Smitty's Week Two Colts Preview

Smitty’s 2007 Colts Week Two Preview​

Week Two​

Indianapolis Colts (1-0) @ Tennessee Titans (1-0)​

Date & Time: Sunday September 16, 2007 @ 1:00 pm est.
TV: CBS
Radio: WFBQ Q-95 (94.7 FM) Local Indianapolis

Where: LP Field,
Ticket Office
One Titans Way
Nashville, TN 37213
615-565-4200
Capacity: 68,798
Surface: Grass, #419 Bermuda
Odds: Colts -8, Over/Under 46
Last Meeting: Colts 17 @ Titans 20 (12/30/2006)
Last Week: Saints 10 @ Colts 41
Titans 13 @ Jaguars 10

The Indianapolis Colts will be back in Nashville, Tennessee this Sunday seeking revenge over their loss last December. With the score all knotted up the Titans kicker Rob Bironas nailed a game winning 60 yard field goal, handing the Colts their second loss of the season. Thus giving our Gotitans.com trolls/friends ammo all off season and leading up to our first meeting of the 2007 campaign.

Last Weeks Games:
The Indianapolis Colts defense had several question marks heading into the start of the 2007 season. Due to off-season player movements and a training camp injury to defensive tackle Anthony McFarland, Indianapolis has been forced to replace four defensive starters from a year ago.Last week against the powerful New Orleans Saints offensive juggernaut the Colts defense did not allow an offensive touchdown, while limiting New Orleans to a mere 159 yards of total offense. In doing so they held the Saints much talked about running game to only 58 total rushing yards. Looked like our defense was playing with the same attitude they took into the post season last year.While the Colts offense finally shook off the rust in the third quarter after playing to a 10-10 tie at the half. The Colts added 31 second half points to pull away with a 41-10 opening day victory.


The Tennessee Titans meanwhile celebrated a victory on the road at the hands of a division rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars. This puts the Titans atop the AFC South with a 1-0 record in division play. Chris Brown had a fantastic day running the ball 19 times while amassing 175 yards. While the passing game appeared to be lacking a go to receiver.

The Game:
There's a pretty good chance that most of what happens this week at L.P. Field will revolve around what happens in the run game. The Colts struggled to stop the run during the regular season last year and I look for the Titans to once again attempt to exploit this perceived weakness. I look for the Titans to utilize the size of LenDale White against a much smaller defensive line than that of the Jaguars. With last weeks hero Chris Brown taking the reserve roll this week.


With perennial All-Pro Colt QB Peyton Manning, accompanied by his tremendous arsenal of receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne and a solid tight end in Dallas Clark, the Titans defense will have its hands full stopping the pass on Sunday. If the Colts can establish the running game against the Titans, opening up the passing game, it could be a long afternoon for the Tennessee hopeful.


Tennessee Titan Keys For Success:


1. Don’t Fall behind: Should the Titans fall behind and have to relinquish their game plan and abandon the run. Then lookout the route will be on.


2. Utilize the play-action pass: The Colts will be focused on stuffing the run after watching the Titans' Chris Brown run rampant against the Jags last Sunday. The Colts safeties Bob Sanders and Antoine Bethea are aggressive run defenders who close on ballcarriers quickly. With a good play-action fake, Young can freeze the safeties and put them out of position long enough for wide receiver Brandon Jones or tight end Bo Scaife to get behind them for a big gain downfield.


3. Defend the stretch play: The stretch is the Colts' primary running play, and the Titans must be ready to defend it. Based on last Sundays game against the Saints it looks as though the Colts mostly run to the tight end side of the formation. Utecht will block down on the end, and the play-side tackle will pull outside to lead Joseph Addai. Titans defensive ends must anticipate the down block and fight through it. If they seal off the edge and force Addai back to the inside, the Titans could be successful Sunday.

4. Use nickel personnel on all downs: With the Colts running a no-huddle offense, it is difficult for opponents to substitute. The Titans will be best served to just keep their nickel package on the field. This would allow them to cover Colts Tight End Dallas Clark with a defensive back and have their best pass rushers on the field. However, they must be prepared to stop the run and not come flying off the ball with pass-rush moves.


Colts Keys For Success:

1. Read the Titan Defense: Quarterback Peyton Manning is a master at making pre-snap adjustments. He comes to the line with three plays and chooses the best, based on the look of the defense. He often will audible away and change the play. If the cornerbacks give the Colts' receivers large cushions, Manning will throw quick slants. If he sees the Titans playing bump-and-run coverage, he will fake the slant with a pump fake and hit Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne for a long one. The Titans must disguise their coverage and not be predictable; otherwise, Peyton will pick them apart.


2. Play Contain Vince Defense: The Colts must keep Quarterback Vince Young in the pocket and force him to be a dropback passer because he is most dangerous when out of the pocket and improvising. The Colt defensive ends must get upfield and collapse the pocket from the outside-in. If Young is allowed to escape to the sideline, Young will cash in for some huge plays.


3. Play Clark as a conventional tight end: The Colts use a two-tight end set in their base offense, with Clark primarily lined up in the slot and Ben Utecht playing tight next to an offensive tackle. Against the Saints, however, Clark often was covered by a defensive back when Indy used the two-tight end set. The few times he lined up as a conventional tight end, he was defended by linebackers and was able to blow by them with ease. Expect the Colts to take advantage of this mismatch often on Sunday.


4. Stop the run: Force the Titans to pass and abandon the running game. This will allow the Colt ends an opportunity to meet Vince Young upclose and personal.


Tidbits to Ponder:


Colts QB Peyton Manning has thrown career-high 164 consecutive passes without an INT, dating back to last season.


Manning finished with 125.4 passer rating vs. Saints, his 54th game with 100+ passer rating.


Manning’s record is now 93-52, career-best tying 41 games above .500.

Colts WR Reggie Wayne had 115 receiving yards and 2 TDs vs. the Saints; has 17 career games with 100+ receiving yards and 7 career multi-TD games.

Colts WR Marvin Harrison had 83 receiving yards vs. Saints to give him 13,780 for his career, passing WR Henry Ellard (13,777) for 5th on NFL’s all-time list.

Titans have won 7-of-8 games dating back to last season.

Titans are 5-3 when QB Vince Young runs for a TD.

Titans ran for franchise-record 282 yards vs. Jaguars in Week One.

Titans RB Chris Brown ran for career-high 175 yards on 19 carries vs. Jaguars.

Adam “Pac Man” Jones (TEN - CB) Jones won a pro wrestling tag team world championship on Sunday, the Tennessean reports. (RotoWire - Tue. Sep 11, 2007) Sorry but this was a Match worth missing.

My Take:
I look for the Colts to jump out to a quick lead. This will force the Titans away from their game plan and force them to play catch up with their passing game, allowing the Colt defense to get after the Titans Quarterback Vince Young. The Saints Jason David will say “I told ya so” to his old buddy Nick Harper of the Titans after he gets his turn against his ex-team mates Wayne and Harrison.

Smitty’s Prediction:

Colts 34 Titans 10​