a mention of God? I don’t think he will.

The War Room: What's Next For The Colts At Running Back?

Stew Blake — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:04:33 -0000

Well, the 2012 NFL season is in the books and with the 2013 NFL Draft and Combine fast-approaching, Stampede Blue will be ramping up our offseason coverage for you: our lovely readers!

To help you with your football withdrawal over the next few months, we will be providing you with a vast look at what we think could be in the plans for the Indianapolis Colts this offseason. Our goal, as always, is to provide you with the best possible analysis on your favorite team.

We aim high, don’t we?

So without further ado, I'd like to introduce The War Room—a new feature that will provide discussions about what may or may not be in the Colts game plan when the 2013 NFL Draft comes to town.

Versatility at running back is a must.

With the introduction of the Pep Hamilton offensive system, the Colts are in for a makeover that has a lot of fans groaning. Selfishly, I had hoped that Bruce Arians would choose coaching a stud like Andrew Luck over, let’s say, a team with no clear path to a franchise quarterback, a tightfisted owner and a totally new staff.

Unfortunately for the Colts, Arians took off to Arizona with his big play offense in tow. But who can blame him? He’s 60 years old and what coordinator wouldn’t foam at the mouth for a chance to lead an NFL team?

But with Arians moving on, Hamilton was quickly and smartly brought in to work with Luck. Forget about the establishment of Arians’ deep attack offense, though. With Hamilton, you’re going to get a lot of power football featuring two tight end sets and quick, short passes. This means better statistics for Luck, less throws, and hopefully big years for Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen.

Just think about what Greg Roman did out in San Francisco with Alex Smith—the Colts will be taking on a very similar form of offense. It’d be crazy to think that Hamilton won’t utilize a fullback, like Ryan Grigson had originally envisioned for the Colts when he first came aboard.

So what does Hamilton mean for the running back position?

Well, Vick Ballard has emerged as workhorse back and an impressive one at that, yet it's hard to consider any of the other backs on the Colts depth chart as reliable options for Hamilton's system. Donald Brown is coming off a year plagued by injury. Delone Carter is a physical back like Ballard, but far from dependable. Behind Carter, Indy's backfield is… Deji Karim?

Adding a running back (or two) will be vital for Indy's offensive transformation.

Unless the Colts are interested in the likes of free agents Reggie Bush or Danny Woodhead, they should be looking for a young, speedy back to compliment Ballard’s power running style in April.

Envision a combination of backs, again, much like what San Francisco has built with Frank Gore, LaMichael James and Kendall Hunter.

The Colts unarguably have more glaring needs to address, but finding a back to work with Ballard in the later rounds of the draft just makes sense.

This draft features a nice portion of potentially elite pass rushers and offensive linemen, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the Colts ended up targeting these holes in a 1-2 order. However, round three could always sway towards a cornerback or safety, but there are a few different directions they can go in depending on their free agent strategies.

If we look to the draft, here’s a quick rundown of two backs that I consider to be possible Colt material:

Andre Ellington, Clemson

Ellington is a back that could go as early as the second round or as late as the fourth. It’s too early to put a reasonable tag on his draft position, but if he slips to the third round, he may be worth at least a look.

He’s a very light runner with vision that slightly reminds me of Joseph Addai. He doesn’t show hesitation when hitting the hole, unlike Delone Carter, and he’s a burner that can reach up to 4.39 speeds. I've watched a lot of film of Ellington and he has the potential to be the best back in this draft.

Could the Colts get lucky and snag him in the third? Maybe.

Kenjon Barner, Oregon

I really like Barner, too. He comes from a high-octane, versatile passing attack, which certainly isn't a turnoff. He's undersized and lacks physicality, but this is why he could fall and be a late-round sleeper pick for the Colts.

His stats were solid as a junior back-up to LaMichael James, and his numbers as a starter in his senior year were beyond eye-popping—1,767 yards, 6.7 average and 23 touchdowns. He’s exceptional in the receiving game and he is not afraid to contribute on special teams. This guy is the definition of a playmaker.

There are a lot of questions about Barner’s success, and whether it should be credited to the innovation of Chip Kelly, but it’s not like his athleticism is a gimmick. He's incredibly explosive and is a threat whenever he has the ball.

But can he pick up the blitz? Can he block? These are fair questions and it's obvious that those skills of a back aren't tested enough in the Kelly offense. The NFL is the NFL and Barner will have to prove he can pass protect. One can only hope that Barner could transfer his highlight-filled collegiate career to the next level as a Colt for the price of a fifth round pick.

Opinions on where the Colts should head will be plentiful in the coming weeks, but that’s the joy of the offseason, right? Decisions, decisions, and more decisions!

Either way, the Colts will need to take a hard look at the team’s running back development for 2013 and beyond.

AFC Wild Card Sneak Peek: Young Colts, Bengals Looking for Signature Playoff Win

Stew Blake — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 06:27:03 -0000

As Andrew Siciliano pointed out on Twitter, a year ago today, Adrian Peterson couldn't walk, Peyton Manning couldn't throw, and the Colts finished the season 2-14 to secure the #1 pick in the 2012 Draft.

What a difference a year makes...

As the 2012 season came to a close on Sunday, we saw the return of superstars to MVP form, record-breaking moment after record-breaking moment, goat-wrangling, dog-riding monkeys, and much more. Yet, the emergence of a new generation of superstars has arguably been the biggest story of 2012.

Andrew Luck racked up seven game-winning drives, bringing the Manning-less Colts to an 11-5 record. Robert Griffin III and the Redskins won their first NFC East title in over a decade, while energizing a fanbase that hasn't had much to be happy about in years. Russell Wilson, a guy that was labeled as too short, led the Seahawks to an 11-5 record, while tying Peyton Manning’s rookie touchdown record.

Yes, it’s quite apparent that we’re seeing the future of this amazing league, right now.

But now, the real fun begins: the postseason.

And this is where we will see what these new stars are really made of. Winning games as a rookie during the regular season is impressive, but now, that means nothing. Everyone is a simple 0-0. Win or go home and watch.

To get the road to the Super Bowl started, in the AFC, the Colts will travel to the Baltimore and the Bengals will travel to Houston in a re-match from last year.

The winners will meet the New England Patriots or Denver Broncos.

Indianapolis (#5) at Baltimore (#4)

The Chuck Pagano factor

The CHUCKSTRONG train keeps on chugging, but one has to wonder, is this the week it gets derailed?

The Colts really can’t keep this up, can they?

As if the Colts 2012 storyline needed any more fuel, Chuck Pagano, in his first playoff game as a head coach, will return to Baltimore to try to knock his former team out of the playoffs.

If anyone knows this Ravens' defense, it’s their former coordinator. I expect Pagano’s familiarity with Baltimore’s scheme to be a huge factor in this game, yet if we look past Pagano's contributions, schematically, it's evident that CHUCKSTRONG has been the real x-factor for the 2012 Colts.

Playoff games are a completely different atmosphere, and the Colts will be going into battle for a man who's passion and spirit has been the driving force of their already miraculous season. I know you hear it every week, but this cannot be overlooked as a real advantage for the Colts.

Does inexperience and momentum really matter?

These Colts are young and hungry, but they're also inexperienced and have consistently struggled to find their identity on the road.

In a juggernaut of a moment for the franchise, it will be the first playoff game post-Peyton Manning era, and while I’m confident that the Colts can upset the Ravens, traveling to a hostile environment with 28 players who have never experienced the playoff atmosphere is a legitimate concern.

Andrew Luck has played in big games, but this will be the biggest of his flourishing career. Will he rise to the challenge, as he has already done so many times this year?

John Harbaugh gave his wily ole veterans some much-needed time for recuperation, but they face the threat of the "momentum factor." Will the rest actually help, or will it set a struggling Ravens teams back even further?

If momentum is real, I'm afraid it belongs to the red-hot Colts. They arguably played their most complete game of the season against Houston on Sunday, and this is a prime example of why you don't rest your starters in a game like that.

All in all, all of these other factors won't matter if the Colts offensive line can't contain the Baltimore's pass rush. Also, you can't forget about Bruce Arians tendency to revert to the pass-or-nothing play calling, either.

Ray Rice needs more pigskin

Ray Rice is a monster. Just ask the Chargers.

He should always be the key to the Ravens game plan, but he’s been consistently underutilized (257 touches), which is ultimately one of the main reasons Cam Cameron was cut loose. If I’m the Ravens, I’m going to keep Andrew Luck on the bench and make the Colts stop the man from Rutgers 25+ times. Period.

The Colts managed to keep Arian Foster in check, at least until the latter part of the second half, but the Colts are easily one of the league's worst at stopping the run. As for the secondary, Vontae Davis was abused by Andre Johnson all day long. Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin may not be on the level of Johnson, but does it really matter against this secondary?

Sure, Davis had two picks, but did you see those throws from Schaub? I'll talk about that soon, but yikes. Yes, the secondary is a liability, but what’s the point of letting Flacco get cute when you have Ray Rice?

My advice to former Colts head coach Jim Caldwell: Run, run, run, play action, run, run, run. Keep the Colts offense idle on the sidelines and resist all urges to quickly unleash the Flacco.

Cincinnati (#6) at Houston (#3)

Taking down big brother to clinch was big for Cincinnati

In Week 16, a young Bengals squad finally overcame their big brother, the Pittsburgh Steelers, clinching their second straight postseason berth and sending the big, bad boys of the black and gold home.

The Bengals had lost five straight to the Steelers.

I was skeptical of this Bengals team, not because of talent, but because they always found a way to lose games they should be winning. They also could not consistently beat quality teams, but it appears the culture is changing in Cincinnati. After going on a four-game skid, which included losses to the Browns and Dolphins, the Bengals beat the defending World Champion Giants and won seven of eight to close out the regular season.

They're winning, and winning consistently.

"Happy learned how to putt. Uh-oh."

The Texans are back in the playoffs, but they're sleepwalking

This year, the tables are turned. The Texans are backing into the postseason, yet again, losing three of their last four games, and looking like one of the least impressive teams in the playoff field. I’ve heard all year about how complete the Texans are, yet over the last six weeks, they have been anything but. Week 11 is when you started to see the preseason Super Bowl favorites essentially unravel.

This is a team that Chad Henne carved up, but the Texans slipped away with a win in overtime, and would do the same in Detroit on Thanksgiving. Luckily for the Texans, Jim Schwartz gave the game away with the controversial challenge flag penalty.

To make matters worse, Matt Schaub's inability to show up in big games has been a major thorn in the Texans' side. In the game that Andre Johnson called the most important in franchise history, Schaub posted a 68.8 rating and watched the Patriots humiliate his team on national television, 42-14. In other prime time games, Schaub has posted ratings of 71.9 (vs. Jets), 56.6 (vs. Packers) and 43.0 (vs. Bears).

Maybe the Texans should try telling Schaub that no one's watching because of a major blackout.

I still expect the Texans to wake up just in time for a win over the Bengals, but winning the Super Bowl? Not while Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are in the AFC.

Bengals defense deserves more respect

The Steelers and Ravens are known as the defensive giants of the AFC North, but the Bengals are quickly developing into the best unit in the division.

You won't hear that, though, at least not regularly, because they're the Bengals. I kind of get it, considering this team hasn't won a playoff game since 1990, but if Geno Atkins was playing in New York, he'd be on the tip of every analyst and commentator's tongue. This guy has had some absolutely dominating performances this year.

I actually like this Bengals team a lot, and no, it's not because I live 45 minutes from Cincinnati. Mike Zimmer was a name floating around Indianapolis after Jim Caldwell was fired, and for good reason. The Bengals are a top ten defense for the second straight season, lead by an absolutely brilliant year from the rising star Atkins. This is a mean front seven, which also features the likes of Michael Johnson and Vontaze Burfict, who, like Janoris Jenkins, was labeled as not worth the off-field trouble.

So much for that, eh?

The looming battle between Burfict and Foster is one of the more exciting elements to this match-up. If Burfict and crew can keep Foster in check, forcing Matt Schaub to throw could be the gold that Cincinnati needs to win their first playoff game in over 20 years.

"Chuckstrong" Only Grows In Importance With Chuck Pagano's Return

Stew Blake — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 21:34:47 -0000

As you've probably heard, Colts coach Chuck Pagano, who has battled with leukemia over the last several months, has been cleared to return to his regular duties as head coach.

I keep saying this, but life really can't get much better for Indianapolis Colts fans, can it?

The Colts are 9-5, one win away from a playoff berth, and now their seemingly indestructible leader will officially be back on Monday to hopefully lead them into the playoffs.

Wow.

If my team were to clinch a playoff spot in the AFC, a Colts team fighting for their head coach that just returned would be the last squad I would want to face on Wild Card weekend. No, seriously.

When Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia on Sept. 26, the world in Indianapolis seemed to stop. In a city driven by Sunday fever, football became just an afterthought in the hours following the news. All of the optimism that the Andrew Luck era brought seemed to go right out the window.

But that wasn't the case. In this strange, yet inspiring world, every time we are faced with a gut-wrenching challenge in life, the most simplistic and trivial things seem to bring out the absolute best in the situation.

And in Indy, it was no different.

A football team... no, a family, rallied in the honor of their ailing head coach, and the city was right there with them. There were "Chuckstrong" bracelets, banners and Twitter hash tags, shaved heads, inspirational locker room speeches, unbelievable comebacks that came down to the final seconds, and so much more.

"Chuckstrong" was no longer just a hopeful slogan, but something for Indianapolis to live by.

It all started with the Colts amazing, come-from-behind victory over the Green Bay Packers. The day was already kind of special with former Colts center Jeff Saturday returning to his place of business for 11 years, and even though there was hope of a win, no one expected what would follow.

After 11 games without Pagano, the Colts posted an 8-3 record and found themselves in firm control of a playoff spot. Out of those eight wins, six came in the form of game-winning drives orchestrated by a rookie quarterback.

The Colts were the absolute definition of a Cinderella story.

In what seemed like every Sunday, the team would start off slow, putting themselves in position for an all-but-guaranteed loss, but then they would somehow claw their way out of the hole they had dug so deep. It happened over and over.

This team simply did not know how to quit, and if anyone taught them such perseverance, it was Chuck Pagano.

Some think he's rushing back, but unless you're the man or his doctor, you can't make such a judgment. It's only natural for someone to want to return to the normalcy of their life after something like this, but I trust that Pagano is making the decision based on what he believes is best for his health, along with the obvious guidance of his doctor, Larry Cripe.

I know Cripe can't put Pagano on medical house arrest, but if the doc says Pagano is ready to return, I believe he's ready to return.

And when Pagano finally makes his way to the sidelines for the Colts' regular season closer against the Texans, the slogan "Chuckstrong" will have never been more important.

Andrew Luck Could (Should) Be Headed to Honolulu

Stew Blake — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 03:19:13 -0000

Every year, fans cast their votes for their favorite players from around the league, often thinking with their heart instead of their head. However, despite the obvious "homerism" that takes place in the fan portion of Pro Bowl voting, the fans can get it right.

With three weeks left in the regular season and fan voting soon coming to a close, the destiny of Pro Bowl hopefuls will fall in the hands of their NFL colleagues.

From day one, Robert Griffin III has been the more popular and "sexy" choice for NFL fans. He's got that "swagger" (can't believe I just said that), and it shines through in the form of ridiculous jersey sales, Subway commercials, big plays and somewhat weird Redskins fans shouting, "HAIL TO RG3!"

Don't hurt me, Hogettes.

So it's no surprise that Pro Bowl voting appears to be following its usual trend of popularity first, as RG3 continues to be incredibly well-liked, but also, well, pretty good at football.

Out of every Pro Bowl candidate receiving votes, RG3 has managed to get the eighth-most votes. That's kind of impressive considering he's a rookie on a 7-6 team, but then you remember that it's the Pro Bowl.

As for the top vote-getter, you probably already guessed it. Yup, it's Colts legend Peyton Manning. No surprise there. Coming in at second? Yup, it's Colts nemesis Tom Brady. No surprise there, either.

But at third among AFC quarterbacks, the fans are clinging to some dude named Andy Luck who has received 318,128 votes. I think he plays quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts and has led six fourth-quarter comebacks, but I'm not sure.

If the fan vote is any hint to the NFL's perception of these two incredible rookies, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will be heading to Honolulu when all is said and done, and rightfully so.

So, if you haven't already, fill out a few Pro Bowl ballots for Luck and don't forget about Mr. Reggie Wayne or Jerrell Freeman, either. They've earned it.

Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano Completes Chemotherapy, May Return For Week 17

Stew Blake — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 04:22:57 -0000

Prepare yourselves, Colts fans: Chuck Pagano could be making his way back to the sidelines for Week 17 and yes, the playoffs.

*Knocks on wood 1,000 times*

Life is good for Colts fans. Damn good.

Pagano has completed another crucial step in his battle with cancer, a disease that appears to be no match for a man overflowing with perseverance and an unrivaled passion for life. On Tuesday, Pagano completed his third and final round of chemotherapy, and as previously thought, it's "very possible" that he will be coaching the Colts when the Texans come to town on Dec. 30.

If that doesn't get you fired up, you might want to check for a pulse.

It's far from a done deal, but according to Pagano’s physician, Dr. Larry Cripe, Pagano is making significant strides towards returning to his passion before the season's end.

"Medically, I think it's very possible and I think the coach will make the decision about how he's feeling and whether he's up to the task," Cripe said. "Then, the organization will make a decision."

Pagano’s quest for an early return will rely on conditioning and more rehabilitation over the next few weeks.

For a team that has been struggling to find a stable identity on defense, this could be huge. The return of Pagano will not only lift the spirits of this already driven Colts team even higher, but Pagano's game-planning could be exactly what the team has been lacking in their struggle to build a competitive defense that can withstand a playoff run.

As of Week 13, the Colts defense is 24th in both total points allowed and points per game. Thanks a lot, Belichick.

Without making this article into defensive bash-a-thon, I just think it’s important to note the impact of Pagano on this team, schematically. We all know he has been the moral fuel behind the Colts incredibly successful 2012 campaign, but Pagano is a defensive football coach. It's his job, and if he can return to a full-time role before the Colts make a probable push into the playoffs, I expect the defense to see some form of improvement. Period.

And in fairness to Greg Manusky, I believe he has done, let's just say, a decent job with the limited talent that has been afforded to him in the secondary. Vontae Davis does not appear to be the answer, and as of right now, the Colts absolutely do not have anything that resembles a No. 1 corner.

Jerraud Powers could be taking his talents elsewhere in 2013, but even if the Colts want to re-sign him, they will still have the same hole to address in 2013.

Until then, the Colts will continue to rely on their star rookie quarterback--currently third in attempts--and the passion that was ignited by a man that has stared down cancer and said, "You're beat."

#CHUCKSTRONG

Chuck Pagano: I Am the Luckiest Man in the World

Stew Blake — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:29:07 -0000

In an email to The Indianapolis Star, Colts head coach Chuck Pagano gushed about the Colts' performance in a thrilling 30-27 win over the Packers, and the unwavering support of the 12th man [emphasis mine].

I am so proud of this team, staff, organization, fans, community etc.

(I) could go on and on.

I am the luckiest man in the world. I said it when I got this opportunity several months ago and I am repeating it now. The 12th man came through big time along with the TEAM THAT REFUSED TO LOSE.

FAMILY!!!! TEAM TEAM TEAM. COMMUNITY.

So while Pagano sits in a hospital room, only miles away from Lucas Oil Stadium, he gives us all a few words of pride, passion and praise. Coach P is truly a source of inspiration, not just for the Colts, but for the entire NFL. His impact on this team is simply undeniable.

Enjoy this win, Coach. It was all for you.

#CHUCKSTRONG

Chuck Pagano's "Build the Monster" Motto Highlights Special Bond Between Coach and Player

Stew Blake — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 05:16:38 -0000

After I heard the shocking news of Chuck Pagano's leukemia diagnosis, my heart totally sank. I felt some sadness, but questions began to immediately race through my mind. Naturally, the first was, "Will he be okay?"

Thankfully, the road to recovery is very promising, or so says Dr. Larry Cripe, Pagano's doctor. Coach P can, and will, beat this. However, let's not forget that cancer is an extremely complicated disease. It's the second leading cause of death in the country and has affected most of our families in some way.

In fact, just last spring, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, which is also a very treatable form of cancer. This didn't make it any less scary, though. The word cancer, alone, is enough to incite fear in even the bravest of human beings. Yes, even The Italian Stallion.

Like we've also heard about Pagano, my mom is a fighter. She will not give up. Ever. And after a grueling regimen of chemotherapy, multiple surgeries, and various other treatments, she made her way out of the darkness. She had beaten cancer. And you know what was the first thing she said to me after she was in the clear? That she would have never made it without us--her family.

From the very day that Pagano stepped into the building, he established himself as a leader. He implanted a message into the mind of the organization and the fans. That message? Build. The. Monster.

We hear it all the time, but what does it really mean?

You can decide, but for me, at least up until yesterday, it meant being tough, physical, and working harder than the next team to build a perennial contender. That sufficed and was great, but I quickly realized that it had now taken on a totally new meaning.

For those of you that have played organized sports, you have most likely experienced the camaraderie that develops between teammates. A brotherhood (or sisterhood) steadily grows with time, and it doesn't matter at what level, it's just part of the game. However, not every athlete is lucky enough to have a coach that they can relate to on a similar level; a coach that wants to build a family atmosphere with his team, on and off the field.

On Monday, Cory Redding, Robert Mathis, and others offered insight into the special relationship that Pagano maintains with his players.

"He talks to every player coming in every morning, bad jokes and all," outside linebacker Robert Mathis said. "He just makes life enjoyable and makes it seem like less a job than what it is."

Mike McGlynn was even more direct when talking about Pagano's influence on his players.

"Coach Pagano has been like a father figure with all of us."

Pat Angerer provided this beauty:

"If anybody can get through this it's him," linebacker Pat Angerer said. "He's a fighter, he's a Colt and he'll get through it. If my son grows up to be like him, I'll be happy."

Ray Lewis offered this incredible quote via PFT Live on Tuesday after he was asked about his former defensive coordinator:

"That he's a man of men," Lewis said. "He's a man that people want to aspire to be like. That when you grow up as a man, that when you're around Chuck you realize that, you know what, if life offers nothing else it offered me the opportunity to be around a man. A true man."

We often hear about a "player's coach," but it isn't every day that you see a NFL player call his coach a "father figure," or someone that they'd like their son to emulate. Think about what that means, and then consider that Angerer and McGlynn are talking about a rookie head coach that has been at the helm for only three regular season games.

Three.

For me, this not only speaks to Pagano, the man, but also the influence of his message. Sure, you can see that he's a likable, intelligent, and comically honest guy in his interviews, but these quotes peel back a layer within his locker room that make me glad that he got the job.

Furthermore, "Build the Monster" not only stands for all of those cool, inspiring football elements that we commonly embrace, but also the strength of this organization and what they're building. To "Build the Monster," a football family, means to build a bond so strong, so connected, so rock-solid, that it stands the test of time. Players and coaches will come and go, but this frame provides you with the strength to persevere, together, through even the most difficult of times. It gives you the mentality to beat one of the NFL's elite teams on Sunday, because you know that as your coach prepares for a great battle, he's not going to relinquish his message or begin waving the white flag, so why in the hell would you?

You're in this fight together; you're a family. Often, we hear about the family-like bond that is built through sports, specifically in the NFL, and "Build the Monster" is just another shining example of that unique bond.

Whether Pagano is here for two years, three, or ten, this much is clear: After just three regular season games, this organization, from top to bottom, will tell you that he has already made a special impression on the culture of the horseshoe.

Now that's #ChuckStrong.

Get well, Coach P.

Reggie Wayne May Be 33 Years Old, But He's Not Slowing Down

Stew Blake — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 00:52:57 -0000

The adoring chants of "Reg-gie! Reg-gie! Reg-gie!" from the fans of Indianapolis were almost a thing of the past.

Almost.

In an interview with Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star, Reggie Wayne stated that he was "very, very close" to leaving the Colts, and that multiple teams were interested in his sure-handed services. At least two teams—the Patriots were rumored to be one—were entertaining Wayne with a new contract. Wayne also claims that he left "probably a minimum of $3 million" on the table. I'm not sure about that number, but I think Wayne definitely had some relatively juicier offers out there.

But even despite the temptation of some extra money, Wayne "promised" new coach Chuck Pagano and Jim Irsay that he would first give them a call.

And that's all it took for #87 to remain a Colt. Wayne re-signed a three-year contract for $17.5 million in March.

Fortunately for the Colts and Wayne, it appears to be paying off, per usual. Wayne, one of the last remaining veterans of the Peyton Manning era, and the current longest-tenured Colt, is off to a career start in 2012. Wayne's 23 receptions are good enough for fourth-best in the league, and it's the most catches that he's had after his first three games. Ever.

Although Wayne is in the twilight of his illustrious career, he still finds a way to get open, and Andrew Luck is thankful. Very thankful.

"He gets open," Luck said. "He has an uncanny knack for, when it's a zone, [knowing] where the hole is going to be based on where the other routes are running. When it's man, he's got all the tricks up his sleeve.

"It's an honor for me just to throw the ball to him."

The chemistry brewing between these two has been quite evident on the field; Luck has targeted Wayne a league-high 40 times, allowing the rookie quarterback to have a comfy and reliable security blanket. With the emergence of Donnie Avery as a consistent deep threat, T.Y. Hilton as an explosive playmaker in the slot, and Wayne still epitomizing the possession receiver, Luck has enjoyed some trusty options, old and new.

Back in March, Colts general manager Ryan Grigson claimed the Colts were going to "utilize" a fullback. Dominating fullbacks surely have their place in the league (Vonta Leach, anyone?), but this remark caused some fans to wonder about the length of Luck's rookie leash, including myself. However, after three games, it's clear that this offense will rely heavily on it's fledgling passing attack—Luck's 122 passing attempts is good for fourth-most in the entire league.

Talk about throwing a rookie quarterback to the wolves, eh?

But Luck can handle it, and he's been lucky enough to have a wiley, old veteran with a some pep left in his step to rely on.

"Reg-gie! Reg-gie! Reg-gie!"

NFL Smartens Up, Reaches Deal With NFLRA

Stew Blake — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:44:59 -0000

It didn't come easily, but fortunately for the fans, the players, and the most popular league on the planet, the real referees are making their way back to the field.

A deal was rumored to be in place on Wednesday, but as we learned from the players' lockout, you can never be sure until the ink on the contract is dry. However, not only has a deal been reached, but a crew is being assembled to work Thursday Night Football in Baltimore when the Ravens host the Cleveland Browns.

Yes, it's quite clear that no one, and I mean no one, wanted to see the replacement referees work another game.

The new deal will lock in the officials until 2019. Some concessions were made on both sides, but the officials will see a favorable increase from the average of $173,000 in 2011, rising to $205,000 by 2019, among other perks.

All of the details still aren't clear, but it has been reported that the NFL will be able to hire some officials full-time, starting in 2013. The officials will vote to finalize the deal on Friday.

So, you can blame whomever you'd like for Monday night's debacle, but the important thing is this: "Hochules" and the professionals are back.

I asked Ed Hochuli how many curls he's been doing: "As soon as I heard the rumors today, I got down on the floor and started doing pushups."
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) September 27, 2012

Colts Set To Officially Launch New Era On Right Path

Stew Blake — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 08:46:44 -0000

With the somewhat mediocre launch of the 2012 NFL season on Wednesday night, fans of the NFL re-opened their minds to the great thought of the football unknown: Will this be the year?

For the Colts faithful, winning the Super Bowl in 2012 clearly isn’t—or shouldn’t be—among the most dominant thoughts. If we had to think of a question that we’ve continually asked ourselves during this offseason, it would likely be this: Will our team be competitive? If you ask me, I say yes. Hell yes, actually. Not only do I think that the Colts will be competitive, but I think they could be a playoff team. Yes, with a quarterback like Andrew Luck at the helm, anything is possible.

And even though we were forced to trudge through a grueling and miserable 2011 campaign, followed by a drastic and emotional overhaul of the horseshoe, why exactly do the Colts look so enticing to fans this year?

Ryan Grigson will look outside of the draft for winning talent. When I saw Jim Irsay’s jumbled tweets about the Colts possibly trading for a big-time player, my first thought was, "Really? Trade? Impact player?" And then I quickly remembered that the Bill Polian era withered away, along with the glorious Peyton Manning era, not so long ago.

In his first year offseason as the head honcho, Ryan Grigson has quickly assembled a roster that Indianapolis fans don’t have to wince at while looking over, particularly on defense. When it was announced that Vontae Davis would be heading to Indianapolis, I think you could hear a collective sigh of relief in Indiana. After the defensive back carousel from last year, the Colts had finally landed a legit corner with shutdown capabilities that could compliment Jerraud Powers and some other decent talent. JP looks to be primed for a big year, but if he has no help on the other side of the field, his efforts will be grossly overlooked by inflated opposing scores. Now, with the somewhat troubled, yet extremely talented Davis to compliment him, and Tom "The Animal" Zbikowski—remember Aaron Francisco?—hanging over the top, the Colts secondary looks, well, pretty solid.

Was it a hefty price to pay for a player with unclear motives? Yeah, maybe a little bit. But as Chuck Pagano stated after the trade, if Davis were a prospect in the 2013 NFL Draft, he wouldn’t be there to select in the second round. It’s a somewhat risky move, but it involves a very large reward for the price of motivation, and if anyone can get Davis motivated, it’s Pagano.

Jim Irsay and Ryan Grigson hired a coach unafraid of making the "wrong" decision. After the embarrassing blunder against the Jets in the 2010 playoffs, I wasn’t sure if I could stomach another year of derailing game management by Jim Caldwell. 2011 came and went, and without Manning to work his usual miracles, Caldwell and Polian were exposed.

Enter Chuck Pagano.

You know, the guy who passed out shirts telling his players to "Build the Monster" on day one of training camp? Yeah… that guy. As a sign that they bought into the program, Colts players started tweeting the horseshoe’s newest slogan, and the new era already felt unique and special; the tone had officially been set.

Although he wasn't many people's first choice, Pagano sounded like the man for the job from day one. Even during his introductory press conference, the man exuded confidence and was a straight shooter—it was easy to see why his Ravens vouched for him. The differences between Pagano and Caldwell were night and day. Sure, Caldwell was a nice guy whom his players also seemed to love. However, coaching has always required significantly more than being a nice guy. In the face of adversity and crunch-time situations, will a coach go and hide behind the bench, or will he step up to the plate? I believe Pagano is the latter, for better or for worse, and I believe that is one of the most valuable assets that he brings to this organization. Throw in his hard-nosed defensive scheme, and you have a guy that has the makings of a fine head coach.

No one knows how long Pagano’s name will remain in the good graces of Indianapolis, but what we’ve seen in limited time in this new era is clear: Coach Pagano brings an entirely different and refreshing persona to this organization. The soft cushion, "we only play with a lead" defense that sent so many of us into a rage appears to be gone.

Will this new mentality and hybrid 3-4 scheme translate into wins? Only time will tell, but this is the most excited I’ve been about a Colts defense. Ever.

A new year, a new face of the franchise. Teams will always be forced to travel the dreadful path to find a competent replacement for their more revered quarterback(s) of the past, and only a few will be lucky enough to find a player that has "it." When the Colts drafted Peyton Manning in 1998, they hit the Powerball. A legend was born and the Manning-driven offense was something that teams came to envy. Nine-straight playoff appearances and a championship later, the Colts have given the franchise keys to a rookie that could very well be the closest thing to Peyton Manning that we’ll ever see. I won’t waste your time with the same hype that you’ve heard since Andrew Luck was a junior at Stanford, but a team must have a legitimate quarterback just to compete. To win a championship, you have to find something really special. You need a player with "it." The Colts found "it" with #18, and they may have found "it" again with #12.

Luck will undoubtedly face his rookie growing pains, but thanks to Grigson, his transition to the NFL should come much easier due to the new, young weapons at his disposal. Grigson dedicated this draft to finding offensive playmakers, and I think it was a game-changer for Luck to have the cushion of two stellar tight ends in year one.

Call this a rally cry; call it a bunch of preseason hype—I don’t care. But if there’s one thing that you should take away from this article, let it be this: With the Andrew Luck era Colts set to debut their new age on the unforgiving terrain of Soldier Field, be excited, be proud, be patient, and most of all, don't be afraid to show off your blue. The Colts are here to stay, friends.

"Welcome to the new age."

Austin Collie On Track To Start Against Chicago

Stew Blake — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 02:19:11 -0000

After suffering what could arguably be the fourth concussion of his professional football career, many wondered if Austin Collie wouldn't just walk away from the game and the obvious deterioration that comes along with getting your brain jostled for a living.

However, if you thought Collie would be starting in Week One, then you shouldn't be surprised by what you're about to read.

According to Phil Wilson of the Indy Star, that's exactly what looks like is going to happen. Collie was "full go" for Monday's practice and "looks good for Sunday," tweeted Phil B. Obviously, most of us have a great deal of mixed feelings about this situation, including Collie's own father.

All in all, the Colts are the only one who can save this guy from himself, if he really needs to be saved, that is. People love to talk about what is in the best interests of another person, and often times, they're right. Yet, when it comes to someone's health, it's on them to ultimately make the best decision. But what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't give my opinion? A pretty boring one.

Look, if he was my kid, I would have the same exact feelings as Mr. Collie. I'd be incredibly scared that, one day, my son may not get up from that next brutal hit. I'd be on pins and needles just watching him play, despite the thrill and pride that must come along with having a NFL player for a son. It's only natural. However, what I cannot do is put myself inside the mind of Austin. He's a young family man that has a lot of life ahead of him, and if playing football makes him happy and he can do it safely, then I'm all for it. That said, I just don't see how someone can be safe after three or four concussions. He's obviously prone to such, much like Jahvid Best, and if he goes down again, could it be too late?

I told you that I have mixed feelings about this.

On the flip side of the coin lies this: I don't see it being very easy for any NFL player, let alone Collie, to hang up their cleats at such a young age with so much money left on the table. I hate to say it, but if I was in Collie's position, I would be doing the exact same thing. That money could give my family the future that I want for them, and if I suffer another concussion, then so what? I knew the risks going into football. If my doctors say that I can take it, then I'll still grow old with my wife and see my kids grow up. I'll also have a lot of money (compared to the average person) to boot.

Is it incredibly short-sighted? Maybe. The lasting effects of concussions are as prevalent as they've ever been in this Goodell safety-driven era of the NFL and a new player joins the concussion lawsuit practically every day. However, put yourself in Collie's position and ask yourself the same question. What's your answer?

I'm not a neurologist, but if Collie's doctors believe that he is fine (and I don't know how, but again, I'm not a neurologist), then he absolutely deserves to be out there. It's his life and his career. The Colts can exercise their muscle and release him, but why cut a quality player like Collie if the doctors tell you that he's absolutely fine?

I can question Collie's health all I'd like, but I have absolutely no reason to believe that they'd let him go out there knowing that he could turn into a vegetable. No reason at all.

So while it's an edgy topic filled with concern, vulnerability, and a ton of questions that none of us can really answer, I trust that Collie is doing what is best for him and his family. They certainly need him more than the game of football.

Be safe and have a monster season, #17.

Colts Make First Wave Of Cuts, Part Ways With Caldwell, Rucker [UPDATE] Whalen to IR

Stew Blake — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:54:14 -0000

As teams slim down their rosters to the initial 75 for the 4 p.m. Monday deadline, NFL hopefuls from around the league are introduced to the reality of the business that is, well, professional football. However, veterans can also come face to face with the chopping block, as illustrated by Colts' initial cuts.

Eleven cuts were made on Sunday night, bringing the Colts roster to 80 players:

Terrence Johnson showed very little to justify a roster spot, and with the addition of Vontae Davis to compliment a now-crowded CB corps, the Colts look to be much more solid at a position that once screamed "HELP!" Also, the big CB Chris Rucker--drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft--was given his walking papers. Rucker was a physical specimen, but he saw limited action and failed to impress the new regime.

David Caldwell started 13 games in 2011. Before being cut, he slipped to third on the depth chart behind Tom Zbikowski and Jermale Hines.

The 2011 waiver claim, wide receiver Quan Cosby, also says goodbye. His career numbers include only 6 receptions for 71 yards. He also never made a catch for the Colts in the regular season.

Griff Whalen, the new fan favorite, lives to fight at least one more day, despite fracturing his foot in Saturday's preseason game against the Redskins. Whalen put up some more big numbers on Saturday, and with the uncertainty surrounding Austin Collie, Whalen could prove to be a cheap and valuable asset in the slot. However, the seriousness of his foot injury will be the deciding factor in his future as a Colt.

Five more cuts will have to come before tommorrow's deadline. Who do you think they will be?

UPDATE: The Colts have made their way down to a 75-man roster. As a result, DT Brandon McKinney has been placed on IR, along with WR Griff Whalen and OT George Foster.

Rookies NT Josh Chapman and G Justin Anderson have been placed on the reserve/PUP list.

Colts, Luck Show Resilience In Steel City Loss

Stew Blake — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:00:39 -0000

In a game that initially featured it's fair share of disappointment, the Colts managed to keep their chins up and showed something that many fans were craving after a long, heartbreaking 2-14 season: resilience when confronted with adversity.

Despite losing Austin Collie to possibly another concussion (I still feel sick about this), T.Y. Hilton dropping a would-be touchdown that turned into an interception, and Andrew Luck throwing a classic rookie pick six, these young Colts fought back and showed incredible leadership across the board. The game may be marked as a loss, but there were a lot of goodies to munch on from this outing. After all, this is the preseason, and this is where you work out all of the kinks.

Here are a few of my thoughts from the game, featuring the good, the bad, and the fugly:

Austin Collie might have suffered his fourth concussion in less than two years.

When I saw a defender plunge into the side of Collie's neck/head, I cringed. When I saw him stumble to get back up, I felt my heart drop. This guy is the poster boy of what you never want your son to go through if he picks up a football. Collie has all of the talent in the world, but when it comes to health, some things just aren't worth the compromise. Football, unfortunately, is one of those things. Collie is a young family man and if he has indeed suffered his fourth concussion, it might be in his best interest to hang up his cleats. For good. If not, the Colts should consider parting ways with the sure-handed receiver. I know Collie has balls of steel, but those balls won't do him any good if his brain is scrambled eggs.

I hope with all of my heart that Collie hasn't seen his last football game, maybe out of my own selfishness as a huge Collie fan. However, I like the guy too much to not logically think that it might be best for him to step away from the game, fourth concussion or not.

Griff Whalen could be a monster in the slot.

Seeing Collie struggle to gather himself was incredibly upsetting, but somewhere in the darkness was an illuminated and energized Griff Whalen. Whalen showed a lot against the Steelers (reserves or not). His routes were crisp, his bursts were quick, and he looked like a guy that could step in for Collie and work the slot without a hiccup.

Very impressive outing from the former Stanford wide out.

Surprise, surprise: Andrew Luck is legit.

His effort tonight wasn't quite the near-flawless masterpiece that his preseason debut was, but Luck still impressed. After staring at Reggie Wayne for an hour and gift-wrapping a pick six for the veteran cornerback Ike Taylor, Luck shook it off, said my bad, and would finish the night like a polished veteran. As a quarterback in the NFL, you must have a built-in memory swipe available at all times. In true Men in Black fashion, Luck forgot about an ugly pick six and lead his team to three straight scoring drives (two touchdowns). This was a thing of beauty, and maturity.

His throws were money—scratch the back shoulder fade to the ultra-smurf that is T.Y. Hilton—and he didn't let the Pittsburgh defense permanently get in his ear. Your new franchise quarterback was on full display for the entire nation to see, and he damn sure made me proud to be a Colts fan.

One more thing: Peyton Manning would have never of let the Steelers challenge the dropped Collie catch. Another rookie mistake. It happens.

Mario Addison provides some much-needed pressure.

Addison is low-risk, high-reward waiver claim that will likely be paying dividends well into the season. He was consistently providing pressure and walked away with one sack. Mike Adams (one of my Buckeyes) looked awful and Addison only exacerbated the tough night for Adams.

Keep it up, Mario.

Vick Ballard looks like the perfect compliment to a Donald Brown-powered backfield.

I wasn't too sure about Ballard coming out of the draft, but he opened my eyes with some very impressive runs. Not only is he quick, but his vision is something that Brown could learn from. Like Brown, once Ballard gets to the outside, he's an animal. If it wasn't for the replacement officials proving their worth (which is very little, if anything), Ballard would have had himself a nice, hard-fought touchdown to top off the night.

We want the real referees back, NFL.

I hate to beat a dead horse here, but this dead horse needs some more clubbing: The replacement referees are in over their head. Period.

After missing two incredibly easy PI calls, the replacements felt like they should make Colts fans around the country punch their televisions a few more times. While attempting to reach the endzone on multiple carries, Ballard finally seemed to punch it in. The game is tied, right? Nope. After an official review, the touchdown was overturned on evidence that was inconclusive, at best. I can excuse this mistake, I guess. However, what I cannot excuse is spotting the ball on the friggin' one. Forget punching. I wanted to jump through my television.

Retain the right men for the job or the game will suffer undoubtedly. It's pretty simple.

Reggie Wayne in motion makes me happy.

Wayne was set in motion multiple times and it ultimately resulted in six catches for 74 yards. This was fun to watch.

_____________________________________________

All in all, this was another solid outing for Bruce Arians and the Colts offense. Whether it was a touchdown or not, I loved the triple option call. The Colts defense is questionable at times and will likely face its prolonged struggles, but I like the direction of Chuck Pagano and Greg Manusky. Jerraud Powers' coverage was mostly superb, along with Antoine Bethea.

That's all I got, friends.

Next up? The Redskins and RG3.

Go Colts.

Andrew Luck Looks Poised, Quick, And Monstrous In Debut

Stew Blake — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 20:27:13 -0000

The Andrew Luck era has officially kicked off and it do so with a huge bang. Multiple, huge bangs, actually.

Right out of the gate, Luck found his big league groove in the best way possible: scoring a 63-yard touchdown on a textbook screen to Donald Brown. Kudos to Bruce Arians for opening the game with this call, if I might add. At first glance, the play looked like Brown had missed a block (Damn it, Donald!), but everything was executed perfectly and this was just a sneak peak of what was to come. Luck called it "the easiest touchdown pass of his life."

The pocket presence. The reads. The ball placement. The underrated athleticism. The maturity.

Luck’s debut was, well, beautiful.

Yes, it was the lowly, rebuilding Rams, and yes, it was the preseason, but the intangibles of a rookie that was picked to lead this franchise were absolutely brought to the forefront in his Colts debut. The calmness and control that Luck had over his offense was something that was missing from even the most experienced quarterbacks in this first week of preseason play. Luck was admittedly nervous, but it certainly didn't show. Impressive.

Despite three miscues from Luck’s receivers, it couldn’t have gone much more perfect for the rookie, or the fans of Indianapolis for that matter. The Colts charged through the Rams on offense (and defense) and the fans subsequently lost their voices before the final seconds of the first half even ticked away.

Austin Collie was Luck’s premiere target, catching three balls (five targets) for 45 yards and a touchdown. Among the intense excitement, it was especially beautiful to watch Luck weed through busted coverage to find Collie for a 20-yard score. In 2010, Collie was on his way to becoming one of the best slot guys in the game—the next Wes Welker was a trendy term that year. And in this game, the chemistry between these two was evident and it was incredibly refreshing. Finally, the real Austin Collie has all of the pieces to have that huge year that he’s overdue for.

Comparisons can quickly turn annoying, especially for a guy like Luck. Forever, he’s been dubbed the next Peyton Manning. I hate to say it, so know that I’m sorry and please forgive me, but Luck made throws and displayed footwork that almost made me think I was watching a retro clip of a young #18. Specifically, a 12-yard stick to rookie T.Y. Hilton that had me absolutely drooling. This is precisely what Manning is known for—throwing his receivers open—and no one has done it better. Luck also dropped a beautiful pass down the middle to, wait for it... Quan Cosby, which was a throw that he made practically every Saturday. Hilton also made a fantastic catch, giving us a small glimpse into the talent that he brings along with his ridiculous speed. That said, I think Hilton will ultimately be a big, big part of this offense.

All of that pleasantly considered, it is the preseason and we’re only one preseason game into the new era of the young and inexperienced new-look Colts. The offensive line was shaky at best (I was scared for Luck a few times), and if Luck is going to survive to be the next superstar in the NFL, he's going to have to get rid of the ball fast. Really fast.

This team will take their lumps. Luck will take his lumps. And it won’t always be this fun, but as Ryan Grigson stated ala Dennis Green, Luck was who we thought he was: a stud, prototypical quarterback.

The hype machine has been cranked up to full speed and Luck jerseys will be selling like hotcakes. Yet, through all of the excitement, it's important to keep this performance in perspective. He’s not Peyton Manning, and he may never come close to reliving the success that Manning has made synonymous with the Colts brand, but damn it, he looked good.

Monstrous, if you will.

Colts Sell Out Preseason Opener Against Rams

Stew Blake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 02:57:41 -0000

If you're into watching your favorite team from your favorite seat at home, you're in luck: The Colts first preseason test against the St. Louis Rams has been sold out.

Sunday's game at Lucas Oil Stadium is officially sold out!!!!bit.ly/OTBIkd
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) August 8, 2012

On Sunday night, the new face of the franchise will finally take the field, donning the blue and white and all of the expectations that come with it. Yeah, it's preseason, but according to Bruce Arians, we're going to get a pretty good look at Mr. Andrew Luck. And we're likely talking a 20-25 snaps kind of good look. The sell out isn't a huge deal, but it's certainly refreshing to see the new, youthful Colts being embraced, even if the tickets are just for an overly expensive practice. As you probably recall, the Colts faced some ticket selling issues after the departure of ~~Peyton Manning~~ practically the entire team and front office.

Well, that's one down, and nine to go.

If you're an out-of-towner, like me, you can catch the game via NFL Network and we strongly recommend that you do. The preseason may be a bit of a bore, but this year, Colts fans (We've been spoiled!) are going to be venturing into fairly unfamiliar territory. And as a result, the preseason has arguably never been more important for our team.

I know that I'm incredibly excited to see our new receiving corps in action, along with a taste of the direction of Chuck Pagano and Greg Manusky's new defense.

Football is back and it's time to unleash the Colts young, inexperienced, exciting, and rejuvenated monster, friends.

Go Colts!

Andrew Luck And Company Working Out At The U

Stew Blake — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 01:54:10 -0000

Andrew Luck might not be on the Colts payroll just yet, but that isn't going to stand in the way of him building some much-needed chemistry with some of his receivers.

According to a photo via Donnie Avery's Twitter, Luck, Reggie Wayne, and Luck's former Stanford receiver Griff Whalen have been putting in work in the Magic City, specifically the University of Miami. The photo shows a shirtless Whalen looking like he's ready to destroy someone and the rest of the crew appearing as if they just ran suicides for an hour straight.

Another good day at University of Miamiinstagr.am/p/M_K0KlDYxg/
— Donnie Avery (@donnieavery) July 12, 2012

So instead of hearing about how Luck might not be at training camp on day one, Avery's tweet should give Colts fans a little happiness and excitement by seeing their franchise leader putting in some extra work with his teammates.

After all, training camp and the 2012 NFL season is right around the corner.

Larry Lumpkin Is Your Latest Colt With An Awesome Last Name

Stew Blake — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 01:12:59 -0000

It's official: Three Colts linebackers have names that seem too funny and too awesome to be true. They are, Tim Fugger, Larry Lumpkin, and the tackling machine known as Pat Angerer.

Lumpkin joins the Colts by way of a free agent deal after going undrafted in Thursday's supplemental draft. Josh Gordon was the most promising prospect in the supplement draft, but Lumpkin received his fair share of attention, as well.

Lumpkin ran for several NFL teams at his high school, clocking in at 4.69 and 4.72 in the 40. Lumpkin was a former Bulldog (Alabama A&M), but transferred to Carson-Newman last season. During his lone season with the Eagles, Lumpkin racked up 96 tackles (10 for losses).

In other news, I've been told that Fugger has officially dubbed his special move "The Fugger Upper." Lumpkin still has yet to christen his own special move, but we're hearing that he's leaning towards keeping it simple and blunt: "The Lumper."

Pat Angerer is just, well, angry. And really good.

Jim Irsay Predicts A Future With Andrew Luck In Anderson, On Time

Stew Blake — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 08:45:58 -0000

Fear not, the always entertaining Jim Irsay is here to lend his handy prediction skills to you, Colts fans. Or something.

The owner of the Indianapolis Colts made a promising prediction via Twitter regarding the Colts ability to effectively sell a slew of lingering tickets, thus escaping their first black out that would end a streak of 79 sold out games. Up second, he's also predicting that Andrew Luck will be signed and in camp, on time.

I predict no blackouts this year n#12 will b n camp on time;all drama-queens n kings please chill...media needs stories n gloom n doom sells
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) July 13, 2012

Just for the sake of curiosity, have the negotiations hit an unforeseen speed bump? Who should we be pissed at if Luck isn't flinging dimes in Anderson on day one? Not sure? Neither am I, but what I do know is this: Signing your franchise quarterback, so that he can get the machine running, is an enormous priority. I surely don't need to point out why, so I won't. I'm also not trying to cast blame in Irsay's direction, but simply stating that it'd be nice if the fans could focus on worrying about how the season will go with a complete representation of the on-field product, instead of when #12 will report to work.

And as Mike Florio over at PFT pointed out, if there's any remaining leverage to be had by the Luck camp, maybe Irsay just made it a little easier for them to ride this sucker out to sweeten up the pot.

Without trying to get all "doom n gloom" on you guys, the Colts decision to stick by the old blackout rule is an interesting one. They are touting an unproven product to a fan base that is still battling with images of their former franchise savior returning to his former glory in bright orange. Every game that your fans (old and new) can't watch your new team on the tube, your marketing goes out the window, along with some of your reputation. As a result, you stand the risk of alienating your fan base that is already in the midst of a frustrating rebuilding process.

Hopefully, all of this is blackout and absent Luck talk is just interesting conversation, and not a soon-to-be reality.

But hey, isn't the off-season NEWSTACULAR?!

Go Colts.

Jim Irsay Says Luck Deal Will 'Get Done,' Two Sides Are Still Close

Stew Blake — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 20:35:01 -0000

The man unafraid of a Twitter confrontation has informed the world that Andrew Luck is close to becoming an officially official Colt, yet again.

1)We r close on#12's deal,it'll get done2)We've revamped Strength program,more power/explosive lifting;guys moving heavy iron,BULK MONSTERS!
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) July 8, 2012

For any of you sweating this whole contract business out: Just relax. Luck will be signed and ready to go for the start of training camp. If Jim Irsay let's this thing drag on, which happens to be already set in stone thanks to the framework of a four-year deal that is fully guaranteed and worth $24 million, he will look like a... Well, I'll let you use your imagination. It just wouldn't be pretty.

The top eight draft picks still all remain unsigned, with the completion of Luck's contract ultimately setting the rest of their deals in motion. Colts tight ends, Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, have also yet to provide their Herbie Hancock.

However, the bigger news here, at least for me, is the fact that training camp opens in only three weeks. Yes, three weeks until we start the madness, amazement, and pure joy that is a NFL season.

Go Colts!

Luck's Leadership Qualities Already Brightly Shining Through

Stew Blake — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 23:58:49 -0000

With the first day of mini-camps in the bag, the reviews of Andrew Luck are in and they seem to be unanimous: The guy is pretty darn good in some cleats, shorts, shirt, and a helmet. Wooing people with incredible athletic ability is a given for a No. 1 pick, but finding a rookie that can come in and direct an offense, despite missing a few weeks, and to do so with an authority, is a rarity that really speaks to the nature of Luck's maturity.

Many were clearly enamored by Luck and his leadership qualities at today's mini-camp. Teammate Coby Fleener thought that Luck's pre-snap adjustments impressed some veterans.

So, how does he do it? Well, it surely helps to be incredibly smart (Stanford, anyone?). However, it takes something a little deeper than that. Anyone that wants to be great has to have "it," and "it," simply put, is the determination and will to strive to be the absolute best. And if Luck's college career is any kind of an indicator, he's done a pretty good job at staking his claim as the best from a collegiate perspective. However, Luck is coming into a situation that will naturally cause some jitters for a rookie, especially after having to sit back and wait around while the rest of his teammates get to work.

Yet, according to Luck and despite playing catch-up, he's already been able to nail down a firm grasp of the playbook's concepts.

"I’ve managed to learn the playbook, so I don’t think I’m starting at zero," Luck said. "I have something of a base. I’ve accomplished a fair amount, although I wished I could have been here. But I think by the end of (today), I’ll have a pretty good idea about things.’’

Sounds like a coach's dream to me, and head coach Chuck Pagano would seem to agree.

"Again, no mental errors, just like rookie minicamp. He hasn’t missed a beat. He’s a really bright kid, really focused and driven. The success he’s had — the reason is because football is so important to him, so I’m really pleased where’s he’s at. His football IQ is off the charts.’’

And although his body was in Palo Alto to conclude one of the most important stages of life, his mind was Indianapolis, pondering the soon-to-be most important stage of his life as a franchise quarterback in the NFL.

"I’d wake up in the morning and have a serious lack of motivation to go to class," Luck said. "Then I’d work out, do football stuff until lunch, then go to afternoon classes and go from there. It was tough ... My mind has been in Indianapolis the last couple of months."

There's still miles and miles to go, but for the fans of Indianapolis who are going through a major transition phase with their beloved football team, all of these little compliments and words of encouragement have to be sparking some excitement. And speaking of encouragement, thanks to teammates like Cory Redding and Austin Collie, among others, Luck should feel a little more comfortable in his new hometown and with the guys that will share the huddle with him, week in and week out. Veteran or rookie, they're all in. The Peyton Manning boat has left town and if you're not on board with what the SS Building The Monster is haulin', now is the time to get off.

It's early, but I think we're starting to resemble a football team (again), ladies and gents.

Go Colts!

Luke Links: 'The Fleenster' Edition

Stew Blake — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 05:58:09 -0000

Andrew Luck is ready to get to work... The Colts' cornerbacks have something to prove... No matter your profession, drinking and driving is idiotic... and Coby Fleener is a monster...

FROM THE SADDLE (official team news)

The Colts completed their ninth OTA (of 10) on Wednesday.
Say hello to wide receiver Kris Adams and goodbye to linebacker Kevin Eagan.

GREEN APPLES AND ROAD APPLES (media analysis)

Andrew Luck's new buddy Austin Collie thinks Luck is dying to get with his teammates.
The Colts cornerbacks plan to prove their doubters wrong in 2012.
Samson Satele laughs at Phil Wilson's hair and says he has "a lot to prove."
The bloggers of ESPN don't have much faith in the Colts new backup quarterbacks.

Coby Fleener is a monster.
Paul Kuharsky takes a look at the AFC South's "upside guys" to watch in 2012.
Jamey Eisenberg estimates the value of various Colts' fantasy value.
Coby Fleener answers some questions for ESPN's First and 10.

PPLE PIE (SB Nation goodies)

Do NFL athletes experience more DUI/DWI arrests than athletes from other professional sports?

Two media links today, friends.

God bless the Dolphins. Enjoy.

Ray Lewis = best motivational speaker in the world. After watching this, I'll never lose in Madden again, Mr. Lewis.