The third preseason game is the most important in the NFL, and it is with that as a backdrop that the Indianapolis Colts travel to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., to play the Packers Thursday. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN, and in preparation for that, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser offers five storylines for the Colts entering the game. . .
1. Pierre Garcon. A lot of these storylines will be ones that could still be dangling when the regular season begins, which makes sense, because the third game of the preseason is the last that will look and somewhat feel like a regular-season game. The storylines also will deal with the Colts players returning on Thursday from injuries, of which Garcon is one. He missed the first two preseason games, and a storyline on Thursday will be how the Colts line up and play at receiver upon his return. The Colts this season have four receivers – Garcon, four-time Pro Bowl selection Reggie Wayne, second-year veteran Austin Colline and fourth-year veteran Anthony Gonzalez – who are widely considered quality receivers, and much off-season speculation has been how they will fit together with Gonzalez returning from an injury. The projections largely have been that Garcon and Wayne will play extensively on the outside, with Collie and Gonzalez playing more in the slot, but Gonzalez has started on the outside for the Colts and Collie has worked there extensively in the preseason after working there in training camp. The guess is that the Colts will work formations with receivers this season that the team hasn't shown before, the idea being to get the best receivers on the field in the best formations possible. With all four expected to play together for the first time this preseason, Thursday's game could provide first hints to how what many consider the deepest group of wide receivers in quarterback Peyton Manning's career could be utilized.
2. Offensive efficiency. Yes, this was a pre-game theme last week, too, but it remains important – as it always does for the Colts in the preseason. The Colts have looked sharp on offense in their first two preseason games, and have scored on four of their first six first-team offensive possessions. That's impressive considering the team has been without center Jeff Saturday, offensive tackle Charlie Johnson and offensive guard Kyle Devan because of injuries. In the opener, the efficiency mostly was about Manning and the passing game, but the Colts ran a bit more effectively against the Buffalo Bills this past week. One factor the Colts discussed this week was how the offense may play a bit more relaxed this week compared to other preseason games, reason being players know they have a half and another series or two to work rather than just a series or two. But with Manning at quarterback, the Colts never exactly relax on offense, and this week's performance is important as a tone-setter. The starters won't play much if at all against Cincinnati in the pre-season finale, so the performance against the Packers will be the last full-scale work until the regular-season opener against the Houston Texans on September 12.
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