INDIANAPOLIS —
The Indianapolis Colts are 0-1 away from Lucas Oil Stadium this season, losing 44-21 to the Chicago Bears in the team’s regular-season National Football League opener. Interim coach/offensive coordinator Bruce Arians admits to being curious about how the Colts respond in Sunday’s road game with the New York Jets.
“That was a big focus in our [team] meeting [Wednesday], how we’re going to handle the road business trip — from the travel part of it, to the game part of it, to the crowd-noise part of it,” Arians said earlier this week.
“We didn’t handle it extremely well in the second half against Chicago, although we had very few pre-snap penalties and did a pretty good job with our silent count and our snap count.”
Whatever happens in New York, Arians says that the team’s relative youth won’t be a factor.
“Pretty soon we’re not going to be young anymore. [Rookie wide receiver] T.Y. [Hilton] got 73 snaps in [last week’s game with Green Bay]. I don’t consider [rookie quarterback] Andrew [Luck] young anymore,” Arians voiced.
“When you play these guys long enough, going into this week the youth part of it can’t be used as an excuse anymore. They’ve been down that road. We’ll give them one more test on the road in a big ball game for both teams.”
As impressive as the Colts’ passing game looked in the win over the Packers, finding that right balance with the running game continues to be somewhat elusive.
“Each week we’ll bring a little bit out [of the offensive playbook] and use it. I’d like to be able to run the football more often, better. I thought we had a nice balance in the first half of [the Green Bay] game. It was legit running the football. We have to maintain that on the road,” Arians said.
Indianapolis used more of its no-huddle offense last week, but that was in a home-game situation. Doing it on the road could prove to be much more difficult.
“With the no-huddle [and] adding the running game to it, I was really pleased. Now taking that on the road with a very young team is going to be a very big challenge because communication levels are not as easy and there’s room for error,” the coach said. “It only takes one guy not to get the right word or snap count and ruin a very good situation for you. So we’ll be very careful how we use it, when we use it, or how much we use it.”
Facing a defense as complex as New York’s adds to the challenge.
“They’re powerful. They’re very physical and big up front and [have an] outstanding corps of linebackers. That’s always been [coach Rex Ryan’s] motto: ‘Stop the run and make them one-dimensional.’ And then be the exotic blitzers,” Arians explained.
“We’re very similar defenses with very similar philosophies. They’ve got the talent to do it and obviously when you take a guy like [cornerback] Darrelle Revis out of the mix, it changes some things, but they still have [cornerback Antonio] Cromartie and the young guys that are back there are still pretty solid. To me it’s the physicality of the front [that makes the defense strong].”
n Facing Sanchez/Tebow — The Colts have prepared this past week to face both Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow as the Jets quarterback.
While Ryan has given Sanchez his backing this week, Tebow will play as well.
“I told [the defensive players] we have to prepare for two and they understand that going into this game. We’ve got to make sure we surround both of them,” defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said. “It depends on what [the Jets] want to do. It’s all up to them. They have the ball and they can do whatever they want with it. We just have to adjust to whatever they put out there on the field, and just play at a high level.”
Indianapolis knows all about Sanchez, having faced him twice in postseason play in 2009 and 2010. Tebow is something else entirely. Rookie quarterback Chandler Harnish, who ran an offense at Northern Illinois similar to what Tebow did at Florida, was the scout-team quarterback during practice this week.
“It is definitely going to be a challenge with Tebow and everything that he does. That’s what they force you to do. They kind of force you to kind of prepare for the wildcat and all that stuff, which you could have a whole offense, a whole game just wildcat, passes, runs, trick plays,” outside linebacker Dwight Freeney said.
“Then you’ve got Sanchez back there and they are doing what they do. That’s just a normal pro-style offense. That takes another week to prepare for. That’s kind of the challenge going into this week with the Jets. They give you two game plans to prepare for.”
n Injury list — Arians ruled out outside linebacker Robert Mathis, inside linebacker Pat Angerer, offensive guard Joe Reitz, defensive tackle Fili Moala, running back Donald Brown and nose tackle Martin Tevaseu for Sunday’s game. Cornerback Vontae Davis is listed as probable.
Sports
Will Colts’ show play on the road?
- Sports
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On the scoreboard: Terre Haute South's Justin Jenkins (6) celebrates the Braves' first run with teammate Jacob Johnson during the Braves' sectional game against North on Wednesday at South.
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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 and going on to a surprisingly easy 12-2 victory over the host Braves. -
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.
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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.
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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. -
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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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.
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North baseball pulls away from South in sectional opener
- Local Interest
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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.
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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.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
- High School
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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 and going on to a surprisingly easy 12-2 victory over the host Braves. - Blank, Mundy named McMillan Award winners
- West Vigo baseball advances with 10-0 win behind Stewart's two-hitter
- Terre Haute South tennis claims regional crown
- Big group of Wabash Valley boys head to Evansville looking for state berths
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- College
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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.
-
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.
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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.
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.
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Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
- Sports Columns
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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. - Shooters compete to fight cancer
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Pro Sports
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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. - Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
- Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Terre Haute Rex
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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
- Rex out of playoffs
- Rex mix, match their way to win
- Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
- Colts
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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.
- Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Werner at top of game
- Colts select pass rusher Werner in first round
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
- Auto Racing
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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
- Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
- TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers
- TRACKSIDE: Tough to rise from sprint-car racing, especially in challenging financial times
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
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