On parle de Samuel Giguère à Indianapolis

" I'm excited kids. He might not be Jesus, but he could be great for the team". Suite à son excellente performance sur les unités spéciales à Buffalo dans des conditions climatiques extrêmes, le moins que l'on puisse dire est que le nom de Samuel Giguère est discuté un peu partout à Indianapolis, que ce soit dans le journal local ou sur les blogs des fans des Colts. Il nous fait donc plaisir de vous présenter le tout de façon condensée.

Mike Chappell, journaliste du Indystar.com qui couvre les activités quotidiennes des Colts

Sam's endured a pretty frustrating second season with the Colts. He was making very good progress during the offseason, then suffered a broken leg that sidelined him until the eighth week of the regular season. At that time he began practicing as a member of the practice squad. Sam was added to the active roster for the final game at Buffalo and handled kickoff returns. He added a spark on a frigid, snowy day. Sam averaged 24.4 yards on five kickoff returns with a long of 36. It's uncertain how or if he'll be used in the playoffs, but it's possible he'll replace Chad Simpson and return kicks.

A season finale might seem a little late for an audition, but Sam Giguere got one Sunday. As the Indianapolis Colts formulate their playoff roster, he gave them something to think about.

"(The roster) is something we'll evaluate this week in particular," coach Jim Caldwell said Monday, a day after the Colts closed the regular season with a 30-7 loss at Buffalo. "We'd like to get a real good sense of where he might fit, but he certainly made a favorable impression."

Giguere, a rookie wide receiver/kick returner/special teams player, isn't the only player the Colts are taking a hard look at. Caldwell said it's possible the team will carry two kickers during the playoffs: Adam Vinatieri and Matt Stover.

Vinatieri missed nine games after arthroscopic surgery Oct. 14 to remove a piece of cartilage from his right knee. Stover, a free agent in his 20th NFL season, was signed and has converted 9-of-11 field goal attempts and all 33 extra points.

Vinatieri returned Dec. 27 to kick a 22-yard field goal against the New York Jets but was inactive again Sunday. "Just not quite 100 percent," Caldwell said, "but he's certainly improving."

Giguere caught no passes but cleanly handled five kickoffs and on a slick, snowy field and returned them an average of 24.4 yards, with a long of 36, during his first NFL game. He also played as a gunner on the punt team and in kick coverage.

"It was an opportunity to show what I can do," said Giguere, who broke his left leg during summer workouts and spent time on the physically unable to perform list and the practice squad before being activated last week.

"From a return standpoint, I think I did pretty well. The conditions weren't ideal, obviously, but I'm satisfied with that part of it. Hopefully, I'll get another shot at it and I can progress."

In an otherwise meaningless game, Sunday's Indy-Buffalo contest marked a big day for former University of Sherbrooke receiver Samuel Giguere.

Giguere, who signed as a free agent with Indy before the 2008 season but spent all of last year on the practice roster, saw his first NFL game action when he returned a kickoff during the first half against the Bills.

Giguere's 2009 season took a bad turn when he broke his leg during off-season practices in June. That basically took him out of the mix this season. Even though he played during the preseason, Giguere was nowhere near 100 per cent and fell behind the team's other young receivers, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie.

Next year figures to be a big one for Giguere whose CFL rights are owned by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats who selected him during the first round of the 2008 draft.

Too bad former University of Calgary offensive lineman Dan Federkeil is on injured reserve for Indy. Had he been playing today, I believe the Colts would be the first NFL team ever to dress two former CIS players for a game.

Caldwell seemed to indicate that there would be consideration of Sam Giguere's role with the team, considering his great special teams returns against Buffalo. I think he looked great and would love if he could do that in the playoffs. So, do you guys think he can do that again? Will he get the chance? Anyone know anything about this guy? All I know is that he was a great, fast wide receiver during his college days (in Quebec) and Polian snapped him up after he had already signed to play in the CFL.

Sam

I liked him. I only saw him thrown to once he didn’t catch it, but it was well-defended. I think he may possibly be an upgrade at kick returner. I think he has some real talent and could be a mainstay on the Colts. I wouldn’t expect to see him do more than possibly return kicks in the Playoffs, but I think there is a great chance that he makes the team next year as well and could develop into a very productive player!

He looked good on KRs

but I wonder if that’s because the defenders had to tip-toe a bit on the ice… would like to see him at full speed on the turf

I like him

I liked what I saw.

"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
"As I grow older, the list of people who can kiss my ass grows longer"-Ancient Hoosier Proverb.

he seemed to show potential, however like someone said the other day if he was so good why hasn't he been returning in

other normal weather games?? no he isn’t on the active roster was right but he was in the preseason so did he just not get a chance?? i will say i think he should get a shot and could be good but im not sure that this last game says he will necessarily

Giguere

looked really good in the Buffalo game. That could be do to his talent, but could also be do to the coverage units being kind of tight do to the iced over field. I would like to see if he can do it inside The Luke. He can’t really be any worse than Simpson. Simpson has had a few good run backs including the TD return, but other than that he usually doesn’t make it past the 20 yard line. Giguere made it past several times. And good field position for Peyton would make the Colts VERY dangerous through the Playoffs. So, I say we should give the guy a shot. Caldwell said he made a “favorable impression” on coverage and kick returns, so my guess is we will see this guy on the playoff roster.

Well i wouldn’t be nervous about throwing im in there. He just did it last week in some of the hardest conditions to hold onto a ball

I see what you're saying though

It was nice to see some new energy back there, rather than have somebody consistently running into the back of his own guy.

Yes the "meaningless" doesn't mean anything to seeing him play. We saw he could run, we also saw his ability to hold

I only said it because I'm thinking the coaches were okay w/putting him out there since the game didn't mean anything

And I don’t know if they’ll have the same mindset (maybe they’ve seen something in practice?) when there’s more at stake.

The fact that he did that

without all the good ST players, makes his chances better I would think. I’d like to see him get a shot. Field position will be KEY in the playoffs

Guns is the man

I just like how French (AND Canadian) he is.

I didn’t get to see much of the game.. I only watched the Peyton/Dallas/Reggie bits, but how was he better than Simpson? And how good have Buffalo’s ST coverage units been?

he could give us better field position i think we started at the 40 at least 3 times. if manning was in there those would have been converted into points

I feel much better with Giguere as WR depth than Baskett

+14

Brian Burke and Football Outsiders

When Brian Burke of Advanced NFL Stats used Football Outsiders’ Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average to calculate the effect of special teams, he found that 1% of a team’s performance is the kick return, but 3% was the punt return. Even assuming Giguere provides a 50% boost to returns, this is not a significant improvement, as per the study. Certainly not worth anywhere near 3 points – assuming the study is right.

Of course, the validity of DVOA as a proper way to measure this is unclear. I think to casual observers, like us, it would be a huge boost to Peyton, if he could consistently start on the 25 and rely on one 30 to 35 yard start every game. On his 5 returns, he averaged just under 25, with a long of 36. If Giguere could deliver more, then it’s hard for me to imagine that it’s not worth 3 points.

The Colts are seriously considering keeping him on the roster. And the word is he won’t be deployed as a wide receiver. So, unless he’s been hitting field goals from 50 yards out in practice or is replacing Curtis Painter, it looks like we’ll probably get to see what he can do this post-season.

Also, the Star is reporting that part of his not being promoted earlier had to do with a broken leg. Considering that, and the fact that he didn’t drop the ball in horrible weather, I don’t think there’s much worry about him being a butterfingers.

I’m excited, kids. He might not be Jesus, but he could be great for the team.