Bleacher Report - Articles by Kyle Winslow

Undefeated Super Bowl Matchup?: Sorry, Folks, Not the Indianapolis Colts

Kyle Winslow — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:34:18 -0500

The Colts and the Saints are both 11-0, and everybody is dreaming about a Super Bowl matchup between two undefeated teams. The Saints look unbeatable, and the Colts have a relatively easy schedule remaining, so it is plausible.

But it's not going to happen. Sorry, folks.

The New Orleans Saints might pursue perfection, but the Colts won't. Once they clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, they'll mail it in. The team's philosophy won't change, despite the general fan sentiment that momentum won them the Super Bowl in 2006-07, whereas resting players has caused the team several early playoff exits.

"You don't get rusty missing a half of a ballgame or three quarters of a ballgame," said team president Bill Polian on his weekly radio interview. "That doesn't happen. That is fantasy. There is nothing to it. I don't believe in momentum."

The team has made roster moves to reflect this strategy already, signing running back Mike Hart from the practice squad even though there are already three healthy running backs on the active roster. This is a good sign that Joseph Addai and Donald Brown will get plenty of rest once the Colts clinch a No. 1 seed.

According to Bill Polian, the team's preference to rest players in meaningless games dates back to the Colts' 1999 season, in which the team went 13-3 but lost linebacker Cornelius Bennett for the playoffs in a game that had no impact on their seeding.

Polian's disregard of momentum actually dates back to his time with the Buffalo Bills, and they went to four straight Super Bowls.

The Colts' organization is all about winning the big one, and even though some of the players may want to go 17-0, there isn't going to be any dissent if the coach tells them to sit.

The good news for Colts fans is that the team will have plenty of time to get healthy before making their playoff run. Players who have minor nagging injuries that wouldn't normally keep them out of the lineup, such as Dwight Freeney, will certainly benefit from some time off.

Unfortunately, this may make it very difficult for the Colts to get a victory against a team like the New York Jets. Bye bye perfect season.

"I can assure you that if a game is meaningful, every player on our team is going to be out there," emphasized Polian.

Too bad all the games aren't going to be meaningful.

Check out my new web site and get the latest Colts updates from the media and the players all in one place!

Fantasy Football Clarity: Ryan Moats and Steve Slaton

Kyle Winslow — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:15:19 -0500

All week, fantasy owners had to speculate on what would happen with Steve Slaton's demotion. Would Ryan Moats take over the starting job full time, or was he a one-week wonder? An analysis of Houston's game versus the Indianapolis Colts finally shed some light on the situation.

Just before kickoff, the Texans announced that Moats would start the game instead of Slaton. Moats carried the ball 16 times to Slaton's six, although those 16 carries only went for a total of 38 yards. Moats also had a receiving touchdown and was targeted the same number of times as Slaton in the receiving game.

However, Slaton had Houston's only rushing touchdown and actually averaged slightly more yards per carry than Moats. Also, Moats was the one who fumbled in this game, even though it was Slaton that was benched because he coughed up the rock too much.

Slaton still has fantasy value, but he was utilized more like a third-down back in his new role. Coach Gary Kubiak said earlier in the week that both backs were about equal in pass protection, but Slaton was a better receiver and could be split out wide.

Slaton will continue to get enough touches to have scoring opportunities, and he is always a threat to take a screen pass the distance. But it looks like Moats will be the featured back in Houston's offense.

Even though Slaton got the rushing touchdown, Moats got almost all of the goal-line carries. And although Moats' yardage output wasn't spectacular against the Colts, he should have better opportunities in upcoming matchups.

The Texans were behind for nearly the entire game, but in games where they play with the lead they will likely run the ball more often and use empty backfield packages with Slaton less. The Texans also have upcoming games against St. Louis and Jacksonville who both rank near the bottom of the league in rush yards allowed per game.

The only caveat is that if Moats loses any more fumbles, Slaton may get his job back by default. It doesn't seem likely that they would rescind Moats's promotion after one lost fumble when it took Slaton five to lose his job, but it is certainly something to keep your eye on if you have either player on your fantasy roster.

Neither player has the same value as Slaton did before it was a committee running back situation in Houston, but for now, I would feel more comfortable starting Ryan Moats than Steve Slaton.

Will the Indianapolis Colts' Defense Suffer Without Tyjuan Hagler?

Kyle Winslow — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:03:39 -0500

Colts Linebacker Tyjuan Hagler, who has often been injured in the past, has been placed on the IR with a ruptured biceps suffered in last week's game against the San Francisco 49ers. However, the Colt's top-ranked scoring defense, which is allowing just 13 points a game, might not be significantly less productive without Hagler for the rest of the season.

The team's "next man up" philosophy will again be tested, but this time it may be closer to a "first man up" situation. Hagler's replacement, second-year veteran Phillip Wheeler, was actually the starter at strong-side linebacker throughout training camp. Hagler quietly took over the starting job just before the start of the regular season.

Since Wheeler was ahead of Hagler on the depth chart for most of the offseason, Wheeler has plenty of experience playing with the first team defense. He put his experience to good use when Hagler left the 49ers game in the third quarter, quickly racking up six tackles and a sack.

The Colts defense was much improved in the second half of that game, and some of that can be attributed to Wheeler's play. San Francisco got the majority of their rushing yards and all of their points in the first half.

Wheeler is a more prototypical pass rusher than Hagler and played at defensive end in college. He provides an interesting weapon for defensive coordinator Larry Coyer to use in his blitz schemes. In the last few games, Coyer has been employing more zone blitzes that drop defensive linemen into coverage. Wheeler certainly has the speed to get to the quarterback when he is utilized as a pass rusher.

As injuries build, the area that suffers the most for the Colts is generally the special teams unit. The team has been much better in kickoff and punt coverage this year compared to recent seasons. With Hagler on the injured reserve, the team has added preseason waiver acquisition Cody Glenn to the active roster, and he will definitely be expected to contribute on special teams.

What Is Ryan Fitzpatrick's Fantasy Impact With Trent Edwards Out?

Kyle Winslow — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:01:03 -0400

If your fantasy hopes and dreams rely on either Trent Edwards or Ryan Fitzpatrick, your hopes and dreams are probably already dashed. Neither player is worthy of a start except as a bye-week replacement unless you are in a really deep league that starts multiple quarterbacks.

But Edwards' injury definitely affects other players with more fantasy relevance. When Fitzpatrick took over the offense last week against the Jets, it quickly became obvious that the two quarterbacks have different styles.

Specifically, Trent Edwards checks down to his running backs very frequently and Fitzpatrick doesn't. In fact, last week at Cleveland, Marshawn Lynch led the team in receiving with 56 yards and targets with seven. After Fitzpatrick took over against the Jets, Marshawn Lynch caught only one pass and was only targeted twice in three quarters and a lengthy overtime period that included three Buffalo possessions.

Fred Jackson, who was averaging four targets a game since Lynch returned to the lineup, didn't get a single pass thrown his way in the Jets game.

This week, against the weak Carolina Panthers run-defense, both players are still decent starts. But don't expect either to get a lot of receptions. You may have better options on your bench, especially if you are in a point-per-reception league.

The fact that Ryan Fitzpatrick never checks down to his backs does benefit the Bills wide receiving corps. Lee Evans had 11 targets against the Jets and Terrell Owens had eight. That is a decent amount of action for a wide receiver. If Owens could catch, he could have a good game against the Panthers.

Both players have been non-existent fantasy-wise, and they might even be on the waiver wire in your league. With six teams on a bye in Week 7, Evans and Owens could be decent replacement starters if you're thin at the position.

Indianapolis Colts: Making Moves Before the Trade Deadline?

Kyle Winslow — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:31:49 -0400

According to NFL.com columnist Jason La Canfora, the Colts were one of several teams to contact the Browns about the availability of wide receiver and standout kick-returner Josh Cribbs. The Colts' special teams has improved this season in coverage, but the team's return game is still suspect at best.

The Colts currently rank 28th in the league in average kickoff return yardage, averaging 20.4 yards a return. The team ranks 25th in punt return average at 5.1 yards a return.

Cribbs currently leads the league in both kickoff return yards and punt return yards. Blocking on kickoffs obviously plays a significant roll in a team's return success, but having a more explosive kick returner could make things even easier for Peyton Manning and the offense.

If the Colts were to make a deal for Cribbs, the team could make more efficient use of every roster position by releasing or trading Hank Baskett, who provides necessary depth but has yet to see any playing time. With Anthony Gonzalez out of action for an extended period of time, the Colts have to keep an extra wide receiver on the roster in case there is another injury at the position. Cribbs could provide that same security and contribute significantly on special teams.

The team could also save another roster spot by sending their current kick returner, Chad Simpson, to the practice squad and keeping just three running backs on the depth chart. Mike Hart was recently put back on the active roster when Simpson suffered an abdominal injury.

Cribbs is currently at odds with the Browns organization and is actively seeking either a new contract or a trade. Unfortunately, the Browns might not be willing to make a deal that the Colts would consider reasonable.

Bill Polian values all of his draft picks and is unlikely to give up a high round pick to boost special teams production. And with several injuries and limited roster space, the Colts don't have very much surplus talent to offer. The team just released a starting defensive tackle to sign a replacement kicker.

A trade for Cribbs would definitely make sense for the Colts on many levels, but the Browns' asking price might be too high. The trade deadline for all NFL teams is Oct. 20.

Ed Johnson Released Again?

Kyle Winslow — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:41:06 -0400

Multiple sources are reporting that the Colts have once again released defensive tackle Ed Johnson.

Ed Johnson has been playing well, and the Colts defense is looking better than it ever has. So this can only mean one thing:

Ed Johnson did something stupid. Again.

Last time the Colts waived him, it was because he was driving around I-465 smokin' blunts and livin' it up. Ruining his career.

There's no reason to speculate on what the Colts' reasoning was this time, but it is likely that Johnson's NFL career is over, and the ramifications to the team could be significant.

The team's defensive tackle rotation is still in better shape than it was last year when Johnson was excused from the team, but they will need someone to really step up for the Colts to continue playing at a high level on defense.

Eric Foster and Daniel Muir have both played well when they've been in the game, and it is likely that one of these two players will be inserted into the starting lineup.

Perhaps Johnson's release will open the door for one of the Colts' draft picks to step into the rotation and prove themselves.

The team took two 300-plus pound tackles in this year's draft, but neither made enough of an impression in training camp or pre-season to warrant any postulation that they can fill the void that Johnson has left.

Second-round pick Fili Maola has not seen much time on the field, and fourth-round pick Terrance Taylor is no longer even on the Colts' practice squad.

That means that if the Colts hope to remain stout on the defensive side of the ball, either Foster or Muir will have to ramp up their game.

Eric Foster is very undersized for a defensive tackle, but he frequently gets good penetration. He started the game against Jacksonville in which Ed Johnson was suspended and had four tackles and one QB pressure.

This is his second year in the system, so he may see marked improvement from last season in which he started 11 games.

Daniel Muir is the biggest tackle on the roster, listed at 312 pounds. He will probably remain in a reserve role, but the team could rotate in their biggest linemen on early downs to match up better against the run.

With Ed Johnson out of the lineup, the Colts risk reverting back to their recent habit of allowing excessive rushing yardage to opposing offenses.

It will be interesting to see in the coming weeks what impact defensive coordinator Larry Coyer's scheme has had and can have on the defense. Perhaps the blitzing threat, specifically with the addition of some well-timed run blitzes, will help to minimize the loss of the team's best defensive tackle.

Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson: Injury Impact

Kyle Winslow — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:12:54 -0400

Matthew Stafford is officially listed as questionable for tomorrow's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Lions' coach Jim Schwartz isn't giving out any more information on who the starter will be until game-time.

You probably wouldn't want to start the rookie quarterback in your fantasy leagues this week anyway. Although Pittsburgh's defense this year isn't as stout against the pass as their reputation would lead you to believe, they are sure to throw some interesting blitz packages at the Lions regardless of who is starting at QB.

Considering Stafford's lack of experience and Detroit's sketchy offensive line, it's very unlikely that a better option isn't available for your fantasy roster. But will Stafford's injury affect the other skill position players on Detroit?

For Calvin Johnson owners, it may actually be better if Stafford is held out of the game Sunday. If Stafford doesn't play, Daunte Culpepper will get the start and Culpepper is one of the best deep ball throwers in recent league history.

Culpepper definitely has a propensity for throwing down the field.

In his five games with the Lions last season, he hooked up with Calvin Johnson 19 times for 369 yards. That's less than four receptions a game—nothing spectacular for PPR leagues, but it is an average of 20 yards a catch.

If Culpepper starts, it may be more likely that Megatron catches a deep ball for a touchdown. The Steelers are ranked just 17th in the league in passing yards allowed, and with Troy Polamalu likely out the Lions should be able to put up decent passing numbers.

Johnson is listed as probable, but he is likely to play. He should remain in your fantasy lineup no matter who the Lions start at QB.

However, this is not a good matchup for Lions running back Kevin Smith. The Steelers are ranked fourth in the league in rush defense, and Smith hasn't been putting up huge rushing numbers against weaker teams. He did get goal line carries last week that resulted in two touchdowns, but I wouldn't count on him getting in the end zone this week.

If Culpepper starts, Kevin Smith will probably see fewer passes out of the backfield as well. Culpepper is great at taking shots down the field, but he doesn't check down to his running backs very often. In his five games last season, Culpepper only completed 11 passes to running backs.

That's an average of about two check-down passes a game, and Kevin Smith isn't guaranteed to be the target of all of them. Unless you don't have any decent alternative, I'd leave Kevin Smith on your bench this week.

Fantasy Coin Flip: Ray Rice or Julius Jones?

Kyle Winslow — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:26:05 -0400

Every week fantasy managers have to make tough decisions about their fantasy roster.

The plethora of temptations to start weak players with great matchups and sit superstars with nagging minor injuries is ubiquitous. We all check start'em sit'em articles to double-check our own opinions, but what do you do when both of your options are on the same side of those lists?

Just ask John Lorge and Kyle Winslow. Send us an email with your toughest fantasy coin-flips to fantasyfootball@bleacherreport.com or tweet John @JohnLorge.

This weeks' fantasy coin-flip was sent via twitter from Jets Featured Columnist David Wyatt, who has to start either Ray Rice or Julius Jones. Rice faces a resurgent Bengals defense, while Julius Jones goes up against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

John Lorge

At first glance most fantasy owners would pick the hot name, Ray Rice, over Julius Jones in a heartbeat. Rice is the eighth leading rusher in the NFL (Jones is 15th), and he has more than doubled Jones’ receiving yards.

While Rice is a yardage monster, he only has one career touchdown and he is not the Ravens red zone back. Jones hasn’t been a scoring machine but he does have three scores this year including two through the air. Touchdowns matter.

Both the Jags and Bengals are giving up about 100 rushing YPG and both have surrendered three rushing touchdowns. The main difference I see between these two defenses is that the Jags have forced a league-high five fumbles on rushers and the Bengals have only forced one. Neither Rice nor Jones has fumbled this year.

The deciding factor for me is that the Seahawks offensive line is among the worst in the NFL right now while the Ravens are moving the ball up the field with ease. There is a good chance Rice will get his second career TD against Cinci.

Kyle Winslow

When you look at the names Ray Rice and Julius Jones, you instantly think "start Rice." But when you look at the matchups, Julius Jones appears to have the edge. However, perception differs a bit from the numbers; the Bengals defense isn't actually much different than Jacksonville's versus running backs.

The Bengals D has been hyped as the main reason for the team's 3-1 start, but Jacksonville's defense is actually statistically better versus the run, although the difference is only 17 total yards through four games.

Since both running backs are very active pass-catchers out the backfield, perhaps a more important matchup measurement is how teams have fared on check-down passes to running backs against these two defenses.

Again, the two defenses are strikingly close. Jacksonville has given up 118 yards on 17 passes to running backs so far this season, whereas Cincinnati has given up 114 yards on 15 passes to running backs.

When the matchups are close, go with the better player on the better offense. Baltimore is third in the league in both total yardage and scoring. Seattle struggles scoring in the red zone, and they are likely to pass down the field more with Matthew Hasselbeck returning to action.

Verdict: Start Ray Rice

Email fantasy coin-flips to fantasyfootball@bleacherreport.com or tweet @JohnLorge

Bill Polian Doesn't Care What I Think

Kyle Winslow — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:40:57 -0400

As a Colts fan, I admit that it is difficult to watch the Colts give up 200 yards rushing in a game even if they win. We all love hard-hitting football. I, personally, love defensive football. I love a hard-fought 4-3 win. Unfortunately, Bill Polian doesn't care what I think.

And so, in the game against Miami a few weeks ago, the Colts got ran over like a quadriplegic bullfighter. They won the game despite never altering their defensive strategy against the Wildcat to any extent other than using a safety as an eighth man in the box, and gave up 239 rushing yards in the process.

Is this a major weakness of the Colts? Can other teams utilize the Wildcat against them with similar effectiveness? To some extent, yes.

Just ask team president Bill Polian:

"We controlled the run against Miami from conventional formations about as well as we've controlled it the last two weeks," said Polian in his weekly interview. "What we did not control was the Wildcat and the ‘A’ formation."

"That begs the question, 'Can Tennessee do it?' The answer is, 'Yes, they can.' Do we expect they will? The answer is, 'Yes, we do.' They could run it with Vince (Young). They could run it with Kerry (Collins). They could run it with any number of people. I could see them running it with Vince and both backs in the game. There are any number of ways they can do it. We'll have to wait until Sunday night to figure out which one it is, but I'm pretty sure we're going to see one version or another of it. Maybe all three."

It was pretty clear by the Colts' lack of adjustment to the Wildcat in the second half of the Miami game that they are not going to risk giving up a big passing play by utilizing defensive backs to matchup better against Wildcat running plays.

Fans want a defense that holds run-based teams to 45 yards rushing, but Bill Polian doesn't care. The team isn't designed to do that, and that design started long before the Colts drafted Peyton Manning...it started when Bill Polian was with Buffalo.

The "bend-don't-break" cliche is understandably an undesirable moniker to assign to a team, but Bill Polian doesn't care. Polian has said that he only cares about two statistics: yards-per-pass-attempt and turnovers. Thus, he is perfectly willing to allow a field goal in order to prevent a touchdown, because he is banking on the offense scoring a touchdown. That is why he has spent seven of 10 first round draft picks on offense during his tenure with the Colts.

Would Bill Polian prefer a three-and-out every drive? Of course. Would he prefer limiting opponents to negligible running yards? Of course. All Colts fans would prefer that. But the team is clearly not willing to risk giving up big plays in the passing game.

Because of the way the team is designed, Polian was as critical of the Colts' performance against the Seattle Seahawks as he was of the Colts' effort versus Miami.

"We have a standard of performance here, and the standard of performance is high," Polian said about the Seahawks game. "For about three quarters Sunday, we met the standard of performance—albeit grudgingly on offense. Then, it all went to the dogs in the fourth quarter. We played maybe the worst fourth quarter in all three phases this season."

In the aforementioned fourth quarter, the Colts gave up two drives for touchdowns that featured zero running plays and 19 pass plays. The only run was a seven-yard scramble by quarterback Seneca Wallace, but the play-call was a pass.

When your measuring stick is pass-yards per-attempt, it is understandable that the team was disappointed even though those two drives came when the game was already well out of reach for Seattle.

Polian also said that the defense did not play up to the team's standard of performance against Miami, but he blamed the poor play not on the team's structure or system, but rather on technique.

"The thing with the Wildcat, it’s like any misdirection offense or any misdirection play—you cannot look in the backfield," Polian said after the Dolphins game.

"We were playing too high on the defensive line. We had far too many missed tackles. We had far too many poor entries in terms of gap control and things of that nature. We have lots and lots of work to do to get better on defense and get better specifically against the Wildcat and the kinds of things that people are going to do us"

"That you have to get corrected, but yes, you can do it," Polian said, "because it’s just a matter of technique."

The Colts are obviously not built around their defense, but if they can improve throughout the season, as was Coach Dungy's mantra, they are very well equipped to beat any team on a given Sunday. When Bob Sanders returns from injury the run defense will likely improve, and rookies Jacob Lacey and Jerraud Powers—who are both getting a good amount of playing time—will play faster and make faster reads as they gain experience.

Do the Colts need to make changes to their personnel or depth chart, or dramatically alter their defensive scheme? Probably not.

"As far as the game plan and how the game was played, they played to their strengths and we played to our strengths," Polian said when asked about the Miami game. "We won the game."

Good Fantasy Choice: With Felix Jones Out and Marion Barber Ailing, Take Tashard

Kyle Winslow — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:08:45 -0400

There's lots of flux in the Dallas backfield, with Felix Jones ruled out against the Broncos this week and Marion Barber recovering from an injury. So what does this mean for your fantasy team?

It means you have another good choice, and that's Tashard Choice. When Choice got a chance last season he put up great fantasy numbers, and with Marion Barber out last week against Carolina he put up 82 rushing yards and a touchdown. Not bad numbers at all, considering he split carries with Jones for three quarters.

But equally as important as his stats are his touches from the last game. He had 18 carries to Jones' eight and was the target of seven passes to Jones' one. Even before Jones left with an injury in the third quarter, Dallas was not afraid to use Choice extensively.

So even if Barber plays this week against Denver, look for Choice to get plenty of touches. Barber is listed as probable, but the team did sign running back Chauncey Washington from its practice squad as a precaution. If Barber's injury is lingering enough for the team to take this sort of precaution, it's pretty likely that he'll be used a little less than usual.

Barber is still a good start this week. The Dallas offensive line can seemingly get a good push against any defense, and although Denver is currently ranked seventh against the run, it's played three poor teams with less-than-spectacular running games.

But if I had both Barber and Choice on my roster, I would start Choice. He will get plenty of rushing attempts regardless of Barber's status, and he should be much more involved in the passing game. And if there's any setback to Barber's injury, the upside for Choice is tremendous.

New York's Mark Sanchez is the Real Deal, but Is He a Good Fantasy QB Option?

Kyle Winslow — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:06:21 -0400

Mark Sanchez is off to a great start in real life, leading the Jets to a 3-0 start against pretty good competition, but what is his fantasy value?

So far, Sanchez has totaled four passing TDs, one rushing TD, and over 600 yards passing with two picks. These are better numbers than last season's two breakout rookie QBs put up. Joe Flacco had 450 yards, one TD and two picks through his first three performances in 2008, and Matt Ryan put up 511 yards, two TDs and Two picks in his first three games.

Both quarterbacks ended up having decent fantasy seasons, finishing the year just a few points behind Eli Manning and a few points ahead of Ben Roethlisberger in standard leagues. With bye weeks coming up and injuries to several quarterbacks, many fantasy owners may be searching for a little help at QB.

So is Sanchez somebody you should feel comfortable starting as a bye-week replacement? As always in fantasy football, it depends on the matchup.

He has more fantasy points right now than Carson Palmer, Brett Favre, and David Garrard, and the stellar Jets defense is giving him plenty of opportunities to run the offense. However, according to Colts President Bill Polian, you might want to avoid starting Sanchez in his second set of matchups against division rivals.

"Sanchez is doing a good job," Polian said on his weekly radio show. "It's important to remember that with every rookie quarterback, particularly in the division, rookie quarterbacks are like rookie pitchers, 'The first time around, they're terrific, but the next time around, everybody gets a book on them.' You learn how to adjust to them and the things they do. It doesn't go as smoothly the second time around."

"That was true of Peyton. I'm sure it will be true of Sanchez. He's going to have his ups and downs. He's a good player and clearly a very charismatic one, but just like Flacco did last year and just like Matt Ryan did last year, he'll have his ups and downs."

Last season, Matt Ryan had one TD and three interceptions in his second round of division games. Flacco fared a little better, with four TDs and two interceptions, but that includes games against the Bengals and Browns, both of whom had horrible defenses last year.

It appears that, with the Jets' great defense and decent running game, Sanchez is a good backup QB, and he's worthy of a roster spot in any 12-team league. I would even be comfortable starting him over lower end QBs when the Jets play weaker defenses.

However, I would be leery of having Sanchez as my only backup QB if my starter's bye week fell on one of the Jets second round of divisional games, because the AFC East defenses are no slouches.

Indianapolis Colts Week Three: The Good, The Great, and The Pretty

Kyle Winslow — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:43:41 -0400

I normally style my weekly review of Colts action as a reference to the famous Clint Eastwood Western "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," because normally, even in victory, there are some good and bad things to review. But after the Colts' dominating win against a very good Arizona Cardinals team, it behooves me to alter the title slightly. Here are some notes from Sunday's action:

The Good

The Colts have had a great offense even with a tormented running game for several seasons, and many would have assumed that their game-plan against the Cardinals' eighth-ranked rushing defense would be pass-heavy as well. But the Colts had a very balanced offense against the Cardinals that included 31 rushing attempts.

Even though the Cardinals knew the Colts would be running after building an early lead, the team's rushing attack still proved to be successful. The Colts averaged 4.1 yards per rushing attempt, and Joseph Addai alone averaged nearly five yards a carry.

If the Colts can be this effective on the ground, opposing teams will have to take defending the run seriously.

Opposing defenses haven't had to put eight men in the box against the Colts for a while, and if that becomes even occasionally necessary, Peyton Manning and the play-action passing game will make teams pay. Establishing an effective running game could make the Colts as dangerous as they were in their record-breaking 2004 season.

However, the short yardage running game still isn't effective. The Colts failed to convert a third-and-short on the ground with their goal-line package that includes defensive tackle Eric Foster playing fullback.

Perhaps it would be more effective for the Colts to spread the field with three wide receivers in short yardage situations, rather than put in a goal line package.

This would force teams to pick their poison rather than stack up against an obvious running play. If an opposing defense chooses to leave Colts' wide receivers in single coverage, Peyton is likely to find them. If an opposing defense keeps both safeties in coverage positions before the snap, that makes it much easier for Joseph Addai or Donald Brown to find a hole and pick up a yard or two.

The Great

The "great" award goes to Colts' rookie cornerback Jerraud Powers, who was thrust into the starting lineup again due to an injury to Kelvin Hayden. Unlike his first start, which came against a lackluster passing team in the Jaguars, Powers was forced to cover Larry Fitzgerald, commonly considered to be the best wide receiver in the universe, for much of the game.

Powers' effort should be lauded, as he and the safeties held Fitzgerald to seven catches for 76 yards despite 13 targets. Powers registered seven tackles, and is partially responsible for Marlin Jackson's interception at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

On the play, Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner intended to pass it to Fitzgerald on a timing route after a five step drop. Because Powers' coverage was good, Warner was forced to pump and bring the ball down, and pressure from the Colts' defensive line caused him to throw up a wobbler that was easily intercepted.

Tim Jennings also had a great game, possibly responding to my criticism of his performance last week. Jennings had six tackles and three passes defensed, including when he tipped a ball intended for Fitzgerald in the end zone that was picked off by Antoine Bethea.

The Pretty

Reggie Wayne's amazing catch will be overshadowed on highlight reels by Brett Favre's ridiculous game-winning touchdown pass with two seconds remaining, but Wayne's catch might have been the most impressive of his career.

Wayne made a one-handed catch with his off (left) hand, and had the presence of mind to dive for the pylon AND stay inbounds. If that one doesn't make ESPN's Top Plays, I'm boycotting the network forever.

Fantasy Football: Buy Low/Sell High

Kyle Winslow — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:33:16 -0400

After the third game of the season, you should be pretty aware of your fantasy situation. If your team isn't in great condition and you need to make some moves to bolster one area of your roster, here are some players whose perceived value might be a little different than their actual value.

Buy Low

Kevin Smith - People may be tempted to unload Kevin Smith since he hasn't done much yet this year and he's on a terrible team, but he still has great value. Smith is one of the few backs that get the majority of runs and plays a big part in the passing game.

Matt Hasselbeck - He looked like he was mortally wounded in week two, so you may be able to get Hasselbeck for virtually nothing. Once he's healthy, he could be a good asset to your team if you have a shaky QB situation. Remember, Hasselbeck makes the pro-bowl every odd-numbered year. Seattle still has a lot of NFC West games on the schedule, so when your number one QB has a bye week or an unfavorable match-up you might find that Hasselbeck is a decent start.

Bernard Berrian - Teams are going to start loading up against Adrian Peterson. Percy Harvin will start drawing more coverage and could still hit the rookie wall. Berrian has been worthless so far, but he has good upside for the future.

Sell High

Mario Manningham - Everybody put in a waiver request on Manningham after his breakout performance last week. If you were the lucky guy who got him but you're ok at the WR position already, consider dishing him while his value is so high. The Giants still have to play all the NFC East teams, and Manningham is still behind Domenik Hixon on the depth chart.

Ronnie Brown - Ronnie Brown exploded against the Colts, but he's not going to have that kind of week very frequently. Remember, when he's taking direct snaps he hands the ball off half the time. The Dolphins also use Pat White and Patrick Cobbs randomly too, so Brown has to share a lot of touches.

Eli Manning - Manning is a great QB in the real world, but he's not a particularly consistent fantasy QB. Manning racked up big points in week 2, but a lot of the Giant's TDs are going to come in the running game in the future. If Manning is the second QB on your roster, why not trade him and improve your team in another area?

Hang On

Fred Jackson - Even when Marshawn Lynch comes back, Jackson will get plenty of touches. Jackson will be used heavily in the passing game, and the guy is a stud. Don't panic and unload him just yet.

Matt Schaub - Schaub seems like a good candidate to sell high, but I would hang on to him for the season. The Texans' playoff schedule is cake for leagues that end in week 16.

Anquan Boldin - Boldin has been hampered by an injury and hasn't put up great numbers yet, but don't dish him yet. The Cardinals also have a great schedule ahead of them and they just never run the ball.

Don't pickup

Pierre Garcon - Not buying him yet. All of his points in week 2 came from one play, and he didn't get enough targets to start him in week 3. Austin Collie will continue to get some looks too, so leave Garcon on the waiver wire for now.

The Indianapolis Colts' Recipe for Improvement

Kyle Winslow — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:22:34 -0400

The Indianapolis Colts got a win Monday night against the Dolphins, but most pundits will tell you that they can't win very many games in that fashion. The team gave up 239 yards rushing and Peyton Manning only had the ball for 14:53.

Against all odds, Manning willed the team to victory. Maybe they can win games that way, but they don't have to. Here are five things they can do to put teams away the right way.

1. Run the Ball

If you read any article or see any highlight or listen to any radio show that claims the Dolphins "held" the Colts to just 61 yards, abandon that news source forever. Statistically, the Colts were the better rushing team on Monday night; running the ball just wasn't a part of their game plan.

The Colts actually had a better average per rush than the Dolphins, gaining 5.5 yards per carry on the ground. The difference is that the Dolphins, despite slightly less success, ran the ball 41 times and the Colts only bothered to call a run play 11 times.

And these statistics aren't skewed by one big run that boosted the Colts' rushing average. The team's longest run was 15 yards. If anything, they're skewed against the Colts, because that includes a three yard sack-evasion by the infinitely nimble, fleet-of-foot Peyton Manning. The Colts' running backs averaged a stellar 5.9 yards a carry.

At that average, the Colts would never even have to convert a third down if they ran the ball every play.

2. Send Tim Jennings to the Practice Squad

The Colts' defense was on the field for an absurd 84 plays on Monday night, partly because the offense scored every 38 seconds, but mostly because they couldn't stop Miami on third down.

The Colts' defense couldn't get off the field because every 3rd-and-long Miami ran a 12-yard out-route in front of cornerback Tim Jennings, who typically gave Dolphin receivers a 45 yard cushion at the snap.

I understand the strong desire to prevent "big-play" Chad Pennington from going deep, but when a safety arrives to make a tackle on an out-route BEFORE the cornerback in a cover-two defense (where the cornerback is responsible for the short zone), there is a significant problem.

I have never been critical of Jennings before, and in 2008 when he replaced Marlin Jackson in the starting lineup due to injury, I thought he played admirably despite many fans labeling him as a major defensive liability. But after watching his performance against Miami, I will be ecstatic to see rookie Jerraud Powers return from injury.

Jerraud Powers played very well in his first game as a pro, and he will only improve. If the team decides to keep Marlin Jackson in the slot, Powers is not nearly the liability on the outside that Jennings is. His return will significantly bolster the Colts defense on third downs.

3. Run the Ball

In the Monday night matchup against the Dolphins, the Colts had one three-and-out that started with a four yard rush, and another in which the offense did not attempt a running play. Yet they averaged nearly SIX YARDS A RUN.

Every time the Colts had a decent run on first down, they always dialed up a passing play on second down, and most of the time it was from the shotgun formation. If you've gained three or four yards on first down, why not run the ball occasionally on second down?

Or, if you're going to put the ball in the air, at least pass from a running formation to keep the opposing defense guessing.

Football is a game of bilateral strategy; defenses must choose their emphasis on every play. If the Colts aren't going to attempt a balanced offense, teams are going to be able to predict the offense based on their tendencies.

With that sort of advantage, defenses will cause drives to stall anytime execution isn't immaculate. Even Peyton Manning isn't perfect.

4. Call Play-Action on 2nd-and-10

Another predictable tendency of the Colts offense is to call a running play on second down nearly every time they attempt and fail to complete a pass on first down and are left with 2nd-and-10. The only exception to this is hurry up situations.

Since it is so predictable, this inevitably leads to a minimal gain and 3rd-and-long. But also, since this is so predictable, it is a perfect set-up for a play-action pass. Even play action for a short or intermediate crossing route would keep the chains moving and mix up the play calling enough to keep defenses guessing.

5. Run the Ball

As I mentioned above, the Colts defense was on the field far too long against Miami. When the opposing team possesses the ball for over 45 minutes, the defense is going to look bad no matter how good they are. Defenses give up yards when they get exhausted.

Running the ball is the only way to control time of possession. Obviously, the passing offense is generally very good with "laser-rocket-arm" taking the snaps, but better balance would keep opposing defenses on the field longer and allow the Colts' defense to rest.

However, I would like to point out that the Colts' most effective passing offense is when they are in hurry up situations. The team runs the no-huddle nearly all the time, but most of the no-huddle offense involves utilizing the entire play clock on every down.

If the team has a game plan that involves running the ball less than 15 times, however absurd that concept is, perhaps they should run the hurry-up offense more often. The hurry-up utilizes the shotgun formation on every down, which gives Manning an advantageous extra split-second to read coverages.

if the Colts don't even want to try to control the ball, they might as well give Peyton every advantage possible.

Fantasy Football: An Analysis of Running Back Committees

Kyle Winslow — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:06:45 -0400

My favorite line from the Star Wars Trilogy:

Solo: "No time to discuss this in a committee!"

Leia: "I am NOT a COMMITTEE!"

Unfortunately, almost every backfield in the NFL is a committee now, and this can mean disaster or opportunity for your fantasy team. There aren't as many running backs that offer consistent production, but the waiver wire might be a treasure chest if you know what to look for.

After just one week of action, you can't judge a player's potential by points alone. You also have to take into account how many opportunities individual players are getting on a weekly basis.

Here is an analysis of all the rushing performances by running backs from Week One in the NFL, ranked in order from highest percentage of one player getting carries to lowest. Although this list is focused on percentage of rushing attempts, rushing yardage and number of targets in the passing game are also included where the data is relevant.

St Louis Rams

Stephen Jackson—16 carries (67 yards): 100 percent.

The least committee of any backfield, yet still minimal fantasy production. He's a must-start every week, but I can't say he was a must-draft. He also got zero targets as a receiver out of the backfield in Week One.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Maurice Jones-Drew—21 carries (97 yards): 95.45 percent.

Montel Owens—one carry (three yards): 4.55 percent.

Jones-Drew is also a must start, and it doesn't look like his backup, whomever it is, will have much fantasy value unless there's an injury. MJD was targeted eight times as a receiver against the Colts.

Atlanta Falcons

Michael Turner—22 carries (65 yards): 91.67 percent.

Jerious Norwood—two carries (seven yards): 8.33 percent.

Obviously, Turner is one of the few feature backs in the league, but Norwood was targeted six times in the passing game and Turner wasn't targeted at all. In PPR leagues, Norwood could still be a decent flex option or bye week sub.

San Francisco 49ers

Frank Gore—22 carries (30 yards): 91.67 percent.

Moran Norris—one carry (two yards): 4.17 percent.

Glen Coffee—one carry (negative three yards): 4.17 percent.

I heard several pundits rave about Glen Coffee before the season, but he doesn't warrant a spot on your roster at this time. Frank Gore was targeted five times out of the backfield, while Coffee and Norris had no targets.

Chicago Bears

Matt Forte—25 carries (55 yards): 89.29 percent.

Garrett Wolfe—three carries (15 yards): 10.71 percent.

Matt Forte is obviously a must-start, but I was surprised that he had no catches and no passes thrown his way. Garrett Wolfe was targeted once.

Washington Redskins

Clinton Portis—16 carries (62 yards): 88.89 percent.

Ladell Betts—two carries (negative one yard): 11.11 percent.

Betts was targeted by two passing attempts, Portis by one. Feel free to drop Betts if he's on your team.

Buffalo Bills

Fred Jackson—15 carries (57 yards): 88.24 percent.

Xavier Omon—two carries (eight yards): 11.76 percent.

How do you lose that game? You have to try to lose that game. McKelvin is such an appropriate name...his brain is absolute zero. Or some frozen McDonald's sandwich.

Anyway, Jackson played great in Marshawn Lynch's absence, catching five of seven passes thrown his way for 83 yards. He's a must-start these next two weeks, and I think he'll still be a decent fantasy option once Lynch returns from suspension.

Cincinnati Bengals

Cedric Benson—21 carries (76 yards): 87.50 percent.

Brian Leonard—two carries (six yards): 8.33 percent.

Bernard Scott—one carry (negative six yards): 4.17 percent.

It might surprise you to look at Cedric Benson as a good fantasy option, but he's way up high on this list and he was targeted as a receiver twice as much as any other Bengals' running back in their first game (four times for Benson, twice for Leonard).

The offense might not be very good, but Benson is a good start whenever the Bengals play a weak defensive team.

Green Bay Packers

Ryan Grant—16 carries (61 yards): 84.21 percent.

DeShawn Wynn—three carries (eight yards): 15.79 percent.

Second-string RB Brandon Jackson was injured for this game, but it doesn't look like he will get many carries when he returns. This game was a defensive battle and Grant still had a decent day. I expect him to have a much better fantasy year than last year.

Detroit Lions

Kevin Smith—15 carries (20 yards): 83.33 percent.

Jerome Felton—two carries (four yards): 11.11 percent.

Aaron Brown—one carry (nine yards): 5.56 percent.

Kevin Smith is another one of the few RBs not part of a committee, although he plays on a poor team. Still, he's a good start regardless of the matchup. He was the target of nine passes and caught seven of them.

New Orleans Saints

Mike Bell—28 carries (143 yards): 80.00 percent.

Reggie Bush—seven carries (14 yards): 20.00 percent.

This is pretty telling—in a game where Pierre Thomas was injured, Bush still only got seven carries. He's still a good receiving threat and he was targeted six times in this game.

It will be interesting to see how many carries Bell gets when Pierre Thomas returns from his MCL sprain.

Minnesota Vikings

Adrian Peterson—25 carries (180 yards): 75.76 percent.

Chester Taylor—seven carries (17 yards): 21.21 percent.

Naufahu Tahi—one carry (two yards): 3.03 percent.

I recommend starting Adrian Peterson.

Houston Texans

Steve Slaton—nine carries (17 yards): 75.00 percent.

Chris Brown—three carries (15 yards): 25.00 percent.

Don't worry, the Texans' offense will get it together. Don't trade away Slaton or Andre Johnson yet. Matt Schaub, on the other hand, I'm not so sure about.

Kansas City Chiefs

Larry Johnson—11 carries (20 yards): 68.75 percent.

Jamaal Charles—four carries (eight yards): 25.00 percent.

Jackie Battle—one carry (negative one yard): 6.25 percent.

Not a very good offense, but rarely do teams run the ball well against the Ravens. Since Johnson is getting the bulk of the carries, I would consider him a decent fantasy starter, although Charles was targeted four times to Johnson's one in the passing game.

Tennessee Titans

Chris Johnson—15 carries (57 yards): 65.22 percent.

Lendale White—eight carries (28 yards): 34.78 percent.

Johnson was targeted twice for passes and White was targeted only once. This stat is probably unique to this particular game plan, because normally Johnson is a great receiving option out of the backfield on screens and check-downs.

Dallas Cowboys

Marion Barber—14 carries (79 yards): 63.64 percent.

Felix Jones—six carries (22 yards): 27.27 percent.

Tashard Choice—two carries (10 yards): 9.09 percent.

At this point, Barber is the only RB on the Cowboys that can be considered an every week start. Neither Barber nor Jones were targeted for a pass, but Choice had two receptions on two targets.

If there's any injury, I really like Choice a lot. If you're in a keeper league, find out when he'll be a free agent and draft him the year before.

Cleveland Browns

Jamal Lewis—11 carries (57 yards): 61.11 percent.

James Davis—four carries (five yards): 22.22 percent.

There really aren't any good fantasy options on the Browns. Lewis probably shouldn't be started unless he's got a good matchup. He was targeted three times as a receiver out of the backfield, whereas Davis was targeted four times.

Indianapolis Colts

Joseph Addai—17 carries (42 yards): 60.71 percent.

Donald Brown—11 carries (33 yards): 39.29 percent.

Donald Brown actually looks like the better running back, but Addai is still the better fantasy start. Even if Brown does turn out to be better, the Colts are the kind of team that wouldn't significantly increase his carries (or start him over Addai) until the playoffs.

Addai was targeted six times in the passing game and Brown was targeted twice.

San Diego Chargers

LaDainian Tomlinson—13 carries (55 yards): 59.09 percent.

Darren Sproles—nine carries (23 yards): 40.91 percent.

I said it during the B/R Writers' Mock Draft and I'll say it again. I would rather have Sproles in the ninth round than Tomlinson in the first, and now I think I might just rather have Sproles outright.

They're splitting the carries pretty evenly, and Sproles caught five of the seven passes thrown his way for 43 yards compared to Tomlinson's one catch for one yard. And when the game was on the line in the fourth quarter, Sproles was on the field, not L.T.

If you get points for return yards, Sproles is ridiculous. I bet Sproles has a lot more fantasy points than L.T. at the end of the year, and I think he'll be taking more and more of the workload as the season progresses.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Willie Parker—13 carries (19 yards): 59.09 percent.

Mewelde Moore—five carries (eight yards): 22.73 percent.

Rashard Mendenhall—four carries (six yards): 18.18 percent.

It looks as though Willie Parker is the only viable fantasy starter on the Steelers, although Moore was targeted for seven passes whereas Parker only had one target. Unless he gets a lot more carries next week, Mendenhall can be dropped.

Oakland Raiders

Darren McFadden—17 carries (68 yards): 58.62 percent.

Michael Bush—12 carries (55 yards): 41.38 percent.

This is a much more balanced timeshare than many predicted and both backs ran the ball well. McFadden is a great start any week, and Bush is definitely somebody to keep your eye on. McFadden was targeted four times in the passing game, Bush was targeted once.

Seattle Seahawks

Julius Jones—19 carries (117 yards): 57.58 percent.

Edgerrin James—11 carries (30 yards): 33.33 percent.

Justin Forsett—3 carries (17 yards): 9.09 percent.

Most of Jones' yards came from one big play, so I would still play him for desirable matchups and sit him for poor ones until he proves he can be consistent. He was targeted twice as a receiver.

Edge doesn't look like he's going to be very productive and he wasn't involved at all in the passing game.

New York Giants

Brandon Jacobs—16 carries (46 yards): 57.14 percent.

Ahmad Bradshaw—12 carries (60 yards): 42.86 percent.

The Giants are a good rushing team and even though neither put up big numbers against the Redskins, both of these guys are good starts on any week. They don't have to face Albert Haynesworth every week.

Philadelphia Eagles

Brian Westbrook—13 carries (64 yards): 56.52 percent.

LeSean McCoy—nine carries (46 yards): 39.13 percent.

Leondard Weaver—one carry (11 yards): 4.35 percent.

So far this is a lot more of a balanced committee than many would have expected. Westbrook was targeted four times as a receiver, McCoy was targeted three times. McCoy might be a good flex option by the end of the season.

New York Jets

Thomas Jones—20 carries (107 yards): 55.56 percent.

Leon Washington—15 carries (60 yards): 41.67 percent.

Tony Richardson—one carry (two yards): 2.78 percent.

Love Leon Washington this year. I think he'll be getting more carries than Jones by the end of the year, and I consider him a solid flex starter.

Baltimore Ravens

Ray Rice—19 carries (108 yards): 54.29 percent.

Willis McGahee—10 carries (44 yards): 28.57 percent.

Le'Ron McClain—six carries (19 yards): 17.14 percent.

A lot of people are going to be tempted to start McGahee after his two touchdowns, but if he gets less than 30 percent of the carries all year, he's not going to score consistently.

He's going to lose a lot of goal line carries to McClain and he was only targeted one more time than the other two backs as a receiving option, getting five looks to Rice's and McClain's four each.

If he scores again next week but still gets a low percentage of touches, trade him while he's hot.

Arizona Cardinals

Tim Hightower—eight carries (15 yards): 53.33 percent.

Chris Wells—seven carries (29 yards): 46.67 percent.

This is why I included targets. Hightower was targeted 14 times and caught 12 of them for 121 yards.

I know Wells went higher in most drafts, but Hightower isn't a bad flex option if he can continue catching that many passes out of the backfield. I wouldn't start Wells until he starts getting more touches.

Miami Dolphins

Ronnie Brown—10 carries (43 yards): 52.63 percent.

Ricky Williams—seven carries (39 yards): 36.84 percent.

Lousaka Polite—two carries (five yards): 10.53 percent.

There were also a few carries by QB Pat White and WR Ted Ginn Jr. The wildcat offense makes running back production for Miami difficult to predict. I didn't like this backfield fantasy-wise before the draft, and I don't like them any better after one game.

Carolina Panthers

DeAngelo Williams—14 carries (37 yards): 51.85 percent.

Jonathan Stewart—11 carries (35 yards): 40.74 percent.

Mike Goodson—two carries (one yard): 3.70 percent.

We all knew this would be a committee, but when you look at it in this scope and consider that teams can load up against the Panthers' running game while Delhomme and the passing offense is in shambles, is DeAngelo Williams really a top six or seven fantasy RB?

Williams was the target of five passes, Stewart was the target of three.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cadillac Williams—13 carries (97 yards): 48.15 percent.

Derrick Ward—12 carries (62 yards): 44.44 percent.

Clifton Smith—one carry (four yards): 3.70 percent.

Earnest Graham—one carry (one yard): 3.70 percent.

This is bad news for people who drafted Earnest Graham, and great news for people who picked up Williams off waivers. Looks like Williams and Ward will split things fairly evenly, although Williams is the starter.

Ward was targeted three times in the passing game and Williams was not targeted at all.

New England Patriots

Laurence Maroney—10 carries (32 yards): 45.45 percent.

Fred Taylor—nine carries (25 yards): 40.91 percent.

Kevin Faulk—three carries (seven yards): 13.64 percent.

Not a single RB in this high powered offense is a reliable fantasy start.

Faulk might be the most productive out of all of them, since he was used religiously on third downs and heavily in the passing game. He was targeted eight times and had 51 receiving yards.

Maroney was targeted twice in the passing game, but Taylor did not have a pass thrown his way. Sammy Morris did not have a carry despite being listed as No. 1 on the depth chart.

I can't believe Buffalo lost that game.

Denver Broncos

Correll Buckhalter—eight carries (46 yards): 42.11 percent.

Knowshon Moreno—eight carries (19 yards): 42.11 percent.

LaMont Jordan—two carries (five yards): 10.53 percent.

Peyton Hillis—one carry (two yards): 5.26 percent.

Considering Moreno was questionable for the game with an MCL sprain, he may have more upside than Buckhalter in the future. Even though he didn't do much with the carries, he still got the same number of chances as Buckhalter.

When he's completely healthy he might get more of a workload.

Colts' Week One: The Good, The Bad, and Anthony Gonzalez's Ugly Injury

Kyle Winslow — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:35:33 -0400

The Indianapolis Colts got a gritty win over the Jaguars, despite losing the turnover battle two to zero. There was a lot more good in this game than bad or ugly from the Colts' perspective, even though the score was a lot closer than the team would have preferred. Division games are never easy, but with this victory the team gets a head start and begin the year on top of the AFC South.

The Good

The team defense looked vastly improved from last season, even though the Colts were without their best defensive tackle, Ed Johnson, and arguably their best overall defensive player, Bob Sanders.

The team gave up 228 yards of total offense to the Jaguars, and held bowling-ball running back Maurice Jones-Drew under 100 yards rushing for what seems like the first time in franchise history.

David Garrard was under heavy pressure from both the Colts' front four and Larry Coyer's aggressive blitzes. The Jaguars' QB completed only half of his passes for a meager 114 yards.

The Colts proved very capable of getting the opposing offense off the field on third downs, as the Jaguars converted only six of 15 attempts.

Marlin Jackson, who played exclusively as the nickle corner, might just have to stay there all year as Jerraud Powers turned in a spectacular rookie performance with two passes defensed that helped get the ball back in Peyton Manning's hands.

Team tackling was much better than it was during the preseason, and gap integretiy was nearly flawless as the team only allowed one running play, a 26-yard off-tackle scamper by Jones-Drew, to break into the secondary. The most notable missed tackles were both on the same play, when Garrard eluded both Dwight Freeney and Daniel Muir, but at least those two missed tackles were in the backfield.

Obviously, the team would like to force more turnovers. They forced none against Jacksonville. It is promising, though, that the Colts' linebackers and defensive linemen led the team in tackles rather than the team's safeties.

In addition to the excellent play on defense, the Colts' special teams played well, specifically containing returns and pinning the Jaguars deep on punts. Rookie punter Pat McAfee had two punts for 88 yards, both of which put the Jaguars behind their own 20 yard line and one of which was downed on the one yard line.

The Bad

When the Colts failed to convert a key third down late in the fourth quarter, the team had to count on their running game to make a yard on fourth down to seal the win, and the running game couldn't get it.

The Colts did a lot in the offseason to try and improve their rushing attack in order to have a more balanced offense, but in the first game of the season they were only able to muster up 71 yards on the ground.

The team did get a goal-line touchdown from Joseph Addai, utilizing defensive tackle Eric Foster as a fullback. Also, Donald Brown looked very dynamic rushing the ball, and he was able to convert a critical third down on a run play.

But the offensive line is not getting enough of a push to really be counted on in critical situations.

The team needs to find a way to convert short-yardage situations on the ground, and if they can't do that with their goal-line package, maybe they should try spreading out the defense with a thee-receiver set and running the ball.

The did use a shotgun package with both Donald Brown and Joseph Addai in the backfield, and they gained good yardage on a short pass over the middle to Brown. This formation might be useful for draw plays as well, and could help the Colts in critical short-yardage situations.

The Ugly

Anthony Gonzalez suffered an inexplicable injury all alone on the right side of the formation without any contact from a player. It appeared that he took a misstep in the turf and hyper-extended his knee. He was unable walk off the field under his own power.

We don't know his status yet, but if Gonzalez tore an ACL or suffered any season ending injury, it could really hamper the Colts' offense this year. The team was counting on his experience in the system to help them replace Marvin Harrison, but now they might have to rely on Pierre Garcon and rookie Austin Collie.

Fantasy Football: Start or Sit Week One

Kyle Winslow — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:24:02 -0400

You've drafted your team, and now you have to pick your starting lineup for week one. Don't worry, it's not just your team...everybody's team is 75 percent questionable every week, or so it seems. All your opponents are considering a last minute switch to their flex position too.

But since you can't bounce your thoughts off your friends, because they're in your league and can't be trusted, here are some of mine.

Players that may be on your bench that you could start

Leon Washington

Washington is only being started in 28 percent of Yahoo leagues right now because many owners don't consider him anything more than a handcuff for Thomas Jones. Jones is old, and Washington is ridiculously electric.

I personally think Washington will end up with more fantasy points than Jones by the end of the season. If you get points for receptions or for return yardage, Washington is a viable flex option this week against Houston.

Ray Rice

Rice won the starting job outright in Baltimore, but he is only being started in a little more than half of Yahoo fantasy leagues right now. He's playing a Kansas City defense that is transitioning to a new scheme and will probably need a couple weeks to figure things out.

Unless you are in a two-team league and the other guy drafted badly, there aren't two or three better starting options on your roster. I'd be comfortable starting him as my No. 2 back this week.

Percy Harvin

If your WR corps is thin, I would be perfectly comfortable starting Harvin against the Browns this week. He might be involved in the offense in all sorts of interesting ways, and if preseason is any indication, he should get plenty of playing time right away.

Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter

Knowshon says he's ready to play against the Bengals, and as long as the team doesn't hold him out, he's a great option. Buckhalter is a good flex option whether or not Moreno plays. Even though there's been some general turmoil in Denver, their offensive line is good, and they'll probably have to run the ball more than they did last year now that Jay Cutler is gone.

They were 12th in the league in rushing last season despite having to put seven or so running backs on the IR. Also, two words: Bengals. (I realize that's not two words; it's for effect.)

Cedric Benson

Benson can't be considered an every week starter yet, but I do think the Bengals offense will be better this season. This week they play Denver, and Denver is a mess. Benson is currently starting in 32 percent of Yahoo leagues, but I'd be very comfortable with him as my flex this week.

Players that you may be starting but shouldn't

Jamal Lewis

The wall of Williamses will be playing for Minnesota this week, and I don't really think Lewis is a great option anyway. I bet the backup RBs are going to get a lot of carries this season in Cleveland.

Lee Evans

Going into Gillette Stadium to face the Patriots a week after changing your offensive coordinator is not your ideal situation. I would sit Evans this week and see how functional that offense is. Depending on how many targets he gets with T.O. playing opposite him, I would put Evans back in next week against Tampa Bay.

Santana Moss

If you don't have other decent options at WR on your roster, you shouldn't take Moss out for Johnnie Lee Higgins or anything. But if you have a decent alternative, I definitely don't like his matchup this week against the Giants. A proven No. 2 WR on a decent offense is a better start this week.

Tampa Bay RBs

If I had to pick one to start, I guess I'd go with Cadillac Williams since he's listed as the starter. But I'd wait a week to start any of them. If they go with a 2-2-1 rotation like Raheem Morris has suggested, then their first two backs still have some fantasy value.

But until we know for sure which two backs those are, and which backs get goal line opportunities, I'd avoid them all like an ex-girlfriend in a grocery store.

New England RBs

It's tempting to start any one of them because even the fifth guy on their depth chart could have five touchdowns, but until we know who is going to get the most targets and red zone opportunities, it's best to stay away from this committee of backs.

Colts' Waiver Wire: A Look At Cody Glenn

Kyle Winslow — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:44:39 -0400

The Colts made an interesting move today, claiming linebacker Cody Glenn off waivers from the Redskins and releasing veteran safety Matt Giordano. Giordano has been a quality reserve for the last four seasons, and was well known for being one of the fastest players on the team, so the Colts would need good reason to let him go.

This could be good news regarding the injury status of starting safety Bob Sanders, who was recently taken off the physically unable to perform list. Either the Colts are confident that Sanders will be healthy enough to play, or they really coveted Cody Glenn.

They didn't covet him enough to draft him with either of their two fourth round picks, one of which was used on defensive tackle Terrance Taylor, whom did not make the final 53 man roster. Washington drafted Glenn in the fifth round of the 2009 draft, and since the Colts did not have a fifth round pick at all this year they probably weren't expecting him to fall to them in the sixth round.

Cody Glenn actually entered college as a running back, but eventually won the starting weak-side linebacker position for Nebraska in 2008. Although he has very little experience on defense, he has played both outside and inside linebacker spots.

The Colts have had success molding inexperienced players with raw talent before. Kelvin Hayden played wide receiver for most of his college career, but is now possibly the Colts' best corner back. If the Colts can groom Glenn the same way they did Hayden, they could end up getting a fifth round linebacker with first round talent.

Glenn has prototypical size for a Colts linebacker (basically a slightly bulky safety) at 6' 0", 244 lbs, and he ran a respectable 4.67 40-yard dash at his pro day workout. He is a physical tackler, good in pass coverage, and decent at shedding blocks. He has all the physical tools to succeed at the NFL level; his only downside going into the draft was his inexperience and small (by most teams' standards) size.

Since he is a still so raw as a defensive player, Glenn probably won't contribute to the Colts right away other than on special teams. Giordano was a standout special teams player, so Bill Polian and the Colts' scouting department must have seen something they really liked in Cody Glenn.

He's not guaranteed to be on the team for long, since Ed Johnson doesn't currently count as a member of the active roster. Once Johnson's one-week suspension has been served, the Colts will have to release another player. The team could elect to release Shane Andrus, since they customarily keep only one kicker. However, the Colts usually don't keep three quarterbacks on the active roster either, so anyone, including Cody Glenn, could be fair game.

Colts' Preseason: Lost in Translation

Kyle Winslow — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:30:24 -0400

The Indianapolis Colts seem to lose nearly every preseason game they play, and then go on to win 12 or more games in every regular season. The team has made it a tradition to lose their final preseason game to Cincinnati; last season they lost 27-7 and the year before they were defeated 14-6. But fear not, here's a translation of what the most recent preseason match-up versus the Bengals will mean for the team in the regular season.

The Colts Don't Need Curtis Painter

Jim Sorgi missed most of the preseason with a pulled hamstring, and Curtis Painter performed decently in his absence. But in the half that he played against Cincinnati, Sorgi proved that he is an adequate backup for Peyton Manning.

Sorgi completed 11 of 19 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown, and finished with a 94.0 passer rating despite playing one series against a majority of Cincinnati's starters. He would have racked up better stats and more points if it weren't for a handful of dropped passes and turnovers.

Although he has been the Colts' backup quarterback for several seasons, this may be the first time that Sorgi has looked like a seasoned, accurate passer. Nevertheless, at times Sorgi either didn't audible to good plays or didn't have access to the full playbook. The Bengals started blitzing on nearly every play after the Colts' first scoring drive, and Sorgi had difficulty adjusting. If he had checked to a screen play against the aggressive defense, the Colts might have gained some big yardage.

Still, Sorgi's performance should give the Colts enough confidence to save a roster spot by releasing Curtis Painter. It is a risk to waive the sixth round pick, but if Painter doesn't get claimed by another team, he will be a great addition to the practice squad.

Jacob Lacey might make the team over Dante Hughes

Jacob Lacey, a rookie free agent from Oklahoma State, may have won a roster spot with his performance on Thursday. Lacey had five tackles, two passes defensed, and an interception in which he made a really nice break on a Chris Henry slant route.

If Jacob Lacey makes the team, another defensive back will likely be waived. Dante Hughes may be the odd man out. Hughes dropped an easy interception that could have prevented a Cincinnati touchdown, and he hasn't played well enough in coverage or on special teams to guarantee him a place on the team.

The Colts still need to tackle better

Even though it's preseason and it was a meaningless game in which Indy's reserve players were frequently matched up with Bengals' starters, the Colts gave up a boatload of yards after contact.

The Bengals rushed for an absurd 296 yards, and although several big runs were a result of defenders being out of position, a lot of those yards came from backup running backs breaking tackles or leaping gracefully over Colts players like gazelles in cleats.

The Colts' starters will obviously fair better than the second string players, but tackling can be problematic from top to bottom for a team. Deficiencies in this area can be directly related to how you practice, and if the Colts don't start putting the pads on more often in drills, it could be another rough season for the Indy defense.

Indianapolis Colts Quick Notes

Kyle Winslow — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:50:11 -0400

The regular season is almost at hand, and the Indianapolis Colts' next priority is finalizing their roster. The fourth and final preseason game probably won't feature many starters in order for the reserves to get enough playing time to be properly evaluated by the staff. Here are some quick tidbits heading into this week's matchup versus the Cincinnati Bengals.

State of the Starters

The Colts are notoriously poor preseason performers, but should the team be worried about the loss to lowly Detroit last week? Probably not.

The first team offense has looked explosive, and should be back to elite form in 2009 despite all the offseason changes. The team would greatly benefit from a more balanced offense this season, and the running game appears to be improving.

The starting running backs, Joseph Addai and Donald Brown, have averaged 5.27 yards per rushing attempt so far in the preseason. The Colts averaged 3.4 yards a carry last season and ranked 31st in rushing yards per game.

The defense allowed the Lions to run all over them last week, but when Ed Johnson was in the lineup against Philadelphia the Colts allowed just 23 yards rushing and 1.4 yards per carry. If Johnson makes that big of an impact in the regular season, he could get consideration for the Pro Bowl since Albert Haynesworth has moved to the NFC.

The Colts have also had a great pass rush so far in the preseason. If it weren't for Daunte Culpepper's ability to shrug off tackles like dirt off his shoulder, the Colts defense would have had three more sacks and Detroit would have had several less scoring opportunities.

Trimming the Roster to 53

The Colts' roster is deep this year, and this likely means that a well known player will have to be cut. Many people speculate that the team could keep three quarterbacks on the active roster this season, and that would take a roster spot away from the defensive backs or defensive tackles.

However, the Colts have only kept a third quarterback on the roster once in the Peyton Manning era, and that was only briefly. The team would benefit more from a defensive back that could contribute on special teams.

John Oehser of IndyFootballReport.com predicts that Dante Hughes, who is currently the third cornerback on the depth chart, could be the odd man out. Terrance Taylor could also be relegated to the practice squad despite being drafted by the Colts in the fourth round.

If Bob Sanders medical outlook improves the team could cut one of their reserve safeties instead.

Trust Issues?

Peter King wrote in his "Monday Morning Quarterback" column that the Colts, and specifically Peyton Manning, don't have confidence in Anthony Gonzalez. King cited a dropped pass that would have netted the Colts a big gain against the Lions last week.

However, if you compare Gonzalez's statistics in his first two seasons to those of Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison, it is very apparent that Gonzalez is on pace to become another star wideout for the Colts.

Strangely enough, Peyton Manning actually said in a recent interview with Peter King that he trusted Gonzalez enough that he could throw to him blindfolded. Colts fans should not be worried about the wide receiving corps in Indianapolis, and fantasy owners should expect a big season out of Anthony Gonzalez.

Composite NFL Power Rankings

Kyle Winslow — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:39:22 -0400

Yaaay, it's football season! Yaaay, it's power rankings time! I may not have the credibility to properly rank the 32 NFL teams, but I can certainly calculate the averages of all the credible Power Rankings, and tell you how I feel about it.

Here is the 2009 preseason edition of my Composite NFL Power Rankings:

1. New England Patriots

-    ESPN.com 2
-    CBSSports.com 1
-    FoxSports.com 2
-    WhatIfSports.com 2
-    AVERAGE 1.75

My Take: The Patriots don’t have any significant weaknesses, so I would also rank them No. 1 heading into the season. I cut the sleeves off because it looks awesome, get your head in the game!

2. Pittsburgh Steelers
-    ESPN.com 1
-    CBSSports.com 2
-    FoxSports.com 1
-    WhatIfSports.com 5
-    AVERAGE 2.25

My Take: They get a free pass at No. 1 in several power rankings because they won the Super Bowl, but the Steeler’s O-Line needs to show some improvement this season before I would rank them this high.

3. Philadelphia Eagles
-    ESPN.com 4
-    CBSSports.com 3
-    FoxSports.com 3
-    WhatIfSports.com 1
-    AVERAGE 2.75

My Take: The averages put the Eagles right where I would rank them heading into 2009. The offensive line should improve with the acquisition of Jason Peters, and Philly had a solid draft to give the team depth at running back and wide receiver. I expect them to make a run at the Super Bowl.

4. New York Giants
-    ESPN.com 3
-    CBSSports.com 6
-    FoxSports.com 7
-    WhatIfSports.com 4
-    AVERAGE 5.00

My Take: With Osi Umenyiora back in the mix, the defensive line should be back to its Super Bowl form. I expect the Giants to have the best defense in the league, and I would rank them just behind New England.

5. Arizona Cardinals
-    ESPN.com 12
-    CBSSports.com 5
-    FoxSports.com 5
-    WhatIfSports.com 6
-    AVERAGE 7.00

My Take: They should have a good offense once again, but I never rank a team in the top five until it displays an effective running game.

6. San Diego Chargers
-    ESPN.com 6
-    CBSSports.com 9
-    FoxSports.com 9
-    WhatIfSports.com 9
-    AVERAGE 8.25

My Take: The Chargers quite possibly have the most talent of any team in the NFL. If their defense becomes dominant again with the return of Shawne Merriman, I think this team could be the favorite to win it all. I would rank them in the top five at least, and possibly even ahead of the Eagles.

7. Indianapolis Colts
-    ESPN.com 5
-    CBSSports.com 4
-    FoxSports.com 10
-    WhatIfSports.com 14
-    AVERAGE 8.25

My Take: The Colts had some major changes this offseason, but the team should be a playoff contender once again, despite the coaching changes. The roster has been retooled in an attempt to improve on their major weaknesses in the running game and on the defensive line. They should be a top five or six team.

8. Atlanta Falcons
-    ESPN.com 8
-    CBSSports.com 7
-    FoxSports.com 4
-    WhatIfSports.com 17
-    AVERAGE 9.00

My Take: If Matt Ryan continues to improve, the Falcons will be a great team. I would rank them borderline top 10, but I don’t think they’re a better team than the Titans.

9. Tennessee Titans
-    ESPN.com 7
-    CBSSports.com 11
-    FoxSports.com 6
-    WhatIfSports.com 15
-    AVERAGE 9.75

My Take: The Titans had the best regular season record last year, and I expect them to be a contender again in 2009 even though losing Albert Haynesworth is no small matter. Even if the Titans are significantly worse without the big defensive tackle, Jeff Fisher will fake-punt and onside-kick the team to a 12-4 record.

10. Minnesota Vikings
-    ESPN.com 9
-    CBSSports.com 17
-    FoxSports.com 11
-    WhatIfSports.com 3
-    AVERAGE 10.00

My Take: Does Brett Favre really help them at all? Maybe for the first eight games, before his arm tuckers out. I wouldn’t rank the Vikings in the top 10.

11. Dallas Cowboys
-    ESPN.com 14
-    CBSSports.com 12
-    FoxSports.com 13
-    WhatIfSports.com 8
-    AVERAGE 11.75

My Take: The loss of Terrell Owens will hurt them some, but the Cowboys still have two good receiving threats, a great quarterback, and an excellent rushing attack. They also have one of the best defensive players in the game in DeMarcus Ware. They may be as talented overall as San Diego, and I would definitely rank them higher than 11th.

12. Carolina Panthers
-    ESPN.com 11
-    CBSSports.com 18
-    FoxSports.com 8
-    WhatIfSports.com 13
-    AVERAGE 12.50

My Take: Carolina may have the best one-two punch in the league at running back, and they also have one of the best deep threats at wide receiver to keep defenses honest. They’re extremely shallow at defensive tackle this year though, and that could really hurt their defense. I have them around 15th or so in my power rankings, but they could move up the board fast when the season starts.

13. New Orleans Saints
-    ESPN.com 19
-    CBSSports.com 8
-    FoxSports.com 16
-    WhatIfSports.com 11
-    AVERAGE 13.50

My Take: The Saints obviously have a stellar offense, but can their defense step up this year? The release of Jason David hints that they may at least have better pass coverage. I think there are a few more teams that should be ranked ahead of them.

14. Baltimore Ravens
-    ESPN.com 10
-    CBSSports.com 10
-    FoxSports.com 12
-    WhatIfSports.com 25
-    AVERAGE 14.25

My Take: The Ravens always field one of the top defenses in the league, but their offense is totally dependant on the development of Joe Flacco. This is about where I’d rank them in the preseason, but they are another team that could move up fast during the regular season.

15. Houston Texans
-    ESPN.com 16
-    CBSSports.com 15
-    FoxSports.com 18
-    WhatIfSports.com 10
-    AVERAGE 14.75

My Take: Mark it down: the Texans will have the best offense in the league this season. But I still don’t know if they’ll make the playoffs.

16. Miami Dolphins
-    ESPN.com 15
-    CBSSports.com 20
-    FoxSports.com 19
-    WhatIfSports.com 7
-    AVERAGE 15.25

My Take: Last year the "Wildcat" spread like wildfire. This year, defenses that can stop it will spread like cream cheese. I don’t have the Dolphins ranked in the top 20.

17. Green Bay Packers
-    ESPN.com 17
-    CBSSports.com 16
-    FoxSports.com 14
-    WhatIfSports.com 21
-    AVERAGE 17.00

My Take: The Pack will be back. B.J. Raji is already looking like a beast in the preseason, and their offense is only going to get better. I would rank Green Bay in the top 15.

18. Chicago Bears
-    ESPN.com 13
-    CBSSports.com 14
-    FoxSports.com 20
-    WhatIfSports.com 23
-    AVERAGE 17.50

My Take: Bears fans are leaving frankincense and myrrh on Jay Cutler’s doorstep, but he had much better wide receivers in Denver. Matt Forte makes that offense dangerous, but I want to see Cutler in action before I rank them any higher than this. Also, their defense couldn’t generate any pass rush with the front four last year, and blitzing every other down isn’t good for a Tampa-two defense.

19. Washington Redskins
-    ESPN.com 20
-    CBSSports.com 25
-    FoxSports.com 17
-    WhatIfSports.com 12
-    AVERAGE 18.5

My Take: Unless he gets lethargic now that he’s a bizillionaire, Albert Haynesworth is going to make this team really good. The NFC East is a tough division though, and it will be difficult for them to make the playoffs.

20. Buffalo Bills
-    ESPN.com 21
-    CBSSports.com 19
-    FoxSports.com 15
-    WhatIfSports.com 20
-    AVERAGE 18.75

My Take: The Bills could have an offensive renaissance this season, or Terrell Owens could tear the team apart the moment Marshawn Lynch gets done with his suspension. I would rank them around 25th.

21. New York Jets
-    ESPN.com 23
-    CBSSports.com 24
-    FoxSports.com 21
-    WhatIfSports.com 16
-    AVERAGE 21.00

My Take: The more touches Leon Washington gets, the more points the Jets will score. Sanchez is going to have some growing pains, but their defense looks like it will fair well with Rex Ryan’s aggressive style.

22. Cincinnati Bengals
-    ESPN.com 24
-    CBSSports.com 13
-    FoxSports.com 28
-    WhatIfSports.com 19
-    AVERAGE 21.00

My Take: The Bengals are tied with the Jets in their average ranking, but the Jets get the nod since they have a better defense (which, if you hadn’t heard, wins championships). I think the Bengals will be improved, but I still have them ranked in the bottom five.

23. San Francisco 49ers
-    ESPN.com 22
-    CBSSports.com 27
-    FoxSports.com 22
-    WhatIfSports.com 18
-    AVERAGE 22.25

My Take: Teams with quarterback battles that last several years don’t make my top 25.

24. Seattle Seahawks
-    ESPN.com 18
-    CBSSports.com 21
-    FoxSports.com 27
-    WhatIfSports.com 26
-    AVERAGE 23.00

My Take: Matt Hasselbeck makes the Pro Bowl every odd-numbered year, so I think the Seahawks will rebound this season. If Aaron Curry helps improve their defense, I like them to contend for the NFC West this season, and I would rank them higher than 24th.

25. Tampa Bay Bucs
-    ESPN.com 26
-    CBSSports.com 23
-    FoxSports.com 23
-    WhatIfSports.com 24
-    AVERAGE 24.00

My Take: I like Jon Gruden as a commentator so far, and I like Raheem Morris as a coach. I would rank them higher than 25th, and possibly in the top 20 overall.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars
-    ESPN.com 25
-    CBSSports.com 22
-    FoxSports.com 25
-    WhatIfSports.com 29
-    AVERAGE 25.25

My Take: The Jaguars had a bad year in 2008, but I think they’ll rebound this season. They are usually a good defensive team, and David Garrard is a very underrated quarterback. He can check down to Maurice Jones-Drew every play and pick up somewhere between four and 100 yards.

27. Denver Broncos
-    ESPN.com 27
-    CBSSports.com 26
-    FoxSports.com 24
-    WhatIfSports.com 28
-    AVERAGE 26.25

My Take: If they can convince Brandon Marshall to play, the Broncos could have a dangerous offense that dictates two-deep safety coverage every down even with Kyle Orton at quarterback. If Eddie Royal is their only receiving threat, teams will just blitz every play and force 17 or 18 Denver turnovers a game.

28. Kansas City Chiefs
-    ESPN.com 29
-    CBSSports.com 30
-    FoxSports.com 26
-    WhatIfSports.com 22
-    AVERAGE 26.75

My Take: I would rank the Chiefs a little higher than 28th. The defense is reportedly adapting to the 3-4 scheme very quickly, and I think Matt Cassell will be fairly productive despite the team’s suspect offensive line.

29. Oakland Raiders
-    ESPN.com 30
-    CBSSports.com 28
-    FoxSports.com 29
-    WhatIfSports.com 27
-    AVERAGE 28.5

My Take: Al Davis is crazy. However, I read some interviews with Darius Heyward-Bey before the draft, and I really liked his mentality. I think he’ll be a good player, but he’s still on a bad team.

30. Cleveland Browns
-    ESPN.com 28
-    CBSSports.com 31
-    FoxSports.com 30
-    WhatIfSports.com 32
-    AVERAGE 30.25

My Take: Teams with quarterback battles that last several years go right about here in my rankings.

31. St. Louis Rams
-    ESPN.com 31
-    CBSSports.com 29
-    FoxSports.com 31
-    WhatIfSports.com 31
-    AVERAGE 30.50

My Take: I think the Rams will be better offensively than they have been for some time. They made a good attempt to improve their offensive line in the off season, and they still have a good quarterback and several decent skill players.

32. Detroit Lions
-    ESPN.com 32
-    CBSSports.com 32
-    FoxSports.com 32
-    WhatIfSports.com 30
-    AVERAGE 31.50

My Take: Obviously Detroit deserves to be ranked last after their 0-16 season, but I think they will get significantly better this year as well. I say they throw Stafford in the fire and let him duke out some tough wins. He may lose some confidence when the team struggles, but he can always just throw the ball as far and as high as possible and bank on the fairly decent chance that Calvin Johnson will catch it.

Indianapolis Colts: Shotgun Wedding

Kyle Winslow — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:29:04 -0400

The Indianapolis Colts’ first-round draft pick Donald Brown has been impressive so far in the preseason, but incumbent Joseph Addai is still going to be the starter at running back.

Both players are talented, and both players offer different advantages when they are on the field. But is there a possibility of the Colts using a formation that unites the two of them on the field?

The Colts are generally a single-back offense, and only use a fullback in goal-line situations. But they do use a two-back shotgun formation frequently on obvious passing downs and hurry-up situations.

Last season, tight end Dallas Clark moved into the backfield anytime the Colts used this formation, and whatever the running back was in the game at the time (Joseph Addai or Dominic Rhodes) lined up on the opposite side of quarterback Peyton Manning.

This allowed the Colts to have all of their best receiving options in the game at once instead of replacing Clark with a running back. Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Anthony Gonzalez lined up as wide receivers, and the two players in the backfield could be used either to block or to run routes.

This year, with Marvin Harrison gone, the best receiving options for this formation may very well involve Dallas Clark remaining in his usual slot position and both Addai and Donald Brown lining up in the backfield.

Brown is an outstanding pass-catcher out of the backfield, but he has yet to be truly tested in pass-protection. If he can prove to be an adequate blocker against the elite defensive ends and linebackers of the NFL, this formation could become a deadly weapon in the Colts’ arsenal.

I asked John Oehser of IndyFootballReport.com if this was a viable option for the Colts this year:

“The Colts rarely have used two backs in the same formation in the last decade, although considering Brown and Addai each are capable receivers and runners, you could certainly see how they would be more inclined to try something along these lines this year,” John said.

“This is without question the most-talented tandem of backs the Colts have had—and considering their versatility, using them both in the same backfield could be an option.”

John makes an excellent point; the Colts could have used Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes in this formation in the past but they have not. Rhodes is an excellent receiver and an adequate blocker as well, but using him and Addai in this formation would have required the Colts to take either Gonzalez or Clark out.

Since Gonzalez and Clark are more natural pass-catchers, it would be hard for the Colts to have justified using two running backs instead.

The use of two backs this season is much more likely, as it is the only formation that would utilize all of the Colts’ first-round draft picks at the skill positions.

This formation would be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. The Colts love to use Dallas Clark in the slot because he is difficult for linebackers to cover, but he is also a tough matchup for defensive backs because of his size. With two dynamic running backs in the backfield as well, defenses will have a hard time picking their poison when choosing a coverage scheme.

Nickel or dime defenses would have difficulty making tackles on screen-passes, check-down passes to either running back, or draw plays because of the blocking mismatches. Base defenses will be hard-pressed to cover Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne, and Anthony Gonzalez down the field. This formation could be particularly useful against 3-4 schemes, which the Colts have struggled against in the past.

Addai and Brown have not been used together as of yet in the preseason, and John Oehser also pointed out that reporting on practice details such as formations is prohibited by the Colts’ media guidelines. All the better; perhaps the Colts will save this trick for a critical game or a playoff contest.

Fantasy Football Q&A

Kyle Winslow — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:08:27 -0400

Fantasy football drafts are spreading like swine flu, and, in my opinion, fantasy addiction is the more serious condition. Knowledge is power in fantasy sports, and the only way to gain an advantage over your cohorts is to be better prepared than they are. I asked a group of Bleacher Report NFL Featured Columnists a variety questions about the upcoming fantasy season. They're answers could help you make some critical decisions during your draft, or give you an idea of what your competition will be thinking. Have your own opinion? Feel free to answer any of the questions on your own by commenting on the article.

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Colts Preseason: Notes On Game Two

Kyle Winslow — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:41:49 -0400

The Indianapolis Colts got a rare preseason win over the Philadelphia Eagles tonight, and their prospective starters got to see some extended action. QB Peyton Manning and the first-team offense looked precise, and the first-team defense seemed stout in the middle.

By the second quarter it was all reserves, but here are some notes from the first quarter of action:

- Manning's timing looked perfect with Anthony Gonzalez, who caught a perfect fade in the corner of the end-zone for the Colt's first touchdown, and Joseph Addai, who caught a difficult pass in tight coverage on a wheel route out of the backfield to keep that first drive from stalling.

-Manning's timing with Reggie Wayne was never in question, although their 76-yard touchdown hook-up was a result of a blown coverage. Austin Collie started in the slot, but he and Manning had some miscommunications and Collie ran the wrong route at least once.

-The pass protection was much better, although the battle between Tony Ugoh and Charlie Johnson is just heating up. Although Ugoh was flagged for an early penalty, Johnson blew his matchup on an inside juke move that resulted in a sack of Manning and a fumble recovered by the Eagles. Ugoh ate up his one-on-one matchups for the most part, even on plays that didn't go for much yardage.

-Donald Brown's ability to break tackles is going to keep a lot of otherwise doomed drives going this year, just like his play on third-and-five on the Colts' second possession against the Eagles. That play would have gone for no gain if Brown hadn't absorbed a hit and sidestepped his man.

-Clint Session is a perfect fit on the weak-side, and he continues to make big plays and big hits. He was credited with four tackles, one of which jarred the ball loose from a potential Eagles' receiver and another one which stopped an outside run for a loss.

-The Colts are still really bad against screen plays.

-Matt Giordano got beat on the inside by DeSean Jackson for a perfectly thrown touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb, but for the most part the back-up safeties filled in admirably. Melvin Bullitt registered a sack when he came free on a blitz, and displayed tremendous speed in closing on the quarterback.

-The run defense looked much improved, and adding size to the defensive line seems to have payed off. The Eagles were unable to gain significant yardage up the middle against the Colt's starters.

-If rookie Jerraud Powers doesn't win the nickle corner job, I don't know what more he could do to prove himself. He also helped bolster the Colts' run defense, and made a spectacular play on an inside run during the Eagles' third possession. Run support is often where rookie defensive backs struggle in the Tampa-2, since a lot of defenses focus on assignments rather than the "flow-to-the-ball" style of play that the Colts emphasize.

-Special teams still struggled, giving up good field possession on kickoffs and producing little in the return game. Rookie punter Pat McAfee had some good efforts, but only averaged 37.2 yards a punt (down more than 12 yards a punt from his first outing).

New Colts Could Keep Defenses Off Balance

Kyle Winslow — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:14:12 -0400

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

Kyle Winslow — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:56:31 -0400

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

Kyle Winslow — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:09:40 -0400

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. Anthony Gonzalez 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 Gonzalez 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

Kyle Winslow — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:55:43 -0400

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

Kyle Winslow — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:22:31 -0400

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

Kyle Winslow — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:40:39 -0400

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!