| Anthony Holds. 4th October, 2008 - 11:05 am
 The Colts’ various issues, in what has been, thus far, one of the strangest seasons in memory for the team, have been well documented – starting with Peyton Manning’s training camp absence following knee surgery. Injuries to Bob Sanders, most of the projected starting offensive line, and the unexpected loss of defensive tackles Quinn Pitcock and Ed Johnson to retirement and disciplinary measures, respectively, have altered the look of the team enough to throw things into significant disarray. But what happens on the field this week at Houston in Hurricane Ike-damaged Reliant Stadium should tell a great deal about where the team is going in the remainder of 2008.
There are brighter and darker ways of looking at the situation. One could point out that, had a controversial illegal contact call not been made with the Jaguars behind late in Lucas Oil Stadium and facing a 4th down in their own territory two weeks ago, the Colts would be 2-1 right now. But one could also go back and look at the fact that, in Minnesota in Week 2, the Colts were a few plays away from a loss that would have them currently standing at 0-3. So the results are about as good as could be expected… The question is whether the root causes are shaping up and improving.
Colts' fans can only hope that the rest, recovery, and regrouping time afforded by last week’s bye will make a major difference. On paper, that seems likely. Peyton Manning has seemed less rusty with each passing week, and some of the most frustrating moments in the passing game have come from key drops by his receivers, as opposed to mistakes by him. The timing and rhythm that are so essential to coordinator Tom Moore’s offense showed signs of life two weeks ago at The Luke, and it’s a good bet that two weeks of work and a bye week have done much to improve that situation. The offensive line should be as intact as it has been all season. Center Jeff Saturday, who returned and immediately bettered the efficiency of the offensive unit against Jacksonville, will be in the lineup again this week. Mike Pollak figures to make his first start at right guard, and Tony Ugoh is back to resume his spot at left tackle. That leaves only one line position still to be populated by a backup, with versatile veteran Charlie Johnson probably filling the left guard position vacated by Ryan Lilja, the returning starter who will miss several more weeks while on the Physically Unable to Perform List following offseason knee surgery.
The defensive unit looks like a bit more of a question mark for the time being. Safety Bob Sanders, whose presence in run support and general energy on the field seems to be the spark that ignites this defense, will be out at least two or three more games while recovering from a high ankle sprain and an arthroscopic procedure to clean up his right knee that was timed to coincide with the recovery period for the ankle. That leaves second year player Melvin Bullitt making his second start in his place. In his first, against the Jaguars, Bullitt showed quickness and aggression but also missed a few key tackles as the Colts’ defense gave up over 200 yards on the ground to the two-headed monster of Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor. Tyjuan Hagler, the intended starter at strongside outside linebacker, should be back for Week 7, as he is also on the PUP list. His replacement Clint Session has shown flashes of outstanding play but has also been lost at sea at times stopping the run. Perhaps the most disconcerting aspect on the defensive side of the ball is the degree to which the Colts are forced to count on recent free agent acquisitions Daniel Muir and LaJuan Ramsey to come through for them at the defensive tackle position. With the aforementioned losses of Pitcock and Johnson, these two are the biggest bodies the Colts have to offer in attempting to stop the run – the only two 300-pounders on a line populated primarily by talented but more undersized Cover 2 linemen like Keyunta Dawson, Raheem Brock, and rookie Eric Foster. Muir has not played since he has been nursing an injury. Ramsey has gotten some time but, thus far, been a non-factor. A very important component in slowing the run as the season progresses will be at least one, and hopefully both, of these new faces demonstrating an ability to create some piles and clog some holes in the middle of the line.
So, while there are still a few huge question marks, there is increased hope, as well. With that influx of hope, though, comes the realization that there is little time, and there are few excuses left, for any continued struggles by the team. There has been much talk from Coach Tony Dungy and the players over the past two weeks of getting a streak going. That is undoubtedly what needs to happen.
But, a streak starts with one game. And a solid road win over a desperate, better-than-their-0-3-record Houston Texans team on Sunday would begin to turn down the volume of the slowly rising chorus of voices suggesting that the Colts’ demise is near. |
