Issue #226 – Colts Luck Turns Around

thehorseshoe — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:22:22 +0000

Week 1: Colts 21 Bears 41		Haiku Count: 1744
A rudderless ship New coach, GM, and QB Colts Luck turns around.		New defensive scheme pays off immediately with sack and pick six
Untested mixture of rookies and vets on line will take time to gel.		Don’t measure season by wins and losses this year Watch for improvement
What once was gimme is no longer a sure thing Vinny misses kick		Wayne’s one-handed grabs inspire confidence in Andrew Luck’s first game.
Hapless replacement referees damage the game players, fans alike		Without a pass rush Colt secondary looks like big chunk of Swiss cheese.

Issue #225 – Halfway Imperfect

thehorseshoe — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:39:02 +0000

2011 Week 8: Colts 10 Titans 27		Haiku Count: 1736
Halfway imperfect. 8 games, no wins in sight. Time for paper bags?		Note to special teams on any Colt kick return: Take a freakin’ knee!
Tipped passes net picks 14 points off turnovers. Difference in game.		In goalpost’s shadow Titan wave swarms over Hapless Colt punter.
Single bright spot in a forgettable season: Rookie D. Carter.		No leader of men. Locker room lost; apathy. Cladwell’s time to go.
With season now lost, Grim prospects for improvement. No free pass for coach.		How long will owner defend management’s mistakes and pathetic play?

thehorseshoe — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:32:51 +0000

2011 Week 7: Colts 7 Saints 62		Haiku Count: 1728
62 reasons. This defense has given up. 62 reasons.		62 reasons. This coach should not have a job. 62 reasons.
62 reasons. Fans should question their effort. 62 reasons.		62 reasons. This season is a cruel joke. 62 reasons.
62 reasons. Team won’t win a single game. 62 reasons.		62 reasons. To plan next year’s draft party. 62 reasons.
62 reasons. To second quess no-huddle. 62 reasons.		62 reasons. Peyton’s not only worry. 62 reasons.

thehorseshoe — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:29:04 +0000

2011 Week 6: Colts 17 Bengals 27		Haiku Count: 1720
Find new ways to lose. Peter Waiter’s late fumble Foils late game comeback.		Unusual sight. 31 scampers and scores. Touchdown, Donald Brown.
New cats have some teeth minus Carson and The Clown. Cincy on the rise.		Cannon legged Adam sends ball soaring through uprights. Money from fifty.
Bengals out-bungled. Plenty of ineptitude for both teams to share.		Loveable losers keep game int’resting ’til end. Outcome not in doubt.
Good teams can bounce back. Bad teams must play perfectly. No margin for error.		Horse kicked when its down Long time cellar dweller Cats give Colts no quarter.

thehorseshoe — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:22:45 +0000

2011 Week 5: Colts 24 Chiefs 28		Haiku Count: 1712
Late game heroics. Colts hope one half is enough. Chiefs prove it is not.		Dallas disasters. Littany of dropped passes gives cause for concern.
With game in hand, Defense phones in second half. Where are the leaders?		Catch worthy of note. Duane Bowe tips pass to himself, despite penalty.
Credible pass rush takes pressure off Colt corners. Without it, we’re screwed.		Peyton patrols sideline. It must be surreal for him, seeing team implode.
Painter’s best ally, Reggie has no chemistry on field with him.		So many close games could have given team boost. First win, the hardest.

thehorseshoe — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:07:41 +0000

2011 Week 4: Colts 17 Bucs 24		Haiku Count: 1704
Big plays possible Get the ball in Garcon’s hands. He will do the rest.		Two Captains go down. Brackett and Bullit done for year. Heart & soul of D.
Fourth quarter collapse. Moral victories won’t cut it. Team must seal the deal.		Freeman held in check. Eventually defense wears down, surrenders.
First start for Curtis. Given some time & practice. He could man the fort.		Gone are Sapp, Brooks, Lynch. New faces, but same result. Bone crunching defense.
Hoist Jolly Roger Ponies pillaged and plundered. Real booty: a win.		Monday Night rematch. No prime time meltdown for Bucs. Manning in the booth.

thehorseshoe — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:24:46 +0000

2011 Week 3: Colts 20 Steelers 23		Haiku Count: 1694
Last minute field goal Defeated, not downtrodden Signs of improvement		No game of finesse Freeney, Mathis wielded as blunt force instruments
Mirror universe? Run game, run defense are strengths. Passing, not so much.		Not since days of “Goose” has Colt defense stirred passions, inspired crowd to hope.
Concussion or no, Painter has greater upside Give the kid a start.		On field processor Fast mind better than fast feet Collins can’t compute
Each punt caught in bounds Ev’ry kick an adventure Potential touchdown		3rd down nemesis Defense gives up big yardage Offense can’t convert.

thehorseshoe — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:55:26 +0000

2011 Week 2: Colts 19 Browns 27		Haiku Count: 1686
A work in progress Adjusting to life without Manning will take time		Look at first four games Like second pre-season for Colts Training camp on fly.
Hang close three quarters Doesn’t mean anything if team phones in the fourth.		Glaring weaknesses on defense and special teams Exposed, exploited.
Commitment to run Young strong lineman blast holes for Addai and Carter		First completed pass of second half came in 4th when game was over.
When pass hits the hands Colt receivers share the blame Catchable balls dropped.		A flawed strategy Good defenses should play well with or without lead.

thehorseshoe — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 03:54:54 +0000

2011 Week1: Colts 7 Texans 34		Haiku Count: 1678
Captain, my Captain. Next man up matters little When best man goes down.		Car without engine. Locomotive without steam. Offense in ruins.
That they would struggle Is no great surprise, really. But this much? This soon?		Gut-punch nightmare start. Last we checked, Peyton doesn’t Play D, cover kicks.
Memo to O-line: Clark can’t be expected to Block Williams alone!		Will one injury Dictate outcome of season? Colt TEAM will decide.
A rudderless ship, Adrift in stormy waters. Collins takes the helm.		So much for Colt pride. Over before it started. Two fumbles end game.

thehorseshoe — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 06:49:34 +0000

2010 Wild Card: Colts 16 Jets 17		Haiku Count: 1670
Bitter, bitter pill Last minute mental mistakes Give Jets easy score.		Fitting, in a way, That game against Rex Ryan Comes down to two feet.
Patience with run game Pays play-action dividend Touchdown for Garcon		Bullies off the line Second half, Jets establish clock killing ground game
Blame enough to share Keep chains moving, stop the run tackle kick returns		Curse of third and one Defense stacked close to the line Stubborn Colts still run
In waning seconds Colts time out gives Jets big break No need to rush kick		Consecutive stops forced by stupid penalty should have won game.
Young and untested Rag-tag squad showed their true grit This fan salutes them.