I learned a lot last week, and the week before that, and last year, and the year before that, and..... Honestly, I don't think there is much to learn. I love the fire and intensity that J.J. exhibits, but he is one player. Overall, the team just doesn't seem to really want "it." Last week took all the air out of the balloon. Really hard to get excited again.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23colts">#colts</a> Chuck Pagano: We'd love to win 11 games. That's our goal.</p>— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) <a href="https://twitter.com/mchappell51/status/283983143617302528" data-datetime="2012-12-26T17:10:32+00:00">December 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Pagano: Not in our DNA to pull back on starters. watching what team has done . . . not in our makeup. fans and city deserve our best</p>— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) <a href="https://twitter.com/mchappell51/status/283983656404533248" data-datetime="2012-12-26T17:12:34+00:00">December 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Pagano: they're going to roll the ball out there and it's our job to give it our best</p>— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) <a href="https://twitter.com/mchappell51/status/283983720782888960" data-datetime="2012-12-26T17:12:49+00:00">December 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Pagano: you want to win. you want to win at home. you want to go into the playoffs with momentum. we want to keep the momentum going</p>— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) <a href="https://twitter.com/mchappell51/status/283983875619819522" data-datetime="2012-12-26T17:13:26+00:00">December 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Pagano: to rest guys or pull back, i don't think we have enough numbers to do that.</p>— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) <a href="https://twitter.com/mchappell51/status/283983979110080513" data-datetime="2012-12-26T17:13:51+00:00">December 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Pagano: our mindset coming in has been we're going to play to win every single week regardless of the situation.</p>— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) <a href="https://twitter.com/mchappell51/status/283984117979283456" data-datetime="2012-12-26T17:14:24+00:00">December 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Pagano: got to make a big emphasis of taking care of 99, J.J. left a lot of yards out there. if we can get him blocked</p>— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) <a href="https://twitter.com/mchappell51/status/283984544619704321" data-datetime="2012-12-26T17:16:06+00:00">December 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Pagano: defense has to take care of foster. gave up big play to andre johnson. manage chunk plays. enemy always in your own camp.</p>— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) <a href="https://twitter.com/mchappell51/status/283984726283411457" data-datetime="2012-12-26T17:16:49+00:00">December 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Pagano: message to players this morning - keep working the process. great meetings, great practice. go out sunday and play best ball game.</p>— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) <a href="https://twitter.com/mchappell51/status/283986096092762112" data-datetime="2012-12-26T17:22:16+00:00">December 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Colts coach Chuck Pagano says it was not a difficult decision to play his starters against Texans. "It was a layup."</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/283989685200625664" data-datetime="2012-12-26T17:36:31+00:00">December 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Colts receiver Reggie Wayne on Chuck Pagano's decision to play his starters on Sunday. "I'm all for it. That's what I signed up for."</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/283993371775733760" data-datetime="2012-12-26T17:51:10+00:00">December 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> "We're too young to rest," [Reggie Wayne] said. "We probably need to put everybody out there and have them continue to play. I don't think we can afford (to rest). "I can't speak for everybody, but I'm built to play."
It's in their DNA to rest their starters in the second half when they're 14-0 while screwing the Texans. Lets crush these fools.
It's not in the Colts DNA to rest their starters. (Unless they are going for an undefeated season...) I know it's a different regime since then but still, I think the Colts coaching staff is letting their emotions get the best of them when there is really not much upside to playing their starters.
The Texans are in the playoffs, but in my mind this is a must win...not only for confidence but a week off as well...not sure what happened sunday but they have to win
Just get to the playoffs healthy to give yourself a chance, that's really all that's asked from me. Would sure like a win, but I won't be too bummed out with a loss at this point.
The offense is going to have to show up, with or without Foster. Only having two rookies play the RG position does appear to be hurting us, never thought I'd be saying this but I wonder if Caldwell is able to go. The defense we know will bring it, but we can't bet on defense TDs every game. We saw how that gamble hurt the Bears and Cardinals.
Ben Jones has done nicely this season, especially for a rookie. Caldwell was god awful last season and this one. Newton hasn't looked 100% since coming back, but we can't afford Gardner or Harris coming in and giving us a liability at RT. Haven't made up my mind about Brooks. I think he needs more time.
The one thing that hasn't been mentioned as maybe the biggest problem last week was the play of one Duane Brown. He had probably one of the worst games of his career...consistently beaten, stupid penalties, poor run blocking. I expect him to step up in a big way this week. Texans 31 Colts 17
You can put away the lube this week but keep it handy, the Texans are gutless and you'll be glad you have it before the season is over.
I don't see the Texans defeating the Colts on a day where Chuck Pagano comes back. Chuck Strong will be all over the stadium, heck probably all over the city, and the Colts will be wanting to give him a win. Colts 28 Texans 24
