Horseshoe Hero

The Colts have a bye this week, and while their NFL rivals continue to battle it out on the field, the players and coaches of the Horseshoe will sit back and observe. Though the bye comes early for the team this year, long before many of the players – especially the eager rookies – are too fatigued, the timing may actually be ideal. The team will need the extra week to prepare for their next opponents, for they face Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on October 7th. The players will also use the time to rest and hopefully nurse some injuries.

Currently ailing on the Colts are key defensive players Cory Redding, Dwight Freeney, and Pat Angerer. Angerer has vocalized a desire to play next week, and I’m sure the team shares that sentiment. Angerer led the Colts in tackles last year and had a breakout season, but he has yet to see the field this year. The Colts could use his explosiveness, and you can bet Angerer is squeezing every ounce of rehab time that he can out of the bye.

On offense, center Samson Satele will look to mend his ailing knee. The team will also use the bye to familiarize newly-signed receiver Nathan Palmer to the playbook. With Austin Collie out for the year with a knee injury, Palmer will look to make an immediate impact. Guard Joe Reitz will also look to get back on the field.

It will be interesting to see how the Colts’ injury report changes after having a full week of rest. You can be sure the team will come out firing on all cylinders when they hit the field again next week.

Horseshoe Hero will have all the details for you then, but for more Colts news and commentary, you can follow me on Twitter at @catierae08.

This new-look Colts squad may have looked dominant in their home preseason debut last Sunday, but the team did not walk away from the game unscarred. Linebacker Pat Angerer, the team’s leading tackler last season, will miss over a month with a broken foot that he suffered against the Rams. Linebacker Robert Mathis and new Colts running back Melwelde Moore both ended up with rib injuries, and it is still yet to be determined how much of this preseason either player might miss. The Colts also lost second-year linebacker Scott Lutrus with an ACL injury, forcing the team to place him on the injured reserve list for the season. Lutrus is the third linebacker to go down for the Colts in this early preseason.

On Tuesday, the Colts also signed running back Alvester Alexander.

Dec 18, 2011; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts linebacker Pat Angerer (51) celebrates making a key interception in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeated Tennessee 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

For part two of my look at the 2012 Colts defense, I will look at the linebackers. Outside linebacker, is where the Colts main pass rush must come from this season, due to the switch to the 3-4. Here below are whom I believe will start for the Colts, come day one of the 2012 season, at linebacker.

(more…)