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Know Thy Enemy: Indianapolis Colts

Big Blue Shoe, from Stampede Blue was kind enough to stop by and answer a few question for us. Head over to Stampede Blue for all things Colts and hope that Larry Johnson's foot sprain isn't as bad as Dwight Freeney's.

Is there any reason, save Bob Sanders, why this defense is now one of the better units in the NFL?

Better players, and older players just more comfortable with things. Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden are just better than Jason David and Nick Harper. Second year FS Antoine Bethea has developed into a stud. Finding diamond-in-the-rough rookies like DT Ed Johnson and DT/DE Keyunta Dawson. Also, Gary Brackett, the MLB, is playing the best football of his life right now. I’m not sure how the lose of Dwight Freeney to IR and the addition of Simeon Rice will affect this team, but they have more playmakers now than they did last year.

What are the reasons the Colts are able to draft so effectively?

Bill Polian. He’s the best, period. There is no better GM in football at isolating collegiate talent and drafting (or signing) that talent than Polian. Other GMs, like New England’s Scott Pioli, are very good at pinpointing free agents, but Polian is a master of the draft. He’s a former scout himself, so he knows what to look for in players. He’s also got a top notch scouting department which has a very good relationship with the coaching staff. You’d be surprised how continuous scouts can be with coaches. This group, directly under Polian’s guidance, is the best scouting crew in football.

What are you impressions of the Kansas City Chiefs so far this season?

Total enigma. Offense looks horrible, and I expected them to win 3 or 4 games this year TOTAL. Yet, here they are at and still in the division hunt. Their defense has improved, and Jared Allen is playing out of his mind.

What match ups do you think the Colts will exploit this Sunday?

Brodie Croyle. They will pressure him into mistakes. It’s smart to start Croyle, but I think the Colts’ defense will swarm him even without Freeney. Without Larry Johnson, Croyle will have a hard time getting into a rhythm.

Why has the Colts' special teams unit been performing poorly this year?

Because their ST coach stinks. The ST has been bad for years now, and ST coach Russ Purnell has done nothing to improve it despite a HoF kicker, a good punter, and a bunch of fast, athletic gunners. We started a petition to fire him over at Stampede Blue.

My answers to Big Blue Shoe's questions are right here.

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re: Polian
He is about as good as they come.  

Everyone one their team, save a handful of players, has been drafted by the Colts.  It's some crazy number, like everyone but 4 players on the team have been drafted by the Colts.

by primetime 07 on Nov 15, 2007 1:14 PM CST   0 recs

Herm has always pointed that out
it is a good case for developing players, and it takes a while, but being a consistent playoff team and a Superbowl contender/Champion is worth it.  Harrison 1st round 1996, Manning 1st round 1998, Edgerrin James 1st round, 1999, Wayne 1st round 2001, Freeney 1st round 2002, Dallas Clark 1st round 2003, Bob Sanders 1st round 2004...talk about a good streak of drafting...these are all Pro Bowlers and there are a few future Hall of Famers in there.

by PVChiefsfan on Nov 15, 2007 1:44 PM CST   0 recs

of course, regarding Manning and James
the Colts really stunk those two years.  But unlike some teams I could mention, they didn't fan on their opportunities early in the draft.

Yes, we have a long way to go to match their success in the draft.

by sm7600 on Nov 15, 2007 2:22 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

The Colts do a great job of not missing
on 1st rounders. Last season all but one of the colts last 10 first picks were still on the roster, all 9 started games, the one pick that wasn't on the team anymore was Edge James.
With Tarik Glenn's retirement it's now 9 of 11 but Tony Ugoh is basically their 08 first rounder (traded the pick to move into the 2nd round for him) so that extends it to 10 of 12 with one retired after a long career as a pro-bowl and the other having cashed in during free agency.

The Colts D is a great example of how well they do with later picks as well.

Freeney       1st round (#11)
Ed Johnson  undrafted
Raheem Brock 7th round (by Eagles cut after training camp)
Robert Mathis  5th round
Freddy Keiaho 3rd round
Gary Brackett  undrafted
Tyjuan Hagler 5th round
Marlin Jackson 1st round (#29)
Kelvin Hayden  2nd round
Antoine Bethea 6th round
Bob Sanders     2nd round (#44  they traded back from their 1st rounder)

as many undrafted starters as 1st rounders, as many 6th and 7th rounders as 2nd rounders.

If you want a great team it starts in the draft. So hey, Bowe looks like a great pick. You're heading in the right direction.

by shake n bake on Nov 15, 2007 3:04 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

For us
If Croyle works out, and we get some o-line help, we'll be pretty tough here in a few years.  We're pretty young on defense (save DB), but have a couple of guys (Sapp/Brackenridge) that might be able to get it done.

I think we had one player on our roster from our 2002-2004 drafts.  Vermeil essentially neglected the draft and built a short term solution so he could win a Super Bowl (which was fine when we were 13-3 heading into the Indy game).

by primetime 07 on Nov 15, 2007 3:29 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Page
looks like he will turn into a huge steal in the 7th round, and if Sapp and Brackenridge can step up and become starting corners after Surtain and Law move to the nursing home, that would be unheard of, they were both undrafted RFA's. (and of course, Jared Allen was a lowly 4th round long-snapper from Divison I-AA)

by PVChiefsfan on Nov 16, 2007 8:06 AM CST to parent up   0 recs

Well...
In 1998 we went 3-13 during Manning's rookie season.   The next year we got Edge and went 13-3, won the AFC East, and lost to the Titans in a home playoff game.
Go Colts!

by ppr314 on Nov 15, 2007 4:53 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Wow...
Colts in the AFC East...that took me back down memory lane...why can't we play the damn Seahawks twice a year still?

by PVChiefsfan on Nov 16, 2007 8:02 AM CST to parent up   0 recs

Damn
I almost forgot too.  Has it been that long since the division realignment?  

by primetime 07 on Nov 16, 2007 11:58 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

brackenridge
hell no, Benny sapp ohh yeah, we have alot of young talent on D and very little on O. ALso i'll give Herm 2-3years at most. He cant get it done when he places no emphasis on offence. Gotta move the ball herm, cant win with only defence!!!!
Anybody who only had us winning 3 games this year must no t watch football..
What defence?

by D Thomas on Nov 16, 2007 2:02 PM CST   0 recs

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