As I was watching the Iowa-Texas Tech game tonight I had a couple of thoughts. Impossible some you might say! But I really did.
First of all, let me say how glad I am that Steve Alford is not the coach at Indiana. I don't think Mike Davis is the right guy, but I am pretty sure Alford isn't either. He has done nothing since coming to Iowa and it looks like his isn't good enough for the big time. I like Steve and admired him greatly for his accomplishments on the court at IU and his philosophy on life, I just think he is in over his head. On the other hand I am also glad Bob Knight is not still the coach. Well just who the hell DO I want? Good question, because to be perfectly honest I don't know.
Here's the deal folks. Bob Knight was a great coach at IU for 23 years. He was a bad coach for 6 years after that. Knight's feud with the school's management drove him to take the program down. Knight would have completed the job had he been allowed to stay. Not that Myles Brand acted properly, but he had to let Knight go. Knight knew it too. He pushed so hard for that firing it was almost like watching a spoiled little kid and a parent. He has been quoted as saying he should have left in 1994. My question is why didn't he? Why did he continue on and tear the program down? Knight is an idiot now in my book. For the first 23 years I, like most Hoosier fans laughed when he got out of hand with his words and actions. But he was winning and he was happy and that made the fans happy.
Starting in 94 he just became surly. You should have left Bob. You were the steward of the program and you let a lot of people down. But I figure you don't care. Your massive ego drove you to it and you never admit mistakes.
Speaking of mistakes, Mike Davis. Davis is a good guy, a guy who cares about the kids, about his kids, about the program, about the school and about the tradition. He seems to be an excellent recruiter, but his bench skills are bad news.
Mike's problem is caring too much. He just can't escape the pressure. He puts it on himself and has no release. This job is killing him. There is no way he will last. He knows the tradition of Indiana basketball and he knows how close he is to turning this team into DePaul or Georgetown.
Teams that were once proud and mighty and now are also rans. Indiana is different. There is a tradition. 5 National Titles, countless Big Ten titles, the mystique. Kentucky, UCLA, North Carolina, Kansas and Indiana. Those are the schools who are synonymous with basketball. (Yes I know about Duke, but they have only done it with one coach). Indiana is dangerously close to being out of that group and something has to be done to stop this slide.
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
A Reply To Ms. Madigan
So there are many who want to see the Colts leave Indianapolis. At least that is what I gather from Beckie Madigan's letter from the Indianapolis Star on October 12, 2003.
I don't know who Ms. Madigan is, nor do I know whom she represents when she says there are "many" who want them to leave. I guess in their minds, if the Colts leave we can build more jails and incarcerate more of our population in what I am sure will be a wildly successful means of stopping crime. Plus, if the Colts leave, we can continue to build great palaces to education and all of our kids will automatically be smart and able to pass their I-Step tests.
For that matter, our air will probably be cleaner, streets will be in better shape and most likely the weather will even improve.
Of course those people who have jobs because of the Colts will just have to suffer, or wait, they can get those high paying jobs that don't exist because we have pro football.
Wake up people. The Colts generate millions of dollars for the local economy. Money that will be gone when they leave. There will be no filling of that void. The money they generate has been going to the CIB and then distributed back to the team and other interests of the CIB. But why bother to look at both sides, when so much is riding on the children.
Face it, money and fancy schools never made one child smarter, only teachers, parents and the children can do that. No amount of prison space will ever be enough. Ever. But since I am sure you never thought about it, take a look at the money the team and its players give to charity and remember, when they leave so does that money.
I don't know who Ms. Madigan is, nor do I know whom she represents when she says there are "many" who want them to leave. I guess in their minds, if the Colts leave we can build more jails and incarcerate more of our population in what I am sure will be a wildly successful means of stopping crime. Plus, if the Colts leave, we can continue to build great palaces to education and all of our kids will automatically be smart and able to pass their I-Step tests.
For that matter, our air will probably be cleaner, streets will be in better shape and most likely the weather will even improve.
Of course those people who have jobs because of the Colts will just have to suffer, or wait, they can get those high paying jobs that don't exist because we have pro football.
Wake up people. The Colts generate millions of dollars for the local economy. Money that will be gone when they leave. There will be no filling of that void. The money they generate has been going to the CIB and then distributed back to the team and other interests of the CIB. But why bother to look at both sides, when so much is riding on the children.
Face it, money and fancy schools never made one child smarter, only teachers, parents and the children can do that. No amount of prison space will ever be enough. Ever. But since I am sure you never thought about it, take a look at the money the team and its players give to charity and remember, when they leave so does that money.
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Sam Hornish Stays in the IRL
Hoo-fucking -ray! The IRL got some great news this week when Sam Hornish Jr. announced he would be joining Penske Team Marlboro on Penske's IRL team. Finally one that didn't get away! The only unfortunate part of the deal is the retirement of Gil deFerran.
Well good luck on your future endeavors Gil! He is getting out while the getting is good. And no one will have to wish Sam good luck. He moves to the head of the class and now has a ride commensurate with his talent! Fuck you NASCAR! Didn't get this one!
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And we bid adieu to Isiah Thomas as coach of the Pacers. I know Jermaine is all pissed off and all but I think when he gets back to town he will see the team is NOW dedicated to getting better. Isiah's coaching moved befuddled me over the past season. Most notably his rotations were so inconsistent. It's good to try new things but regular rotations have been a part of the NBA forever and there is a reason for it. They work! Good luck Isiah, I'm sure you'll end up somewhere in the league, I'm just glad you aren't our head coach any more.
Well good luck on your future endeavors Gil! He is getting out while the getting is good. And no one will have to wish Sam good luck. He moves to the head of the class and now has a ride commensurate with his talent! Fuck you NASCAR! Didn't get this one!
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And we bid adieu to Isiah Thomas as coach of the Pacers. I know Jermaine is all pissed off and all but I think when he gets back to town he will see the team is NOW dedicated to getting better. Isiah's coaching moved befuddled me over the past season. Most notably his rotations were so inconsistent. It's good to try new things but regular rotations have been a part of the NBA forever and there is a reason for it. They work! Good luck Isiah, I'm sure you'll end up somewhere in the league, I'm just glad you aren't our head coach any more.
Monday, May 26, 2003
The 2003 Indianapolis 500
Congrats to Gil and all of Penske for their win at Indy yesterday! But after attending, I felt like the real winner was the fans who were there, in person or spirit because for the first time in a long time, for me at least, it felt like RACE DAY!
From where I sat I could see no “blocks” of empty seats as predicted by the CARToids. The field had the names that were alienated in the split and it was great to have them back. Hopefully Mr. Judd will be able to race next year. But there was something special about race day this year. Sure the previous days of May had rain, no bumping and not a lot of drama. The new rules I feel contributed mostly to that. But for at least one day, the whole thing seemed like the ‘good old days'!
So Tony George, you won. You own the landscape that is open wheel racing in America. Forget about CART. Your aim is to take some of NASCAR's share of fans. But I beg you…It ain't no longer broke, so don't 'fix' it!
From where I sat I could see no “blocks” of empty seats as predicted by the CARToids. The field had the names that were alienated in the split and it was great to have them back. Hopefully Mr. Judd will be able to race next year. But there was something special about race day this year. Sure the previous days of May had rain, no bumping and not a lot of drama. The new rules I feel contributed mostly to that. But for at least one day, the whole thing seemed like the ‘good old days'!
So Tony George, you won. You own the landscape that is open wheel racing in America. Forget about CART. Your aim is to take some of NASCAR's share of fans. But I beg you…It ain't no longer broke, so don't 'fix' it!
Sunday, May 18, 2003
No Bumping at the Speedway
Well here we are a scant 2 days from Bump Day and the word “bumping” is most likely not going to be uttered around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this year. Instead we are going to be lucky to have 33 starters at all. Gee thanks Tony!
The 500 has been reduced to just another race. It no longer carries any distinction with the possible exception of the largest purse. The field will struggle to fill, tickets at this late date are still available. What a mess.
To make matters really bad is the lie that has been perpetrated on the fans. Seven years ago this IRL thing was supposed to bring the best open wheelers into an all oval, all American series. The only thing that is remaining is that the races are all still on ovals, but one wonders how long that will be true.
The fact is this, Tony Georges' massive ego wouldn't allow him to sit idly by while CART toured the world and garnered fans far and wide. He had to be “the Man”. Well I have news for you, he is too stupid to be “the Man” and he has just about killed the greatest race in the world.
Sure the CART drivers are back and I for one am glad. The ones that are here are the best drivers, or close. But it's the hypocrisy that George and Brian Barnhardt spew that this was all they ever wanted. Bullshit! He tried to make it with a bunch of no name wannabes and ended up with Buddy Lazier as a winner of the 500. I don't know Buddy and he may be a hell of a guy but this was a pud driver who usually ran the 500 only. He couldn't cut it as a driver in CART and any bullshit about money is just that. If he were good enough he would have had a ride.
So all of the side-by-side racing the IRL does at all of its other tracks in front of about 20 fans doesn't mean shit to me. It's fun to watch, but it doesn't diminish the fact that George has lied to all of us for 7 years and his civil war with CART has ruined open wheel racing in America.
The 500 has been reduced to just another race. It no longer carries any distinction with the possible exception of the largest purse. The field will struggle to fill, tickets at this late date are still available. What a mess.
To make matters really bad is the lie that has been perpetrated on the fans. Seven years ago this IRL thing was supposed to bring the best open wheelers into an all oval, all American series. The only thing that is remaining is that the races are all still on ovals, but one wonders how long that will be true.
The fact is this, Tony Georges' massive ego wouldn't allow him to sit idly by while CART toured the world and garnered fans far and wide. He had to be “the Man”. Well I have news for you, he is too stupid to be “the Man” and he has just about killed the greatest race in the world.
Sure the CART drivers are back and I for one am glad. The ones that are here are the best drivers, or close. But it's the hypocrisy that George and Brian Barnhardt spew that this was all they ever wanted. Bullshit! He tried to make it with a bunch of no name wannabes and ended up with Buddy Lazier as a winner of the 500. I don't know Buddy and he may be a hell of a guy but this was a pud driver who usually ran the 500 only. He couldn't cut it as a driver in CART and any bullshit about money is just that. If he were good enough he would have had a ride.
So all of the side-by-side racing the IRL does at all of its other tracks in front of about 20 fans doesn't mean shit to me. It's fun to watch, but it doesn't diminish the fact that George has lied to all of us for 7 years and his civil war with CART has ruined open wheel racing in America.
Wednesday, March 5, 2003
Shit For Brains
I have observed some things in the past few weeks that really have me scratching my head. The Colts, of course, are one of them. “Deserving” championships is another.
I'll take these in order. The Colts so far this off season have resigned a kick returner who can't hold on to the ball, have signed NO big name free agents, have let their best linebacker basically leave without compensation and have not renegotiated the one contract that can insure the financial health of the team for several years to come.
The signing of Troy Walters, or rather the resigning baffles. Why in the hell would you keep a guy like this who has shown his ineffectiveness time and time again? He fumbles all the fucking time. Yet, there he is, getting a new contract with the Colts. I don't know of anyone who wanted to keep this boob, but apparently that dumbass Bill Polian wanted him.
As for Mike Peterson, well we just basically let him go. Word from Colts camp is that he just isn't a Tony Dungy type of player. Okay, I can see that. What I can't see is just letting him get away uncompensated. Where is the sense in that?
Peterson and Walters bring me to my Polian point. This guy is ruining the Colts. He is not a player in free agency. He has made enough questionable calls on draft day to negate the Peyton and Edge picks. Now his latest fiascos. I honestly believe Polian knows exactly what the fans want to see and he does the opposite. His incessant ramblings about the lack of fan support or fan knowledge is nothing more that his own self doubt. This guy had a helluva run at Buffalo and Carolina, but we are talking about pre-cap days. He is clueless in the salary cap era.
Bill, if you're going to carp about fan support it might help if you quit gutting the team every other year to show you're in charge. How the hell do we get behind a player if he is replaced every other year? Moron Polian wrecked one of the best lines in the NFL by letting Steve McKinney get away. But instead of admitting error he blames the fans for not being knowledgeable or supportive. This clown has got to go and go NOW.
And what about this so-called superstar quarterback? Peyton's a good guy by all indication and in the scope of the NFL, probably a top 10 QB. Top 5…no freakin' way. If we keep this guy and let him eat up 20% or more of our cap we are doomed. First of all he's not worth it and second, even if he was the second coming of Joe Montana it is a team game. Again Polian seems to be dropping the ball on this one.
The last thing about the Colts is about the attitude the message boards seem to have. Generally opinion on just about every facet is split. People love Peyton, people hate him. Same with Edge, Dungy, Polian, Peterson etc. What I can't abide by is that the team owner should get a free pass with his problems. Today I read that with his personal problems still up in the air, nothing will be resolved about Peyton or any big name free agents. It went on to say that his problems weren't our business. Well hello pal! I got news for you, I will be the one who decides what is and is not my business. I just cut a check for half my season tickets for next year. I now have more than just a passing interest in the team and if his pill problem still exists then he needs to get help or sell the team and kill himself chemically. If that sounds harsh, sorry, but I find it no harsher than someone telling me what my business is. So you dickless piece of shit, piss off. I'm making it my business and I want to know what is going on to keep the team here. If they are leaving then let me know so I can find another team. And if one more of you message board idiots tells me how great we are and then tell me how it would be worse if we were Bengal fans then please call me so I can take you get some bullets and a gun so you can shoot yourselves.
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Speaking of dickless pieces of shit, I had the pleasure of meeting someone who wanted Indiana basketball coach Mike Davis fired. Killed is probably a more accurate word for what he wanted done to Davis. Apparently Mike Davis is not running the program well enough or at least to this individuals liking. Well to be honest, I haven't exactly liked what I have seen this year myself, but I do remember last March!
Upon further discussion I found out that this person was a graduate of Indiana University. I also found out that he went to IU not because of their business school(his degree), but rather because of their basketball team. Seems he liked what happened in 1976 and decided that was his kind of school. Once I heard this, the rest of his smack made sense. In his mind, or whatever he used to put thoughts together with, he deserved a national championship because he graduated from IU. The arguments that ensued would fill another page, but the bottom line is that apparently he is the only college grad in America and since he graduated from IU he deserves that championship.
It takes all kinds to make this world go around and there are some real fucking dandies out there.
I'll take these in order. The Colts so far this off season have resigned a kick returner who can't hold on to the ball, have signed NO big name free agents, have let their best linebacker basically leave without compensation and have not renegotiated the one contract that can insure the financial health of the team for several years to come.
The signing of Troy Walters, or rather the resigning baffles. Why in the hell would you keep a guy like this who has shown his ineffectiveness time and time again? He fumbles all the fucking time. Yet, there he is, getting a new contract with the Colts. I don't know of anyone who wanted to keep this boob, but apparently that dumbass Bill Polian wanted him.
As for Mike Peterson, well we just basically let him go. Word from Colts camp is that he just isn't a Tony Dungy type of player. Okay, I can see that. What I can't see is just letting him get away uncompensated. Where is the sense in that?
Peterson and Walters bring me to my Polian point. This guy is ruining the Colts. He is not a player in free agency. He has made enough questionable calls on draft day to negate the Peyton and Edge picks. Now his latest fiascos. I honestly believe Polian knows exactly what the fans want to see and he does the opposite. His incessant ramblings about the lack of fan support or fan knowledge is nothing more that his own self doubt. This guy had a helluva run at Buffalo and Carolina, but we are talking about pre-cap days. He is clueless in the salary cap era.
Bill, if you're going to carp about fan support it might help if you quit gutting the team every other year to show you're in charge. How the hell do we get behind a player if he is replaced every other year? Moron Polian wrecked one of the best lines in the NFL by letting Steve McKinney get away. But instead of admitting error he blames the fans for not being knowledgeable or supportive. This clown has got to go and go NOW.
And what about this so-called superstar quarterback? Peyton's a good guy by all indication and in the scope of the NFL, probably a top 10 QB. Top 5…no freakin' way. If we keep this guy and let him eat up 20% or more of our cap we are doomed. First of all he's not worth it and second, even if he was the second coming of Joe Montana it is a team game. Again Polian seems to be dropping the ball on this one.
The last thing about the Colts is about the attitude the message boards seem to have. Generally opinion on just about every facet is split. People love Peyton, people hate him. Same with Edge, Dungy, Polian, Peterson etc. What I can't abide by is that the team owner should get a free pass with his problems. Today I read that with his personal problems still up in the air, nothing will be resolved about Peyton or any big name free agents. It went on to say that his problems weren't our business. Well hello pal! I got news for you, I will be the one who decides what is and is not my business. I just cut a check for half my season tickets for next year. I now have more than just a passing interest in the team and if his pill problem still exists then he needs to get help or sell the team and kill himself chemically. If that sounds harsh, sorry, but I find it no harsher than someone telling me what my business is. So you dickless piece of shit, piss off. I'm making it my business and I want to know what is going on to keep the team here. If they are leaving then let me know so I can find another team. And if one more of you message board idiots tells me how great we are and then tell me how it would be worse if we were Bengal fans then please call me so I can take you get some bullets and a gun so you can shoot yourselves.
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Speaking of dickless pieces of shit, I had the pleasure of meeting someone who wanted Indiana basketball coach Mike Davis fired. Killed is probably a more accurate word for what he wanted done to Davis. Apparently Mike Davis is not running the program well enough or at least to this individuals liking. Well to be honest, I haven't exactly liked what I have seen this year myself, but I do remember last March!
Upon further discussion I found out that this person was a graduate of Indiana University. I also found out that he went to IU not because of their business school(his degree), but rather because of their basketball team. Seems he liked what happened in 1976 and decided that was his kind of school. Once I heard this, the rest of his smack made sense. In his mind, or whatever he used to put thoughts together with, he deserved a national championship because he graduated from IU. The arguments that ensued would fill another page, but the bottom line is that apparently he is the only college grad in America and since he graduated from IU he deserves that championship.
It takes all kinds to make this world go around and there are some real fucking dandies out there.
Wednesday, January 8, 2003
Colts Post-Mortem
Well here we are, January 8th and it's already time for the Colts post mortem. Damn, what can I, or anyone else say. A 41-0 blowout loss to the fucking Jets. Guess they were hot! Well I'm not gonna bash the Jets, they simply outplayed the Colts in every phase of the game.
No, this is about the Dolts, er Colts.
The Colts finished the regular season with a respectable, at least from the surface, 10-6 record. It's when you delve a little deeper into it that you realize how disturbing it is and why the 41-0 blowout isn't as surprising as it seems.
Let me start at the end. The 41-0 loss to the Jets was a complete team letdown. Peyton sucked, Marvin looked disinterested, I don't think the defense ever got off the airplane in NJ and special teams sucked. There really isn't any good reason to dissect that game very much further. I'll only say this, unless Irsay is just paying lip service about staying in Indianapolis, then he is going to have to field a team that plays better than that or he will have about 2500 people cheering for the Colts in the dome next year.
The team got off to a decent start in Jacksonville against an enigmatic Jaguar team. Their triple threat of Brunnell, Smith and Taylor had okay days but nothing spectacular. On the other hand Manning, James and Harrison didn't exactly light it up either. The defense bothered though and would continue to do so well into the season.
An ugly loss to the Dolphins brought out the simple fact the defense stunk. Ricky Williams and Edge put on a show though. Both ran hard and well and both caught the ball. Unfortunately a trend that would haunt us all season reared it's ugly head. The Colts let the Phins have a big halftime lead which we simply could not overcome. Games against Pittsburgh, Washington, Tennessee twice, the NY Giants and the Jets all were the same story.
Wins against Houston, Baltimore and Cincinnati brought the Colts to 4-1. However, the team was not impressive in any of the three. In fact the Ravens and Bengal games outcomes could have easily gone the other way.
This is where the wheels of the team truly fell off. A brutal Monday night showing in Pittsburgh wiped the optimism out of my eyes. Couple that with an equally abysmal effort at the Redskins and the Colts were back to 4-3. The next week at home against the Titans we saw in person what will really be remembered about this season: A soft team with little or no heart. They lost to the Titans after spotting them a big lead. 4-4 and heading to Philadelphia to face the Eagles.
The Eagles were riding high ever since their opening day loss to the Titans which spelled trouble for the Colts who seemed to be packing it in. But something strange and wonderful happened that day, the Colts showed heart and skill with a thrashing of the vaunted Eagles. They ran, they threw, they tackled and they gave hope. Hope that all was not lost for the season.
Subsequent wins against the Cowboys, a big Sunday night game at the Broncos and back home against the Texans had the Colts in the proverbial catbird seat in the AFC South at 8-4. That set up the big showdown for what most likely would be for the division title. Needless to say the Colts once again failed to compete and were essentially knocked out of contention for the division crown.
The next week at Cleveland against the Browns the Colts were up to their old tricks of giving up a shitload of points and digging themselves a hole. Amazingly to me they dug out and actually won the game. At a time when Cleveland was garnering notoriety as a team that won in the last minute the Colts held and won the game. The Colts were 9-5 and still clinging to hope of a Titans loss, which would never come, to win the division.
Any thoughts of that were extinguished early in the Giants game at the dome. The Colts had been Jekyll and Hyde all season but this was all bad. An ego bruising, momentum killing, hope spoiling, ass kicking at the hands of the Giants left me numb. Finally, in a game that by kickoff meant absolutely nothing, the Colts got by the Brunnelless Jaguars for an ugly 20-13 win whose outcome was not decided until the last minute. Meanwhile, some 600 miles east of here in the Meadowlands our next opponent as it turned out was pummeling a pretty decent Packer squad.
Well I've been over the outcome of that game so I won't dwell on it anymore. The Colts did manage to go from a 6-10 team to a 10-6 regular season record, but I think it's pretty obvious that we could have lost 3 more games easily.
Were there improvements? Yes! The defense, while disappearing again late in the season, did show signs of life and aggressiveness. They moved all the way from the 29th best D to the 8th best. Are they the 8th best defense in the NFL? No, but they do seem to be improved. Rob Morris played about the way he always had for about the first 6 games then made a miraculous recovery and really finished the season strong. Dwight Freeney made the GM look like a genius when he finally got to start and ended with numbers that should have earned him NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. There are cap issues which will need to be addressed so we will see if this group continues to improve.
Edge showed good form early but was hampered by nagging injuries a lot this season. It was apparent he didn't have the stop and start moves he had in the past, but he was there. There was something going around that Bill Polian had said the plan was not to even run Edge until the end of October to make sure he was 100%. Unfortunately, preseason injuries took out most of the running back corps including 1000 yard rusher Dominic ‘Rocky' Rhodes. We were left with an 80% edge, some clown named Ricky Williams (not that one) and James Mungro. Of course Mungro's heroics in the Philly game made him the toast of the town and Edge the goat. To those who think Mungro is “it”, get a clue. Williams also had a taste of that when he scored a late touch against Washington.
The O line never really got it together. We lost Steve McKinney and Ken Dilger in the off season and you would think we lost the two greatest blockers in history. The replacements were not as good and even though we still didn't give up many sacks the running game suffered tremendously.
Marvin Harrison was always there. He caught 143 balls this year, a new NFL record. Typically he was given no consideration for NFL MVP. A travesty in my mind. As for the rest of the receiving crew, Qadry Ismail looked like a keeper early, but faded into the woodwork after a midseason slump. Reggie Wayne played well, when he played. But Harrison, as has been the case in the past, was the go to guy.
Then there's the quarterback. Peyton's a great guy. Seems like a real student of the game. But for all his preparation he had a crappy season. Sure he threw for more than 4000 yards…again, but he simply folds when the going gets tough. His three INT's against the Titans when the game meant so much were a microcosm of his season. The Colts are getting ready to pay Peyton unbelievable amounts of money. Probably the biggest contract in NFL history and after this season I am starting to question that rationale. I'm just not sure we need that high of a priced QB when we have so many glaring needs. Having Peyton may be a luxury we simply can not afford.
In a previous article I talked about the Colts moving. I still think they need to put a better product on the field game in and game out to get more fans on board. If they do not, people will stay away. I get the impression from Polian and Irsay that this is the NFL and we should be blessed just to have it. I am grateful every year that we have the Colts. I never liked how we got them, but what is done is done. 19 years of mediocrity though is wearing thin and from what I read on the forums and message boards I am not alone. We brought in a new coach this year. I wanted Gruden, but when he was not available I was glad to have Tony Dungy. I'm going to reserve comment on coach until after next year. He inherited a 6-10 team with some real issues and went 10-6 and the D is improved.
Ultimately the stamp on this season will be the inconsistency and the rumors of the team bolting for the coast. The first is true, stay tuned about the second.
No, this is about the Dolts, er Colts.
The Colts finished the regular season with a respectable, at least from the surface, 10-6 record. It's when you delve a little deeper into it that you realize how disturbing it is and why the 41-0 blowout isn't as surprising as it seems.
Let me start at the end. The 41-0 loss to the Jets was a complete team letdown. Peyton sucked, Marvin looked disinterested, I don't think the defense ever got off the airplane in NJ and special teams sucked. There really isn't any good reason to dissect that game very much further. I'll only say this, unless Irsay is just paying lip service about staying in Indianapolis, then he is going to have to field a team that plays better than that or he will have about 2500 people cheering for the Colts in the dome next year.
The team got off to a decent start in Jacksonville against an enigmatic Jaguar team. Their triple threat of Brunnell, Smith and Taylor had okay days but nothing spectacular. On the other hand Manning, James and Harrison didn't exactly light it up either. The defense bothered though and would continue to do so well into the season.
An ugly loss to the Dolphins brought out the simple fact the defense stunk. Ricky Williams and Edge put on a show though. Both ran hard and well and both caught the ball. Unfortunately a trend that would haunt us all season reared it's ugly head. The Colts let the Phins have a big halftime lead which we simply could not overcome. Games against Pittsburgh, Washington, Tennessee twice, the NY Giants and the Jets all were the same story.
Wins against Houston, Baltimore and Cincinnati brought the Colts to 4-1. However, the team was not impressive in any of the three. In fact the Ravens and Bengal games outcomes could have easily gone the other way.
This is where the wheels of the team truly fell off. A brutal Monday night showing in Pittsburgh wiped the optimism out of my eyes. Couple that with an equally abysmal effort at the Redskins and the Colts were back to 4-3. The next week at home against the Titans we saw in person what will really be remembered about this season: A soft team with little or no heart. They lost to the Titans after spotting them a big lead. 4-4 and heading to Philadelphia to face the Eagles.
The Eagles were riding high ever since their opening day loss to the Titans which spelled trouble for the Colts who seemed to be packing it in. But something strange and wonderful happened that day, the Colts showed heart and skill with a thrashing of the vaunted Eagles. They ran, they threw, they tackled and they gave hope. Hope that all was not lost for the season.
Subsequent wins against the Cowboys, a big Sunday night game at the Broncos and back home against the Texans had the Colts in the proverbial catbird seat in the AFC South at 8-4. That set up the big showdown for what most likely would be for the division title. Needless to say the Colts once again failed to compete and were essentially knocked out of contention for the division crown.
The next week at Cleveland against the Browns the Colts were up to their old tricks of giving up a shitload of points and digging themselves a hole. Amazingly to me they dug out and actually won the game. At a time when Cleveland was garnering notoriety as a team that won in the last minute the Colts held and won the game. The Colts were 9-5 and still clinging to hope of a Titans loss, which would never come, to win the division.
Any thoughts of that were extinguished early in the Giants game at the dome. The Colts had been Jekyll and Hyde all season but this was all bad. An ego bruising, momentum killing, hope spoiling, ass kicking at the hands of the Giants left me numb. Finally, in a game that by kickoff meant absolutely nothing, the Colts got by the Brunnelless Jaguars for an ugly 20-13 win whose outcome was not decided until the last minute. Meanwhile, some 600 miles east of here in the Meadowlands our next opponent as it turned out was pummeling a pretty decent Packer squad.
Well I've been over the outcome of that game so I won't dwell on it anymore. The Colts did manage to go from a 6-10 team to a 10-6 regular season record, but I think it's pretty obvious that we could have lost 3 more games easily.
Were there improvements? Yes! The defense, while disappearing again late in the season, did show signs of life and aggressiveness. They moved all the way from the 29th best D to the 8th best. Are they the 8th best defense in the NFL? No, but they do seem to be improved. Rob Morris played about the way he always had for about the first 6 games then made a miraculous recovery and really finished the season strong. Dwight Freeney made the GM look like a genius when he finally got to start and ended with numbers that should have earned him NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. There are cap issues which will need to be addressed so we will see if this group continues to improve.
Edge showed good form early but was hampered by nagging injuries a lot this season. It was apparent he didn't have the stop and start moves he had in the past, but he was there. There was something going around that Bill Polian had said the plan was not to even run Edge until the end of October to make sure he was 100%. Unfortunately, preseason injuries took out most of the running back corps including 1000 yard rusher Dominic ‘Rocky' Rhodes. We were left with an 80% edge, some clown named Ricky Williams (not that one) and James Mungro. Of course Mungro's heroics in the Philly game made him the toast of the town and Edge the goat. To those who think Mungro is “it”, get a clue. Williams also had a taste of that when he scored a late touch against Washington.
The O line never really got it together. We lost Steve McKinney and Ken Dilger in the off season and you would think we lost the two greatest blockers in history. The replacements were not as good and even though we still didn't give up many sacks the running game suffered tremendously.
Marvin Harrison was always there. He caught 143 balls this year, a new NFL record. Typically he was given no consideration for NFL MVP. A travesty in my mind. As for the rest of the receiving crew, Qadry Ismail looked like a keeper early, but faded into the woodwork after a midseason slump. Reggie Wayne played well, when he played. But Harrison, as has been the case in the past, was the go to guy.
Then there's the quarterback. Peyton's a great guy. Seems like a real student of the game. But for all his preparation he had a crappy season. Sure he threw for more than 4000 yards…again, but he simply folds when the going gets tough. His three INT's against the Titans when the game meant so much were a microcosm of his season. The Colts are getting ready to pay Peyton unbelievable amounts of money. Probably the biggest contract in NFL history and after this season I am starting to question that rationale. I'm just not sure we need that high of a priced QB when we have so many glaring needs. Having Peyton may be a luxury we simply can not afford.
In a previous article I talked about the Colts moving. I still think they need to put a better product on the field game in and game out to get more fans on board. If they do not, people will stay away. I get the impression from Polian and Irsay that this is the NFL and we should be blessed just to have it. I am grateful every year that we have the Colts. I never liked how we got them, but what is done is done. 19 years of mediocrity though is wearing thin and from what I read on the forums and message boards I am not alone. We brought in a new coach this year. I wanted Gruden, but when he was not available I was glad to have Tony Dungy. I'm going to reserve comment on coach until after next year. He inherited a 6-10 team with some real issues and went 10-6 and the D is improved.
Ultimately the stamp on this season will be the inconsistency and the rumors of the team bolting for the coast. The first is true, stay tuned about the second.
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