Magnificent Seven XVI (part two): On Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell and defining a glute

Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning and New England
Patriots QB Tom Brady (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)

Each week on Examiner.com, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser offers seven thoughts on all things Indianapolis Colts. Without further delay, the Magnificent Seven for Week 12 of the 2009 regular season, in which the Colts (10-0) will visit the Houston Texans (5-5) at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas . . .

THIS IS PART TWO OF MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. PART TWO.HERE

4. Very good story on Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell this week on ESPN.com. Elizabeth Merrill wrote it and did a good job of telling a bit about a guy who's just now starting to get credit for the Colts' success this season. Most notable about the story is that Caldwell declined to talk with Merrill about it. Through Colts public relations, he declined – said it was too soon for him to be featured. That's to be expected from Caldwell and what's most notable is there was nothing phony about it. In fact, you'd have a tough time finding much phony about Caldwell at all. For all of the stories this past offseason trying to outline the differences between Caldwell and his predecessor, Tony Dungy, that's the biggest similarity – that there's this immediate integrity and class you get from being around either of them. Their personalities are different than many realize – Caldwell's calm public demeanor belies an intensity, not to mention an ability to raise his voice at times that Dungy didn't want – but in terms of being to the core respectable, decent people they're neck and neck.

3.Will they or won't they? Unsurprisingly, whether or not the Colts will rest starters if and when they clinch home-field advantage is becoming a topic. The Colts correctly are saying it's too early to discuss it. “I guess I’m just not ready at this point to start thinking about that,” QB Peyton Manning said. “I don’t think anybody in the locker room is thinking about that. We’re just thinking about trying to beat Houston. We’ll deal with all the other stuff if and when it happens.” The expected answer, but it's a logical question, too. My early thought continues to be the Colts will rest starters late in the season – and that they should. Injuries are too crippling to risk them in meaningless games. Remember, too, that Colts President Bill Polian always has been in favor of resting. The early 1990s Buffalo teams of which Polian was general manager often rested players en masse in such situations – and made four Super Bowls doing it.

2.Defending Dallas. One of the interesting aspects of Colts-Texans will be how Houston defends Colts TE Dallas Clark. Clark caught a career-high and franchise-record 14 passes against Houston in early November and was guarded most of the game by Texans rookie linebacker Brian Cushing. The Texans won't likely try that again, and in recent weeks, New England and Baltimore have had varying degrees of success limiting Clark. The Ravens held him to one reception, but by doing so allowed second-year TE Tom Santi to have a big game. Big-time players adapt to new defenses, and the guess here is Manning and Clark don't allow Clark to be limited for long.

1.OK, so just what is a glute? It's what kept Manning limited in practice Wednesday, and according to the Free Dictionary, it's "any of the three large muscles of each buttock, especially the gluteus maximus, that extend, abduct and rotate the thigh." So . . . there you go. Here's guessing the large rear muscle doesn't keep Manning from missing a start for the first time in 12 seasons.

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DOES PEYTON MANNING GET TOO MUCH RESPECT? HERE

MANNING: TOO EARLY TO TALK PLAYOFFS. HERE

REVIEWING BILL POLIAN'S WEEKLY RADIO SHOW

Bill Polian’s Weekly Radio Show | Part One | “Peaking not an issue for us”

Bill Polian’s Weekly Radio Show | Part Two | Media and team in parallel worlds

Bill Polian’s Weekly Radio Show | Part Three | RB Joseph Addai having “terrific year”

Bill Polian’s Weekly Radio Show | Part Four | Victory over Ravens “courageous performance”

COLTS 17, RAVENS 15. STORY. HERE

COFFEE WITH THE COLTS | COLTS-RAVENS | PART ONE. HERE

COFFEE WITH THE COLTS | COLTS-RAVENS | PART TWO. HERE.

COLTS FANS OWE RB JOSEPH ADDAI AN APOLOGY. HERE