Quiet Speed
Mentor
The passing of Blair White by all 32 teams in all 7 rounds of the draft is about as ludicrous a thing as I've seen in all my years of following the NFL. I mean it's over-the-top whacky,
Brackett not doing a whole lot: Colts LB Gary Brackett, who was questionable for the game with a back injury, had five tackles, including four solo, against the Giants in Week 2. He had four total tackles in Week 1.
(Updated 09/20/2010)
* Peyton Manning to Austin Collie has yielded ridiculous numbers this season. On 32 targets, Manning's connected with Collie on 27 passes for 11.2 yards per attempt with four touchdowns and a passer rating of 153.0. (ESPN Stats & Info)
* Of Austin Collie's 171 receiving yards, 79 were gained after the catch. (ESN Stats & Info)
not bad for an "over-achieving possession receiver," huh?It might look as if there's no talking going on among the players on the field, but Colts quarterback Peyton Manning would tell you differently about a key pass to receiver Austin Collie in the fourth quarter.
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With almost shocking suddenness, Manning and Collie connected on a 48-yard pass down the right side to the Denver 35-yard line, and the Colts came alive for a fourth-quarter touchdown that bewildered the Broncos' defense.
"We've always done a lot with feedback," Manning said of the play that took the Colts from their 17-yard line after a false start.
"We also had a huddle, and we could get some discussion."
Collie, who victimized the Broncos with 12 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns, said he told Manning before the play that he thought he could run by the Denver defender.
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Coach Jim Caldwell said the offensive staff also was involved in the communication. It seemed as if everyone was involved in the discussion except the Broncos' defense.
"We encourage input, but you don't have to take it," Manning said. "We appreciate what they're saying. When you talk about communication, our guys do a good job of it. I always encourage communication during a series and not wait until it's over."
Manning said the Colts' offense had to wait for the opening to present itself.
"We had to be patient because the run game was kind of a grind," Manning said. "Denver has good defenders, and they play different pass coverages. It just worked out that in the second half we got a couple of plays down the right side. Being patient was important. We were trying to run the ball. We gave it a shot. We didn't abandon it, but it wasn't our day."
Manning said he didn't have a game plan on which side of the field he worked. It seemed early he was working the left side before switching to the right.
Collie had his version.
"We just took what the defense gave us," he said. "We had a false start on the play before, and I said I thought I could run by the safety."
Asked if he thought any differently about any defender, Collie said, "No."
Blair White is an undrafted rookie playing in his first game, two days after he was signed to an NFL roster for the first time.
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Raw, but well-schooled in the Academy of Peyton Manning Football, White noticed something about how Broncos cornerback Perrish Cox was playing him.
So White, who again was playing in his first game, went up to quarterback Peyton Manning, who was playing in his 195th consecutive game and 13th season.
"Blair White on his touchdown, he said, 'Hey, he's really inside,' " Manning said. " 'The slant route is going to be tough. Maybe a slant and up.' "
Manning taking tips from a first-game player? That does it. No one will ever know it all. Manning is not too proud to keep learning ...
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In the second half, White caught his first touchdown pass, on a short, slant-and-up against Cox.
But it was mostly Colts slot receiver Austin Collie who burned Cox in the second half. Collie had eight of his 12 catches, and 144 of his 171 receiving yards, in the second half.