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Magnificent Seven XIII: On offensive balance and resting Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning
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Indianapolis Colts RB Joseph Addai
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 the ninth week of the 2009 regular season, in which the Colts (7-0) will play host to the Houston Texans (5-3) at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis . . .
7.Sticking to it. Much has been made, and not without reason, about the Indianapolis Colts' running game this season. While the Colts are ranked fourth in the NFL in offense, and are undefeated after seven games, they are 30th in the NFL in rushing after ranking 31st in the area last season. They have run 165 times in seven games and attempted 264 passes while being sacked five times. That's a big difference between rushing and passing attempts, but Colts QB Peyton Manning said no way are the Colts giving up on the run. Not even close. “We’re still trying to be balanced,” he said. “I guess the numbers are what they are, and we probably are throwing it better than we are running it. I guess that’s a safe statement, but it’s something that we’re still going to try and establish the run every single week. You never quite know when a run is going to pop.” Manning noted that while the Colts rushed for 61 yards in a victory over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, 24 came in the fourth quarter and 20 came on a game-securing drive that consumed the final 5:45. RB Joseph Addai had a 13-yard run on that series. “We didn’t run it all that great on Sunday, but on that last drive, I think we kept it for the last six minutes,” Manning said. “I think you have to stay committed to it, just to keep the defense somewhat honest, to keep them from being able to rush the passer every single time. There is no question, if you ask anybody on the offense, that is one area we want to improve, as well as we to improve in the passing game.”
6.Mature beyond his years. The more time you spend around rookie CB Jerraud Powers the more you like him as a player and locker-room presence – and the more you think this guy's going to be a core player for the Colts for a long time. The 2009 third-round selection from Auburn moved into the starting lineup for the season opener, and has been out just once in seven games since – because of an injury. Asked this week about Texans WR Andre Johnson, he answered with tone-perfect humility and spoke of Johnson being one of those players who comes up when you're sitting around with your friends debating the best receivers in the NFL. But underneath Powers' words were the sort of confidence you want in a cornerback, the sort of confidence that he has shown throughout the season. How good have Powers and rookie corner Jacob Lacey been this season? Good enough that with Kelvin Hayden possibly out Sunday they may be starting against the Texans, and more importantly, good enough that that prospect doesn't automatically mean the Colts are in trouble.
5.No word yet. Speaking of Lacey, he said Wednesday he hadn't yet heard from the NFL on the appeal the league heard Tuesday regarding the $10,000 fine levied upon him for his end-zone celebration against the Rams. Lacey, a free agent rookie, executed what Colts President Bill Polian called a “perfect pop-up slide” after a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown against St. Louis on October 25. Polian noted on his radio show Monday that the $10,000 fine was about $6,000 more than Lacey's signing bonus last offseason. Polian, a member of the NFL's Competition Committee, said because Lacey's celebration was not of “untoward” or “offensive” he believed the league might reduce the fine. Lacey, for his part, said he was unaware beforehand that the celebration was subject to either fine or penalty. He said last week considering it was his first touchdown he might have considered doing the celebration even had he known of the penalty. Not true of the fine, he said. “That's a little steep,” Lacey said.
4.Telling time. Really too bad about Colts LB Tyjuan Hagler, who was placed on injured reserve this week with a ruptured biceps. This is the latest in a long series of injuries to the talented Hagler, who joined the Colts in 2005 and who the Colts really, really like but who has been unable to stay healthy an entire season. He surprised many by beating out second-year veteran Philip Wheeler for a starting strong-side linebacker position this offseason, and he was a reason the Colts' defense had improved this season. Now, the Colts' effective cliché of “Next Man Up” kicks in and the job many thought Wheeler would have entering the season may become his. Can Wheeler be the play-making, big-play physical linebacker the Colts envisioned when they drafted him? Now's the time to find out.
3.Hard to say. I've been saying all year – or at least the past several weeks – that Colts DE Dwight Freeney might be having the best year of his career. My thought was this was remarkable because Freeney is two seasons removed from a foot injury many thought might end or limit his career. The numbers seem to support the theory. Through seven games, Freeney has eight sacks and he has had at least one in eight consecutive games, tying a franchise record. But when I asked Freeney about it this week, he said he wasn't sure. His thought was that just there had been years past when he believed he played better than his sacks totals indicated he wasn't sure this season that the fact that he has been able to put up big numbers – numbers that impress media bumblers such as I – meant necessarily that he had been playing better than some of his previous seasons. Give Freeney credit for consistency. He often talked during 2005 and 2007, when his sacks totals dropped from the previous few seasons, how sacks sometimes are an unfair gauge of a pass rusher. Now, when he could easily use statistics to talk about himself being at a peak, he still sees the same way.
2.Fond Farewell. With the release of former Colts RB Edgerrin James from Seattle this week, there has been understandable speculation (read: wishful thinking) among fans that the Colts might bring James back for the rest of the regular season. Not sure it will happen, and relatively certain it shouldn't. It was pretty apparent when the Seahawks visited the Colts earlier this season James is well past being a prime-time back and it's hard to see where he would significantly help the Colts. You've also heard the thought that Indianapolis might re-sign him for one day so he can retire as a member of the Colts. The first thought there is James may not yet want to retire, and the second is that if he does, it would be a nice gesture. Upon hearing about James' release, the thing I kept going back to was the day in October when the Colts and Seahawks played and the Colts ran the video tribute to James. I recall James' smile. It was real, it was heartfelt and it was a terrific moment. It almost seemed destined that James had signed there to allow Colts fans to pay him that tribute. And if that's the best moment for James in what seems possible is his final season, it was a special one that he and a lot of people will remember.
1.A story that won't rest. Manning said Wednesday he was surprised the story of his being limited in practice Friday to rest became such a big story. “It got to be a little bit bigger than I thought it would be,” I just felt like I needed some (rest) that day. I don’t necessarily think it’s going to be every single week. I felt like I wanted some that day.” Manning also said the Colts have reduced his throws in previous Novembers and Decembers. “(Director of Rehabilitation) Erin Barill called some other veteran quarterbacks,” Manning said. “We did a little study, really looking at their practice schedules. How much did they throw on Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays? Did they throw on Sundays before the game? We have done some research. (Colts Head) Coach (Jim) Caldwell helped lead that project and just trying to be smart. The main thing is you want your arm to feel as fresh in December as it does in September. There is something to monitoring your repetitions and throws. It’s also kind of how you train in the offseason, so you don’t have to have a tired arm. We did study it a little bit, and in the past couple of years, November, December, I have cut down on some of my throws, mainly on Fridays. I still have to get my work in.” The “tired arm” reference prompted someone to as Manning he ever had had one. “I can’t say I never have,” he said. “I don’t have a tired arm. I guess I’ve had some soreness at times. We have catered towards that. You really can’t start in November. It’s really how you do it in training camp and how much you throw in March, April and May.” Still, Manning said as valuable as rest is for a quarterback, repetitions are more so, particularly with a young core of receivers. “Some people say just don’t throw in those months,” he said. “How do you get your timing down with your new receivers? If we had all the same receivers it would be one thing, but we got (WR Austin) Collie, (WR Pierre) Garcon and (RB Donald) Brown. You have to throw with those guys. You have to pick your times and throw quality reps and sort of gradually build, so as you go into December and hopefully playing in January, your arm still feels as good. To me, if you just start missing practice, that’s not good for anybody. That’s not good for you. I don’t think that’s good for the team.”
RECENT COLTS NEWS
* QB Peyton Manning: Houston Texans "may be the biggest test of our season so far". Here.
* Status of WR Anthony Gonzalez uncertain.Here.
* LB Tyjuan Hagler on IR. Here.
* Friday rest for QB Peyton Manning shouldn't worry Colts fans. Here.
*** CATCH UP WITH ALL THINGS COLTS ON INDY FOOTBALL REPORT. HERE
**** BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT THE COLTS. SUBSCRIBE TO IFR EDITOR JOHN OEHSER'S EXAMINER ARTICLES BY CLICKING "SUBSCRIBE" ABOVE
*** COFFEE WITH THE COLTS: NEXT DAY LOOK AT COLTS-49ERS. HERE
*** 49ERS-COLTS GAME STORY. HERE
*** COLTS HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL: WE FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO WIN. HERE
*** IFR EDITOR JOHN OEHSER ON COLTS DE DWIGHT FREENEY: HERE
MAGNIFICENT SEVENS: WEEKLY COLTS THOUGHTS . . .
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
Magnificent Seven V: On S Melvin Bullitt and QB Peyton Manning
Magnificent Seven VI: On RB Donald Brown and the start of the season . . . at last
Magnificent Seven VII: On WR Reggie Wayne, the OL and blitzing
Magnificent Seven VIII: On WR Reggie Wayne, QB Peyton Manning and DE Dwight Freeney
Magnificent Seven IX: On DE Robert Mathis, S Bob Sanders and DE Dwight Freeney
Magnificent Seven X: On QB Peyton Manning's start and life without DT Ed Johnson
Magnificent Seven XI: On RB rotation, DE Dwight Freeney and S Bob Sanders
Magnificent Seven XII: On WR Reggie Wayne, TE Dallas Clark and running game
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