OFFICIAL NFL week 13 thread

[JD50]

I can't even believe the refs have the balls to call a close PI call like that after they blew the helmet to helmet hit.

Just stfu with your whining already. The steelers benefited from horrible officiating for years, and NOW your whining about it? Give me a break. Harrison doesn't know how to tackle properly, it's obvious to everyone but Steeler fans.

 

[Phokus]

So what the hell is wrong with Peyton manning? I think injuries hurt some, but he's staring down receivers on some of those picks. He looks like he just got out of college and doesn't know wtf he's doing half the time.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

So what the hell is wrong with Peyton manning? I think injuries hurt some, but he's staring down receivers on some of those picks. He looks like he just got out of college and doesn't know wtf he's doing half the time.

There are a variety of things wrong with the Colts right now. I could pick on the defense and their inability to stop the run, but honestly, the defense has played well enough to win the past several weeks. It is the offense that has lost them games. If not for this interception streak, the Colts would be at 8-4 or 9-3. Here are some of the things wrong:

1. Manning is forcing the ball. He is forcing the ball into coverages that he has no business throwing it into. In the past, he might have made those throws but right now, the line isn't holding long enough to give him time to complete them.
2. Frankly, I think the offense is too complex for the group of receivers they have now. With the injuries to Clark, Collie, Garcon (off and on), Gonzalez, and Addai, I really think they need to dial it back to something more basic. I'm not absolving Peyton of responsibility for his poor play, but some of those interceptions were definitely because of wrong routes and that is happening way too frequently.
3. Even with the other injuries, I think they could haved treaded water had Clark not been injured. I think his loss is the biggest loss they've had, closely followed by the loss of Collie.
4. With no running game, Manning thinks he has to make the big plays to win the game and that is causing him to force more passes (see #1).
5. I blame the Colts management for the current situation. People in Indy have been screaming for years to draft offensive linemen and defensive players (particularly CB and LB), but Polian refuses to use high picks on those positions. Instead, the last 3 first round picks have been: WR, RB, DE. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Dungy said it yesterday afternoon...

He hasn't seen Manning look this bad since they lost Edgerrin James to injury (quite awhile ago) and they suddenly lost their running game/focal point. The same is true for Dallas Clark. In my opinion, he meant more to that team than any player not named Peyton Manning.

He meant a lot to my fantasy football team too damnit!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Dungy said it yesterday afternoon...

He hasn't seen Manning look this bad since they lost Edgerrin James to injury (quite awhile ago) and they suddenly lost their running game/focal point. The same is true for Dallas Clark. In my opinion, he meant more to that team than any player not named Peyton Manning.

He meant a lot to my fantasy football team too damnit!

I should also say, the Colts should poach Jeff Fisher.

 

[bignateyk]

So to summarize:

1) Bruce Arians needs to be fired. The playcalling has really been sub-par since wisenhunt left for arizona.

2) Mcfadden needs to be cut. Him and Ike can't cover for shit. At least get rid of Mcfadden and pick up someone who does like a Revis or Samuel in the off-season. The secondary has been Pittsburgh's achilles heel for years.

3) Troy Polamalu is like Jesus (or FSM). You might not notice him when everything is going well, but when you need him most, he will come in and save the day.

4) I wouldn't necessarily have a problem with Carrs hit on Miller if they were calling these things consistently. It's pretty obvious they are singling out Harrison and the steelers for these calls. You could have heard the helmet to helmet contact on that hit in the upper deck. There's no way the refs missed it. The refs should be fined for blowing calls that badly.

5) And most importantly, the Steelers own the Ravens when Big Ben is at QB. The only times the Ravens have beaten the Steelers in the last 4 years are when Ben has been injured... Since Big Ben took over as the starter, the Steelers have gone 8-5 against the Ravens. 3 of those losses were with Ben injured. The last 6 times he has started against them have been victories. His only two losses came during Pittsburgh's dismal 2006 season. That said, the only team I worry about Pittsburgh playing more than Baltimore is the Patriots.

 

[bignateyk]

There are a variety of things wrong with the Colts right now. I could pick on the defense and their inability to stop the run, but honestly, the defense has played well enough to win the past several weeks. It is the offense that has lost them games. If not for this interception streak, the Colts would be at 8-4 or 9-3. Here are some of the things wrong:

1. Manning is forcing the ball. He is forcing the ball into coverages that he has no business throwing it into. In the past, he might have made those throws but right now, the line isn't holding long enough to give him time to complete them.
2. Frankly, I think the offense is too complex for the core of receivers they have now. With the injuries to Clark, Collie, Garcon (off and on), Gonzalez, and Addai, I really think they need to dial it back to something more basic. I'm not absolving Peyton of responsibility for his poor play, but some of those interceptions were definitely because of wrong routes and that is happening way too frequently.
3. Even with the other injuries, I think they could haved treaded water had Clark not been injured. I think his loss is the biggest loss they've had, closely followed by the loss of Collie.
4. With no running game, Manning thinks he has to make the big plays to win the game and that is causing him to force more passes (see #1).
5. I blame the Colts management for the current situation. People in Indy have been screaming for years to draft offensive linemen and defensive players (particularly CB and LB), but Polian refuses to use high picks on those positions. Instead, the last 3 first round picks have been: WR, RB, DE. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Yeah, as much as I hate manning and am reveling in his misery, it really isn't his fault. The O-Line is terrible, there is no running game, all his receivers are injured, the defense sucks, and the coaches really suck. So pretty much everything about the Colts except Manning blows.

 

[sao123]

Dropping like flies:
Steelers punter Sepulveda tore ACL, done for the year.
Flozell Adams has a high ankle sprain.

Im still pissed about the non-call on the heath miller hit.

 

[Phokus]

There are a variety of things wrong with the Colts right now. I could pick on the defense and their inability to stop the run, but honestly, the defense has played well enough to win the past several weeks. It is the offense that has lost them games. If not for this interception streak, the Colts would be at 8-4 or 9-3. Here are some of the things wrong:

1. Manning is forcing the ball. He is forcing the ball into coverages that he has no business throwing it into. In the past, he might have made those throws but right now, the line isn't holding long enough to give him time to complete them.
2. Frankly, I think the offense is too complex for the group of receivers they have now. With the injuries to Clark, Collie, Garcon (off and on), Gonzalez, and Addai, I really think they need to dial it back to something more basic. I'm not absolving Peyton of responsibility for his poor play, but some of those interceptions were definitely because of wrong routes and that is happening way too frequently.
3. Even with the other injuries, I think they could haved treaded water had Clark not been injured. I think his loss is the biggest loss they've had, closely followed by the loss of Collie.
4. With no running game, Manning thinks he has to make the big plays to win the game and that is causing him to force more passes (see #1).
5. I blame the Colts management for the current situation. People in Indy have been screaming for years to draft offensive linemen and defensive players (particularly CB and LB), but Polian refuses to use high picks on those positions. Instead, the last 3 first round picks have been: WR, RB, DE. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

As a Patriots fan, here's to Polian making more dumb decisions in the upcoming drafts

 

[IndyColtsFan]

As a Patriots fan, here's to Polian making more dumb decisions in the upcoming drafts

Oh, he will, trust me. I didn't even mention the #1 pick he gave up (in 2008, IIRC) so he could move up in the second round of the 2007 draft and pick Tony Ugoh (OT). They cut him this year.

Polian IS generally good at finding talent in the later rounds of the draft, but the last few years, he has been horrible at finding talent at the top of the draft and has wasted high picks on injury-prone players (Gonzalez) or backups (Brown, Ugoh, and Hughes).

 

[lupi]

With haynesworth sitting on the sideline inactive, I just can't wait to hear how shannahasn't gets skewered by the DC media this week.

 

[Phokus]

Oh, he will, trust me. I didn't even mention the #1 pick he gave up (in 2008, IIRC) so he could move up in the second round of the 2007 draft and pick Tony Ugoh (OT). They cut him this year.

Polian IS generally good at finding talent in the later rounds of the draft, but the last few years, he has been horrible at finding talent at the top of the draft and has wasted high picks on injury-prone players (Gonzalez) or backups (Brown, Ugoh, and Hughes).

I'm wondering if Peyton's going to want out of Indy, if things don't look like they'll pick up in the offseason, he have a year left on his contract or is this his last year?

 

[Homerboy]

I'm wondering if Peyton's going to want out of Indy, if things don't look like they'll pick up in the offseason, he have a year left on his contract or is this his last year?

God please don't let him go to the Vikings. I'd hate to hate Peyton.
(I realize this is 100% unlikely to happen.)

 

[Phokus]

Dear God, Randy Moss has 5 catches in 4 games with the Titans.

He fucked up real bad when he acted like a baby and didn't (reportedly) re-sign with the Pats

 

[bignateyk]

Dear God, Randy Moss has 5 catches in 4 games with the Titans.

He fucked up real bad when he acted like a baby and didn't (reportedly) re-sign with the Pats

The best part is that both the vikings and titans tanked their seasons as soon as Moss joined their respective teams.

I'll be flabbergasted if anyone else gives Moss a chance after this.

edit:
Vikings 4-4 without moss, 1-3 with moss
Titans 5-3 without moss, 0-4 with moss
Patriots 6-1 without moss, 3-1 with moss

Even the patriots got better after they got rid of him.

 

[Phokus]

The best part is that both the vikings and titans tanked their seasons as soon as Moss joined their respective teams.

I'll be flabbergasted if anyone else gives Moss a chance after this.

He'll probably turn into TO and get heavily incentivized 1 year deals.

 

[bignateyk]

He'll probably turn into TO and get heavily incentivized 1 year deals.

I don't understand why anyone would do that though. At least with TO you get a good year out of him. Moss leaves behind a path of destruction starting with his first game at a new team.

 

[AstroManLuca]

The best part is that both the vikings and titans tanked their seasons as soon as Moss joined their respective teams.

I'll be flabbergasted if anyone else gives Moss a chance after this.

edit:
Vikings 4-4 without moss, 1-3 with moss
Titans 5-3 without moss, 0-4 with moss
Patriots 6-1 without moss, 3-1 with moss

Even the patriots got better after they got rid of him.

Next season, when he becomes a free agent, he's not going to be able to find anyone to sign him.

 

[PingSpike]

The injury bug has finally caught up to them. for the last few years or so they were practically immune(minus bob sanders)

Did Manning injure his brain in a way that causes him to throw the ball to the wrong team?

 

[BeauJangles]

I'm wondering if Peyton's going to want out of Indy, if things don't look like they'll pick up in the offseason, he have a year left on his contract or is this his last year?

He is a FA after this season, but I seriously doubt he's going anywhere other than back to the Colts.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'm wondering if Peyton's going to want out of Indy, if things don't look like they'll pick up in the offseason, he have a year left on his contract or is this his last year?

Peyton will retire a Colt and move into a broadcast studio when his days are over.

The head scratching continues, however:

http://www.indystar.com/article/201...ssey=tab|topnews|texth|IndyStar.com|default|p

 

[Phokus]

Peyton will retire a Colt and move into a broadcast studio when his days are over.

The head scratching continues, however:

http://www.indystar.com/article/201...ssey=tab|topnews|texth|IndyStar.com|default|p

I think you have to entertain the option, what if Polian doesn't fix the holes in the team?

Peyton could probably get a huge payday somewhere else, with a better team around him. And the Colts could probably rob some team out of a ton of draft picks if they dangle Peyton out there.

 

[Fingolfin269]

The best part is that both the vikings and titans tanked their seasons as soon as Moss joined their respective teams.

I'll be flabbergasted if anyone else gives Moss a chance after this.

edit:
Vikings 4-4 without moss, 1-3 with moss
Titans 5-3 without moss, 0-4 with moss
Patriots 6-1 without moss, 3-1 with moss

Even the patriots got better after they got rid of him.

The Titans aren't losing because of Moss though... our team just sucks in general.

(Granted I'm not sure you're necessarily trying to make that connection...)

 

[Fingolfin269]

I should also say, the Colts should poach Jeff Fisher.

Ha it's funny because it's true. We have so many people around here calling for his head but I know he will be picked up immediately when he is no longer the HC here. I'm on the fence about it but mainly because I'm ready to just see a different philosophy in place. If I'm going to cheer for a losing team then I at least want that team to be exciting to watch go down in flames.

 

[BeauJangles]

Peyton will retire a Colt and move into a broadcast studio when his days are over.

The head scratching continues, however:

http://www.indystar.com/article/201...ssey=tab|topnews|texth|IndyStar.com|default|p

It's a complete over-reaction. Manning hasn't been playing well, but he hasn't turned into a pumpkin, the Colts have simply failed to adapt to their injury-ridden reality. Like I said earlier in this thread, Manning is simply throwing the ball too much. Yeah, they can't run it very well, but they'd be better off at least trying to retain some semblance of balance in their offensive output.

Right now, the formula for beating Peyton is to put a pass rush on him and sit back waiting for him to throw the ball into coverage. He clearly doesn't like being hit or hurried and defenses don't have to worry about draws, counters, or any type of run... so they sit back and have multiple players reacting to Manning's throws.

As the article points out, teams don't bite on play fakes, but it's not because the Colts can't run the ball, it's because they DON'T run the ball. Football players are instinctual guys and, even if you're running game sucks, linebackers and safeties will crash down on running plays because that's what they're conditioned to do. Yeah, teams aren't going to stack the box against the Colts, but at least they could get some play-action going and maybe, every once in a while, rip off a 10 or 15 yard run when they catch the defense off-guard.

The other thing I've noticed (in my limited Colts viewing) is that Manning seems to be unaware that the guys he's throwing too aren't Dallas Clark or Addai out of the backfield. While great quarterbacks can make receivers look like all-stars, there's also something to be said for scaling back your offensive ambitions when you're starting a fifth-string RB and a hodgepodge of no-name receivers. Manning is having a lot of trouble adapting because, in the past, he hasn't had so many injuries to deal with.

IMO, the article is way too reactionary. Peyton hasn't suddenly lost his mojo for good, he's simply confronted with a situation that would be extremely difficult for ANY qb.