Colts active roster/practice squad shuffling

First, want to wish Coach Pagano a speedy recovery and that we’re praying for him.  Colts nation is with you now, during your recovery and will be ready to welcome you back to the sideline.

My, how things change in a month.  Only three games in the books and injuries have already played a major role on roster shuffling.  There have been some pleasant surprises and of course, a few disappointments.

Let’s start with the offense, and the O-line to be specific.  Talk about disappointing.  The line was a new group and really needed time to mature and find its groove.  Well, so much for that.  Injuries have been the theme through the first three games, so continuity hasn’t really even began.  Starters Reitz, Satele and Justice have all missed time.  Eh.  The backups have played, well, like backups.  And I mean 3^rd/4^th string.  I really like the starters as a group and have hopes that they will jell with each other given PLAYING time together. 

Before the season started, I thought the Colts O-line backups were thin and not very good.  Unfortunately, that’s how it’s played out.  Amplifying the problem was losing Foster to IR before the season started and rookie Anderson to the PUP list.  The Colts have had to pick up free agents Sowell (from Tampa Bay Bucs practice squad) and Essex over the course of the first four weeks.  Shipley has been on & off the roster & practice squad.  I thought Essex might stick, but he was released unceremoniously and Sowell was brought in after his release, so maybe there’s an injury, performance or something else the Colts didn’t like there.  Even the practice squad has seen O-Linemen come and go.  After being picked up on waivers, Person hardly made the 53-man roster before being released.  Weems was on the practice squad for just 15 days.  O-Linemen currently sitting on the practice squad are Hills & Hicks.  Hicks was a preseason addition to the practice squad, but apparently hasn’t shown enough progress to make the active roster since he’s been passed over a few times for free agents or other team’s practice squad players.  Hills, a 5 year vet, was added to the practice squad in mid-September, but he too has been passed over when O-linemen have been needed on the active roster. 

It seems very clear with the movements on the active roster and practice squad that the Colts know too well this is an area that needs much improvement to keep Luck protected and standing through week 17.  Good thing Luck can run, because he’s going to need those skills this season.  At least when Luck has had to run, he’s been good at it.  And even better, he doesn’t look as awkward as Manning did running.  Man, I hated to see Peyton run or should I say lumber.  Now, if Luck can learn how to S-L-I-D-E!!!  Love your toughness, but we need you.  Please slide, Andrew, please slide.

Besides the O-Line, the other offensive injury to note is of course, to Collie.  The guy cannot buy a break.  First game back, he has a knee injury and on his first catch.  Maybe he and A Gonzalez should commiserate.  Fortunately the receiving core, though young, are a strength on the roster.  Wayne is being Super Wayne (Can I get a REGGIE, REGGIE, REGGIE!!).  Avery is coming along and Hilton has shown some flashes of being one of those wow receivers.  I’m still waiting to make judgment on Brazil and Adams.  They’ve also brought in Palmer from the 49ers practice squad to replace Collie.  He played with QB Chandler and is a speedster.  With the exception of Fleener’s hands, which I think he’ll improve, the TEs have been pretty solid.  Allen looks like he’s emerging as the #1 TE.  With more time between Luck and the receiving core, I think they’ll just get better as the season goes along.  At the very least, they are fun to watch.

Haven’t had much success in the run game, but heck with our offensive line shuffling and depth issue, ANY yards we get is a positive.  It’ll be interesting to see if it improves once the starting O-Line is back for more than just a couple plays. 

Now the defense.  
Where the O-Line has been the weak link for the offense, the defensive backs have been that for the defense.  Inexperience and not a lot of playing time together, mixed with injuries have taken a noticeable toll.

Like the O-Line, the names for DBs have been rotating on the active roster and practice squad quite frequently.  DBs (S, SS, DB or CB) have been involved in eighteen transactions since August 31^st.  Starting with Safety, Latarrius Thomas as the first example.  He was waived, resigned to the practice squad then released from the practice squad all in just three days.  S Jermale Hines was waived on September 1^st and the Colts picked up S Sergio Brown.  Bet you remember him from the last play of the Jacksonville game.  Not good.  Not good at all.  My guess is he’s on very thin ice.  Good play by any other safety not a starter or by a new practice squad player and he’ll be gone.  S Mike Newton was waived/injured then placed on IR then finally waived from the Reserve/Injured list all in just a matter of seven days.  The exact same scenario happened to CB Brandon King.  As a side note, it seems the Colts are waiving players from the injured list much more frequently this year.   Not sure what that is about.  Korey Lindsey made it a little longer.  He went on IR on 8/31, and then was waived from the reserve/injured list on 9/25.  The DB merry-go-round continued with CB DJ Johnson.  Remember him?  Colts traded for him, so it seemed at the time he had a good shot at making the starting roster.  Well, Johnson was waived on September 1^st, signed to the practice squad the very next day.  He remained there even though the Colts have brought in other DBs.  He was unceremoniously waived from the practice squad on October 1^st.  Guess the first of the month isn’t a good day for him.  More signs that he wasn’t performing enough even to stay on the practice squad, he was replaced by Marshay Green.  Recently the Colts signed CB Darius Butler to the active roster due to injuries by V. Davis and J King.  Seems Grigson is watching every practice squad player from other teams and the waiver wire for the DB position.  Meaning, they know like opposing QBs know, that the DB position is a major weak spot.

The rest of the defense has been steadier.  Freeman has been a big bright spot.  I had doubts, but he’s filled in admirably for Angerer.  His INT Pick 6 against the Bears in the season opener was very nice.  Will be interesting to see how the Colts utilize him once Angerer is back to full speed.  If nothing else, he’s made depth at LB much better.  The switch to the 3-4 hasn’t been too bad either.  Mathis is still a sacking machine.  Freeney just needs to stay healthy.  His presence makes it much more difficult for opposing offenses to block him and the rest of the line.  When Freeney is in there, it just makes it easier on the rest of the defense.

Besides the DB position, the roster/practice squad changes aren’t as active.  DE Aiono and OLB Fugger were both waived/injured on August 31^st, placed on injured/reserve the next day, then both waived from that list on September 7^th.  I’m a little surprised about waiving Fugger.  It seems like they would have kept him on the injured list to protect him from other teams next year.  But again, seems like the Colts are waiving players from the injured list a lot this year and a lot more than in the past. There was a little action regarding the DT position.  They signed Tevaseu from waivers and essentially swapped Anunoby for Jean-Baptiste on the practice squad.  The LB position has been pretty quiet as well.  Jerry Brown was added to the practice squad and just yesterday, Mario Addison was waived from the active roster.  This was necessitated by injuries in other positions, namely OL, WR and DB.  The Colts left a practice squad position open, so I expect to see him re-join the team there.

Special Teams has definitely improved this year.  Yes, it’s early, but they special teams play has been solid.  Nothing spectacular, but not horrible like the past few years either.  Overton has replaced Snow seamlessly.  I’m assuming so, since his name hasn’t come up that much.  That’s a good thing for a snapper.  Snow seems to have found a home with the Redskins, joining former teammate Garcon.

And then there were 75

In my last blog, the Colts roster was at 80 and was only hours away from being down to 75.  To get to the magic number was painful and costly for the Colts.  Basically, all came way of injuries and to starters, key players or rookies who looked like they had potential.

Going to IR were:
NT Brandon McKinney who would have played a major role on defense.  This one hurts. 

WR Griff Whalen who seemed to be coming along nicely and provided some depth at WR and KR/PR.  Not as painful as losing McKinney, but losing a rookie to IR is never a good way to start an NFL career and I've seen it turn them in to either camp/pre-season extras or nothing more than an injury replacement for teams.

OT George Foster who wasn't ever listed as a starter, but I read some good things about him and he seemed to be pushing for a 2nd unit role.  This undoubtedly makes the decision for the Colts coaches on which OT/OGs to cut a little easier.

Going on PUP was:
OG Justin Anderson, the rookie never seemed to heal from his injury and hadn't been on the field.  I figured he was bound to the practice squad, but going to PUP keeps him on the protected roster, so maybe the Colts see enough potential to put him on PUP vs the waive/injure route.

Going on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List was:
NT Josh Chapman, also another rookie who seemed hadn't healed from an injury so also had not been on the field.  After reading about all the positives about him after the draft, I was a little surprised the Colts just put him on the reserve/non-footfall injury list.  Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but seems a little odd for someone who even national writers were raving about and saw one even had him as a potential draft steal.

Bad news was the Colts lost 2 of the 3 Nose Tackles listed on the (previous) depth chart.  Only one left was big Antonio Johnson.  Since then, the Colts have listed unproven Chigbo Anunoby as the backup NT.  Wouldn't be surprised to see either a DE/DT playing NT during the Cincinnati game tomorrow or the Colts to pick up a NT from the waiver wire after teams cut rosters down to 53.

Speaking of the 53-man roster, these are the players I suspect are on the bubble list.

Offense
QB Harnish (likely to go to practice squad, Colts' or another team's)
WRs Ross, Sambrano, Adams, Moore Of this group I wouldn't be surprised if one makes the roster, but injuries/depth at other positions seems more urgent.
RB Karim (and possibly one of either Evans or Carter)  Whichever one can play the role of FB the best or can play a role on special teams has the best shot at making the team.  Also suspect whoever might have eligibility to be on the practice squad roster may play a role on who sticks to the 53-man roster.
TE Smith would seem to be the odd man out, but wouldn't be surprised if Jones is let go too.
OT/OG Nsekhe, Taylor and Hicks with the possibility of Tepper all would seem to be on the bubble.  Again, special teams ability I think will come into play on which ones make it or not.


Defense
The line of thought on defense would be unless you are a solid starter, I wouldn't feel too safe if you played for the Colts prior to this year.  It seems to me the new Colts coaches have divested interest in any former Colt players, particularly on defense and especially with the DB/CBs.

DE/NT/DT Aiono, Anunoby (though McKinney going to IR might save him) and even Shirley and Matthews I'd say are on the bubble.
LBs Harvey, Addison, Brown and Hickman seem like the ones on the bubble from this group.  Lloyd and Fokou were traded for by this new regime, so I think that would play into their favor.  Freeman would be my surprise cut only because the Colts have had him listed and have played him as being with the 1st unit.  I don't necessarily buy it.  It was preseason and this is Angerer's position when he gets back from injury.
CB/Ss We know Powers and Bethea are safe holdovers from last year's team.  Also, since trades were made to get Davis, Gordy, Johnson and Vaughn, it would seem they are safe or safer.  Lindsey was picked up on waivers, so there's no real cost/connection with him.  J King was listed as the starter before trading for Davis, but the fact Davis was picked up could be a sign of the lack of confidence in him.  Thomas is the other odd man in that he was picked up on waivers and doesn't have the dubious label of being on last year's roster.  So, he and J King I'd say are on the bubble, but being chosen by the current coaching staff would seem to help.  That leaves former Colts B King, Hines, Lefeged and Newton.  Lefeged is at least listed as 3rd unit KR in addition to being backup to FS Bethea, so that might help.  If the Colts coaching staff follow their MO for dumping players from the Colts roster from last year, if I were the others, I'd be keeping an eye out for teams that might need DB help.  Maybe the Bears would be an option.  They seem to like (and do well) with former Colts DBs.

Special Teams
LS Overton must be doing something right not be cut before now, but I can't see him beating out LS Snow unless the coaching staff feels its time to make the change and get younger and Overton is the right fit to pull the trigger on Snow.  Seems here P McAfee and K Vinatieri would have some say in this one. 

Counting down to kickoff of the season.

Colts July/August Roster Moves/Analysis

Sorry, busy @ work and busy travelling this summer (Orlando, Vegas and Michigan next weekend).

While I was away, the Colts made many roster changes.  One area I've been harping on needing improvements, CB/DB, was the most active position of any, so the Colts management/coaching staff must have agreed.

Since 7/19, here is a rundown on the Colts moves.

• Acquired DB D.J. Johnson from Philadelphia for DT Ollie Ogbu
• Signed OT Ty Nsekhe, OT Ben Ijalana put on IR
• Acquired LBs Moise Fokou and Greg Lloyd from Philadelphia for DB Kevin Thomas
• LB A.J. Edds put on IR
• Signed LB Mike Balogun
• Signed RB Alvestor Alexander
• Acquired DB Josh Gordy from St. Louis for draft picks
• Acquired DB Vontae Davis from Miami for draft picks
• Waived CB Cameron Chism, CB-Antonio Fenelus, CB-Terrence Johnson, CB-Chris Rucker, S-Matt Merletti, S-David Caldwell, LB-Mike Balogun, WR-Quan Cosby, RB-Alvestor Alexander, G-Jason Foster and P-Brian Stahovich

So, the Colts gave up DT Ogbu who seem to have a lot of promise, but was fighting amongst a crowd of DT/DEs to get DB Johnson and draft picks for DB Gordy and DB Davis.  Davis will be a starter IF he can clean up his act.  Maybe the new coaching staff/scenery will get him focused.  If not, a 2nd rounder is a lot to give up.  Amongst all the moves, the Colts also gave up a potential starter in DB Thomas to add depth at linebacker. 

Signings of LB Balogun and RB Alexander seemed like pick ups just for the next pre-season game due to injuries and that proved to be the case as they were both waived in the 1st round of cuts to get the roster to 75.  The problems with DB/CB position became clear with the 1st round of cuts as 6 of the 11 first to get cut were DB/CB/S positions.  Makes it pretty clear why the Colts were very active in trading to acquire DB/CBs and with whom they were not pleased with in camp.  After the two injury signings in Balogun & Alexander and the six DB/CB/Ss, they only left three other players on the cut list.  WR Cosby, who was fighting with a lot of young talent for a position and didn't help his matters by not impressing on special teams, G J Foster, who just wasn't any better than other guards or tackles on the roster and P Stohovich, which was only a matter of time.

Should see a few more today after 4pm today (8/27), the deadline to get the roster down to 75.

I expect we'll see the Colts hot on the waiver wire this week, so wouldn't be surprised to see pickups in the postions of G/T if nothing else for depth, WR especially if it looks like Collie's concussion is lingering since that would leave Wayne & Avery as the only true vets at WR and Avery is banged up, NT/DE/DT since it looks like Brandon McKinney may be going on IR or at the very least miss substantial time, and SS as a quality backup to Zbikowski. 

It'll be interesting to see who the Colts end up cutting and picking up on the waiver wire.

One more preseason game until it's really GAMETIME!!!  BRING IT!!!

2 new defensive signings and the big offensive one

The Colts, as well as the rest of the NFL teams, have been very quiet in roster moves since my last post.  As training camp nears, many teams have started the rookie draftee signings.  Our Colts FINALLY made the big one.  Signing QB Luck on 7/19.  No real surprise, but much later than I think any of us thought it would be, including Irsay who said/tweeted that it was close about 10 times over the past 2 months. 

The Colts LB Larry Lumpkin on 7/12.  Movement in the LB area guess means they are still looking for quality backup play.  Lumpkin is a rookie free agine out of Connecticut.  And although it's not listed on colts.com or espn.com, it looks like rookie LB Chris Galippo was waived since he's not listed on the colts.com roster any longer.

On the same day the Colts signed Luck, they also picked up some major beef by siging DT Jason Shirley.  Shirley is entering his 3rd year and is listed at a big 6'5" and 329 lbs.  That makes him the 2nd heaviest only to newcomer Brandon McKinney who is listed at 345 lbs.  Only McKinney and three offensive lineman on the current roster are bigger than Shirley.  Though he's been a bit of a journey man playing on several practice squads, he finally got a chance to play at the end of last season for the Carolina Panthers and seemed quite productive, appearing in only four games, but racked up 4 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble, according to the colts.com and indystar.com sites.

To season ticket holders.  I hear the tickets are being printed and are in the process of being mailed out.  I was told we should have them sometime around the end of the month, so in the next week to week and a half.  Also, I was told that season ticket holders will be offered any remaining unsold single game regular season tickets around the end of the month too. 

Can't wait to see the new team in action.  I'd like to say goodbye to all the season ticket holders in section 643 around row 13.  Was always great cheering with you.  Thanks to all those fans who only supported Manning, I will now be in section 640 in row 6 this year and can't wait for some loud and rowdy Colts fans to cheer with.  Can you say firrrrrrrst down!

Roster tweaking DB, RB and QB

Since my last post, the Colts haven't been very active, but have made moves in the two areas I have said they need to keep working, DB and RB.  They also waived a couple QBs...making room for Luck, who hopefully can get his contract signed soon.

First, they signed DB Justin King.  Unlike many other DBs they've signed, King has some NFL experience.  He's starting his 5th year and played with the Rams the previous four. 

Then on 6/19, the Colts wavied QB Legree and signed vet RB Mewelde Moore.  Legree's waiving shouldn't surprise anyone.  It was going to happen sooner or later and we all know who is going to be the starter and they traded for and drafted QBs.  Legree was expendable, but necessary to take reps while Luck wasn't around.  RB Moore is entering his 9th season in the NFL, so has quite a bit of experience.  Also, he spent the last four years in Pittsburgh with Coach Arians, so there'll be some familiarity with him.  Nice to pick up a solid vet like Moore, but I still like to see them sign someone like Ryan Grant or Ryan Torrain.

The Star ran an article on 6/20 (http://www.indystar.com/article/20120620/SPORTS03/120620022/Colts-coach-Chuck-Pagano-Donald-Brown-an-every-down-back?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|s) that Coach Pagano believes Donald Brown is an every down back.  I'm not sold because of his size, but oh how I'd love to see him have a great year...without getting injured.  Which is my concern with Brown.

On 6/20, the Colts release another QB in Trevor Vittatoe.  Hmm.  Sure seems they are making room for Luck.  The last reports I've seen made it seem as if contract talks were still quite a bit away.  But releasing two QBs that were going to be let go anyway within two days might mean they are getting close to having Luck signed...or at least feel that way.

The other roster update is that the safety I've been seeking to show up on the official Colts.com roster finally did. Latarrius Thomas is officially present now. 

Looking forward to the only good thing about the end of summer.  Colts football!  Can't wait to start the cheering from my new seats.  Great year to request a move!  50 Yard line here I come!

Waiving an OL Could Mean Good Things

The Colts released OL Jake Kirkpatrick on June 7th.  This could mean two things, both good.  First, it could *just* mean making room for QB Luck, who is done with school and close to signing a contract.  But it could also mean confidence in the Offensive Line play.  The Colts made a complete overhaul on the line and I liked the moves.  Will it translate to immediate success, probably not, but who knows.  With time & practice together, I think the new look line has a good shot at being pretty good.  I like the additions of Satele, McGlynn and Justice.  With young draftees from last year, Castonzo and Ijalana, though mostly unprovened because of injuries, the line is looking much better and bigger.  Protecting our rookie QB is a very wise move, a strategy proven to work out pretty good when a certain QB named Manning was just starting out.

Interesting article in the Indy Star yesterday concerning the DBs attitude toward being called the weak link of the Colts roster.  Though it may very well be true and everything I read locally and nationally about the Colts, all say that is a major area where we struggled last year and really didn't do much to address so the expectation is very low.  Just reviewing the roster at each position, I don't think anyone can deny that DB is currently a weak spot.  But when you're just looking at any team's roster at each position, there's always strong and weak areas.  I do like and hope to continue to hear the *attitude* from our DBs though.  I think it's about time the Colts get a tougher attitude, especially on defense, but I'd like to see that kind of spirit and chippyness from the entire team.  I always cringed when I heard the Colts described as a finesse team.  I really would like to hear more descriptions this year like tough, nasty, gritty, scrappy, hard-hitting, come after you, pressure....and I'll be up in the stands yelling and screaming all the way and hopefully doing a lot of "ahhhhh, 1st down" cheering.

Can't wait to see and hear about our new QB Luck getting some reps now. 

Go Colts!

Colts Roster Tweaking, still need DB help

It's starting to become clear what I've been saying for a few weeks now.  The Colts really need help at defensive back.  The Colts latest move I think shows they are yet to feel comfortable with the current DBs on the roster.  Even the Indy Star's Mike Chappel posted a blog about it today.  http://blogs.indystar.com/coltsinsider/2012/06/06/at-cornerback-the-colts-still-are-looking-for-some-help/.  Meanwhile, it's still being reported that the Colts are interested in the Cowboys Michael Jenkins who is unhappy with his contract and moves made by the Cowboys at his position.  The latest waiver wire pick up by the Colts was Korey Lindsey, who was let go by the Arizona Cardinals.  The move to me means the Colts coaching staff is "still looking" for capable DBs which translates to me to mean they have little confidence in what they have seen from those currently on the roster.  The Colts waived Safety Micah Pellerin, which might give indication at some solidification at the S position. Still out on the free agent market are: Lito Sheppard, Will Blackmon, Phillip Buchanon, and Donald Strickland so besides of the prospect of Jenkins, the free agent market is/has dried up quickly.  Here's hoping the Cowboys can be persuaded to deal Jenkins for something affordable, like 2nd/3rd round picks?

Interesting to note is the fact that Safety Latarrius Thomas was reportedly signed by the Colts in the Indy Star a few weeks ago, but he never showed up on the roster at Colts.com.  Not sure if he never passed a physical or if it was contract related or just a mistake on the roster listed on Colts.com.  The roster on the site is being updated more frequently as of late, the same day with the last four or five transactions, so likely means he never made it to the field.

The Colts added WR Kris Adams on June 6th and waived OLB Kevin Eagan.  This might mean the coaches aren't satisfied yet with the backup WR position and maybe feeling better about the OLB position.  I'm still surprised they wouldn't try picking up a free agent WR who's proven if they really feel we still need help there, and I think we could use an upgrade.  After Wayne, there's not much.  Avery could be good, but it depends upon his recovery whether he can be as good as he was or can last a season.  Still available and I think worth a look are: Greg Camarillo, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Mark Clayton, Michael Clayton, Malcolm Kelly, Roy Williams, and our own Blair White who I still haven't seen anything of why he was let go.  Wondering if recovery from his injury last season played into it.

Looks like the Colts are happy with RBs Brown, Carter, Ballard.  I saw that Houston picked up Justin Forsett who was on my short list of possible free agents that the Colts should have taken a look at.  I'm still not 100% sold on our RBs.  Wondering if they might still have interest once we're closer to preseason if any of the following are still available and get more desparate to sign with a team: Ryan Grant, Jerious Norwood, Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson or Ryan Torain. 

On the draft signee front, we've still got the top three picks unsigned.  That means we're practicing without our starting QB and TEs currently.  With Luck finishing up school this week and reports that he and the Colts are close to a contract, hopefully, we'll at least have our starting QB on the field soon.

Go Colts!