The Official 2010 Colts Preseason Thread

[RagingColt]

In the bathroom crying after that cluster #&*$. Horrible tackling, lack of focus and turnovers galore, it was like watching the '08 Lions. What the hell happened to Jerry Hughes? He got pawned by TEs who won't make the Packers roster. James muffed his way off the roster. The return game blocking still blows chunks and our blitzes were useless. Rodgers is a great QB, but the D made him look Montana like last night. It's only pre-season but giving up 59 any time in the NFL is un acceptable.

Yeah, the NFL needs to put the umpire back behind the LBs, it screws up the entire timing of our hurry up. Ugh.

[RCAChainGang]

I think this game was pathetic.
Some good things to take away from that however
-run defense
-Angerer
-Colin Cloherty had a surprising catch and run.

The new rule is frustrating. I hope they get it fixed.

[Shiver]

What's the 411 on Anthony Gonzalez? Is he going to be the primary slot receiver?

[killxswitch]

Originally Posted by Shiver

What's the 411 on Anthony Gonzalez? Is he going to be the primary slot receiver?

I assume you're looking for fantasy advice. I wouldn't touch him too early. Wayne will of course be WR1, and Garcon will probably take most of his snaps, however many there are, out wide. Beyond that the thought it Garcon, Collie, and Gonzo will move around and all be used. Unless one of them really proves something early I don't think any of the 3 of them are a good WR1 or 2 choice. Any of them would be a good WR3.

[Shiver]

Well, I am talking my 7th WR here. Just a golden lottery ticket really.

I was always curious though, because last year I thought he was going to be the breakout player and he went down to that phantom knee injury. They kept saying he was coming back and he kept on not coming back. what was the deal with that?

[MaxV]

No mystery really. He had multiple setbacks.

It's a good problem to have for the Colts, but for fantasy owners, the 3-way platoon of Gonzo, Garcon and Collie will only water down their numbers.

Plus, don't be surprised if Colts use more 2-TE sets with Eldridge as an extra blocker to help the running game.

[RagingColt]

Anyone live close enough to Indy to watch the game vs. the Bengals tonight? Most of the A-line starters don't play this game, but still some roster spots up for grabs. The KR and PR situations still seem undecided.

[killxswitch]

I didn't watch it. I kind of wanted to but I just had other things I had to do. Strangely Brandon James caught 3 TD passes.

[Seamus2602]

QB - 18 - Peyton Manning
QB - 5 - Tom Brandstater

RB - 29 - Joseph Addai
RB - 31 - Donald Brown
RB - 32 - Mike Hart
RB - 45 - Devin Moore

WR - 87 - Reggie Wayne
WR - 85 - Pierre Garçon
WR - 17 - Austin Collie
WR - 11 - Anthony Gonzalez
WR - 15 - Blair White

TE - 44 - Dallas Clark
TE - 81 - Brody Eldridge
TE - 84 - Jacob Tamme

LT - 74 - Charlie Johnson
LT - 72 - Jeff Linkenbach

LG - 67 - Tony Ugoh
LG - 78 - Mike Pollak
LG - 73 - Jaimie Thomas

C - 63 - Jeff Saturday
C - 61 - Jamey Richard

RG - 66 - Kyle DeVan
RG - 65 - Jacques McClendon

RT - 71 - Ryan Diem

DE - 93 - Dwight Freeney
DE - 98 - Robert Mathis
DE - 92 - Jerry Hughes
DE - 97 - John Chick

DT - 90 - Daniel Muir
DT - 95 - Fili Moala
DT - 99 - Antonio Johnson
DT - 68 - Eric Foster
DT - 91 - Ricardo Mathews
DT - 75 - Mitch King

WLB - 55 - Clint Session
WLB - 59 - Ramon Humber

MLB - 58 - Gary Brackett
MLB - 51 - Pat Angerer

SLB - 50 - Philip Wheeler
SLB - 49 - Vuna Tuihalamaka

CB - 26 - Kelvin Hayden
CB - 25 - Jerraud Powers
CB - 27 - Jacob Lacey
CB - 23 - Deshea Townsend
CB - 28 - Ray Fisher
CB - 34 - Terrail Lambert

FS - 41 - Antoine Bethea
FS - 38 - Mike Newton

SS - 21 - Bob Sanders
SS - 33 - Melvin Bullitt

PK - 4 - Adam Vinatieri
P - 1 - Pat McAfee
LS - 48 - Justin Snow

[MaxV]

10 O-linemen is too many. Linkenbach will be on PS, i think.

Favorite has made a case for himself also. Brandon James has also.

I think 2 of Tuihalamaka, Conner and Glenn will make it.

[Seamus2602]

Originally Posted by MaxV

10 O-linemen is too many. Linkenbach will be on PS, i think.

Favorite has made a case for himself also. Brandon James has also.

I think 2 of Tuihalamaka, Conner and Glenn will make it.

I think last night Brandon James made a bit of a case for himself but it came down to him or Fisher. I liked Favorite but the problem was that there were 3 spots for him, King and Matthews. Matthews brings greater versatility and I think King has been better than Favorite.

We carried, for the most part, 9 Offensive Linemen last year and that was with the Starter position locked down at one Guard position. This year we don't have a sure fire starter at either Guard position. We have two injury prone starting Tackles and their principle backup, if we cut Linkenbach, will be the probable starter at Left Guard.

[MaxV]

You are hurting Special Teams coverage unit by carrying too many slow, 300+ lbs players.

I think we carry more then 6 LBs.

[Seamus2602]

I would say that if we take less than 10 O-Linemen then it will be Thomas and not Linkenbach who will be put on the Practice Squad. If Ugoh is the starter at Left Guard and the team cut Linkenbach then it leaves absolutely no cover at Tackle, with two injury prone players at both Tackle spots.

I could see Kavell Conner making the team as a replacement for one of those Linemen (I really haven't been impressed by Glenn in training camp or preseason). Personally, if it was purely for Special Teams, I wouldn't bring in a new Linebacker to replace the Linemen. I'd bring in Giguere instead. He's probably been the team's best Gunner during Preseason.

[MaxV]

Well, from what I've heard, Jamie Thomas has looked good at camp, especially in run-blocking.

But I do agree that we have virtually no depth at OT.

[chad72]

Erwin Baldwin has played better than King and Favorite this pre-season, IMO. His relentless motor in pursuit of RBs from the back or pass rushing from the edge has led me to believe we carry 5 DEs since Jerry Hughes is still learning.

DEs - Freeney, Mathis, Chick, Hughes, Baldwin

DTs - Mookie, Muir, Moala, Foster, one of Mitch King/Marlon Favorite/Ricardo Mathews


Brandon James has not stood out in the return dept., the fact that we are stacked at WR goes against him while the fact that we are thin at CB favors Ray Fisher, IMO. Plus, Brandon James has struggled holding on to balls in traffic and he is what 5'6", 5'7"? He is not a natural wideout, and it shows. Plus, I get flashbacks of the Colts cutting Courtney Roby for a fumble during a return. Good that he turned things around while playing for the Saints but he did not do well for the Colts, that is the bottom line. So, that muffed punt against Packers starters is a big checkmark against Brandon James, those will be the kind of players he will be going against. Plus, I really doubt Brandon James would catch those TD passes against starting CBs in the league that he did yesterday. Too much of a limited role for him.

Blair White played ST as a hands/coverage guy too and given that we had WRs go down 2 times in the last 3 years (Harrison in 2007 & Gonzo in 2009), I'd rather have a 5th WR that can at least move the chains with reliable hands than agonize over dropped balls from Aaron Moorehead and Hank Baskett that stalled drives, like we did in 2007 & 2009.

[AntoinCD]

Taj Smith has torn his hamstring, won't be on the 53, while Ray Fisher, Adam Terry And Marlon Favorite have been cut.

PS: This is actual Seamus2602. Accidentaly signed in as my brother's account.

[chad72]

Brandon James, Mike Newton, Colin Cloherty have all been cut.

[Seamus2602]

Apparently the team have also cut Blair White.

[killxswitch]

Originally Posted by Seamus2602

Apparently the team have also cut Blair White.

Only 4 WRs on active roster. I think Tamme will be used as a WR5.

[redviper311]

Colts 2010 Practice Squad:

Newton, Mike, DB, 5-10, 197, R, Buffalo
Brown, Cornelius, DB, 5-11, 198, R, Texas-El Paso
Chick, John, DE, 6-4, 248, 1, Utah State
James, Brandon, KR, 5-7, 176, R, Florida
Fulton, Xavier, OT, 6-5, 301, 2, Illinois
Brandstater, Tom, QB, 6-5, 223, 2, Fresno State
White, Blair, WR, 6-2, 205, R, Michigan State
Arnett, Alric, WR, 6-2, 189, R, West Virginia


All in all I am happy we retained all these guys

[Seamus2602]

I'm pretty happy with the Practice Squad. It holds a couple of guys I though should have made the 53, like Tom Brandstater, Blair White and John Chick, as well as bringing in Xavier Fulton, who as a prospect I was quite keen on a couple of years ago.

[MaxV]

I started the 2010 Season thread.

http://www.draftcountdown.com/forum/...ad.php?t=42686