Staff looks to make Colts consistent

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Few fans expected this young Colts team to make a run at the playoffs this year, but the coaching staff has declared this team “in the hunt” six games into the season.

The Colts have alternated between loss and win to sit at 3-3 entering Sunday’s game against Tennessee. The coaching staff’s task this week is to try to get their team to be more consistent, cut down on the turnovers, and make it happen in their first divisional road test of 2012.

“We've got to do more than our job,” interim head coach Bruce Arians said. “Doing your job doesn't win. Both teams do their job, the home team wins. That's the nature of the beast. We've got to do more than our job. We've got to create turnovers. We've got to protect the football.”

“It's not even possible to win when you're minus seven, or whatever we are on the road,” rookie quarterback Andrew Luck added. “We know we have to clean that up and it goes into the overall theme, a little more focus, a little more consistency offensively, and a little more attention to detail. We realize if we want to be a better football team we're going to have to start winning on the road. If we want to start getting consecutive wins in weeks, we're going to have to win on the road."

The Colts may be getting some help against the Titans on Sunday. A handful of injured veterans practiced on Wednesday, including defensive tackle Cory Redding and top running back Donald Brown. Sack master Robert Mathis may be able to practice on Thursday. Getting back to full strength should go a long way for a young team craving consistency.

“You want to be out there with those guys that you've been going to war with from day one.” Dwight Freeney told reporters Wednesday. “Hopefully, we can get some guys back and continue with that momentum."

“We have yet to put a complete game together,” Redding said. “That's something we strive to live for and that's something we continue to prepare for. When we do, watch out, because we've got a lot of guys that fly around and this system can really be successful if you stay true to the system.”

Despite his success, Andrew Luck said Wednesday it hasn't come easy for him. He's beginning to feel more comfortable in the pocket. Luck's tossed seven touchdown passes, but thrown seven interceptions as well. Luck admitted it's been a process.

“There have been times I've come to the sideline and sat down with Clyde and said I had absolutely no clue what just happened,” Luck said. “We'll look through pictures and say ‘okay it's just this front and this coverage.’ Next time I see that, hopefully we'll recognize that as such. I guess I sympathize with that a little bit and try to learn a little more each week and get a little more comfortable.”