Colts rookies trying to make most of 2nd chances

    2012-12-06 05:16

(Eds: Updates. With AP Photos.)
By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Andrew Luck is getting a crash course in rematch etiquette.

The man who seemingly did it all in college never played the same team twice in one season until he jumped to the NFL. On Sunday, he'll get a second chance at playing a team twice when Tennessee visits Lucas Oil Stadium.

``It's different,'' the rookie quarterback said in Week 10 leading up to the Colts' second game against Jacksonville. ``It's interesting when you go back and watch before.''

Like his successor, Peyton Manning, Luck spends most of his time scouring game film for a couple of things: Mistakes and finding ways to beat defenses.

Luck is hardly alone in the film room. With one of the NFL's youngest teams, the Colts (8-4) have one of the most studious rookie classes, too.

Indianapolis drafted tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen in the second and third rounds, receivers T.Y. Hilton and LaVon Brazill in the third and sixth rounds, and running back Vick Ballard in the fifth.

Each has had a major hand in this season's turnaround from 2-14. Brazill and Fleener each caught a touchdown pass in Sunday's comeback at Detroit, Hilton already has had four 100-yard games, Allen needs seven catches in the final four games to set the Colts' rookie record for receptions by a tight end, and it was Ballard's backward, twisting flip that gave the Colts their first road win of the season at Tennessee on Oct. 28.

Now they'll have to do it all over again against a Titans team that hasn't forgotten that overtime loss.

The Colts expect Tennessee (4-8) to make some corrections, and Indianapolis has some adjustments in the works, too.

``What you learn is that it's all about us,'' Allen said. ``You can watch the film and see how they've progressed since that game, but at the end of the day, it's all about you and how did you do with your performance.''

In the first contest against Tennessee, Luck was 26 of 38 for 297 yards with one TD and one interception. Indy also rushed for a season-high 171 yards and Ballard's highlight-making dive won the game in overtime.

Interim head coach Bruce Arians expects even more from his team this time now that they have gotten up close and personal with the Titans on the field and have spent countless hours breaking down those tapes since then.

Arians remembers that's the way it was with Manning in his rookie season, too.

``The second time through the division his rookie year was night and day,'' Arians said before the Jacksonville game, describing Manning. ``It would be the same thing I would hope once (Luck) can study himself against an opponent and play them again, he should be better.''

The difference between the first and second games against Jacksonville was noticeable.

Luck's completion percentage jumped from 47.8 percent in Week 2 to a season-high 69.2 percent in the rematch. His quarterback rating went from 75.7 to 80.1, despite throwing two fewer touchdowns and the same number of interceptions (one). Plus, the Colts won.

Could it happen again this week against the Titans?

The Colts are hopeful.

``I think we made a lot of mistakes, but we realize it's a 60-minute game,'' Luck said of last week's performance against Detroit. ``We realize we'll have a chance at the end if we flush that out and you do everything you can to win.''

NOTES: Arians said running back Donald Brown and safety Tom Zbikowski would both miss Sunday's game because of undisclosed knee injuries. ... Sunday's game is sold out and will be televised locally. ... Head coach Chuck Pagano has finished his third and final round of chemotherapy, but it is still uncertain whether he will attend his third straight home game. Pagano has been on an indefinite leave since being diagnosed with leukemia Sept. 26. ... The Colts signed linebacker Jamaal Westerman to the active roster, activated offensive guard Seth Olsen from injured reserve and have placed linebacker Justin Hickman on injured reserve.

---

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

Fantasy Football Player Notes RSS FeedPLAYER NOTES

Lorenzo AlexanderJun 19 10:57a

Arizona Cardinals LB Lorenzo Alexander is expected to get his chance to start at right outside linebacker, as he tries to unseat LB O'Brien Schofield. LB Jasper Brinkley is [ More ]

Jerraud PowersJun 19 10:54a

Arizona Cardinals CB Jerraud Powers has an injury history, but he also has a connection to head coach Bruce Arians from their days together with the Indianapolis Colts. Powers [ More ]

Vernon DavisJun 19 09:03a

San Francisco 49ers TE Vernon Davis practiced exclusively with the wide receivers in the most recent minicamp.

Josh ThomasJun 18 10:33p

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera says both cornerback spots are wide open, but CBs Josh Norman and Josh Thomas spent a lot of time working with the first-team [ More ]

Ben HartsockJun 18 10:33p

Carolina Panthers TE Ben Hartsock spent most of his first nine seasons in the NFL clearing space for running backs and protecting quarterbacks, rarely getting any balls thrown his [ More ]

Levi BrownJun 18 10:23p

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said Tuesday, June 18, that OT Levi J. Brown (triceps) was 'very rusty' during minicamp, but he added that Brown's 'skills are still [ More ]

Rob GronkowskiJun 18 06:53p

New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (back, forearm), who underwent surgery to fix a spinal issue in his back Tuesday, June 18, has hopes of returning to action late [ More ]

Aaron HernandezJun 18 06:13p

New England Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez was questioned by police investigating a possible homicide in a town 40 miles south of Boston Tuesday, June 18. The police were interested [ More ]

Rob GronkowskiJun 18 05:13p

New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (forearm, back) underwent back surgery Tuesday, June 18. It is believed the surgery was successful.

Randy StarksJun 18 04:53p

The Miami Dolphins and DL Randy Starks are not close on a long-term contract extension. It is expected that Starks will play out the final year of his contract [ More ]

Stephen NicholasJun 18 04:13p

Atlanta Falcons LB Sean Weatherspoon (knee) and Stephen Nicholas (hernia) both participated in minicamp practice Thursday, June 18.

Tim TebowJun 18 01:43p

The New York Jets are paying the Denver Broncos $1.53 million in 2013 as part of their trade agreement for QB Tim Tebow. Tebow signed a two-year, $1.36 million [ More ]

Chad JohnsonJun 18 01:13p

Free-agent WR Chad Johnson (Dolphins) was released from jail after serving seven days of a 30-day sentence in relation to violating probation of his domestic violence conviction. Johnson expressed [ More ]

Joseph RandleJun 18 10:35a

The Dallas Cowboys believe RB Joseph Randle can be a full-time running back if something happened to RB DeMarco Murray. Randle will have to compete with RBs Lance Dunbar [ More ]

DeAngelo WilliamsJun 18 09:23a

Carolina Panthers RBs DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert received plenty of repetitions in OTAs with RB Jonathan Stewart (ankles) on the mend.

Vonta LeachJun 18 08:23a

Free-agent RB Vonta Leach (Ravens) said he'll decide on a new team within two weeks, but he prefers to sign with the Houston Texans.

Desmond BishopJun 17 08:03p

Free-agent LB Desmond Bishop (Packers) said he is motivated as a result of his release. "There's something about being released that's definitely going to add another chip to my [ More ]

Cliff AvrilJun 17 07:03p

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said DE Cliff Avril (foot) should be ready for the start of training camp. Avril misses the organized team activities and most of [ More ]

Michael RobinsonJun 17 06:53p

Seattle Seahawks FB Michael Robinson is expected to compete with RB Spencer Ware during training camp for the starting fullback job.

Desmond BishopJun 17 06:43p

Free-agent LB Desmond Bishop (Packers) did not rule out the possibility of re-signing with the Green Bay Packers if he is not able to find the compensation he is looking for from another team.

Desmond BishopJun 17 06:33p

Free-agent LB Desmond Bishop (hamstring) said he has completely recovered from the hamstring tear he suffered during the preseason in 2012.

Brad JonesJun 17 06:23p

Green Bay Packers LB Brad Jones is likely to be a starter for the team this year after they released LB Desmond Bishop Monday, June 17.

Bryant McKinnieJun 17 06:23p

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said OT Bryant McKinnie did well during offseason workouts and is happy that McKinnie is working on his conditioning. 'Bryant did a really [ More ]

Desmond BishopJun 17 06:03p

The Kansas City Chiefs could show interest in free-agent LB Desmond Bishop (Packers) because general manager John Dorsey was with the Green Bay Packers when Bishop was there.

Desmond BishopJun 17 05:23p

Free-agent LB Desmond Bishop (Packers) said he is scheduled to meet with the Minnesota Vikings Tuesday, June 18.

Desmond BishopJun 17 05:13p

The Green Bay Packers have officially released LB Desmond Bishop.

Miles AustinJun 17 04:03p

Dallas Cowboys WR Miles Austin said he believes sitting out some practices during organized team activities and minicamp helped him not overwork his hamstrings. Austin has dealt with hamstring problems the last few seasons.

Desmond BishopJun 17 03:03p

The Green Bay Packers will release LB Desmond Bishop.

M. BernadeauJun 17 02:23p

Dallas Cowboys OG Mackenzy Bernadeau (shoulder), OG Nate Livings (knee) and OT Jermey Parnell (hamstring) are expected to be ready for the start of training camp. All three missed [ More ]

Tony RomoJun 17 02:13p

Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo (back) is expected to be fully recovered from his back surgery next week and will try to throw some passes to the remaining players at the team's facility.

Wes WelkerJun 17 01:33p

The Denver Post's Mike Klis estimates that the Denver Broncos' passing offense would reach its peak if Demaryius Thomas gets 85 receptions and Eric Decker and Wes Welker each [ More ]

Kyle WilliamsJun 17 01:23p

San Francisco 49ers WR Kyle Williams is the pre-training-camp favorite for the 'X' wide receiver spot, ahead of A.J. Jenkins, who holds the slot advantage, and others.

RSS Feeds

NFL News:
 
Player Notes:
 
Forum Posts:
 

© 2013 RealTime Fantasy Sports, Inc.
Email Us  ·  Call Us 636.447.1170  ·  Lost Password
Advertising represented by USA Today Sports Media Group