Colts this Sunday. Let’s learn more about the Colts from Chris Blystone of SB Nation’s
Stampede Blue in this week’s ‘5 questions’ segemet.Ed: After going 4-12 a season
ago the Colts are 8-6 and fighting for a wild-card spot. Whether they make the
playoffs or not
http://www.giantslockerroom.com/authentic-jonathan-stewart-jersey , has this been a successful season for Indianapolis? Chris: It would be the icing
on the cake to make the playoffs, but it absolutely has been a success whether
it happens or not. The Colts have accomplished so many major things this season
that it is almost easy to lose count. Most importantly, they returned their
franchise quarterback to good health. Without Andrew Luck this team was lost,
and getting him back was a huge boost for the future.In addition to that, they
managed to fix an offensive line that allowed Luck to be hit at a ridiculous
pace, and turned them from a weakness to a strength for the team. They are now
tied for the fewest sacks allowed on the season.Perhaps the biggest
accomplishment this season was to build an identity within this young team of
what kind of team they would be and what kind of culture they would have as a
group. Frank Reich has done an outstanding job of developing this team and
changing the internal culture of this team and getting them primed to move
forward.Combine all these things with solid contributions from their draft class
and this team has a bright future, whether that starts this postseason or
not.Darius LeonardPhoto by Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesEd: The Colts hit a home run
in the draft. They got Quenton Nelson in the first round and traded down to do
it, also ending up with starting RT Braden Smith in Round 2 thanks to that. On
top of which, the Colts got LB Darius Leonard 36th overall. Can you describe the
impact of this draft class, particularly Nelson and Leonard?Chris: It is tough
to describe how impactful this class has been. Of their 11 picks, 9 have taken
quite a few meaningful snaps this season for the Colts. Obviously the early
picks have had the greatest impact on the team.Quenton Nelson has been
instrumental in a shift for this offensive line. He has brought a bully
mentality to the field that immediately became infectious. The coaching staff
has talked about the offensive linemen coming to the sideline after a series and
comparing their number of knockdowns
Youth Carl Banks Jerseys , the going back on the field to outdo one another.The results have been clear in the way the line has played. Braden Smith is much
less heralded, but was drafted as a guard and was given snaps at right tackle
because Matt Slauson had the guard spot locked up early on. The right tackle
position was a revolving door early in the season and Smith locked it down and
made himself a key part of the line there.On the defensive side of the ball,
Darius Leonard has been absolutely incredible to watch. Coming from a small
school, it was tough to know what he could do in terms of raising his level of
play to the NFL. What he has done is have arguably one of the best rookie
seasons by a linebacker in NFL history, and certainly the best by any Colts
player that comes to mind. Add to that the fact that he is humble, a great guy
for the community, and a player who pumps up his teammates, and he is exactly
what this defense needed.Ed: We know about Andrew Luck’s long fight to get back
from his shoulder injury. Is there any perceptible difference in the post-injury
Luck from the pre-injury Luck?Chris: There are actually quite a few very clear
differences. First is how he uses his legs. Luck is a ridiculous athlete and has
always been able to scramble really well. This year, however, he has changed the
way he does that. He is keeping his eyes downfield and always looking for the
pass in a way he hasn’t always done before. Because of this he is taking fewer
big hits and has been more effective.The other notable change is in his
willingness to take what defenses give him. Luck is, as are all franchise
quarterbacks
Carl Banks Jerseys Stitched , a very competitive person. He wants to take the kill shot every time. That trait has won the Colts a lot of games and made a lot of
highlight reels for Luck over his career. It has also led him to some big hits
and turnovers. This season we have seen a Luck who will take those shots, but
who has learned that sometimes taking the check down receiver is the right call,
and that keeping the drive moving make more sense than throwing the ball to a
double covered receiver 50 yards downfield.In short, this experience and the
pairing with Frank Reich, have made Luck a smarter, more efficient quarterback,
and the team is benefitting from that.In terms of his actual arm, there has been
no noticeable difference, apart from early in the season when his strength was
still not quite what it had been. As we near the end of the season though, he is
clearly firing on all cylinders and is able to make any throw he needs to. Ed:
Frank Reich, obviously
Ray-Ray Armstrong Jersey , was not the Colts’ first choice for head coach. What has he brought to the table that has ended up making this the right move
for Indianapolis?Chris: He has been perfect for this team in a number of ways.
Maybe the most underrated and important characteristic of his is that he is a
teacher. For a roster that is one of the youngest in football (our numbers are
skewed upward by Adam Vinatieri) they desperately needed a coach who could
develop young guys and grow them into great players. Frank Reich has that, and
has built a staff that is strong in that area as well.In addition, Reich’s
offensive mind and game planning have been instrumental in the Colts’ success
this season. Despite having a less than stellar group of pass catchers, this
offense has managed to get them open with regularity and to move the ball well.
What’s more, Reich has gotten this team bought in to the mentality of finishing
games. Under the Chuck Pagano Colts, we watched this team fritter away wins so
often that it was infuriating. This team more often than not wins the games it
should, and that is new territory.Ed: If you could take one player off the
Giants’ roster and put him in the Colts’ lineup, who would it be? Why?Chris:
That is a really tough question, because I can think of three players I’d really
like to have in particular. Landon Collins, Saquon Barkley, and Odell Beckham
Jr. would all be huge additions to this team in areas of relative weakness.While
I know some of my fellow Stampede Blue writers might not agree
Daniel Jones New York Giants Jersey , for me the choice is pretty clear. I would love to have a playmaker like Odell Beckham on the Colts’ offense. T.Y.
Hilton is a fantastic receiver, but if you were to have to face an offense with
those two on opposite sides of the field and Andrew Luck dealing the ball to
them, it would be the nastiest offense in the NFL, and I don’t think it would be
particularly close. Our thanks to Chris. Be sure to check out Stampede Blue for
more about the Colts. Also, look for Stampede Blue’s Matt Danely to drop by the
‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast later this week.[E-mail Ed at
[email protected] or via the Big Blue View Contact Page | Follow Big Blue View on Twitter | ‘Like’
Big Blue View on Facebook | Follow Big Blue View on Instagram] Shortly after he
was drafted by the Giants, former Washburn cornerback Corey Ballentine and his
roommate and teammate Dwane Simmons were shot. Ballentine was injured and
Simmons was killed.Although some in the media suggested that Ballentine was
somehow to blame for being in the wrong place at the right time, Ballentine’s
new coaches are standing behind him.Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher
said of Ballentine, “it makes you emotional thinking about it because that is
not a good kid, that’s a great kid.”Giants defensive backs coach Everett Withers
said he has supported Ballentine while he takes time away to grieve the loss of
his friend, and that when Ballentine is ready, the team is eager to have him on
the field.“For something like that to happen to a young man on one of the most
exciting days of his life and to have his best friend killed
Youth Phil McConkey Jerseys , that’s got to be a lot,” Withers said, via the . “The organization has done a really good job of helping him through the process.
It’s gonna be a process for him. But we’re excited about getting him. When you
watch him on tape, you don’t see a Division II player. You see a talented
football player that can run, jump, cover.”Ballentine is expected to be in New
Jersey working with the Giants by next week.
