Yardbarker: Marlin Jackson

Final Pre-Training Camp Colts Roster Prediction

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:16:56 -0500

Players report on Thursday, so this is one of the last days to do a roster prediction. It feels like now is the best time for one, so here it goes. 53 players make it on the roster, 8 on the practice squad, and I will put 10 that should keep in touch if injuries take their toll. 53 Man Roster QB #18 Peyton Manning-I bet I caught you off guard with this one. #12 Jim Sorgi-Sorgi will get a chance to prove himself this upcoming year. He better not blow it. Adam Tafralis and Josh Betts are creeping up on him. RB #29 Joseph Addai-Another shocker. #33 Dominic Rhodes-Rhodes will be a change of pace back who should get somewhere between 100 to 150 carries per game. He should prosper without all the pressure on him. #32 Mike Hart-I consider Hart a running back, although it seems like he will be used as a fullback/short yardage back. FB #47 Gijon Robinson-Robinson is a fantastic blocker, and he will also be able to catch the ball, as he is "officially" a tight end. Look for him in the goal line. WR #87 Reggie Wayne-As long as he doesn't hurt himself in a meaningless basketball game, he will be Peyton's number one target, at least until Manning and Harrison get their connection back. #88 Marvin Harrison-Hopefully he can recover quickly and maybe get a few plays in a preseason game so he isn't too rusty. #11 Anthony Gonzalez-Gonzalez could have a breakout year. Or at least I hope so. He's on my fantasy team. #83 Roy Hall-Hall will be a surprise player and will be a major difference maker this year. Mark that down. #14 Sam Giguere-Giguere could never make an impact in the NFL. He could also be the biggest star wide receiver we've seen in a long time. We know he has the talent, but can he produce on the field? Let's give him a shot. TE #44 Dallas Clark-Clark should still be a redzone target even with the Rhodes signing and Marvin's injury recovery. #84 Jacob Tamme-Tamme is an athletic tight end who should help the passing game become even more prolific. #86 Tom Santi-It's all about blocking here. Someone needs to take Utecht's place. LT #67 Tony Ugoh-If Ugoh would have stayed healthy last year, Joe Thomas may not have been named the unanimous best rookie lineman in the league. Ugoh replaced a Pro Bowler, and most people would not have noticed Tarik Glenn left. #75 Michael Toudouze-We need some fillers on the offensive line after last year. Toudouze is a fair lineman when called upon, but he shouldn't start. LG #65 Ryan Lilja-Kansas City made a bad move by waiving Lilja. He's an unheralded star on this team who is versatile and tough at the same time. #61 Jamey Richard-Not much should be expected out of a seventh round pick. Richard will see some action in the rotation, but he won't be a difference maker this year. C #63 Jeff Saturday-I hope we can find some legal medicine that can make him play forever. He's the leader of the offensive line. #53 Steve Justice-In Polian We Trust. I'm sure he had a plan when he took so many interior linemen. RG #78 Mike Pollak-I'll give him the nod right now, but maybe Charlie Johnson can be a better guard than a tackle (which shouldn't be TOO hard). #74 Charlie Johnson-I was disappointed in his play last year. We won in spite of him. He was hapless as a tackle. Let's see if he can improve as a guard. RT #71 Ryan Diem-Diem needs to stay healthy so Addai and the rest of the backs can get positive yards. #76 Dan Federkiel-Like Toudouze, Federkiel is an insurance lineman. DE #93 Dwight Freeney-Freeney should recover well from his foot surgery and be drawing the usual double and triple teams play in and play out. #91 Josh Thomas-I'm not a big fan, but he can stop the run. His pass rush is very weak, however. UT #79 Raheem Brock-Brock is unnoticed when he plays, but you know he's missing when you see mediocre backs running up through the middle and QBs having all day in the pocket. Hopefully he can stay healthy. #96 Keyunta Dawson-Dawson is another 2nd year player who should make a big impact at defensive tackle. He is now listed as a defensive tackle on Colts.com, so there is no doubt on where he will line up next year. #68 Eric Foster-Last year it was Ed Johnson. This year it will be Eric Foster. Foster was made for the Tampa 2. NT #99 Ed Johnson-Big Eddy was a magnificent signing by Polian last year. Sexual assault, schmexual schmassault. Ed Johnson can stop the run. #97 Quinn Pitcock-The young players run the nose tackle position. Pitcock is ridiculously strong, and he played well last season when the offensive line was plagued with injuries. #95 Darrell Reid-This man was the last thing Chris Henry saw before his life flashed before his eyes. DE #98 Robert Mathis-With Freeney back, Mathis should return to his double-digit sack season shortly. #92 Marcus Howard-No he is not a linebacker. And if he does well, no he is not a surprise. I expect him to do great along with many other Colts fans. SLB #55 Clint Session-I was stuck between Keiaho and Session here, but Session is bigger and could be a better run stopper. We've all seen what he can do in the passing game. #56 Tyjuan Hagler-He's hurt, but it won't cost him a roster spot. MLB #58 Gary Brackett-Brackett was up there with the Pro Bowl snubs last year. He was the leader of a top-5 defense, and he will only get better. #50 Philip Wheeler-Wheeler can play anywhere at linebacker. I expect him to be a starter in 2009. It depends on how Session and Keiaho do this upcoming season. WLB #54 Freddy Keiaho-To be perfectly honest, I have no idea how anyone can pass on us this year. The linebackers are all ballhawkers, and the secondary is one of the best in the league. Keiaho is a great example of a prototypical Tampa 2 linebacker. #52 Ramon Guzman-He's here for special teams and special teams only. CB #28 Marlin Jackson-Like all Tampa 2 corners, Jackson is way underrated. He can shut the passing lane for any QB on any team. #34 TJ Rushing-Rushing will not be a returner, but he is good enough to be a dime cornerback. FS #41 Antoine Bethea-Bethea is a breakout player who will contend for another Pro Bowl spot this upcoming year. #40 Jamie Silva-The team of dark horses and surprise players strike again with Silva. Boston College has some good players in the pros. SS #21 Bob Sanders-70% of the Earth is covered by water. The rest is covered by Bob Sanders. #43 Matt Giordano-After Giordano lacerated Bo Scaife's liver, John Madden had a funny quip. "[Giordano] just knocked all of his [own] hair off!" CB #26 Kelvin Hayden-He's the same corner as Marlin Jackson. I would love to see him get a long-term contract. #20 Dante Hughes-Hughes is expected to be a standout at nickel back. Also, it's Dante, not Daymeion. #25 Michael Coe-Fitting that one of the fastest players on the team shares the same number as Rocket Ismail, my favorite football player of all-time. K #4 Adam Vinatieri-His leg will be better, and his accuracy will be as well. P #17 Hunter Smith-Not a big surprise he's over Adam Crossett right now. LS #48 Justin Snow-Longsnappers normally do not get any attention. For obvious reasons. RS #35 Chad Simpson-Simpson is just the kind of player the Colts need at returner. Someone who is extremely fast and may take a chance and not call a fair catch. Practice Squad QB Adam Tafralis RB Clifton Dawson WR Devin Aromashodu OL Corey Hilliard DL Colin Ferrell DL Curtis Johnson LB Jordan Senn DB Brannon Condren 10 Who Should Keep In Touch RB Kenton Keith WR Courtney Roby WR Pierre Garcon OL Mike Elgin OL Darren Marquez DL Jeff Charleston LB Victor Worsley DB Tim Jennings DB Brandon Foster RS Rudy Burgess

Links for 2008-07-09 [del.icio.us]

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:49:35 -0500

Thirty-Three Players Scheduled to Attend 37th Annual Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon
Trent, Jamison and... Mike Massey?
Ann Arbor area retailers happy with first batch of Adidas-branded Wolverine gear
"we thought it would be made of gasoline-soaked burlap, but it's cotton!"
I saw tail lights last night in a dream about my first wife
Johnny indeed back on the regular.
Good Intentions and Bad Expectations
Dex pre-emptively strikes at Rivals free board types
Marlin Jackson is prime example of athletes who give back
"I took a course called Psychology 502," he said. "You went down to Detroit and mentored youths. I saw what a positive impact I could have. That gives you motivation on how much you can help." -- another life ruined!
Rodriguez settlement brings closure, normalcy to West Virginia
"normalcy" in this case being relative, of course

Colts Ratings on Madden 09

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:07:56 -0500

IGN released the ratings for every player on every team in the league, so we now know what the boys at EA Sports think about the Colts. Here are the notable player ratings. Best & Worst Player: Peyton Manning (99), Jamey Richard (64) Best & Worst Morale: Hunter Smith, Adam Vinatieri, and Peyton Manning (99), Gary Brackett (85, only player under 90) Fastest & Slowest Player: Tim Jennings (96), Corey Hilliard and Michael Toudouze (50) Best & Worst Acceleration: Bob Sanders (97), Corey Hilliard (54) Strongest & Weakest Player: Ryan Diem (94), Adam Vinatieri and Tim Jennings (40) Best & Worst Agility: Kelvin Hayden & Bob Sanders (94), Corey Hilliard (48) Best & Worst Awareness: Peyton Manning (100), Pierre Garcon (35) Best & Worst Catching: Reggie Wayne & Marvin Harrison (97), Ryan Lilja (7) Best & Worst Carrier: Joseph Addai (90), Multiple Players (40) Best & Worst Tackler: Gary Brackett (94), Jim Sorgi (11) Best & Worst Jumper: Pierre Garcon (95), Jeff Saturday & Hunter Smith (29) Best & Worst Kick Returner: Tim Jennings (87), A Bunch of Guys (10) Best Celebrator: Marlin Jackson (88) My Thoughts: Wow we are fast. The defensive backs all have acceleration of 89 or higher. Peyton Manning is amazing as always. Manning, Saturday, Bethea, Addai, Vinatieri, Mathis, Lilja, Brackett, Freeney, Diem, Sanders, Clark, Harrison, and Wayne all have ratings of 90 or higher. Pollak is rated higher than Charlie Johnson, so he is the presumable starter. The most underrated players are Anthony Gonzalez (80) and Clint Session (70). Overall, this will be a fun team to play with. A lot of interceptions will be returned to the house with this secondary.

Rosey Passes on Indy, 4 Waived, and An Updated Roster Preview

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:26:53 -0500

Long title, short blog. In some lucky news, Rosevelt Colvin passed on the Indianapolis Colts to sign with the Houston Texans. This surprised me, as Indianapolis is his home town. He even has a house in the area. The money was almost certainly the deciding factor. My guess is the Colts offered him a veterans minimum contract while the Texans offered one of a much higher value. I'm glad he passed on the Colts. With all of the injuries the Colts had last season, adding an injury prone player seems like a bad move, especially since it could keep someone like Curtis Johnson, a good UDFA, off of the roster. To cut the roster down to 80, the Colts waived running back Justice Hairston, defensive lineman Dan Davis, kicker Shane Andrus, and center Pat Ross. Coach Dungy was a fan of Hairston, so that is the only surprise. The rest all played at positions that are incredibly deep and/or strong. The Colts had to get it cut down to 80, and there was no big news here. Here's an updated roster prediction after the loss of Colvin, trade of Lawton, and the cuts. 53-man Roster QB: Peyton Manning, Jim Sorgi RB: Joseph Addai, Dominic Rhodes, Mike Hart WR: Marvin Harrison, Roy Hall, Sam Giguere WR: Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez TE: Dallas Clark, Jacob Tamme (H-back), Tom Santi, Gijon Robinson LT: Tony Ugoh, Dan Federkiel LG: Ryan Lilja, Jamey Richard C: Jeff Saturday, Steve Justice RG: Mike Pollak, Charlie Johnson RT: Ryan Diem DE: Dwight Freeney, Josh Thomas, Curtis Johnson DE: Robert Mathis, Marcus Howard, Keyunta Dawson (also plays UT) DT: Ed Johnson, Quinn Pitcock, Darrell Reid UT: Raheem Brock, Eric Foster, Colin Ferrell SLB: Tyjuan Hagler, Ramon Guzman MLB: Gary Brackett, Philip Wheeler WLB: Freddy Keiaho, Clint Session CB: Marlin Jackson, Kelvin Hayden, Dante Hughes (NB), Tim Jennings, Michael Coe FS: Antoine Bethea, Brannon Condren SS: Bob Sanders, Matt Giordano K: Adam Vinatieri P: Hunter Smith LS: Justin Snow Practice Squad QB Adam Tafralis RB Chad Simpson WR Courtney Roby OT Michael Toudouze OG Mike Elgin DL Jeff Charleston LB Jordan Senn DB Melvin Bullitt 4 Who Should Keep In Touch RB Kenton Keith WR Devin Aromashodu WR Pierre Garcon DB Brandon Foster

Polian Speaks

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:21:16 -0500

Outside of his radio show, Bill Polian very rarely does anything with the media. However, Football Outsiders was able to get an interview with the genius himself. Polian didn't give the longest answers, so it is tough to get that much info out of it. Here's some of the stuff I thought was interesting. FO: Your defense ranked third in our DVOA metrics this season. More than half of the starters were drafted after the fourth round or not at all. What is the key to getting such productivity out of lesser prospects? What attributes are you most looking for with these late-round and rookie free agent pick-ups? What did you see in Ed Johnson that everyone else missed? Bill Polian: See the previous answer. We know what criteria are important to succeed in our defense and look for them in every round of the draft. In Ed's case we saw athletic ability and heard from Coach Paterno that he had "grown up and was ready to become a contributor." People have made a big deal about Ed Johnson's previous history with the law. I'm one who provokes those comments. I always refer to the Indiana Pacers as a thug team, and I believe all Colts players are qualified for sainthood. When I see on the previews for the local news that there has been a murder, I think, "Tinsley must have broken his probation. What a shame." Whenever a Pacers apologist hears something along those lines, they come back with the Ed Johnson story. Paterno's quote really helps clear things up on why the Colts would take a chance on someone with a criminal record. FO: Since Dungy, a Minnesota grad, was hired, almost half of your Day 1 picks have been on Big Ten players. Is that a coincidence, or do you have a better feel for people who play college football in the Midwest? Along those lines, how are your college scouts assigned, by region, by conference, or something else? Bill Polian: Our college scouts are assigned by region. I go all over the country as do our other scouting supervisors. I think the rough tough style of play in the Big Ten may produce players more suited to our style. In the end it's more coincidence than anything else. This is something I've always noticed. For those who don't know, there are many Colts starters who are from the Big Ten. Those are Marlin Jackson (Michigan), Kelvin Hayden (Illinois), Bob Sanders (Iowa), Ed Johnson (Penn State), Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio State), and Dallas Clark (Iowa). 27% of the starters come from the Big Ten, so that's a good chunk of the team. The "Three Yards And A Cloud Of Dust" style is the obvious reason. Ed Johnson and the secondary players from the Big Ten live and breath that style. FO: What player improved the most, on any of your teams, compared to how good he was when you first acquired him? Bill Polian: On our team here in Indianapolis, I would say cornerback Kelvin Hayden. On our team in Carolina, I would say running back Anthony Johnson and wide receiver Mushin Muhammad. On our team in Buffalo, I would say future Hall of Famer Andre Reed. The Hayden one really surprised me. Hayden would not have come to mind. Reggie Wayne, Jeff Saturday, and Gary Brackett would have been my guesses. However, Hayden has become a premier cornerback in the league. I can't disagree with what Polian said. If you live in Indiana, you know the love for Polian. I'm pretty sure behind Christianity, Polianism is the largest religion in the area. Who can blame us? Polian has to be a psychic. He's made some great moves over the years, and he will go into the Hall of Fame when he retires. 5 Super Bowl teams and more to come in Indy. It's good to hear from the man, the myth, the legend, Bill Polian.

Looking Back at the 05 draft

Thu, 08 May 2008 07:30:49 -0500

2005 had its share of stars in the 1st round but also had a handful of busts check to see where your teams pick did............. 1. Alex Smith, quarterback, 49ers: When the first overall pick is competing three years later with Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan for the starting job, that's by definition a BUST. 2. Ronnie Brown, running back, Dolphins: After a so-so first year, Brown has been solid. A torn ACL derailed his opportunity to have a strong third year. Though he hasn't lived up to the billing of the No. 2 overall pick, we're not yet ready to call him a bust. (But we could be after 2008.) 3. Braylon Edwards, receiver, Browns: Edward is becoming one of the best receivers in the league. Clearly, not a bust. 4. Cedric Benson, running back, Bears: He's been a disappointment on the field, and his arrest conjures memories of past incidents in college. Without question, he's a BUST. 5. Cadillac Williams, running back, Buccaneers: Williams made a huge splash as a rookie, but can't stay healthy. After rupturing a patellar tendon in 2007, he might not play again. If he does, he might never be the same. Based on his top-five selection, he's a BUST. 6. Pacman Jones, cornerback, Titans: BUST 7. Troy Williamson, receiver, Vikings: We once tried to throw Williamson a compliment, but he dropped that, too. BUST. 8. Antrel Rolle, cornerback, Cardinals: When a cornerback might be shifted to safety at only age 25, it's not because he's a great cornerback. BUST. 9. Carlos Rogers, cornerback, Redskins: He's on the path to being declared a bust. We'll give him one more year. 10. Mike Williams, receiver, Lions: Maybe he wouldn't have been a BUST if the Lions had made him an offensive lineman. 11. DeMarcus Ware, linebacker, Cowboys: A 2006 Pro Bowl + a 2007 Pro Bowl = not a bust. 12. Shawne Merriman, linebacker, Chargers: He could still be a bust if he gets suspended again for steroids (or blown up on a regular basis by a pint-sized running back); for now, though, Merriman is clearly not a bust. 13. Jammal Brown, tackle, Saints: The Pro Bowler in 2006 slipped a bit last year, and the Saints were rumored to be shopping him. Still, he's not a bust. 14. Thomas Davis, safety/linebacker, Panthers: He's not spectacular, but he started 16 games in 2007. Not a bust. 15. Derrick Johnson, linebacker, Chiefs: Johnson made a splash as a rookie and hasn't taken it quite to the next level in two years since, but he's not a bust. 16. Travis Johnson, defensive tackle, Texans: When the biggest hit of your career is one that you unknowingly put on a quarterback's head with your knee, you might be a redneck. And a BUST. 17. David Pollack, linebacker, Bengals: Though he was on his way to becoming a great player, a neck injury ended his career early in his second season. Unfortunately, he must be declared a BUST. 18. Erasmus James, defensive end, Vikings: Knee problems have slowed his development, but barring injury to Jared Allen and Ray Edwards (and maybe Brian Robison), James won't be a starter in his fourth season. BUST. 19. Alex Barron, offensive tackle, Rams: The Rams wouldn't have been dreaming of Jake Long sliding to No. 2 if they thought that Barron was the long-term solution on the left side, or the right. BUST. 20. Marcus Spears, defensive end, Cowboys: Yeah, he has been a three-year starter. But he was rumored to be on the trading block earlier this year, and his impact hasn't reflected his stature as one of the top 20 players in the draft. BUST. 21. Matt Jones, receiver, Jaguars: This much-hyped quarterback-turned-receiver isn't very good, and doesn't seem to care. The Jags would have been wise to let him play quarterback — for another team. BUST. 22. Mark Clayton, receiver, Ravens: The thinking in NFL circles is that a player destined to be a high-end receiver performs like one by his third NFL season. For his third season, Clayton had 49 catches for 531 yards, and no touchdowns. BUST. 23. Fabian Washington, cornerback, Raiders: Being traded for a fourth-round pick after only three seasons automatically qualifies him for BUST status. 24. Aaron Rodgers, quarterback, Packers: He has looked good when he's gotten a chance to play, but the jury is out on whether he's a bust. Get back to us in a year. 25. Jason Campbell, quarterback, Redskins: Campbell is on his way to becoming a solid starter, and could evolve into one of the better signal-callers in the conference. Not a bust. 26. Chris Spencer, center, Seahawks: If he'd been taken higher, Spencer might qualify for strong consideration as a bust. But he started every game in 2005, and the Seahawks have gotten decent value out of him. Close, but not a bust. 27. Roddy White, receiver, Falcons: White was on his way to being a bust after his first two years. He broke out in 2007, which coincidentally was his first season without catching one-hoppers from Mike Vick. Not a bust. 28. Luis Castillo, defensive tackle, Chargers: Solid defensive linemen despite some injuries. Not a bust. 29. Marlin Jackson, defensive back, Colts: Steady but unspectacular Tampa Two corner. He might be another Jason David in a defense that requires him to cover wideouts down the field. But his performance allowed the Colts let guys like David walk away. Not a bust. 30. Heath Miller, tight end, Virginia: The Steelers arguably reached on a guy who wasn't healthy in the months leading up to the draft. They ended up with a solid tight end. Not a bust. 31. Mike Patterson, defensive tackle, Eagles: The Philly chapter of PFT Planet will revolt if we were to call Patterson a bust. Not a bust. 32. Logan Mankins, offensive lineman, Patriots: Solid contributor on the offensive line. Besides, we can't call anyone who paid $7,500 for the privilege of punching a guy in the crotch a bust.

NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round Preview

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:55:12 -0500

FIO co-founder & editor Matt Hinzpeter previews this weekend's Divisional match-ups. Included, you can find: Weather Forecasts; '07 Regular Season Meetings; Team Summaries; Game Outlooks (including picks); and Key Injuries. Your comprehensive guide to this weekend's games!

Titans at Colts preview

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 02:01:21 -0500

Includes a scouting report on the Colts, matchups to watch, keys for the Titans and a prediction...

Total Titans questions about the Colts

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:17:31 -0500

I've asked Christine Traylor, one of MVN's writers on Colts Couch Crew, four questions about the Colts regarding Tennessee's game at Indianapolis this Sunday. The questions and Christine's answers follow...