COLTS UPDATE--
Week 4 of the NFL Season and Luck is beat up physically and mentally. An injured throwing shoulder will most likely keep him out of today's game at home vs. Jacksonville. Hopefully, the fans still show up and scream and yell, but I'd totally forgive them if they stayed home. The silence from the front office, even in the face of ESPN reports that there's a growing rift between the coach and the GM, is deafening. Why hasn't Irsay addressed the glaring issues? And why hasn't he fired GM Ryan Grigson? The "experts" on CBS' NFL Today just raked the Colts' front office over the coals, asking "Why wouldn't you protect your franchise player?" It's the question that's been hanging in the air like a thick, black cloud all season. WHY DID YOU draft or pickup offensive skill players instead of solid lineman in the offseason? WHY WOULDN'T YOU pour millions into protecting Andrew Luck? He could throw touchdowns to his grandmother, for Christ's sake...but give the guy some TIME!!!! He's gotten beat up in three weeks this season. He's made some really poor decisions, but I think that's from his brain getting jostled! The O-line play is pathetic! I've never been as disgusted with one single player as I was with O-lineman Thornton (G, #69) last weekend. The pass protection, the run blocking, the overall line play was a "D" at best for the entire unit. And it's been that way all year. We went from AFC Champs in everyone's estimation to Division CHUMPS! Now, Andrew Luck is hurt...and everyone's pointing the finger...from OC Hamilton to Coach Pagano to Owner Jim Irsay. Ultimately, Irsay does bear the responsibility! But he needs to put down the bottle and fire his GM. Ryan Grigson is going to leave Luck out to flap in the wind? I say "GOOD DAY, SIR!!!!"
Oh, and the Colts are 1-2. They came back last week to win late in the game...and in the process may have lost their franchise QB for several weeks.
NOLES UPDATE--
The problem with my Noles, despite a 4-0 start against nobody's--from Texas State to Wake Forest--can be boiled down to one guy: DC Charles Kelly. His porous defense last year was hardly excusable, with no improvement from game 1 to the CFB Playoff Game vs. Oregon. But I decided to give him a pass for his first year. He's a smallish guy. What, did he play defensive back or something? I want a Derrick Brooks, a Shadetree Jones or someone of that girth and intensity on the sidelines...not some smurf with a scowl! And what of his porous defense? Well, in the last two weeks, we've given up more passing yards, playing a weak prevent zone most of the game. Linebacker play is improved over last year, I'll give him that...but I wonder if that's more our talent there being improved. I just don't like his schemes, the lack of D-line pressure or the percentage of blitzes. AND I FREAKING HATE ZONE DEFENSE!!! That rarely works...and the few times it does is because of great pressure up front. We DID pitch a shutout at Boston College, but C'MON, it was BC! We've played nobodies...and yesterday nearly lost to Wake Forest. Had they not shot themselves in the foot inside the red zone or settled for so many FG's, we surely would have lost up there in the rain! I know it's early in his second year, but I've grown impatient with the little guy. About ready to start the "FIRE CHARLES KELLY!" chant at the next home game.
On the offensive side of things, I'm quite disappointed with the dropoff in Everett Golson's play and decision making. He's a fifth year senior, for crying out loud, but too often he plays like a rookie. Yesterday was no exception. His first series of the first game was a thing of precision and beauty. His passes were lasers and ropes, right on target! He's never looked as good since. I don't get it. Maybe there's a reason Notre Dame wasn't sorry to see him go?
Okay, I'm done venting. Hopefully, the rest of the season bodes better for both of my teams. Otherwise, it's going to be a VERY long year.
