It just hurts

1. Kelvin Hayden is out a month-This is actually the worst of the news. Indy plays their next four games against teams with good offenses (Houston, NE, Baltimore). Losing Hayden is a major blow. Sure he'll probably be back for the playoffs, but where and who the Colts play could be greatly compromised by his absence. Impact Rating: 5 bandages (out of five)

2. Anthony Gonzalez is out 2-3 more weeks-First, can we can the whole "Colts lied to us" crap? There is a difference between an injury taking longer to heal and getting lied to about it. He went in for a scope yesterday. Do you think they would have waited that long to scope him if they thought he was hurt worse than they said? Gonzo's injury is a serious blow. Garcon's play has deteriorated week to week, and his DVOA is down to -14% (57th in the league) and his catch rate is 50%. That means he only catches half the balls thrown at him, and he is about 14% worse than an average WR would be. This team needs Gonzo back and soon. Impact Rating: 3 bandages

3. Tyjuan Hagler is on IR (done for the year)-Hagler took the job from Phil Wheeler right before the season opened. The Colts' run defense has been solid, so taking out a starting linebacker (even a reasonably fungible one) hurts. Still, Wheeler has shown flashes before, and hopefully he'll be able to step in. Impact Rating: 3 bandages

4. Marlin Jackson is on IR (done for the year)-This is depressing from a personal level since everyone loves MJax. It also takes away the hope that the Indy defense was going to find another gear. The pass D has been outstanding with the rookie corners, but a healthy Jackson and a healthy Hayden promised to take things up another level. Still, the D has been playing without Jackson most of the year anyway, but the dream secondary of Bethea, Hayden, Sanders and Jackson will probably never play together again. The Colts D now is what it is (which is very good), but I see little hope it will get even better. Impact Rating: 2 bandages

5. Bob Sanders is reported to have a torn biceps (done for the year)-You don't get to whine when injury prone players get hurt. Indy knew Sanders was an injury risk, and they have a more than adequate backup plan. Bob's barely played anyway, so it's hard to argue that his injury will hurt the defense. Again, however, the 'extra gear' is gone. This D is what it is. All we needed was for Bob to be able to play in January and to lose him to an injury totally unrelated to his offseason knee surgery is devastating emotionally. Impact Rating: 1 bandage

Every team has a threshold. There is a level of injury that a team can sustain before you start to see slippage on the field. The Colts have the depth to cover these losses, but we are right up against the wall now. Another major injury and 2009 will become just like 2007 and 2008. Bob and MJax were already absorbed well. Gonzo's been missed, but 18 has kept the ship afloat. Hayden needs to come back.

There's no panic yet, but we need to start getting some good news quickly on the injury front. As the team stands right now, assuming that Gonzo and Hayden return, this team is still Super Bowl cailber. Take out one more piece though, and odds begin to drop.

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written by DemondSanders, November 06, 2009

And this is why when people throw out lines like, "but he only won one Super Bowl" you should look them in the eyes and then swear at them in any colorful way you wish.

Football isn't about luck, but championships are, at least in part.

At the same time you did that,
written by Cass, November 06, 2009

I made a FanPost where I analyzed the team, it's starters, and its depth top-to-bottom. I pretty much came to the same conclusion, that right now it not the time to panic, but if we get another injury, I'll be panicking. Oh, here's the link to my work:

http://www.stampedeblue.com/2009/11/6/1119332/the-day-of-depth-an-analysis-of

This is why rosters have 53 people
written by dmstorm22, November 06, 2009

This is why teams should have 53 quality guys instead of 22 great guys ad 31 scrubs. This is why we trust Bill Polian (and even more trust Peyton Manning).

I hate to use the Pats as an example (since I hate them with every fiber of my being), but in 2004, they lost both starting corners and Seymour, and beat us 20-3 and won another Super Bowl. Next man up. If they could do it, so can we.

Odd and almost amusing
written by Bob M, November 06, 2009

That two of the three guys who gave this site their identity may have played their last games in blue and white.

I don't know if the Colts should keep 21--depends on the money tied up in him going fwd. Maybe it's time to retire before he does serious damage. But if he goes elsewhere, I pray it's an NFC team, just in case he pulls off another healthy year.

We need Gonzo.

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written by DemondSanders, November 06, 2009

Dude. The cosmic consequences of releasing the zombie.... I can't even imagine.

He might eat Peyton on the field of battle.

Ty Law just signed with Denver
written by Bob M, November 06, 2009

Has McDaniels lost his mind at such a young age? Does Law have any gas left in the tank, or is this just a shameless attempt to pick 18 as many times as possible? Is McD saying "this is our one chance...."? If they win in-season, both teams end up 13-3 and Den has HFA. If they lose, no way they overtake Indy for HFA.

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written by DZ, November 06, 2009

Releasing Bob isn't an option. It costs as much to cut him as keep him. His base salary is only 2 million next year.

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written by JAT, November 06, 2009

Has a team ever had a worse week injury-wise than the Colts have had this week? It would be hard to imagine ...

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written by Dave_H, November 06, 2009

I was offline for a half hour or so. How many other Colts went on IR in that time? Is the team holding open tryouts yet? Hey coach Caldwell, I play on both sides of the ball. Intended receiver, and would be tackler.

Let me know when a spot opens up.

Thanks for the salary update
written by Bob M, November 06, 2009

Is that $2M cap $ or actual and is there a diff? Rhetorical question. His contract was big, but must have been front-loaded.

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written by Otis Taylor 89, November 06, 2009

Good luck beating teams that are able to walk and chew gum at the same time, unlike pretty much every team the Colts have played this year. Expect a beatdown in two weeks when the loaded for bear Pats come to town.

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written by J.C., November 06, 2009

Yes!

s**t talking early!

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written by DZ, November 06, 2009

I love how this guy talked trash without actually reading the article. The only guy on this list who has had a major impact on the season is Hagler, who is also the most replaceable. Hayden has been in and out of the lineup all year. MJax and Bob have barely played.

I also love how the Patriots are "loaded for bear" just because they trashed two teams that can't "walk and chew gum at the same time".

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written by DemondSanders, November 06, 2009

As opposed to the Pats who managed to lose to the Jets and Broncos.

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written by J.C., November 06, 2009

Listen tough guy.........we're firing on all cylinders.

The Brady who lost to the Jets and Broncos is not the same guy who threw 6 TDs in a half and didn't miss a beat against Tampa.

Now you guys know me, so you don't have to go into how bad those two teams suck. You know that I know that those two teams are pathetic.

BUT.........you also know that I know when he's playing well and when he's not. The Denver game was on him.....he missed guys all day. If he hit three throws that day that he always hits......we would have f**ked them up in their own park.

The Jet game we got completely outcoached and Bill has readily admitted that. When we get them in our house, that fat f**k won't be so swaggerlicious.

We get the Fish this weekend. The Fish who held the ball for three days against you and managed to let Dallas Clark go for 340 yards and 3 scores on three plays.

DZ said to me a few weeks ago when I was beating my chest about our revamped, young, athletic, gun toting SEC breed secondary that 'certain things scare him, DB's don't.'

Well they should pal, especially when they have the capacity to completely neutralize your already depleted, deadbeat wide receiver corp.

We've never, NEVER, matched up with the Colts as well as we do this year.

Nail it to the motherf**king WALL! And yes I'm back on the juice.