I knew it was coming eventually, but I tried denying it.  Slowly but surely, sites like Facebook, Myspace, and YouTube have been blocked by my employer.  Believe it or not, even other SB Nation blogs were blocked, but not Stampede Blue.  Until today. 

Today was the day I got the dreaded Webwasher notification.  I knew it would happen eventually, but I wasn't prepared for it.  I was lost all morning.  I missed reading the new posts and takes from various fans.  Due to the advances in Internet usage with cell phones, I was able to view it... but it's just not the same.  Eventually I remoted into my home computer to view it but I have an uneasy feeling about tomorrow morning.  What will work be like without Stampede Blue?

On to Colts related thoughts, how could you not be excited for the start of the season?  Our entire team is essentially returning.  We now have the best backfield in a long time.  If Marvin comes back healthy, and not suspended, we'll have the best group of receivers in the NFL.  The young defense will have one more year of experience to build upon.  Don't you just want to play the games now?  The Bears visit in exactly four months, and I can't wait.

Congratulations to BlueVol03 and shake n bake , on being co-winners of the Mock Draft Challenge #1.  Each of you "mocked" 4 correctly in the 1st round.  Unfortunately, none of the 2nd round picks worked out, but it would be a hard draft to do well in, considering all of the trades.

As for the Colts Mock Drafts, there were only 8 entries... and you managed to get a whopping zero picks correct.  The only player drafted from any of our boards was Marcus Howard, and most people had him going in round 3. 

Honestly, I couldn't be more disappointed.  I felt I was ready for this year.  BigBlueShoe, shake n bake, and a ton of others on this site provided access to more information on prospects than I've ever taken the time to research.  We analyzed our needs, came up with draft boards, researched what other teams would do and what do we come up with?  Nothing...  That's why we write about football, and Bill Polian runs the draft room.  He is better than us.

I think it also illustrates a key reason for the rising popularity of the NFL draft and the insane increase in the amount of coverage.  No matter what the "experts" say, and no matter how much you analyze the information available... you still have no idea what's going to happen in the draft.  There are always surprises, and once you get past the first pick or two... usually anything can happen.

Regarding my thoughts on the draft... we had some very key players fall to us in the later rounds, and that's how you win championships.  As BigBlueShoe discussed earlier , the Colts did an excellent job of shoring up some key areas that have been our downfall in recent years.  A lack of depth along the offensive line, mainly due to injury... a backup RB who can block AND catch... and another guy who can rush the passer.  It's also possible that we found someone who can add some depth to the WR corps, along with our potential kick/punt returner for 2008.  If we can get Roy Hall to progress this year, I'd like to see some new formations so Peyton can utilize all of his weapons.

I personally want to thank everyone who posted here on draft day.  It was great getting to live blog with all the contributers and discussing the picks.  Now we get to move to the offseason summer school program.

Well one of my favorite days of the year is here.  The real beginning of the season as far as I'm concerned.  We'll get a couple of weeks to discuss the draft.  Minicamps will be starting soon, and before you know it... summer's here and we're ready for the start of training camp.

I haven't received a ton of entries for the mock draft challenge , so I'll give you until the start of the draft to email your pics to me.  If I don't receive them by 3:00pm (the start of the draft) then they don't count.

[edit] - In fairness to those who have already entered, I won't accept anymore entries per the original deadline.

AIlso, I'll be around the site for most of the day adding my comments to the draft.  I'll post a thread when it starts so we can all comment in one location.

Welcome to the 2008 season.

I don't think it's necessary to write a huge story about this, but...

In case any of you were wondering, or disillusioned by the Injury reports coming from the Colts Complex, Dwight will "no doubt " be ready for the Colts opener at Lucas Oil stadium

"The bottom line, he reiterated, is a complete recovery is expected, which includes regaining his rare speed. The most recent battery of X-rays and magnetic resonance image tests confirmed "everything is perfect'' structurally, Freeney said."

As mgrex03, metalmilitia and others posted earlier, the NFL announced the 2008 schedule today.  

The first couple of games are going to be most likely Colts victories.  This is going to give our young guys a chance to gel.  We'll have the week 4 bye.  Anyone hurt in training camp should be ready to come back for the playoff run stretch.

After the bye, we don't really have any opponents that scare me until we hit New England.  Unfortunately we'll play them on a short week, since the Colts play at the Titans the previous Monday.  At least the Colts and Patriots will get to play the late game Sunday and should be more than ready to take down the Patriots.  After the Patriots, we have a couple of tough games at Pittsburgh and San Diego.  If we can win 2 out of these 3 games, we'll be sitting in good shape for a playoff bye.

After the Chargers, we'll head to Cleveland where hopefully we'll play Jim Sorgi and beat the Browns just to spite them.  Home games against the Bungles and the Lions should prove to be snoozefests, and then we'll head for a week 16 showdown at Jacksonville on Thursday night.  This could prove to be the game of the year as it could decide the AFC South Division Champ as well as determine playoff seeding.  We'll finish the season with a visit from the Titans.

I think we have a decently favorable schedule.  Much like last year, if we can just get through the middle of it, we'll be in good shape.  What I'm not happy about, is having two less Monday Night Football games than the Browns.  We don't even have a home MNF football game!  How many did we have last year? Zero!  The Browns play on MNF 3 times this year, and they didn't even make the freaking playoffs last year.

That being said... overall, I think we're in good shape for the 2008 season, and we haven't even had the draft or signed any UFA's.  I couldn't be more excited for 2008.

Don't forget to e-mail me your Colts mock drafts or your 2 round full NFL Mock Drafts.

What if I told you that your quarterback, through the equivalent of the first 4 games of his career, completed 61% of his passes, throwing 6 touchdowns and only 1 interception.  What if those games were played with 2nd and 3rd team offenses and receivers who shouldn't be allowed to look at a football.  What if the opposing team were playing their starters in hopes of winning the game?

Ladies and gentlemen... Jim Sorgi.

I've seen a lot of "Sorgi sucks" comments around here the past few months and I just don't get it.  Is everyone pissed that we lost to the Titans?  Do you really think that was on his shoulders?  We gave Peyton a free pass in the New England game when he was throwing to Moorehead and Aromashodu, so why is Sorgi blamed?  The guy has thrown 126 passes in his career and we're ready to evaluate him?  We're ready to get rid of a QB who's only lost one fumble and thrown one interception in his entire career????  I'm just struggling to figure out what he's done wrong.

Now, I'm not saying he's the 2nd coming of Peyton Manning, but who are you going to get that's better than Sorgi?  You can waste a draft pick on a QB, but why?  He'll be 32 before Peyton retires.

Would you really feel comfortable with anyone else under center besides Manning?  Honestly, it doesn't matter who's back there if Manning isn't.  I say we use the draft to build depth at positions who might actually have a chance at making the active roster.

If you disagree... don't forget to enter your own Mock Draft in the challenge.

http://www.stampedeblue.com/story/2008/4/8/05910/12707

I know more than you

No purchase nessecary.

It's amazing how the coverage of the NFL draft has expanded almost exponentially over the past several years.  We used to be stuck with one "uniquely haired" draft analyst.  Now you can go to any number of dedicated draft websites and read full bios of potential draftees along with mock drafts.  I've done some straw polling, and the number of people creating their own Mock Drafts in the last year alone has risen over 72%.

Since several of you already have been working on mock drafts, I thought it would be fun to have a challenge to see who's mock draft faired the best.  We'll actually have two contests.  The first will consist of the Colts draft only.  The second challenge will be to create a 2 round full NFL Mock Draft.

Feel free to post your mock drafts, but I must receive them in my email to be official.

Please let me know if something wasn't clear, or if you have any questions.

Good Luck!

As Colts Homer posted, the preseason schedule was announced today.  

Part of me wants to be there for the first game ever played in the new stadium... but part of me would rather it be a sold-out packed house in a game that actually means something.  I mean, do I really want the outcome of the game riding on Jim Sorgi and Josh Betts?  Do we ever win preseason games?  

I'm just curious to see what you guys thought, especially season ticket holders.  I think I'm leaning towards going to the Bills game.  I'm afraid I'll miss something if I'm not there.

ESPN's John Clayton is reporting that several rule changes for the upcoming season have passed including:

The rules regarding players hair covering name plates or jersey numbers has been tabled until the May meeting.  Another proposal involving reseeding the playoffs allowing wild card teams to host a playoff game has also been tabled.

Update [2008-4-2 15:3:41 by the21eraser]: - Oops... Note to self: Don't write stories when you get a 20 minute lunch break.

Just wanted to let everyone know where the Stampede Blue Bracket challenge stands heading into the Final Four this weekend.  I, as always, have done terrible but I'll hold out hope that Kansas can pull it off.

I'll just list the bracket names.  Some of them are obvious as to who they belong to, and some I don't even know.

Now that we're almost done with the NCAA brackets, it's time to get those Mock Drafts polished up.  More details to come...