The worst possible news for the Indianapolis Colts and us fans was announced today. Peyton Manning had another surgery today and will be out for at least 2 months. (I’ll let you soak that in). Yes, Peyton is out.
I should probably just leave the preview at that because Peyton is the Indianapolis Colts. This team has gone from Super Bowl contender to playoff hopeful in less than a couple of weeks. When the NFL Lockout ended everybody in Indy rejoiced that not only would we get our Super Bowl, but that our team may be playing in it. Now that dream has been shattered.
The Colts will start Kerry Collins and will have Curtis Painter as a backup. In my opinion, I would flip that and have Painter start. Painter led the Colts offense against the Packers first string defense in a preseason game and scored two touchdowns. That was the Super Bowl Champion Packers and a pretty stout defense.
-If you recall, I said Tommy Rees would better than his teammate Dayne Crist who got to start for Notre Dame last week. So far that prediction is holding true.
Whoever the quarterback is they will have a plethora of options to choose from. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne is one of the best receivers in the league (and a supporter of Painter). Also on the receiving corps: Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, Anthony Gonzalez, and Blair White. All these guys are solid pass catchers, but the key is to stay healthy. Gonzalez has only played a full season once since being drafted by the Colts in 2007 and Collie suffered two concussions last season.
-I just checked the Colts roster and not listed is Mel Brooks. He had a good preseason and would have been a better pickup than Gonzalez.
There’s also this other guy that you may have heard about, Dallas Clark. Clark is one of the best tight ends in the NFL but missed time last year due to injury. He is back this year and healthier than ever so look for him to get a lot of passes thrown his way. The second option at tight end is Jacob Tamme. Tamme filled in for Clark last season and made some good plays.
In the back field for the Colts is Joseph Addai and Donald Brown. This tandem should go by the moniker, “Kings of Averageness”(It’s my blog, I’m allowed to make up words). Neither of these guys are game changers and won’t ever break open a huge run. They both enjoy taking a hand off, juking left or right, and then getting tackled in the backfield for a gain of zero yards. Watch for that season, it won’t take long to see what I’m talking about.
On the defensive side of the ball not much has changed from 2010. Defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, and Linebacker Gary Brackett, are still the staples of the unit. The biggest change was getting rid of safety Bob Sanders (no love lost here). Melvin Bullitt, who has proved to be just as adequate, will replace him. It’s hard to judge how the defense will be this season. I could almost guarantee that they will not be great against the run, but maybe they’ll be a pleasant surprise.
2011 Colts Schedule
9/11- at Houston Texans
9/18- vs. Cleveland Browns
9/25- vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
10/3- at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10/9- vs. Kansas City Chiefs
10/16- at Cincinnati Bengals
10/23- at New Orleans Saints
10/30- at Tennessee Titans
11/6- vs. Atlanta Falcons
11/13- vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
BYE WEEK
11/27- vs. Carolina Panthers
12/4- at New England Patriots
12/11- at Baltimore Ravens
12/18- vs. Tennessee Titans
12/22- vs. Houston Texans
1/1- at Jacksonville Jaguars
My first thought after looking at the schedule is that this is gonna be a longgg season. I count three “circle games”, as Peyton would say. Those would be games that you circle as easy wins. The six divisional games (Houston, Jacksonville, Tennessee) could be split, or even end up 4-2. I don’t see us beating the Texans twice though.
Unless this team gels and really comes together there is no way we beat most of the teams up there. It’s unfortunate we play two of the toughest divisions in the League, the AFC North and NFC South.
Unless this team gels and really comes together there is no way we beat most of the teams up there. It’s unfortunate we play two of the toughest divisions in the League, the AFC North and NFC South.
With Peyton Manning out for the whole season I think the Colts finish 6-10. If he somehow comes back, then that win amount will increase. Either way, this will be a pretty depressing season for Colts fans.
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