The 2011 Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers make an appearance in Indianapolis tonight for the third preseason game. This week is comparable to a normal NFL week in regards to their preparations, meetings and practice times.
No, Peyton Manning won’t be taking the field tonight or the next. He’s still fighting a pinched nerve in his neck which affects him in a variety of ways. This week the Colts brought in Kerry Collins, at a hefty $4 million dollar price tag. Less than two days from arriving in Indy, Collins is focused on learning the playbook and will not play tonight. He is anxious about hitting the field next week in the Colts preseason finale.
“It’s one thing to do it in the classroom and the practice field, but I really need to get out there in a game and do it,” Collins said to the media. “That would definitely be a good thing for me. Who knows when it would be after that I would play in a game if Peyton’s back and healthy?”
Collins is a veteran and will need a few series to return to form. The Colts, and most specifically Peyton Manning, depend on timing routes more than other teams. But if Orlovsky or Painter can do it (sort of), Collins sure can.
Manning returning to the field is critical but there are other storylines I’ll be watching tonight at Lucas Oil Stadium.
–There are three Indianapolis-natives fighting to make the roster at running back. Devin Moore, Darren Evans and Chad Spann are fighting for reps to prove they can play the position. Moore, with a year under his belt, obviously is the favorite and Spann hurt his chances in the first game with a couple of fumbles. I hope they each get plenty of chances to earn the final spot, but they will probably have to wait until next weeks finale to do so.
–The defense has a lot to prove and will be leaned on a lot this season. Management refuses to invest in the position but they are critical. There’s no question a guy like Reed, Cromartie or Revis would be huge. The Colts need a couple guys to step up and be stoppers, knock down balls and give receivers fits. Losing (a healthy) Bob Sanders was big and I’m anxious to see if anyone will step in.
–Punter Pat McAfee worked on kicking field goals during the summer in case the Colts couldn’t come to terms with Adam Vinatieri. His distance and aim improved and he now is able to boot field goals as long as 75 yards. At first I was skeptical about this video, but then he converted one from 75 yards during training camp. Vinatieri kicked a long one in last week, so now I’m hoping McAfee get a chance in a real game situation…and will he continue to send his kickoffs deep into the end zone.
–Finally, what’s the spirit and health of the team. Players hate preseason but it’s a necessary evil. There have been a lot of hamstring and miscellaneous injuries to some teams but not with the Colts. After an injury-riddled year last year, the Colts hope for better luck this year…
And on that note, can wide receivers Anthony Gonzalez and Austin Collie get healthy? If not, their time in a blue uniform may be on the line.
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