AJ out for the Colts game

[JCTexan]

Don't know if this has been posted yet, but he won't play against the Colts this week.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8027e701&template=without-video&confirm=true

[DeclanJr]

It's tough for any team to lose their best player. I would venture to say though that if Indy or the Pats lost their No. 1 reciever, they could still win games. By no means am I comparing our team to those teams, but I'm saying that a quality quarterback can overcome an injury to a key receiver.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing if the other receivers will step up and run clean routes. I don't think we have another receiver with Johnson's combination of size and speed, but Schaub strikes me as the type of quarterback that will find the open man or the hole in the defense given time.

Many on this board have been calling for the team to run the ball all day like we did last year, but my opinion of that gameplan is that it was more a product of the guy under center. We can still win this game with a good combination of runs and passes.

[3andOUT]

It's tough for any team to lose their best player. I would venture to say though that if Indy or the Pats lost their No. 1 reciever, they could still win games. By no means am I comparing our team to those teams, but I'm saying that a quality quarterback can overcome an injury to a key receiver.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing if the other receivers will step up and run clean routes. I don't think we have another receiver with Johnson's combination of size and speed, but Schaub strikes me as the type of quarterback that will find the open man or the hole in the defense given time.

Many on this board have been calling for the team to run the ball all day like we did last year, but my opinion of that gameplan is that it was more a product of the guy under center. We can still win this game with a good combination of runs and passes.

I truly believe that Schaub can get it done without AJ. It's going to take mistake-free football though. What worries me is that Schaub worked with AJ constantly in the off-season to develop chemistry and that has definitely showed. Owen Daniels is another guy Schaub has gotten really comfortable with so I expect him to have a big game, but I'm not sure Schaub and the other receivers have worked together enough to connect on that same level. I'm sure that will come as the season goes on, but I'm not sure it's there as of now.

[HJam72]

I still think the way to play the Colts is to run a lot and get after Manning--with or without AJ. In most games, I'd say Schaub is our biggest improvement this year, but I think our biggest asset in this game is the acquisition of Green, and using Dayne as well. You can't outskill the Colts. You have to outmuscle them, or lose.

[Zagen30]

If Schaub's making lots of short, accurate, low-risk passes (and connecting, obviously), then I think we'd be doing basically the same thing as running the ball a lot. It's more about controlling the ball and keeping posession for long periods of time than running it per se (except for the fact that the Dayne Train beats up the tacklers more).

[outofhnd]

We will play clock control football. their Cato June replacement is doing a swell job but if the titans can compete with only 184 yards passing with similar weapons we have. we should be able to atleast stay close. It would be freaky to see peyton running for his life against us.

[DeclanJr]

I guess I just feel like I haven't seen enough out of Dayne this season to just give him the ball and let him roll over people. Maybe it takes him a few games to get it going, but his YPC avg is abysmal. Granted, most of the carries he has gotten were in obvious run situations, but he seems to be running with his head down and not looking for the open lanes.

Ahman Green has been having good games, but his cramping up has got me worried. All I'm saying is, we shouldn't abandon the passing game. It seems like we have a different offense than the one we were running last year. It is more effective and more exciting.

That said, I'll leave the gameplanning to Kubiak. I'm all for doing whatever it takes to win. I think I'm just itching for Sunday to get here so I can see how it all plays out!

[3andOUT]

[QUOTE=DeclanJr;36103]I guess I just feel like I haven't seen enough out of Dayne this season to just give him the ball and let him roll over people. Maybe it takes him a few games to get it going, but his YPC avg is abysmal. Granted, most of the carries he has gotten were in obvious run situations, but he seems to be running with his head down and not looking for the open lanes. QUOTE]

I think they tell him to put his head down and just run. Don't turn, don't even look up, just run and punish people. I think Dayne is nice to have to come in and punish defenders. When Ahman heads for the sideline, they defense knows they are going to have to gang tackle a load.