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Indianapolis Colts WR Reggie Wayne (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)
THE DAILY DIGEST | Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser takes a look at what they're saying about and what's going on around the AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts.
We could call this piggybacking with the Indianapolis Colts, or you could just call it knowing good questions when you see them. Either way, Indianapolis Star reporter Mike Chappell weighed in on questions from the fans recently.
We won't reprint the details of every Chappell response, and the entire question/response session can be read here, but here are some of the questions, some of Chappell's thoughts and some of Indy Football Report's thoughts on those thoughts:
Question to Chappell: How come nobody is talking about Reggie Wayne's "absence'' from the Super Bowl? . . . Chappell excerpt: I wish I could provide some insight as to Wayne's subpar game (5 catches, 46 yards). . . Reggie was subdued after the game, which was to be expected. . . .Knowing Reggie as I do, he always gives 100 percent, even when he isn't as involved as he wants to be. . . . IFR Analysis: On this, Chappell and I couldn't agree more. The blogosphere buzz about Wayne somehow not trying just doesn't jibe with anything I've seen or known from Wayne in his nine seasons with the team. I've covered Wayne in each of his nine NFL seasons, and while he certainly wants his catches and like any receiver doesn't like it when they don't come his way, he always has struck me to be less diva-ish than can be expected from an elite receiver.
Question to Chappell: How much do you attribute our inability to stop the Saints' short passing game to the Jerraud Powers/Dwight Freeney injuries? Chappell excerpt: There's no question not having Freeney at 100 percent and Powers playing very little hurt the defense. Less or Powers meant more of Tim Jennings. As it turned out, I'm not so sure Powers' injury didn't have a bigger impact in the game considering how the Saints attacked the Colts' defense. Even if Freeney had been 100 percent, he might have had a difficult time getting to Drew Brees considering the short drops and quick throws. IFR analysis: Without question the most-overlooked pre-game Super Bowl XLIV story was the injury to Powers. That's understandable, because most national media types know about Freeney and knew little of Powers, but those who follow the Colts and have listened to Colts President Bill Polian know he's a player with big-time potential who was playing close to that potential far more quickly than most NFL rookies. Powers not being 100 percent in the Super Bowl certainly isn't an excuse. The Saints won the game. But in a game that was decided on a few fourth-quarter plays, having a healthy Powers who could have made the difference on one or two plays would have been huge.
Question to Chappell: Who do you think stays with the team and who do you see moving on? I think the Colts must re-sign Gary Brackett, but who else do you feel would be a "must'' keep at this point? Chappell excerpt: Very important to retain Brackett, and Polian said Brackett is a priority. It all depends on whether the two sides can find common ground on a new contract. Brackett believes he's earned a big pay day. He would prefer to stay in Indy, but he'll go where the money is. . . . The other priorities probably are safeties Antoine Bethea and Melvin Bullitt, offensive tackle Charlie Johnson, linebacker Tyjuan Hagler and maybe cornerback Marlin Jackson. All are restricted free agents in an uncapped year, so the Colts can virtually lock them up for another year by placing a high restricted tender on them. I seriously doubt Matt Stover returns, same with Hank Baskett and maybe Tim Jennings. IFR analysis: Can't believe Brackett won't be back some how, some way. The Colts usually don't fail to get something done once they begin offseason negotiations with potential free agents. And, like Chappell and most others, I believe Bethea, Bullitt, Johnson and Hagler will be offered significant enough tenders to stay. Jackson is a bit more questionable, but considering he has finished the last two seasons on injured reserve, it probably doesn't make much sense for him to play somewhere else next season. Not sure that Jennings is as much of a lock to be gone as Chappell believes. He has been roughed up in the media, and he hasn't played to the level of a second-round selection, but he's a servicable cornerback who -- unlike Jackson -- has finished each of the last two seasons.
Question to Chappell: I don't understand why Polian criticized the offensive line's play in the Super Bowl. No sacks, few pressures, some good holes for running. I felt the Colts should have run more. What did he see that I did not? Chappell excerpt: I wasn't that discouraged by the play of the offensive line. But while the running game averaged 5.2 yards per carry, there were another couple of unsuccessful third-and-short situations. Those have been a problem for the past couple of years. And while Manning wasn't sacked, I thought he was pressured more than a few times. But, hey, that happens against quality teams. IFR Analysis: This without question is shaping up to be something worth following throughout the offseason. It's hard to believe Polian isn't at least somewhat concerned with not picking up third-and-short in crucial situations in back-to-back postseasons. Also, there was some talk after the game that the Saints basically decided they were going to stop the pass at all costs and allow Indianapolis some success in the running game, so it's possible Polian believed the Colts' success running the ball wasn't quite as impressive as many observers believed. But who knows? We won't try to speak for him here, but how the franchise approaches the offensive line is certainly a storyline going forward. . . .
ESPN.com AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky posted an interesting item taking a snapshot of seven early, pre-NFL Scouting Combine mock drafts.
The sites he included with the Colts' projected selection at No. 31.
Mel Kiper: Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State.
Bleacher Report: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida.
Bucky Brooks of NFL.com: Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State.
NewNFLDraft.com: Mike Iupati, G, Idaho.
NFLDraftDog.com: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri.
NFLDraftUpdates.com: Daryl Washington, LB, TCU.
KDraftonline consensus: Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas.
Kuharsky then provided his thoughts on the list, saying, "Predicting (Colts President) Bill Polian is incredibly difficult, because he’s as serious about 'best player available' as anyone. At this point, I’ll say a defensive tackle would surprise me." IFR Analysis: Not surprisingly, Kuharsky did a nice job analyzing summing up Polian's approach. The coming months as is the case every season will be notable for the consistency with which mock drafters ignore the Colts' draft history. The Colts haven't taken linebacker in the first round since 1999 and they likely won't change that trend this season, despite the draftniks continuing to harp on that being a need position. The Colts don't necessarily draft for need and they sure don't follow the thoughts of draftniks. Pouncey has been connected with the Colts a lot early and interior offensive line does make some sense, but to analyze much more in February would be not only premature, but a bit silly. Stay tuned and if you're into that sort of thing, enjoy this weekend's NFL Scouting Combine.
Speaking of the Combine, Indy Football Report will be at Lucas Oil Stadium every day for a second consecutive season. Combine begins Thursday and after that, we'll start diving into the NFL Draft in a big way.
DAILY DIGESTS:
WRAPPING UP POST-SUPER BOWL TALK: HERE
A REFRESHINGLY ACCURATE READ ON PEYTON MANNING. HERE
ON TEAM OF DECADE AND ED JOHNSON. HERE
A LOOK AT THE GARY BRACKETT NEGOTIATIONS. HERE.
OFFSEASON PRIMERS:
THE QUARTERBACKS. HERE.
THE RUNNING BACKS. HERE.
THE WIDE RECEIVERS. HERE.
THE TIGHT ENDS. HERE.
MORE COLTS NEWS
POLIAN: THE PAST IS PROLOGUE. HERE.
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