A Quick Overview of The Indianapolis Colts

With the Colts offseason in full swing, here is a quick overview of the Colts heading into 2016, both the good and the bad.

Defense:

The Good

-Kendall Langford, Henry Anderson(coming back from ACL), David Parry and Arthur Jones (if he can stay healthy) can help shore up the defensive line that has been a crutch since the Grigson/Pagano era began.

-The defense was better against the run last year than it has been for most of the Pagano era. If the defense can build on this, they should be in a good position heading into this year.

-Vontae Davis can improve upon on his performance last season to revert to his 2014 form while Patrick Robinson should be a clear upgrade over Greg Toler.

-Clayton Geathers appears to be looking good in OTA’s and showed some flashes last season while Mike Adams should be adequate unless his age finally catches up to him this season.

The Bad

-The LB core is clearly the weak point of the defense. Adding Ted Monachino should help given his history with LB’s but the overall talent just isn’t there. Losing Jerrel Freeman to Chicago is also a big hit. Trent Cole was a disappointment for most of the season. Robert Mathis is a year older while Erik Walden won’t contribute much more than he already has to this point.

-Darius Butler continues to be a liability in coverage outside the slot and didn’t look all that impressive last year in the slot vs. his previous seasons. Once you move past Davis and Robinson, the CB position looks very sparse.

Offense:

The Good

-The offensive line should be improved by simply adding center Ryan Kelly and former Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin. Kelly will help Luck with a number of his calls at the LOS while Philbin should help the players be more sound from a technical perspective. I believe this is a critical part of the offensive line’s success that might’ve been a major factor in the line’s shortcomings. However, some questions still remain.

-The WR core should be improved with a healthy Dorsett and another year of experience for Donte’ Moncrief and T.Y. Hilton.

-Andrew Luck being healthy speaks for itself. Last season the team finished 8-8 while he missed significant time. However, even when Luck played, his performance was abysmal at times. Him improving and cleaning up his bad habits will be the key difference.

The Bad

-The offensive line continues to be a major question mark despite the draft addition of Ryan Kelly. Joe Reitz appears to be a good fit at RT but is injury-prone. Castanzo had an off-year last year so there is some question as to whether he will rebound or not. The RG position continues to be the biggest question mark with no definitive player standing out to fill this position.

-The RB position has grown into a bit of a question mark as well. Gore is in the last year of his deal while the slots behind him appear to be muddled at best. If Gore were to miss any time due to injury, the lack of depth will become apparent very quickly.

-The tight end position isn’t a huge cause of concern but there are some questions. To much surprise, Dwayne Allen was retained and Coby Fleener signed with New Orleans. Jack Doyle looks to see an increased role opposite Allen. However, given Allen’s bout with injuries, it’s fair to wonder how he will hold up this season.

Biggest Addition:

It’s a bit of a no-brainer but the coaching staff changes should be the biggest help to the team. Joe Philbin has had some success in the past working with offensive linemen and players appear to be receptive to him thus far. Chudzinski will able to implement his full offense that has seen success when he was in both Cleveland and Carolina. Brian Schottenheimer should bring some fresh perspective to Luck as well as help him clean up some of the bad habits he’s developed. Ted Monachino has had a history of working well with LB’s from his time in Baltimore and should align more philosophically with Pagano given their work history.

 

Millennials and the Democratic Socialism Paradox

Dear fellow Millennials,

Herewith I ask you, why do some of us believe in appealable Democratic Socialism? Is it the Robin Hood complex that burns fervently inside? Is it the twisted mentality of entitlement that has come to plague our generation? Or rather, is it the intellectual neglect of history? A 2015 Reason-Rupe survey showed that 53% of 18 to 29 year olds viewed Socialism favorably, the only age group to do so (1). What makes this system so appealable to Millennials? Today’s brand of Socialism packages itself with the entitlements of free health care and college tuition while pointing to socialized European countries as examples. The following will discuss these three elements.

Universal health care apologists are quick to point to Canada’s system as a glowing example of universal health care and insinuate how this could work similarly in the United States. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States all have less waiting times in emergency care departments in comparison to Canada (2). These wait times don’t just apply to the emergency room either. More than half of the Canadians in the survey said they couldn’t get an appointment with their family physician on or the next day (2). Longer wait times have lead to increased mortality and an increase in reversible condition’s turning into permanent disabilities (3). Wait times may not presently disturb Millennials as a Zocdoc survey found that 9 in 10 Millennials do not schedule regular, preventive doctor visits (4). However, as these Millennials inevitably get older, doctor visits become more and more warranted. It’s plausible that the wait time issues that plague Canada’s health care system go unnoticed with Millennials because they do not necessitate the need to see their own physician right now.

Wait times remain half of the issue however. High health care costs are increasingly attached to universal health care. Millennials have taken akin to watch their money in regards to their health care. In a 2012 Deloitte survey, Millennials topped the survey as the generation that is the most cost-conscious with regards to health care (5). Not only are Millennials cost-conscious, they seek discounts for their health care, more so than other age groups. Eight % of the U.S. general population asks for a discount on medical care, that number leaps up to 19% percent for Millennials age 25 to 34, according to a 2015 report by global auditing and consulting firm PwC (5). If fiscal responsibility is of utmost importance, universal health care is not the answer and would only increase financial burden on Millennials. The Affordable Care Act, a large step towards a universal health care system, is already driving up health care costs. Oregon was the first state to announce that those who buy their own health insurance will have to pay higher premiums in 2017 (6). Tennessee’s largest insurer, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, announced that it would raise its premiums by an average of 36% next year (7). Small businesses that Millennial’s work for have also seen an increase in their health care costs. According to the National Center for Policy Analysis, rates in the small market group were raised 11% in 2014 (8). As a result, one in five businesses have reported they have cut the number of workers they have on payroll (8).

Let’s move into the world of free college tuition. Bernie Sanders, the Socialist Millennial’s beacon of hope, has outlined an ambiguous plan for debt-free college tuition. Germany is the archetype to many supporters of this system. The United States has a 32% higher enrollment amongst students going on to post-high school education than Germany based on 2012 numbers from the World Bank (9). Germany’s income tax rate is significantly higher than the United States while having a tax wedge percentage that is almost 19% more as well (10). In turn, higher earners in Germany may be led to implement themselves into other societies that allow them to keep a greater percentage of their earnings. Another factor to consider with Germany’s system is the vast number of underemployed graduates. A study shows that nearly 50% of United Kingdom college graduates are in non-graduate jobs (11). This suggests that putting more people through the collegiate system by means of it being free wouldn’t solve underemployment issues, but may rather compound it. It would simply be impossible to “plug and play” Germany’s free collegiate education system to fit the United States without major tax increases and increased underemployment.

Greece, another socialist European country, is in economic shambles in large part because of its socialist leanings (12). According to the Heritage Foundation, Greece ranked 138 in subsequent economic freedom while countries like the United Kingdom and the United States rank 10 and 11 (13).

Norway doesn’t present itself as nearly the shining example either. Norway doesn’t have a minimum wage. The United States meanwhile is in the midst of public debate on whether to raise its minimum wage doubly, in which 14 cities in 2015 have already done so (14). Norway is a country with 4.1% unemployment (15), very little to no immigration historically (16), little to any variation in lifestyle or opinion along with a publicly held oil trust that makes people millionaires (17). The U.S. meanwhile is the prime example of a melting pot with many varying lifestyles, opinions and immigrants (18). The U.S. also has a population that is about nine times the entire population of Norway with a huge number of illegal immigrants that alone make up nearly twice the population of Norway. Norway is a country that has the economic and geographic makeup that makes it an ideal candidate for Socialism to work. The United States is not for aforementioned reasons. So why are Millennials pushing for this brand of Socialism?

Younger Millennials, ages 18 to 24, as a whole have shown to believe that all kids participating should receive a trophy as found in one survey (19). Our fellow Millennial college graduates have trouble recalling how the Constitution is amended (20). Further troubling, a recent Reason-Rupe survey showed that only 16% of Millennials could accurately define what Socialism actually is (21).

Before I descend from my soapbox, I share one final story. I recently witnessed a young lady expressing her angst on a Facebook post about how she had graduated from college and now has a substantial amount of debt. She now has a job that she believes doesn’t compensate her in the manner in which she believes it should. This points to the disillusionment of equality that I see Millennials falling privy to. Going through a four year collegiate degree program doesn’t always necessitate success nor does it oblige financial compensation. Millennials are lead to believe that the exception is the rule. Isolated stories of twenty two year old millionaire entrepreneurs populate the news feed, selling rainbows and candy in a visibly attainable package. These and other minuet cases don’t reflect a plausible reality. Instead of working to attain success, the Millennial feels that similar success is waiting for them once they step off the commencement stage at graduation.

Millennials, it’s time to wake up and start working for the level of success that we want and abandon the misplaced allure of free entitlements that comprise Democratic Socialism.

Peyton Manning: The Ultimate Comeback Story

What makes a great comeback story? Is it the level of adversity? Is it the test of character and grit? Rarely do we get to witness stories that embody such virtuous elements. Peyton Manning’s 2015 season has all the right ingredients to make it the ultimate comeback story.

The Signs of Father Time

(Photo: AP/Jack Dempsey)

Father Time knows no boundaries. At times, we saw flashes of the old Peyton Manning. Other times we saw the effects of Father Time pulling at Peyton’s cape. Coming into the 2015 season, many had already believed that Peyton Manning was finished. Despite his early season struggles, the Broncos continued to win. After a 7-0 start, Manning’s true test of adversity began.

The Bottom

(Photo: AP/Jack Dempsey)

After dropping their first game of the season to the Colts, the bottom fell out against the Kansas City Chiefs. Manning threw four interceptions and was benched in the same game that saw him break the all-time passing yardage record. In the coming weeks, questions loomed about Manning’s health and if many wondered if he would ever see a football field again. Then, Al-Jazeera released a story insinuating that Manning had taken HGH as part of his rehab from four neck surgeries in 2011.

It seemed that Manning’s legacy was crumbling before our eyes. Brock Oswieler showed enough flashes to remain the starter heading into the last week of the season. This is where the story likely could’ve ended for Peyton. We root for great stories but often end up succumbing to the realities of life. Fate had different plans for Manning however.

The Return

(Photo: AP)

Manning’s return to the field this season would’ve been enough to satisfy most comeback stories. His surprising return against the San Diego Chargers seemed to afford him a rightful conclusion to his career. For the first time in his career, Manning was a healthy backup. The Broncos offense sputtered to the tune of five turnovers. With homefield advantage dangling dangerously in the balance, Kubiak made a choice that set fate in motion.

“Sometimes you just feel as if the team is looking around for that guy,” Kubiak told media after the game. “That tremendous leadership type of stuff, that’s what I felt… My gut told me to turn it over to Peyton, let him lead this football team.”

“I saw him in the training room the whole time getting ready, and I can see it in his eyes like, ‘You know what, I can’t wait to get back on the field,'” Demarcus Ware recalled of their time rehabbing from injuries. “When he got that opportunity to get back on the field and all the crowd – the 12th man in the Broncos stadium – I can see it in his eyes like ‘he’s back.’ From that point on, I knew he was ready.”

Manning’s unlikely return sparked the Broncos to victory and ignited the start of an immaculate playoff run.

The Triumph

(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

At every turn in the postseason, Manning faced doubt. Media pundits sang of his impending demise in unison. In the divisional round against the Steelers, the Broncos found themselves down late in the 4^th quarter. The game saw a unique play where Manning appeared to be sacked, only to get back up and fire a pass down the field for a long completion. The play personified Manning’s roller coaster season. Like so many times before in his career, Manning led his team back. The Broncos defense would seal the win and launch Manning and co. to the AFC Championship game to face a familiar foe.

Against longtime nemesis Tom Brady in the AFC Championship game, many wondered if he could stand up to his counterpart that seemed to be defying age. For part of Manning’s career, the Patriots have been a thorn in his side. Poetically, Manning outperformed Brady that day and took his team to Super Bowl 50. Brady faced a defense that seemed much like the immovable one’s his team had when he and Manning played earlier in their careers. If he were to return to the big game for one final dance, the only team he could’ve beat would’ve been the New England Patriots.

“This victory is a great example of what this entire season has been like. It hasn’t been easy. It’s been a lot of different people stepping up. This game today was truly a team game.” said Manning after the game.

The Finish

(Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

No quarterback in NFL history had won a Super Bowl with two different franchises. At the end of Super Bowl 50, Manning would become the first to do just that. A quarterback that carried his team to victory throughout his career found himself being lifted up by his team on the unlikeliest of Super Bowl runs. Manning now finishes his illustrious career with 200 total wins, the most touchdowns and yards in NFL history and 3rd most postseason wins.

Manning told SI’s Peter King the following after the win:

“I hadn’t been a backup, hadn’t really been injured. I played a long time, but I’d only seen it from one way. I know there are a couple scenarios that I haven’t been in, but I covered a lot of bases this year. Like I said, there is a real perspective to that. And it was really sort of educational for me. You know nobody loves the quarterback position more than me. Today, with the 50th Super Bowl and the league bringing back all the MVPs, I saw Phil Simms and I saw Joe Montana and Steve Young out there on the field before the game. I wanted so badly to find a way to be out there for that MVP picture out there with Eli and Tom Brady and Joe Namath. Impossible. There was no way I could do it. But nobody loves quarterbacks more than me and I think I have an even greater perspective and appreciation for the position after this year and I’ve stuck with it. You find out a lot. And it certainly ended up in a real good way today, didn’t it?”

For a player that has the most fourth quarter comebacks in NFL history, it’s only fitting his career would end with a comeback. This is the type of story that a Hollywood screenwriter drools over. They could now base it on a true story.

Manning Answers Critics, Ousts Brady One Final Time

Great comeback stories often make for tremendous screenplay. Rarely do we get to witness such stories outside of a movie theater. But this season, Peyton Manning has provided a story that even Hollywood couldn’t script. When sports history is asked to recall its greatest comeback stories, Peyton Manning’s 2015 season will be sitting at the top.

With one last chance to separate himself from his generational rival, Manning delivered. Manning outplayed his longtime nemesis en route to his 4^th Super Bowl appearance of his storied career. Manning moved to 3-1 all-time against Brady in AFC Championship games. It seems poetic that Manning’s final run would include a concluding win against his arch-nemesis on the biggest possible stage. Manning and Brady shared an extended embrace at the end of the game, both realizing the finality of one of the greatest rivalries in the history of sports.

Now, Manning has a chance to end his career in a way that another famous Broncos player had before him. Ironically, Manning had a run in the 3^rd quarter of the game that had echoed flashbacks to John Elway’s run against the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII.The Broncos’ win is a chance for Elway to keep a promise he made to Manning when he signed in 2012. That promise was if he signed with the Broncos, Elway would do everything in his power “to make sure he finishes his career the way I finished mine.” But to truly appreciate this moment, we have to look at the events leading up to it for Peyton Manning.

Begin with how many had already written Manning off heading into the season after the previous year’s playoff loss to the Colts. Then add the Planter Fasciitis injury and the four interceptions that lead to his benching against Kansas City. Then, add the HGH allegations from the now disbanded Al-Jazzera America news network. Summarize it by making it appear Manning’s run is completely over with his backup playing adequately enough in his absence to deter thoughts of his return. Manning overcame all of this to reclaim his starting job before the playoffs.

Manning’s father, Archie, spoke fondly of this moment: “I’m just so happy he’s getting to play again,” Archie said. “Being hurt is the worst side of football, but just to play again, gosh, and to help them into the No. 1 seed and then to win two playoff games. … I didn’t know if he’d play again. He fought this thing a long time, and the good Lord looked down on him. … This is a special day”

For Manning, it’s vindication. It’s hard to imagine that a player of his magnitude would need it at this point in his career. But in the face of mounting critics in his tremendous comeback story, Peyton Manning showed the world that he still has enough magic left to deliver one final run.

Manning Gets One Final Duel With Brady

(Photo: Rafa Alvarez)

Manning vs. Brady XVII. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady jiving for the right to go to Super Bowl 50. Two legends. One final time. History had appeared to rob fans of one final bout between these two.Manning was entering the clutches of Father Time with injuries mounting. After reclaiming his starting job, Manning’s team was down in the fourth quarter of their first playoff game. Yet, again he fought through to come back. If there is one lesson sports has taught us, its that when someone faces doubt and adversity, grit and character are revealed. Manning’s comeback thus far is a testament to his.

It seems that nearly every playoff game Manning has played in recent years is career defining. This one appears to afford him the opportunity to finally separate himself from his biggest generational rival. If Manning wins, he moves to 3-2 all-time against Brady in the postseason. Those 3 wins would also have come in the AFC Championship game. If the script writers are wanting to give Manning his final due, it’s only fitting one of his final scenes features a bout with Brady. Ironically, one of his worst statistical seasons has blossomed into one that has him one game way from the Super Bowl. Manning and the Broncos likely will be underdogs at home against the Patriots next week. But for Manning, it’s just part of the script.

In Ryan Grigson-Chuck Pagano Feud, Pagano Wins

(Photo: Michael Conroy, AP)

In the reported feud between Chuck Pagano and Ryan Grigson, Pagano came away the victor Monday night. The embattled Indianapolis coach had answered questions about his job since the Colts lost their opening game this season but remained constant in his desire to coach the Colts. Many expected that Pagano would be let go and that owner Jim Irsay would make a big splash for his next head coach after a trainwreck 8-8 season. Ryan Grigson was expected to remain the GM through the forthcoming hiring process. But Monday evening, the tide appeared to shift in Pagano’s favor after hours in a meeting between Irsay and himself. That night, Irsay announced that Pagano would be staying with the Colts in a joint press conference with Pagano and Grigson.

It’s worthwhile to note Grigson’s demeanor during the conference. He had the look of a guy that absolutely did not want to be there. Contrast that with the look of Chuck Pagano and it’s not hard to figure out what happened. Pagano won. The entire feud has had the feel of watching two kids fight in school but become best friends once they got to the principal’s office. It’ll never be definitively known but it’s a safe bet that Pagano voiced Grigson’s numerous oversteps to Irsay. Irsay in all likelihood sided with Pagano and took some of Grigson’s authority away. Grigson’s frustration with this may have manifest itself in his body language at the press conference. Sympathetic fans of Pagano poured out their thoughts via social media and started the hashtag “chuckstay” that clearly got the attention of the Colts themselves:

Interestingly, there wasn’t one for Ryan Grigson.

Time will tell if Irsay made the right choice in sticking with both men that are now tied to the hip.It’ll be interesting to see if Irsay can continue to mediate a clearly shaky relationship between the two.Irsay has shown that he favors stability and continuity which has helped propel the Colts to being one of the NFL’s most successful franchises. The Colts still have holes to fill on their roster while the AFC South is proving to no longer be a cakewalk. But for now, Chuck Pagano gets to enjoy another victory. One that allowed him to keep his job.

For Peyton Manning, There’s One Final Act

(Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

For many NFL players, the storybook ending often remains just that. A story. The league is unmerciful in moving forward while watching its legends fade into the abyss of retirement. For Peyton Manning, it appeared that his story was coming to a disheartening end. Amidst HGH allegations, injuries and a subsequent benching, many thought this was the last of Manning. You could feel the rage dripping from his words in his Sunday morning interview with Lisa Salters. His 39 year old body was failing him. His team had moved on from him. It appeared to be an unceremonious end for the one the league’s most prolific players. But then, the writers flipped the script. The Broncos offense couldn’t get out of its own way to the tune of five turnovers against the Chargers. With so much on the line, a sputtering Broncos offense turned back to the legend that had given all his body could this season.

To the roar of the the Denver crowd, Manning returned and seized the moment.The offense breathed new life with Manning at the helm. The Broncos scored 20 second half points en route to locking up the AFC’s number one seed. A season that’s seen Manning battle through the most adversity in his 18 year career seemed to karmically give him a final moment when a cloud of uncertainty loomed.

Now, an apparently rejuvenated Manning enters the postseason with the Broncos as the number one seed with the league’s number one defense behind him.The world wondered if they had seen the last of Peyton Manning. Sunday afternoon in Denver, they got their answer. Cue the final act.

Five Potential Colts Head Coach Candidates

As Chuck Pagano is set to coach his final game as Indianapolis’s head coach, questions are already swirling on whom the next coach will be. With Ryan Grigson expected to be retained through at least the search process, the Colts find themselves in a rather peculiar position. Nevertheless, the following will list some of the Colts head coaching options:

Adam Gase: 

(Photo: Chris Humphreys, USA TODAY Sports)

Gase finds himself as a hot commodity in coaching circles. Two seasons after helping Peyton Manning achieve the greatest statistical season a quarterback has ever had in 2013, Gase became the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. Under Gase this season, Jay Cutler saw his interception ratio go down while his passer rating soared to a career high. The Colts offense struggled for a majority of the season both with and without Luck in the lineup. Gase would inevitably help the Colts offense improve after posting some of its worst statistical finishes since 2011. However, Gase’s lack of experience could be a deterrent. Many also believe that the Colts need more help defensively and that an offensive-minded head coach wouldn’t lend to that cause.

Rob Chudzinski: 

(Photo: Colts.com)

Chudzinski will likely be interviewed for the Colts vacancy given his in-house credentials. Chudzinski took over play-calling from Pep Hamilton midway through the season and saw limited success despite not using his own offensive system. Chudzinski’s previous experience as head coach of the Browns plays in his favor and his work with Cam Newton as a rookie in 2011 bodes well for him. Ryan Grigson and Jim Irsay may be inclined to start completely over with the coaching staff and given Chudzinski’s ties to Pagano, this could eliminate him from being an option.

Sean Payton: 

(Photo: ESPN)

Despite Drew Brees and Payton himself stating their commitment to New Orleans, rumors continue to circulate on where the Super Bowl-winning head coach will be next season. Since trades are technically not allowed, a coach would have to consent to move as the draft choice compensation package and have his deal negotiated with the new team. Some are expecting that this package would look similar to the Jon Gruden/Tampa Bay Buccaneers trade that saw four draft picks and eight million dollars in cash go to the Raiders in exchange for Gruden. Payton’s offensive pedigree could help turn Andrew Luck into the MVP-caliber player many expect him to be. His experience in winning a Super Bowl makes him one of the best candidates in this regard as well. However, given the Colts already thin-talent base on the defensive side of the ball, giving up a king’s ransom for Payton could set the Colts back a number of seasons moving forward.

Hue Jackson:

(Photo: Associated Press)

The former Oakland Raiders head coach and current Bengals offensive coordinator is another name being thrown into the potential head coach’s hat. Andy Dalton took a giant leap forward this season under Jackson, posting a career best passer rating and a career low in interceptions. Jackson’s impressive ability to get the most out of his players would seem to work well with an Indianapolis team that has loads of talent offensively. However there are a few caveats to Jackson’s potential. Many think he desires to have more of a say in personnel choices given his trade for Carson Palmer during his time with Oakland. This would not mesh well with Ryan Grigson, whom was reportedly already at odds with Chuck Pagano over personnel choices. Some have also questioned Jackson’s success this season as a result of having talented players in AJ Green, Tyler Eifert and Mohammad Sanu.

Josh McDaniels:

(Photo: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports)

Like Adam Gase,  Josh McDaniels represents the up and coming generation of offensive coordinators that have seen a level of success. Unfortunately for McDaniels, his time as a head coach saw him be run out of Denver before returning to New England. Like a number of New England coaches, McDaniels struggled outside of Bill Bellichek’s nest. Mcdaniels has seen success as a coordinator however. Tom Brady is in the midst of another successful season with McDaniels at the helm. McDaniels has also shown the vital characteristic to be able to adapt his offense week to week based on whom the team is playing. The Colts and Andrew Luck could benefit from this style of offensive game planning after the same vertical passing attack of 2014 seemed to be thwarted in 2015.While McDaniels failure as head coach may be a deterrent, it could also be seen as a growth opportunity for one of the NFL’s bright, young minds.

The NFL’s Quarterback Crisis

The NFL has a crisis on its hands. No, it isn’t PR control from deflated footballs or from movies about concussions. Rather, it’s the surprising number of injuries to those that play game’s most important position.

Injuries are a part of the NFL. Each team battles through a number of injuries each year in a test of depth and grit. Yet, the injuries this season to the game’s quarterbacks have arguably reshaped the complexion of the league. The AFC playoffs will feature only 2 QB’s that have started each game this season while 14 of the league’s teams have seen their starting quarterback miss playing time due to injury.

Is this season just an anomaly or are we beginning to see the fruits of one of the ill-advised regulations of the 2011 CBA? One of the aims of the CBA was to promote more player safety by reducing off-season practice times by five weeks. The flip side of the coin appears to be offensive linemen not having enough time to refine their skill. Inevitably, this leads to the linemen not being as sharp when the bullets are live and thus more QB hits and injuries. The CBA isn’t solely to blame however.

Seattle Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable told ESPN Radio in May: “I’m not wanting to offend anybody, but college football, offensively, has gotten to be really, really bad fundamentally.” “Unfortunately, I think we’re doing a huge disservice to offensive football players, other than a receiver, that come out of these spread systems. The runners aren’t as good. They aren’t taught how to run. The blockers aren’t as good. The quarterbacks aren’t as good. They don’t know how to read coverage and throw progressions. They have no idea.”

Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden also expressed similar sentiment: “You’re getting a lot of young offensive linemen out of college these days that have never been in a three‑point stance, have never been in a huddle,” Gruden said. “They don’t have a real good background in how to get the stance and get out of a stance and pass protect, let alone pick up stunts, blitzes, handle audibles. It’s a whole new world. I think late in the season, no one’s wearing pads on the practice field. They don’t pad up on the practice field in training camp nearly like they used to. There are a lot of linemen changing teams more so than I’ve ever seen before … I think that’s why you see a lot of teams running dive options with built‑in bubble screens.”

At first, some thought this was partly a quarterback issue as well, particularly with young ones fresh out of the collegiate ranks. Jon Gruden expounded on this also: “I know a lot of quarterbacks have been under siege,” he said. “A lot of quarterbacks have been hit hard. A lot of the poor offensive line play has to do with poor quarterback play. You’ve got to be able to direct these protections. You’ve got to make the right calls. You have to make sure everybody’s on the same page. You also have to throw the ball away and not hold it very long in pro football. So I think the quarterback at times is truly responsible for the negative outcome on some of these plays I’ve seen.”

But this season, it isn’t just young quarterbacks getting punished. Veterans that know a thing or two about deciphering a defense have also taken a beating as well. Tony Romo, Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning and Joe Flacco to name a few. What’s worse, is that a number of these players reflect the stardom power the league holds. As they go down, so does the overall performance of the league.

For the NFL, the implications could be more damaging than expected. Quarterbacks are the league’s most prized possessions. They’ve helped propel the league to a stratosphere never before seen. In the short-term, the NFL may be able to brush this season off as an anomaly, but the signs are becoming clearer and clearer. The NFL has a quarterback crisis.

Where Do The Colts Go From Here?

 

For Colts fans, this season has arguably been one of the toughest to watch. With high expectations, the room for error was slim for a team that appeared ready to take the next step. With a disappointing season drawing to a close, many are wondering where the Colts go from here. Chuck Pagano’s contract is set to expire, with many expecting him to not return. Ryan Grigson is on contract for one more season but Jim Irsay will undoubtedly examine his status as well. But if the Colts hope to return to their winning ways next season, they’ll have to do the following:

Let Chuck Pagano Walk

Pagano came to Indianapolis with a defensive pedigree. His 3^rd ranked defense in 2011 with Baltimore helped edify this. That same success has eluded him in Indianapolis. With a defense ranking in 20’s 3 different times and being ranked 29^th this season, the writing is on the wall.

It isn’t just the defense however. The team as a whole has come out supremely flat against a number of teams during his tenure. Blowout losses to the Cowboys, Steelers and Patriots in 2014 come to mind as well as mind-boggling losses to the Cardinals and Rams the year prior. This season has only amplified this notion with not-so-close losses to the Steelers, Jaguars and Saints.

Pagano has also failed to beat New England in five meetings, including the postseason. For an organization that prides itself on being able to compete with its biggest rival, losing to the Patriots becomes an even bigger blemish. This season saw the matchup finally be a competitive one. But when one of the worst special teams play’s in NFL history happened, Pagano may have watched his chance to return to Indianapolis next season fade away.

Fire Ryan Grigson

A number of the Colts issues must be traced to Ryan Grigson as well. While his 2012 draft won him Executive of the Year, his subsequent drafts and free agent signings left much to be desired. 2013 first round pick Bjorn Werner has been on the inactive list 6 times this season. Grigson also traded away a first round pick for Trent Richardson. Former free agents Laron Landry, Ricky Jean Francois and Gosder Cherilus fizzled out along with a number of other players.

But Grigson’s biggest mishap lies in his inability to fix an offensive line that has been the team’s biggest positional weakness since his tenure began. He’s selected six different offensive linemen since 2012 but only one has proven to be a viable long-term option in Jack Mewhort. Many thought that Grigson was playing with fire in having a shoddy offensive line and he finally got burned this season with injuries to both Andrew Luck and Matt Hasselbeck. Couple all of this with amid rumors that Grigson over steps his bounds with on-field personnel decisions and you have a GM-Head Coach feud that is ever more believable.

For Jim Irsay and the Colts, it’s time to push the reset button once again. Time will tell if it will work.