Indianapolis Colts preseason primer, vol. 3: Five things to watch offensively against Detroit

Indianapolis Colts TE Dallas Clark (AP Photo)

Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser previews the Indianapolis Colts' third game of the 2009 preseason: at Ford Field on Saturday afternoon against the Detroit Lions . . .

PART ONE: OFFENSE

The Indianapolis Colts' third 2009 preseason game is Saturday afternoon, and because it's the next-to-last game of the preseason, the starting units will get their most extensive playing time until the regular-season opener.

The Colts are preparing all week as if it's a regular-season game, and by the time Saturday's game against the Detroit Lions is over, many of the Colts' front-line players' preseasons will be, too. Traditionally, the Colts hold many of their top players out of the preseason finale, reserving that game for a final preseason look at young players and veterans fighting for a roster spot. Next week's game against the Cincinnati Bengals likely will be such a scenario.

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So what will be seen this week? What should fans be looking for when the Colts (1-1 in the preseason) visit the Detroit Lions (1-1) at Ford Field in Detroit Saturday at 1 p.m?

Without further delay, five things to watch Saturday when the Colts are on offense:

5) A really good look. Like most teams, the Colts use the third preseason game to get their most-extensive look at the starters and that means QB Peyton Manning, WR Reggie Wayne, WR Anthony Gonzalez, etc., likely will play into the third quarter. The Colts make the third preseason game a dress rehearsal of a regular-season game, which means making halftime adjustments and playing the starters at least a series in the second half. After a rough, abbreviated appearance in the preseason opener, Indianapolis scored on two of its three possessions in which the starters played against Philadelphia last week. A good showing Saturday and the Colts will feel they have momentum entering the regular season. A rough showing, and there will be two weeks of relative uncertainty.

4) Sorgi time? Backup QB Jim Sorgi has missed the first two preseason games with a hamstring injury, but he and Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said the hope is he will play against the Lions. Third-team/rookie quarterback Curtis Painter played extensively in the first two preseason games, and has played well enough to get some fans talking about the possibility of him pushing for the backup position, but when the Colts selected Painter last offseason, Colts President Bill Polian made it clear the plan was for Sorgi to be the backup this season. With the starters expected to play deep into the third quarter, it will be interesting to see how Sorgi moves the team afterward.

3) One more test. The line has been and will continue to be the major offensive theme of the preseason -- and likely will be the offensive theme of the early season, too. The first unit talked throughout the offseason about improving from last season, then allowed three sacks in six plays in the preseason opener. They followed that with an impressive effort this past week against Philadelphia, a game in which the starters allowed just one sack and gave Manning time to complete 10 of 14 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. The theme for the first line entering the Detroit game is pretty much the same as for the entire offense -- a solid performance and they enter the regular season with momentum. Anything less and this is an area of focus for the next two weeks.

2) Developing weapons. The Colts for the past several seasons have been a team based on big-time, big-name weapons. Manning. Wayne. Marvin Harrison. Edgerrin James. Dallas Clark. Etc. The Colts still have names such as Manning, Wayne, Gonzalez, RB Joseph Addai, Clark and RB Donald Brown, and they're big names, too. All six were first-round draft selections. But during the offseason and preseason, the Colts have been developing lesser-known weapons, too: WR Pierre Garcon (2008 sixth-round draft selection), WR Austin Collie (2009 fourth-round draft selection) and TE Jacob Tamme (2008 fourth-round draft selection). No member of that trio was a first-day draft selection, yet all have shown potential in recent months and weeks of making a significant impact this season and the Detroit game could be be another step in the trio's development.

1) The battle at left tackle. This storyline continues to be compelling for Colts fans. To review: Tony Ugoh started there his first two seasons and was replaced by Charlie Johnson in the offseason. Because Johnson was out with a pectoral injury, Johnson didn't take over the job until the second week of training camp and he missed the Colts' first preseason game. In that first game, Ugoh played well enough to draw praise from Caldwell, who earlier that week had said Ugoh didn't make enough offseason progress to be the starting left tackle but that the team still expected him to make a leap this season. When Johnson moved into the starting lineup against Philadelphia, he allowed a sack/fumble, but Caldwell said afterward he and the rest of the offensive line played well. Colts President Bill Polian said this week Johnson was leading the competition, but said, "We’ll find out over the next two weeks which of Charlie Johnson or Tony Ugoh has a lock on the job."

TRAINING CAMP NEWS

Magnificent Seven I: Seven training camp thoughts and observations

Magnificent Seven II: On the Colts' defensive tackle position and WR Reggie Wayne

Magnificent Seven III: On the Colts' running backs and offensive line

Magnificent Seven IV: On the Colts' offense, OG Ryan Lilja and WR Anthony Gonzalez

EXAMINER SERIES: TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH THE COLTS . . .

1) Will Jim Sorgi be the backup quarterback?

2) Will Special Teams be Special?

3) Who will be the Colts' breakout player in 2009?

4) Will loss of former Head Coach Tony Dungy hurt in 2009?

5) What will defense look like in 2009?

6) Will DT Ed Johnson impact the defense in 2009?