http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/3224 Recent articles about Dominic Rhodes en-us The Colts lost by 14 to the Washington Redskins.  If this was October, that would be a major problem.  However, in October with 4 All-Pro players missing, this was a great game.  The Colts were tied going into the fourth quarter with mostly backups playing the entire game.  Some players really stood out.  Here are my top 10 players from the game. 10. Roy Hall, WR: Hall was very good last night.  He gained a fair amount of yards on the screen pass, and he caught a tough pass after it hit off of his hands.  They didn't test him on deep plays, so we still don't know how good his receiver skills are.  However, as a 4th receiver, he's more than qualified. 9. Eric Foster, DT: Quinn who?  Foster had the Freeney spin and gave the Colts a good pass rush even though it didn't result in incompletions.  The linebackers were pretty weak.  Foster is a good pass rushing defensive tackle.  This team will get a lot of sacks. 8. Marcus Howard, DE: Sometimes 40 times don't lie.  Marcus Howard is extremely fast.  He was blowing by the tackles and getting into the backfield.  He was giving Todd Collins hell all night long.  The play that stands out the most for me was his sack when he was being held.  He is small, but he has good strength.  He definitely will get playing time this year.  I don't consider him a project.  He's ready to take the league by storm. 7. Brannon Condren, S: I didn't know much about him.  I knew he was pretty good at special teams, but as a safety, I assumed that he wasn't a big hitter and more of a ball-hawking safety.  I was wrong.  He was hitting hard last night.  He played like Matt Giordano, which is good for a player that will be a special teamer. 6. Gijon Robinson, TE: Robinson's first catch made my jaw drop.  Sorgi was looking to sacrifice him by throwing the ball over his head, but Robinson made the leap and held onto the ball even though a safety clocked him.  He had 3 other catches that resulted in a fair amount of yards.  I see him making the roster as well. 5. Pierre Garcon, WR: Garcon was the most impressive receiver to me.  Whenever a pass was off target, he was able to adjust and get a hand on it.  He was running his routes perfectly.  He impressed me on special teams as well.  On his only kick return, he got it to midfield, and if he would have tried to get pass the kicker, he could have scored. 4. Jamey Richard, C: Sure, he had that bad snap, but he had the bad luck of the Colts being inside their own 10 when he made that snap.  If that was at midfield, Gray would have picked it up and threw it away.  After that, Richard became unstoppable.  He was pancaking defensive tackle, lead blocking for Mike Hart, and giving The Hefty Lefty time to make a crappy throw.  This was a great 7th round pick. 3. Jordan Senn, LB: I haven't heard people talk about him, but he was great.  It seemed like he was involved on every tackle no matter where the ball was.  He definitely has the speed that the Tampa-2 requires.  Right now, I'd say he is a practice squad player, but that can change very quickly. 2. Quinn Gray, QB: Gray locked up the backup QB spot so far.  It would take a collapse of epic proportions to make him lose the job.  He can scramble.  He's got a great arm.  When he scrambles, he is able to throw an accurate pass, which gave us around 80 yards that we would have lost if Lorenzen or Sorgi was throwing on the run, which would have been an incompletion or thrown away.  Gray looked better than a few starting QBs in this league. 1. Mike Hart, RB: There isn't enough to say about this guy.  He proved why 40 times are useless.  He looked faster than any other Colts back out there.  He fought for the extra yards, which is huge for a back that will be used in short yardage situations.  The play where he lost his helmet but still gained another 3 yards showed why he will make this team.  He's like a stronger and faster James Mungro. All of these guys minus Senn will make the roster, and all but Gray will be in the rotation.  Here are some players that did not impress. Jared Lorenzen aka The Hefty Lefty and The Pillsbury Throwboy, QB: Not only does he look like a lineman or competitive eater, he throws like one.  He was double clutching and shotputting his throws.  This guy should stick to the donuts and leave football alone.  He is not an NFL QB.  Plain and simple.  Good thing Eli Manning never got hurt or else the Patriots would have been 19-0. Clifton Dawson, RB: Mike Hart is better in pads, and Dawson is better on the practice field.  Dawson went down after the first hit, and he didn't have a reception.  He's got a Havard degree.  He'll be better off as a lawyer than a backup running back. Freddie Keiaho, Victor Worsley, and Brandon Archer: Worsley and Archer aren't anything special, but the starting WILL linebacker being so bad in pass coverage is concerning.  He needs to improve or else we could see Philip Wheeler or Clint Session playing on the weak side. So with all of this, here is the updated roster.  I love making these. QB #18 Peyton Manning: Obviously. #5 Quinn Gray: After this game, I am more confindent in our backup QB than ever. RB #29 Joseph Addai: Obvious again. #38 Dominic Rhodes: He had some great runs last night. #32 Mike Hart: Even though he is a Michigan grad, I can't get enough of this guy. WR #87 Reggie Wayne: Shocker, I know #88 Marvin Harrison: Duh #11 Anthony Gonzalez: Not a lot of second year former first round picks get cut #83 Roy Hall: Amazing potential #85 Pierre Garcon: Division III needs some love too. #80 Devin Aromashodu: He played pretty well last night. TE #44 Dallas Clark: A few years ago, Austin Croshere wore number 44 for the Pacers.  Indianapolis had two white guys named after cities in Texas wearing number 44. #47 Gijon Robinson: The stumpy H-back was impressive last night. #84 Jacob Tamme: Tamme is bigger than I thought he was.  I want to see him get some throws from Gray and Sorgi, not BBQ (Bad & Bulky Quarterback, not Big & Beautiful). #86 Tom Santi: Santi should make the roster even though he is hurt. LT #67 Tony Ugoh: Underrated tackle. #76 Dan Federkiel: The only Canuck on the team on this roster prediction. LG #65 Ryan Lilja: Underrated guard. #53 Steve Justice: I didn't notice him last night. C #63 Jeff Saturday: The Indy Star did a piece on future Colts Hall of Famers, and Saturday wasn't mentioned even though players like Bob Sanders and Dwight Freeney were.  Saturday has been just as dominant as any current modern-era centers. #61 Jamey Richard: Richard was great last night.  He's very, very fast, and the bad snap was a major fluke. RG #78 Mike Pollak: Pollak played well last night. #74 Charlie Johnson: A "Meh"-worthy performance last night.  Didn't see anything great out of him. RT #71 Ryan Diem: Often goes unnoticed, but I notice when he isn't playing. #75 Michael Toudouze: We've got some depth at offensive line.  Toudouze is good for a backup right tackle. LE #79 Raheem Brock: He had some good pass rushing last night.  He will play UT on passing situations. #98 Robert Mathis: I prefer him as a pass rush specialist.  His best seasons were behind Brock. #60 Curtis Johnson: Johnson surprised me last night with some good run defense. RE #93 Dwight Freeney: If you don't double team him, he will get a sack.  It's as simple as that. #92 Marcus Howard: I shall call him "Mini-Freeney". #90 Jeff Charleston: Josh Thomas is still as slow as hell. NT #99 Ed Johnson: Big Eddy didn't see too many snaps last night, but he is the best run-stopping player on this team. #95 Darrell Reid: Special teamer who may see some time at defensive tackle this season. UT #96 Keyunta Dawson: The last couple of drafts have been absolutely amazing.  In Polian We Trust. #68 Eric Foster: He's been the MVP of training camp so far.  Let's see if he can carry that momentum into September. SLB #55 Clint Session: I don't like him being hurt.  Being a Colts linebacker, you will probably get hurt and not get resigned. #56 Tyjuan Hagler: Hagler's injury may have cost him a starting job. MLB #58 Gary Brackett: He'll make the Pro Bowl this year.  The snub will motivate him. #50 Philip Wheeler: Knees are slightly behind the Patriots as the Colts biggest enemy. WLB #54 Freddie Keiaho: He better improve at pass coverage. #52 Ramon Guzman: Special teamer. CB #28 Marlin Jackson: He can hit and cover well.  Speed isn't a big factor in the Tampa-2. #26 Kelvin Hayden: See Marlin Jackson. #20 Dante Hughes: He dropped because of his 40 time.  40 times are so frickin' overrated! #23 Tim Jennings: Jennings has done well enough in training camp to keep this job. #34 TJ Rushing: Garcon and him will make a great returning duo. FS #41 Antoine Bethea: He could make the Pro Bowl the old fashion way (not by being an alternate) this year. #42 Brannon Condren: He won me over. SS #21 Bob Sanders: Bob Sanders likes his New England Patriots the same way he likes his ice.  Crushed. #43 Matt Giordano: He hits so hard his hair fell out.  Or at least that's what John Madden says. K #4 Adam Vinatieri: One for the thumb. P #17 Hunter Smith: Being the Colts punter is the easiest job you can have. LS #48 Justin Snow: Long snapper needs to become an official position. Reserve PUP/IR: #25 Michael Coe: Another knee injury… Practice Squad RB Chad Simpson WR Sam Giguere WR Onrea Jones OL Darren Marquez DL Collin Ferrell LB Jordan Senn LB Kyle Shotwell DB Jamie Silva 10 to Keep In Touch With QB Jim Sorgi RB Kenton Keith WR Courtney Roby OL Corey Hilliard DL Josh Thomas DL Joe Bradley LB Brandon Archer LB Victor Worsley DB Melvin Bullitt DB Keiwan Ratliff Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:39:58 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300628 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300628 Obviously, I will not try to predict anything or break down the opponent.  I know nothing about the Redskins backups, and I won't try to act like I do.  The final outcome of preseason games are useless.  We could go 5-0 or 0-5, and it won't affect my final prediction on the season. Players To Watch Quinn Gray: We've heard good things about him from people who have gone to training camp.  Right now, I consider him the leader for the backup QB job.  This game could give him a huge advantage over Sorgi and the Pillsbury Throwboy. Clifton Dawson & Mike Hart: This may be the tightest race so far.  Hart has amazing potential as a fullback in the Colts system.  However, so does Dawson.  Dawson has looked better in practice, but Hart is better at full contact than he is in practice.  I want to see who is the better receiver and short yardage back in this game. Sam Giguere, Courtney Roby, & Pierre Garcon: Right now, I consider Marvin, Reggie, Gonzalez, Hall, and Aromashodu as locks to make the final roster.  After last year, I see one of these guys making the roster and either Garcon or Giguere (depending on who makes the roster) making the practice squad.  Giguere has great potential.  Roby has the most experience.  Garcon has looked great in practice.  This should be another tight race. Mike Pollak & Charlie Johnson: This is a starting job competition.  I'm not a Charlie Johnson fan at all, so he will have to play very well to win me over.  Mike Pollak is our second round draft pick.  He's expected to win this battle.  The right guard spot should be hard to get. Marcus Howard & Curtis Johnson: Neither of these guys won't make the roster.  Or at least I believe so.  What I want to see is if the Colts will be able to generate a pass rush if Mathis and Freeney would get hurt again.  These guys are two of the fastest rookie defensive ends in the league.  They will be expected to give the Washington QBs hell.  In another interesting development, Colt Brennan, the former Hawaii QB, is a backup QB for the Redskins.  Marcus Howard played for Georgia last year and dominated the Hawaii offensive line in the Sugar Bowl.  Colt and Marcus are very familiar. Jamie Silva & Brannon Condren: The Colts will only carry 4 safeties.  Bob Sanders, Antoine Bethea, and Matt Giordano will most definitely make the roster.  The competition between Silva the undrafted free agent out of Boston College and Condren the unknown second year player.  I prefer Silva who showed great poise and leadership in college over Condren, who I do not know too much about. Projected Depth Chart QB #12 Jim Sorgi #5 Quinn Gray #13 Jared Lorenzen RB #29 Joseph Addai #38 Dominic Rhodes #36 Kenton Keith #30 Clift Dawson #32 Mike Hart #35 Chad Simpson WR #87 Reggie Wayne #11 Anthony Gonzalez #83 Roy Hall #80 Devin Aromashodu #85 Pierre Garcon #14 Sam Giguere #10 Courtney Roby #16 Onrea Jones TE #44 Dallas Clark #84 Jacob Tamme #47 Gijon Robinson #46 Zac Herold LT #67 Tony Ugoh #76 Dan Federkiel #60 Darren Marquez LG #61 Jamey Richard C #63 Jeff Saturday #53 Steve Justice #73 Doug Datish RG #78 Mike Pollak #74 Charlie Johnson RT #71 Ryan Diem #75 Michael Toudouze #72 Corey Hilliard LE #98 Robert Mathis #91 Josh Thomas #60 Curtis Johnson RE #79 Raheem Brock #92 Marcus Howard #90 Jeff Charleston #64 Ben Ishola NT #99 Ed Johnson #95 Darrell Reid #61 Collin Ferrell #69 Joe Bradley UT #96 Keyunta Dawson #68 Eric Foster SLB #52 Ramon Guzman #49 Jordan Senn MLB #57 Brandon Archer #51 Victor Worsley WLB #54 Freddie Keiaho #59 Kyle Shotwell CB #28 Marlin Jackson #26 Kelvin Hayden #20 Dante Hughes #23 Tim Jennings #34 TJ Rushing #31 Keiwan Ratliff #39 Brandon Foster #37 Antonio Smith FS #41 Antoine Bethea #40 Jamie Silva #33 Melvin Bullitt SS #43 Matt Giordano #42 Brannon Condren K #4 Adam Vinatieri P #17 Hunter Smith #5 Adam Crossett LS #48 Justin Snow Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:21:44 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300271 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300271 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3RocbkSz3c For people who happen to read Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk, you should already know that he thinks the Colts are going to be passed by the Jaguars.  He backs up this ridiculous thought with bad information and the twisting of facts.  On the link posted above, you can see Mike Florio spouting off his usual "The Colts are doomed.  There time is up." crap that he has been saying since the offseason started.  He pretty much gives us three reasons on why the Colts are doomed: There are a bunch of injuries, the Colts give out big contracts which causes a lack of depth, and the Jaguars spent a lot of money this offseason. True, the Colts do have a lot of injuries.  They also have said and shown that everything is fine.  Bob Sanders has said that he is almost at 100%.  Dwight Freeney has been running in practice, which gives me the right to assume that he is around 90 to 100%.  Peyton Manning had an infected bursa sac which is not a big deal at all.  Marvin Harrison is 110% and is only missing tomorrow night's game just to be careful that he wouldn't reinjure them. The contract comment was ignorant and stupid.  If the Colts have bad depth, then teams with good depth should have multiple Pro Bowlers on the bench.  Here are all of the players that were projected starters or contributors going into training camp that missed multiple games: Marvin Harrison Anthony Gonzalez Tony Ugoh Ryan Diem Dwight Freeney Anthony McFarland Raheem Brock Robert Mathis Rob Morris Freddy Keiaho So we didn't have 9 starters and our first round draft pick for multiple games, and still went 13-3 losing to the 2 teams who played in the AFC Championship Game by a combined score of I think it was 7 and a game where we rested the starters. That comment was made out of pure ignorance to what happened last year.  He chose a little fact, and he ignored the other facts to make it seem like it was a problem.  Jeff Saturday will get a big contract this offseason or at least the franchise tag.  It won't hurt the team.  Sure, Tyjuan Hagler might have to leave, and some players might be cut, but it won't affect the team. Throw in Cato June, Nick Harper, Jason David, and Dominic Rhodes, all of whom started in the Super Bowl season left, and we had a better playoff seed this time around. Also, his comment about the Jags spending money was another dumb one.  In that case, I guess the Redskins should win the Super Bowl, the Knicks should win the NBA Championship, the Yankees should win the World Series, and USC should win the BCS National Championship Game.  The teams that spend the most money don't always win the most games.  It's not how much money you spend.  It's how wisely you spend it.  The Colts signing Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Dwight Freeney, and Bob Sanders to big contracts is better than giving players like Jerry Porter big contracts.  These players are proven stars.  Jerry Porter hasn't done anything recently to deserve that contract. Good teams don't spend money in the offseason on big name free agents.  Look at the Patriots.  They have drafted well over the past 8 years and made smart trades to get Welker and Moss, and they did great last year.  The Chargers did well drafting LT, Luis Castillo, Shawne Merriman, Antonio Cromartie, and signing Antonio Gates as an undrafted free agent.  The Giants drafted Corey Webster, Justin Tuck, Brandon Jacobs, Gibril Wilson, Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan, Ahmad Bradshaw, and made a draft day trade for Eli Manning.  All of these guys were key to the Super Bowl victory. My point is, signing big name players in free agency does not make a winner.  Sure, the good teams all have some players that were acquired through free agency.  The Colts have Adam Vinatieri.  The Patriots have Rodney Harrison.  The Giants have Plaxico Burress.  However, none of these teams have been out signing every big name free agent that comes their way.  That's what the Raiders do.  They get players like Javon Walker and suck.  Free agency is not the way to build a team.  Drafting well and making smart personnel moves is. So to sum it up, Mike Florio is as knowledgable as a five year old in Pakistan about the NFL and the game of football in general. Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:56:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/299955 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/299955 Quinn Pitcock has retired from professional football.  I guess he pulled a Ricky Williams.  Indy still hold his rights, so if he would change is mind like Brett Favre, he would have to play for the Colts.  Good thing that this happened at arguably our deepest position.  I'm sure some of the other defensive tackles can make this whole ordeal be forgotten.  Eric Foster, Keyunta Dawson, Darrell Reid, and Ed Johnson should do the trick. Since Pitcock quit, and I have read some info about who's been looking good and who hasn't, I think it is time for another roster prediction. QB #18 Peyton Manning: Do I even have to say anything? #12 Jim Sorgi: He's leading the competition right now, but The Pillsbury Throwboy (aka Jared Lorenzen) is sneaking up on him. RB #29 Joseph Addai: Another Pro Bowler. #38 Dominic Rhodes: I thought he got #33 back.  I guess it doesn't really matter. #32 Mike Hart: Freddy Keiaho nailed him, and Keiaho got some lip from Dungy.  Hart hasn't been as impressive as I thought he would be. FB #30 Clift Dawson: I've heard he has been impressive in camp, so why not give him a shot on the roster?  We've got some room. WR #87 Reggie Wayne: Pro Bowler, again. #88 Marvin Harrison: Future Hall of Famer back from an injury and looking great in practice. #11 Anthony Gonzalez: After what I saw from him last year, I like the future of our receivers. #83 Roy Hall: The freakish potential of Hall should get him on the field no matter what he looks like in practice (moot point since he's looked fine). #80 Devin Aromashodu: I've never been a big fan, but if he's looked good in practice, he should be on the roster. #85 Pierre Garcon: He could be our kick returner as well, but I am giving that to another receiver.  I think Garcon could surprise me.  If he runs his routes like Marvin (which I've heard), then he should get a fair amount of playing time this year. TE #44 Dallas Clark: Great redzone target. #84 Jacob Tamme: Wide receiver stuck in a tight end's body.  I like! #86 Tom Santi: Santi has a bursa sac infection like Peyton.  Maybe they can compare how bulbous and gross their knees looked. LT #67 Tony Ugoh: The potential is scary for this tackle. #75 Michael Toudouze: Toudouze and Federkiel are as equal as you can get. LG #65 Ryan Lilja: Lilja stayed with the team while Jake Scott went to the Colts Trashcan (aka Tennessee).  Let's see if he can continue being the great linemen he has been. #61 Jamey Richard: 2nd day pick on the line.  We don't need a high draft pick to find a quality lineman. C #63 Jeff Saturday: Pro Bowler.  Future Hall of Famer.  Not too uncommon on this team. #53 Steve Justice: One of the rookie interior linemen.  Not a lot is known about these guys. RG #78 Mike Pollak: Pollak has competition, but he should be the starter. #74 Charlie Johnson: Johnson better improve or else he'll struggle to make the roster. RT #71 Ryan Diem: Always goes unnoticed.  Diem has been on this line since the Mora era. RDE #93 Dwight Freeney: He'll be back and better than ever. #92 Marcus Howard: Howard could end up being the steal of the draft.  He's the fastest defensive end we've seen in a long time. #91 Josh Thomas: This wasn't meant to go numerically.  It just happened like that. Over Tackle #99 Ed Johnson: Big Ed could have a sophomore breakout year.  He's a first round talent that fell for legal reasons. #95 Darrell Reid: I guess he will have to temporarily replace Pitcock. UT #96 Keyunta Dawson: With Brock changing positions, Dawson will be the starting under tackle. #68 Eric Foster: Foster could end up being the gem of this class.  He is a natural leader and has a great work ethic. LDE #79 Raheem Brock: Brock has been moved to defensive end, and this will only help the run defense and the pass rush. #98 Robert Mathis: Mathis became a great defensive end when he wasn't a starter.  He should become another pass rush threat on third down. #60 Curtis Johnson: This undrafted free agent could end up being a star pass rusher. SAM #55 Clint Session: Even when Hagler gets back, I think Session will be the starter. #56 Tyjuan Hagler: His injury problem may cost him a starting job. MIKE #58 Gary Brackett: His snub from the Pro Bowl last year was a major mistake by the players, coaches, and fans. #50 Philip Wheeler: My prediction: Wheeler will be a Pro Bowler before 2011.  He's perfect for this system. WILL #54 Freddy Keiaho: Keiaho should be a great linebacker if he is healthy. #52 Ramon Guzman: Guzman is making this team because of special teams.  And that only. RCB #28 Marlin Jackson: What can you say about him?  He's a great Cover 2 corner. #20 Dante Hughes: Hughes at nickelback could make this team impossible to pass on. #23 Tim Jennings: Jennings has one more chance to prove his worth. LCB #26 Kelvin Hayden: He is becoming a budding star in the Cover 2. #34 TJ Rushing: Rushing has surprised me and became a quality corner. #25 Michael Coe: Special teams for him. FS #41 Antoine Bethea: Another Pro Bowler here. SS #21 Bob Sanders: Bob Sanders tackled the inner-city violence problem…for a four-yard loss. #43 Matt Giordano: Giordano is a hard-hitting safety, just like the starter. K #4 Adam Vinatieri: Another future Hall of Famer. P #17 Hunter Smith: Go Irish!!! LS #48 Justin Snow: Long-snappers need some love too. RS #14 Sam Giguere: Canada has a player represented on this team even though Federkiel didn't make the cut. Practice Squad RB: #35 Chad Simpson FB: #47 Gijon Robinson OL: #76 Dan Federkiel DL: #90 Jeff Charleston DL: #61 Colin Ferrell LB: #51 Victor Worsley DB: #40 Jamie Silva DB: #42 Brannon Condren 5 Who Should Keep In Touch RB Kenton Keith WR Courtney Roby OL Darren Marquez LB Jordan Senn DB Brandon Foster Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:50:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298484 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298484 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 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:16:56 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293513 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293513 Fantasy football drafts are right around the corner, so who looks to be the hits and misses? This guide's a long read, but it's in-depth, and it channels the wayback machine for some who are older than they'd like to admit (or buy lots of old DVDs). Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:36:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292572 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292572 July 4th to July 23rd is a tough time.  There is nothing going on.  Besides the stupid Brett Favre rumors, the NFL is inactive all over.  So when I was searching through the blogosphere to see if there was any breaking news on the Colts, I found a fantasy football site that predicted the rushing stats for the Colts.  Fantasy Football Views made some bold predictions, and some of them were very bold.  However, there are some mistakes I have found.  Here are their predictions: Name Rush Yards TDs Fum Yard Var TD Var Joseph Addai 270 1134 16 0 12 25 Dominic Rhodes 75 300 2 1 40 75 Mike Hart 50 198 1 1 30 90 Kenton Keith 24 100 1 1 25 70 Reggie Wayne 1 5 0 2 82 0 Peyton Manning 20 -5 2 3 10 50 Jim Sorgi 5 -5 0 0 10 0 Total 445 1727 22 8 No way Addai gets 16 touchdowns.  After the injury problems he had last year, there is no way he will be used in goal line situations as much.  That is what Mike Hart is for.  Hart will be used as a fullback-like back, similar to how James Mungro was used.  Hart will be used in the goal line and short yardage situations. I don't see Kenton Keith makng the roster, so take him off.  With his history with the law and his dropped pass in the endzone against San Diego have cost him a spot on the team. Dominic Rhodes will get more than 75 carries.  He will be a major part of the team, like Addai was in 2006.  I see Rhodes having around 125 carries this season. With all that said, here are my projections for what the Colts do in the running game: Joseph Addai: 272 carries, 1243 yards, 7 touchdowns Dominic Rhodes: 125 carries, 487 yards, 3 touchdowns Mike Hart: 72 carries, 273 yards, 9 touchdowns Peyton Manning: 9 carries, 10 yards, 2 touchdowns Addai will make the Pro Bowl again, Rhodes will be a good change of pace back, and Hart will be a fantasy sleeper with all of the touchdowns. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:12:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286837 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286837 Oh, how the mighty have fallen. What was once considered a very proud organization, finding its energy through Raider Nation, now finds itself on a downward spiral in which they still haven't been able to recover. Following the 2007 draft in which they drafted highly touted quarterback, JaMarcus Russell, all hopes were high for the silver and black. That soon changed though as Russell held out until almost mid-September, which turned out to be the longest holdout by the top pick in the draft in over two decades! Things didn't get much better from there for the Oakland Raiders. In fact, they won only 4 games in 2007. Free agent running back, Dominic Rhodes, bombed, and 2006 holdout wide receiver, Jerry Porter, never got back on track, with his best game being a 5 reception 88 yard effort against the Minnesota Vikings in week 11. 2007 ended on a sour note with the team losing it's last 4 match-ups after a brief two game winning streak in weeks 12 and 13, but with a few roster moves having been made during the off-season, Russell ready to take the helm, and the arrival of another offensive stud, Darren McFadden, through the draft, 2008 looks to have the makings of a season that can produce better results. Make sure to read more of what Bruno Boys Fantasy Football staff writer Chris Ziza has to say about the Oakland Raiders heading into the 2008 season by clicking below... Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:20:39 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283988 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283988 Indianapolis, Indiana. Headquarters of the NCAA, state of the movie Hoosiers, and home to one of the most potent offenses of the last 5 years, the Indianapolis Colts. 2007 somewhat saw the passing of the torch. For years we've waited for the decline of Marvin Harrison and the "breakout" of Reggie Wayne. Those banking on 2007 being the year of Wayne's movement from elite WR2 to elite WR1 were handsomely rewarded with a season of 102 receptions, 1510 yards, and ten touchdowns. Harrison, on the other hand, suffered through a lingering knee injury that frustrated fantasy owners for the majority of the season, finishing with a line of 20 receptions, 247 yards, and a whopping one touchdown. 2007 was also the emergence of Joseph Addai as a fantasy asset, though he likely disappointed some owners. Entering his first year as a featured ball carrier, the LSU product battled nagging injuries all year, and experienced a late season fade as he finished with fewer than 75 rushing yards in each of his last eight games. Still, despite that fade and missing his week 5 matchup, Addai totaled 1072 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns. Point-per-reception leagues also enjoyed his 41 receptions for 364 yards. Dallas Clark also became a hot commodity as the loss of Harrison resulted in the former Hawkeye nearly doubling his reception total from 2006. Finishing with 58 catches for 616 yards, Clark led the Colts in receiving touchdowns with 11. Peyton Manning was Peyton Manning, and despite everyone's infatuation with golden boy Tom Brady (who disgusts me by the way), Manning garnered 4040 yards, 34 total touchdowns, and every endorsement on the planet. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:26:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280507 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280507 As Colts fans, we all know how good Polian drafts.  Some players like Reggie Wayne take longer to blossom into stars, but some reveal their greatness the first time they put on their pads.  As the 2008 season approaches with high expectations placed on this rookie class, let's look back at the greatest rookie season performances by Colts draftees. 5. Dominic Rhodes, Undrafted Free Agent, 2001: While all of the players that will follow were actually drafted, Rhodes wasn't thought to be a top 246 player in this draft.  When Edgerrin James tore his ACL in the sixth game of the season, Rhodes came in and proved every critic wrong.  Rhodes became the first UDFA to rush for over 1000 yards, gaining 1104 yards while scoring 9 touchdowns on the ground.  His rookie season is the greatest ever for an undrafted free agent running back, and he is back in Indy to try to repeat his dominant performance in his rookie year, which was not seen over the past six seasons. 4. Dwight Freeney, Round 1, Pick 11, 2002: Freeney was drafted because of his phenomenal pass rushing skills, and he definitely improved the Colts pass rush in his rookie year.  Freeney, although he only started 8 games, had 13 sacks, 9 forced fumbles, and 45 tackles.  His rookie year was arguably his best season, and he was ripped off on the Rookie of the Year award, which went to Julius Peppers.  Freeney has had a Hall of Fame-worthy career so far, and he is expected to come back from his injury stronger than ever. 3. Duane Bickett, Round 1, Pick 5, 1985: Before there was Patrick Willis, there was Duane Bickett.  Like Willis, Bickett did not take long adjusting to the pro game.  As the starting right outside linebacker in 1985, he had 141 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception, and 6 sacks.  Bickett took home the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 1985, and he kept on improving until his career in Indy ended. 2. Marshall Faulk, Round 1, Pick 2, 1994: Faulk won the Rookie of the Year in 1994, and looking at his stats, there is no question why.  Faulk had 1282 rushing yards, 12 total touchdowns, and 552 receiving yards.  Faulk was a main reason why the Colts were one controversial call away from making it to the Super Bowl in 1996.  Though he is remembered more for his career in Saint Louis, his rookie year established him as an NFL great and a future Hall of Famer. 1. Edgerrin James, Round 1, Pick 4, 1999: Did you expect anyone else?  Edgerrin's rookie year may be the greatest debut in the history of offensive rookies.  Edgerrin led the league in rushing with 1553 yards.  He also had 17 total touchdowns and helped the Colts have the biggest turnaround in NFL history, going from 3-13 to 13-3 in only one season.  Edgerrin may have left for less green pastures in Arizona, but his early years with the Colts were strong enough to get him into the Hall of Fame, possibly on the first ballot. Photo by Matthew J. Lee from the Boston Globe Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:53:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/279238 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/279238 As Colts fans, we all know how good Polian drafts.  Some players like Reggie Wayne take longer to blossom into stars, but some reveal their greatness the first time they put on their pads.  As the 2008 season approaches with high expectations placed on this rookie class, let's look back at the greatest rookie season performances by Colts draftees. 5. Dominic Rhodes, Undrafted Free Agent, 2001: While all of the players that will follow were actually drafted, Rhodes wasn't thought to be a top 246 player in this draft.  When Edgerrin James tore his ACL in the sixth game of the season, Rhodes came in and proved every critic wrong.  Rhodes became the first UDFA to rush for over 1000 yards, gaining 1104 yards while scoring 9 touchdowns on the ground.  His rookie season is the greatest ever for an undrafted free agent running back, and he is back in Indy to try to repeat his dominant performance in his rookie year, which was not seen over the past six seasons. 4. Dwight Freeney, Round 1, Pick 11, 2002: Freeney was drafted because of his phenomenal pass rushing skills, and he definitely improved the Colts pass rush in his rookie year.  Freeney, although he only started 8 games, had 13 sacks, 9 forced fumbles, and 45 tackles.  His rookie year was arguably his best season, and he was ripped off on the Rookie of the Year award, which went to Julius Peppers.  Freeney has had a Hall of Fame-worthy career so far, and he is expected to come back from his injury stronger than ever. 3. Duane Bickett, Round 1, Pick 5, 1985: Before there was Patrick Willis, there was Duane Bickett.  Like Willis, Bickett did not take long adjusting to the pro game.  As the starting right outside linebacker in 1985, he had 141 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception, and 6 sacks.  Bickett took home the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 1985, and he kept on improving until his career in Indy ended. 2. Marshall Faulk, Round 1, Pick 2, 1994: Faulk won the Rookie of the Year in 1994, and looking at his stats, there is no question why.  Faulk had 1282 rushing yards, 12 total touchdowns, and 552 receiving yards.  Faulk was a main reason why the Colts were one controversial call away from making it to the Super Bowl in 1996.  Though he is remembered more for his career in Saint Louis, his rookie year established him as an NFL great and a future Hall of Famer. 1. Edgerrin James, Round 1, Pick 4, 1999: Did you expect anyone else?  Edgerrin's rookie year may be the greatest debut in the history of offensive rookies.  Edgerrin led the league in rushing with 1553 yards.  He also had 17 total touchdowns and helped the Colts have the biggest turnaround in NFL history, going from 3-13 to 13-3 in only one season.  Edgerrin may have left for less green pastures in Arizona, but his early years with the Colts were strong enough to get him into the Hall of Fame, possibly on the first ballot. Photo by Matthew J. Lee from the Boston Globe Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:53:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/279238 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/279238 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 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:26:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278582 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278582 Five weeks ago the Chicago Bears were dealing with running back Cedric Benson's alcohol related arrest.  For the second time in that five week span, the Bears have to deal with another alcohol related arrest from their starting running back.  Benson was pulled over in Austin, Texas on Saturday when an officer observed him driving irratically across three lanes of traffic and coming to a sudden stop that caused a pedestrian to move out of the way.  Police in Austin, Texas have claimed that Benson was visibilly drunk, having trouble standing, and combative.  Benson has already stated that he passed the field sobriety tests and informed press that when the camera footage taken by the police squad car is released, we can all see that he was not drunk.  It just seems like a hard pill to swallow after Benson was involved in similar squabbling of police misinformation from his boating arrest.  You want to believe Benson but the whole thing sounds like too much coincidence.  Meanwhile, Benson's credibility is quickly deteriorating in the public eye. Benson claims he had a single alcoholic drink and later his attorney stated he may have had a couple, but police reports indicate the running back looked too drunk to stand.  Regardless of whether Benson really was over the legal limit, what was he thinking?  A man that was just starting to escape the persecution of his first arrest promptly returns to Texas and gets arrested again for alcohol?  It was within reason to ask fans to sympathize with having a few drinks on a boat with family, but now Benson has to ask for understanding that he was driving drunk, alone, and dangerously.  I wrote a while ago that I was willing to forgive Benson for his boating actions but he needed to make better choices about the situations he enters.  This gives every indication that Benson is making poor choices in his personal life that are going to interfere with his professional life.  He not only put his own life in danger, a stupid move for a person that is paid solely on his physical ability, but put other people in danger.  It's dumb, irresponsible, and has made the decision for the Bears much easier or tougher depending on how you look at it.  The Bears are currently hosting an Expo for fans to interact with the team and General Manager Jerry Angelo has been heard expressing his extreme displeasure with Benson.  If Benson's future with the team was in jeopardy before, his head is in the guillotine now.  The problem is a few months ago I suggested the Bears go out and get free agent running back Dominic Rhodes.  Rhodes has agreed to return to the Indianapolis Colts and leaves the Bears with few options.  I would rather see the Bears go with a tandem of Matt Forte and Adrian Peterson rather than sign an aging back like Shaun Alexander.  The Bears organization have given every indication that they are prepared to move on with Benson.  The word out of OTA's is Bears coaches are in love with Matt Forte.  Offensive staff have called him an every-down back, lots of talant, ability to make plays on the field, virtually the anti-Benson.  It appears the Bears are inching closer to accepting the idea of putting rookie running back Matt Forte in the backfield as starting running back.  They may choose to split his playing time with Benson if he stays around or Peterson.  Either way, I think you can count on Forte seeing a larger bulk of playing time than originally anticipated.  He may not be a bad sleeper pick to queue on your fantasy draft.  As for Benson, maybe he can open up a bar in Amsterdam with Ricky Williams and talk about the good old college days in Texas.  Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:03:19 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/276195 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/276195 There are plenty of former Raiders with much to say since leaving this offseason, and each has taken their opportunity to knock the team in some form or another. Thu, 08 May 2008 10:57:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264768 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264768 The guy who started the month of February 2007 earning (but not winning) the Super Bowl MVP award and ended it peeing his pants in the back seat of a police cruiser is heading back to the Colts. Per the Indianapolis Star, running back Dominic Rhodes is returning to the team after a one-year detour in Oakland. He'll sign a one-year deal, apparently for the veteran minimum. With rookie Mike Hart also in the fold and Joseph Addai the entrenched starter, Kenton Keith might want to pack his bags. Wed, 07 May 2008 21:16:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264568 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264568