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November 21, 2012

How will the Colts rebound vs. the Bills?

Tom James Tribune-Star Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS — The big question for the Indianapolis Colts as they prepare for Sunday's home game with Buffalo is a pretty simple one.

Can the Colts, now 6-4 for the season and still in the hunt for an AFC wild-card spot, rebound from last week's 59-24 loss to New England?

Interim coach/offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, for one, believes they can.

“It’s a process. We talk about the process all the time. It has to be consistent every week. Win, lose or draw you put that behind you Monday night and you move on,” Arians explained Wednesday.

“If you bask in the sunlight of a win, you’re going to get beat. If you pout and worry about getting beat, you’ll get beat again. It’s back to work. The Buffalo Bills are a great challenge and we need to protect our home turf and get win number seven no matter what the cost.”

Despite fielding a team that has undergone so much turnover on its roster from last year to this season, Indianapolis has been able to rally each week after losing to Chicago (41-21), Jacksonville (22-17), and the New York Jets (35-9).

Can the Colts do it again? Arians thinks they can and offers up some reasoning why.

“I think it talks about the veteran leadership in our locker room. They’re the best I’ve been around and they’re continually harping on these young guys on what it takes to win and we’re going to come back,” he explained.

“Fortunately, we were able to come back home after those losses and win. This is another one that we need to make sure that we take care of this home field advantage that we have and the 12th man again needs to be outstanding like they’ve always been, especially against [the Bills] offense.”

Arians is wary of Buffalo's quick strike ability on offense.

“They’re explosive. They’ve got a lot of speed. [Running back] C.J. Spiller can score at the drop of a hat. [Quarterback] Ryan’s a streaky player, Fitzpatrick, I mean he can really get on a roll,” he said.

“They’ve got speed. They can spread you out much like New England. They get it out quick. They’re hard to sack. They probably lead the league in screen yardage. I mean they’ve got every type of screen known to man. Middle screens, running backs are devastating on screen passes and they do a very good job of their screen game. They are the best in the league. I think they’re averaging 11-yards per completion on a screen.”

An opportunistic Bills defense, meanwhile, is on the mind of rookie quarterback Andrew Luck. Buffalo has intercepted eight passes while also forcing nine fumbles so far this season.

“I realize [that] if you look at all losses, it’s turnovers that have killed us, especially on my end, whether it’s fumbles or interceptions,” Luck said before Wednesday’s workout.

“I realize that I’ve got to cut down on those if we want to have a chance to win. Hopefully we can improve on that.”

• Arians thankful – The Colts’ interim coach was asked Wednesday what he was most thankful about this year. His response was a pretty good one.

“Oh gosh. I’m thankful for the Pittsburgh Steelers letting me go to be here,” Arians said with a smile. “Truthfully, I couldn’t think of a better place to be at this point in time and to have felt more needed probably in my entire life. So thank you Pittsburgh.”

After eight years with the Steelers, five as the team’s offensive coordinator, he was forced out by Pittsburgh’s front office at the end of the 2011 season.

• The hug at New England – Late in last week’s loss to the Patriots, Arians went over and hugged Luck. He also quietly gave him a pep talk.

“I told him that the guy he replaced [Peyton Manning], his first game in New England. I was standing there with him and it was almost déjà vu,” he explained Wednesday. “It was an ugly game and go back out there, there’s three minutes left, we’re going to sling it and see what you can learn from every throw. He’s got so much grit that he knew exactly what I was talking about.”

• Injury list – Cornerback Vontae Davis (knee) and rookie tight end Coby Fleener (shoulder) both got back on the practice field Wednesday. Davis and Fleener have both been sidelined since getting hurt at Tennessee on Oct. 28.

Wide receiver Donnie Avery, who left the New England game with a concussion, also participated in the workout. Defensive end Cory Redding (hip) said Wednesday that he wants to play this week.

“There’s really no new news to bring. Cory is getting better [but did] not practice [Wednesday]. We expect him to get out there by Friday. Fleener is limited in practice. We’ll see how the week goes. Vontae Davis [is] also is limited. We’ll see how the week goes with those guys. Everybody else is ready to go,” Arians said.

Free safety Antoine Bethea missed practice with an ankle injury Wednesday. The remainder of the official daily injury report included Davis (did not practice), Redding (did not practice), outside linebacker Dwight Freeney (rest, did not practice), Avery (full practice), running back Donald Brown (knee, full practice), rookie nose tackle Josh Chapman (knee, full practice), Luck (knee, full practice), Fleener (limited practice), and cornerback Teddy Williams (hamstring, full practice).

• Roster moves — Tight end Dominque Jones was signed to the active roster Wednesday. Jones had been waived earlier in the season and had been playing with Miami.

Rookie offensive guard Justin Anderson — who was activated off the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Monday and waived on Tuesday — was signed to the practice squad on Wednesday.

Running back Alvester Alexander was waived off the practice squad on Tuesday. Cornerback Marshay Green, waived Friday, has also been signed to the practice squad. Tight end Kyle Miller was released Monday and has since signed with the Dolphins.

• Sold out — The Colts-Bills game has officially been declared a sell out and will be televised locally.

Indianapolis officials, however, do anticipate some visiting team returns from Buffalo. Those visiting team returned tickets do not count against lifting the NFL’s mandated television blackout. Those tickets will be made available through normal channels.

Tickets are available for the two remaining regular season home games at the Lucas Oil Stadium ticket office, Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000 or at www.ticketmaster.com

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Sports
SPT0512213mcmillan.jpg

Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Winners: Terre Haute North students Chanli Mundy and Calvin Blank are the 2013 McMillan Award winners.

  • Blank, Mundy named McMillan Award winners

    Posing side-by-side for photos following Terre Haute North High School’s Senior Awards ceremony, seniors Calvin Blank and Chanli Mundy couldn’t look more different.

    May 23, 2013 4 Photos

  • SPT 052213 JENKINS JUBI.jpg North baseball pulls away from South in sectional opener

    In high school baseball little things mean a lot, and the crack in the door doesn’t have to be open very wide.
    Terre Haute North burst through that crack in the bottom of the second inning Wednesday evening at Terre Haute South, scoring seven two-out runs — all unearned — and going on to a surprisingly easy 12-2 victory over the host Braves in Class 4A sectional action.

    May 23, 2013 4 Photos

  • Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship

    Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.

    May 23, 2013

  • West Vigo baseball advances with 10-0 win behind Stewart's two-hitter

    West Vigo got off to a good start in Class 3A high school sectional baseball action Wednesday evening at Dick Ballinger Field.
    The Vikings scored four runs in the first inning of the first sectional game and went on to defeat Brown County 10-0 in five innings with Kevin Stewart hurling a two-hitter.

    May 23, 2013

  • Terre Haute South tennis claims regional crown

    It was a lot tougher than some thought it would be, but the Terre Haute South girls tennis team won the Greencastle regional for the second year in a row Wednesday evening at DePauw University Tennis and Track Center.

    May 23, 2013

  • evans-jump.jpg METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete

    Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • Terre Haute's Mascari running 10,000 meters for chance to get to Hayward Field

    Indiana State freshman and Terre Haute North graduate John Mascari is among the enormous group of Sycamores competing this weekend at the NCAA East Preliminary. The top 48 NCAA track and field competitors in each event on this half of the United States are narrowed down to 12 who will compete at the NCAA meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

    May 23, 2013

  • SPT0511613trackseibert.jpg Big group of Wabash Valley boys head to Evansville looking for state berths

    The top four finishers in each event from last week’s Terre Haute North, Evansville Central, Jasper and Princeton boys high school track and field sectionals will converge on Evansville Central today for regional competition.

    May 22, 2013 2 Photos

  • SPT0512113WVSB mcclain.jpg West Vigo comes up short against 19-9 Brown County softball

    West Vigo got off to a good start but Brown County finished better in Class 3A high school softball sectional semifinal action Tuesday night at Edgewood.
    The Eagles bested the Vikings 7-5 and will meet South Vermillion, a 12-7 winner over Owen Valley, for the sectional championship on Thursday starting at 6 p.m.
     

    May 22, 2013 5 Photos

  • Valley baseball teams have been keeping busy heading into sectionals

    When high school baseball sectionals begin around the Wabash Valley today, one complaint that’s not expected to be heard from any coach is that his team has had too much time off.

    May 22, 2013

Local Interest
evans-jump.jpg

  • METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete

    Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • SPT 051913 TIM TERRY.jpg Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play

    South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
    But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees.

    May 22, 2013 4 Photos

  • softballsecs.jpg Softball sectionals up for grabs

    All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • Indiana State baseball series canceled

    Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.

    April 27, 2013

  • METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain

    The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
    The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain.

    April 24, 2013

High School
College
  • Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship

    Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.

    May 23, 2013

  • Terre Haute's Mascari running 10,000 meters for chance to get to Hayward Field

    Indiana State freshman and Terre Haute North graduate John Mascari is among the enormous group of Sycamores competing this weekend at the NCAA East Preliminary. The top 48 NCAA track and field competitors in each event on this half of the United States are narrowed down to 12 who will compete at the NCAA meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

    May 23, 2013

  • Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain

    Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea has battled through so many aches and pains during the 2013 season that it can be hard to discern the serious pain from the pain he pitches through.

    May 22, 2013

  • ISU's Negele answers call in big way in wake of Manaea injury

    When Indiana State starting pitcher Sean Manaea slumped on the mound in obvious pain after he took his warm-up pitches, red flags raised for ISU’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament hopes.

    May 21, 2013

  • SPT0511613manaea3.jpg ISU baseball hoping Manaea can get its MVC Tournament moving in right direction

    Indiana State’s baseball team has been waiting all season for its stars to align.
    But this is the 2013 Sycamores, after all, and after a season in which seemingly little has gone right, it appears its stars will remain crossed at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

    May 21, 2013 1 Photo

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Terre Haute Rex
SPT 071512 DORSETT FILE.jpg

Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)

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