INDIANAPOLIS —
If the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans isn’t the loudest stadium in the National Football League, it’s certainly one of the top two or three.
Fans in the Crescent City were rambunctious and noisy even before the hometown Saints became one of the NFL’s premier teams. So the Indianapolis Colts know what to expect in tonight’s nationally-televised (8:30 p.m., NBC) rematch of Super Bowl XLIV.
“This [stadium] would rank right up there near the top. It is a noisy, noisy place,” Jim Caldwell said late last week. The Indianapolis coach, though, added this caveat. The Colts, due to all their success over the past decade, have become used to hearing the best, or worst, opposing fans can offer.
“I’m going to be honest with you. For the most part, with us over the years, it’s always been a situation where teams, fans and everyone else has been really geared up to beat us,” Caldwell offered. “So oftentimes we’ve run into some very, very noisy and hostile crowds. But this one is as noisy as they get.”
Whether it’s the Superdome, or the Metrodome in Minneapolis or Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, the Colts have come up with their own system for preparing and dealing with crowd noise. Unfortunately, quarterback Peyton Manning — who has mastered both the silent count as well as communicating changes in blocking schemes — remains sidelined as he recovers from preseason neck surgery.
It’s going to be up to first-year starter Curtis Painter to try and emulate Manning’s style and system during this evening’s meeting with the Saints. New Orleans defensive coordinator Greg Williams, meanwhile, will try and throw some monkey wrenches into Painter’s decision making process.
“We do try to recreate that atmosphere [in practice], but there are some places that you can work at it as hard and as much as you like, and it’s still going to be difficult. [The Superdome] is one of those places, because it’s extremely loud,” Caldwell said.
“Curtis has been able to manage [communicating in road games] pretty well. I do think that, because of the fact that we practice those situations, he is accustomed to functioning within that kind of environment. That makes things a bit easier.
But when you add to that the multiple looks, changing defenses and adjustments that New Orleans will give you, then that presents even more of a challenge. It does require a little bit more communication. But, all in all, he’s been fairly good, and this week he’s going to have to really be good.”
Indianapolis offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen concurs.
“Historically, we’ve played extremely well [on the road]. We don’t miss a beat. How many teams go on the road and go no huddle, hurry-up tempo and signal everything and handle everything? We just go and function like we function at home,” Christensen said.
“We were able to treat home and the road the same when we were humming. Now our circumstances are a little bit different and we’ve been a little more conservative. We huddled at Houston [in the season opener]. The issue of noise has become a non-factor. It’s just elevator music. You don’t notice it and you keep going and you function.”
And that’s where the subject of Painter, among others, comes in.
“The play clock is a huge factor. And what [New Orleans does] is they do a great job disguising [their defenses]. They do a great job giving you a trillion looks. They’re multiple in their defense. And a cement roof dome makes it a noisy place,” he said.
“And it’s not just Curtis. We have so many other new guys playing. There’s [rookie running back] Delone [Carter]. There’s new guys, there’s new scenarios, there’s new situations that come up. The more those get multiplied by the more people that you have new in there, the harder it is and the more conservative you have to be.”
But Christensen thinks his quarterback can handle the situation.
“He’s such an even-keeled guy. I’ve been extremely impressed with him on the sideline. His demeanor and he’s seeing things well. He’s been as calm as a cucumber. And that’s what you want to see. That’s what you’re looking for as a coach,” the veteran assistant said.
“He’s been good. But it will be a great challenge for him. We’ve been beating the same drum [with Painter]. They’re going to confuse us some, so throw [the ball] away. Punting is not a catastrophe. Sacks, interceptions, holding the ball, getting hit. Those are catastrophes. Punts aren’t. Incomplete’s are not. And he’s done a great job with that philosophy thus far. He’s been really patient and he’s been really good that way.”
Pro Sports
Noisy challenge tonight for Colts
Painter will have to direct offense in boisterous dome
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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 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. -
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. -
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 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. -
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' 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. -
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It's a job, not a reunion, Luck says
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He doesn’t regard Sunday’s game at Reliant Stadium with the Houston Texans as a chance to go back to his home town and talk about old times. -
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Former Illinois star Meyers Leonard living the NBA dream
One thing is for certain. Meyers Leonard of the Portland Trail Blazers doesn’t need 40 minutes to incite a crowd with a posterizing slam dunk or a big shot block.
At just 20 years of age, the former Robinson, Ill., standout who took his talents to Champaign for two years is getting his feet wet at the highest level of basketball.
Close to 300 fans, many of whom watched Leonard take the Maroons to the 2010 IHSA Class 2A state championship, rode on charter buses to watch him battle the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis last week. -
Update: Ravens dismiss former South standout Cam Cameron as offensive coordinator
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Leonard has moment for highlight reel, but Pacers come away with victory
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Titans to sport new look vs. Colts
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Wild card looking mighty doable right now: Colts improve to 7-4 with win
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Do-or-die Bills next for Colts
Indianapolis Colts interim coach/offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is quite aware that the Buffalo Bills are coming into Sunday’s game at Lucas Oil Stadium (1 p.m. kickoff, CBS Sports) facing a do-or-die situation in regard to the postseason.
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How will the Colts rebound vs. the Bills?
The big question for the Indianapolis Colts as they prepare for Sunday's home game with Buffalo is a pretty simple one.
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Colts healthy entering key road game
If all goes well during today’s short walk-through practice, it appears the Indianapolis Colts will be in pretty good health heading into Sunday’s nationally televised (4:25 p.m., CBS Sports) road game with the New England Patriots.
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Once again, Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., it’s the Indianapolis Colts playing the New England Patriots.
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Times have changed
A lot has changed for the Indianapolis Colts since a 22-17 home loss to Jacksonville on Sept. 23.
For starters, that’s the only game the 1-7 Jaguars have won this season. Indianapolis, meanwhile, has posted wins in four of its last five games and is rolling along with a 5-3 record.
Many Colts point to that loss in the third week of the season. Indianapolis led 14-3 at the half and were ahead 14-13 after three quarters of play.
In fact, the Colts led 17-16 with 0:45 remaining in the game. That’s when Jacksonville quarterback Blaine Gabbert connected with speedy wide receiver Cecil Shorts III on an 80-yard pass play that resulted in the final margin of victory.
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Colts wish linebackers could play more at same time
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Pagano gives Colts 4 days off
With a bye this weekend, the Indianapolis Colts went through a short week of practice before taking a long four-day weekend.
Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano put the Colts through workouts Tuesday and Wednesday before allowing the team to scatter across the country.
Players are due back Sunday evening as Pagano and his coaching staff hope to hit the ground running heading into Indianapolis’ Oct. 7 home game with Green Bay. -
Tentative agreement reached on NFL referees' contract
The NFL and the referees’ union reached a tentative contract agreement at midnight today, ending an impasse that began in June when the league locked out the officials and used replacements instead.
“Our officials will be back on the field starting tomorrow night” for the Cleveland-Baltimore game, Commissioner Roger Goodell said after a day of marathon negotiations.
With Goodell at the table, the sides concluded two days of talks with the announcement of a tentative eight-year deal, which must be ratified by 51 percent of the union’s 121 members. They plan to vote Friday. -
Colts receiver Collie will miss season with knee injury
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