10-5-2007

Last week, we predicted virtually every aspect of the game with eerie accuracy.  Without us to tell you, you would be ignorant to the fact that Mike Shanahan scripts 15 plays (unless of course you've even casually turned on a Broncos game even once in the last 10 years).  Because of us you were prepared for the Cutler family feud.  Okay, so we didn't actually predict that, but it was kind of funny/sad anyway.  

This week, Tony Dungy has the chance for revenge against his former team, but he probably doesn't want it because vengeance belongs to God and stealing from Him would be a really bad idea.  So in lieu of that obvious and over played storyline, we'll have to hunt up other obvious and over played storylines.

1.)  Watch for street clothes.  The dominant theme to this game will be not how the teams play, but rather who plays.  The Colts are a walking MASH unit, and Tampa has lost two key cogs in their wheel.  Whoever has the most healthy bodies at the end might just win by default.

2.)  Watch the Tampa D line go after Ugoh.  With Utech hurting, the Colts third string TE, Brian Fletcher, will be the one to provide help to the linemen if necessary.  Fletcher isn’t quite the blocker that Utech is, and with the Tampa front 4 trying to apply pressure, Tony Ugoh will be forced to play like a veteran once again.

3.)  Watch Jeff Garcia try and break the pocket.  The Colts often have trouble with running QBs because the D-line bring so much pressure. The pocket collapses, and if the QB can improvise for two or three scrambled first downs, it makes a huge difference to an offense.  This type of play is of course what led ex-teammate Terrell Owens to question Garcia’s…manhood.  Said TO,  “He’s not comfortable in the pocket and is always running for the sticks”.

4.)  Watch Aaron Moorehead.  If Marvin can’t go, or is in anyway limited, the Colts will play him in Marvin’s spot, leaving AG in the slot.  That seems slightly counter-intuitive, but Moorehead isn't a natural slot receiver and the Colts don’t like to play multiple guys out of position. 

5.)  Watch the ex-Colt revenge tour.  The ex-Colts are 0-4 against their old club so far, and this week Cato June has a chance for revenge.  Maybe this one should be “watch for missed tackles”. . .

6.)  Watch for traps.  A non conference game that follows a big AFC match up and precedes both the bye week and a mammoth revenge game with Jacksonville spells trouble.  The Colts rarely get caught looking ahead, but with all the injuries and a brutal 4 game stretch to come, this is the week they could get caught napping.

7.)  Watch for league suspensions.  Word has it that NFL sanctions are about to fall on Bucs WR Joey Galloway.  He’s being accused of using performance enhancing drugs after a reporter saw a bottle of Geritol stashed in the bottom of his locker.

8.)  Look for the Colts run D to improve.  Despite the loss of Rob Morris you have to feel that if the Colts can’t shut down Michael freaking Pittman, there is reason to worry going into the Jholeville game in two weeks.

9.)  If Marvin does play, and we think it very likely, watch for him to get a catch early.  He wants to keep that streak alive and won’t run the risk of playing a series or so and re-injuring himself without getting his 8 yard out in.

10.)  Watch for Fox to actually do a story on the Colts in the pregame.  Fox normally gets two Colts games a year, but one was annexed by NBC (the Saints game).  Because they never show the boys in blue, they pretend they don’t exist (which is yet one more reason not to suffer through Terry Bradshaw on Sunday morning).  This week, however, the Colts are the marquee second game, so look for a fair amount of pimping from the next work that brings you more hos on a weekly basis than any other:  FOX!

11.)  Watch for happy Hoosiers.  The home crowd should be in great spirits after watching Kansas City take out Jacksonville and Cleveland romp over New England in the early games. 

12.)  Kenton Keith is average 5.8 yards per carry.  Look for him to come back to earth against the Bucs' D after an impressive start to his first NFL season. 

13.)  Watch for desperate measures.  After rushing for 4 scores last year, Manning hit paydirt for the first time this season against the Broncos.  Rumor has it he will try to one-up Tom Brady in the MVP race by cashing in with his legs.  Desperate times. . .

14.)  Look for Andy Tanner of Reno, NV to bench Peyton Manning in his fantasy league this week.  Apparently he missed this ringing endorsement from Sportsline.com: “Manning's 386 yard total against the Bucs in '03 is exactly twice as many yards as he had in Week 4's victory over the Broncos. He is likely to be without WR Marvin Harrison in Week 5 when the Colts host Tampa Bay, but don't expect him to throw for under 200 yards again. The last time Manning had back-to-back full games with under 200 yards passing was in 2001. He remains a must-start in all leagues.”  How can Sportsline be so sure?  The guy sounds too risky to me, Andy.   

15.)  No, seriously start the guy.  Manning needs five touchdown passes to break Johnny Unitas (287) as the Colts’ career leader.  Here’s betting Manning would like it to happen at home on Sunday.   Watch the record fall.

16.)  Watch for another huge game from Kid Joe.  A banged up, but furious Joseph Addai will run wild on Sunday.  His motivation?  He hasn’t been mentioned for most improved player on the various NFL quarterly reports throughout the internet!  Yes, Addai reads the googlenet-blogs religiously, and he’s mad as hell.

17.)  Watch for a sense of normalcy to return to the NFL.  Jeff Garcia has gone four games without throwing a pick.  That’s not a misprint.  Marlin Jackson, the lone healthy Colt, will take it upon himself to end this unlikely statistic. 

18.)  Watch for the Colts to win and cover the spread for the third time at home this season.  The Colts will notch lucky #13 in a row at home (counting playoff games).  With the final stop on the AFC South Revenge Tour coming up after the bye, the Colts will come in rested and undefeated.