Finding Fault

Honestly, what is there to complain about? For someone desperate come up with angles to cover on a daily basis, I know that flaws and problems make for better copy than just praising the same guys 7 days a week. The Horse is undefeated and has played so well for so long, that we've virtually run out of superlatives. All of us know better than to start getting giddy or to look too far ahead. All that matters is the playoffs, and with Indy making a strong case that they are going there with a high seed, there's only so much to talk about. This next list all but proves it.

Here's a list of the 5 greatest weaknesses for the Colts. Bear in mind, this is a sliding scale. These problem areas are not proportional to the Colts strengths, but they are real weaknesses.

1. Kick Returner-Chad "The Human Touchback Simpson" is the walking definition of below average. He is currently 51st in the NFL in kick off yardage averaging 21.6 yards per return. Footballoutsiders puts the Colts return game in the bottom half of the league. On every kick off, we all just pray that no one will fumble. When you have a prolific offense, it's not necessary to have a dynamic return game, but it would be nice to sniff the 30 once in a while.

2. Kicker-Matt Stover is 41. Vinatieri is recovering from surgery. If the Colts should need a 52 yard field goal to win a game, would anyone feel confident about it?

3. Defensive Tackle-I know. At this point I'm nitpicking. That's a good thing. The general consensus is that the DTs have played pretty well. They have. Still, Indy ranks 31st in the NFL in stopping power runs and LAST in the NFL in stopping runs for losses. The run D has looked better because the Colts are 5th in allowing the fewest big plays in the running game. Some of this is the result of playing with a huge lead. The safeties are back and shut down long runs. All these numbers imply is that the LBs and the safeties are playing better than the DTs. In fact, rank 27th, 27th, 28th in runs over the LT, up the middle and RT. On runs wide, the Colts are 15th (DON'T RUN WIDE ON THE COLTS!). All this shows is that the DTs still have a ways to go, though we are all glad for their progress.

4. Run blocking from the tackles-It's hard to criticize the O linemen. Manning leads the league in YPA and has been sacked only twice. That says he's getting time to throw and throw long. Still, the run game has been pedestrian. Oddly enough, the Colts are 4th in the NFL converting 77% of their "power runs" defined as the "percentage of runs on third or fourth down, two yards or less to go, that achieved a first down or touchdown. Also includes runs on first-and-goal or second-and-goal from the two-yard line or closer." Digging deeper we see that Indy has been respectable running up the middle, but is 24th and 21st running around the left and right ends. They are actually better around right end than last year when they were 31st in that area. As well as Charlie Johnson has played as a pass blocker though, Indy was 10th around left end with Ugoh last year and has dropped off dramatically running wide left this season.

5. Luck-The Colts have actually had some bad game luck this year. The Outsiders track 'hidden' special teams yards. It "represents the advantage teams have received from elements of special teams generally out of their control: opposing field goals, kickoff distance, and punt distance." Indy ranks 31st in football in this category. Sunday was a good example of that. Indy couldn't control what Josh Brown did punting the ball inside the 10 repeatedly.

A list of team weaknesses that includes a kick returner, place kicker and luck means one thing: this is a great team.

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Nit picking the nit picker
written by Doug England, October 29, 2009

Isn't Big Ben now the leader in YPA?

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written by DZ, October 29, 2009

Depends on how you count.

It's actually Rodgers, then Roethlisberger if you count just YPA.

However, if you take YPA including sack yardage (which is the better stat for this purpose), it's the Colts by a bunch.

I should have said, "The Colts lead the league in YPA, having only allowed two sacks"

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/2_992_Passing_YPA.html

Works for me...
written by Doug England, October 29, 2009

I was just "mortified" that after that "dismal" performance against the Rams... Peyton was no longer the leader in YPA. (The traditional measure) But I like your way much better.

Since we're at it...Linebackers
written by Merr, October 29, 2009

A little thin there.

Mcafee from long range?
written by Nickaveli, October 29, 2009

I have thought all season that they should let Pat Mcafee kick any field goal over 45 yards or so. They wouldn't have to set a distance on it necessarily, just any time Caldwell feels he gives them a better chance than Stover/Vinateri. He did it his whole college career, fairly well. He was a semi-finalist for the Lou Garza award, and he was second team all big east as both kicker, and punter. Atleast according to Wikipedia. The only issue I see with this is the possibly fragile ego of the other kickers...

I agree except #3
written by Go Horse!, October 29, 2009

I would substitute 3rd Down percentage allowed for Defensive Tackle. The Colts D is 27th in 3rd downs at 43.5% which is up from last season but still a small reason for concern.

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written by DZ, October 29, 2009

Part of the third down conversion problem is that Indy is facing a shorter average third down than last year.

That's on the DTs and the run D.

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written by DZ, October 29, 2009

Also, I think it'll get better as the secondary gets healthy. When Jennings is your 5th CB instead of your #2...your third down % should improve.

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written by Willy Duer, October 29, 2009

They're averaging shorter distances on 3rd down? That's kind of a shock to me. The Run D has been better, and with a few exceptions, it seems like opposing drives are shorter. I would've guessed that the average 3rd down distance went up, not down, due to better 1st and 2nd play.

The only thing I'd change is run blocking. They're improving, but they still aren't able to run like they did in the championship season, and I don't see any reason why they shouldn't be able to reach that level.

Injuries
written by Bob M, October 29, 2009

Too broad and general and applies to all teams equally?

Well, that's MY main concern. Reggie, Dwight, Gonzo, the CBs (where the HELL did Lacey come from?!?!). We've been dinged and done more than well so far, but.....

I'm pretty comfortable at kicker and inside the 40 feel Stover might even be an upgrade. 40+ not so much, but once you hit 50 yards, neither he nor Vinny is money. Might as well try McAfee if you really need a three from downtown.

Anybody read Bettis's stream of consciousness blog/article on SI.com (I think)? Pretty amusing--I loved his bit exonerating The Sanchize from eating a hot dog ("Hey, I've eaten my share of hot dogs on the sideline. Hamburgers, too." Big surprise!) and then he ripped LA a new one as an NFL town--he's very pessimistic than an NFL franchise would ever work there, having lived through it himself. Interesting and well-reasoned. A decent, entertaining writer.

So now if the Jags don't settle in London and CAN'T settle in LA, I think the only alternative left is Anchorage. No, wait, crap, that means I'd see a lot of the Glitter Cats here in Seattle. Maybe Vegas?

You guys
written by J.C., October 29, 2009

Have played mush.

The best team you've beaten are the 2-4 Fish who held the ball for 50 minutes.

AND......you play mush the rest of the way as well except for us and, what, AT Baltimore?

I feel like this is going to play out all to familiarly for you guys. You beat the s**t out of the whole NFL, Peyton wins the MVP and you get beaten by a better team in January.

Hopefully you'll have 3-5 devastating injuries to blame it on or you might just quit being fans.

-1

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written by Zackasaurus Rex , October 30, 2009

Sounds like J.C. is a little sad about the Pats being 1-4 in their last five meetings with the Colts.

I seem to remember watching an AFC Championship game in January of '07 in which the Colts were the "better team."

And how about a pretty convincing slaughter of the 4-2 Cardinals? It would seem to me that they are two games better than the 2-4 fish. Although, I do give the Fish credit for being the best 2-4 team in the league.

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written by DZ, October 30, 2009

The 2008 Colts were like 6-1 against "quality opponents". There is nothing more meaningless than "quality wins" and "who you've played".

It doesn't matter if a team has only played bad teams, as long as they blow out those bad teams. FO proved it a few years ago. Blowing out bad teams is a better indicator of team strength than beating good teams in close games.