Quote:  The Colts Secondary was depleted by injury yesterday.   As much as I've seen an NFL Secondary depleted in a long time.    Former Jags S Winston Guy took over for 2nd Round pick backup S T.J. Green after the latter went down during the game.   Patrick Robinson,  the Colts only available CB who was with the team before the start of training camp,  also went down in the game.   One thing for sure,  the Colts Defensive Coaches weren't the reason they lost the game.   This is coming from the perspective of a Lions fan.

 

  On the other hand,   both Jim Caldwell and Chuck Pagano made highly questionable time management decisions late in the game.   In Pagano's case,  I'm surprised but thrilled he didn't elect to force a kickoff return after Devin Taylor's illegal pile on penalty on the Colts go ahead PAT.   That saved the Lions several seconds of time and gave the Lions the ball at the 25 yard line.   Pagano is in a tough spot because of Jim Irsay's interference and the many mistakes of Ryan Grigson with Colts personnel moves.   Though he has hired good Assistant Coaches,  he opened up the door yesterday for criticism with the way he managed the game in crunch time. 

 

I would also add that Matt Stafford made some very good plays.  Yes it was bad defense but he moved very well in the pocket and bought time, handled the blitz well, and protected the ball.   On one of those TD's Mathis was about as close to a strip sack as you can be coming from behind the QB, Stafford got it out by the slimmest of margins.  I was somewhat doubtful of the Colts before yesterday, but with the way Luck played, and more importantly the way he didn't take many hits, they are going to be right there barring injury.  Luck who usually has some [BLEEP] plays, didn't seem to have any brain farts yesterday, If Luck is protected and gets that much time, and he doesn't have the hiccups he will absolutely kill.  Thats still an if but when he has times he can march down the field at 20 yd intervals.

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