The Designed Rush column covers all NFL action through Sunday each week. Of course, with the exception of Week 17 and the postseason, there’s this pesky thing called Monday Night Football. Which means there are possibly significant developments and story lines left uncovered. Solution: The Designed Rush Redux, which will gather up the most interesting tidbits from Monday’s action, as well as the continued fallout from Sunday.
The Designed Rush Redux: Peyton Manning Excels Even With Colts’ ‘Replacement Players’
The Designed Rush Redux takes a look at what exactly Peyton Manning has to work with on the Colts, who easily handled the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football.
Disconnected Thoughts From "The Shieriff's" Round-Up Of The Texans
- Other than a drop on the Colts' opening drive, tight end Jacob Tamme performed admirably in his big test after Dallas Clark was lost for the season two weeks ago in Washington. Tamme finished with six catches for 64 yards and a touchdown, which not only makes Tamme even more alluring a fantasy option but also shows that Indianapolis should continue to flourish with what Jon Gruden termed "replacement players" last night. I understand the intended meaning, though you know if ESPN thought they could get away with saying Peyton Manning could get away with winning with scab players, they would.
- Some pretty inane playcalling from the Texans where they went for an early 4th down conversion in the first half. Having rushed the ball with veritable ease for the entire game, the Texans instead opted to throw the ball twice facing a third and 2 near midfield. Arian Foster averaged 6.8 yards per carry on the game and could have put up a performance close to his 231-yard breakout in Week 1 if Houston hadn't allowed itself to fall behind early. The Colts in general are a good front-running team and can turn loose Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis to get a key turnover when the opposition is clear intent on throwing to catch up. It doesn't help that the Texans offense can't get stops once the offense is actually able to make the game vaguely close.
- Desperation is a tricky goading mistress. Gary Kubiak might have been too scared to try a 52-yard field goal to win with Neil Rackers in overtime in Washington, he was somehow willing to send Rackers out to attempt a 53-yarder last night when down 14-0. Rackers' leg is far from the strongest among NFL kickers, but he was able to squeeze it in by just about the slimmest of margins. Save a few times where the ball has hit the crossbar and gone over, this is about as tight a made field goal as I've seen.
- If I didn’t tell you this man was mocking the eyesight of the referees for ruling Manning down too soon on a scramble, what would you think he was doing? Attempting to pull venomous snakes from his eyes? Summon an evil incantation on the annoying random Miami Heat fan a few rows behind him?
- When Peyton Manning actually blocked someone on a Colts run, I thought my television might explode in a high-pitched peal of announcer squealing euphoria. That Manning is six inches taller than Eugene Wilson and outweighs him by 30 pounds means nothing when an announcer to presented with the opportunity to extol ol' Sheriff Manning for PUTTING HIS BODY ON THE LINE AND LAY IT ALL OUT THERE!
NFL Player Tweet Of The Night
#random Riding my Segway in 30 degree weather to go vote, polls opened up 2 minutes ago,enjoy your day people, tweet you later
Chad Ochocinco
OGOchoCinco
I believe the Constitution makes plain that whosoever arrives at their place of voting in the most mockable mode of transport of their given time shall be stripped of their right of participation in the democratic process. Then again, you might want to check with someone who has actually read the thing.
A Delicious Bundle Of Gripes
- Aaron Rodgers claimed that the Jets crowd in the New Meadowlands on Sunday was surprisingly quiet. Funny, isn't that the same raucous Jets crowd that Tom Brady claimed earlier this season is much more spirited than those at Patriots games? Gillette Stadium must be a great place to get some studying done.
- From Mike Silver: Randy Moss alienated a bunch of his teammates last Friday after practice by throwing a fit about the quality of the food brought in from former Viking Matt Birk's restaurant. Apparently the squirrel meat wasn't up to snuff for the West Virginia native.
- Speaking of Moss, he’s the subject of the latest by mix by noted sports sound byte mash-up artist, DJ Steve Porter. It’s up to his usual level of virtuosity.
- The New York media is hopping on Tony Dungy again for criticizing Rex Ryan for scapegoating punter Steve Weatherford for freelancing on the 4th and 18 fake punt attempt on Sunday. Dungy said Rex deserves as much criticism as Weatherford, even if the punter made an unilateral decision on the play. Ugh, I guess I agree in principle with the idea of a coach not blaming one player for a loss, but agreeing with the priggish Dungy on anything doesn't sit well with me either.
- Uh oh, Donovan McNabb is too out of shape to run the Redskins' two-minute offense. I smell another bevy of Redskins practice shuttle run stories.
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