Last day before getaway

The only real piece of news today concerned the offensive line. It would appear neither Mike Pollak or Jamey Richard will be able to play on Saturday night. Both rookies did not practice and Colts coach Tony Dungy said Dan Federkeil would probably start at right guard.

Federkeil started the first three games of the season, so it's not an entirely new situation, but this will be his first taste of the playoffs.

Other than that, it seemed like business as usual, a New Years Day that had more of a Friday feel to it, if you move the weekly calendar over a day because the game is on Saturday.

Dungy did say for the first time what The Star has reported about the linebacker situation. Freddy Keiaho will start in the middle with Tyjuan Hagler on the weak side and Clint Session at the strong side. Dungy said Buster Davis, who was pulled in the second half at Jacksonville, would be the first reserve.

Here are a few more quotes from podium interviews to give bloggers a fix.

DE Dwight Freeney, about how he wants to play well in this game after being sidelined for last year's AFC Divisional loss to the Chargers: "There's a little bit of that. That was the first game I actually came back (to watch) after I got hurt, standing on the sidelines watching the game. That was probably one of my lowest points, lowest moments, and this one's a high one. Now I'm going back to the field that I got hurt at, again. I'll always remember that, so I'm going to be fired up and ready to play this game." As we all well remember, Freeney broke his foot on a spin move in the rain at Qualcomm Stadium during a regular-season game last year.

CB Kelvin Hayden, on this season being difficult for a secondary decimated by injuries (only safety Antoine Bethea made it through relatively unscathed): "It was tough because coming into the year, the guys as a unit, we set goals. We wanted to be the top secondary in the league and have everyone just go out there and make plays and have the great stats that everybody wanted to have. Unfortunately, it didn't go that way. I went down, then Bob (Sanders) when down, then Marlin (Jackson) went down. Antoine has been having little, nagging injuries, so things didn't go as planned but as a team, things are going as planned. We're in the playoffs. Unfortunately, we're not where we wanted to be. Wanted to be the No. 1 or No. 2 seed, but hey, we're in and that's the only thing that matters."

TE Dallas Clark, on how his huge late-season numbers increases his confidence: "I feel good with where everything is going, but it's just one of those things where I'll never get to the point where we have to start drawing up more plays for me. I'd be foolish to do that with (WR) Marv(in) Harrison and (WR) Reg(gie) Wayne on the outsides of me. It's a privilege to be on this offense with such great players. I've said that from the day I got here and that hasn't changed. I love playing with those guys, and what they have done to help me get better. They don't even probably realize what they've done, along with Peyton (Manning). What I've been able to learn and grow as a player has a direct relation to being on the field with them every day."

I couldn't resist a follow-up. I asked how Manning, his training camp roommate, would react to Clark demanding the ball in the huddle: "I would probably get a new roommate."

WR Reggie Wayne, on how he feels physically: "This is the best I've felt physically since the Pittsburgh game (on Nov. 9), so I feel pretty good. Obviously, there are going to be some nicks and bruises here and there, but that comes with the job. It's (game) 17, so if there's nothing bothering you then you're not playing hard or you're not playing. So there is going to be something, but nothing to the point where it's going to slow me down or hinder me from doing what I have to do."

We'll check in with blogger nation from San Diego on Friday afternoon!


Source: blogs.indystar.com