AFC South: Dante Hughes
Today we’ll strive to examine one biggie for each team.
Indianapolis Colts -- The third round
Thirty-five draft picks were on the Colts roster (including IR) at the end of the season. Here’s the round-by-round composition: Eight first-rounders, five second rounders, three third-rounders, five fourth-rounders, two fifth rounders, six sixth-rounders and six seventh-rounders.
The third round has been a bugaboo, and while 2009 corner Jerraud Powers is definitely a quality player, the other two third-rounders on the roster are question marks. Philip Wheeler, a linebacker from 2009, has been unable to hold on to a starting spot and 2010 cornerback Kevin Thomas was injured and lost for the year during the offseason before his rookie year.
Notable misses: Corner Dante Hughes (2007), defensive tackles Quinn Pitcock (2007) and Vincent Burns (2005), defensive backs Donald Strickland (2003), Joseph Jeffries (2002) and Cory Bird (2001) and receiver E.G. Green (1998)
The lesson: Stay away from defensive backs in the round, and don’t be afraid to trade the pick.
UPDATE: Apologies for initially including guard Brandon Burlsworth from 1999 on the notable misses. He died in a car accident before his rookie season.
Houston Texans
Best: Dunta Robinson, taken 10th overall in 2004, lived up to his first-round pick status for a good segment of his career. He tops three categories in the team’s record books, with six picks as a rookie, 13 in his career and two seasons leading the team in interceptions. I understood not paying him big bucks and allowing him to leave as a free agent before the 2010 season. But the Texans failed to sufficiently replace him and had a brutal pass defense last season.
Worst: Fred Bennett (fourth-rounder in 2007) had some well-documented struggles and Antwaun Molden (third in 2008) has never lived up to his initial training camp, but Vontez Davis wins the honor here. A sixth-rounder from 2004, he also got a look from Chicago and time on the practice squads in Indianapolis and Pittsburgh but never played a game in the NFL. (Nevertheless, this autographed picture of him as a Texans still goes for $15.99.)
Indianapolis Colts
Best: Perhaps it’s projecting a bit, because his best football is surely ahead of him, but Jerraud Powers was an excellent find out of Auburn in the third round in 2009. He was the team’s best cornerback last season before suffering a season-ending right forearm injury and looks to be the kind of piece that continues to sustain the franchise -- a real find outside of the first couple rounds.
Worst: Daymeion Hughes was a third-round pick out of Cal in 2007 who later became known as Dante Hughes. Under either name, he never proved he could cover effectively for Indianapolis. He played in 24 games in two seasons and couldn’t stick beyond that. He’s been with San Diego the past two seasons.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Best: Rashean Mathis was a little known guy coming out of Bethune-Cookman in 2003. But the Jaguars spent a second-round pick on him and got a starter from Day 1. He has started every game he’s played, and has missed just a dozen games in eight seasons. In the past two years, a new regime swept out a lot of veteran guys. But Mathis has remained a fixture.
Worst: Scott Starks was a third-round choice out of Wisconsin in 2005 who never really qualified as more than a nickelback and hardly provided what Jaguars with an answer in the secondary. He lasted five seasons and played in 54 games, but started only one and recorded only two interceptions. Sure you’d like the Jaguars to have found a gem out of Steve Smith (seventh-rounder in 2002), Chris Roberson (seventh, 2005) and Dee Webb (seventh, 2006) but expectations for all of them paled in comparison to a third-rounder like Starks.
Tennessee Titans
Best: The Titans did much to bail themselves out of failed first-round picks at the position like Pacman Jones and Andre Woolfolk by hitting on Cortland Finnegan out of Samford in the seventh round in 2006. While he has dropped off since an All-Pro 2008, he still ranks as a ridiculously good find with the 215th pick.
Worst: The Titans needed Woolfolk to become a fixture in the secondary when they spent the 28th overall pick in the 2003 draft on him. But he never showed any consistency and ultimately qualified as a bust, with just 11 starts and three interceptions in four years. He failed to emerge as a player who ranked ahead of a seventh-rounder like Reynaldo Hill.
» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)
Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: Busts and late-round gems.
Houston Texans
The previous regime traded with division rival Tennessee to get Western Michigan linebacker Jason Babin with a second first-round pick in 2004 and he never became what they envisioned. The first-rounder from the next year, Florida State defensive tackle Travis Johnson, wasn’t good either. Johnson flashed some but wasn’t long-term help. Wide receiver David Anderson (seventh round from Colorado State in 2006) is a quality slot receiver, and probably the team’s best late-round pick.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts traded up in 2007 to take Arkansas offensive tackle Tony Ugoh 42nd overall. He was the man to replace Tarik Glenn when he surprised the team by retiring the same year. But Ugoh lost his starting job in 2009 and was often inactive. Two third-rounders from the same draft also faded: cornerback Dante Hughes from Cal didn’t make it out of camp in 2009 and Ohio State defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock quit football in 2008. Late-round finds abound: Howard safety Antoine Bethea (sixth round) is a Pro Bowl talent; Mount Union receiver Pierre Garcon (sixth round, 2008) just had a breakout season; punter/kickoff man Pat McAfee from West Virginia (seventh round, 2009) is a consistent performer. And Indianapolis does consistently well with undrafted rookies, such as safety Melvin Bullitt and cornerback Jacob Lacey.
Jacksonville Jaguars
First-round busts have been a major reason the Jaguars haven’t broken through as a consistent contender: receivers R. Jay Soward of USC in 2000, Reggie Williams from Washington in 2004 and Matt Jones from Arkansas in 2005 are gone and safety Reggie Nelson (Florida, 2007) and defensive end Derrick Harvey (Florida, 2008) rank as major underachievers. Late-round gems? Purdue guard Uche Nwaneri was a 2007 fifth-rounder and has started a lot of games and Florida’s Bobby McCray was a good defensive end for a seventh-rounder in 2004. James Harris was ousted as the personnel chief and the team seems on a better track under Gene Smith, who was named GM about a year ago.
Tennessee Titans
Any list of recent high-ranking failures has to start with first-round cornerback Pacman Jones, sixth overall from West Virginia in 2005. He was probably the best defensive football player there, but the Titans failed miserably in researching his personality. Other busts who hurt them: Ben Troupe (second-round tight end from Florida in 2004), Andre Woolfolk (first-round cornerback from Oklahoma in 2003) and Tyrone Calico (second-round receiver in 2003). Cornerback Cortland Finnegan was an All-Pro in 2008 and heads any list of recent late-round gems. He was a seventh-rounder from Samford in 2006. Tight end Bo Scaife was a sixth-rounder from Texas in 2005 and promising defensive end Jacob Ford from Central Arkansas was a sixth-rounder in 2007.Reading the coverage: Garcon a key development
Posted by ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky
- John Clayton sorts through the AFC South.
- Brian Burke looks at game probabilities for Week 4. AFC South chances to win: Indy 87 percent; Houston 68 percent; Jacksonville 51 percent against Tennessee (49 percent).
- As bad as they’ve been, the Texans have allowed fewer yards each week, writes John McClain.
- Jerome Solomon looks at just how important this one is for Gary Kubiak.
- Third-down defense gets this look over from Dale Robertson.
- Kubiak is talking about making changes on defense. McClain asks which ones you want to see.
- Breaking down the stats so far, with Alan Burge.
- Battleredblog.com questions Kubiak’s clock management. Sure you want to score with as little time left as possible, but it can’t be priority No. 1. You can’t generally control when you punch it in, when you have to be concerned with making sure you punch it in.
- Mike Chappell’s source says Dwight Freeney will miss three weeks and two games.
- Five key early season developments include smooth transitions, the emergence of Pierre Garcon and a return to form for Joseph Addai.
- Chappell takes questions, including one about Philip Wheeler.
- A Q&A with Mo Williams.
- The Jags signed defensive tackle Greg Peterson.
- David Garrard’s wearing a play cheat sheet on his wrist out of superstition, says Michael C. Wright.
- Maurice Jones-Drew on Fox Sports Radio, courtesy of sportsradiointerviews.com.
- Arm strength gains can be made, but they are subtle, says Vic Ketchman.
- Bigcatcountry.com sees the Jaguars, and everybody, heading toward a spread offense.
- Jeff Fisher deserves a delay of game flag for Tuesday’s roster moves, opines David Climer.
- Fisher’s in no trouble, says Peter King in his mailbag.
- The Titans make roster moves, including adding Mark Jones and putting Craig Hentrich on IR, says Gary Estwick.
- Five things Jim Wyatt knows about the Titans.
- Cary Williams was signed to the practice squad.
- The Titans also looked at veteran cornerbacks Rod Hood, Eric Green and Dante Hughes and safeties Kevin Davis and Keith Lewis, says Terry McCormick.
Here are the roster moves just announced by the Colts:
Waived:
RB Lance Ball
WR Sam Giguere
DT John Gill
DT Adrian Grady
RB Mike Hart
DE Marcus Howard
DB Dante Hughes
C Steve Justice
WR John Matthews
WR Brett McDermott
RB Walter Mendenhall
OG Tom Pestock
WR Taj Smith
LB Michael Tauiliili
DT Terrance Taylor
OT Jaimie Thomas
DE Josh Thomas
OT Michael Toudouze
Waived Injured:
DB Nick Graham
DB Travis Key
TE Jamie Petrowski
Does Not Count on Active Roster:
DT Ed Johnson (suspended Week 1)
With Hughes out, '07 draft class not Colts' quality
Cornerback Dante Hughes and offensive lineman Steve Justice are among the first three cuts for the Colts, according to Mike Chappell.
Hughes was a third-rounder in 2007, a class of nine that has not proven to be Bill Poilian’s best.
- First-rounder Anthony Gonzalez is in line as the second wide receiver and has been very good in his first two years.
- Second-round left tackle Tony Ugoh has been demoted to backup status though it wouldn’t be a surprise if he gets the starting left tackle job back.
- Hughes played in 24 games in two seasons.
- The other third-rounder, defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock, retired before training camp of his second season.
- Fourth-round defensive Brannon Condren played in eight games as a rookie, was elsewhere in 2008, re-signed in 2009 but was cut in late July.
- Fourth-round linebacker Clint Session is in line to start and looks like he will be a good player.
- Fifth-round receiver Roy Hall played in seven games in two seasons and was waived injured on Aug. 13. He is now on IR.
- Fifth-round defensive back Michael Coe played in six games and was recently cut.
- Seventh-round defensive end Keyunta Dawson was eventually moved to tackle, where he started 14 games last year. He now ranks as a backup end. I think they like him, but don't know if he's a lock for the final 53.
A draft class of nine players produced a crop that now includes two starters and two backups. Granted, Pitcock was a bad-luck development for the team and a good club isn't necessarily going to have room for late rounders.
Still, the way the Colts operate, I feel as if a group in its third year should be nearing its peak and contributing and producing more than that.
Do you agree?
Camp Confidential: Colts like their changes
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| Scott Boehm/Getty Images | |
| New coach Jim Caldwell has made a number of changes and the Colts appear happy with the alterations. |
Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky
INDIANAPOLIS -- Dwight Freeney didn't shoo Tony Dungy out the door and wasn't begging for alterations to a formula that has brought the Indianapolis Colts great success.
But Freeney is content with new coach Jim Caldwell's changes at defensive coordinator and special teams coach. The Colts' star defensive end surveys a landscape that no longer includes Ron Meeks and Russ Purnell and feels just fine.
"I think that's one thing people need to understand: We had a lot of success in the years with Meeks and Purnell and, yeah, we are changing personnel as far as those coaching positions are concerned. But change is not always a bad thing," he said. "If you look at the end result, and I'm not saying it was their fault, but we only achieved the end goal once even though we were very successful.
"And I'm not saying it was because of them. But there is always room for improvement. You never know -- you change things around, it brings new energy, it brings new fire. We could see some bigger things."
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That energy was palpable early in camp from a team that overcame a lot to go 12-4 last year, then botched a big opportunity in a playoff game in San Diego.
The Colts have had a smooth transition because they anticipated the change and had Caldwell serve as associate head coach under Dungy. Caldwell removed Meeks and Purnell, replacing them with Larry Coyer and Ray Rychleski, respectively.
But the other key people in the organization who provide major stability are still in place -- Bill Polian is still the team president and Peyton Manning is still the quarterback.
Like Freeney, Polian believes some change can be a good thing.
"Sometimes that's good -- you hear a different voice, you hear a different approach, it gets the message across in a different manner," Polian said. "Both are excellent coaches, both are terrific guys.
"They're both organized and they're both good teachers, so I don't think there is any real change there. But maybe the way the lesson is taught might be a little bit different and it's probably, in the end, good."
Key questions
1. Can the third-down defense get Manning the ball back?
The Colts tied for second worst in the league in third-down conversion rate, allowing teams to convert on third down 47.4 percent of the time. Bend-but-don't-break is going out of fashion under Coyer, according to many of his players. And with third down as a focus, they hope to get the offense back on the field and allow their best people to spend more time working.
Only six teams fared worse in time of possession than the Colts (28:39) last year. No matter how opponents try to play keep-away, getting Manning and the offense on the field more must be a priority.
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2. Does Manning have the weapons and protection?
Reggie Wayne has been the de facto No. 1 receiver for a while already. And Anthony Gonzalez is primed for a great year in his third season, with a lot more opportunities to come. Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie were both impressive early in camp and appear primed to be steady contributors, and Donald Brown provided a second running back with dynamic possibilities.
The protection question may be a bigger conc
ern. Charlie Johnson has been inserted at left tackle. While he has been an effective fill-in, if he is the guy for 16 games, defensive ends named Mario Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch are going to find the holes in his game. Perhaps Tony Ugoh responds to the demotion and seizes the job back. Either way, could Manning have to worry more about getting hit from a blind side rusher than he has in the past?
3. Can special teams provide a boost?
Mediocre to poor special teams have been the norm for the Colts, and under Dungy there seemed to be a level of tacit acceptance. Enter Rychleski, a fiery and passionate special teams coach who Caldwell hired from South Carolina. As in many of the departments where the Colts ranked poorly in the past, just a moderate improvement can make a big difference.
The return games have been the worst element. T.J. Rushing is the leading candidate right now, but rookies Collie and Jerraud Powers could provide a boost. Another rookie, Pat McAfee is slated to be the new punter.
Market watch
Working predominantly as the third receiver last season, Gonzalez had 664 receiving yards. Bumped up to No. 2, he should be poised to top 1,000 yards and improve on the four touchdown catches he totaled in 2008. He is typecast by too many as a slot guy, but in three wide receiver sets it appears more likely that Wayne or Collie will line up inside.
Gonzalez is a complete receiver who has established a great rapport with Manning -- so much so that Manning invited the receiver to serve as his caddy at a pro-am golf tournament in April.
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| Scott Boehm/Getty Images | |
| The Colts are counting on Donald Brown to have a big impact in his rookie season. |
Newcomer to watch
While most analysts figured the Colts would look wide receiver or defensive tackle late in the first round, Polian spent the 27th pick in the draft on highly productive UConn running back Brown. An indictment of Joseph Addai? Perhaps. An upgrade over Dominic Rhodes? Absolutely.
The Colts' plans for Brown and their opinion of Addai after an off year in which he struggled with with knee trouble are both unclear. But Caldwell has made it clear he anticipates significant work for his top two backs. Brown was effective in his first preseason action, even as it came against a mix of second- and third-string Minnesota defenders. High draft picks on offense are expected to help right away and rookie running backs regularly plug in and excel. It's what Addai did in 2006 as the league's leading rookie rusher and it's what Brown may well do in the same offense.
Observation deck
Kicker Adam Vinatieri (hip) isn't expected back until the very end of the preseason. When he's kicking again, he will work intensively with McAfee, his new holder, to get their rhythm and timing down. ... If everyone is healthy in the secondary, work as the dime won't be sufficient for safety Melvin Bullitt. Expect the Colts to creatively find other ways to get him on the field regularly. His development likely means Antoine Bethea won't be re-signed when he becomes a free agent. ... Ryan Lilja is the best run blocker on the line and will also help Jeff Saturday provide an additional veteran influence on the younger players in the offensive line meeting room. ... While Harrison was locked in to lining up in the right, Reggie Wayne will move from the left into the slot, making him tougher to predict and defend. ... Curtis Painter's preseason play could determine his fate. The team doesn't intend for the rookie quarterback to be Manning's backup this season -- that's still Jim Sorgi's job. But injuries and numbers at other spots could impact their ability to keep three signal-callers. Ideally they would have Painter on the practice squad, but what if someone else wants to sign him away? ... Gijon Robinson can block and catch and qualifies as a starter. Buy the development of two second-year right ends could cut into his time. Jacob Tamme runs good routes and has good hands, qualifying as more of a pass catcher while he's emerging as a better blocker. Tom Santi can be a combination guy but has had health issues. ... Because the Colts added three big bodies to the defensive tackle mix -- veteran Ed Johnson and rookies Fili Moala and Terrance Taylor -- two guys who contributed in the interior last year could see far less action. Keyunta Dawson has been moved to end and Eric Foster could get caught in a numbers crunch. ... If Philip Wheeler and Clint Session lock in the outside linebacker spots, then Freddy Keiaho and Tyjuan Hagler will give the Colts something they have not often had -- veteran linebackers available for a lot of special teams work. ... Dante Hughes looks to have fallen out of favor, which creates a lot of opportunity for Powers. ... Maybe I just caught him on a good couple days of practice, but receiver Taj Smith looks like a guy with real potential to develop. Look for him on the practice squad again.
Three thoughts as we await Colts-Vikes
Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky
INDIANAPOLIS -- It's been a gorgeous day in Indy and the Colts-Vikings game will unfold beneath an open roof and window at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Three pregame thoughts/questions:
1) Sage Rosenfels is starting for the Vikings against a team that is not playing any of its starting secondary. On the one hand, Minnesota fans should feel confident the candidate for the starting job will be able to complete some passes. On the other hand, take a look at the picture atop this post from last October and revisit, if you will, a game famous for the "Rosencopter fumble" in an appearance against the Colts.
While we are touching on the Indianapolis secondary, let's take note of where cornerback Dante Hughes lines up. Is he second team (and thus starting)? Third? I don't get the sense the team is big on him right now, but what does playing a lot in a Colts' preseason game mean for a non-starter? That they like you? That they don't? That they need film to decide? It's harder to tell with them than with a lot of other teams.
2) Roy Hall is already gone, and I think Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie are both in line for roles as contributors at third receiver. Here we get our first game-pressure looks at them with big expectations. Peyton Manning won't play long and Anthony Gonzalez won't play at all. We shouldn't read much into it if Manning throws to one a bunch and the other not at all or hardly to either or a lot to each. But provided he aims for them a couple of times, do they look poised and comfortable and is it clear they are getting to their spots or are there hints of any hesitation?
3) Is there a discernable difference on special teams? I had a chance to talk with new coach Ray Rychleski, a very interesting guy with great passion for his job. Will we be able to see a difference in his charges? And how does rookie Pat McAfee fare punting and holding for Shane Andrus, who's keeping Adam Vinatieri's seat warm?
Thoughts after an afternoon with the Colts
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Some quick thoughts after an afternoon with the Colts...
Tone-setter: Players and coaches have to like the even-keeled message from owner Jim Irsay, who spoke to reporters during practice. Here's a link to the news story I wrote off of what he said.
Expectations remain high for a guy who'd like his franchise to stretch out its extended period of success and to earn mention with a team like the 49ers. To get in the same sentence, he knows the Peyton Manning-era Colts will have to win more than one Super Bowl.
Bizarre weather day: It poured as the 3:30 p.m. practice was getting underway, and pea-sized hail later accompanied thunder. By the time things ended, the sun was shining and it was pretty warm.
"We got lightning, rain, hail, thunder and sunshine," center Jeff Saturday said. "God played jokes on us today."
Throws and catches: Peyton Manning threw a couple picks, but some of his throws in red zone periods were, as you might expect, ridiculously precise. Reggie Wayne caught one of them working against Dante Hughes in David Tyree fashion, securing the ball left handed against the side of his helmet before he stepped out the side of the end zone.
I'll get deeper on Pierre Garcon while I am here, but for starters let's say he looks to be gliding and is running and carrying himself with discernable confidence.
The other side of Ugoh: With Charlie Johnson installed at left tackle and Tony Ugoh's demotion to backup swing tackle, I wanted to revisit what the Colts gave up to go get Ugoh in the 2007 draft. Indy traded its 2008 No. 1 pick and a 2007 fourth rounder to San Francisco for the 42nd pick, with which it selected Ugoh.
Tarik Glenn later surprised the team by retiring, pushing Ugoh up the depth chart and into the starting lineup a year earlier than they would have liked.
San Francisco took safety Dashon Goldson out of Washington with the 126th pick in 2007 and North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer with the 29th overall pick in 2008. Goldson
has played in 19 games with two starts and has 36 tackles, according to NFL.com. Balmer played in 16 games as a rookie, starting none and recording just seven tackles. San Francisco doesn't have a 2009 depth chart up on its web site yet.
Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky
Inside dish on all four teams from The Sporting News.
Houston Texans
- It's time for the Texans to have some good luck, says Richard Justice.
- The Texans will be sorting out an identity as they push for their first playoff berth, writes John McClain.
- A training camp guide from Megan Manfull.
- The Texans struck deals with draft picks James Casey and Antoine Caldwell, says Manfull.
- A preview of the Texans at running back from McClain.
- McClain runs down what he will be watching once camp starts.
- Kris Brown helped out a friend at a kicking clinic, says Alan Burge.
Indianapolis Colts
- As we've long suspected, there will be no restrictions on how the Colts can use consultants Tom Moore and Howard Mudd on game days, says Mike Chappell citing an NFL.com report. Why couldn't the league have sent out this memo when this was a huge story and everyone was asking the question?
- John Oehser considers the roles of Moore and Mudd.
- Can Peyton Manning get better, asks Oehser.
- A breakdown of cornerback Dante Hughes, from Oehser.
- The Colts make Indy a football town, says Oehser.
- Would Tony Dungy have wanted to work with Michael Vick? Larry Hawley examines the question.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Eugene Monroe overcame trying times including the death of his dad en route to becoming a top-10 pick, says Michael Wright.
- Connect with the Jaguars via text alerts, Facebook and Twitter.
- Blackouts are unavoidable, says Gene Frenette.
- Even if coaches have less influence, wins will get some into the Hall of Fame says Vic Ketchman of jaguars.com.
- The man charged with shooting Jaguars lineman Richard Collier says a secretly recorded conversation that prosecutors call his confession shows his innocence, according to letters mailed last week from the Duval County jail. The report from Paul Pinkham.
- The Jaguars cannot afford to be average for an extended period of time, says Brendan Sonnone.
Tennessee Titans
- "If you're going to stick around the league that long at an at-risk position like running back, you must hit the trifecta -- good genes, good luck and good preparation." David Climer looks at Chris Johnson heading into Year 2.
- Peter King shares his thoughts on the Steve McNair/Hall of Fame "debate" in his return to MMQB.
- Minus Albert Haynesworth, the Titans will look to a committee at defensive tackle, writes Gary Estwick.
- The linebackers want to create more turnovers, says Jim Wyatt.
- Depth is the question in the secondary, writes Eswick.
- Sen'Derrick Mark's agent says talks are progressing, says Estwick.
Colts hoping for healthier DBs in San Diego
If a team suffers several injuries at one position, it's usually a death blow.
But the Colts have done excellent work the last three weeks, beating New England (12th rated passing offense), Pittsburgh (18th) and Houston (fifth) without their two starting cornerbacks. Marlin Jackson is out for the season and Kelvin Hayden has missed six games with a hamstring injury. Another corner, Dante Hughes, was out against the Patriots, and strong safety Bob Sanders missed the Texans game.
Next up is San Diego and the league's No. 7 passing attack led by Philip Rivers, the league's second-rated passer (100.8).
"He's very, very decisive with what he wants to do," coach Tony Dungy said of Rivers. "He has a better chemistry with some of those young receivers. [Vincent] Jackson is having an outstanding year. It looks like, in the last few weeks, [Antonio] Gates is getting back to where we're used to seeing him. They have a lot of weaponry, but he's been more decisive and making really, really good decisions."
Here are Dungy's assessment on the status of the injured defensive backs and wide receiver Reggie Wayne:
"It's going to be one of those situations where we're going to have to monitor his practice time and hopefully have him practice enough to be sharp and not so much that his knee swells and hopefully have him all year. We're trying to find that right mix. We'll see how it goes, but that's the hope. He's not going to have a full practice week, but hopefully his swelling is down enough where he'll be able to play on Sunday. It's probably going to be that way the rest of the year."
"Kelvin is recovering. His hamstring is getting better and better, so we'll have to see how he does. [WR] Reggie [Wayne] is kind of in the same boat. He has ankles that have been rolled up and knees that have been rolled up. Reggie didn't practice much the last two weeks, and we had just the right amount of practice time for him to be sharp but be able to play. I think Bob's going to be that way. It's a little easier to do with veteran guys, so we'll see what happens."
Hayden and Sanders did not practice Wednesday.
Lone Colts O-line stalwart on injury report
Right tackle Ryan Diem (ankle) was added to the Colts injury report Thursday and did not practice. The transcript of Tony Dungy's daily press session, held before practice, included no mention of the injury.
Indianapolis has used eight linemen in four different starting combinations this season because of injuries. Diem is the only line member who's started every game at the same spot.
In other injury news, cornerback Kelvin Hayden (hamstring) remained out and Dungy indicated the Colts' starting corners at Pittsburgh could be the same as they were in the win over New England, Tim Jennings and Keiwan Ratliff.
"We're still working it out, but I would think it may be the same as it was last week," Dungy said.
Dante Hughes, out last week with an ankle injury, is not on the injury report and should also be back in the mix.
Audibles: AFC South Week 9 preview
Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky
Green Bay Packers (4-3) at Tennessee Titans (7-0), 1 p.m. ET |  |
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has rested up that sore shoulder and defensive backs Atari Bigby and Al Harris are set to rejoin a secondary that shut down the Colts in the last game it played. Bigby will help in run defense, where I suspect the Packers can load up, leaving their corners on islands to deal with unintimidating receivers.
That would mean Green Bay selling out to stop the run and taking their chances against Kerry Collins & Co. It's what Indy tried, but it didn't work for the Colts, in part because they threw two picks and turned the ball over on downs twice.
If the Packers protect the ball better, they could have a breakthrough.
The Titans are the NFL's lone remaining unbeaten team.
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Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-8), 1 p.m. ET
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The Jaguars have struggled with consistency all year, and their chance to pull things together and be a factor in the AFC playoff field is reliant on victories this week at winless Cincinnati and next week at, as of now, winless Detroit.
Jacksonville plays tight games -- all seven have been decided by a touchdown or less.
Cornerback Rashean Mathis has played well at times -- he helped shut down Denver's Brandon Marshall, for example. He's likely to draw T.J. Houshmandzadeh often. That's a guy you don't want to get going for a team desperate for any crumbs of momentum.
The Bengals are 0-8 for the fifth time in franchise history. Three of the four previous times the Bengals started 0-8, they won their ninth game.
Houston Texans (3-4) at Minnesota Vikings (3-4), 1 p.m. ET
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The Texans are a bad road team and the Metrodome is a tough venue. Houston can prove a lot if it can win there, pulling to 4-4 after an 0-4 start.
Minnesota is ranked No. 2 against the run, forcing opponents to throw. The Texans have gotten pretty comfortable throwing it, ranking fifth in pass offense.
It could come down to which offensive star manages to have a better day, Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson
or Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson. Surely the Vikings will want to slow Johnson with Antoine Winfield as often as possible. Of course, the Texans will work to get Johnson into some situations where Cedric Griffin is trying to cover him.
The Vikings are coming off a bye and are 15-4 all-time in their first game following a week off.
New England Patriots (5-2) at Indianapolis Colts (3-4), 8:15 p.m. ET
Safety Rodney Harrison often covered Dallas Clark in last year's game, a battle of unbeatens won by New England. Harrison is out of the picture now, done for the year like quarterback Tom Brady.
The prevailing thinking on this game is that the Colts will find more plays and that Peyton Manning should outduel Matt Cassel. But I am getting the feeling the Patriots are figuring out who they are and what they can do while Indianapolis is learning what it isn't and what it can't do.
Look for New England to try to get the ball to Wes Welker working out of the slot. He's got at least six catches in the first seven games of the year, a feat accomplished by only three players in league history before.
Colts cornerback Tim Jennings will work outside as a starter in place of Marlin Jackson, but it's unclear what Indianapolis will do in the nickel. The guy next in line at cornerback is Dante Hughes, who missed practice all week with an ankle injury. Behind him is Keiwan Ratliff, who was just re-signed. But the Colts could go with three safeties, finding a way to keep Melvin Bullitt involved even with Bob Sanders due back.
Indianapolis slowed the Titans strong run game last week. Sanders should give them a boost as the Colts try to do the same to New England. Then the question is about slowing Welker and Randy Moss and making Cassel uncomfortable. Those Patriots receivers have a lesser quarterback, but could be better suited to produce than their Colts counterparts, Marvin Harrison (not himself these days) and Reggie Wayne (missed two practices and was limited Friday with a knee injury).
Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky
Right guard: Mike Pollak vs. Charlie Johnson
The spot opened when Jake Scott jumped to Tennessee as a free agent. It was hard to read tea leaves about right guard based on OTAs. Johnson's been a versatile fill-in for the Colts, starting five games at left tackle and then five at right tackle to close out 2007. When Ryan Diem was hurt in Super Bowl XLI and Johnson replaced him, it took Peyton Manning a few series to even notice. The Colts don't defer to draft status as strongly as some other teams, so second-rounder Pollak, still unsigned, might not qualify as the favorite. But Indianapolis certainly doesn't worry about inserting a rookie into its offensive line -- see Tony Ugoh at left tackle last year and early work from Ryan Lilja (six starts as a rookie) and Jake Scott (nine) in 2004.
Intensity index: Hot
Nickelback: Tim Jennings vs. Dante Hughes and T.J. Rushing
Jennings was a second-rounder in 2006 and played a good deal last season as the third corner. But he'll face a strong challenge from Hughes and Rushing. Jennings was a second-rounder in 2006, Hughes a third-rounder in 2007 who finished his rookie season on IR with a shoulder injury and Rushing was a seventh-rounder in 2006. Hughes may not have track-star speed, but he tends to show up around the ball a lot and in Rushing's chances he's shown a propensity for getting his hands on the ball.
Intensity index: Hot
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Paul Kuharsky
Kuharsky joined ESPN.com in 2008 after 12 years covering the Oilers/Titans and the NFL for The (Nashville) Tennessean. The New Jersey native and Columbia graduate lives in Nashville with his wife and son.
