Ask A Colts Fan - 3rd Preseason Game Edition

Maybe three at the most. He’s shown that he’s in shape and ready to go, and I don’t think the coaching staff has any desire to leave him out there longer than necessary. Flynn will likely play most of the game, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Graham Harrell throw the ball more than once.

I would expect a half out of Rodgers also! The packers are pretty typical when it comes to these kinda situations. Maybe a little less than a half since he’s been lighting it up and they need to get Flynn more playing time.

How’s the Colts D going to be this season? Is Sanders going to be back? or doesn’t it matter cuz they know how to play w/o him and maybe he’s past his NFL shelf-life?

I REALLY wanted Jerry Hughes in the draft and thought he would be STUD 34 OLB opposite Matthews! How’s Hughes looking at DE for you? IMO, he should be able to give Freeney and Mathis a breather and get consistent pressure in their place. Was Hughes someone on the fans radar as a possible pick? I know most people don’t look at DE as a “need” for the Colts….

The Packers really won’t want to risk him getting injured at this point.

although that is a spot of contention for many Colts fans. Garcon has basically been injured all camp/preseason (nobody knows how or where he was injured), although reports are that he will play Thursday, so he hasn’t shown anything.

Also, Gonzo appears to be either fully healthy or close to it. I trust his hands a lot more than I trust Garcon’s hands, which is a big deal to me when evaluating players (which is a big reason for my hatred of players like TO, Braylon Edwards, and Ted Ginn, Jr.)

and like Cass said, I’m also banking on Gonzo to eventually become the #2 wide receiver and 3rd option some point in the season. I expect Garcon to start the first few games of the season, but I can definitely see Gonzo making some awesome plays and crucial catches that could possibly put him in the starting line-up, but still the Colts will find a a way to use of the wide receivers. Don’t think that any of those 4 receivers won’t get any playing time; Peyton loves spreading the ball to everyone.

Collie seems locked into the slot, but at the #2 spot Garçon and Gonzo have differing, but both very useful, skillsets. Garçon is bigger, stronger, more physical and aggressive than any WR to get real PT for the Peyton Manning era-Colts. Gonzo is your classic Colts WR. Ok size, but not huge or physical, good speed but not a burner, with fantastic hands and route running.

Collie isn’t a safe grab though, because he might not play on the outside. He played and practiced exclusively in the slot last year. They’ve started working him outside this year some, but they might prefer Gonzo or Garçon out wide since both have had productive seasons there, while Collie has only produced from the slot. That could take him off the field for the significant minority of the offensive snaps in which the Colts go 2TE (and rookie in-line TE Brody Eldridge has been a major standout in came and preseason to date, so the 2 TE packages aren’t going anywhere).

When you are considering them I’d do it as all being co-3rd options in the Colts D.

Wayne, Gonzalez, Collie, and Garcon (with perhaps someone like Taj Smith, Blair White or Brandon James making the roster and thus holding the fifth spot). At TE, I expect to see Clark and Eldridge with the bulk of playing time, followed by Jacob Tamme on the depth chart.

although I’m not much of a Donald Brown fan myself. I know a couple of people (I don’t play fantasy football myself.) who love Addai because of his nose for the endzone.

6 + playoffs.

The O-line is still pathetic, but I did see a spark in Brown during the Bills game last week; so hopefully the running game will be better. Addai is a beast: he may not get yardage like other RBs, but does so much more. Brown has a lot to prove this season. We Colts fans were shocked that Polian picked him in the 2009 draft. He did show some spark earlier in the season, but injuries and learning the offense really got to him.

10 + playoffs for Sanders.

Addai had all the fantasy value last year. I see Brown being a bit better (or hoping that he is at least) but Addai is the #1 back without question.

he’s had 4 regular seasons with 6 or less games played and two seasons with 14+

I’m going all sunshine and puppies saying 14 + playoffs.

He is so versatile, plus he has a nose for the end zone. Addai is the best. If Donald Brown isn’t careful, he could be surpassed by Mike Hart down the road. Just my opinion. Also, I think Devin Moore is looking good for depth. We will see.

Funny you should mention that……

but I’m really liking Devin Moore, a RB/KR/PR who was undrafted in 2009, and bounced around Seattle and Carolina last year. While not the best RB, he was ridiculously impressive returning kicks and punts against the Lions last week, and if he can duplicate that performance, I’ll probably fall in love with him.

we all knew he could block, he started more games on the Oklahoma OL last year (5) than he did at TE (4), but for a guy with just 13 career receptions in 4 years, he looks good out there running routes and catching the ball.

TE Brody Eldridge (for sure), WR Brandon James, OLB Kavell Conner, CB Terrail Lambert and perhaps even FS Terrell Skinner.

Not rookies, but I would have to mention the names of DE John Chick and RB Devin Moore as well.

At the same time, the team is deep enough that I’d not be shocked to see a couple of these names get cut. We will see…

Especially early in the year. There were a lot of “Get rid of the ball!” comments here, and it was definitely a liability early in the year.

However, the Packers’ offensive line gelled toward the end of the year. I really did not understand the drafting of Bulaga. I mean, I know why they drafted him, but I would have preferred to see Green Bay pick a DB with their first-round pick.

It was a combination of the two I’d say.

I think everyone is feeling pretty confident about the OL this season. Unlike last season, we’ll have Clifton and Tauscher 100% healthy (hopefully I didn’t just jinx anything) at the beginning of the season. On top of that, we also appear to have formidable back-ups behind both of them, which wasn’t the case last season.

and you can see many of our views on that, including mine, starting here:

I look at him as an amazing QB who has pulled some incredible wins out of his a$$, but hasn’t had a complete team, particularly on defense.

I’ve never gotten the choker schtick he’s gotten. Sure I am sure they would have loved more title but heck ONE team each year wins it and this league is built for parity, not dynasty. I don’t remember Manning doing anything to blow most of their losses, its more of a team thing. You can only give the QB so much blame unless he is physically blowing it (last second INTs, terrible games, etc).

I would think just having a team that goes 12-4 or better every year would be enough to keep me pretty happy with a QB.