NFL first-round draft picksHalf of all first-round draft picks fail in the NFL. Brian Decker believes he can improve that rate Nate Hairston Color Rush Jersey , but..." Stampede Blue Colts LinksColts News: How Brian Decker is using special forces background to find next generation of ColtsNew,5commentsEDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Colts News: How Brian Decker is using special forces background to find next generation of ColtsTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Duane Burleson/Getty ImagesGreen Beret Brian Decker thinks he can improve success rate of NFL first-round draft picksHalf of all first-round draft picks fail in the NFL. Brian Decker believes he can improve that rate, but it's not clear anyone in the league is listening.How Brian Decker is using his special-forces background to find the next generation of Colts – The AthleticHow do you assess the things that vertical jumps, arm lengths and shuttle run times cannot? You hire someone like Decker.Colts fired Chuck Pagano, but they fight cancer together at GalaChuck Pagano is returning to Colts complex, where he cleared out his office after being fired in 2017, because some things are bigger than football.Jeff Saturday: Colts’ success must be built around o-line, d-line | CBS 4 - Indianapolis News, Weather, Traffic and Sports | WTTVINDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – It was easy to be blinded by the offensive brilliance as the Indianapolis Colts stormed through the 2000s. Peyton Manning. Marvin Harrison. Reggie Wayne. Edgerrin James. Dallas Clark. Brandon Stokley. Joseph Addai.Do The Colts Have A New Swing Tackle In Jackson Barton?After manning the blind side for the Utah Utes for the last two years, many draft experts expected Jackson Barton to switch to right tackle in the NFL. Do the Indianapolis Colts have another reserve swing tackle on their hands?New Defensive End Gerri Green Brings Speed And Burst Trait Colts Want | 1070 the FanWhy were the Colts attracted to Mississippi State defensive end Gerri Green in the draft process? Where will Green fit in Indianapolis?Colts rookie Parris Campbell has a king for a mentor: LeBron James - Indianapolis Colts Blog- ESPNThe Colts are banking on second-round receiver Parris Campbell getting up to speed quickly after a breakout 2018 campaign at Ohio State.Projecting Rookie Playing Time For 2019 Colts | 1070 the FanHow much playing time should be expected from the 10-man draft class of the Indianapolis Colts in 2019?<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="GuDdRA">COLTS MEDIA HOUSTON — Saturday’s wild-card game between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans is a matchup that seemed improbable early this season after Houston dropped its first three games and the Colts limped to a 1-5 start.Instead of letting their tough starts lead to disappointing seasons, these teams — which both finished 4-12 last year — turned things around to lead the AFC South and charge into the postseason.Houston’s rebound began at the expense of the Colts (10-6), and it was thanks in part to a controversial call by Indianapolis coach Frank Reich in overtime. The game was tied 34-34 when https://www.coltsfanshop.com/Braden-Smith-Jersey , instead of punting on fourth-and-4 from his 43-yard line and likely settling for a tie, Reich called for a short pass from Andrew Luck to Chester Rogers. Luck’s pass fell incomplete, Houston got a 24-yard completion on the next play, and Ka’imi Fairbairn made a 37-yard field goal as time expired to give the Texans (11-5) a 37-34 victory.“We knew that to be able to come out on the winning end of that game was a big thing for us, but that’s a long time ago,” Houston coach Bill O’Brien said. “The teams have evolved over time, so it’s a new ballgame now.”The win was the first of nine straight for Houston. The Texans didn’t lose again until a visit from the Colts on Dec. 9, a 24-21 Indy victory. Houston then won two of its last three games, capped by a 20-3 victory over the Jaguars on Sunday to clinch the division — and become the sixth team since 1980 and first since 1998 to make the playoffs after a 0-3 start.The Colts’ loss to Houston in Week 4 was the second of four straight that dropped them to 1-5. Indianapolis then won its next five and nine of its last 10 to make its first playoff appearance since a 2014 AFC championship game loss at New England. Yes, the “Deflategate” game.The Colts are the third team in NFL history to reach the postseason after losing five of the first six games.These teams have more in common than their difficult starts. They’re both led by a player making a comeback after an injury.Luck returned after missing the 2017 season with a shoulder injury to throw for 4,593 yards and rank second in the NFL with 39 touchdown passes. His best games this season have come against Houston, piling up 863 yards passing with six touchdowns.Trying to slow him down Saturday will be Houston’s comeback star J.J. Watt, who played all 16 games after starting just eight games combined in the previous two years because of back surgeries and a broken leg. Watt led the AFC with 16 sacks, had 25 quarterback hits and 18 tackles for loss and forced a career-high seven fumbles Jabaal Sheard Jersey , which tied for most in the NFL.Watt said Luck has been getting rid of the ball quicker this season, which makes his job as a pass rusher much more difficult.“You try and do different things, but at the end of the day, you try and get there, and if you can get your hands up, you get your hands up,” he said. “You just try and get there. You can’t really let it affect you, and you hope maybe he holds it for an extra second.”HILTON’S INSome of T.Y. Hilton‘s most memorable moments have come against the Texans — especially when he visits Houston.The Colts’ top receiver has caught 41 passes for 933 yards with seven TDs in seven games at NRG Stadium, and in the last two trips to Houston he has 14 receptions for 374 yards and two TDs. So even though he’s been hobbled by a bad ankle, which he initially injured at Houston on Dec. 9, Hilton insists he’ll be fine Sunday.“That’s probably why it’s starting to feel better,” Hilton joked earlier this week when asked about playing in Houston for the second time in a month.DESHAUN’S DEBUTHouston quarterback Deshaun Watson will make his playoff debut in his second year in the NFL. Don’t expect the 12th overall pick in the 2017 draft to be daunted by the challenge after he played plenty of huge games at Clemson, highlighted by leading his team to the national title game twice. The Tigers lost to Alabama when Watson was a sophomore before he helped Clemson beat Alabama 35-31 for the 2016 national championship.“It’s just another opportunity for myself and this whole team to be able to show what we’ve got and put in the work,” Watson said. “I’ve played in a lot of big games before in college and stuff Pierre Desir Color Rush Jersey , but you can’t really pit college playoffs with the NFL. This is the hardest business, top-notch. It’s a whole new season, a whole new speed of game. So it’s going to be new for me (and) it’s going to be a lot of fun.”TURNAROUND TIMEIndy didn’t just rebound from a 1-5 start to make the playoffs. It rewrote the book.While the oft-criticized offensive line allowed a league-low 18 sacks after giving up a league-high 56 in 2017, the biggest change came on defense, where the Colts were ranked No. 11. They had the league’s leading tackler, tallied 26 takeaways, allowed only 16.4 points over the final eight games and were one of three teams that didn’t allow a 100-yard rusher all season.The Colts know it will take more of the same to advance.“The last time we did a good job, that was great for us, but this is a new challenge this week,” Reich said when asked about defending Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins. “I’m sure they are going to try to get him going.”97<button class="view-gallery">View Gallery</button> Gallery:2018-19 NBA cheerleadersJoe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports | Joe Camporeale