INDIANAPOLIS — With the winless Tennessee Titans (0-4) looking for ways to knock off the undefeated Indianapolis Colts (4-0), the chances appear to be pretty good that the Titans’ version of the Wildcat offense will be unveiled Sunday.
And why not? Tennessee certainly has the personnel to do the job with running backs Chris Johnson, LenDale White and Javon Ringer, along with backup quarterback (and former first-round draft pick) Vince Young.
Johnson is the NFL’s leading rusher through the first four weeks of the season with 434 yards and 69 carries, just ahead of Miami’s Ronnie Brown (369 yards on 72 rushing attempts). He is averaging a whopping 6.3 yards per carry. The former East Carolina standout also leads the league in scrimmage yards (rushing and receiving) with 551 total yards.
White, meanwhile, gives Tennessee a strong inside-out runner who can pick up the tough yardage in the middle of the offensive line. He particularly excels in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
As for Young, he gave the Colts fits early in his NFL career as Tennessee ran a spread offense. The Titans ran called scrambling plays in order to take advantage of the former Texas signal caller’s athletic skills and playmaking ability.
Kerry Collins, who led the Titans to a 13-3 record and the AFC South title last year, remains as the starting quarterback for Coach Jeff Fisher. Collins is expected to go most of the way against Indianapolis this week.
But the Colts won’t be too surprised if Tennessee, buoyed by the success that Miami had in running the Wildcat offense in a 27-23 loss to Indianapolis (Brown had 136 yards on 24 carries and scored two touchdowns, the Dolphins had 239 yards as a team running the ball), trots out a few wrinkles in their base offense.
“I always think that’s a possibility. If we get a sense of that, we certainly will try and prepare for it. Those are two different styles, in terms of quarterback — Kerry and Vince. But both are very capable guys,” Indianapolis coach Jim Caldwell said earlier this week.
Team president Bill Polian expects the Titans to try and surprise the Colts, especially with something like the Wildcats offense.
“I think the answer on both counts is, ‘Yes.’ We’ll be expecting it. I don’t know how prepared we’ll be, but we’ll be expecting it. I would think since they’d had success against us with [a form of the] Wildcat in the past [with Young],” Polian said during his weekly radio show.
“And since they saw that Miami had some success with it [against the Colts], I would think they’re probably giving it serious consideration. I would think that given the talent they have — Chris Johnson and Young — that they probably have had a package in almost from mini-camp, some Wildcat package.”
“They have to have Vince prepared to play. And he would be antithetical to what Kerry does, so I would think they probably have a package that they practice from Day One. They just haven’t used it yet. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see them dust it off and really, that’s all they would be doing, is dusting it off,” he continued.
“I’m sure he goes into every game with a certain package of plays from the shotgun with the options, runs and passes and things of that nature that we’ve seen in the past. It’s ready and they’ve practiced it. They don’t have to make very much adjustment to use it.”
• Where’s Bob? — It’s the question that everybody, media and fans included, continue to ask. When is former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders going to make a return to the Indianapolis Colts defensive lineup?
An answer, however, is hard to come by.
The hard-hitting strong safety underwent a surgical procedure on his right knee during the offseason but has yet to take part in a full practice. He was on the Colts’ physically unable to perform list during training camp and the preseason.
Team officials opted to keep him on Indianapolis’ active roster to begin the regular season rather than placing Sanders on injured reserve, which would have meant that he would not be eligible to play until the fifth game of the year.
As things stand now, however, nobody knows for sure when he will be back. All indications are that it will be sooner rather than later.
“He is ramping up his activity a little bit. That’s the best way to describe it. He’s not in full practice or anything of that nature. He will participate in some limited activity out on the field,” Caldwell said earlier this week.
“They have a prescribed regimen that he goes through. He is doing all of the things in terms of his rehabilitation with his cutting and movement. He’s doing the types of things that are required once he gets out on the field. I know that has been going along extremely well. I know [the trainers] like the progress that he has shown thus far. I know he is getting a lot more comfortable. At some point in time, we expect him to get out and do a little bit. Not necessarily in a rigid practice setting, but to get out there and participate in some activity. I think you’ll see that continue to increase as time goes on.”
Polian has been encouraged by the progress that Sanders has shown the last few weeks during his extended rehab process.
“He’s continuing to work out and he’s doing well. I think the graph is up. I don’t want to put any timeframe on it. I don’t want to do that,” Polian said. “We’re encouraged in terms of what we see. We think he’s on schedule and moving forward at a pretty rapid and expected clip.”
• Injury list — Cornerback Marlin Jackson (knee) aggravated his surgically repaired left knee in the win over the Seahawks last week. Jackson’s status for Sunday night’s game at Tennessee has yet to be determined.
Middle linebacker Gary Brackett (knee) has returned to practice after missing the Arizona and Seattle games. Brackett was hurt in the fourth quarter of the Miami game three weeks ago. He is expected to start against the Titans on Sunday night.
Defensive end Dwight Freeney (quadriceps) was held out of Wednesday’s workout to rest but was able to return for Thursday’s practice. Freeney strained his right quadriceps late in the third quarter of the Arizona game two weeks ago. He returned last week to see limited playing time against Seattle.
Cornerback Kelvin Hayden (hamstring) continues to rehab an injury that has bothered him since training camp. Hayden returned to the starting lineup for the season opener with Jacksonville but tweaked the injury at Miami three weeks ago. His status for the Tennessee game has yet to be determined.
Offensive tackle Charlie Johnson (knee) remains hopeful of being able to play Sunday night at Tennessee. Johnson was hurt in the third quarter of last week’s win over Seattle. A final determination on whether he will be in the starting lineup against the Titans isn’t expected until Saturday at the earliest.
Colts
Colts ready for anything from desperate Titans
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Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has quickly earned a reputation as someone who isn’t afraid to shake things up a bit.
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Landry believes he'll acclimate to Colts system
Many Indianapolis fans have questioned why strong safety Laron Landry decided to skip the Colts' OTA workouts, especially since he was joining a new team with a somewhat different defensive system than what he was used to playing with the Jets.
He understands their concerns, but isn’t worried about learning the intricacies Colts’ 3-4 hybrid package.
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Colts in harmony with new coordinator Hamilton
With new Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton now running the show, the Colts are in the middle of a metamorphosis from the downfield, big-play system that was utilized by former coordinator Bruce Arians to more of a West Coast scheme that will look to make more use of the short, controlled passing game.
According to Andrew Luck, so far so good.
- Pagano amazed by collection of veterans
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Opening Day: Terre Haute Rex host Quincy
In his first season at the helm, first-year Terre Haute Rex manager Ronnie Prettyman is going to be surrounded by men he knows and trusts.
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. -
Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
While the Indianapolis Colts put their rookies and a handful of second-year players through workouts this weekend at the team’s Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, a pair of first-year coordinators are getting a chance to do some valuable on-field work as well.
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Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
The Indianapolis Colts welcomed 37 players to the start of the team’s rookie mini camp Friday at the West 56th Street headquarters.
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
While this year’s class may not rival that group in terms of name recognition and flash, it may produce just as many major contributors once the 2013 season gets underway. -
Werner at top of game
Bjoern Werner was a late comer to football. But after being selected in the first round of the 2013 National Football League draft by the Indianapolis Colts, Werner realizes that he has reached the pinnacle of the sport in a relatively short amount of time.
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Colts select pass rusher Werner in first round
The Indianapolis Colts selected Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner. The 6-foot-3, 266-pound defensive lineman can also play left outside linebacker.
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Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
As the 2013 NFL draft gets underway tonight at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the Indianapolis Colts are continuing their wait-and-see stance in regard to the first-round pick.
The draft begins at 8 p.m. — televised by the NFL Network and ESPN — with the Kansas City Chiefs making the night’s first selection. Teams will have 10 minutes to make their decisions during the first round. Indianapolis will have the 24th overall pick in the first round.
There will be only one round tonight. The second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with seven minutes allotted per pick in the second round and five minutes allowed in the third. The final four rounds are slated to begin at noon Saturday with four minutes between selections.
As it stands now, Indianapolis does not have a second-round pick. It was traded to Miami last fall in exchange for veteran cornerback Vontae Davis. But second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has nut ruled out the possibility of trading down from the first round if the Colts aren’t satisfied with the players available. -
Direction clear for Colts in 2013 draft
The Indianapolis Colts head into the 2013 NFL Draft with some definite plans.
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Colts veteran among those excited to see Luck's growth in 2013-14
Veteran defensive end Cory Redding is a big fan — literally and figuratively — of Indianapolis Colts second-year quarterback Andrew Luck.
Redding, who has become one of the Colts’ lockerroom leaders after just one season with the team, thinks he has some reasonable expectations of Indianapolis’ former No. 1 draft pick. -
Heyward-Bey feeling fortunate to hook up with Luck
Add one more player to the list of veteran free agents signed by the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.
Former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey agreed to a a deal with the Colts late Monday evening. Bey, who played collegiately at Maryland, was the seventh player selected in the first round of the 2009 National Football League draft. -
Colts sign nose tackle
Another day, more player signings for the Indianapolis Colts.
Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin agreed to terms with the Colts on Tuesday evening and officially signed with the team Wednesday. Franklin (6-1, 315) is a 10-year NFL veteran with stops in Baltimore (2003-06), San Francisco (2007-10), New Orleans (2011) and San Diego (2012). -
Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
The Indianapolis Colts’ roster moves just keep coming.
While the Colts haven’t yet added that big-name wide receiver that team owner Jim Irsay hinted at in tweets over the weekend, Indianapolis has addressed one area on offense.
Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had agreed Monday night to be the Colts’ primary back-up to second-year starter Andrew Luck. He officially signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the team Tuesday morning.
“We are very pleased to announce the signing of Matt Hasselbeck,” general manager Ryan Grigson said in a prepared statement. “His body of work, intangibles, and extensive league experience speak for themselves. Those factors, plus his familiarity with our offensive scheme, will make him a great asset to our team and its vision as we move forward.” -
Colts likely done signing free agents, for now
With the possible exception of adding a few lesser-priced players, the Indianapolis Colts’ big-time foray into the veteran free-agent marketplace is pretty much done.
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Landry, Jean Francois join Colts defensive unit
After adding five veteran free agent players to the Indianapolis Colts roster on Tuesday, general manager Ryan Grigson plucked two more plums late Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon.
New York Jets safety LaRon Landry and San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois both signed contracts with the Colts. Landry, a strong safety who appears to be a bigger version of former Indianapolis Pro Bowler Bob Sanders, and the versatile Jean-Francois are expected to make immediate impacts on the Colts’ defensive unit. -
Colts introduce free-agent signees
What the Indianapolis Colts accomplished last season — posting an 11-5 record and earning an AFC wild-card berth with a young team plus having that kind of success without its head coach on the sidelines for 12 games — didn’t go unnoticed by players around the NFL.
That was especially true for the five veteran free agents who were added to the Colts’ roster Tuesday. Offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus (Detroit), cornerback Greg Toler (Arizona), outside linebacker Erik Walden (Green Bay), offensive guard Donald Thomas (New England) and linebacker Lawrence Sidbury (Atlanta) admitted as much Wednesday.
“I felt like this would be the best fit for me at this point in my career. I really liked what I saw was happening with the program here and the way things have taken shape. I feel like we have a really great team here and it’s on the rise. I really wanted to be a part of that,” Thomas said during a teleconference interview with the Colts’ media. -
Colts sign five free agents, filling needs at offensive line, cornerback
The Indianapolis Colts were a busy team on the opening day of the National Football League’s veteran free agent market, which got underway at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
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Jeff Saturday retires as a Colt
An Indianapolis Colt for life. Pencil in Jeff Saturday for that honor.
The 14-year veteran center in the NFL put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — when Saturday earned his greatest rewards. -
Saturday thrilled to retire as a Colt
The 14-year veteran center in the National Football League put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in-between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — that Saturday earned his greatest rewards.
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Saturday to retire as Colt on Thursday
Former Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday will make his retirement from the National Football League official on Thursday.
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Indianapolis franchises punter McAfee
A week ago, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano said it was a priority that the team retain the services of punter Pat McAfee.
McAfee, an unrestricted free agent who’s contract is due to expire March 12, was designated as the Colts’ franchise player Friday. The move allows Indianapolis extra time to work out a long-term deal for the team’s special-teams ace.
“He’s huge. He’s a major priority in free agency. Obviously, we’ve reached out and are working to get Pat re-signed,” Pagano said during the National Football Scouting Combine. “We saw what he did for us last year. He’s a great weapon, not only kickoffs and touchbacks. -
Colts GM enjoying time at combine
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson makes no bones about it. He enjoys watching prospective football players strut their stuff.
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Colts keeping eye on large crop of talented linemen in NFL Draft
According to most National Football League draft observers, this year’s crop of prospects is deep with quality offensive and defensive linemen.
Among the offensive line candidates who have been showcasing their talents at the National Football Scouting Combine, which began in earnest Thursday and wraps up on Tuesday, the spotlight has been on the offensive tackles. Offensive left tackles in particular. -
Colts' Pagano back to full work schedule at combine
Back and ready to go.
That’s the attitude Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano is taking during the National Football Scouting Combine, which completed its second day of operations Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. During a wide-ranging press conference at the combine, Pagano confirmed that he is back to a full work regimen after missing 12 games last fall as he battled a rare form of leukemia.
After undergoing cancer treatments that featured heavy doses of chemotherapy, the second-year head coach was able to return to the sidelines for Indianapolis’ final regular-season home game against Houston and for the team’s AFC wild-card matchup with eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore. -
Colts looking forward to different approach to draft in 2013
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts had the first overall pick in the 2012 National Football League draft.
It was a foregone conclusion that the Colts would select former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the selection. While Indianapolis front office and player personnel officials certainly had to do their due diligence in preparing for the draft, the Colts find themselves this year in a bit different situation.
The team will have the 24th overall pick in the first round, which is a double-edged sword. Indianapolis picks lower in the round due to a successful season. But the pool of available can’t-miss talent isn’t quite as plentiful as drafting earlier in the round. -
Former Pro Bowl selection Freeney won't return to Colts
The news coming out of the Indianapolis Colts headquarters Friday afternoon was not totally unexpected. Team officials have confirmed that two veteran players – former Pro Bowl defensive end/outside linebacker Dwight Freeney and wide receiver Austin Collie — will not be returning for the 2013 season.
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