ANDERSON, Ind. — Each week on Examiner.com, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser offers seven thoughts on all things surrounding the Indianapolis Colts. Without further delay, the third Magnificent Seven of the 2010 season, this one looking at seven issues after two preseason games enteringtraining camp . . .
7. A real test. It's a truth with which serious NFL fans almost certainly are familiar, but if there is an important preseason game for the Colts this season, it's Thursday. And not because it's in Lambeau Field in Green Bay against the Green Bay Packers. It's because it's the third game of the preseason, which means it's the closest thing to a regular-season game for the Colts. Most teams approach the third preseason game as something close to a dress rehearsal for the regular season, and that's true of Indianapolis. The Colts game-planned for the Packers this past week, something of which they did little for the first two preseason games, and the starters likely will play into the third quarter. That makes the first half an important gauge of the Colts' readiness for the regular season. So far, the team has looked ready despite two losses. The first-team offense has looked precise and productive in six series, and while the first-team defense allowed two long touchdowns against the Bills, there have been good signs there, too. A rough first half wouldn't be reason to panic and a glowing first half won't guarantee a Super Bowl, but how the Colts fare early Thursday will dictate how they feel much of the next two weeks as they prepare for the regular-season opener.
6. Keep it simple. One caveat to No. 7 – a real test – is that there is a limit to how much can actually be gleaned from preseason, even in Week 3. That's because the Colts generally don't run their entire offense during the preseason, and Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said that will remain true this week. Yes, the Colts want to work their offense against real defenses, but they're not foolish enough to reveal new approaches and schemes in the preseason and allow teams to prepare. “You hold back, I think, a significant amount because of the fact that if there is something you’re doing that is a little bit different than what you’ve done before, you don’t necessarily want to give any teams a little head start in preparation,” Caldwell said. "There are some things that you may not divulge. But for the most part it is a fairly significant package. We do also want to keep things relatively simple because we like to see what guys can do and if they are out there thinking a little bit too much. I think that sort of retards what we consider to be a gift of ours and that is our speed and able to run to the ball and execute effectively without having to necessarily think about what is going on. That’s kind of how we’ll approach it, so it’s a little bit of both.”
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