Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - BITTERSWEET: Indianapolis Colts' Sauce Gardner Returns, but DeForest Buckner DONE

Starting point is 00:00:00 It's official. We're not going to see the Indianapolis Colts defense with everyone it was intended to have, but they still have a game to play here in a couple days. Let's get to it. You are Locked on Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. All right, welcome to Locked on Colts.

Starting point is 00:00:30 It's part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, now the number one sports podcast network. Today's episode is brought to by Fanduel. If you want to be right in the middle of the action this season, visit fandwell.com and place your NFL live bets all season long. What is up, everybody? This is Jake Arthur, the Indianapolis Colts beatwriter for Roundtable Sports. Hope you all had a great Christmas, holiday, whatever you're doing, whether you celebrate or not. Hopefully you guys have been doing well.

Starting point is 00:00:58 today we're going to dive into the matchup that is colts jaguars part two they played just a few weeks ago down in jacksonville of course it was a 36 to 19 route for the jags it was when daniel jones got hurt riley leonard came in the rain was there the officiating was brutal it was in every sense a game that you just want to forget and just act as if it never happened uh the colts now get an opportunity to not only keep their season alive, but kind of play spoiler a little bit for the Jaguars. The Jaguars are in the playoffs regardless. But the Colts need this one. They have to win out. They need the Texans to lose out. So by the time they hit the field Sunday, they could already be eliminated from the playoffs if Houston wins on Saturday. But regardless, whether the

Starting point is 00:01:52 playoffs are on the line or not, I think we all just want to see the Colts come out with a little bit of pride. The end of this season, the last several years, they have come out and laid these eggs. We can look at each season and point to a moment where it was regrettable. They had the playoffs on the line, like they would win and they were in and they would lose, or they needed this game and they needed some more help. We're just very much used to seeing them drop these games that they absolutely must have. And again, regardless if they're playing for the playoffs or not on Sunday, you just want to see this be a competitive game.

Starting point is 00:02:32 Hopefully a win, like the Jaguars are good, but they're not unbeatable. Like the Colts, I feel, were a better team earlier in the year as compared to whatever they have turned into on this last six or seven weeks. But yeah, since this previous matchup a few weeks ago, not much has changed. The quarterback definitely has for the Colts, however, Daniel Jones out, Phillip Rivers End. So that's a unique little perspective that the Jaguars will get to see in this one. But otherwise, it's, you know, the Jaguars have been arguably the hottest team in football, and the Colts just keep finding new ways to lose.

Starting point is 00:03:10 You know, defensively, you look at two weeks ago against the Seahawks, they kept them out of the end zone, six field goals, awesome performance by the defense. And then last week you go and allow half. 48 points at home to the 49ers who good offense, but they were without Ricky Pearsall, you know, they were just, they had no business giving up nearly 50 points at home to any opponent, really. But the 49ers, you know, it's kind of one of those things where you come out and it's a career day for late season opponents. You kind of look at the Giants game from last year as well. Again, it's just the kind of stuff. You want to see them try to avoid a lot of pride

Starting point is 00:03:53 on the line in this one, regardless of if it's the playoffs or not. Let's go ahead and there's been some big news on the defensive side of the ball today, so we're going to start there. The injuries, it's first and foremost. So out for the Colts on Sunday, DeForest Buckner, he re-agravated that neck injury that he missed. I think it was five games on IR earlier in the season. He returned last week. He re-aggravated it. He is done for the year, unfortunately. That is one of the Colts Warriors, like one of their Ironmen. We find out about the just most insane things that Buckner battles through each and every season, you know, during Locker Cleanout Day or late in the year after things have kind of already been said and done. And the things he plays through, just

Starting point is 00:04:39 remarkable. This is a guy who he's been pretty banged up these last couple of years, unfortunately, was on IR earlier the year before with an ankle, earlier this year with the neck. So you just hoped for the best with Buckner. Shane Steichen did say, you know, they hope to have him next year out there playing. This isn't something they're really overly worried about, but he's going to have to have a procedure that's going to end his season. Daniel Scott was also ruled out. He's been on IR since earlier in the year.

Starting point is 00:05:09 So that's kind of inconsequential to this iteration of the team. defensive end JT Tuamolo is going to be out as well. He's done some nice things, but, you know, this oblique injury will keep him out. So with him gone, just expect to see a ton of Samson, Ebukom, and Taekwon Lewis behind Lyotu, Latu, and Qudipae. Questionable officially is Sauce Gardner. He's been out the last few games, but it's been said he's good to go. Shane Steichen said he'll be fine. So Sauce Gardner is back.

Starting point is 00:05:43 he is another one of those kind of what-ifs for this season. You know, the Colts traded two first-round picks for him, and then he goes out after a couple games and, you know, has the cap injury, which, you know, big sigh of relief that it wasn't the Achilles, but certainly this trade has not gone the way that everyone kind of hoped for. Nothing this season in the back half has gone the way anybody hoped for. But Soss Gardner will be back.

Starting point is 00:06:11 We'll see who he covered. probably Brian Thomas Jr. for the most part. Jacoby Myers does a lot of stuff out of the slot, and then Parker, Washington, you can move him around a bit. So we'll see if they just part and Gardner, opposite of Brian Thomas Jr. I'm not sure about a pitch count. Shane Stike was pretty non-committal, basically just said we'll see how the game goes.

Starting point is 00:06:31 And then linebacker, Buddy Johnson, had an illness. He's questionable as well. That's more of a special teams thing, but technically he is a linebacker. Looking at things for the Jaguars, right? guard Patrick McCarrey is out with a back injury. Offensive players for the Jaguars that are questionable. Center Robert Hainesi with a groin injury, running back with Shul Tudin with a finger. So those, you know, Hansey obviously is a bit more consequential in that one being their center. But it didn't really matter last time either. I felt like their offensive line was a bit banged up

Starting point is 00:07:05 in the previous matchup and they just kind of controlled things, did whatever they needed to. So this is a different Jaguar's offense that we're used to seeing. Trevor Lawrence has really hit his stride under the coaching of Liam Cohen. They are doing some really, really good things here. This is arguably the best ball of Trevor Lawrence's career. You got Etienne is playing out of his mind as well. Brian Thomas Jr. has turned it on after his early season slumps. Parker Washington that I just mentioned a little bit ago,

Starting point is 00:07:37 he didn't play in the first matchup, but he'll be active. this one, he's kind of a dude. He's explosive, very dangerous player. And then, of course, Brenton Strange, they're tied in. You saw what George Kittle did to the Colts last weekend. So obviously that's a guy you kind of have to have circled in big red marker. But just general thoughts for the Colts defense in this one, you know, with Buckner out, it's not going to be a new scene. You know, like we mentioned, he was out about five games. I think it was on IR previously. So you're going to see Neville Gallamore. You're going to see more of Atatatama, Attauare.

Starting point is 00:08:13 Those guys have done some good things. I'm pleasantly, you know, I'm pleased with where the Colts' interior depth is this year compared to previous years. No one is DeForest Buckner, but those guys have played pretty well in his absence this season. So you do worry about the defensive line. Again, the pass rush, where is it? You know, we're in week 17 now. So it feels like madness to just say they're going to turn the corner here.

Starting point is 00:08:43 Like the pass rush is what it is. It's very reliant on Lyotu-Latu, and then occasionally some other guys getting some wins. They're hardly ever quick wins, and, you know, it's almost never consistent. So as always, this will be pretty reliant on Lyotu-Latu. To disrupt Trevor Lawrence, I would say keep him in the pocket because he's been just nuts out of his mind making plays outside the pocket, especially rolling to his left,

Starting point is 00:09:12 the way he's able to kind of deliver the ball super accurately on the run. You obviously want to try and keep him in the pocket, keep it contained, and then get to him, but do the Colts have the horses, so to speak, to make that happen? And then I'm pretty worried, I would say, about the Jaguars receivers. Again, Parker, Washington, very, very talented. Brian Thomas Jr. We saw him make a big play down the sideline against Mooney Ward in the previous

Starting point is 00:09:41 matchup. And then Jacoby Myers just has a really, really good connection with Trevor Lawrence. He's doing all the small things. He's blocking really well. He's catching everything. He's making plays downfield. So the Colts have their work cut out for him. I don't want to totally discount what the Colts defense can do.

Starting point is 00:10:02 because, again, there's a lot of pride on the line. Just a couple weeks ago, we saw them have an outstanding performance on the road in Seattle, a very tough place to play against a very tough offense. So I would really like to think at home at Lucas Oil Stadium that the Colts have, Colts defense has one more strong stand in them to just not get embarrassed and keep themselves in the game because I do think the Colts offense is going to be able to do enough to kind of, make this thing interesting and that means we're going to talk about that in just a moment NFL Sundays move fast. One big play and suddenly everything feels different. That's what

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Starting point is 00:13:18 Download the GameTime app today and get back to Bing their lives. all right welcome back everybody thank you for making locked on colts your first listen of the day and thank you for making us the number one sports podcast network out there if you haven't already go check out our new everydayer clubs you can catch our audio our audio ad free and get an invite to the members only locked on every day or club discord server which includes a group chat just for listeners of our shows go to lockdowncults dot com or lockdowncultz dot supercast.com to join or even gift a subscription. Some of us are still doing Christmas stuff right now, so it's a very,

Starting point is 00:13:58 very good gift. All right, let's look at the injuries for the Colts offense. Now, it's that time of year where it's just an absolute laundry list, and the Colts are not immune here. So Senator Tanner Borderlini is out with a concussion. Wide receiver, Anthony Gould, is out with a foot. That's also going to affect special teams, of course. He is their chief return specialist. tied-in Drew Ogletree is out with a neck injury. He plays quite a bit. They use him a lot, a lot, a lot in the blocking game. And he's also gotten involved a little bit more as a receiver recently.

Starting point is 00:14:31 And then, of course, quarterback Anthony Richardson, Senior, with his eye injury. Don't know that we're going to see him this year. Just he's got the compromised vision still. And he's a quarterback. So don't really know that you want to put him out there if his vision is not 100%. So with Borderline, out. That's going to put Danny Pinter in the driver's seat. We saw a lot of shifting of the offensive line last week. They had Jalen Travis on the left side, and then they had Matt Gonzalez

Starting point is 00:15:00 go from right guard to right tackle, Dalton Tucker at right guard, and then Pinter ultimately had to come in at center. So I think it's going to be a little more normal this week. So with Bernhardt Ryman back, which we were about to get to, so Bernhardt Ryman is going to be back after missing the last couple of games. He'll be back at left. tackle. Jalen Travis will go to right tackle. Gizalves is going to be there at right guard, and then you'll have Danny Pinter at center with, of course, Quentin Nelson at left guard. And then with Drew Ogletree out, you'll just see more Moe-A-Cox in that instance. Anthony Gould being out, probably more Tyler

Starting point is 00:15:41 Goodson in the return game at Kick Returner. If Ashton Doolan is able to play, I think you'll see him as well. Amir Abdullah got in the doghouse a little bit last week. for a fumble. I don't know if they're going to take him out or not. So we'll see there. And then, let's see, questionable. We mentioned Ashtra Doolin with his hamstring. He has been on IR. He's been able to practice this week. Tyler Goodson missed the first two days of practice and then was back today with his ankle injury. We mentioned Berenhardt. Reimann is back with the elbow. Dalton Tucker is questionable with a shoulder. he had to start last week at right guard, but then got banged up during the game.

Starting point is 00:16:22 So, again, he is questionable. Hopefully won't need him regardless, because Matt Gonzalez will be back at right guard. But yeah, looking at the Jaguar side of things, cornerback Jordan Lewis is now out for the year on IR with a foot injury. He's a really talented player for them. Linebacker Jalen McLeod, ankle, he's out. And then one of their better, you know, underappreciated

Starting point is 00:16:46 edge guys uh danny strigo he's going to be out with an ankle that's a guy who a lot of cults fans probably aren't super familiar with him uh but he gives him a lot of value nonetheless as a rotational player uh travon walker did not play in this previous matchup i don't believe if i remember correctly uh but he's back now uh he's going to play and yeah that's that's a guy who they move him around he's explosive they could do a lot of things with him uh so josh hines allen is out there that's that's going to be a tough call um i do like the fact that with philip rivers you have someone who's obviously statuesque against a talented front seven really because you have a locoon back there at linebacker you got some guys that have conduced things devon lloyd i think five picks on

Starting point is 00:17:35 the year had an interception against daniel jones last time uh you've got a really good i think front seven for jacksonville um but philip gets rid of the ball quickly. He's not going to hold on to it quite as long as Daniel Jones. And with Daniel Jones, I felt like he was kind of just figuring things out all the time when he was working through his fibula injury. But Rivers is who he is as soon as he, you know, hit the field against Seattle. I think things expanded a little bit last week. And now we're probably going to see, again, a little bit more of what we saw last week. He really didn't push the ball on the field whatsoever against Seattle,

Starting point is 00:18:17 but I thought he pushed it for whatever that means for him. You know, that's not going to mean like a lot of deep shots or anything, but like he moved it beyond the sticks quite a bit last week. And I think we might continue to see that. That's one thing you can do against Jacksonville's defense. I think you definitely want to try and get it behind the sticks, behind the front seven. Because if you're just kind of playing half court,

Starting point is 00:18:42 it's going to be tough to deal with that team there. Alec Pierce, he had a good game against them a few weeks ago. Obviously, he had the two touchdowns, a big game last week. We can all kind of hope and pray that Jonathan Taylor finally gets involved. But Jacksonville has been arguably the best run defense in the league. They're so staunch against the run. And, you know, late season matchups for Jonathan Taylor against the AFC South usually create some huge opportunities, some big performances, especially at home.

Starting point is 00:19:18 But I don't know. We're going to have to see it. It's been what, like five games since he's had a hundred-yard game. Since he had that MVP moment against the Falcons in Germany, he really has not been able to break out much at all since them. This would be a great time for it because their offense is just not the same when they're not running the ball effectively. But it's just one of those things they're going to have to show us

Starting point is 00:19:45 again before we can believe it. If they're going to win this one, I'm looking at Alec Pierce. I'm looking at Jonathan Taylor. You might have to have some sort of X-factor step up as well. Like if Ashton Doolan plays, maybe Josh Downs, you're missing Jordan Lewis if you're the Jaguar secondary. So maybe that can create some things for downs.

Starting point is 00:20:07 But it's going to be tough. If the Colts are going to win this at all, I think it's going to have to be just kind of like a, an ugly 20 to 17, 20 to 16 kind of affair. But we'll get into kind of the general thoughts here in just a moment. But yeah, the offense, I think when you look at Rivers lack of mobility, that's going to be a challenge. But 100 times out of 100 is going to be probably the smartest player on the field.

Starting point is 00:20:37 So I think that's always a feather on the cap they have. I'm worried about when you look at the interception, he had to the linebacker that was the pick six last week uh devon lloyd from the jaguars and linebacker he feasts on stuff like that all day long he is one of the better past coverage linebackers in the entire NFL and so i would like to think that rivers isn't going to really test him there but when you look at the middle of the field things get muddy uh and it's harder to see what's going to happen who's going to break on what uh so that's definitely an area i would think the Colts need to be super cognizant of.

Starting point is 00:21:14 But coming up next, guys, we're going to talk about our final thoughts here. What's going to happen? Who is going to win? We'll talk about that in just a moment. This episode is brought to you by Price Picks. The holiday season is one of the best times for sports. Bull games, big basketball matchups, playoff pushes. It's all happening at once.

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Starting point is 00:22:14 That's code Locked on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Price Picks. It's good to be right. All right, guys. So here in the comments, if you haven't already, go ahead and drop your thoughts on how this one is going to end. I do not know how I just really don't know how to pick this one because you don't know what code. team is going to show up. If you're getting the road team in Seattle,

Starting point is 00:22:43 then I think the Colts could win this one. If you're getting last week where they just rolled over and died, at least on the defensive side of the ball, then they've got no chance. Because that defense is already shorthanded enough. You just can't deal with performances like that. I do think I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and say they're going to close out their home schedule

Starting point is 00:23:07 with one more tough go of it their defense is going to show up the offense. I think when you got a quarterback like Phillip Rivers, you're always going to be capable of getting to 17 to 20 points. I think this might be the first time I picked the Coles to lose all year or one of the very few times,

Starting point is 00:23:25 but it's going to be really hard for me to pick them right now. Obviously, their finals, what is it, six losses and final seven games. I'm going to have them losing 20 to 17 to Jacksonville at home. That one hurts. I think Houston's probably going to win on Saturday.

Starting point is 00:23:45 So the Colts going into this one will already be eliminated from the playoffs by the time they kick off on Sunday. And then, you know, with the extra insult to injury, a loss here against the Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium to close out the season. It's just, I hate to pick against them, but we've just seen this movie before. this season has unraveled into a nightmare when you look at DeForest Buckner's injury and just the litany of injuries throughout the season they finally just came crashing down in this back half of the year you know Daniel Jones fights do what he's got and then you know the cruel twist of fate where he has is Achilles injury it's just the the football God's at one point was saying the Colts, this is your year, and then right after that,

Starting point is 00:24:38 it's just like, you know, absolutely not. You're going to have to wait your turn. Nothing is going to go right for you. And it's, it's just been a really weird season in that way, because any help the Colts have needed from other teams, any calls they've needed to go their way, like from, from officials it's all been such such oddly timed scenarios um it's really hard to pick them in this one just because they haven't they haven't earned their trust back yet you know it's been tough because even in their losses they have controlled games pretty much in each of them uh with the exception of jacksonville and then last week against san francisco you know they they should have beaten Houston. They should have beaten the Chiefs. They should have beaten the Seahawks.

Starting point is 00:25:28 But then you've got last week, which was this year's version of them going into New York and just totally melting down. How do you trust a team that allows themselves to do that? I guess if you're looking for solace in one area, it's that the offense played well enough to win. Philip Rivers, I think played well enough to win. But the defense just totally turned into whatever that was. But, yeah, if we're just airing our grievances there, that's one way to look at it. But just looking at this game specifically,

Starting point is 00:26:03 I do think they'll have a little bit of fight left in them. I'm not even going to forecast what Houston's going to look like next week with that defense and with the quarterback the Colts have right now. But for Jacksonville, at least, this game only, I'm going to give them a solid performance, but it just will be a little bit short. Again, 20 to 17, I'll pick the Jaguars in this one. If you guys, again, if you haven't already, go ahead and drop your predictions in here. I think that's going to be it for us today, guys.

Starting point is 00:26:36 Again, if you need any last-minute holiday gift ideas, you know, we still have the weekend here. A lot of us still have to travel around and divorced families, in-laws, all this stuff. We all have our Christmases to finish up here. if you need any last minute ideas or just someone keeps asking you what you want and you're an adult so you don't know what to give or what to tell them ask for the everyday air club it's ad-free episodes of this show the exclusive discord server access and more subscriptions can be gifted through locked on colts.supercast.com for those of you watching on video hang tight and we'll send you over to the first ever 24-7 national NBA YouTube channel on audio

Starting point is 00:27:17 make sure you make your second listen of the day be Locked-on NFL podcast. If you don't already, follow at Lockdown Colts at Jake Arthur, NFL, and at Zach X2 on Twitter. We're also on TikTok and Instagram as well. Also, please be sure to subscribe on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcast, we would love your guys' ratings and reviews as well.

Starting point is 00:27:38 And with that, you have a great weekend, and we'll see you guys Sunday after the game for the Colts Squad Show.

Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - BITTERSWEET: Indianapolis Colts' Sauce Gardner Returns, but DeForest Buckner DONE

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