and maybe some more of OLB Phillip Wheeler as a rush end.

Freeney and Mathis both get pretty regular spells from Raheem Brock and Keyunta Dawson. Brock is basically a starter with the number of snaps he gets as a 1/2nd down DE and 3rd down DT. With Freeney gone he’ll graduate back to actually being a starter. Keyunta Dawson is a college DE who was moved to DT under Dungy/Meeks and now is back out at DE under Caldwell/Coyer. He’s still adjusting to the switch for now, but is talented. Phil Wheeler was suppose to step into a starting role this year, but didn’t stand out enough to keep the job over a veteran. He was a great blitzer in college and there had been suggestions of playing him at DE before. After Freeney left the game last night Wheeler got some snaps at DE was brought some heat.

I expect it’ll be easier to run it wide left (Freeney might only play the run on the way to the quarterback, but he does play it on the way to the QB well), but harder to run it inside or offtackle against a DE like Brock or Dawson who is more likely to stay home and/or make less dramatic pass rushing moves.

Charlie Johnson had a lot of people nervous going into the year after Tony Ugoh was benched and Ryan Diem was coming off a bad year. There hasn’t been a ton of pressure on Peyton, and the instances I remember it came from the middle, not the edges. Indy still can’t run right, but that might be on (now part time) guard Mike Pollak, who is really struggling with moving from being a college center, to an NFL guard.

after playing well against Jacksonville. They played well again against the Cards (12 rushes, 24 yards).

I went back over the tape of the Phins game later that week and my notes on the run D consisted of: “[DT] blown 4 yards off the ball by double team [other DT[ sealed off by guard” written over and over and over again.

and DBs that aren’t going to get repeatedly fooled like DRC did by Peyton.

he was taken off the PUP at the start of the season so 3 weeks ago they expected him back by week 5. The last update (2 weeks ago) said that Dr. Andrews had cleared his knee for play, but Sanders needed to built his strength in that leg back up, and wouldn’t play until he passed the Colts conditioning tests and got some practice tests in. If he practices this week he could play. If he doesn’t practice Wednesday he probably won’t play and if he doesn’t go Thursday I’ll be ready to rule him out.

The Colts haven’t been able to run right since 2007, Joseph Addai has the big play ability of a post-knee injury (2002-2009) Edge James (but he also has comparable pass blocking and pass catching skills), despite a solid game yesterday I don’t think backup MLB Freddie Keiaho can handle the coverage assignments at MLB (especially now that the opponent has a real TE. I really hope Gary Brackett is healthy enough to play).

What can you tell us about the two new WRs for Indy Garcon and someone else?

Garcon will be the starter opposite Reggie Wayne. He’s a 2nd year guy, 6th round pick last year after a dominant career at the DIII level. He’s got great speed, runs VERY strong (owned DRC with a massive stiff arm twice) and blocks well. He lost the 3rd WR job in part due to some drops in preseason, but he hadn’t had any filling in for Gonzalez yet. He’s a really solidly built guy, especially for a deep threat at 6 foot 209.

The other new guy is Austin Collie. Collie only plays the slot, he’s a WR in the Stokley-Welker vein. Doesn’t have top physical tools, but has the hands, and route running to make a living in the NFL. He’s shown some of that ability picking up a couple big 3rd downs.

Also, aren’t you worried that Addai will get injured? I feel like Brown should get more carries just in case? How is Brown looking anyhow?

Brown is still getting integrated into the offense, but he’s looked great. He’s the home run threat that Addai is not and I have only seen good things from him blocking and catching so far. Addai does have a tendency to get banged up, but so far the split on the carries has been 36 to 29 (Addai is playing much more because he’s awesome in the passing game, but Brown is getting the run down the clock carries) which if it keeps up and Addai doesn’t hurt himself popping some blitzing LB (likely the source of one of his several injuries last year) should let Joe stay healthy.

What do you make of the new coach?

So far I like him. Dungy believed in him and he hasn’t done anything that would make that faith seem misplaced (he took heat for benching Tony Ugoh for Charlie Johnson at LT early in camp, but so far it looks like it was the right move). I do think any decline from losing Dungy will be delayed because his big contributions was the Tampa-2 scheme (still in place with some far from radical tweaks) and his skill as a teacher to young players, (which would be a slow decline over the course of years).

I hate injuries, even when they happen to our opponents. I’d rather both teams be completely healthy and duke it out.

But, this is the NFL and that rarely, if ever, happens hehe.

There is no offseason.

Bob’s backup Melvin Bullitt is a starting caliber SS who they will find ways to get him onto the field even when Bob is healthy.

Kelvin Hayden has looked like a 49million dollar man when healthy over the last two years. He’s got a good shot at playing this week.

Marlin Jackson is limited to the slot while recovering from last years torn ACL, but he’s still a big and physical, sound-tackling corner who makes running and short passes against the nickel harder than you’d expect.

Rookie Jerruad Powers looks like a stud and a perfect fit for Coyer’s style of Tampa-2.

Antonie Bethea is one of the leagues top centerfielders, so far this year his tackling has been disappointing, but he’s making me eat my words about his “stone hands”, tied for 2nd in the league in picks.

I talked about Tim Jennings’ maddening inconsistency above. If Hayden can’t go I won’t hang myself thinking of Jennings starting again.

Undrafted rookie Jacob Lacey looks like a steal as a special teamer and spare CB.

that instead of his usual game tape studying, Peyton has been working on his Mandarin non-stop. Jeff Saturday was reportedly flabbergasted during the Cardinals game when Peyton shouted, “远足!” as the play clock wound to zero.

who does suck, (but Seneca Wallace is an Iowa State grad so no offense, he automatically sucks).

Though the two players that they usually play as spies against a mobile QB might not play. MLB Gary Brackett and SS Bob Sanders. If Sanders doesn’t go they’ll probably do like they usually do and give Melvin Bullitt the exact same assignment, which he handles well, but not at Bob’s level.

really an explosive, big play guy and shows some power. He’s also looked very good in the passing game so far (though I just saw an observation that he hasn’t sold chip and releases well at all, which I hadn’t noticed, but is believable). Peyton is walking back and dragging Brown to where he’s suppose to be after an audible (He did that with Addai his rookie year) and the playbook seems to be more limited with Brown in the game, but those will come with time and haven’t seemed to hurt the offense yet.

He’ll get the occasional drive early on, and see more time as the game goes on until if the Colts are trying to bleed the clock at the end, Brown will get nearly all the carries.

who can make at least a little out of nothing if protection collapses quickly (on account o’ those legs). That’s the nice thing about him.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised with Frye and Vallos when he was playing. Rob Sims (LG) has played well, but I’m not worried about Wrotto stepping in and playing well.