When you watch the Indianapolis Colts, you know you're going to see some thrilling action as they assume their place atop the AFC South standings. Well, you can watch them more closely than ever at ColtsLocker.com. If what you're looking for is stats, player profiles, and player rankings to assist you in your fantasy football quest, you're in the right blog. If you want an inside "scoop" for betting purposes, with all the scores, spreads, commentary and analysis, you've come to the right blog. If you want to look like member of the Colts, you've come to the right blog too, because we can point you in the right direction when it comes to finding all the best Colts merchandise and apparel. If you want to get involved and swap stories with other Colts fans, you've REALLY come to the right blog. Don't be a gelding – bookmark ColtsLocker.com.
The Colts have signed 24-year old safety Jermele Hines. Hines played in 5 games for the Panthers earlier this year and he had 3 tackles. Hines was drafted in the fifth round by the St. Louis Rams. Hines has been well traveled in his rookie season, but the Colts might give him a legit look as they have been lousy against the passing game this year.
33-year old WR Reggie Wayne is having an off-year, which comes as no surprise due to the QB situation for the Colts. Wayne has been targeted 90 times by the Colts’ QBs so far this year and he caught 47 of them (52.2%). Wayne has played in 11 games so far this year for the Colts and he has caught 47 passes for 652 yards (13.9 avg) with 2 TD grabs. He has now played in 168 games for the Colts and he has caught 834 passes for 11,400 yards (13.7 avg) with 71 TD grabs. I think Wayne’s production is not a sign of him slowing down, but more a result of pretty pathetic QB play from the Colts.
The Colts have placed 24-year old safety Stevie Brown on the Injured Reserve List, ending his year due to a quadriceps injury. Brown played in 8 games for the Colts this year and he had 5 tackles. Brown has now played in 23 games in his first two years in the NFL and he has 35 tackles and 2 passes defensed. This isn’t a big loss for the Colts moving forward.
The Indianapolis Colts have fired defensive coordinator Larry Coyer. He will be replaced by linebackers’ coach Mike Murphy for the rest of this year. Coyer deserved what he got as the Colts were giving up 29.7 points per game. The Colts are also giving up 150.6 yards rushing per game (4.2 ypc) and 238.7 yards passing per game so far this year. This is likely just the first shoe to drop on the Colts’ coaching staff this off-season.
The Colts have claimed 25-year old fullback Jerome Felton off waivers from the Panthers. Felton played in 9 games for the Panthers last year and he carried the ball 3 times for 10 yards (3.3 ypc). He also caught 2 passes for 24 yards (12.0 avg) for the Panthers this year. Felton has now played in 51 games in his first four years in the NFL and he has carried the ball 42 times for 136 yards (3.2 ypc). He has also caught 32 passes for 264 yards (8.3 avg) so far in his career. This was a good move for the Colts as Felton is a solid all-around fullback.
The Colts fought hard today but they fell just a bit short in the end. Curtis Painter completed 15 of 29 passes for 226 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 INTs. Donald Brown really ran well for the Colts today with 80 yards rushing on 14 carries (5.7 ypc) with 1 TD run. Joseph Addai pitched in with 23 yards rushing on 7 carries (3.3 ypc). WR Reggie Wayne had an outstanding game today for the Colts with 5 grabs for 122 yards (24.4 avg) with 1 TD grab. Pierre Garcon pitched in with 3 catches for 34 yards today. The Colts finished up with 105 yards rushing on 23 carries (4.6 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 29 passes (51.7%) for 218 yards as they had possession of the ball for 23:43.
The defense was pretty awful today, as usual, for the Colts. Safety Antoine Bethea (9 tackles), LB Pat Angerer (7 tackles, 2 QB hits and 1 sack) and CB Jerraud Powers (6 tackles and 2 tackles for a loss) led the way for the Colts’ D today. CB Jacob Lacey pitched in with 2 tackles and a fumble recovery today. The Panthers finished up with 201 yards rushing on 35 carries (5.7 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 27 passes (74.1%) for 176 yards. The Colts are now a perfect 0-11 on the season.
The Colts have waived 23-year old linebacker Adrian Moten. Moten played in 10 games for the Colts this year and he had 7 tackles. He was an undrafted rookie out of Maryland. This says a lot about Moten as the Colts have one of the worst defensive teams in the NFL. Moten might have hard time hooking on with another team because of that.
The Indianapolis Colts played well earlier in the season at home. But they have lost their last two home games by a combined score of 48-10. But, the Panthers are 0-4 on the road this year, so something has to give. Here is a look at the matchups in this game:
When the Colts have the ball: Due to extremely poor coaching, the Colts will continue to be a passing first team this weekend. Curtis Painter might actually have a chance for some success this weekend. The Panthers’ don’t have much of a pass rush and they are giving up 234.1 yards passing per game this year. Painter would be smart to get Reggie Wayne more involved in the offense this weekend as he has been wasted this year. Pierre Garcon also has potential for a big game if Painter can get him the ball this Sunday. The Panthers are giving up 140.7 yards rushing per game and 4.8 yards per carry this year, so if the Colts were smart they would get the ball in Donald Brown and Delone Carter’s hands running the ball in an effort to control the clock a little and keep Cam Newton and his boys on the sideline.
When the Panthers have the ball: The Colts’ D is probably worried about this weekend as Cam Newton and his high flying offense invade town. The Panthers are a pass first team, so it will be up to DEs Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney to put the heat on Newton while also containing him in the pocket. That will be easier said than done. Newton will be taking aim at a Colts’ D that is allowing opposing QBs a 109.7 QB Rating so far this year. The Colts will likely try to double WR Steve Smith (56 rec, 992 yards, 5 TDs) and force the Panthers to beat them by throwing to someone else….that will be easier said than done. WR Brandon LaFell, TE Jeremy Shockey and TE Greg Olsen give Newton a lot of other weapons to throw the ball down the field to. The scary thing about defending the Panthers is that they also have an outstanding pair of RBs in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.
PREDICTION: PANTHERS 41, COLTS 20
The Indianapolis Colts have claimed 24-year old rookie DE Mario Addison off waivers from the Bears. He played in 4 games for the Bears this year but he didn’t have any tackles or other stats. The Colts have released 23-year old rookie RB Darren Evans to make room on the roster for Addison. Evans played in 2 games for the Colts this year, but he didn’t get to touch the ball.
The Colts have been so awful at QB lately that they should give 28-year old Dan Orlovsky a shot to start. Orlovsky has played in 3 games for the Colts so far this year and he has completed 14 of 21 passes (66.7%) for 122 yards without a TD pass or INT (81.8 QB Rating). Orlovsky has now played in 16 games (7 starts) so far in his NFL career and he has completed 164 of 293 passes (56%) for 1,801 yards with 8 TD passes and 8 INTs (72.1 QB Rating). He has also carried the ball 7 times for 29 yards (4.1 ypc) so far in his career. Orlovsky deserves a shot to not be the only QB in NFL history to be on two 0-16 teams in his career. He started 7 games for the Detroit Lions in 2008 when they were 0-16.
UPDATE: (11/29/2011) – The Colts have decided to start Dan Orlovsky at QB against the Patriots in New England this weekend.