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That's a Wrap | A look back and a look ahead at the Indianapolis Colts | Week 9 | Houston Texans
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Indianapolis Colts CB Kelvin Hayden
Wrapping up the week that was for the Indianapolis Colts (7-0) as they prepare to play host to the Houston Texans (5-3) at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis Sunday at 1 p.m. (A word before we commence wrapping: the latter part of the week was fast and furious with stories of injuries to the secondary breaking seemingly one on top of the other. With that in mind, here's this week's wrap, with a decided All-Secondary-All-The-Time feel -- and a bit of linebacker and reprognostication added in . . .)
So, as of late this week, the word comes that Indianapolis Colts S Bob Sanders is out for the season . . .
The first thought is it's hardly a surprise, because while Sanders has been a dynamic, Pro Bowl player in six seasons with the Colts, the 2007 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year also has had well-documented trouble staying healthy in most of those seasons.
Second thought: In terms of the Colts' success or failure, does it really matter?
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Perhaps, but just as likely, perhaps not.
Sanders, a second-round selection by the Colts in the 2004 NFL Draft, will miss the remainder of the season with what Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting is a torn biceps. The team placed him on injured reserve Friday afternoon, news undoubtedly disappointing for the Colts, because when healthy, Sanders -- a two-time Pro Bowl selection -- is one of the NFL's best defensive players. He's a combination of speed, instincts and tackling ability with a rare knack for the game-changing, momentum stopping play, and when healthy -- as was the case in 2005, the 2006 postseason and 2007 -- he makes the Colts' defense better.
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But there's another reality to Sanders, and it's not the obvious reality that he has missed 40 of 87 career NFL games with injuries.
The reality is that as important as he is, the Colts have learned to play without him.
The Colts under former Head Coach Tony Dungy often repeated the mantra "Next Man Up," meaning when a starter was injured, the reserve had to not only play, but play well. It's a philosophy most teams in the NFL want to follow, but one the Colts have followed with remarkable success. They have made the playoffs seven consecutive seasons, and their current streak of six consecutive seasons with at least 12 victores is an NFL record they seem likely to extend this season. You don't run off a streak like that if you fade at the first sign of trouble.
Few players have embraced that philosophy as well as S Melvin Bullitt.
"All I know is when coach tells me I'm up, I'm up," Bullitt said Friday afternoon, before it was announced that Sanders' season was over, but after it had become obvious that Bullitt would likely be starting Sunday against Houston.
"With Bob, I pray he gets healthy, but I just have to prepare for the game."
Bullitt, who signed with the Colts as a free agent following the 2007 NFL Draft, has started 14 games in Sanders' place the last two seasons, nine last season and the first five this season. Make no mistake: he is not Sanders, because when healthy, Sanders is an elite-talent guy with physical skills few at the position have had. Ever. But whereas in 2006 and 2007 the Colts had trouble without Sanders, that has been less the case in 2008 and 2009.
That's not to say the Colts wouldn't be better with him. Almost certainly they would. But their season's a long way from lost without him this time around.
WORTH REPEATING . . .
I mentioned on Examiner earlier this week the sometimes-cruel nature of the NFL when it comes to the best-laid plans of players and franchises. It's worth mentioning again.
The point was that the Colts' secondary -- a unit that included Pro Bowl safeties Sanders and Antoine Bethea and CBs Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden -- had at the end of the 2007 seemed destined to become one of the best in the NFL, and that since the end of that season, the group had played together just two games. Those were the first two games of the 2008 season.
The point seemed all the more pertinent Friday, after Sanders was placed on injured reserve.
That means the breakdown is as follows:
Sanders has missed 40 of 87 career games, and has played just six regular-season games the past two seasons. Jackson, a 2005 first-round draft choice, has played 11 games the past two seasons. Hayden, a 2005 second-round draft choice who signed a long-term contract this past offseason, has missed nine of the last 19 games and is expected to be out 3-to-4 weeks.
Bethea, as a sixth-round selection in 2006 the latest-drafted player of the foursome, has been by far the most durable, missing just five games in four seasons.
"You have to play every game like it's your last, every snap like it's your last, because you never know when it can be that play in practice, or in a game," Bethea said. "It goes to show every play, every snap, is important. You can't take anything for granted."
Bethea also talked about the frustration of the aforementioned foursome not being able to fulfill its potential as a group.
"You never know," he said. "We always talked about it, me, Bob, Marlin and Kelvin, that if we got on the field together we could be something special, but throughout that time, there was always one guy missing, two guys missing. Now, it's tough, but you never know."
MOVING FORWARD . . .
Not surprisingly, Bethea and Bullitt spoke of moving forward on Friday.
That's how the NFL is. There's loyalty to fallen teammates mixed with a clear realization that these players play a violent, brutal game and when a teammate is injured, it's time to move on.
But in this case, when Bethea, Bullitt and the rest of the Colts talked about being able to move forward and succeed despite what on the surface seem a devestating run of injuries, there's evidence to support their point.
With Sanders out, Bullitt will start. Rookie CB Jerraud Powers has started six of seven games, and while much is being written about Jackson this week, the reality is Powers likely was going to be the long-term starter opposite Hayden whether or not Jackson played again this season. Lacey is projected to start Sunday in place of Hayden and he has played well this season, breaking up at least two potential touchdown passes and returning an interception for a touchdown.
Bethea said with that in mind, it's not as if things will seem all that different Sunday as it has the first seven games. The Colts have been a productive defense those games, and Bethea said there's little reason that shouldn't continue.
"Marlin and Bob are great players," Bethea said. "Leadership, they bring a lot to the table, but the young guys -- Lacey, Jerraud, they've been playing great for us. Melvin did a great job this year, last year, so it's not to a point where it's brand-new faces. They're players that I've become accustomed to. Playing with them is nothing new. We have to go out and play our ball and gave confidence in each other. I'm pretty sure we'll do that."
Said Bullitt, "It's a familiarity. We've had basically the same guys playing all season, so it's one of those things where we just keep rolling. We probably have in my opinion the deepest, most-talented secondary in the league. No matter who's up, we have confidence we can go make plays."
A FINAL THOUGHT ON THE SECONDARY . . .
Bullitt makes a good point. A strong argument could be made that the Colts' secondary is the NFL's deepest and most talented. Otherwise, no way could the unit have withstood such injuries to play at the level it has attained this season. The Colts have allowed just three passing touchdowns this season after setting an NFL record for fewest touchdowns allowed in a season last season with six. A lot of credit has to to pass-rushing DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, but for a secondary to be without Hayden, Sanders and Jackson as long and often as it has been can only speak to depth and ability.
WHY NOT . . ?
Interesting conversation with newly-signed DE Josh Thomas on Friday.
Thomas, who played with the Colts from 2004-2008 after signing as a free agent after the 2004 NFL Draft, became a free agent after last season. The team didn't re-sign him until training camp, then released him just before the regular season.
With the weeks passing, Thomas said he figured his career might be over.
"This late in the season, I thought, 'It is what it is,''' Thomas said Friday. "I was ready to give it up. I like to work out. I keep in shape. I guess it's just lucky for me that's my personality.'
"They called me last night and said, 'We might need you,''' Thomas said. "They called me this morning and said, 'You want to work? Drink a lot of Gatorade, because you might be playing a lot on Sunday.' I said, 'Sure.'''
Thomas said the Texans' being a division opponent should help him Sunday.
"I've played them a ton," Thomas said. "The defense, some of the nickel stuff is new, but the basic stuff I'm going to do is the same.''
Thomas said he is aproaching his latest stint as if every game -- indeed, every game -- might be his last. And he said he's OK with the idea that that's true.
"I hate to use the term, 'Milk it,' but as long as they want me to play football, I'm going to play football," he said. "I think I still have the talent. I still love to compete. If they give me one game, if they give me the rest of the season, I really don't care --just being able to go out there and play ball, be with my boys -- that's what I miss. I've got nothing to lose."
GETTING HIS SHOT . . .
Colts LB Philip Wheeler likely will make his first start Sunday. "I've been looking forward to it a long time," he said. "I guess it's coming."
Colts MLB Gary Brackett was a bit more specific on the best way for a young player to handle the opportunity.
"It's definitely his time," Brackett said ."You just have to take advantage of your opportunity. The misperception is you have to go out there and be special and make a lot of tackles. That's not the case. You have to go out there and play solid and play smart football."
Brackett said he felt felt for Hagler, who routinely has shown flashes in five seasons with the Colts, but who never has played a full season.
"This is a guy who was having a great season, working so hard," Brackett said. "To have a freak injury that could happen to any of us -- that's the unfornate part of this business."
REASSESSING . . .
The Colts lost three significant players to injuries this week -- not only the well-documented losses of Jackson and Sanders, but the loss of Hagler, the latter of which may be as important as the other two. Hagler had played a significant role this season while the others had played a total of five games and started two (Sanders in the most recent two games). While NFL teams -- particularly the Colts in recent seasons -- are often able to overcome injuries, there's little question the injuries in the secondary are a major concern this week. While Jackson hadn't played in three games, and while the Colts have become accustomed to playing without Sanders, they also this week will be without Hayden. That means Lacey and Powers likely will start with CB Tim Jennings in the nickel and T.J. Rushing the fourth corner. The game could turn on two areas -- the ability of the Texans' second and third wide receivers to take advantage of Jennings and Lacey, but more importantly, the ability of Colts DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis to pressure Texans QB Matt Schaub enough that Houston can't take advantage of whatever weaknesses injuries may have caused in the Indianapolis secondary.
RECENT COLTS NEWS
* QB Peyton Manning: Houston Texans "may be the biggest test of our season so far". Here.
* S Bob Sanders placed on injured reserve. 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
*** 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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