New Colts Could Keep Defenses Off Balance

Two of the Indianapolis Colts’ predicted training camp battles are turning out to not be battles at all.

The competition that has garnered the most offseason attention is the battle for the third wide receiver spot that opened up with the release of Marvin Harrison.  Before camp, it was widely assumed that the position would be won by either second-year player Pierre Garcon or fourth-round draft pick Austin Collie.  Now it appears that the third wide-receiver has been won by both players.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, Peyton Manning said that Collie is practicing exclusively in the slot and Garcon is strictly playing on the outside.

“He [Austin Collie] can run,” Manning said. “He can really run. He is working the slot only. We haven’t had anyone since Brandon Stokely to work the slot only. That’s all he practiced. He doesn’t have to worry about anything but the slot.”

Manning also expressed his confidence in Garcon’s abilities.

“Pierre Garcon can run, too. He’s an outside receiver only. What we’re doing a better job of with the young guys is we’re saying, ‘This is your position. You don’t have to learn everything.’ Garcon is like Marvin; after he takes five steps, he’s so fast, you’d better let it go,” Manning said.

Using both receivers in different packages could be a clever way for the team to keep opposing defenses off balance.  The Colts don’t substitute many players during an offensive drive, especially since they have a propensity to run a hurry up offense at any stage of a game.  But if both of these packages are equally as potent, the Colts could start a game with one package and then switch to the other as soon as their opponent attempts to make adjustments.

The running back battle that was expected after the Colts spent their first-round draft pick on Donald Brown also appears to be non existent.  ESPN’s John Clayton reports that Joseph Addai is firmly entrenched as the starter.

“It’s not much of a battle this year,” Clayton said. “Joseph Addai is the starter, but Donald Brown looks great on some of the inside runs. They should be a great 1-2 punch as long as the offensive line can stay healthy and grow together.

“Brown is noticeable when you watch him in practice. He’s got an explosive first couple of steps and is hard to stop on first contact. Addai is the elusive runner and better on the stretch plays, which set up play-action passes for Peyton Manning. Next year will be more of a battle for playing time, but I think Brown could get five to 10 carries a game this season.”

Since the two backs specialize in different running styles, the Colts’ new combination could be very useful when game planning.  Against teams that feature a stout interior defensive line, the Colts could use Addai to run outside. Against teams with greater team speed, they can feature Brown with a higher percentage of inside trap plays and draws.

The Colts can also make adjustments in the middle of a game depending on the defensive schemes and matchups, and also to keep defenses from keying in on particular plays.  Against the Vikings, most teams would likely plan to run plays away from their two pro-bowl caliber defensive tackles.  However, Donald Brown’s 38-yard run, which almost broke for a touchdown, came on a draw play.

Colts’ Preseason Opener: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Colts just don’t seem to care about preseason games.  The team suffered its first preseason loss of the season last night, their 16th preseason loss since 2005 (out of 19 contests). 

Their preseason struggles haven’t translated to the regular season.  For fans wondering if the team’s loss to the Vikings signals the pending demise of the franchise, just remember that Detroit went undefeated in the preseason a year ago before becoming the first team to ever post an 0-16 regular season record.

However, some useful information can be gleaned from the Colts’ preseason games.  Here’s a look at some of the details from the 3-13 loss to Minnesota.

 

The Good

Donald Brown was easily the biggest bright spot for the Colts in the preseason opener.  Brown displayed his talent the moment he entered the contest, breaking an 11-yard run the first time he touched the ball.

Brown ran the ball five times, including a long run on a draw play that went for 38 yards and showcased his ability to break tackles.  Even more impressive than the long run is the fact that his 58 rushing yards on five runs were all in a row.

Brown adds a breakaway running threat that the Colts haven’t had in the past, and his ability to gain yards up the middle looks like it might allow the Colts to pick up some more first downs without putting the ball in the air.

Another rookie that made an impressive debut is seventh-round draft pick Pat McAfee.  McAfee had seven punts and averaged just a hair under 50 yards per punt.  He displayed a big leg, booming his longest punt 63 yards.

 

The Bad

Despite the fact that the preeminent stat line of this preseason contest will be Peyton Manning’s three sacks in his six snaps taken, the offensive line actually had a decent performance.  

The offensive line was missing several starters, and with no game planning and a limited playbook, making the blocking calls on pass plays proved to be a little troublesome.  Their pass blocking will be easily corrected, but their run blocking was maligned all of last season and showed signs of great improvement.  

Even without a full compliment of starters on the line, Donald Brown averaged 11.6 yards per carry and Joseph Addai averaged 6.5.  Many of these runs came on obvious rushing downs, proving that the Colts will be more capable of making a push in 2009.

The run defense didn’t appear to fare quite as well, allowing nearly 200 total yards on the ground in 41 attempts.  The team was without its top three safeties on the depth chart, and we all know how much of an impact Bob Sanders has on the running game. 

Still, Colts fans were hoping to see the team’s new defensive tackles make an immediate difference, and second round draft pick Fili Moala struggled and racked up a pair of penalties on back-to-back plays.

The good news for the Colts is the starting linebackers appear to be headed for an outstanding season.  Phillip Wheeler looked comfortable in the starting role and made plays all over the field. 

Clint Session’s aggressive style is translating well to his new position on the weak side, and he made the highlight play of the night by laying an absolutely devastating hit on Adrian Peterson to hold a running play to a three yard gain.

 

The Ugly

Missed tackles plagued the Colts all night, and time and time again, the Vikings moved the chains with yards after contact.  Several plays that should have resulted in sacks, tackles for a loss, or no yardage at all were allowed to break free for positive gains. 

The Colts don’t tackle much in practice compared to a lot of teams, so their tackling should improve once they start playing meaningful contests.  Many of the team’s missed tackles were a result of poor techniques that can be easily corrected. 

But if the Colts can’t improve this area of the defense by the season opener against Jacksonville, fantasy owners will be happy that they drafted tackle-breaking machine Maurice Jones-Drew.

If Bob Sanders can return to the playing field after recovering from his various injuries, the Colts will have a very sure tackler rocketing in at the end of every play.  If Sanders misses more time, the other starters will have to get better at wrapping up opposing ball-carriers, particularly in the running game.

Indianapolis Colts: Training Camp Developments

After a flurry of activity in training camps and the first preseason NFL game, excitement is starting to build for football season.  Here are some notes from the last few days in Colts’ camp at the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in Terra Haute.

Deep Depth Chart

The team released the first depth chart yesterday with the most surprising move being Tony Ugoh’s replacement as the starting left tackle.  Charlie Johnson took over the starting spot, but Ugoh already stepped back into the starting rotation today when right tackle Ryan Diem left practice with an injury.

As predicted, Ed Johnson and Antonio Johnson are listed as the starting defensive tackles.  One interesting change is that Raheem Brock is listed as the second string right defensive end behind Dwight Freeney, as opposed to previous seasons in which he was the starter at the left defensive end position (primarily for running downs). 

Robert Mathis is listed as the starter on the left now. Keyunta Dawson is listed as the backup LDE.  With the increased size and talent in the middle of the defensive line, the Colts may choose to keep the speedy, pass-rushing Mathis in the game even in early-down running situations.

One aspect of the depth chart appears to be particularly impressive: the overall depth.  Last year the Colts suffered through several setbacks that left the team thin on the offensive and defensive line, as well as in the defensive backfield.  This year, thanks to strong showings from rookies and the return of several injured starters, the team has a glut of talent at all three positions. 

The team looks much more prepared to handle injuries at every position except for quarterback.  The battles for the third running back position and third wide receiver position are so close that, no matter the outcome, the reserves will be extremely capable.

The Colts currently have nine defensive backs on the depth chart that have made major contributions to the team in recent seasons.  The linebackers are equally as deep; 2008 starter Freddy Keiaho is currently listed as the third string middle linebacker.

Questions Answered

In a post-practice interview new defensive coordinator Larry Coyer, confirmed our suspicions about schematic changes for the defense.  Coyer said that the most significant change for the defense is “the mindset of stopping the run game.”

Coyer emphasized that nothing about the defense will be different “structurally.”  He also said that the Colts will not be blitzing significantly more, like his “Blitzburgh” teams did with the Denver Broncos. 

“We were Blitzburgh because we couldn’t rush with four,” Coyer said of those Bronco defenses. 

He affirmed that blitzing so much would not be necessary for the Colts since the defensive line can apply plenty of pressure to opposing quarterbacks on its own.

Wide Receiver Battle

Pierre Garcon is listed as the third WR on the Colts depth chart, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he will be playing in the slot.  In an interview on Colts.com, Peyton Manning said that Garcon has been working primarily on the outside on both sides of the formation.

Manning also said that the offense has been trying to move Reggie Wayne into the slot more because it’s harder for opposing defenses to double the slot receiver.  Alex Gonzales is also comfortable at that position, having played in the slot for most of his professional career.

If Pierre Garcon does win the third WR position, he will likely be used as an outside deep threat and either Wayne or Gonzales will move inside.  However, in the Colts’ first scrimmage of training camp, fourth round draft pick Austin Collie came out with the starting unit and started in the slot in three wide receiver sets. 

Garcon definitely doesn’t have a spot in the starting rotation locked up, and since the Colts utilize a variety of different formations it’s very possible that we’ll see both Collie and Garcon get regular season playing time in different offensive packages.

Rookie Gem

Every year it seems the Colts find a rookie who makes such a big impact in training camp that he is immediately awarded a starting position.  Antoine Bethea was drafted in the sixth round and won a starting safety position in his rookie season.  Ed Johnson was an undrafted free agent and immediately made the starting rotation on the defensive line.

This year’s breakout player may be defensive back Jerraud Powers, the teams third round draft pick from Auburn.  Powers has made several interceptions in practice and played exceptionally well in the Colts’ scrimmage.  He made some great plays in coverage against the first team offense and excelled as a punt returner.

Powers probably won’t beat out Marlin Jackson or Kelvin Hayden for a starting spot, but it looks like he might give Dante Hughes and Tim Jennings some competition for the nickel cornerback position.  Powers is currently listed behind Hughes and Jennings on the depth chart, but if he continues to play well he very well could win the position outright.

Indianapolis Colts: Early Training Camp Developments

It’s day three of training camp and the Colts have had one full-speed practice in pads.  Today’s morning practice was a walk-through with minimal contact, but head coach Jim Caldwell says this evening’s practice will let the players “go after it.” 

Everybody is still being pretty aloof about the third wide receiver position battle, but here are some notes on some other interesting developments:

Defensive Line Competition

The Indianapolis Star is reporting that Keyunta Dawson has been moved to defensive end. Dawson played defensive end in college at Texas Tech so the position is natural to him. Since he weighs about the same as the linebackers on most teams (254 lbs), defensive line coach John Teerlinck is probably the only person on the planet that would consider playing Dawson at tackle anyway.

But this move may have some interesting repercussions for the other defensive linemen trying to make the Colts’ 52-man squad.  The team will probably only keep 10 or 11 defensive linemen on the roster. With the glut of new talent at tackle, Dawson’s versatility might guarantee him a slot.

This may mean relegation to the practice squad for some of last season’s prime-time contributors like Daniel Muir and Eric Foster.  This could also create some competition for Raheem Brock, who generally plays left defensive end during early downs and obvious running situations.

No matter how the situation shakes out, the competition and depth on the defensive line can only mean good things for Colts fans looking for the team’s run defense to make a drastic improvement from 2008.

 

Coyer’s Defense

Players are adjusting to new defensive coordinator Larry Coyer’s style as a coach and changes in terminology, and after their first full speed practice players also talked a little about some of the playbook changes.

Although Jim Caldwell says that there won’t be drastic personnel or alignment changes, Coyer is installing some new “tweaks” according to safety Antoine Bethea.

“With this new defense you really don’t know what you’re going to get from us,” Bethea said. Adding that some of the changes involve things “teams haven’t seen in the past.”

This could be a reference to the “Show Blitz” system that Coyer implemented in Denver.  John Oehser reported that Phillip Wheeler—the Colts projected starting strong-side linebacker—excelled at pass rushing drills in day two’s practice.  This is a good sign that Wheeler will be used in some blitz packages this season.

 

Playmakers Stepping Up

Word from training camp is that Donald Brown is already proving his worth, excelling both in the running game and catching passes. 

But players on defense have also been stepping it up, with Clint Session making the biggest hit of camp so far on wide receiver Roy Hall, and Melvin Bullitt making a spectacular interception of a Peyton Manning pass intended for Dallas Clark. 

Session’s ability to adapt to his new position at weak-side linebacker will be one of the most critical developments in training camp.  Cornerback Dante Hughes also made a tough pick during position drills, and could be pushing for the nickle cornerback spot.

A Call To Clever Colts Fans

The Indianapolis Colts signed first-round draft choice Donald Brown today, just in time for him to report to camp and prepare for the team’s first training camp practice tomorrow morning. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

This is great news for Colts fans; if Brown is to contribute this season it is vital for him to maximize his practice time with the complex offense orchestrated by the ever-vibrantly gesturing and gyrating audible-monster, Peyton Manning. Brown will have to get comfortable with both the playbook and the blocking schemes before he can help turn around the Colts’ ineffective running game.

Brown is easy to root for. He came from a small college football program and was hardly recognized for leading Division I in rushing. The man used his first moment in a national television spotlight, an interview during ESPN’s draft coverage, to discuss a charity that he had already established, even before he signed his first NFL contract.

When I was a junior in college, I was a moron. I didn’t set up charities or maturely deal with mass media attention. I was certainly not prepared to learn the most complex offense in the National Football League, or block the best athletes in the world in an attempt to protect the highest profile quarterback in the world.

I know what you’re thinking. How can I help?

The answer is simple. We need to provide Donald Brown with a nickname that accurately captures the dynamic essence of the player we all hope he is. 

This task with which we are charged must be completed with urgency, before Chris Berman hands us another “Stately Wayne Manor” or “Live and Let Addai.” If we don’t act swiftly, the rookie running back will be forever labeled “The Brown Streak” or “Do-Do Brown.”

So, Colts fans, any suggestions?

Indianapolis Colts Up Close: Special Teams

Colts fans generally haven’t had to worry about the team’s offense from year to year, and probably won’t have to until Peyton Manning retires. The team’s defense has had bright spots and question marks in recent seasons, and it appears that the Colts have made a concerted effort to get bigger up front in order to perform better against the run. 

But this offseason, the unit that has undergone the most dramatic changes is the Colts’ special teams.

Caldwell’s first move as head coach (apparently occurring just moments after Dungy announced his retirement) was to replace often criticized special teams coach Russ Purnell with South Carolina’s Ray Rychleski. Also gone is special teams standout Darrell Reid (noted for destroying Chris Henry in a game against the Titans) and ten year veteran punter Hunter Smith.

Will the Colts’ special teams improve under the new leadership, or will the loss of several of the unit’s stalwarts induce a setback?

Most followers of the team were so critical of Russ Purnell in the past that it seems every mention of his replacement is hailed with glee. Ray Rychleski was a successful special teams coach at South Carolina and Maryland, with the former ranking second in the SEC in kickoff coverage last season (Rychleski’s only season with the Gamecocks) and the latter leading the nation in yardage allowed on kickoff returns in 2007. 

The Colts could certainly use his influence, as the Colts ranked 24th in the league covering kickoffs last season (which was actually a significant improvement from ranking 29th in 2007 and 30th in 2008).

Rychleski will have to adapt to a different set of rules than he is used to in the college game, and the unit as a whole will have to adapt to an NFL rule change that bans wedges on kickoff returns.

We shall see during training camps’ first practices on Monday whether or not Rychleski can bring new energy to the coverage unit. But he will have to do so without last season’s star on special teams, Darrell Reid. Darrell Reid was a leader for the unit last year, even organizing extra practices for the unit to “tighten the screws”.

Darrell Reid signed with Denver in the offseason and Pierre Garcon, who was a gunner on special teams last season, might see less time on coverage teams if he wins the third wide receiver position and shifts his focus to the offense. 

But the coverage unit will have many returning starters such as Melvin Bullitt and Matt Giordano, and should benefit from the development of players like Marcus Howard who excelled on special teams as a rookie. 

The Colts also resigned Tyjuan Hagler and Freddy Keiaho, experienced veterans who could bolster the coverage unit if the open starting linebacker position is won by Philip Wheeler in training camp. 

Rookie Jerraud Powers, who ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at his pro day workout, should push Dante Hughes for one of the gunner spots.  Barring injuries, the teams overall added depth this season should help the Colts continue to improve their dismal kickoff and punt coverage.

The Colts’ return game itself is also a question mark, and there will be plenty of competition for the kickoff and punt returner positions in training camp. Pierre Garcon averaged 21.6 yards on 22 kickoff returns last season, but might not be available for special teams duty this year as mentioned above. 

Keiwan Ratliff was the team’s primary punt returner last season, but he was not resigned by the Colts and is now with the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

T.J. Rushing will be the front runner for both positions if he can make a successful return from a knee injury that ended his 2008 campaign.  Chad Simpson returned some kickoffs for the Colts last year, and will probably compete for the position again in 2009. 

The Colts’ fourth round draft pick, Austin Collie, earned honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference honors as a kick returner in 2007 and should try out for this position in addition to competing for the third wide receiver slot.
  
Without much of an influx of new talent in this area, the Colts probably won’t suddenly have a Dante Hall or Devin Hester-type explosive return game. The entire league will be adapting to the ban on wedges, so all 32 teams will suffer the same growing pains with this change. The Colts probably won’t rank in the top ten in return yardage, but they still have Peyton Manning to help them get out of bad field position.

Perhaps the biggest question regarding field position is that of Hunter Smith’s replacement at punter. Smith was a Colts constant for the last ten years, and replacing his consistency at the position is not an easy feat. 

The team has high hopes for Pat McAffee, whom they picked in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft.  The team also signed Tim Masthay as a college free agent to compete with McAffee for the position.

McAffee punted exclusively rugby style at West Virginia, but Bill Polian has stated that “he can punt conventionally and that’s what we’re going to have him do.”  He will have the advantage of receiving snaps from veteran Justin Snow, one of the most consistent long snappers in the league. 

The Colts were not financially forced to let Hunter Smith go in free agency, so this change should reflect that the front office wanted to upgrade the position. The playoff loss at San Diego probably made the team abundantly aware of how important the punting game can be, with that game showcasing an amazing performance by Mike Scifres which repeatedly left the Colts pinned against their own goal line. 

Since Bill Polian has proven that his decision-making is trustworthy, I expect McAffee to make a successful transition to the NFL and immediately help the team. Some rookie mistakes are to be expected, but it will also be interesting to see if the Colts integrate some of his rugby style punts into their game plan. 

Special thanks to MyColts.net for featuring Bleacher Report writers on their website!

Indianapolis Colts Up Close: Special Teams

Colts fans generally haven’t had to worry about the team’s offense from year to year, and probably won’t have to until Peyton Manning retires. The team’s defense has had bright spots and question marks in recent seasons, and it appears that the Colts have made a concerted effort to get bigger up front in order to perform better against the run. 

But this offseason, the unit that has undergone the most dramatic changes is the Colts’ special teams.

Caldwell’s first move as head coach (apparently occurring just moments after Dungy announced his retirement) was to replace often criticized special teams coach Russ Purnell with South Carolina’s Ray Rychleski. Also gone is special teams standout Darrell Reid (noted for destroying Chris Henry in a game against the Titans) and ten year veteran punter Hunter Smith.

Will the Colts’ special teams improve under the new leadership, or will the loss of several of the unit’s stalwarts induce a setback?

Most followers of the team were so critical of Russ Purnell in the past that it seems every mention of his replacement is hailed with glee. Ray Rychleski was a successful special teams coach at South Carolina and Maryland, with the former ranking second in the SEC in kickoff coverage last season (Rychleski’s only season with the Gamecocks) and the latter leading the nation in yardage allowed on kickoff returns in 2007. 

The Colts could certainly use his influence, as the Colts ranked 24th in the league covering kickoffs last season (which was actually a significant improvement from ranking 29th in 2007 and 30th in 2008).

Rychleski will have to adapt to a different set of rules than he is used to in the college game, and the unit as a whole will have to adapt to an NFL rule change that bans wedges on kickoff returns.

We shall see during training camps’ first practices on Monday whether or not Rychleski can bring new energy to the coverage unit. But he will have to do so without last season’s star on special teams, Darrell Reid. Darrell Reid was a leader for the unit last year, even organizing extra practices for the unit to “tighten the screws”.

Darrell Reid signed with Denver in the offseason and Pierre Garcon, who was a gunner on special teams last season, might see less time on coverage teams if he wins the third wide receiver position and shifts his focus to the offense. 

But the coverage unit will have many returning starters such as Melvin Bullitt and Matt Giordano, and should benefit from the development of players like Marcus Howard who excelled on special teams as a rookie. 

The Colts also resigned Tyjuan Hagler and Freddy Keiaho, experienced veterans who could bolster the coverage unit if the open starting linebacker position is won by Philip Wheeler in training camp. 

Rookie Jerraud Powers, who ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at his pro day workout, should push Dante Hughes for one of the gunner spots.  Barring injuries, the teams overall added depth this season should help the Colts continue to improve their dismal kickoff and punt coverage.

The Colts’ return game itself is also a question mark, and there will be plenty of competition for the kickoff and punt returner positions in training camp. Pierre Garcon averaged 21.6 yards on 22 kickoff returns last season, but might not be available for special teams duty this year as mentioned above. 

Keiwan Ratliff was the team’s primary punt returner last season, but he was not resigned by the Colts and is now with the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

T.J. Rushing will be the front runner for both positions if he can make a successful return from a knee injury that ended his 2008 campaign.  Chad Simpson returned some kickoffs for the Colts last year, and will probably compete for the position again in 2009. 

The Colts’ fourth round draft pick, Austin Collie, earned honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference honors as a kick returner in 2007 and should try out for this position in addition to competing for the third wide receiver slot.
  
Without much of an influx of new talent in this area, the Colts probably won’t suddenly have a Dante Hall or Devin Hester-type explosive return game. The entire league will be adapting to the ban on wedges, so all 32 teams will suffer the same growing pains with this change. The Colts probably won’t rank in the top ten in return yardage, but they still have Peyton Manning to help them get out of bad field position.

Perhaps the biggest question regarding field position is that of Hunter Smith’s replacement at punter. Smith was a Colts constant for the last ten years, and replacing his consistency at the position is not an easy feat. 

The team has high hopes for Pat McAffee, whom they picked in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft.  The team also signed Tim Masthay as a college free agent to compete with McAffee for the position.

McAffee punted exclusively rugby style at West Virginia, but Bill Polian has stated that “he can punt conventionally and that’s what we’re going to have him do.”  He will have the advantage of receiving snaps from veteran Justin Snow, one of the most consistent long snappers in the league. 

The Colts were not financially forced to let Hunter Smith go in free agency, so this change should reflect that the front office wanted to upgrade the position. The playoff loss at San Diego probably made the team abundantly aware of how important the punting game can be, with that game showcasing an amazing performance by Mike Scifres which repeatedly left the Colts pinned against their own goal line. 

Since Bill Polian has proven that his decision-making is trustworthy, I expect McAffee to make a successful transition to the NFL and immediately help the team. Some rookie mistakes are to be expected, but it will also be interesting to see if the Colts integrate some of his rugby style punts into their game plan. 

Special thanks to MyColts.net for featuring Bleacher Report writers on their website!

Colts Defense: More Playing Time For Bullitt?

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Could Safety Melvin Bullitt be used in Nickel Situations?

In the Tony Dungy era the Indianapolis Colts’ modus operandi was to always put the best players on the field, and over the years this has resulted in a number of rookies and undrafted free-agents winning starting positions, seemingly out of the blue, in training camp.  With Bob Sanders battling injuries for much of the 2008 season, another undrafted free-agent was given the chance to shine, and he took advantage.

Melvin Bullitt started nine games last season, becoming an integral part of a defensive backfield that gave up the fewest passing touchdowns ever in a 16 game NFL season.  He displayed a propensity for being around the ball, and led the team with four interceptions.  Bill Polian summed up Bullitt’s abilities last season after his week two performance against the Minnesota Vikings.

“Whenever Melvin Bullitt is in the game, he shows up.  That’s all you need to know. He’s a good tackler. He’s fast. He’s aggressive. He’s a tuned-in guy. Very smart. A hard worker. He’s everything you want in a safety.”

Polian has stated that the Colts will make a concerted effort to get Bullitt more playing time, but the question remains, how can they adjust the lineup to facilitate this motive?

Most of the speculation regarding the rotation in the secondary assumes that Bullitt will see action in the Colts’ dime package, and perhaps he will be used more often as a substitute to keep Bob Sanders fresher throughout the season and less at risk for injury. This strategy would definitely benefit the team, since Bob Sanders is extremely prone to missing time.  However, if the new coaching regime holds true to Dungy’s tested strategy of getting the best players in the game as much as possible, the Colts could decide to use Melvin Bullitt in the nickel package as well.

In the Tampa-2 defense that the Colts deploy, the nickel package is used almost as much as the base defense, and occasionally even more often than the base 4-3 depending on the particular game-plan.  When the roster is completely healthy, they generally slide starting corner back Marlin Jackson inside to cover the slot receiver, and use the nickel corner back to cover the outside.  Jackson played safety in college and extensively in his rookie year with the Colts, and this shift allows the bigger, more physical defensive back to play inside where he can employ his skills as a safety in run support and limited blitzing.

When Marlin Jackson was required to play safety in the past, Dungy had total confidence in him, stating “A lot of it (safety) is similar to what he does in the nickel situations, playing inside.”  Since the coverage schemes between the two positions are comparable, Melvin Bullitt might be able to make the same switch, allowing the Colts to keep their best two coverage corners, Jackson and Kelvin Hayden, on the outside.

The nickel defensive back in recent seasons, Tim Jennings, was forced into the starting lineup last year and became a fan-favorite scapegoat.  His play was inconsistent, and it seemed at times that anyone could complete a 10-yard slant against the Colts’ defense any time they so desired (especially Andre Johnson).  Inserting Bullitt’s ball-hawking skills into the slot would not only allow the outside coverage remain at its best, but would also give new defensive coordinator Larry Coyer more physical nickel package with which to defend against the run.

Coyer is expected to add more blitzes into the mix next season, and perhaps using Bullitt in nickel situations would aid this tactic as well.  Since his natural position is safety, he is more comfortable playing inside than smaller corner backs. Tighter coverage on the outside would allow the Colts to take more risks with blitzes.  Although Marlin Jackson was injured for most of the 2008 season, he has been used to blitz from the nickel position in the past and registered half a sack in the 2007 season. 

In a recent interview on Colts.com, Bullitt stated that Larry Coyer was, in fact, installing some new packages. But even though it might be advantageous to use Bullitt in some nickel situations, there are many reasons not to move a player from his usual position.  Some coverage schemes are more suited for a natural cover corner to play the slot, and the importance of depth at safety and on special teams for the Colts cannot be understated. A recent article on Stampedeblue.com claimed that Bullitt was too slow to be effective at the nickel corner position.

“Bullitt is a fine player and a very under-rated safety, but he cannot run with premiere WRs, or even the Wes Welker types of this league.”

However, Bullitt ran a 4.48 40-yard dash in draft workouts, just edging out Marlin Jackson’s 4.49.  Since Jackson has excelled covering the slot, there’s no reason to think that Bullitt couldn’t.

OTA Update: Defensive Positional Battles

The Colts recently conducted a mandatory minicamp at Franklin College, and John Oehser of Colts.com and Indyfootballreport.com was kind enough to report on some pressing questions.  I asked him about the influx of talent at defensive tackle, and how it was playing out in the organized team activities:

John Oehser (courtesy of The Indy Football Report): “I’ll preface the answer by saying being at OTAs or around Indy might not give you significantly more insight into your questions. With no contact and no pads, the practices don’t really show anyone pulling away from anyone else at any positions. The Colts are rotating guys at defensive tackle, and while it’s hard to tell in mini-camp who’s starting, Antonio Johnson and Ed Johnson got some work with the first unit this weekend. Keyunta Dawson and Eric Foster—last year’s starters—are getting a lot of work, too, but everybody’s getting a lot of work. I’d be surprised if Ed Johnson doesn’t start, and as for the second tackle, one or both of the two drafted rookies –Fili Moala and Terrance Taylor — almost certainly will play a key role in the not-too-distant future. If I had to guess, I’d say Johnson and Johnson open the season as “starters,” with Moala and Taylor being brought along as quickly as possible. Dawson could play a hybrid tackle/end role, and Foster could still be a valuable reserve.”

I agree that Ed Johnson will likely step right back in to his starting roll; he was the Colts’ best defensive tackle in his rookie season and he still has room for improvement. 

Assuming Raheem Brock continues playing primarily at left defensive end (he had 14 starts at left end last season and one start at left tackle against Jacksonville, as opposed to 11 starts at tackle in 2007) the other defensive tackle spot appears to be wide open.  I expect the battle for this position to be a close contest between Antonio Johnson and Eric Foster, possibly continuing through training camp and into the preseason. 

Antonio Johnson made a huge impact after being signed off Tennessee’s practice squad last season, and arguably saved the team’s playoff chances after the Colts lost Ed Johnson and Quinn Pitcock at the beginning of the season.  He was a monster on the field, registering 31 tackles in eight games, 21 of which were solo.  He was promoted to starter for the last four games of the regular season and started at left tackle for the Wild Card Playoff game against San Diego.

Eric Foster started 11 games at left defensive tackle last season, and if he doesn’t retain his starting spot this year he should at least be a consistent contributor in the rotation.  However, it is somewhat telling that he was used as a reserve in the Colts’ only playoff game last year. 

In the past the Colts have shown little, if any, hesitation at thrusting their best players into the starting rotation whether they are undrafted rookie free agents or veteran first round draft picks.  If either Fili Moala or Terrance Taylor displays exemplary talent in training camp, the Colts will make sure that they make an impact on gameday.

I also asked John Oehser about Phillip Wheeler’s progress in the minicamp.  Wheeler is projected to take over the starting strong side linebacker position this year, but veteran linebackers Tyjuan Hagler and Freddy Keiaho will certainly compete for the starting role:

Oehser: “Strong-side linebacker will almost certainly be his job to lose entering training camp, and I’d be surprised if he’s not the starter.”

Moving Clint Session to the weak side linebacker position seems to fit his playing style perfectly, but whether or not Wheeler will provide a boost to the strong side remains to be seen.

Special thanks to John Oehser of the Indy Football Report

Colts Cradle: AFC South Preview

The Indianapolis Colts look to field another Super Bowl-contending team in 2009, but, before they can battle through the playoffs, they’ll have to wrangle their way through perhaps the toughest division in the NFL. 

The Colts’ string of AFC South titles came to an end last season when the rival Titans captured the best record in the NFL. The Houston Texans took great strides last season to shake their label as division whipping-boy, finishing 8-8 thanks to a young, explosive offense. The Jacksonville Jaguars are perennial contenders, and their poor showing in 2008 was largely a result of injuries.

With five playoff appearances in the last two seasons, the AFC South has certainly proven their mettle in recent years. Last season, only the NFC South had more combined wins. Here’s a preview of the competition that the Colts must face in 2009 as they attempt to qualify for the playoffs for an eighth consecutive time:

 

Jacksonville Jaguars

2008-09 record: 5-11

Key additions:  Tra Thomas, Torry Holt, Eugene Monroe, Eben Britton

Key departures: Fred Taylor, Mike Peterson, Jerry Porter, Khalif Barnes

If the Jacksonville Jaguars are considered to be “rebuilding”, it appears to be a quick makeover.  The team was riddled with injuries last year—particularly along the offensive line—and this lead to a disappointing finish.  However, the team has completely reloaded in the off-season. 

Jacksonville addressed needs on the offensive line by drafting offensive tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton with their first two picks and acquiring veteran tackle Tra Thomas in free-agency.  The team has indicated that second-round pick Eben Britton will move to guard.  Since the Jaguars utilize a predominantly running offense, this new blood should provide a significant boost to an offense which ranked 20th in the league last season.

The team also tweaked their passing game by releasing most of their troubled receiving corps and signing Torry Holt to a three-year, 20 million dollar deal.  Gone are Matt Jones, Jerry Porter, and Reggie Williams; now Jacksonville will depend on Holt, Dennis Northcutt, and Troy Williamson to stretch the field.  Although they still have holes at WR on paper, the Jaguars regularly use Maurice Jones-Drew in the passing game with screens and check-down passes to keep the chains moving.

If the team’s defense steps up like it has in years past, Jacksonville could have a quick turn-around and sneak into the playoffs as a wild-card.

Prediction: 8-8

 

Houston Texans

2008-09 record: 8-8

Key additions: Antonio Smith, Cato June, Brian Cushing, Connor Barwin

Key departures: Will Demps, DeMarcus Faggins, Sage Rosenfels

Houston has only beaten Indianapolis once in the teams short history, but such dominance is swiftly becoming more difficult for the Colts to maintain.  Led by a young, adroit offense, the Texans split their games with the other division rivals last season and finished with a record good enough to make the playoffs in other divisions. 

The Houston offense should only get better in the coming seasons.  Last season they averaged 382.1 yards per game, ranking third in the NFL.  With depth added through the draft and the continued development of crackerjack running back Steve Slaton and all-star wide-out Andre Johnson, the team has all the pieces in place to remain a potent scoring-unit.  If Matt Schaub can avoid injuries, Houston could field the best offense in the league next year.

The Texans’ most significant deficiency last season was their defense, which struggled to stop the run and generated little quarterback pressure from anyone other than defensive end Mario Williams.  The team upgraded its pass rush by adding Antonio Smith in free agency, who will start at the opposite DE position from Williams.  Houston used its first round pick on USC Linebacker Brian Cushing, who has started at strong-side linebacker right from the get-go in OTAs.

Head coach Gary Kubiak has publicly stated that he expects improvement at defensive tackle from 2007 first-round draft pick Amobi Okoye.  If Okoye and Smith help to improve the defensive front, the Texan’s defense could be dramatically better next season.

Prediction: 9-7

 

Tennessee Titans

2008-09 record: 13-3

Key additions: Kenny Brit, Sen’Derrick Marks, Nate Washington

Key departures: Albert Haynesworth, Chis Carr

The Titans had the best record in the NFL in 2008 and beat the Colts in their only meaningful matchup.  The blazing speed of running back Chris Johnson completely revitalized their offense last year, and made journeyman game-manager Kerry Collins look like Joe Montana. 

In 2009, the Titan’s offense may be even more dangerous.  Chris Johnson will get more carries, and first-round draft pick Kenny Brit should help stretch opposing defenses.  If opposing defenses are forced to cover the passing game and keep only seven players in the box, Chris Johnson could potentially have a record-breaking season.

Tennessee’s defense suffered the loss of their best player, who signed a ridiculous contract with the Washington Redskins.  Albert Haynesworth definitely gets his vitamins, but Titans defensive line coach Jim Washburn hands them out.  Washburn is an expert at plugging pieces into the Titans’ 4-3 scheme, and the team addressed this need in the draft with second-round pick Sen’Derrick Marks from Auburn.  Despite losing arguably the most dominant defensive player in the NFL, I do not expect the Titans’ defense to deteriorate.

Prediction: 12-4

 

The AFC South is arguably the best division in football and will almost certainly prove challenging for the Colts, who are facing significant changes of their own. It seems likely that the winner of the regular-season series between the Titans and Colts will take the division crown, and the other will likely be relegated to a wild-card slot. 

Tony Dungy regularly stressed the importance of winning division games, and new head coach and Dungy-disciple Jim Caldwell will also make this his priority. The Colts, for once, don’t have one of the five toughest schedules, but president Bill Polian has often stated “there are no easy victories in the National Football League.”

My prediction for the Colts? 12-4. If they win the AFC South for the sixth time in seven years, it will be a close one.

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