INDIANAPOLIS —
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.
If not for that last-second score, Indianapolis could very well be coming into Thursday’s night’s nationally televised meeting with a 6-2 record.
Not bad for a team that some observers figured would be lucky to match last year’s 2-14 mark after a massive roster realignment.
The Colts are feeling pretty good about themselves right now. Indianapolis has won three straight, including Sunday’s 23-20 victory over Miami, and posted its first road win of the year two weeks ago at Tennessee.
Interim coach/offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, though, doesn’t foresee the Colts getting too carried away with the win over the Dolphins.
“It was a huge win. Then to have [coach] Chuck [Pagano] in the lockerroom before and after the game was great. We have to learn from the last time we had an emotional win [a 30-27 over Green Bay on Oct. 7],” Arians recalled.
“We got our brains beat out. I’ll remind them of that. The short weeks are always tough on both teams, especially the one that’s traveling. We have to be able to focus, get focused on practice, meetings, extra meeting time. It’s not a physical week. It’s all a mental week.”
Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck continues to maintain that the Colts haven’t really done anything yet. Arians agrees, adding that he expects Indianapolis to face a fired-up Jaguars team this week.
“If we don’t get their best shot, I’ll be shocked. They have a lot of pride in Jacksonville,” the Indianapolis assistant coach said.
“[Jaguars coach] Mike Mularkey is a hell of a coach. I’ve known him for a long time. We’re going to get everything they’ve got, both barrels. We had better be ready for it.”
The secret to the Colts’ current run of success is rather simple, according to Arians.
“We’re playing hard,” he said. “I think one thing, we have a lot of young guys who have bought into the system. They’re playing hard, playing for 60 minutes.
“We don’t take a bad play and let it get to the next play. Go on to the next play. They’ve all bought in and they have each other’s back.”
• Wayne named to Pro Football Weekly mid-season team — Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne was the only Indianapolis player named to Pro Football Weekly’s 2012 All-Midseason team.
The squad is selected by the publication’s writers and editors.
Wayne has 61 receptions this season to rank second in the NFL. His 835 receiving yards leads the league.
First-year Colts general manager Ryan Grigson, meanwhile, received consideration for the publication’s mid-season Executive of the Year, which went to Denver team president John Elway. Grigson was considered along with Atlanta’s Thomas Dmitroff and Houston’s Rick Smith.
• Injury list — Sitting out Tuesday’s full practice were rookie tight end Coby Fleener (shoulder), cornerback Vontae Davis (knee), outside linebacker Robert Mathis (back), running back Donald Brown (knee), center Samson Satele (back), offensive tackle Winston Justice (knee) and cornerback Jerraud Powers (toe).
Arians has already ruled Fleener, Davis and Powers out of the Jacksonville game. He said that the Colts’ medical staff will wait and see how everybody else does in today’s walkthrough practice before making a final decision on their availability.
“The only guy who will not play [besides Fleener and Davis] is Jerraud Powers. He will not play. Everybody else is probably going to make it. We’ll see right up to game time,” he said.
With Davis and Powers out, Indianapolis will go with Cassius Vaughn and Darius Butler as the team’s starting cornerbacks.
Josh Gordy and Marshay Green, recently signed off the practice squad, will see some time in the Colts’ nickel and dime pass-coverage packages.
• Support for Pagano — Approximately 25 players, along with five members of the team’s administrative staff (one assistant coach and four equipment-room workers), shaved their heads after Tuesday’s practice in support of coach Chuck Pagano.
Pagano began his second round of chemotherapy this week. He was diagnosed with a form of leukemia Sept. 26 and has taken a temporary leave of absence from the team. His doctors confirmed Monday that his leukemia is now in remission.
The first-year Colts coach made a surprise appearance in the team’s lockerroom at Lucas Oil Stadium before and after Sunday’s 23-20 win over Miami.
Pagano wore a team ballcap into the lockerroom after the game but took it off before addressing the team, displaying how much hair he had lost from chemotherapy treatments.
Among the players shearing their locks Tuesday were punter Pat McAfee, placekicker Adam Vinatieri, running back Donald Brown, free safety Antoine Bethea, offensive tackle Anthony Castanzo and offensive guard Joe Reitz.
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Times have changed
Colts, Jaguars in different place from earlier meeting
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Small ball: Ciara McClain bunts to advance a teammate early in the Viking�s sectional matchup with Brown County.
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West Vigo comes up short against 19-9 Brown County softball
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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.
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Valley baseball teams have been keeping busy heading into sectionals
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Northview powers way past Terre Haute South in sectional semifinal
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The Knights hit three home runs in an eight-run third inning to reach the championship game. -
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Terre Haute North dominates field at regional
Keirra Porter took first place in two individual events and helped Terre Haute North win one of its relays as the Patriots captured the Evansville Central Regional team championship in girls high school track and field Tuesday night.
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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.
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PREP ROUNDUP: South tennis cruises into regional final
Terre Haute South didn’t lose a game en route to blanking Seeger 5-0 in girls high school tennis Tuesday to advance to today’s championship match against Crawfordsville in the Greencastle Regional.
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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.
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ISU's Negele answers call in big way in wake of Manaea injury
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West Vigo softball holds off nemesis Edgewood in softball sectional
Ice cream was enough of a reward Monday night after the West Vigo Vikings beat eight-time defending champion Edgewood 6-2 in extra innings in the opening game of the Class 3A softball sectional at Edgewood High School. But that’s not what Vikings want.
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West Vigo comes up short against 19-9 Brown County softball
- Local Interest
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Coach: Tim Terry is the South Vermillion baseball coach and plays in the senior league on Sunday afternoons.
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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. -
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.
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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.
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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. -
Vigo County Youth Soccer Association to host Indiana Soccer Cup Games
The Vigo County Youth Soccer Association will welcome more than 7,000 people to its Springhill Drive facility through two tournaments in the next five weeks.
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
- High School
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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.
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- Terre Haute North dominates field at regional
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- College
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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.
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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.
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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.
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ISU track sending record 22 to postseason
On the heels of their thrilling double victory at the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships both the Indiana State men and women moved up in the national rankings which were released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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ISU's athletic treasure trove
Think of every championship that Indiana State has won in each of its sports, past and present. Think of every tournament — postseason or regular season — which the Sycamores have claimed as their own.
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Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
In its rich 43-year history, the Tony Hulman Sprint Car Classic has long carried on a strong local racing tradition.
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
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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.
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
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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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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
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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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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
In its rich 43-year history, the Tony Hulman Sprint Car Classic has long carried on a strong local racing tradition.
From its early beginnings starting in 1971, the U.S. Auto Club-sanctioned event has been the annual centerpiece of the racing calendar at the Terre Haute Action Track as well as a key stop on the USAC sprint schedule and one of the most sought after wins in big league sprint-car racing. - Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
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