INDIANAPOLIS – No. 98 is about to be unleashed.
The major news from Wednesday's media sessions saw Chuck Pagano say that Robert Mathis will see his snaps increase in the coming weeks.
What else happened at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on Wednesday?
Here are some sound bites from Pagano and Andrew Luck meeting the media:Chuck Pagano on the pitch count for Robert Mathis:
"He's going to get some more snaps."
Bowen's Analysis:* *In previous weeks, the Colts were keeping a watchful eye on the snap counts for Mathis. The Colts were holding Mathis to around 20-25 snaps in recent weeks, but that looks like it will increase going forward.
Chuck Pagano knows the Colts pass rush has to get to the quarterback at a higher rate, particularly against these types of quarterbacks. Drew Brees has been sacked 15 times in 209 attempts this year, a ratio that the Colts need to see grow on Sunday afternoon.
Chuck Pagano on preparing for the Saints:
"They do a great job with tempo, a great job with personnel groups.
"To start ball games, they could be in as many as 15 different personnel groups."
Bowen's Analysis: In looking for similarities between the Saints and Patriots, you obviously have two elite quarterbacks who are very effective in finding their playmakers early in plays.
The major difference between the Saints and Patriots is how many unique packages New Orleans uses with their skill guys. Pagano talked on Monday how the Saints have a handful of run and pass concepts, yet they really burn you by running those out of a variety of wide receiver/tight end/running back groupings.Andrew Luck on Drew Brees:
"I've always admired Drew a lot.
"He's one of those guys that's a role model in the quarterback world."
Bowen's Analysis: Luck spoke very highly of Brees on Wednesday as the two have played together in past Pro Bowls. Brees, who played under Colts defensive coordinator Greg Manusky back in San Diego, is a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer. The former Purdue quarterback is continuing a trend the Colts saw begin last Sunday with several big-time quarterbacks in the coming weeks.
As far as Luck, he's no longer on the injury report, which is a terrific sign for his workload at practice. Luck and the Colts know the challenge that faces them the next three weeks, before the bye. After Brees and the Saints, the Colts will travel to Carolina (Cam Newton) and then host Denver (Peyton Manning) prior to a Week 10 bye.
INJURY NOTES
Here is the injury report for Wednesday:
- DNP: S-Mike Adams (hamstring), ILB-Jerrell Freeman (groin), S-Clayton Geathers (knee), CB-Vontae Davis (rest), WR-Andre Johnson (rest), OLB-Robert Mathis (rest)
-Pagano listed Adams, Freeman (who has been battling a groin injury and played through it Sunday) and Geathers as day-to-day.
- LIMITED: None
- FULL: ILB-Nate Irving (knee)
-Irving was inactive on Sunday against New England.
