Colts hungry for revenge in London tie
Indianapolis lost 51-16 to Jaguars last season
WATFORD: The last time they played the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Indianapolis Colts suffered a 51-16 beating. Now the Colts seek redemption in London.
“They beat our butts good, they embarrassed us, so I’m sure they’re confident,’’ coach Chuck Pagano told reporters on Friday following the Colts’ first training session on British soil ahead of today’s matchup at Wembley Stadium.
While the Jaguars are veterans of the trans-Atlantic trip, having played in Wembley for the past three years, this will be Indianapolis’ first regularseason game overseas. On their charter flight across the pond, key players got the comforts of first class, many others the relative discomfort of sleeping on three economy-class cushions.
Several players said they were feeling the challenge of the five-hour time zone switch following a training session starting at around 8am Indianapolis time. All were told to sleep on the plane and stay awake in London all day, no matter what their hearts and heads might tell them.
“Right now I feel like taking a nap, but I know that’s not the smartest thing to do,’’ said defensive end Kendall Langford, who has played in London during his time with the then-St Louis Rams.
“If you talked to me about three hours ago I’d have said I felt like death... but I’m acclimating,’’ said left tackle Anthony Castonzo.
While he didn’t play in the Dec 13, 2015 defeat to the Jaguars, Castonzo said the entire team remembers the embarrassment of letting the Jaguars score a touchdown on every single second-half possession.
“Anytime a team beats you like that you’ve got a sour taste in your mouth. You always want to come out and redeem yourself,’’ he said.
O-LINE WOES: The left side of the Colts’ offensive line looks impressive with two first-rounders in Castonzo and rookie centre Ryan Kelly, and second-rounder Jack Mewhort.
But the right side remains a patch work mystery with both would-be starters, guard Denz el le Good and tackle Joe Re itz, limited by lingering injuries. Pagano said Friday it could be a game-time decision whether Good or Reitz plays.
While rookie swingman Joe Haeg performed ably in his first start last week at both right guard and right tackle, another potential substitute, Jon Harrison, was ruled out on Wednesday after undergoing an emergency appendectomy in Indianapolis. Pagano confirmed the Colts might need to dip into their practice squad for line depth today.
HEALTHIER ON D: The Colts’ defence has surrendered 95 points through three games, third worst in the NFL, chiefly because of an injury-riddled secondary. That picture got worse at the start of the week with outside linebacker Trent Cole’s surprise placement on injured reserve, depleting the Colts’ already thin pass-rush options.
But the two starting cornerbacks should finally be on the field together today for the first time this season. Vontae Davis returned from a monthlong ankle injury in last week’s 26-22 win over the San Diego Chargers. Patrick Robinson, who suffered a concussion in the Colts’ Week Two loss to the Denver Broncos, returned to full practice on Wednesday and is expected to start opposite Davis.
Primary slot cornerback Darius Butler is still nursing a hamstring injury picked up in the opening day defeat to the Detroit Lions, and Pagano ruled him out of action for Wembley. Principally filling his place is veteran Antonio Cromartie.
WHO’S THE HOME TEAM? The Jaguars are officially the home team in London — even though they had to travel 259 miles (417km) farther to reach their “home’’ than the visiting Colts.
Indianapolis’ 3,987-mile (6,416km) journey was a mere 7 hours, 50 minutes by air, a half-hour shorter than their “home’’ counterparts.
GUTEN APPETIT! Andrew Luck spent much of his childhood in London and Frankfurt, Germany, where his father Oliver worked as president of NFL Europe.
While the focus on Friday was on Luck’s London roots, a German broadcaster couldn’t resist offering him some continental hospitality — with a surprise presentation of a plate of schnitzel.
A smiling Luck, still sweaty from practice, took the plate but told the German broadcaster: “I might have to wash my hands before I eat this.’’ Luck said he appreciated the dish and added “vielen Dank,’’ German for “many thanks.’’