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And why not?
Here are five things to watch Sunday:
THE SWITCHEROO: Vontae Davis' trade from Miami to Indianapolis was profiled on last year's "Hard Knocks." He gets a second shot at his former team, and the Dolphins may not recognize Davis. Since December 2012,Wholesale China Jerseys, the former first-round draft pick has improved steadily. He won't be the only player with something to prove Sunday. Former Colts linebacker Phillip Wheeler goes against his former team, and three ex-Dolphins — center Samson Satele, right guard Donald Thomas and linebacker Erik Walden — will start for Indy.
Things might be changing.
MIRROR, MIRROR: No teams spent more money in free agency than Indianapolis and Miami, and no two teams went about it quite the same way. Indy tried to reinforce its offensive line, added a high-profile receiver, a power runner and revamped its defense. The Dolphins did essentially the same thing, though they spent more money on WR Mike Wallace than any other offensive spot. Sunday's game gives the two big spenders a chance to see which team got the better bargain.
A year after losing 23-20 to Luck and the Colts (1-0), Miami (1-0) returns to Indy with a new cast and coming off a 23-10 win over Cleveland.
He's seen the big arm, the surprising athleticism, even the stunning strength as he followed Luck's career through high school, college and the NFL.
"Last year in training camp I was battling for the starting position, so I really got to use training camp this year to really grow, and grow in the offense," he said. "We are excited about what we can do this year."
HOME, SWEET HOME: When the Colts hired coach Chuck Pagano, he promised to make Lucas Oil Stadium a tough venue. Indy is just one play away — an improbable last-minute, 80-yard TD pass from Jacksonville — from having a perfect home mark under Pagano's tenure. The Colts have won seven straight at home, while Miami is 3-6 on the road under second-year coach Joe Philbin.
A year ago, Tannehill was the No. 8 pick, going behind Luck and Robert Griffin III and ahead of Russell Wilson.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ryan Tannehill admires everything Andrew Luck can do on a football field.
UNHAPPY CAMPERS: Apparently, winning doesn't cure all ills. Miami's Randy Starks,Jerseys Wholesale, unhappy with stalled contract negotiations and the fact he didn't start last week, made his displeasure known with an obscene gesture during last week's victory. Wallace, who signed a $60 million deal,Authentic Hockey Jerseys China, was angry after catching one pass. If the Dolphins can put these issues behind them,Dirk Nowitzki Jersey, it could go a long way in determining how competitive they will be against the Colts — and perhaps the rest of the season.
Luck isn't surprised by Tannehill's progress.
"I've always been impressed with him as a football player," the Colts quarterback said. "To get to know him as a person was great, he's a phenomenal guy."
Now, with the two Texas prep stars about to meet for the second time in the NFL, the Dolphins quarterback is eager to show everyone how much progress he's made. And that he deserves to be mentioned with the top stars from the 2012 quarterback draft class.
Despite being upstaged by all three,Nfl Jerseys Online Cheap, Tannehill still managed to break Miami's rookie records for completions, attempts and yards — records previously held by David Woodley,Wholesale China Football Jerseys, Bob Griese and Dan Marino. The knock was he threw 12 TD passes and 13 interceptions and won seven games, failing to reach the playoffs like Luck, Griffin and Wilson.
PROTECTION CONNECTION: Colts owner Jim Irsay used Twitter to "demand" the Colts protect the franchise quarterback better after giving up four sacks last week. It could have been worse. Somehow, Luck escaped another seemingly certain sack, and took a couple of other big shots during the game. Irsay expects to see far fewer hits this week. In Miami, the complaints haven't been the same after Tannehill was sacked four times, but both teams expect better performances in Indy. |
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