Rouse released

[mmmdk]

Bye, bye Rouse!

Brett Swain can play emergency CB and Chuck can play safety. Not that such a puzzle in our secondary depth makes that much sense.

[Partial]

So we have zero healthy bodies that played safety during camp... Scary!

[packers11]

Collins needs to get back ASAP, why the fk didn't they keep Smith?

[PackerTimer]

Hopefully Bigby and Collins get healthy. We need those guys healthy back there.

[Waldo]

So we have zero healthy bodies that played safety during camp... Scary!

Bush played S all camp.

I'm pretty sure that Underwood took S snaps as well, splitting between CB and S.

Underwood was always pretty good against the run.

[Packgator]

http://indyfootballreport.com/index.php/archives/2640

Indianapolis Colts 2009 veteran breakdown: S Matt Giordano
Jul.21, 2009

So, when Giordano — a fourth-round selection by the Colts in the 2005 NFL Draft — tested the free-agent market this past offseason, he said he was far from disappointed when the best opportunity that arose was re-signing with the team that selected him:

My wife and I were ecstatic to be back. It was great to come back. I played four seasons here with the Colts. They drafted me and it’s always good to come back and be loyal to the team that trusted you first.

Giordano’s return further solidified an already-deep safety group, a unit that includes a pair of Pro Bowl selections – Bob Sanders (2005, 2007) and Antoine Bethea (2007) – as well as third-year veteran Melvin Bullitt, who started nine games last season.

Giordano, who has started six of 55 games in four seasons, has three career interceptions, and along with second-year veteran Jamie Silva, he gives the Colts unusual depth at the spot.

Said Giordano: We saw our depth last season. We saw it at safety, and we saw it at corner, and there shouldn’t be any worry, because we’re all experienced. We are very experienced and we should be a very solid group this year. These past few seasons we have established ourselves. Everybody is talented in their own ways, but we work well together. No matter who is in the game, we can execute together and that’s what counts.

Re-signing Giordano not only gave the Colts needed depth at the safety position, it marked the return of one of their top special teams players. Defensive tackle Darrell Reid and Giordano formed the core of the Indianapolis leadership group on special teams last season, and with Reid signing with the Denver Broncos, Giordano is the most experienced key returner on the unit.

Giordano in four seasons has 34 special teams tackles, and last season he had 26 tackles on defense and 13 on special teams.

Said Giordano: When we found out we were going to be back, I kind of thought, ‘You know, I need to step up and be more of a leader this year – not just by actions, but by being more vocal. It’s one thing to be voval, but I have to be a leader on and off the field and with the details – being on time to meetings and everything like that.

And while special teams is important, Giordano said it’s not his sole focus:

You can’t be satisfied. Things you’re somewhat good at you have to continue to improve. The things I feel like were more weaknesses, I put extra time in this year to make sure they’re my strengths. I’d say it’s going to be a great year if I improve on the things I’ve set out to improve on, and also if I expand my role as a special teams player, but msotly it will be a successful year if we’re hoisting that Super Bowl trophy one more time.

IFR Analysis: When the Colts re-signed Giordano this offseason, it was an important move in the same sense re-signing LBs Tyjuan Hagler and Freddy Keiaho were important moves. They are solid veteran players who may not necessarily be core-level, franchise player but who provide solid depth and experience within the system. Those sorts of signings are relatively rare in the free-agency/salary cap era of the NFL, but re-signing a player such as Giordano allows for continuity on special teams and in the reserve secondary that often is lacking. Giordano is one of the Colts’ fastest players and in addition to being a leader on special teams, he can play at a high level for a few games if injuries hit in the secondary.

Comments (1)

One Comment on “Indianapolis Colts 2009 veteran breakdown: S Matt Giordano”

July 22nd, 2009 at 2:00 pm

I’m suprised Matt did not get a chance to compete for a starting spot with another team.
Matt has played well when given his chance, behind a stable of Pro-Bowl Safeties.
Thrilled to have him on the roster, and I love the speed and hard hitting he brings to the team.

[Packgator]

Indy fans react to Giordano's release........

http://forum.colts.com/showthread.php?t=44449

[Patler]

Collins needs to get back ASAP, why the fk didn't they keep Smith?

Because they acquired Derrick Martin at the end of camp. People keep forgetting him. Smith out, Martin in; just like Rouse out, Giordano in.

[Partial]

So we have zero healthy bodies that played safety during camp... Scary!

Bush played S all camp.

I'm pretty sure that Underwood took S snaps as well, splitting between CB and S.

Underwood was always pretty good against the run.

I didn't know Underwood made the roster. I thought that was last year with Bush and he made the roster as a CB/ST this year?

[red]

i just don't get most if not all of tt's in season moves

hall and kuhn must be double teaming TT on a daily basis

[KYPack]

So we have zero healthy bodies that played safety during camp... Scary!

Bush played S all camp.

I'm pretty sure that Underwood took S snaps as well, splitting between CB and S.

Underwood was always pretty good against the run.

I didn't know Underwood made the roster. I thought that was last year with Bush and he made the roster as a CB/ST this year?

Underwood can't play safety. Shit, he is just beginning to learn the CB job. He's a year or so from being a back-up S, as well. he may have lined up there in Pre or on scout, but S in a league game?

No way.

He was in college last year at Cincy.

[Tarlam!]

Indy fans react to Giordano's release........

http://forum.colts.com/showthread.php?t=44449

Thanks for digging that up and posting it. Appreciate it.

[Waldo]

So we have zero healthy bodies that played safety during camp... Scary!

Bush played S all camp.

I'm pretty sure that Underwood took S snaps as well, splitting between CB and S.

Underwood was always pretty good against the run.

I didn't know Underwood made the roster. I thought that was last year with Bush and he made the roster as a CB/ST this year?

Underwood can't play safety. Shit, he is just beginning to learn the CB job. He's a year or so from being a back-up S, as well. he may have lined up there in Pre or on scout, but S in a league game?

No way.

He was in college last year at Cincy.

If he was so bad and raw, why is he on the 53 man roster?

CB isn't a big thieving position on the waiver market.

Underwood played both in college.

Either a guy can play or he can't. Raw players can play, they are just mistake prone.

We are still talking the backup to our backups.

Would he be a liability? Yup. Any more than Rouse? Probably not.

Upside that Rouse doesn't have? Yup.

He is certainly a more physical player than Rouse (despite his size) and a pretty good tackler. Good at covering? Not really, but has the physical upside to excel. Any worse than Rouse in coverage? He's probably better. If he has the good sense to not let anybody get behind him, chances are he's better than Rouse.

Keep in mind who the comparison point for Underwood is. It's not Nick Collins. It is Aaron Rouse, and honestly, I've been so unsold on Rouse for over a year, that I'd put Underwood on the field over him.

Same concept as Carroll vs. Dendy. Did Dendy suck? For sure. As much as Carrol? No. It was addition by subtraction. Cutting Carroll and bringing in a bunch of no name CB's for tryouts to fill out the depth and the PS is how we found Tramon. If they wouldn't have given up on Carroll and cut him after that Philly game, chances are Tramon would not be a Packer.

When you can identify that a guy is never going to be a player, cut him, there is no point in hanging on. Rouse sucked on ST anyway. Rouse was no better than a raw rookie on the field.

[Bossman641]

Very strange timing. I'm not sad to see Rouse gone, but the thought of Bush and still-learning-the-playbook Martin at safety has me worried.

Hurry back Collins

[rbaloha1]

Rouse looked too tentative at safety. Maybe should bulk-up and play as a dime lb.