Quick thoughts on Giants-Colts

[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by DrSpaceman

Most of the stuff was covered and I agree with. A tale of two halves. Or really one bad quarter and three good to mediocre ones.

Luck was just off to start the game. The one early throw downfield on 3rd down to Ebron just had no chance and he had an easier pass underneath, seemed like he got locked onto Ebron and looked nowhere else. Can't blame that one on Ebron. The INT, WTF? I don't know if he was throwing it away or he thought the WR/TE, I think it was Ebron again, was supposed to keep going. Even late, he got bailed out on the strip fumble with the penalty. Could see that coming the entire play.

The defense, this is what tells me they really are not an elite or even average pass D yet. Thank god OBJ did not play today or this could have been a blow out loss. Eli is no Peyton and is on a down year, but he is a veteran QB and was given time, able to pick apart an average secondary. Seemed like the Colts couldn't decide whether to rush him or play back in coverage. Although he did get bailed out twice on what I thought should have been grounding calls. No third down stops the first half, was just picking them apart.

I was at the game and that has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the late drives for the Giants it looked like Reich should have challenged a spot, seemed to be half a yard short on the RAC by the WR when he was down, but the refs gave him a first down around the 20. No red flag. Also on the fumble earlier in the game by Barkley, I thought he wad down, clearly, though he threw the red flag. That one could not be challenged for whatever reason. Being at the game though you don't have as much of a chance to view the replays.

TY Hilton. I would not argue he is the best WR in the game, but there is no better big play WR in the game than him. You need a big play, he is there. And today he passed 500 receptions and 8000 yards for his career. Next to the QB position, the Colts have been the most blessed at WR than anything else in the last 20 years between Harrison, Wayne and now TY Hilton

Ryan Grant, agree, WTF is he still on the team? What a waste. And while Rogers played well, beyond TY Hilton and Hines out of the backfield, it seems we have just a bunch of guys at WR. I mentioned on the Bell discussion thread, would much rather FA money be spent on WR than on signing Bell.

Ebron again with the drops, GREAT throw by Luck and he drops it downfield. Its feast or famine with him.

Also not sure if it was shown on the TV feed, three surprise guests :

Johnny Unitas Jr and Johnny Unitas III were at the game as honorary captains as part of the 60th anniversary of the Giants-Colts Championship game. Surprised me that his relatives would show up at an a game in Indianapolis like that. Not sure that would have happened 10 years ago

And Gary Hogeboom was there! I had literally forgot he was an the team, let alone that he was the QB of one of the division winning mediocre teams back in the mid-late 80s.

At the end of the day, its a win and with Pitt and Houston BOTH losing, a whole lot to play for in one week, primetime game, #256, last of the regular season for a playoff spot of some type. After a 1-5 start, even coming down to the last game of the season for a playoff spot is amazing.

The stats I saw during the game contradict your point that Eli is having a down year. Highest completion rate, and lowest INT percentage.

[DrSpaceman]

Well looking it up, now I don't feel as bad about forgetting Gary Hogeboom. ANd I am not sure why he was there, unless Jack Trudeau they just did not want there because of his sketchy history with the law over the past decade.

Colts went 9-7 in 1987. Hogeboom was 4-2 as a starter and Trudeau 5-3.

And two of Hogebooms wins were against strike replacement player teams that season.

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by DrSpaceman

Well looking it up, now I don't feel as bad about forgetting Gary Hogeboom. ANd I am not sure why he was there, unless Jack Trudeau they just did not want there because of his sketchy history with the law over the past decade.

Colts went 9-7 in 1987. Hogeboom was 4-2 as a starter and Trudeau 5-3.

And two of Hogebooms wins were against strike replacement player teams that season.

Iirc Hogeboom got injured against Miami that year and Trudeau came in and did a serviceable job.

[rcubed]

I would like to see our number of penalties go down.

[Oldcolt]

If you look at this team not as a finished product, but rather as a work still in progress this has been an amazing year. The team has learned how to win ball games and is in the process of learning how to handle and sustain success. Next Sunday is a huge test. Win or lose I have confidence that this team has the leadership in its staff to learn and teach the right lessons from the game. I'm going to just enjoy this week We are going to play a meaningful game on December 30!! It's been a nice year

[VeveJones007]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

If you look at this team not as a finished product, but rather as a work still in progress this has been an amazing year. The team has learned how to win ball games and is in the process of learning how to handle and sustain success. Next Sunday is a huge test. Win or lose I have confidence that this team has the leadership in its staff to learn and teach the right lessons from the game. I'm going to just enjoy this week We are going to play a meaningful game on December 30!! It's been a nice year

Well said. I’m pumped for next week but I’m even more excited for next year. The progression has been significant just this one season. Imagine what they’ll look like with a few key additions and another offseason of work in this system.

[DrSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Racehorse

The stats I saw during the game contradict your point that Eli is having a down year. Highest completion rate, and lowest INT percentage.

Will take your word for it. Did not look up his stats, just going by all the talk of whether he is going to back for the Giants at QB next year