More In Sports

‘);
$(‘#ody-nextstoryslider’).append(‘Read More’);
return;
}
var _art,_right,wpElem;
var _beenzagged=(function(){
var _u = GEL.env.user;
return(_u.state || _u.yob || _u.zip )?true:false;
})();
var _laststate=(function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’);
var _closed = _t.getValue(‘lastNextStoryState’);
return _closed;
})();
if(!_beenzagged){
getContent();
var _slidestate=_laststate==’false’?'handle’:”;
_art=$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article’);
_right=$(‘.ody-skin .ody-aside’);
wpElem=_art.height()>_right.height()?_art:_right;
var slider=GEL.widget.slider(wpElem,’ody-nextstoryslider’,{
close: ‘‘,
closeCallback: function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’)
_t.setValue(‘lastNextStoryState’,'false’)
},
direction: ‘right’,
handle: ‘‘,
openCallback: function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’)
_t.setValue(‘lastNextStoryState’,'true’)
},
offset: function(){
var offSet=$.waypoints(‘viewportHeight’)-($(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-article-bodytext’).height()-$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-ob-taboola-wrapper’).height());
if(($(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-article-bodytext’).height()-$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-ob-taboola-wrapper’).height())

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) – Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas
Clark will miss a few weeks due to a lower left leg injury suffered in
Sunday’s game against Atlanta.

Clark exited Sunday’s game in the second quarter, and was wearing a walking
boot on the sideline.

Brody Eldridge, another tight end, left Sunday’s game with a hand injury in
the first quarter.

Colts head coach Jim Caldwell is unsure how long Clark and Eldridge will be
out, but he stated that both players suffered “pretty significant injuries.”

“What I mean by that is more than a week,” Caldwell said.

If the Colts are left without Eldridge and Clark for a few weeks, the only
tight end Indianapolis has left on the roster is Jacob Tamme.

“We do have to do something in those areas and we’re working on that as we
speak,” Caldwell said.

The 32-year-old Clark has 28 receptions for 287 yards and two touchdowns in
nine games played this season, while Eldridge has six catches for 33 yards.

The Sports Network

(Sports Network) – Does one man make a difference on how a team performs?

It seems that way with quarterback Peyton Manning and the winless Indianapolis
Colts, who will try once again for their first win of the season Sunday versus
the visiting Atlanta Falcons at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Manning hasn’t played a down this season due to his ongoing neck issues and
will most likely not play at all in 2011 despite remaining on the active
roster. In his absence, the Colts have lost eight consecutive games to start
the year and are virtually certain to have a streak of nine straight playoff
appearances end.

The four-time MVP is expected to occupy a roster spot for the remainder of this
tumultuous campaign and could make a cameo appearance sometime in the latter
weeks of the season. Manning hasn’t been cleared to practice yet, however, and
Colts vice chairman Bill Polian was recently asked about one of the game’s most
respected players making a comeback in 2011 rather than waiting for next
season.

“Well, I think that’s generally true. The only caveat would be I’m not sure we
would play him in ballgames,” Polian said of Manning. “For example, if our
offensive line was as beaten up at the end of the season as it is now, I’m not
sure we’d run the risk of playing him. Not to denigrate [substitute
quarterback] Curtis [Painter] in any way, but a guy coming off that long of a
layoff in front of a non-experienced line would be a little difficult.”

It couldn’t get any worse, however, for the Colts, one of the NFL’s two
remaining winless teams along with Miami. For now, Painter will remain the
starter until told otherwise as the Colts are prepare for a rare showdown with
the Falcons at home after playing their last three games on the road.
Indianapolis has scored just 17 points in losses at New Orleans and Tennessee
over the last two weeks and suffered a 27-10 setback to the Titans last Sunday.

Painter passed for 250 yards with a pair of interceptions against the Titans,
one week after going 9-for-17 for 67 yards and a pick in a 62-7 romp at the
hands of the Saints.

Indianapolis has struggled mightily without its offensive captain in Manning
and is 30th in total offense (294.9 ypg) and scoring (15.1 ppg). The team is
hoping a return to Lucas Oil Stadium to play in front of the home crowd will
lift some of the bewildered spirits.

“It’s always nice to have your home crowd, especially when you’re struggling
offensively,” said veteran center Jeff Saturday. “We like to get our crowd
involved, get them excited, and you can play off that momentum and feed off of
it. So it will be good to be back at Lucas Oil, and I look forward to seeing
some smiling faces and some good fans.”

The Colts will also host Jacksonville before their bye week.

Atlanta enjoyed its week off and will visit the Colts before returning to the
Peach State for three consecutive contests. It headed to the bye riding a
season-best two-game winning streak and a 4-3 record — good enough for a
second-place tie with Tampa Bay in the NFC South standings.

The Falcons took care of Carolina and Detroit before a one-week layoff and
will get a healthy Matt Ryan back under center. The quarterback missed a few
plays in the team’s 23-16 win over Lions with what appeared to be an ankle and
knee issue after left tackle Will Svitek unintentionally stepped on Ryan’s foot
in the pocket.

“Quarterbacks get a lot of notoriety and people’s eyes are always on you, so
they kind of see those things a little bit more so than some other positions,”
Ryan said of his injury. “But that’s par for the course in our locker room.
We’ve got a lot of guys who week in and week out, grind through a lot of
different things and show up on the field. I’m just trying to do like everyone
else.”

It’s difficult to be just like everyone else when you’re the quarterback and
face of the franchise, however, and the allure of Ryan going up against Manning
has worn off now that the latter has been relegated to coaching duties on the
sidelines.

Ryan kept his focus on the team and noted how they’re still things to improve
on and stay consistent with, such as winning football games. Only a game behind
the Saints in the division standings, Atlanta can’t let one slip away this
week.

Like all teams around the league, the Falcons have been hampered with injuries
this season. It was recently learned that left offensive tackle Sam Baker will
miss three-to-four weeks with a balky back and Svitek, who filled in for Baker
at Detroit, will take over as the starter. Rookie wide receiver Julio Jones has
missed back-to-back games with a hamstring issue and tight end Tony Gonzalez
missed some practice time this week with a back issue. Both offensive weapons
are expected to be ready for Sunday’s game, however, and Falcons leading
receiver Roddy White can’t wait to see Jones get back on the field.

“We’ve missed him and his big play ability and the things he brings to the
table,” White said. “I was happy to see him out there on Monday running
routes. He even stayed after practice and we got some work in catching balls.
He’ll be ready to fly on Sunday and we’ll be ready to go.”

Sunday’s game will be just the seventh matchup between the two teams since the
Colts re-located to Indianapolis from Baltimore in 1984.

SERIES HISTORY

The Colts own a commanding 13-1 lead in their all-time series with the
Falcons, with Atlanta’s lone win in the set a 28-21 triumph at the Georgia
Dome on Dec. 6, 1998. Indianapolis has defeated the Falcons three straight
times since, following up home victories in both 2001 and 2003 with a 31-13
decision in Atlanta during the 2007 campaign. The Falcons are 0-6 all-time
against the Colts on the road, with three of those setbacks taking place in
Indianapolis.

Both Atlanta’s Mike Smith and Indianapolis’ Jim Caldwell will be opposing one
another, as well as their counterpart’s respective team, for the first time as
head coaches.

WHEN THE FALCONS HAVE THE BALL

Ryan (1,683 passing yards, 9 TD, 8 INT) had nine interceptions in 16 games a
year ago, but is one pick away from matching that mark this season. He has
thrown a touchdown pass in six straight games since not having one in a Week 1
loss at Chicago, however, though his 63.1 passer rating against Detroit was his
second-lowest of the season and worst since a 55.1 showing in a loss to Green
Bay on Oct. 9. The former Boston College college standout has been sacked 18
times already this season for a Falcons team struggling in yards per play (21st
overall), net yards passing per play (24th) and scoring average (17th). Ryan
has played well against the AFC in his career, having gone 9-3 with 18
touchdown passes to three interceptions for a 96.0 quarterback rating. The
Falcons are 17-0 when Ryan has a rating of 100 or better, and he should have a
chance to get to that mark on Sunday. Atlanta is also 25-8 under Smith in games
played indoors, and each of its last nine games will be played inside a dome.
Gonzalez (35 receptions, 4 TD) leads the team in receiving scores and is second
on the NFL’s all-time list with 1,104 receptions. White (39 receptions, 3 TD)
is hoping the return of Jones will open the offense, while running back Michael
Turner (621 rushing yards, 6 TD) will have Jason Snelling as his new fullback
after the team placed Ovie Mughelli (knee) on injured reserve during the bye.
Turner has rushed for 100-plus yards in two straight games.

The Colts have been brutal on defense this season save for the efforts of
middle linebacker and leading tackler Pat Angerer (90 tackles) and defensive
ends Dwight Freeney (12 tackles, 5 sacks) and Robert Mathis (14 tackles, 4
sacks). Angerer posted 10 tackles against the Titans and has recorded that many
on four occasions this season. Freeney is a six-time Pro Bowl selection and the
franchise’s all-time leader in sacks, but hasn’t had one since a loss to Kansas
City on Oct. 9 for the Colts, who are 31st in total defense (402.9 yards per
game), 32nd in scoring defense (31.5 points per game) and tied for 30th with 12
sacks. Indianapolis is also 31st against the run and will have a tough time
stopping Turner after Javon Ringer and Chris Johnson combined for 94 yards in
last week’s win for the Titans. Mathis said the team practices hard, but just
can’t get over the hump on Sundays. Perhaps a return home can boost the
defense’s energy and lift Indianapolis to its first win. If the Colts can find
a way to slow down the Falcons’ run game and force them to pass, they may have
a chance. In the secondary, safety Antoine Bethea (64 tackles) is a solid
contributor behind two lesser-known cornerbacks in Jacob Lacey (30 tackles) and
Jerraud Powers (35 tackles).

WHEN THE COLTS HAVE THE BALL

Painter (1,123 passing yards, 5 TD, 4 INT) has been getting extended time under
center with Manning out due to neck surgery and hasn’t done much to help fans
forget about their beloved No. 18. The former Purdue standout is averaging only
168.3 passing yards with a touchdown and four interceptions in his last three
games, but had a career-best 79 yards rushing in the loss at Tennessee. Running
back Joseph Addai (257 rushing yards, 1 TD) has been bothered by a hamstring
injury and did not play against the Titans. He has missed two of the previous
three weeks because of the problem and had just eight yards on two carries in
the blowout loss at New Orleans. Addai hasn’t rushed for more than 86 yards in
a game this season, but owns 12 rushing touchdowns in 17 career games against
the NFC. Rookie Delone Carter (305 rushing yards, 2 TD) has handled the load in
Addai’s absence and leads the Colts in rushing yards and carries (74). He was
held to 46 yards on nine carries against Tennessee, one game after ripping off
a career-best 89 yards and a touchdown on 10 touches in the loss to New
Orleans. Fellow running back Donald Brown (153 rushing yards, 2 TD) is still
relevant in Indy, and even more so now that Addai is nicked up. Indianapolis’
offensive line has been plagued by injuries this season, but rookie tackle
Anthony Castonzo returned to practice after missing several games with an ankle
injury and should play Sunday.

Atlanta must not take the Colts lightly and hope veteran defensive end John
Abraham (12 tackles, 3 sacks) can muster some pressure up front. Abraham had a
sack his last time out, ending a string of four straight games without getting
to the quarterback, and owns at least one in two of three career meetings with
Indianapolis. Linebackers Curtis Lofton (64 tackles) and Sean Weatherspoon (60
tackles, 2 sacks), who lead the Falcons in tackles, also have to be wary of
Carter or Brown even if Addai is unable to go due to injury. Safety Thomas
DeCoud (37 tackles) is tops on Atlanta with three interceptions, while
cornerback Kelvin Hayden (11 tackles, 1 INT) spent the first six years
of his career with Indianapolis and won a Super Bowl with the team. He is
enjoying a strong first season as a nickel defender with the Falcons and will
have a chance to go against some former teammates this week. The Falcons are
solid against the run this season, allowing 98.4 yards per game, and shouldn’t
have a problem slowing down the Colts’ ground attack. Atlanta is not that
impressive against the pass, however, as it is just 23rd in that category
(265.6 ypg). The Falcons have forced at least one turnover in each of the last
26 games, the longest active streak in the NFL.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Colts wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark
combined for 18 receptions last week in defeat and will be counted on to help
out the struggling Painter once again on Sunday. It’s difficult to imagine a
team losing when three different players have 60 or more receiving yards, but
the Colts found a way and hope history doesn’t repeat itself Sunday.

Winning at home for the Colts used to be as common as someone embarrassing
themselves on Facebook or Twitter. Now they are 0-3 as the host this season
after going 17-5 at Lucas Oil Stadium from 2008-2010, and it appears loss No. 4
at home is on the horizon unless they can reassert their dominance there.

Under Smith, the Falcons are 2-1 following a bye week and went 4-0 in November
last season en route to earning the NFC’s top seed. Smith must not let the time
off be a factor for his team against a hungry and winless Colts squad, as
Atlanta had been playing well before the break.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

It will be the Michael Turner show on Sunday, as the bowling ball-type running
back will rush for more than 100 yards in a game for the fifth time this
season. Turner has to be foaming at the mouth for this chance to run against a
banged-up Colts’ defense and is on pace for another 1,300-yard season. Though
Atlanta is tops in the NFL with a league-leading five turnovers inside the red
zone, it shouldn’t have to worry about adding to that total since Indianapolis
has experienced trouble moving the chains this season. The Falcons haven’t had
that problem, converting 45.7 percent of their third downs, which ranks sixth
in the NFL and third in the NFC.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Falcons 30, Colts 17

The Sports Network

More In Sports

‘);
$(‘#ody-nextstoryslider’).append(‘Read More’);
return;
}
var _art,_right,wpElem;
var _beenzagged=(function(){
var _u = GEL.env.user;
return(_u.state || _u.yob || _u.zip )?true:false;
})();
var _laststate=(function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’);
var _closed = _t.getValue(‘lastNextStoryState’);
return _closed;
})();
if(!_beenzagged){
getContent();
var _slidestate=_laststate==’false’?'handle’:”;
_art=$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article’);
_right=$(‘.ody-skin .ody-aside’);
wpElem=_art.height()>_right.height()?_art:_right;
var slider=GEL.widget.slider(wpElem,’ody-nextstoryslider’,{
close: ‘‘,
closeCallback: function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’)
_t.setValue(‘lastNextStoryState’,'false’)
},
direction: ‘right’,
handle: ‘‘,
openCallback: function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’)
_t.setValue(‘lastNextStoryState’,'true’)
},
offset: function(){
var offSet=$.waypoints(‘viewportHeight’)-($(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-article-bodytext’).height()-$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-ob-taboola-wrapper’).height());
if(($(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-article-bodytext’).height()-$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-ob-taboola-wrapper’).height())

By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts will keep Peyton Manning on the active roster so he can practice later this season, though it remains unlikely Manning will play in a regular-season game.

Bill Polian, the team’s vice chairman, told radio listeners Monday night that he would not necessarily want Manning playing behind their banged-up offensive line. Injuries have decimated the line, forcing the Colts to insert three new starters and move a fourth starter since opening day.

The only player who has started in the same place every week is Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday.

And with an 0-8 mark, it doesn’t look like the Colts will be making a playoff run.

But Polian wants Manning to practice so he can determine whether he’s recovered from September’s neck surgery.

By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts will keep Peyton Manning on the active roster so he can practice later this season, though it remains unlikely Manning will play in a regular-season game.

Bill Polian, the team’s vice chairman, told radio listeners Monday night that he would not necessarily want Manning playing behind their banged-up offensive line. Injuries have decimated the line, forcing the Colts to insert three new starters and move a fourth starter since opening day.

The only player who has started in the same place every week is Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday.

And with an 0-8 mark, it doesn’t look like the Colts will be making a playoff run.

But Polian wants Manning to practice so he can determine whether he’s recovered from September’s neck surgery.

More In Sports

‘);
$(‘#ody-nextstoryslider’).append(‘Read More’);
return;
}
var _art,_right,wpElem;
var _beenzagged=(function(){
var _u = GEL.env.user;
return(_u.state || _u.yob || _u.zip )?true:false;
})();
var _laststate=(function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’);
var _closed = _t.getValue(‘lastNextStoryState’);
return _closed;
})();
if(!_beenzagged){
getContent();
var _slidestate=_laststate==’false’?'handle’:”;
_art=$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article’);
_right=$(‘.ody-skin .ody-aside’);
wpElem=_art.height()>_right.height()?_art:_right;
var slider=GEL.widget.slider(wpElem,’ody-nextstoryslider’,{
close: ‘‘,
closeCallback: function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’)
_t.setValue(‘lastNextStoryState’,'false’)
},
direction: ‘right’,
handle: ‘‘,
openCallback: function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’)
_t.setValue(‘lastNextStoryState’,'true’)
},
offset: function(){
var offSet=$.waypoints(‘viewportHeight’)-($(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-article-bodytext’).height()-$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-ob-taboola-wrapper’).height());
if(($(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-article-bodytext’).height()-$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-ob-taboola-wrapper’).height())

More In Sports

‘);
$(‘#ody-nextstoryslider’).append(‘Read More’);
return;
}
var _art,_right,wpElem;
var _beenzagged=(function(){
var _u = GEL.env.user;
return(_u.state || _u.yob || _u.zip )?true:false;
})();
var _laststate=(function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’);
var _closed = _t.getValue(‘lastNextStoryState’);
return _closed;
})();
if(!_beenzagged){
getContent();
var _slidestate=_laststate==’false’?'handle’:”;
_art=$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article’);
_right=$(‘.ody-skin .ody-aside’);
wpElem=_art.height()>_right.height()?_art:_right;
var slider=GEL.widget.slider(wpElem,’ody-nextstoryslider’,{
close: ‘‘,
closeCallback: function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’)
_t.setValue(‘lastNextStoryState’,'false’)
},
direction: ‘right’,
handle: ‘‘,
openCallback: function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’)
_t.setValue(‘lastNextStoryState’,'true’)
},
offset: function(){
var offSet=$.waypoints(‘viewportHeight’)-($(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-article-bodytext’).height()-$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-ob-taboola-wrapper’).height());
if(($(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-article-bodytext’).height()-$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-ob-taboola-wrapper’).height())

The Sports Xchange

NFL Team Report – Indianapolis Colts – INSIDE SLANT

All things being equal, Kerry Collins would probably be the starting quarterback when the Indianapolis Colts face a rapidly improving Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad on Monday night.

But Collins is still feeling the effects of concussion-like symptoms that he initially incurred during the second half of last week’s home loss to Pittsburgh.

Curtis Painter replaced him against the Steelers, and it was announced Friday that he will make his first NFL regular-season start.

So what was the decision-making process in regards to Collins?

“The doctors kind of take care of all of those things. There’s protocol that they go through, and they’ll adhere to everything to make sure he’s OK to go,” Caldwell explained, adding that Collins hasn’t been ruled out.

“Everybody’s a little bit different and it just depends. Sometimes, depending on how familiar a guy is with the system, you can maybe stretch it out a little bit. Obviously, if he’s on the other end of the spectrum you also have to consider that, because you can’t get those snaps back. Preparation is important for a guy that’s new in the system. I’m not going to put any parameters on it. Not with a Monday night game, because we’ve got a little while.”

In the meantime, until Collins is cleared to practice, Painter is No. 1 on the Colts’ depth chart.

“You have to. There’s no other way to do it. I had this old adage from when I first started coaching, ‘You have got to coach who shows up.’ Curtis is practicing, and Kerry is not. So we have to get him ready for the ball game,” the Colts coach said.

–The Indianapolis Colts proved to themselves, as well as maybe more than a few doubters around the National Football League, that they have enough talent to be competitive in 2011.

Despite a 23-20 loss to Pittsburgh, with the Steelers winning on a field goal with four-seconds remaining in the game, the Colts know they had an excellent chance of winning.

That is, if not for a few too many mistakes. An ill-timed sack allowed. A costly fumble that led to a touchdown.

Missed opportunities on offense, such as underthrowing and overthrowing open receivers or dropping passes in key situations. Giving up big plays on defense. Not getting off the field often enough on third down.

The Indianapolis coaching staff, as well as the team’s front office leadership, all contend the mistakes are correctable.

With an 0-3 start to the season, and the road not getting any easier moving forward, those mistakes better be ironed out and soon.

First up is Monday night’s nationally televised road game at Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are 2-1 after back-to-back wins over Minnesota and Atlanta.

Will the Colts be ready?

“We have to clean up the secondary and we have to get better sync and timing in our passing game as well. We had far too many drops,” Indianapolis vice chairman Bill Polian said recently. “That was due in some nature to changing quarterbacks (from Peyton Manning to Kerry Collins and then to Curtis Painter) and everybody, for some time, has been catching Peyton’s ball. But we have to get better at that.”

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) – The Indianapolis Colts, searching for
stability at a position that has been stable for well over a decade, have
reportedly brought back quarterback Dan Orlovsky.

Orlovsky was re-signed late Tuesday, according to a report in the Indianapolis
Star. The signal-caller was waived on September 3 after spending the preseason
with the team.

The 28-year-old Orlovsky appeared in 13 games for Detroit and Houston in 2008,
starting and losing seven of them for the winless Lions in 2008.

The signing signals several key points, the most prominent that the Colts are
still searching for answers under center with All-Pro Peyton Manning
recovering from offseason neck surgery. It is unclear if Manning will play
this season.

Also, Kerry Collins, who started the season’s first three games, is under
evaluation for a concussion. He left Sunday night’s loss to Pittsburgh
after three quarters because of concussion-like symptons. Curtis Painter, the
only other healthy quarterback on the roster, came into the game and lost a
fumble that was returned for a touchdown before engineering a game-tying 80-
yard touchdown drive late in the 23-20 loss to the Steelers.

According to the newspaper, the Colts also worked out veteran Brodie Croyle
before opting to sign a veteran familiar with the Colts’ style and system.

Indianapolis, off to an 0-3 start for the first time since 1998, again takes
the national stage next Monday night at Tampa Bay.

The Sports Network

By SportsDirect

Read More: Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts, Sep 25, 2011 8:20 PM EDT

On balance, the Pittsburgh Steelers probably should not have needed a last-second field goal from Shaun Suisham to put away the Peyton Manning-less Indianapolis Colts on Sunday evening. But they did need that field goal, and nonetheless improved to 2-1 on the season with the road victory.

The win was enough for Fox Sports analyst Brian Billick to move the Steelers up to no. 4 in his NFL Power Rankings, but clearly he has some reservations about Pittsburgh at this point in the young season. “The Steelers of old would have put this one away early,” he notes. Billick also takes issue with the Steelers’ use of the run game, saying, “I’d like to see them committed to the run even when its [sic] not particularly effective from a statistical standpoint.”

Against the winless Colts, Pittsburgh ran the ball 28 times for 67 yards for a putrid 2.4-yard average. Indianapolis did a particularly effective job bottling up lead back Rashard Mendenhall, limiting him to 37 yards on 18 carries. And as Michael Bean of SB Nation’s Behind the Steel Curtain points out, one of Mendenhall’s carries went for 15 yards, “which for us non-math majors means his other 17 attempts went for a grand total of 22 yards.” It’s easy to see why Bean listed “Run Game” in the “Ugly” department in his latest “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” post.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell
is learning that it is tough to win without Peyton Manning.

Manning had always had Caldwell’s back since he took over as head coach in
2009 following Tony Dungy’s retirement. Caldwell inherited one of the game’s
best offenses and didn’t let the unit slip, riding Manning to a Super Bowl
appearance following the ’09 season in his NFL head coaching debut.

He showed last year that the success wasn’t just piggybacked from Dungy’s
roster either. Indianapolis won the AFC South for the second time under
Caldwell despite dealing with injury after injury, prompting the battle cry of
“Next Man Up” to ring across Colts nation.

Again, Caldwell had Manning. Now without the MVP quarterback, the Colts are
0-3 for the first time since Manning’s rookie year of 1998.

“It’s still one of those things where we’ve got a lot of time left at this
point in time to get some things done,” Caldwell said on Monday. “We have to
keep improving and I think we’ve been improving a little bit, little by little,
but we have to make another jump to get over the hump where we can get a
victory and then try to string a few together.”

The Colts get an extra day of preparation this week due to a Monday night
meeting with Tampa Bay, and they’ll need it to clear up their quarterback
situation.

What they do know is that owner Jim Irsay is hoping Manning, who has had three
procedures on his neck in 19 months, might be back by December, but logic says
the Pro Bowl staple won’t play this year.

Not sure that Curtis Painter could handle the load, Indy lured Kerry Collins
out of retirement to take the wheel before the season started, but he has
posted just a 65.9 quarterback rating with a pair of touchdown passes, one
interception and three lost fumbles through three games. Additionally, Collins
did not play in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s loss to Pittsburgh because
of a possible concussion.

“He’s still being evaluated, but he had those kinds of symptoms,” Caldwell
said on Monday. “The doctors did what they’re supposed to do in that regard,
which is to remove him from the ball game and continue to evaluate him. He’s
still in that process right now.”

Painter was stripped shortly after replacing Collins, a turnover Pittsburgh’s
Troy Polamalu returned for a touchdown, but also led an 80-yard scoring drive
that tied the game at 20-20 with 2:09 left to play. The Steelers, though,
countered with a 38-yard field goal with four ticks left to hand the Colts
another loss.

Caldwell praised Painter for coming back and leading the long scoring drive
and wouldn’t say on Monday if the Colts were planning to bring in another
quarterback in case Collins can’t play.

“You know, it just depends on the situation and we’ll kind of address it as we
go,” the coach said.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Colts do bring in some fresh bodies at
quarterback this week, especially with an extra day and the fact that Painter
owns just 39 career pass attempts in the NFL. Indianapolis was already in
desperation mode with Collins, however, and finding a quarterback now that can
make a real impact will be tough to do.

Next man up? Try all hands on deck.

49ERS VISIT EAGLES AS THE HUNTER?

If anyone thought that this Sunday’s matchup between the San Francisco 49ers
and Philadelphia Eagles would feature a first-place team, many would have
picked the Michael Vick-led Birds as the likely division leaders.

Not so, as the Niners bring an NFC West-best 2-1 mark into Lincoln Financial
Field looking to win a second straight road game out East.

Rookie running back Kendall Hunter could be in for a bigger role for San
Francisco if an ankle injury continues to hinder starter Frank Gore. Hunter had
nine carries to Gore’s 17, but scored the only touchdown of last Sunday’s 13-8
win over Cincinnati on a seven-yard run with 3:59 to go in the game.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday that Hunter is ready for more action if
Gore can’t play, but that he also thinks his starter will be ready.

“I think Kendall’s a good player,” he said. “He’s the backup tailback, and
Frank’s status in my mind right now, Frank is good to go. So we’ll play him.
We’ll scheme and prepare for this game, Frank along with the rest of the
players on the team.”

Given Philadelphia’s struggles against the run this year, both Gore and Hunter
could get a lot of work this weekend.

So too should tight end Vernon Davis, who had only seven catches through the
first two games before notching eight receptions and 114 yards in Cincinnati.

“I thought Vernon performed very well,” Harbaugh said. “[He] had some more
opportunities, balls coming his way. Like I said last week, Vernon’s always
involved in the offense. [He's a] huge part of the offense.”

With Vick’s status uncertain for this game, the 49ers have the chance to pull
off another big road win and keep themselves in the driver’s seat early on the
NFC West as the club hunts for its first playoff berth since 2002.

©2011 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

More In Sports

‘);
$(‘#ody-nextstoryslider’).append(‘Read More’);
return;
}
var _art,_right,wpElem;
var _beenzagged=(function(){
var _u = GEL.env.user;
return(_u.state || _u.yob || _u.zip )?true:false;
})();
var _laststate=(function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’);
var _closed = _t.getValue(‘lastNextStoryState’);
return _closed;
})();
if(!_beenzagged){
getContent();
var _slidestate=_laststate==’false’?'handle’:”;
_art=$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article’);
_right=$(‘.ody-skin .ody-aside’);
wpElem=_art.height()>_right.height()?_art:_right;
var slider=GEL.widget.slider(wpElem,’ody-nextstoryslider’,{
close: ‘‘,
closeCallback: function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’)
_t.setValue(‘lastNextStoryState’,'false’)
},
direction: ‘right’,
handle: ‘‘,
openCallback: function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’)
_t.setValue(‘lastNextStoryState’,'true’)
},
offset: function(){
var offSet=$.waypoints(‘viewportHeight’)-($(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-article-bodytext’).height()-$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-ob-taboola-wrapper’).height());
if(($(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-article-bodytext’).height()-$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-ob-taboola-wrapper’).height())

More In Sports

‘);
$(‘#ody-nextstoryslider’).append(‘Read More’);
return;
}
var _art,_right,wpElem;
var _beenzagged=(function(){
var _u = GEL.env.user;
return(_u.state || _u.yob || _u.zip )?true:false;
})();
var _laststate=(function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’);
var _closed = _t.getValue(‘lastNextStoryState’);
return _closed;
})();
if(!_beenzagged){
getContent();
var _slidestate=_laststate==’false’?'handle’:”;
_art=$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article’);
_right=$(‘.ody-skin .ody-aside’);
wpElem=_art.height()>_right.height()?_art:_right;
var slider=GEL.widget.slider(wpElem,’ody-nextstoryslider’,{
close: ‘‘,
closeCallback: function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’)
_t.setValue(‘lastNextStoryState’,'false’)
},
direction: ‘right’,
handle: ‘‘,
openCallback: function(){
var _t = new GEL.util.Cookie(‘GCIONSN’)
_t.setValue(‘lastNextStoryState’,'true’)
},
offset: function(){
var offSet=$.waypoints(‘viewportHeight’)-($(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-article-bodytext’).height()-$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-ob-taboola-wrapper’).height());
if(($(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-article-bodytext’).height()-$(‘.ody-skin .content-container .ody-article .ody-ob-taboola-wrapper’).height())