GoColtsBlue

Today, at 5pm, the Indianapolis Colts will announce that Tony Dungy is retiring as Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts. 

It's a sad day in Indianapolis.  It is a move that many have seen coming for some time now, but never wanted to realize.  For Tony, I know it's been a tough decision, but one that will be for the best of he and his family.

Coach Dungy will be missed in Indianapolis, a city that endured many losing seasons before he came to town.  He has been the subject of many conversations regarding inefficiency and choking, in that, the Colts only won 1 Super Bowl while he was in Indianapolis.

That statement astounds me.

Only one Super Bowl win in seven seasons is really quite an accomplishment.  There are currently 16 teams in the NFL whom have zero (0) wins in the Super Bowl.  There are 6 teams that have never even made it to the Super Bowl.

Coach Dungy took the time to reflect and pray to make sure that this was the right decision for he and his family.  He made it perfectly clear that this was a final decision, once he decided to step away.  This would not be a year or two hiatus, but a final exit to coaching.

Coach Dungy leaves behind a team that is still, very much, in tact, and built to make a run at a Super Bowl in the coming seasons.  The annointing of Jim Caldwell will add some consistency without going out to find a successor.  Jim Caldwell has worked with Peyton Manning and Tom Moore and should not represent much of a change in the offensive scheme of things.

I am sure that there will be some growing pains, but I don't look for drastic changes.  Indianapolis still had Manning, Freeney, Sanders, Wayne, Jackson, Bethea, and Mathis.  I look for Indy to find a way, next year, and to be competitive for years to come.

Coach Dungy, it's been a pleasure having you on the Colts sideline.  Thank you for all you have done for the Colts and the City of Indianapolis.

For the past week, talk radio in Indianapolis has been blazing with people calling in and calling for a change to the way the NFL does things.  The Colts loss, in overtime, to a team that made it in to the playoffs by the skin of its teeth, has some calling for a change to the way home games are awarded, to how overtime is handled in the playoffs.

Let me start by saying, boo hoo.

If you ask any player on the Indianapolis Colts about making changes to any of the above, you will get negative responses.

Let's address a 12-4 team going on the road to play against an 8-8 team.

I have heard a lot of people say that the Colts should never have had to go on the road to play the Chargers because of records, despite Division standings.  This is wrong.  I don't care how strong or week a division is. You have to give a division winner home field for at least one game.  You have to reward the division winner.

Besides, if you look at San Diego's record, and then the losses, they were not a bad team.  Most games were very close.  And the thing is, they did it when it mattered.

A game should not be decided on a coin flip is another thing that I have heard.  For this I wholeheartedly agree.

A team should never let a game be decided by a coin flip.  Both teams were aware of the rules of overtime.  To avoid losing in overtime, take care of business in regulation, then there will be no overtime to worry about.  If you get to overtime and lose the toss, your defense HAS to step up and make a stop!  You cannot blame anyone but yourself on the outcome.

The rules have been on the books forever.  The NFL is the best show on television, right now, because of the old saying, "Any Given Sunday."  And that is why you will not see any wholesale changes; nor should you.

The Indianapolis Colts took to the field, last night, as a one point favorite against a Chargers team that had nearly missed the playoffs, starting the season 4-8.  The Colts had, yet, another 12 win regular season and had strung together 9 wins in a row.

The Colts are at home today preparing for the next big thing....

The off season.

The Colts defense, effectively let Darren Sproles run all over the top of them.  They had no answers in the last 2.5 quarters of football.  This should have been a game that the Colts excelled in, since LaDanian Tomlinson was sidelined for most of the game.  However, once again, another year and another defense that cannot stop the run.

The offense didn't help matters.  Analysts have been saying all year that a one dimensional offense will not win in the playoffs.  Guess what; they are right.  The Colts offense could not generate much on the ground.  When it was needed most, they generated less.  The offensive line was partially to blame, but even the novice football fan could see that Joseph Addai was not going to get much yardage dancing around in the backfield.

Some of the things that I see need to happen to get the Colts over this hump are as follows:

1. Draft a run stopper.  Put some meat on the defensive line that is going to plug up the middle and force teams from the run.

2. Get a running back that can generate yardage, does more than dance in the backfield, and is less injury prone.

3. As much as I hate to say it, get a quality WR as a replacement for Marvin Harrison, and cut the first ballot Hall Of Famer.

4. The Colts need to do an extensive search for a special teams coach.  Our special teams is an achilles heal, every year.

5. I think Coach Dungy is a heck of a guy.  However, I don't think the retirement of Coach Dungy would necessarily be a bad thing.  We have been consistently good during the regular season.  We continually choke up a hairball in the playoffs.  Talent has changed, the coaching staff has not.  Maybe a change is due.

Congratulations to the San Diego Chargers.  You have earned another week on the playoff merry-go-round.

For the Colts......

I guess there is always next year.

It's a big weekend for the Indianapolis Colts, as the meet the San Diego Chargers.  To start off the weekend off, Peyton Manning was awarded the League MVP Award, as he drove the Colts to a 12-4 record, after starting 3-4.

The Colts go ito this game as favorites, albeit a 1 point favorite.  This will be a dangerous game for the Colts as and the Chargers always play a smashmouth game the is usually settled late in the game.  There is no reason to think this game will end any differently.

The Colts have just completed a 9-game winning streak, but the Chargers have just completed a streak of their own, winning their last 4.

This will be a tough game for both teams.  It remains to be announced whether LaDanian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates will play, as both are on the injury report.

This season has been different for a Colts squad that usually wraps up a division title by week 13 or 14.  This year, each win has been hard fought and down to the wire.  Look for every playoff game to be the same.

The Colts faced a hungry Lions team on Sunday, but like so many Sundays earlier in the season, the Lions went away hungry.

In what appeared, from my seat, to be a poorly officiated game for both teams, the Colts took it to the Lions, despite some less that savory calls for the officiating crew.

I did not hear the explanation of the first fumble.  The only thing that I can figure is that a penalty is not reviewable.  Keiwan Ratliff was clearly interfered with on the punt return that was ruled a Lions fumble recovery.  It amazed me how the entire audience of the Luke saw it on the Jumbotron, but the official blew it in the replay booth.

Maybe they were showing porn under the curtain.

However, none of that mattered as the Colts reeled of their seventh straight win, to improve to 10-4.

Indianapolis is in the drivers’ seat in the chase for a Wild Card.  They have earned it.  Dominic Rhodes looked awesome running the ball, as did Chad Simpson.  And I have to say, that one-handed grab by Dallas Clark had to be one of the best of the year.  He just snagged that thing out of the air.  With his hands and size, he has to be one of the premier Tight Ends in the league.

It’s a short week for the Colts, as we head down to Jacksonville for Thursday Night Football.  The team will be set to avenge the early season loss to what is, now, a dumpster fire in Jacksonville.

The Indianapolis Colts effectively dismantled a mauch maligned Bengals team yesterday, and made it six in a row, strengthening ther spot for a wild card. 

The Colts did it with superb play from the defense and near flawless play from the offense.

Now, the beans and biscuits.......

We played the Bengals.  This is a team which has been having a hard time getting on the team bus without screwin something up.  The Colts were still not very good on the running game.  Joseph Addai and Dom Rhodes ran well at times, but lost yardage on 6 of 20 rushes.  That is not something that is going to win games in the playoffs.  That has to change.

One good thing was that Bob Sanders, though a bit rusty, was back on the field and the Colts suffered no injuries.  That could not be said for the Bengals.

Next week we face the Lions.  The Colts need to get it together with the running game or it will be a short lived playoff run,

Let's not let the Lions get their first win against the Horseshoes!

Go Horse!

It wasn't a blowout.  There was no record passing day for Peyton Manning or a career rushing day for Joseph Addai.  Instead, it was a grind-it-out, smashmouth football game in the cold.

They say that defense wins football games.  That is not something that can be said for the Colts defense, very often.  In the past, the Colts offense put an enormous amount of points on the board, and the defense is then able to pass rush against a team trying to get back into the game by passing the ball.

Today, the defense bailed out a negligible offense, and came up with some big plays when they needed to.  Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis had a great game, as they fought all day providing pressure against Derek Anderson and forced the struggling QB into bad situations, and put him out of the game, and possibly out of the season.

The Colts are still awaiting word on Gary Brackett, whom had gone out with an apparent leg injury.  Early word is that he has an ankle injury, but there is no word as to how long the team will be without him.

The Colts come out of this game on a 5-game win streak.  The remaining schedule is is said to be the easiest in the NFL.  However, today proved that you cannot overlook any team on the schedule, as some of the worst teams in the NFL are some of the most dangerous.

Next week, we play the Cincinnati Bengals, in The Luke.  I'm sure that it will be a good game, and have high hopes for a 6-game win streak! 

It was a tough game in San Diego, but the Colts leave San Diego with a win.

This was a game that the Colts needed to get under their belt ot have the confidence to move on to the next few games.

Jamey Richards stepped in for Jeff Saturday, and didn't do too bad.  With the early season injuries, Richards was allowed to get some playing time to be able to experience the protection calls that he needed to make, today.

The running game was great, but was good enough to allow for some great throws.  It was just enough to keep the Chargers off-balance.  The Chargers played a really good game, but just could not make the stops when they needed to.

The Colts defense was hurting without Bob Sanders.  However, Dwight Freeney is showing that the injury of  last year is starting to have little affect on his play.  He was really good tonight. 

The offensive line looked great.  For the most part, Peyton had a lot of time to get rid of the ball.

We now enter a few weeks of a weaker schedule for the Colts.  They cannot sleep on some of these teams coming up.  They just cannot do it!

I believe that the Colts run the table for the rest of the season.  And will be a shoe in for the wild card.  But, and this is a big BUT; they have to get a healthy Bob Sanders into the lineup, and soon.  They are giving up too much on defense.

However, this week is now over.  I will revel in the victory, and celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday knowing that the Colts will NOT miss the playoffs this year.

By the way; isn't Adam Vinatieri, magic?  Mr. Clutch. 

I have to say, though, that I am very impressed with Anthony Gonzalez.  He gets my game ball.  Joseph Addai gets a close second with over 100 total yards.

Next week, we're at the Cleveland Browns.

Today in Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Colts put an end to the playoff hopes of the Houston Texans.  They did so in a way that looked familiar, as the Colts of old. 

The first half looked to be a struggle for the Colts as they did very little to help themselves.  While they were on defense, the Colts could do little more than to let the Houston offense run over the top of them.  On offense, the Colts killed themselves with stupid penalties.  Tony Ugoh accounted for 3 straight penalties.

At halftime, adjustments were made.  The offense came out firing on all cylinders.  The Colts finally put a respectable run game together, and every receiver contributed.

The one thing that made this win possible was the play of the offensive line.  No sacks.  They put together a good pretection scheme and opened holes for a productive running game.

The Colts never really figured out a way to stop the Texans run attack, but did enough to post a win.  You never want to put too much emphasis on one person, but without Bob Sanders, this is a different defense.  Hopefully he will be back next week against the San Diego Chargers.

I do have to pass on props to Marvin Harrison.  I'm not sure if he got tired of hearing everyone rag on him about his productivity, or what.  He looked more like vintage, clutch, Marvin Harrison.  It was great to witness.

Next week, the Colts go on the road to face the Chargers, whom have beaten them the last two times out.  This will go a long way in putting the Colts up on the Chargers in tie-breakers, if they can come home with a win. 

All in all, a good win.

Remember a few years back when Marvin Harrison took the field against the, I believe, New England Patriots on Monday Night?  In the first series, he got into a scuffle into the end zone with a Patriots DB because he was so pumped.  Those days seem like days so lost in the past.

Since that time he went down for, what may as well have been, a season ending knee injury, and has yet to fully come back.

Will he ever?  I'm not feeling to comfortable with that answer.

All year we have heard analyst after analyst say that Marvin has lost a step.  While that may be true, i think Marvin may have lost something more.  Desire.  A will to win.

Marvin Harrison caught 3 balls for 37 yards, yesterday.  Meager stats compared to two years ago.  However, he still flies down the field.  He can still beat most DB's in the game.  One thing that I saw yesterday was the lack of desire to try.  Two balls, in particular, that I saw were thrown his way that were slightly overthrown would have been catches in the past.  Yesterday, it looked like Marvin barely tried to stretch out for the completion.

Is there too much water under the bridge?  Did his knee injury make him gun-shy?  Speaking of guns; is the of-the-field legal issue coming into play, too much, taking his mind off of his game?

I'm not sure of the answers to these question, but I think that it's time that Harrison has a heart-to-heart with himself and ask himself some serious questions.  If he is not going to be an active, aggressive participant in trying to get back to the Super Bowl, maybe it's time for someone to take his place.  There are 52 other guys on that field, counting on him to step up.  There is a city that loves Marvin, and respects his play.

Marv, if you're still in there, we want you back.  We want the real "you."

Last night, the Indianapolis Colts showed what they were made of.  At the first of the game, it looked as though Pittsburgh would have an easy go of it, by driving down the field and putting 7 on the board.  However, it was the start of a very long game for the Steelers, and Ben Roethlisberger.

The Colts came back to match the 7 when a ball was tipped into Reggie Wayne's hands, completing a 65 yard touchdown play.  The Steelers went back up, but because of a Keiwan Ratliff interception, the Colts drove down and put 7 more on the board, to go in down, only 3, at halftime. 

This was the way the Steelers day would go.  Playing through a 17-17 tie, into the 4th quarter, undrafted rookie Eric Foster stuffed Mewelde Moore at the one, which would have put the Steelers up by 7.  Instead, they settled for a field goal and a 3 point lead.  Tim Jennings then stepped to teh plate, intercepting Big Ben and giving the Colts good field position.  A couple of plays later, Dominick Rhodes caught Manning pass and carried it to the endzone.  The fate of the Steelers would be known, only after a Melvin Bullitt interception in the endzone as time expired.

It was 40 years since the Colts last won in Pittsburgh.  Indianapolis Offensive Coordinator, Tom Moore, was 30 years old.  That is history.  Yesterday, the Colts played with what Pittsburgh gave them.  And yesterday, Pittsburgh gave them the ball and a short field, for most of the day.

What was the big difference?  Defense.  The defense got off the field.  Not only did they get off the field, they gave the offense a short field to work with and a lot of momentum.

So if you're a Pittsburgh fan, you can say that it was injuries.  If you're a Colts fan, you can say that we outplayed Pittsburgh.  You can't really look at injuries in the RB position, as Moore has been lighting it up for Pittsburgh's running game.  You can say it was Ben's injuries, but I don't think so.  Actually, I think Ben took some chances that he should not have taken.  He made some throws that were just poor decisions.  He threw into tight coverage too many times.  The kid has a gun, but just made some poor decisions.

To me, it looked like a really good game plan, along with a swarming defense, and a little bit of luck.  But, luck doesn't hurt anyone!

By the way, have you noticed the Colts run defense, they didn't look too shabby, at all.  The team is really starting to come together.

From here on out, the schedule presents opponents whom are tough and will present weekly challenges.  I think that the Colts are up to task. 

Next up:  Houston Texans @ Lucas Oil Stadium, Sunday @ 1:00pm.  This team will try to avenge a 4th quarter melt-down that cost them the first game against the Colts.  It will be a tough game.

This week the Colts face, probably, the biggest challenge of the season.  The Pittsburgh Steelers have put together 6 impressive wins, this year, and will be looking to improve their position in the AFC North, by going 7-2.

The Colts have struggled this year.  They have yet to put a consistent string of wins together, but have looked impressive over the last two games against the Tennessee Titans and the New England Patriots.  The Pittsburgh Steelers is a whole different animal.

It is not certain whether Big Ben Roethlisberger will lead his team this weekend, as he is trying to rehab a shoulder injury that was aggravated in the game against Washington.  However, Big Ben or not, the Steelers are formidable foes, as Byron Leftwich can step in for Ben.  Leftwich knows the Colts very well, as he faced us many times as QB for the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Though his success with Jacksonville was limited, against the Colts, he would be more of a threat to Indianapolis, as Pittsburgh has the weapons in the backfield, and a tremendous corps of receivers to keep the Indy defense off-balanced.

Indianapolis must do what it can to get out and score, and score often.  They cannot falter against a team that can throw AND run the ball.  I am sure that the Steelers will do what every other team has tried to do this year.  Control the clock and keep Peyton and Company off of the field.

The Colts have added some beef ot their defensive line, this week, in the signing of Antonio Johnson (6-3), 310 lbs) off of Tennessee's practice squad.  Will he be a big help?  We can only hope.  More beef on the D-line should help to slow down the run.  The Colts also get Dante Hughes and Freddie Keiaho back.  Hopefully that will beef up the defense a bit.

This will be a great game.  If the Colts win, the strengthen their bid in the race for a wildcard.  If Pittsburgh wins, they potentially can put another game between them and the Ravens, pending a Ravens loss.

Game time 4:15pm.  This one, you won't want to miss!

I am the owner of a Karaoke & DJ company.  Last night, while doing a show, I got to do something that I never dreamed I would be able to do.

As a couple finished singing their song, I faded the music out and announced, "If you haven't been paying attention, we have just made history in electing Barack Obama as our 44th President, and first African American to hold the office of President of The United States."

The place erupted with screams and clapping.  It was very moving.  Later in the evening, I was met with very mixed opinions.  I learned that there is still a lot of unfounded hate, fear, and ignorance in our society.

I was told that someone needs to and will shoot that n***er before he ever takes office.  I was told that Barack Obama was the Anti-Christ, and was the beginning to the downfall of Christianity.  I was told that we are now going to become a Muslim country.

My feelings are this.  Barack Obama has offered this country a chance to unite.  He has offered this country a, not good, but great choice in leading our country, taking the reigns and doing what it takes to get out of the mess that we are in.

I am a white, middle class man.  We have two boys that we are trying to raise right.  Last night, they got to see history made.

It is time for us, as a country, as a family, to move on and move forward.  No more pointing fingers.  No more blame game.  No more oppression and hate.  Let us stop judging one another by the color of our skin.  Let us work together as a family; a family like the one that put this country together.  We are all different, yet the same.

Just seven years after 9/11, we have elected a man with a Muslim name.  We have looked past the cover of the book, and actually to time to read the content.

Barack Obama is a Christian.   He is a husband.  He is a father.  Barack Obama is an American.

We must not kill our leaders because of hate.  We must embrace our society for doing the right thing.  For once, we have looked past race and put our faith in a man that most of us feel has the vision, the intelligence, and the drive to get us out of this economical mess that we are in.

I'm honored to live in a nation that has finally begun the process of putting the best person in the job, instead of just the best white person.  Congratulations President-Elect Obama.  I am excited about our future.

It was all that the hype had promised!  Oh wait, that was last year.  Last night was a do or die game for the Colts, and the Colts, though it wasn't pretty, hung on for a tough win against the New England Patriots.

Where do I start?  Peyton Manning looked absolutely awesome, last night.  Joseph Addai was back and looking like his normal self; very ordinary.The offense looked like it was finally clicking.

The defense showed flashes of brilliance.  Good enough to hang on to a 3 point win.

Now, for my observations.

Joseph Addai should not be the featured back until he learns to hit the hole and quit dancing around behind the line waiting for defenders to hit him.  Dominick Rhodes has been golden for the Colts, this year.  Explosive.

The defense is great, except for when it came to third down.  I lost count of how many 3rd and 8's that were converted by the Patriots.  They held the Pats to field goals for most of the night, but still didn't seem to be able to get off of the field.

The Patriots had a big hand in losing the game.  At one point the Patriots could have kicked the field goal, but went for it and lost.  Then, they went for it, got the first down, but Belechik had called a last second time out.

It was a weird game.  It puts us up on the Patriots in case of a tie-breaker for a wild card. 

Next week, a bruising Steelers team.  I hope we're ready.

Tomorrow, in every sports journal or newspaper in America, you will read how the Indianapolis Colts run of being an elite team in the NFL has come to an end.  The obituary will be written that Peyton Manning is washed up and that Marvin Harrison is done.

The window is closed.

You know what I say to that?  Baloney!

What you saw tonight was a Titans team, playing in their home stadium, that went up hard against a division opponent.  The Colts came out on the short end.

Is it over for the Colts?  No.  Is it a guartantee that the Titans are going to the Super Bowl, like the sign I just read?  That's laughable.  There are still 9 games left in this season, and plenty of time for the Colts to win games, and make a run at the division.  Even if they don't win the divivsion, it is still a close conference.  Beat up on the AFC North and the Patriots, and whomever else may come our way, and lets see what happens.

Congratulations to the Tennessee Titans on a game well played.  However, the season is not over yet.

For the Colts, I felt that the defense improved a lot and next week, Bob Sanders returns.  I'm not overly excited about Joseph Addai's return, as I think that he is accident prone, and is not as explosive as he needs to be.

I still have a lot of hopes for the end of the season.

As to the game, we ran the ball well.  We played better on defense.  Tennessee was the better team, tonight.

Sunday Night, 8:15pm......New England @ The Luke.