INDIANAPOLIS -
A double take. A glace to the roster. A scratch of the head.
All could have been performed by fans who watched the Colts' top defensive unit take the field Sunday afternoon.
Melvin Bullitt at safety wasn't a surprise because Bob Sanders has been injured off-and-on for a year.
But Tim Jennings the starter at corner? Rookie's Jacob Lacey and Jerraud Powers on the other side?
Phillip Wheeler? Yup, he was on the first team too.
Read: Colts Beat Texans 20-17
"You feel bad for Tyjan," said Wheeler-who started in place Hagler after his season ended with a torn bicep. "But as coach says its 'Next Man Up'."
Jim Caldwell stated that often this week as a starting linebacker, cornerback (Marlin Jackson), safety (Bob Sanders) all were diagnosed with season-ending injuries. Oh, bye the way, the other starting cornerback Kelvin Hayden is out for about a month with knee trouble.
But despite the injuries on the defensive side of the ball, the Colts have managed to stay afloat, as they did at Lucas Oil Stadium against the Texans. With a patchwork of veterans and newcomers, the Colts held the Texans to just 17 points-their second lowest total of the season-in a three-point victory.
"The injuries aren't really an issue for us," said Caldwell of the defense. "We really expect our defense to go out there and play, play hard and play well regardless of who lines up there."
In many aspects they have, despite a rash of setbacks that began right from the start of the season. Bullitt stepped in for Sanders for the first five games while he was nursing a knee injury. Kelvin Hayden then missed three games after a hamstring pull against Miami, which brought rookies Powers and Lacey into the fold along with the veteran Jennings.
Read: Hagler's Out For The Season
Jackson then had knee trouble starting after the Seattle victory on October 4th, which brought more time to the three cornerbacks. Though not injury related, Ed Johnson's departure also made it necessary for Daniel Muir and rookie Fili Moala to step in as well (Though Moala was out for Sunday's game with a concussion.)
Still the Colts have managed to allow just four passing touchdown this season which is tops in the NFL, while allowing a league-low 13.5 points per game in helping the team to an 8-0 start.
"On paper 'Oh my gosh, the Colts, the injuries, oh my,'" said defensive end Dwight Freeney of the outside perception of the injuries. "But for us it gives us another opportunity for a guy to step up and make a play."
Read: Bob Sanders, Marlin Jackson, Kelvin Hayden Have Rough Injury Week
How they've been able to do that with a mix of younger players drew a multitude of answers from the locker rooms. Linebacker Gary Brackett said well distributed work in the preseason helps to get the backups prepared. Clint Session-who lead the Colts with 14 tackles Sunday-credits extensive second team work during practice with the ability for the backups to sub in effectively.
Powers, who has 26 tackles on the season including his first interception as a pro Sunday, said the emphasis on the "Next Man Up" philosophy from the time
"We've just been waiting for our opportunity, we got it early in camp, we were able to show coaches that we can be dependable and that we can play," said Powers, who saw extensive work with the injuries to Jackson and Hayden over the past month. "We won their trust over."
Once that happened, according to Wheeler, the new players soaked up what knowledge they could.
"We've got pretty good coaches here," said the second-year linebacker, who made four tackles in his first start for the Colts. "They take time with us, teach us what to do the right way, and it helps us a lot on the field."
All could have been performed by fans who watched the Colts' top defensive unit take the field Sunday afternoon.
Melvin Bullitt at safety wasn't a surprise because Bob Sanders has been injured off-and-on for a year.
But Tim Jennings the starter at corner? Rookie's Jacob Lacey and Jerraud Powers on the other side?
Phillip Wheeler? Yup, he was on the first team too.
Read: Colts Beat Texans 20-17
"You feel bad for Tyjan," said Wheeler-who started in place Hagler after his season ended with a torn bicep. "But as coach says its 'Next Man Up'."
Jim Caldwell stated that often this week as a starting linebacker, cornerback (Marlin Jackson), safety (Bob Sanders) all were diagnosed with season-ending injuries. Oh, bye the way, the other starting cornerback Kelvin Hayden is out for about a month with knee trouble.
But despite the injuries on the defensive side of the ball, the Colts have managed to stay afloat, as they did at Lucas Oil Stadium against the Texans. With a patchwork of veterans and newcomers, the Colts held the Texans to just 17 points-their second lowest total of the season-in a three-point victory.
"The injuries aren't really an issue for us," said Caldwell of the defense. "We really expect our defense to go out there and play, play hard and play well regardless of who lines up there."
In many aspects they have, despite a rash of setbacks that began right from the start of the season. Bullitt stepped in for Sanders for the first five games while he was nursing a knee injury. Kelvin Hayden then missed three games after a hamstring pull against Miami, which brought rookies Powers and Lacey into the fold along with the veteran Jennings.
Read: Hagler's Out For The Season
Jackson then had knee trouble starting after the Seattle victory on October 4th, which brought more time to the three cornerbacks. Though not injury related, Ed Johnson's departure also made it necessary for Daniel Muir and rookie Fili Moala to step in as well (Though Moala was out for Sunday's game with a concussion.)
Still the Colts have managed to allow just four passing touchdown this season which is tops in the NFL, while allowing a league-low 13.5 points per game in helping the team to an 8-0 start.
"On paper 'Oh my gosh, the Colts, the injuries, oh my,'" said defensive end Dwight Freeney of the outside perception of the injuries. "But for us it gives us another opportunity for a guy to step up and make a play."
Read: Bob Sanders, Marlin Jackson, Kelvin Hayden Have Rough Injury Week
How they've been able to do that with a mix of younger players drew a multitude of answers from the locker rooms. Linebacker Gary Brackett said well distributed work in the preseason helps to get the backups prepared. Clint Session-who lead the Colts with 14 tackles Sunday-credits extensive second team work during practice with the ability for the backups to sub in effectively.
Powers, who has 26 tackles on the season including his first interception as a pro Sunday, said the emphasis on the "Next Man Up" philosophy from the time
"We've just been waiting for our opportunity, we got it early in camp, we were able to show coaches that we can be dependable and that we can play," said Powers, who saw extensive work with the injuries to Jackson and Hayden over the past month. "We won their trust over."
Once that happened, according to Wheeler, the new players soaked up what knowledge they could.
"We've got pretty good coaches here," said the second-year linebacker, who made four tackles in his first start for the Colts. "They take time with us, teach us what to do the right way, and it helps us a lot on the field."
