If you are a Colts fan and you suffered through last Sunday’s “game“ (and I use the term game very loosely), I commiserate with you. I turned it off after the third quarter. Even Andrew Luck was performing at a mediocre level. One has to use the term mediocre a great deal when describing the play of the Colts. The Houston Texans had the Horseshoe’s number — the defense did, anyway. Offensively the Texans ran the ball. The Colts’ defense is without leading tackler left inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, who is under a four game suspension for using illegal performance-enhancing drugs, so that was, of course, where Texan runningback Lamar Miller ran the ball. He collected his fourth 100 yard game and scored the Texans’ only touchdown. Of course, he ran for 100 against the Colts defense in their first meeting of the year in Houston. Brock Osweiler, the Houston quarterback, hit on 14 of 24 passes for 147 yards and an interception. Passing was not a factor in the Texan win. Frank Gore ran 10 tens for 41 yards. He did catch an 18 yard touchdown pass from Luck. You have to feel for Gore. He is 34 years old and came to the Colts with the idea that he could get a championship ring. You have to wonder how much he has left in the tank.
Defensively the Colts were their usual inept selves. Linebacker Akeem Ayres intercepted a pass, only the fourth interception of the year for the secondary. Rookie defensive lineman Hassan Ridgeway collected a sack. Ridgeway’s progress to become a starter has been a bright spot. Veteran pass rusher Trent Cole gained his first sack of the year after being on the IR most of the season. But they could not stop the Houston inside power running game.
I saw a power ranking this week that has the Colts ranked 20th. I think that is being very generous. I have them ranked 24th. The Colts do not deserve the playoffs this year. There are three games left on the schedule this season: Sunday the Vikings at Minnesota, then the Raiders at Oakland, and finally the Jaguars at home. To make matters worse, the team had to place two of their top performers on the injured reserve: Left offensive guard jack Mewhort and strong safety Clayton Geather. Mewhort is the team’s best lineman, but has had injury issues this season. Geather has emerged as a top tackler and enforcer in the Colts secondary in his second season. I am predicting that the Colts finish 7-9 and qualify for a mid-level first round draft pick, which Ryan Grigson will probably blow. The finish will most likely preserve Chuck Pagano’s job.
NFL Update
The Los Angles Rams fired head coach Jeff Fisher. This had been rumored for several months but after the Rams’ humiliating loss to the Falcons 42-14, the front office could take no more. The move to LA has not been as successful as was hoped as far as fan attendance and TV ratings. Fisher has not produced a winning season or playoff appearance since coming to the team in 2012, and this season the Rams have been blown out too many times. Special team coordinator John Fassell will take over head coaching duties. The Rams are rumored to be looking at Seattle Head Coach Pete Carroll, or Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh as possible replacements. There are several other coaches on the hot seat. Jacksonvile’s Gus Bradley, Cleveland’s Hue Jackson, the Bear’s John Fox the Bengal’s Marvin Lewis, and Buffalo’s Rex Ryanare are all on thin ice.
The Cleveland Browns look to be heading for a winless season and will most liking have the number one pick in the draft. Jacksonville will probably have the second pick. The Colts could draft as high as fifteen depending on how they and other teams finish.
snicewanger@yahoo.com