Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - COLTS SQUAD SHOW: Colts KICK Commanders | Indy Overcomes Bad First Half to Beat Overmatched Opponent

Episode Date: October 4, 2026

The Colts overcame a sloppy first half - and some ugly turnovers - to coast to a three-score victory over the banged-up Commanders. The Squad gathers to discuss the good and bad from the victory, which gets the Colts back even on the season at 2-2. Also, how concerning are the Daniel Jones turnovers through the first quarter of the season, appreciating DeForest Buckner's monster year to date, and what the Pittsburgh game next week could tell us about where this Indy team is.Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms:  🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-colts/ 📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQ Give the squad a follow on X/Twitter @Schultz975, @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, @allenpinkett, @colts_hit, @LockedOnColts, and @ColtsOn_SI, as well as on TikTok and Instagram! Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/lockedoncolts Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclubSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!TempoFor a limited time, Tempo is offering my listeners SIXTY PERCENT OFF your first box! Go to http://TempoMeals.com/LOCKEDON60. QuoTry QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/LOCKEDONNFL. OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.Butcher BoxIf you're looking for an easier way to get great meals on the table, give ButcherBox a try. Go to https://ButcherBox.com/LOCKEDONNFL to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ribeye, new york strip, or filet mignon in every box for a year — with free shipping always.AppleYou can earn up to 3% unlimited Daily Cash back on every purchase you make with Apple Card using Apple Pay. Apply in the Wallet app on your iPhone today. Subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank, USA. Salt Lake City Branch. Terms and more at apple-card-dot-com.https://learn.applecard.apple/unlimited-daily-cash?cid=apy-318-2000008800000-400000000000039&itscg=2030032&itsct=srvs-crd-P3004756-C3004897&mttnagencyid=c1a&mttnsiteid=133087&mttnpid=LockedOn%20%28Audio%29&mttnsubad=srvs-crd-P3004756-C3004897&mttnsubplmnt=&mttncc=USPrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFL and use code LOCKEDONNFL and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelGet three hundred fifty dollars in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMFANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the Colts Squad Show. I'm Derek Schultz. I know I said style points don't matter, but I think I take that back. And I'm Zach Hicks and a win is a win? And I'm Alan Pinkett. So for the victory dinner, is it fishing chips or London broil? Colts Nation rise up. It's the Colts squad. Everything Indianapolis Colts every week. Covering all the big hits and game-changing plays from the Circle City. The way, Only the Locked-on podcast network can. It's time to squad up. The Colt Squajo starts now. Welcome to the Colts Squad Show.

Today's episode brought you by Fandul. Make this your most rewarding season ever with Fandul Rewards Club. Every week, check the Fandul app to see what's waiting for you. I'm Derek Schultz, long-time 80 sports talker. I'm joined by a Notre Dame legend and longtime NFL running back in Alan Pinkett, along with Lockdown Colts daily host, Zach Hicks, Jake Arthur, his counterpart there, join us shortly. They, of course, are your first listen every day while locked on Colts hit hosts. We'll Star Lipper will join us in the middle of the week for our Wednesday edition of the show.

We're here to recap a Colts win, a 17-point win. And as much as you may not feel like at times watching that game, it was going to be a win. It was. And now the Colts are back to level two and two through the first quarter of the season on today's post-game show. We'll talk about what that 17-point win all entailed. At times, weirdly, did not feel. feel like it was as dominant as the final score indicated. Certainly that first half, but the second half, much more palatable. And I think the Colts really kind of settled in and just sort of leaned on an overmatched Washington team until they toppled over. But we'll talk about that to start the show today. Segment two, the concern level with Daniel Jones when it comes to the turnovers. Now seven, I believe, in the first four games. It can happen against a team like Washington.

It can happen against an offense like Houston. it's not going to be able to happen when the Colts start playing some teams that are capable of beating them. We'll talk about that coming up here in segment two. We'll play studs and duds as we always do. There were some good performances today mixed in with some not so good ones and even some like shockingly bad ones. We'll talk about that in segment three. And we'll get into this more on Wednesday show when we take our first look at the Steelers. But especially after today, I just, I feel like this Pittsburgh game, it's going to tell us a lot moving forward of where this team is.

because I just, I don't know how much to glean from a, you know, albeit a one-sided win, right? 17 points in the NFL is a big deal, but I just don't know how much to glean from beating that Washington team today with their emergency quarterback and some of the personnel that they put on the field. But let's start there, Zach. A win is a win is a win. Colts get back even.

We knew that they needed to win this game just to get back to 500, heading into that matchup against Pittsburgh. Not that this is the vintage Steelers team, but it's, you know, it's a place that has been kind of a house of horrors for the Colts over the years. If you just would have shown me the second half, I would have been like, okay, fine, like this was fine. They managed the game, you know, whatever else. But man, you know, that first half was such seemingly a grease fire that it just kind of felt like it bled into my impression of this game overall. Is that me being a negative Nancy, or did you feel some of the same way that I did?

Yeah, I mean, I get it, especially with how the offense and Daniel Jones looked in that first, like, quarter and a half of play. I do think they turned it around in like midway through the second quarter. And from then on, the offense looked good. It looked perfectly fine. They ran the ball well. Quarterback took care of the ball after that point. And I do think that we saw a bit of the Colts offense that we come to expect. But that first quarter and a half was so awful that it really is hard to wrap your mind, like wrap your mind around because Jones on every single drop back, even when there wasn't pressure, look skittish, was throwing off his back foot, had happy feet. His fumble early in the game is one of the worst quarterback plays I've seen this season. It truly was unacceptable. Like, it's worse than

his fumble last week against Houston, right? I mean, I know that time in the game matters, but I mean, when you have a half-field read here where on one side, you have a quick out to Tyler Warren. On the other side, you have a screen developing. Ball has to be out on your first read no matter what, right? If you decide to throw Tyler Warren on the back side, you're either throwing it to him or throwing it away. There's no other option there. You can't just sit there and hitch with it and then let because like baronhardt rhyman's blocking for a screen there he's letting the guy get vertical penetration so quarterback has to know all this you can't make a bad situation worse by one hitching two fumbling the way he did like it's just an unacceptable quarterback play and from then

on like from from there until about halfway through the second quarter it was like the worst we had seen daniel jones with the colts it was every single throw off the back foot had multiple turnover worthy plays in there looked uncomfortable even on in plays where there was time and there was windows to throw the ball. He just wasn't making those plays. He did bounce back after that, like led a two-minute drive to get points before halftime, was able to take control of the ball, get them ahead of the sticks in the second half, had the rushing touchdown in the second half.

But like we said last week, like you can have a mostly good game at quarterback, but when you have such glaring negatives like they did, like he did in the first half of this game, it takes away from the overall performance because against good teams, that's going be the difference maker, and they're lucky they played against Athen Calicamacus or whatever from Rutgers at quarterback, because I think they probably are in a much tighter game of Marcus Marriota were in there. So I know we're going to talk about more about Jones in the second segment, but to start that poorly on offense in a game where you took the ball first, too, just simply can't happen. But yeah, I mean, the team did bounce back after that and they looked like the much

better team. I mean, again, it's an overmatched opponent that was really banged up, but winning, that you should be winning by three scores in those games. against teams like that, which they were able to do. Special teams was great. Defense for the most part was pretty good for what was expected, at least, right? Again, against a third string quarterback, rookie seventh round pick. They did what was expected. So, yeah, it's a win.

It's a multi-score win, which is hard to do in the NFL, like you said, Derek. But it's certainly like the weirdest multi-score win I've ever been a part of, where it's like you don't really feel good after that game. Despite having a couple stand-out players and stand-out moments, it's like, all right, well, let's take what we can from this one and move on to Pittsburgh because that's going to be the real test for this team. Well, today was even though a win and I know we're supposed to feel good, it was a frustrating win. And watching the beginning of the game, I'm looking at it. I'm like, Washington is so much faster, so much more athletic.

And they were flying around. And I'm like, cults looked like old men out there. But then they were able to settle down, and that's a sign of a veteran team. I know we got our share of young guys on the team, but a sign of a veteran team is to continue to persevere and take control of the game. And I think that, you know, owe a lot to the defense for holding Washington to two field goals when it could have been two touchdowns to allow the offense to finally get in a rhythm. And I'll wait till the second segment to talk about Daniel Jones, but was happy to see that a running game finally emerged in that this offensive line for the Colts was able

to really overpower a much more athletic. And to me, it seemed like a much more physical defense that the commanders had. I think that the Colts got extremely lucky to get, you know, Washington's third, string quarterback in there. But I had frustration there, too, because whenever you get a new quarterback in, you know, they've already put a game plan in for Mariotta, you know. And so, and that game plan is supposed to highlight the strengths he brings to the offense. And so now, Kalia Maka, I'm probably butchering his name, he comes in.

He's got different strengths. You know, so they have to switch up the game plan for him. I thought he, after a poor start, acquitted himself well. But he acquitted himself well because we weren't pressure on him. First thing you do would a third-string quarterback bring the house, bring everybody, bring the water boy too and you know forced the action and Lou and Arummo did that for a little while but then the explosive plays this third string rookie from Rutgers was able to get was when there was no pressure and I understand you know Ben but don't break you know try to contain them type of thing but I thought

it was just an opportunity for the defense to really assert itself and and it and And it didn't. And even though the score, the gap started to widen, you still felt like Washington was in it, you know, because all this dude was doing is center the ball deep. You know, I think, you know, Saul struggled a little bit, but I think he was expecting safety help on some plays. There are other plays where it's like, yeah, that's why we gave up two first rounds for his ass, you know. But all in all, it was a win, but it looked like two one and two teams trying to play. And I think I wouldn't call it a regression, but I think the best game that the Colts have played was in a loss to Kansas City. and able to overcome, you know, a late turnover against the Texans. And like I said, overcoming two turnovers, two ugly turnovers against this Washington team gives me hope that this team is trending up,

that they have the necessary weapons. Still can't, happy to see Dion Burks in there, get some out. action, still wondering about Slayton. But they're able to manufacture, you know, a win with what they have, and I think what they have, can get them a lot more victories. Yeah, I think there's something to be said by the fact that, look, the commanders were very, very banged up. But the Colts were banged up, too.

I mean, that wide receiver room, right? And we kind of knew that going in, and that was going to hold them back a little bit. I just think it felt like Zach it took them a quarter and a half to kind of realize, hey, wait a minute, we don't have to do too much here. We just have to basically not screw up the way that we're screwing up right now. Like I think that's kind of what surprised me about it. You know, sometimes you see teams come out and like, let's say last week against Houston, you know what you're facing with that front, right?

So I can understand being a little jittery and a little nervous. And look, give the commander some credit because I think defensively, like you said, Alan, I think they had a lot of juice at the early portion of the game. but I thought it became pretty clear, especially after the first two field goals, they had to settle for three twice, that this was going to be one of those games where if you could get up into like the 13, 14, 17 point range,

you were going to win. And so I don't know, I just thought, you know, pressing and things like that, maybe they could have, once they sort of calmed down and realized they could take control the game, they were able to do so. But I do think that,

I think the best performance overall was Houston. I can't say Kansas City Allen, just because they were so hopeless defensively in that game, right? Yeah. But through 16 quarters in an overtime, and maybe this is a discussion for a different day or a midweek show, my impression of the Colts going into the season was that this was going to be an extremely average football team. And through 16 quarters in an overtime,

I have no reason to think that that was the wrong first impression, if that makes sense. And that's what is kind of the deflating feeling after a game like that, even though it was a victory. Yeah, I mean, look, they found a way to win. But like you said, it does look like a very average football team. right now. They have some certain pillars they can lean on. I mean, on defense to Forrest Buckner's been incredible this season. Like he was in- How about that chase down tackle? Yeah, the chase down tackle,

two past deflections, multiple pressures and QB hits, multiple run stuff in this game too. Like, he was truly incredible in this game. Tommy's emerging as a really good one-two punch with him as well. We saw more Tommy in this one. Speaking of chase downs, Tommy nearly catching that receiver on that on that touchdown or that touchdown that got called back for the commanders, like some freaks that they have on the interior defensive line. And then the running game look awesome in this game, too. Like the O-Line was blocking their butts off in the run game, Taylor, and also Seth McGowan looked good in this one.

So it's not all doom and gloom. They won my three scores in the NFL, right? Like, it's very hard, regardless of who you play against. I mean, the Eagles just went against a third-string quarterback, and they got blown out on, you know, so not just because you go against the third-string quarterback, you're going to guarantee to win in the NFL. But everything is taken in relation. We're not going to be, like, saying, oh, my God,

they just blew out the commanders. Like, yeah, it was against Athen, Calicamaicus, who didn't know that he could throw under 10 yards on a pass in the game. He thought every pass had to go 30 yards down the field. And that does disrupt the flow of an offense a little bit. But, yeah, look, a win is a win. It doesn't feel as good as saying that as last week where they got over, they got like the monkey off their back against a divisional team in a hard-fought game.

This was kind of a sloppy game overseas against a bad NFC team. But they got the way. in, they're two and two. I think the true test, like you said, Derek, is what they're going to do next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. What essentially is a scheduled loss is what I would say. The Steelers coming off 10 games of, or 10 days of rest at home, facing an Indianapolis team that has to come back overseas and go on the road to Pittsburgh. Like, it's the most scheduled loss you can ever really get. But if they show some fight and they can make that a game and hopefully pull off a win, then I think we'll all feel a lot better about this Colts team than what we do currently. Yeah, it's insane. It sounds like whining, but the fact that they won't even, if you're not going to give a buy week to the London teams afterwards, at least let them play at home the next week and the fact that they don't. I know it's Pittsburgh and not, you know, L.A. or something like that, but still, go ahead, Alan, sorry, final thought. Yeah, the one thing I will say is I've been in games like that where, you know, the first couple of possessions just look ugly. And so there is talk on the sideline. So the reason I, I think you should have hope is there were people on that sideline to help them settle down.

And what happens in a situation like that when it's ugly is you focus on basics and fundamentals, blocking and tackling. The stuff that got you to the league in the first place. And sometimes you need leadership on the field because in a situation like that, all the coaches are doing is yelling at you. you know, and the coaches will yell, but they can't make any plays. It's the guys in uniforms that have to make plays. So I give a lot of credit to the veterans on the team to just grab a hold of that situation and say, okay, let's settle the hell down. We know we've got the stuff to win this game, and let's just go execute,

and you get the result that you want. Daniel Jones leads the NFL in turnovers through four weeks. you probably didn't have to look that up to know that was the case. How big of a concern is that? We'll discuss when the Colts Squad Show returns next. David Harrison here at the Locked on Commanders podcast. Talk about Butcher Box. I'm someone who's always trying to make sure I'm getting enough protein.

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New York strip or filet mignon in every box for a year. And you always get free. shipping always. That's butcherbox.com slash locked on NFL. Again, butcherbox.com slash locked on NFL. Make sure you use our link so they know we sent you. This portion of the Colts squad show brought you by Fanduel. Welcome to your most rewarding NFL season ever, only on Fanduel. How rewarding are we talking? Or rewarding than a touchdown with time expiring, more rewarding than an 18 point comeback, maybe even more rewarding than an old lineman catching a touchdown. This season, Fandulul is making the excitement go beyond what

habits on the field with the all new fan dual rewards club featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week check the Fandual app to see what's waiting for you. That's the beauty of the NFL. You never really know what's going to happen each week. Every Sunday there's a surprise and something new to react to. A lot of times we're doing it right here on this show. I know I was certainly surprised with how the Colts started this game in a bad way,

but the second half performance was thankfully far less surprising in a good way. The surprises are always good with Fandual rewards. It's another reason for fans to check out something new. every single week. The Rewards Club has exclusive offers and surprises, so it's worth opening up up the app to see what's waiting for you. Make this your most rewarding season ever with Fandul. Visit Fandul.com to get started. And we're back on the Lockdown Colts Squad Show. Thanks so much for joining us in the victorious 30 to 13 over the commanders in their London game overseas. Back-to-back years with international game victories. Let's just hope that the rest of

the season goes a little bit better than when the Colts came back from Germany last year. Jake Arthur is still slated to join us, but I'm alongside Alan Pinkett and Zach Hicks. And don't want you to forget to forget to forget to check out the Everydayer Club for ad-free episodes and access to a group chat with Jake, Zach, and other listeners of Lockdown Colts. Tap the link in the show notes or go to Lockdown Podcast.com slash Everydayer Club. So seven turnovers to the first couple of games for Daniel Jones. And I think what's kind of troubling, Zach, particularly with the two today, it's not that, you know, sometimes quarterback's from the ball over and, you know, the other team has dudes too, right?

Alan, you always say that, right? The other guy has dudes too. These two turnovers today had nothing to do with the commander's having any dudes at all. This was all on one dude, and that was on Daniel Jones. And while after the drive right before half and then the second half was just more manageable, vanilla, clean type football, Colts actually lost the turnover margin for the second straight week. And seven turnovers is four games for any quarterback. I don't even care how they're happening. that that's something that's untenable here moving forward.

You can't continue to sustain that and expect to go anywhere this season. So what are you seeing so far from him through the first four games? Maybe that differs from what we saw from a largely clean start to the first half last season. And do you think that it's Achilles related at all from what you see? One thing I want to add real quick is it's not two straight games losing the turnover differential. It's four straight games, losing the turnover differential to start the season. Oh, sorry, two straight wins. Yeah, two straight wins losing it.

But four straight games will start the year where they've lost a turnover battle. two to one in the first week, two to nothing in the second week, three nothing last week, and then what, two to one this week? So losing the turnover battle in every single game, you're not going to win many games that way. And I don't think this is Achilles related. I think this is just Daniel Jones related. And because we kind of saw it last year, right, we're early in the year against the blitz and against pressure. He hung in there, right? That back foot hit the back of his drop, and he delivered despite getting pressure despite getting guys in his face.

then we saw it really start going downhill against the Steelers and against the Chiefs and the Falcons last year that he looked really antsy in the pocket. He wasn't using escape lanes. He was fading out the back of the pocket and throwing off his back foot. And it was really like, as long as he can get to where he was early last season, with standing in there against the Blitz, standing in there against pressure, he can be a fine quarterback. And he showed it, I think really, like even the last like three weeks,

I thought it was fine against pressure and against the Blitz standing in there. But this game, it felt like a total. regression back to the Falcons game last year, back to the Chiefs game last year, where the second he felt even a semblance of pressure, it was fading out the back of the pocket, throwing off his back foot, and just inexcusable turnovers that you just can't have as a quarterback. I mean, and when you really look at, like, the turnovers he's had this year, they've all kind of been earned.

Like, I really don't think, maybe the first fumble against the Texans, you could say that's more on the tackle getting blown up on that one, because that was really quick pressure that he just didn't see. but every other turnover has really been a Jones turnover, you know, where throwing it into a tight coverage, throwing it late over the middle of the field, throwing off his back foot into the flat like you did in this one, the first fumble in this game, the second fumble in the Houston game, those are all on Jones. Like, they really shouldn't be on anybody else.

And if anything, he might be like on the lucky side of turnovers because there's been a couple of turnover worthy plays the last few weeks that haven't resulted in turnover. So he's been very, very reckless with the football. And I'm not going to sit here and say, I want a quarterback to be mistake-free because it's just not a feasible thing. Like, I still think that a quarterback throwing some interceptions in a season is a net positive for your offense because that means they are pushing windows and they are attempting to get the ball down the field. If a quarterback throws two picks in a season and they're averaging like four yards per attempt, then obviously you're not really a good team, even if they're keeping the turnovers down. But there is a level to this thing. You can't be having, you know, they're in plus territory on the interceptions.

today and he's throwing it off his back foot late into the flat. You're losing the plus, like even if you don't get a field goal there, you can at least pin them deep and win the field position battle. They're lucky the defense stood tall and got off the field on fourth down and they were able to score after that. But these are the little things that decide games in the NFL, like the Kansas City game, right? They lose that game by three, but one of the turnovers let the chiefs be on like the 10-yard

line going in right after the turnover. So they were able to walk right in for a touchdown. The Texans come back last week doesn't happen without that late turnover. where they're able to bring that back within a score to take the lead, actually, late in the game, and then the Colts had to go down and get that late field goal to win. So turnovers are one of those things that wins in the margins in football. I would say special teams, turnovers, you know, clock management. Those are really the areas that you can win in the margins and really decide in this league

that is like such a tightly contested like just league from top to bottom. So having a quarterback who's making this many mistakes, it's just like it's hard to win football games this way. I don't want him to become a shell of himself. I don't want to become passive, but there has to be situations where when he hits his back foot, that ball has to be out. You can't just curl up in the pocket and take a hit and then still fumble like he has in some of these games. So he really needs to calm down going forward. And we saw it. After like the first quarter and a half, he started to settle down. You didn't see the happy feet anymore. And he played fine football the rest of the way. It's like, but why to start the game where we're getting this like

jumpy Daniel Jones that looked terrified every single dropback. And then they kept throwing with him. Like they were trying to get him to calm down by keep calling throwing plays. And he kept looking terrified. So they need better play out of him. He's getting paid way too much money to be looking like that in the pocket. I'm not saying it's 100% on him, but I mean, like the first fumble was 100% on him. It's on nobody else.

It's a screenplay. Like, that ball has to be out. So there are mistakes that need to be cleaned up. And if this is going to continue, the Colts aren't going to win that many games this season. So, like, yeah, great job they got the 17-point win today against Athen Calic-Machus, but, like, it needs to clean up going forward. You can't have these turnovers, especially the inexcusable ones. It's one thing if you are throwing a deep post and the corner and trail somehow makes a great play over the top and gets the pick. Whatever, that happens, right? It's another

thing to where you're supposed to throw a screen pass and you fall over your offensive lineman who's allowing vertical penetration, and you just throw it back over your shoulder and fumble. Like, that's a different type of turnover and that is hurting your team. So yeah, this obviously can't continue with Daniel Jones. I think the worry level is very, very high right now when it comes to these turnovers. I'll hand it to you, Jake, and welcome in. Thanks. What's up, fellas. Yeah, so Daniel Jones and the turnovers, as I just said in the quick wrap up, big fat issue. To me, the fumbles have been the bigger problem as long as it's not just totally awful interceptions, today was, I think we all saw Rasul Douglas there the entire time. So you would hope the

quarterback on the field would see him as well and not just tell a straight to pass right to him. But I do think the fumbles are an even more careless, critical mistake, especially like today. Great play by Oway, just bull rushing Ryman into Jones. But he, this is something Shane Steichen has already told us, like, yeah, just got to have two hands, got to take better care of the ball. Jones continues to make these very careless haphazard fumbles that just can't happen. It's stuff that we saw from goofy quarterbacks like Carson Wentz and the ghost of Matt Ryan that the Colts got in 2022. Like these are awful fumbles. They're not good at all.

Like some turnovers can be excused. You know, you get smoked, you get sandwiched between two defenders, whatever. These are really bad. And then there's been some interceptions too that, again, are really bad. had, like not seeing clear defenders right there are just really poor decisions, being very careless with the throws themselves. I'm not really to the point of, like, move on to Anthony or anything, but they're going to wind up costing themselves games against better teams. You can get by with wins against Houston and Washington who don't have offenses. Like, C.J. Stroud has been playing

whatever somewhat reasonable, but they didn't have Nico Collins. They're really banged up in Houston. They can't run the ball. The O-line stinks. They're starting or not starting, but there was a rookie undrafted free agent out there at quarterback for Washington. Those are gifts. You're not going to get that every week.

So they have got to clean this up when they get to real opponents or these are not going to be wins. So it took me a while. But I can understand frustration. from the fans, when I was a player, you know, as a player, you have control. So when you have little hiccups and things, you just relax and know that you can make amends just by, you know, having greater focus and determination. But I understand now because some of the turnovers do look reckless.

It looks like he doesn't know what the hell he's doing. And I think, you know, for me, when I look at Daniel Jones' eyes, it tells me everything. You know, when he makes these careless mistakes, he does look bewildered. But, you know, Zach, like you said, when he hits that back foot and he's sure of where he's going to go, it's a guy that looks like he's really determined and focused. And so on that, I say that Daniel Jones' play reminds me a lot of my golf game. You know, because when I'm not, when I'm just back there and just flailing at the ball, I don't get a good result.

But when I lock in and have confidence, hit it like a pro. And so I don't know what I would attribute some of these turnovers to other than, you know, still getting used to or still getting acclimated to being in a game. You know, I don't think we can discount the fact that he missed half the season last year. didn't play any preseason games. And so to expect him, you know, to be totally locked in, you know, a person like that can still be nervous. You know, a person like that can still be a little anxious about, you know, people coming off the corner, remembering what it felt like when, you know, that Achilles did rip.

And, you know, sometimes that stuff will enter into your mind. and you just got to block it out and say, wait a minute, damn it. They pay me this much money and I'm worth it. And I know I can make this throw. Just get in there and make the damn throw. And I think that's sort of what I see personally is when he locks in, he's a tough quarterback to handle. But when, you know, he lets a little doubt creep in, he becomes careless with his form

and his fundamentals. and I think that's why we see the fumbles that we see. Yeah, I mean, and it's got to get better than what it's been to these first couple of games. Fumbles are definitely troubling. It'd be one thing if, you know, other guys were just making great plays on some of these turnovers. But, you know, of the seven so far, I can only really think of one that maybe you would have said that about. And Zach pointed out the first one on the Texans bull rush early in that game last week. I think it was the only one that I think you can kind of straight up excuse as just being,

okay, fine, you know, sometimes that stuff happens over the course of the game. The other team made a play. But man, the two today, we're both on Jones. We'll play studs and duds next, including a defensive veteran who is off to a monster start this season and another one who is facing some monstrous criticism from the fan base. We'll discuss when the Cold Squad Show returns next. This portion of the Cold Squad Show brought you by Tempo. October and November get chaotic fast between Halloween.

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And former NFL or Alan Pinkett, I'm Derek Schultz. Colts win over Washington 30 to 13 to get back to even at two and two. And segment number three of the post game rap show, we play what we always play. It's time for studs and duds. And I do think there were a lot of really good performances today. But I mentioned this sort of in the tease. I had real questions whether it was all over for DeForest Buckner. I think we all did, right, last season.

And especially when you go through what he went through with the area of the body that we were talking about there with him. And just given his age and his size, you just immediately, I think, go to the worst, even if you're an optimistic thinker. But, man, he has shot out of a cannon so far this 2026 season. We saw what he did in the first half against Houston. He kind of replicated, I thought, in many areas, that first half today against Washington, where he was just dominant up front and really kind of set the tone for the game. When the Colts really, it could have been 14 donut, Zach.

And instead, you know, thanks to Buckner and the defense, they were able to keep things in line at 6-0, but I don't think you can say enough about how good DeForest Buckner has been so far. I told the buddy of mine that I think he's a ring of honor guy and he started laughing and I said, look, I just do. I mean, you're still getting this play. This is year what, seven for DeForest Buckner here in Indianapolis and you're still getting this level of play despite all the injuries and everything else that he's been coming off of going into this year. Yeah, he has been outstanding this year. I think easily the MVP of the defense to start this season, maybe even the MVP of the team to start the year because he has been that good for the team this year.

Just an outstanding game. I don't think he got a sack in this one. I think he had a couple of QB hits and pressures, but his run defense was probably the best we had seen from him this year in this one. I think they're getting his hand on two passes in the passing game as well. The rundown on Marcus Marriota, he had a phenomenal football game. Easily we brought over to London for this game. Some other players, though, I thought, played really well.

I think just the front seven run defense again for back-to-back weeks looked really good. I know that, again, with a third-string quarterback in there, it influences how you defend the run and how you defend certain concepts. But I think the run defense in general played really well in this game. Grover Stewart made some stops. Akeem Davis-Gaither, now they're using more run blitzes, has looked a lot better in the run defense regard the last few weeks. So I do think they have found a formula that works a little bit better in run defense,

especially now they're not playing against Kenneth Walker and Derek Henry every single week. So that looked good. Atatomiwa, Atabore, another big sack in this game and another just good game from him. He has really, really flashed this season. And even the edge rushers, I thought, had some pretty solid showings in this one. Like Laotu Latu, it wasn't, again, it's not superstar, Liat Tu Latu or anything, but made several big plays in this one, some pressure, some big tackles in the open field, did some good things. And then on the offensive side of the football, if I had to continue with my studs here, the two running backs and the O line in the run game, I have. thought in general were really, really good. The offensive line opened up some big holes. Jonathan Taylor had some big time runs and really helped put that game away in the second half. But Seth McGowan, man, I was saying before we recorded, there was one run. They ran a counterplay out of the gun in the second half, like late in the game.

And he made like two jump cuts, and it was like an 11-yard gain on the play. And the announcer said, like, great run by Seth McGowan. And I was like, no, that had to be Jonathan Taylor. Like the way that he was moving, I thought it had to be Taylor. But no, it was McGowan getting vertical. on that counter run by also using some jump cuts. Like, he looked really, really good. So, yeah, the running game still looks awesome for the Colts.

I think they have something good. I like getting more McGowan runs in there because he runs hard and gets vertical. And I think it's a really good pairing with Taylor. And then if you had to get any positive to, like, the past catchers, I mean, look, my guy, LaQuan Treadwell was just any time he was targeted, he was, you know, he was money in this one, right? Like, just getting steady production. it wasn't perfect by any means. Like we're not, I'm not sitting here being like, okay,

a hundred yard treadwell, like it wasn't that. But, I mean, for a guy who should be like a special teamer that's playing this elevated role, I mean, every time his number was called, he made a play in this one and helped keep some drives alive. So I guess in the passing game, like, way to go, LeQuan Treadwell, right? Like, I thought it was going to be a big downs or Warren game. Ended up being a Treadwell game. And, you know, he did his thing.

Yeah, talking about Buckner, just, I'm, I'm floored by how good he's looked. I think he's playing at an all-pro level right now. Like if I think across the league, you know, Dexter Lawrence is playing out of his mind, but there can't be many other detackles playing as well as Buckner is right now. Another tackle for loss today. Few QB hits, a pass breakup. That's another big thing that he does is getting his hands in the passing lanes. And, you know, there was a near interception with that today with Cam Bynum like that.

Historically for the Colts, that creates really big plays and interception. So Buckner is just doing phenomenal. Tommy continues his hot start, another half sack. Latu, I think pretty solid both against the run in the past. Like he's getting like, this is going to seem backhanded, but when there's very little in his way, he's there immediately. We've seen him right in the quarterback's grill out of play action, like a few times this year.

And it's creating some errant plays for those quarterbacks. I thought not so much Sauce Gardner will get to DUD. but I thought Mooney and Justin Wally both had pretty good games. Mooney especially, he's been a little ho-hum, but I thought this was probably his best performance of the season so far. And I don't know if Wally gave up anything. And of course, he had the big sack in the second half as well. Let's see, offensive side of the ball.

I was glad to see Ashton Doolan back out there. I had a little miss cue probably, I don't know if it was just a bad throw by Jones, or they weren't on the same page of depth or whatever. But he did have a couple good catches, you know, at the end of the first half that helped him get into field goal range again. And then just like Zach said, the running backs, Jonathan just under five yards of carry, McGowan over five yards of carry.

I thought they were great. This is the third game from Taylor that he's had over 90 yards rushing in two touchdowns. That's really, really good. Three out of five games to have those numbers is great. He doesn't have that vintage Jonathan game yet where he has like 175 yards. but he's been really, really solid for them all year. Well, ditto to what you both said. I don't care to elaborate much more other than on defense.

Justin Wally, I continue to be impressed with what he does on the field. And I know that teams have tried to zone in on him as possibly a weak link, but he continues to make plays. Because I'm a Notre Dame Homer, I've got to give some love to Jerry Tilleri because on a fourth down, he was able to get in and make a play and stop that. Take that, Zach.

Leave him unblocked, and I guess he can make a play. Let's go, Jerry. If you leave the three tech unblocked, he can make a play in the backfield. There we go. He could have ran past the running back. He got on the field late, too. He made the play.

Yeah, it's not run past. Look what I found type of situation. But yeah, and Atatami, I think he's found his niche. And I think that the coaches have finally figured out, you know what? Why do we have him on there on what we know to be a true pass down? Because he has a knack for getting to the quarterback. back. You know, so, you know, that's, I guess, been a nice, nice found weapon to have. On offense, yes, praise for the running backs. I wish that J.T. could have gotten over the century mark.

That's sort of every running back keeps as a benchmark, 100-yard games, and I know that they're trying to save him. And, you know, it's a long season. And look, used to be 1,000 yards. benchmark, but you only have to average 60 yards a game to get a thousand. So the thousand is not so much a benchmark as much as the hundred. A hundred feels like a good day's work. And yet, shout out to Seth McGowan. I still remember on what was the third day of the draft where we had the film of Carly saying to him on the phone, are you ready to come in and prove everybody wrong? And she used some colorful language. You know, I think that what he's he's done is he's taking that belief that the team has put in him and showing it on the field

and played with, you know, I think a lot of confidence, especially like seeing them on kickoff returns because, I mean, he's, he's just shortly away, a ways away from doing well. Shout out to Tyler Warren. His average per catch continues to increase. Today, he average 8.2 a catch. Yeah. So, and yeah, your boy, Laquan, I still remember, you know, the GM saying, well, I love Laquan, you know, and Laquan was your leading receiver today. So I think these other receivers stepped up in a situation where they don't have the legitimate deep threat yet, and they're just trying to piece things together and, you know,

stop the leaking. They continue to make plays. And so as far as studs go, I think, you know, it was a good effort by all these people. And you need, you know, a couple of big plays from each to solidify the win and you got it. Yeah. What I like about McGowan is that it just feels like the learning curve for him is so much shorter than what it was for DJ Giddins. And it's just nice to have somebody that it feels like Seth, McGowan's been in the league for three, four years. I mean, honestly, when he gets in there,

he just seems to know what he's doing. He's just a very effective. He's an effective runner. He's effective in a lot of areas to me and has looked the part of what you want an RB2 to be. And some tough yards today, five yards of pop, as you mentioned, a really good game from him. Let's go to Sauce, guys, because there was a lot of talk about Sauce. I did think in Sauce's defense, the one throw from Calick Manis, I thought was actually just he dropped it in there, dropped it in the bat. Like I thought it was just on the right side. Yeah.

I mean, yes, you gave up two first round picks for sauce. He's got an all pro pedigree. I get all of that. Even those guys aren't going to make every play. I didn't know Zach on the other play. Was that more of a halsey problem than it was a sauce? I don't know. I am trying to outline a defense for sauce Gardner with some of what we saw.

Look, it wasn't a good game for him. But I'm just going on what I saw in last. game action, you can dissect this stuff. And Jake and Alan, too, because you played, can dissect this stuff a lot better than me. But what did you see from Sauce today? Yeah. So on the first long touchdown, it looked like they were playing cover one man with five rushers. So you don't have the robber over the middle of the field.

You just had the one deep safety. And it looked like Halsey was pinching the crosser over the middle. And if that was the way that they were calling it, I agree with that call because, like, I'm going to take my chance with Sauce versus Traylin Burks one-on-one. instead of a run away from the route over the middle of the field, I'd rather be aggressive and pinch that crosser. So that's why I think Halsey was a little bit shallow on that play. And then it just ended up being a really weird route by Birx,

where Birx stopped his feet, looked back to the quarterback, and as a corner, that typically means either ball is coming or ball is already out, and then he ended up keep going for it. So it was like a really weird play that typically has never thrown. So it happens. You don't want it to happen to your, you know, your corner that you trade two first-round picks for. The other one was just a deep cross. crosser that he got outlegged by Gianni Brown. And I think that one's more concerning because it's like,

look, we know that he doesn't have the greatest long speed, but you have 400 inch arms. Get your arms out there. Like it was like he kept his arms by his side where I think he was close enough. Just keep your, get your arms out there. Use your length to your advantage. Because right now, I mean, dare I say, he kind of reminds me of like Jonathan Edwards last year where like Edwards is always right there and couldn't get his head around. Right. It kind of feels like that with sauce this year where every catch he allows, he's right next to the guy who's catching it. But like, we're not separating man from ball. And that's, I mean, it got Edwards cut from the Colts. So you've got to be able to separate man. He did do it better later in the game. You did get

that one pass breakup where he did separate man from ball. But look, Sauce, the big thing with him is the wingspan, right? If you're not going to have the legs to keep up with some of these guys, you have the wingspan. We got to get the arms out there and separate man from ball. So they're not the most inexcusable touchdowns. Like again, the first, or, long catches, like the first one really was just like a really wonky play that I don't think a regular quarterback even attempts that throw because like his guy was locked up and then he just threw it when the play was already over basically. But it's still something you don't want to see from your corner that you trade two first

round picks for, Trayland Burke beating him over the top and they trust him enough where I think they're pinching that crosser over the middle instead. So they were putting faith in him and he didn't really reward it on that play. Yeah, I think that's the problem. is when you give up what the Colts gave up, you have to get elite play. You have to get like top three cornerback play. And I think overall his season's been good, but it's not to the degree of what you want it to be. I thought he was in really good coverage on the one to Diamey Brown.

But like you said, Zach, like you just have to. Yeah, you have to play it through the whistle. You were there, but you just didn't quite do enough. The Burke's play was weird. Knowing Traylin Burks, I think he probably dumb lucked into that whole thing. because I don't think this was a predetermined double move. I think he was like, oh, let me keep going. And then Sauce instinctively was going to be right there with him,

not expecting him to keep going. But still, I mean, at the end of the day, that looks like Traylen Burks out Foxxed you on that play. So it's a long touchdown, 47-year-t touchdown. That goes on your record, sauce. So, yeah, this was not the best game. Traylen Berks and Dimey Brown with no Terry McLaurin. And it wasn't even like Stefan Diggs that was beaten up on him either.

So this is not what you want to see. There's going to be some marquee matchups down the stretch where hopefully he rebounds nicely and, you know, does the Colts well on their side and like rewards them with what they gave up for him. But yeah, it's it was not his strongest showing. But the good news is this is the first time we really had to say it. the defense still played very well overall, and we haven't, you know, sauce has not played poorly at any point up until these couple gaffs today where it is, it is what it is.

Like, it's not been a recurrent issue. So I'm not really worried about it going forward. But yeah, this was the day he's got to just kind of flush behind him. And glass that full, the other two corners look good, as we mentioned. So that, that does help. You know, feels reassuring to see Mooney Ward look like his old self. and Justin Wally really bouncing back the last two weeks from what we saw in the first two weeks is kind of baptism by fire. Some final thoughts on the win over the commanders and what's in store for the Colts next week in a pivotal battle in Pittsburgh between two and two teams.

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A vibrant YouTube comment section, as we always have with some of our regulars in there. Thanks to all of you. If you're new and just joining us, welcome to the party, pal, two and two Colts. After a 30 to 13 win over the commanders, they will return home, but they won't return home to Lucas Loyal Stadium.

Instead, they'll be heading to Pittsburgh next week to take on the Steelers. We'll talk about that game here in just a little bit, but just kind of tying a bow on this win over the commanders. Zach, is it one of those things like, I saw somebody say this on Twitter. I don't remember if it was maybe our buddy Joel A. Erickson, or I feel like it was another Colts media member that said something along the lines of, look, these games are very emotional in real time,

and we're all kind of melting down as we're watching. Daniel Jones Meltdown. Do you think that this is one of those games that like by Tuesday or Wednesday, you'll kind of look back and be like, you know what? This was fine. The defense played well overall. The offense leaned on the commanders until they fell over and played a clean second half. Everything is okay.

I think it's going to be a game where when we look back in week 18, we're going to forget it even happened. It was like, oh, we just got a win in week four. I completely forgot we went over to London because I think that it was just a very forgettable game. I think really the only reason we're all freaking out about it is because it amplified the concerns we had about Daniel Jones the first three weeks, right? Like Jake and I said in our final pregame show of this where it's like, I just want to see a clean,

efficient game from Daniel Jones. That's all I really wanted to see in this one. And we didn't get that at all. Like we did in the second half, but we did not get that in the first half of this game. And I think that's where a lot of the concerns and like, again, they won by 17 in the NFL. I know they're expected to win by this much going against a backup and then a third string quarterback. so I'm not trying to say, again, that there's some great football team because they did it, but they still won by three scores in the NFL.

So that's fine, right? That's what you're expected in this type of game. But I do think it doesn't really solve anything. It doesn't make anyone feel great right now going forward. What would make people feel great would be beating Pittsburgh next week in Pittsburgh on, again, a scheduled loss type of game is what the NFL is trying to give you, show up for that game and pull off the win in that game. And I think people feel a lot better about this operation this year.

So it's a big game. Like it's one thing to beat Houston and to beat Washington, where I don't think either of those teams are going to be in the playoffs this year, where Pittsburgh is a team that you're probably competing with for one of those final playoff spots if, you know, if the season goes the way that you want it to go. So getting a win over them, getting that potential tiebreaker points early would be massive for this team. So we're going to learn a lot about them in Pittsburgh more so than I think we learned about

them this week because, again, they kind of just did what, like they were able to overcome a lot of bad early because they played against a really bad team, you know, and it's good that they were able to overcome that and win big out there in London, but I don't really think you learn a ton about the team in a situation like this, where it's like, okay, you learn that you could beat a preseason quarterback, you know, like that's fine, but you'll learn a lot more next week going against a Pittsburgh team where I don't think Pittsburgh's anything special this year, but they're probably in the same boat as you, probably a fringe playoff team at best, right? Like the nine and eight type of team, so show that you can beat them in their house when they had a ton of rest and you don't.

And I think that would mean a lot more for this season than anything else. So, yeah, to answer your question, Derek, like, yeah, we're all, I think we're probably all doom and gloom a little bit too much right now because, again, they still won by three scores. But I think it's because a lot of the issues got amplified in this game. But so far, like, just win the next week and then we can be happy again. You know, we can be very confident going forward if they can beat Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh next week. Jake, that's going to be tough to do, right? You know, that Pittsburgh game.

And if you had a closing thought on the commanders, we can talk about that too. But, you know, just given the Colts history, I know what does, you know, 2006 have to do with 2026, as we're seeing with the Colts, right? But still, like, you know, this is a matchup that has not favored them historically since moving to Indy. Yeah. Like Zach said, it's kind of a scheduled loss kind of thing. Like you don't ever think you're going to win, if you're the Colts, that you're going to win in Pittsburgh, especially coming out of London. without the buy in between. So if you perform well in that game and win,

like I think we all probably logged that as a loss coming in. So you kind of wind up in the bonus there. But yeah, I mean, it's kind of a comparable matchup and offense that is not found its rhythm. Aaron Roger, it's, we're four weeks in and Aaron Rogers that are already throwing everybody under the bus and already has terrible body language and all that. The coaching doesn't seem to be on the same page with the players.

but we know Pittsburgh's defense is better this time around coming into it than last year. They were awful coming into that matchup last year, and then they flipped a switch and just forced the Colts into an awful, awful performance. But yeah, I mean, I think it's winnable, but I was actually going to flip it to Alan here. Did you have anywhere that was like a house of horrors for you? Is this, is it real or is it just a figment of sports fans' imagination? Oh, without a doubt, you know, because I was in the old AFC Central. And there was always doom and gloom going to Cleveland and Cincinnati.

They dropped 60 on us one time, 63. And so I think what, but there were opportunities where we went in and won. And it was just a solidified group that just refused to accept the fact. fact that this is where we usually lose, that we're going to go in with a much better effort, much better focus and change things. And, you know, I guess where I compare that to current day is, you know, at the end of the day, the Colts won a game. Now, the benefit of winning is you gain confidence.

And all you try to do in the NFL is stack wins. I don't care how you win the game, just stack wins. And I think that this Pittsburgh team is not going to sound grammatically correct, but this Pittsburgh team can be got, right? They are in disarray. They haven't figured out who the hell they are yet. And usually it takes about four games to determine what kind of team you're going to be. But if there was a best opportunity to get Pittsburgh at their place,

I think this is it. You know, I think that, you know, from a perspective of, you know, do we have a better game plan offensively to go against their defense and vice versa? This is it. You know, as long as they continue to argue and bicker and stuff, they're not going to get anything accomplished. And after seeing that butt-whooping Cleveland put on them, Cleveland physically beat their ass.

You know, and, you know, so Pittsburgh's going to come into this game looking for revenge, retribution, trying to show we're not that team that just lost in the dog pound. You know, we're a better team than that. But, you know, there's a lot of stuff. I know Jonathan Taylor licking his chop saying, hell yeah, let me go play against that Pittsburgh team. I might go for 150 against them. One thing I want to add is we, so far this season, we have not seen any. anything different from what we've come to expect out of the Shane Stike and Colts, right?

So far in his time coaching the Colts, if you want to count, say you count Houston and commanders as not being playoff teams this year and you count the Chiefs and Ravens as being playoff teams, he's 20 and 4 against non-playoff teams or against below 500 teams, and they are what, 7 and 24 against teams that are above 500, right? So this is an opportunity to actually show us something that hasn't been shown this year, right? I'm not saying Pittsburgh is a guaranteed above 500 team, but we know that they have some kind of weird magic with that team that they always somehow end up like 9 and 8 or better,

no matter what. Even without Mike Tomlin, we'll see if they can get there again this year. So it's a team that I think will be around 500. Can they show that they're better than the Colts they've been the last couple years where, yeah, they can beat the commanders. The commanders are not going to make the playoffs this year. Yeah, they can beat Houston.

I don't think Houston's going to make the playoffs this year. But can you beat a team that might make the playoffs in Pittsburgh? that's going to be the big test because so far through four games, they've gotten their butts kicked by a playoff team, they lost to a playoff team, and they beat two non-playoff teams. Can they actually show up in a game with an opponent with a pulse? I think that's going to be the big question for this Colts team

because they haven't answered that in Shane Steichen's tenure up to this point. And it's great motivation to go to a place where you're expected to lose. It's great motivation to go in there with a different. mindset to try to rewrite history. Yeah, and it's a great opportunity for the Colts, but, you know, I'll leave it here. I don't think the Steelers are any good, are very good, Alan. I really don't, but I also feel that exact same way about this Colts team through four games. So that's why it feels such like a pivotal coin flippy type of, you know, fork in the road,

almost type game for them, especially considering that it's an AFC opponent to who I agree with Zach, I think you are going to be competing with them likely for a playoff spot. Thanks so much for joining us on this latest edition of the Colts Squad show. We are your place for postgame Colts reaction as our Colts squad shows will follow each and every Colts game this season. I'm going to repeat it every single time you guys. I think a lot of you know about that already, but shout it from the mountaintops to your friends and spouses and all of it. We'll be next with you Wednesday night at 930 as we get deeper into the Colts Steelers conversation. We'd love to see you then.

As always, keep it locked on Jake and Zach every day on Locked on Colts all season long. Be sure to follow at Lockdown Colts on Solace. socials and go ahead and add our buddy Will Starlipper at Colts underscore hit for his great content too. Don't forget to check out our other great offerings on YouTube and TikTok and we'll see you next time right here on the squad show.