Week 10: Colts at Steelers

huevonkiller · Nov 8, 2008

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Some notes before the game:

Colts Team Report

Yahoo! Sports Nov 7, 1:00 am EST

Inside Slant

In a sense, Tony Dungy will be going home this weekend.

Dungy, the Indianapolis Colts’ head coach since 2002, began his NFL playing career with Sunday’s opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in 1977. He played cornerback for the Steelers from 1977-78 before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers.

After ending his on-field career, Dungy was then hired to join Chuck Noll’s Pittsburgh coaching staff in 1981. He served as the team’s defensive backfield coach from 1981-88, adding the Steelers’ defensive coordinator title in 1984.
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But the roots run deeper than that. His wife, Lauren, is a Pittsburgh native and a longtime Steelers fan. Pittsburgh’s current head coach, Mike Tomlin, spent one season as Dungy’s secondary coach (2001) at Tampa Bay.

“I am looking forward (to returning to Pittsburgh for Sunday’s game). They have a very tough football team and they are playing well. That part won’t be so pleasant. But it will be great to see the (Heinz Field) stadium, see everyone and get back there,” the Colts coach said this week.

Dungy loved playing for the Steelers and came to appreciate the team’s fans. But he knows that his playing time in Pittsburgh won’t mean a thing this week.

“It’s going to be a tough game. They give you a lot of stuff out of the 3-4 (defensive scheme). They bring a lot of different people, linebackers, safeties, cornerbacks (during their pass rush) and you have to be aware of a lot of things,” he said.

“It’s a very physical offense running the ball at you. It’ll be a different style of offense. But, again, we’re getting into a stretch where we’re playing all these AFC teams that are right in the (playoff) hunt. It’s almost like we have to win every week. And we’ll need the same type of performance (this week).”

The Colts have faced the 3-4 defense in two earlier games this season in wins over Baltimore and New England. But Dungy said preparing for the Steelers’ version of the 3-4 takes plenty of preparation.

“It’s a little different than New England’s. It’s the same type of thing, they try to create confusion. They bring a lot of different people, but this one has just a lot of heat from their outside (linebackers) and guys that you have to block,” he said.

“They’re very active and they’re very fast. So it’s a pretty good combination they have going, fast and physical. They don’t give up a lot of big plays. Baltimore gave you a lot of things where you said, ‘Hey, if we can figure this out, we have a chance to get some big plays.’ But these guys haven’t given up many.”

Series History: 19th regular-season meeting. Steelers lead the series, 13-5. Pittsburgh also has a 5-0 postseason record against the Colts. The Steelers have won 13 of 14 meetings in Pittsburgh and are 6-4 in games played in Indianapolis, counting playoff matchups. In regular-season games, the Steelers are 10-0 in home games and are 4-4 on the road against the Colts. Indianapolis is 0-1 against the Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh (28-10, 10/21/02). Pittsburgh has won 12 straight home games against Indianapolis/Baltimore. The Colts’ last win in Pittsburgh came on Sept. 29, 1968 (41-7). The series between the two franchises began in 1950. Pittsburgh handed the Colts two of their toughest postseason losses in recent years, posting a 20-16 win in the 1995 AFC Championship Game (at Three Rivers Stadium) and a 21-18 decision in the 2005 AFC Divisional Playoffs (at the RCA Dome). Indianapolis won the last regular-season meeting, posting a 26-7 win at the RCA Dome on Nov. 28, 2005 as QB Peyton Manning completed 15 of 25 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Manning completed an 80-yard scoring pass to WR Marvin Harrison on the first play from scrimmage for the Colts.

Notes, Quotes

• Colts coach Tony Dungy has a 2-2 record against Pittsburgh, including a 1-2 mark while he has been in Indianapolis.

• Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is one of two former Dungy assistants that he will face as a head coach this season. Indianapolis will play Detroit (Rod Marinelli) on Dec. 14. Dungy has already faced former assistants Herm Edwards (Kansas City) and Lovie Smith (Chicago) in previous seasons.

• Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore was a Steelers assistant coach from 1977-89.

• “We have an experienced quarterback that can read defenses, and we have a lot of guys who can make plays down there. It’s been good for us. In the games we’ve won, it’s what really helped us.”—Coach Tony Dungy, on the Colts’ success offensively this season in the red zone.

• “You have to keep running it. Our two touchdown drives (against New England), we mixed the runs pretty well. They weren’t super productive. But we got into second-and-7’s and third-and-5s and we kept (the Patriots) off-balance a little bit. It’s different than just throwing every down or being second-and-11.”—Dungy, on the Colts sticking with the running game despite struggling in that area this year.

• “You’re looking at tiebreakers and all these AFC games. Even if it doesn’t end up being a head-to-head (tiebreaker), its AFC record. And we’ve put ourselves in that position where we have to win all of these.”—Dungy, on playing teams in the AFC playoff race.

• QB Peyton Manning has completed 47 of 73 passes for 549 yards, completing 64.4 percent of his throws, for three touchdowns and four interceptions in two previous regular-season meetings with the Steelers. Manning has a 1-1 overall record against Pittsburgh.

• “They’re an excellent team. The defense is excellent. I think they’re No. 1 against the run and No. 2 against the pass, so there aren’t really any weaknesses on that defense. There are a number of guys that have been playing there for a number of years. They are very familiar with the system and they’re creating a lot of negative plays for the offense via sacks and turnovers. That’s what you have to try to avoid when you play those guys.”—Manning, on the Steelers’ defense.

• “I think Pittsburgh’s is a unique style of defense because of the players that they have. They do things that nobody else can do because of the players they have. They are very well coached and that’s why it’s going to be tough, because of the players they have.”—Manning, on the chances of making big plays against the Pittsburgh defense.

• “No, it really doesn’t matter (who starts at quarterback for the Steelers). Byron (Leftwich) came in (against Washington Monday night) and they ran the same plays and did everything the same, and he gave them a big lift. (Ben) Roethlisberger has played a lot without practicing. My sense is he’ll be in there if there is any way possible, even if he doesn’t practice. So that’s who we’re preparing for. But you’re going to have to defeat that system, whoever the quarterback is.”—Dungy, on if it matters who starts at quarterback for Pittsburgh this week.

By The Numbers: 15—As much as the Colts defense has struggled this season, the unit currently ranks 15th in the league in total defense. Indianapolis is allowing 324.6 yards in total offense, including 143.6 yards per game on the ground.

Quote To Note: “Hopefully I’m good again, but I don’t know. I’ve got to put three, four and five (good games) in a row together. It’s my year to go out and prove to the organization that it wasn’t a waste of a draft pick.”—CB Tim Jennings, on his chance to start for the rest of the season due to an injury to Marlin Jackson. Jennings has been inconsistent in his play over the last month.

Strategy And Personnel

The Colts have added to their defensive line depth by signing former Mississippi State defensive tackle Antonio Johnson off the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad.

The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Johnson was a fifth-round pick by the Titans in 2005 but has yet to play in a regular-season NFL game. He missed the 2007 season after suffering an ACL injury during training camp that year.

Indianapolis placed RB Clifton Dawson on injured reserve in order to make room on the active roster. Dawson had suffered a concussion in the Colts’ loss at Tennessee on Oct. 27. He did not practice prior to the New England game last week and was a game-day inactive.

PLAYER NOTES

• CB Kelvin Hayden (hamstring) has not practiced for nearly two weeks and will not play this week against the Steelers.

• TE Tom Santi (shoulder) has not practiced this week and is not expected to play Sunday at Pittsburgh.

• S Bob Sanders sat out Thursday’s practice in order to rest old injuries. He is expected to start against the Steelers on Sunday.

• OT Ryan Diem (ankle) did not practice on Thursday. An update on Diem’s availability for the Steelers game is expected Friday or Saturday.

• DT Daniel Muir (hamstring) saw limited work on Thursday. A final determination on his status for Sunday won’t be made until Saturday.

• DE Dwight Freeney returned to practice Thursday and will start against the Steelers.

• DE Robert Mathis practiced Thursday and will play against Pittsburgh on Sunday.

• CB Tim Jennings took part in Thursday’s workout and is expected to start against the Steelers.

• WR Reggie Wayne practiced on Thursday and will start Sunday against Pittsburgh.

• LB Freddy Keiaho (knee) practiced Wednesday and Thursday. He is expected to be available for the Steelers game on Sunday.

• CB Dante Hughes (ankle) has been able to participate in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Hughes should be able to play against Pittsburgh this weekend.

Game Plan: Play with some consistency.

The Colts have had a problem this season with stringing together back-to-back winning performances. Getting consistent play on both sides of the football and keeping errors to a minimum will be important against Pittsburgh.

Offensively, Indianapolis has to get its running game untracked. It won’t be easy against the Steelers’ defensive unit that is allowing just 71.6 yards per game (ranked third in the league against the run). Take what Pittsburgh gives them and don’t try to force plays that aren’t there. If the running game has any success at all, it will serve to open up the passing game downfield.

Defensively, the Colts have to get in the face of whichever quarterback Pittsburgh decides to play this week. The pass rush hasn’t been recording as many sacks as in previous seasons, but they have been able to put pressure on teams. This is the week to complete the deal. Slowing down the Steelers’ running game won’t be easy. Indianapolis has struggled against the run this year but has shown some improvement in recent weeks.

Matchups To Watch: Colts QB Peyton Manning vs. Steelers SS Troy Polamalu. Manning and Polamalu figure to be a classic meeting of two of the best players at their respective positions in the league. Polamalu came up with an interception of a Manning pass in a 2005 AFC Divisional playoff game.

Steelers RB Willie Parker vs. Colts SS Bob Sanders. Parker gives Pittsburgh a running back who is equally as dangerous running inside between the tackles as he is bouncing plays to the outside. He is a true game changer when healthy. The same can also be said for Sanders, who is tough against the run and has the quickness to get behind the line of scrimmage before Parker can make it to the corner.

Colts WRs Marvin Harrison/Reggie Wayne vs. Steelers CBs Ike Taylor/Deshea Townsend. Harrison and Wayne have both had success against the Pittsburgh cornerbacks in the past, combining for 24 catches for 351 yards and two touchdowns.
Click to expand...

Source: Yahoo!Sports

Analysis:

This seems like the perfect game for us to steal on the road. Big Ben has a nagging thumb injury and a sore shoulder, plus Willie Parker should miss the game as well. We are also familiar with Byron Leftwich and we have no significant injuries of our own. As I promised someone earlier though, I won't predict the quite likely favorable score for us out of respect.

BasX · Nov 8, 2008

Re: Week 10: Colts @ Steelers

Get Ready

Dissonance19 · Nov 8, 2008

Re: Week 10: Colts @ Steelers

Let's go Indy!

huevonkiller · Nov 8, 2008

Re: Week 10: Colts @ Steelers

BasX said: ↑

Get Ready
Click to expand...

Well I should mention this as well then. :]

The Steelers (6-2) also may be without linebacker LaMarr Woodley, who injured his calf against the New York Giants on Oct. 26 but was able to play against Washington. He is listed as questionable, meaning there is a 50-50 chance he will play. Woodley is third in the AFC with 9 1/2 sacks.

Woodley was fined $10,000 on Friday for slamming Washington quarterback Jason Campbell to the ground. Campbell struck his head on the turf when hit.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)
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http://nwitimes.com/articles/2008/11/08//ap-state-in/d94ackm80.txt

BasX · Nov 8, 2008

Re: Week 10: Colts @ Steelers

James Farrior
Larry Foote
Lawrence Timmons
James Harrison
Lamar Woodley

Take Your Pick

44Thrilla · Nov 8, 2008

NFL network is showing the 2006 playoff game. Its one of my favorite games ever. I forgot how badly the refs were trying to screw Pittsburgh out of that game.

huevonkiller · Nov 8, 2008

44Thrilla said: ↑

NFL network is showing the 2006 playoff game. Its one of my favorite games ever. I forgot how badly the refs were trying to screw Pittsburgh out of that game.
Click to expand...

2006 is long gone, we're the most recent champs in this convo either way. : D

huevonkiller · Nov 8, 2008

Re: Week 10: Colts @ Steelers

BasX said: ↑

Take Your Pick
Click to expand...

Judgment was handed down on your team long ago, I can't control fate lol. ^_^

huevonkiller · Nov 10, 2008

24-20 C O L T S.

Peyton Manning, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edit- Had to study for a test so I couldn't update this thread much, but when possible I love giving these threads attention.

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Week 10: Colts at Steelers

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Week 10: Colts at Steelers

huevonkiller Change (Deftones)

BasX I Win

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huevonkiller Change (Deftones)

BasX I Win

44Thrilla cuatro cuatro

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