Ask some Colts fans from Stampede Blue

it seems the Colts are more aggressive on both sides of the ball. Caldwell also seems to hold everyone more accountable for performances, were as dungy seemed to be too loyal. the first move he made when taking over was to let go of Defensive and SP teams coordinators for bad performance.

Jim Caldwell is very much cut from the Tony Dungy school of coaching, like Lovie Smith and Mike Tomlin (also Dungy assistants in Tampa Bay). The one difference from Dungy is that Caldwell seems to focus a lot more on accountability. Where Dungy is a bit more patient or loyal to players or coaches who obviously weren’t getting the job done, Caldwell is not so patient. Already, he essentially fired last year’s special teams coach and defensive coordinator, benched the starting SAM (Philip Wheeler), benched the starting left tackle (Tony Ugoh), and cut the starting defensive tackle (Ed Johnson).

So, while he believes in using things like base Tampa-2 as a defensive scheme and not treating players like babies (all Dungy philosophies), Caldwell seems less patient with players and coaches in terms of performance. You either perform well, or you are gone.

For Colts fans, we like that.

in 2005 we got to 13-0 and the media went nuts. I’d rather lose a game or two during the season and get another SB ring. Just my personal feelings about it, though.

but I told my brain to shut up until we got to at least 10-0. There are still some pretty good teams left for us to play. There’s a long way to go for that, but I would love to go 19-0 so much.

Been there and done that in 2005. I laugh in the face of Patriots fans all the time. Spygate and Peyton Manning owning them give me plenty of ammo.

Please?

All requests must be submitted in writing. What? Oh.

Well, all requests also have to be submitted in triplicate. So THERE.

We must beat you. I want a first round bye and home field, and with teams like the Broncos still undefeated, all opponents must go down.

If we keep within 10 points I’ll be a happy camper.

The 49ers are a good team, and the Colts will certainly not take them lightly.

the DTs played pretty good. Dan Muir is a beast and he will hopefully continue playing like the monster he is. Another thing Im happy about is our DTs are FINALLY starting to get pressure on the QB. Muir actually registered half a sac in that game. So Im hoping we can keep Gore contained. He didnt have a great week last week so Im sure he’s looking to come out and make up for it. The Colts HAVE to be ready!

is if the mafia already pulled strings on this game

(has been a healthy scratch the past few games when Charlie Johnson, the normal LT starter, has been healthy), so sure, we’d take that deal. At least we can get something from Ugoh.

And I’m going on Sunday. Hopefully it will be better this year for us.

This is one of the most tired and stupid sound clips EVER. I can’t stand it when people, off the cuff, or in whatever context they are speaking try to imitate this. This is one of those things that arises in the synapses of a football fan in conversation that when thought of automatically comes out of their mouth, and zero thought is actually put into themselves thinking before they speak. Same thing, as far as I’m concerned goes for the Denny Green and Allen Iverson clips. There I said it.

One of my favorite (from Bill Simmons) is to never bet against your team. So I understand you not putting any money on this game.

Maybe the Saints but I don’t really think any AFC team can match up with them. I think they beat the Patriots in AFC game especially since with records right now Colts will have home field advantadge. I don’t think they will get by the Saints in SB though.

Last year the Colts starting DTs were 254 and 265lbs and the 300lb backups had joined the team after camp/preseason.

This year the 300lb backups have learned the system and are now the starters with the tiny guys in more appropriate roles (backup DE and rotation/3rd down DT).

Last year MLB Gary Brackett was hurt late in the year causing him to miss the playoff game, and the Colts didn’t have a competent backup for him, leading the Antonio Gates having his best ever day against them, including two 1st down receptions on the Chargers drive that sent the game to OT.

This year Brackett is healthy and the guy who had replaced him for the playoff game is a full time backup MLB rather than a starting OLB who got shifted over in desperation.

Last year under DC Ron Meeks the Colts D was as vanilla as they come.

This year under DC Larry Coyer they are still rather plain compared to most of the year, but mix it up much more than previously.

is special…I really believe this is our year. Everyone downplayed us at the begining of the season with the loss of coaches and Marvin Harrison, but this team has come out and is playing better than we have seen a Colt team play in a long time. And on both sides of the ball. All the BS about Peyton covering up the holes is just people trying to find something to talk about. This team is a top tier team all around. Jim Caldwell has taken Dungy’s philosophy and made it better. He’s exactly what this team needed to be great. Caldwell isn’t afraid to make the changes necessary to make this football team the best it can be. The scary thing is the team just keeps getting better. I think we will make a run at another SB.

I’m assuming that’s what you are talking about. He’s a Pro Bowl contender at that position.

it’s always great to have more big Johnsons plugging up your holes.

but he was cut because he was overweight and couldn’t take it off. Local media estimated around 15-20 pounds over. That made him fat, slow, and ineffective. Our coach and GM each individually warned him about getting the weight off, but if you guys want to take a chance on him, then be my guest.

but for a team that values bulk over speed he could be useful.

Ed was playing poorly. He was out of shape, slow, and not very productive. In four games as a starter, he amassed only 11 tackles. Just this past Sunday, the guy who replaced him as the starter (Daniel Muir) had 7 tackles and 1 sack in one game. Ed was getting outplayed by Muir and Eric Foster. Plus, the Colts really like rookie DT Fili Moala. With Adam Vinatieri needing surgery, and with his recovery not requiring a trip to IR, the Colts had to cut someone.

That someone was the under-performing Ed Johnson.

must have been misinformed.

Should probably calm down.

Do not tell somebody to screw off. There’s absolutely NO need for that.

So where did you poor bastards pick up the ex-Raider fan?

I just facedesked and I’m sitting on a couch with a laptop.

If you want a trash talk thread, there are easier ways to go about getting one.

Or if you just want to waste your time insulting everyone here, there are easier ways for the moderators to deal with that, too.

Also, +reply is your friend.

fail.

stopping their rushing attack. Our defense hasn’t been good at stopping the run since DT Tarik Glenn retired. We tried to fix it, but it hasn’t really worked so far. Ed Johnson was the best we have had since Glenn but he got cut basically cause he was to fat (15-20 lbs over) and he couldn’t take it off. He was approached personally by Coach Caldwell and President Bill Polian about the issue but he couldn’t get it off. He actually missed the first game reg. season game due to a suspension that carried over from last season. Jones-Drew is a beast of RB and he usually runs all over the Colts. That has really been the only reason we cant seem to stop them. Freeney and Mathis usually harass Gerard when he tries to pass so I place the blame on our lack of a good rushing defense. Other people might give you a different answer but most will agree with me.

by loosing A. Gozalez in an early injury and he being the No 2 WR and wayne drawing double coverage and all the main attention i think Gonzo was a big part of the colts game plan and that big part of the plan got screwed with his unexpected and untouched injury , that i my opinion has much to do with our offense low scoring and the fact that it was the first game you dont expect to use backups on your first season game but im glad the “next man up” played well on that one.

Any team can play way over their heads and pull an upset against a far superior foe. Basically, Jacksonville only gets up for two games per year. Playing the Colts is their Super Bowl. The Colts completely dominated them in the first game this year, but only managed to win by 2. Jacksonville’s size also seems to cause trouble for the Colts. They are huge! … at every position. It’s always a challenge to overcome a motivated team that is fully capable of physically overpowering you at most every position.

the answer to your first question I think most fans are happy with the Luke. The crowd noise is still pretty good. I also like the retractable roof and window in the staduim that gives it the outdoors feel.

As far as your 2nd question goes I have no idea. Maybe someone else can help you out with that one. I have personally been a fan since the Jim Harbaugh days. Im only 21 so I dont remeber much from before that.

As far as which other team in the AFC we hate losing to…for me its a toss up between the Steelers and Chargers. Since the Chargers have knocked us out of the playoffs for two straight years I would say I would most want to beat them in the playoffs

I’m from/still in Iowa over 300 miles from the nearest NFL stadium so I didn’t grow up with a pro team. Just the Iowa Hawkeyes. I finally jumped full on into the NFL and picked a team when the Colts drafted two of my all time favorite Hawkeyes. The man in my picture on the right, and the great Dallas Clark.

The RCA Dome was really loud (all natural sound thnxverymuch!) But it was a total dump. The Luke is a much more comfortable venue for watching a game. Personally, I think the building itself is a bit of an eyesore (looks like an aircraft hanger) but a good football venue none the less.

I think a disproportionate number of SBlue posters are of the younger generation (only 26 myself) but I still remember booing Geoff George back in the day. The Colts fanbase has always seemed a bit fair-weather to me, but maybe Manning has changed that.

Teams that I hate losing to the most:
1.) Patriots (they are the evil empire.)
2.) Chargers (seriously, why can’t we beat this team? They aren’t that good!)
3.) Jaguars (mostly because it’s fun to disappoint their obnoxious fans.)
….
….
31.) Saints (Manning’s connection to NO and Brees’ to Purdue. Both are stand up guys.)
32.) Giants (Lil’ Brother’s Team! Plus, we have them to thank for 18 – 1 = EPIC FAIL)

I love Lucas Oil Stadium but I feel like part of me died when they blew up the RCA Dome. I had a lot of great memories in that old piece of crap. Lucas Oil Stadium is amazing and it brought us a Super Bowl, so I can’t complain. I’m just waiting to get those good memories at LOS. So far I’ve only been to two games.

I want to beat the Chargers in the playoffs so badly this year but I’m not sure if they even get in this time around.