Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - COLTS SQUAD SHOW: What is the Colts' FLOOR in 2025? Colts-Bengals preseason recap and WR preview!

Episode Date: August 23, 2025

With Daniel Jones at the controls of the offense, what is the Indianapolis Colts' floor for the 2025 season? The Squad discusses, plus major takeaways from Indy's 41-14 preseason finale win in Cincinnati, our preseason standout picks, and a deep dive into the wide receiver position group.Find and follow Colts Squad Show and Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-colts/📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQFollow Jake and Zach's written work on HorseshoeHuddle.com, and give the squad a follow on X/Twitter @Schultz975, @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, @allenpinkett, @LockedOnColts, and @ColtsOn_SI, as well on TikTok and Instagram!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!5-Hour ENERGYGo to 5hourenergy.com today and use promo code LOCKEDONGOLF to receive 20% off your order. This offer is only valid until September 30th on one order and cannot be used with other promotions. The code is not good on subscription orders.Yahoo FantasyPresented by YahooFantasy #YahooPartner. Play Now at https://yahoofantasy.com/lockedonnfl.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get $150 in BONUS BETS when your first $5 BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year.FANDUEL 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)

Welcome to the Colts Squad Show. I'm your host, Derek Schultz, and 4114, everything's fixed. Let's go. And I'm Zach Hicks, and I got to see Riley Leonard channel his inner Sam Ellinger today. I had a blast. I'm Alan Pinkett, and I just have to say, winning solves a lot of problems. Colts Nation, rise up. It's the Colts Squad, sponsored by Game Time.

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 Colch Squad Joe starts now. Thanks so much for joining us for another edition of the Colts Squad Show here on the Locked-on Colts Network. Today's episode brought you by GameTime.

Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code Locked-on NFL for $20 off your first purchase. I'm Derek Schultz, a longtime sports talker, and Colin. for the Indianapolis Business Journal. I'm joined by Nerdaim Legend and former NFL running back Alan Pinkett, as well as Locked on Colts host Zach Hicks and credentialed media member slash elite beard grower. Jake Arthur is going to join us coming up a little bit later. In fact, speaking of elite facial hair, the YouTube numbers for this show, Zach, are going to be because of the mustache. Nice debut as we wrap up the preseason here.

A really nice overall performance for the Colts. 41 to 14. Yes, it's a lot of threes and a lot of fours, but still, as Alan said, winning feels better than losing as we close the book on the preseason and the Colts finally grab a W to wrap up things at 1 and 2. But on today's show, we'll obviously talk a little bit about the game that just happened between Indianapolis and Cincinnati. But we'll get into non-game topics as well, like the top overall preseason performer. What's the floor for the 2025 Colts? Now that Daniel Jones is the starter. We'll discuss that. And we'll do our next position group, which will be the wide receivers, a deep and very talented group as well.

But guys, let's start takeaways from this game because, look, I'm not going to sit here and pretend like the Colts Bengals preseason game. It's kind of an annual tradition. It's always the last game, right? And it just feels like it's the ultimate laydown type throwaway game. But I think there were some individual performances here, Zach, that you could feel pretty good about it. And I think there's at least one guy who, if he wasn't already solidified on the roster,

There's one person to me that really is kind of made into no doubter with his performance today. I want you to try to guess who that is. Yeah, I mean, I'm assuming we're talking about Daniel Scott here from, again, two years, missing two years due to injuries in leg injuries too, for a position that requires so much mobility back there at safety, two major injuries back-to-back off seasons, Achilles and ACL. And, I mean, this was a make or break off season for Daniel Scott. And he looked like he was on the outside, looked like going in, like outside. looking in when Hunter Woller came in and was kind of taking that backup strong safety role. But with the injury to Woller last week, it opened up that avenue for Daniel Scott to make his

impact. And what better way to make an impact than come out there and get a pick six in the first quarter of this game? I also thought there were several really great run fits from him in this game, really great tackles, had an outstanding punk coverage tackle as well. So I think just from everything you're looking for from a bottom of the roster player, Daniel Scott came out here and said, like this is my best showing for you guys got to pick six showed the playmaking showed the tackling and then gave us a little bit on teams as well so yeah the obvious winner in this game is daniel scott because he was a guy again on that roster bubble probably for one of those last three or four spots and with that opening on the roster now at back up strong safety he came

out here and had a fantastic game so of all the guys who play in this game who actually have a chance at making the roster scott was probably the biggest winner among every player on the team today I will agree with you. I think he is the epitome of perseverance, especially being denied the last two years. Can you imagine the amount of grit and determination it takes after you've been denied twice? And a lot of times those injuries, you know, the personnel department, they look at you differently when you have an injury.

I know as a running back, I had blown up my knee and then I started wearing a knee brace. and I could just look at the management and coaches, and they just looked at you a little different. I took the damn knee brace off and said, I'm just going to trust my rehab and just if something happens, it happens. So kudos to Daniel Scott for, you know, having to overcome those injuries and had to wait so long. You know, a season when you play feels like it goes fast,

but when you're on the sidelines and watching people, I mean, it takes forever. Every meeting takes forever. And so I would just give him a nice pat on the back because, you know, he really showed up today. And that's sort of what I expected from these guys today because, yes, none of the first stringers or maybe even second stringers played today, but these guys are fighting for their lives because I'll be the first one to tell you that NFL check is a lot better than in what you get in preseason.

So being able to make that roster is of very importance. But a couple of other takeaways. Because there were a lot of second stringers, I know a lot of people are going to brush off to win and say, you know, it was, you know, guys on the bottom of the roster. But I'm going to tell you that these guys are still pros and the margins are so thin first string to second string

to third string, what separates that person being a first stringer and a second stringer? So there's an expectation that the talent level is going to be pretty close to the same. And that's what you have to expect as a coach. And as a viewer, you would want to expect that too. The other thing that I sort of learned when I did my little broadcasting, and, you know, sometimes you'd get like a huge powerhouse, like an Alabama versus Mercer. All right, is that you don't necessarily look at the level of competition. You look at the level of execution.

And when I look at the level of execution, you know, a lot of times the opponent doesn't matter. If you do what you're supposed to do and take care of a level of execution, you should have success. And I would have to say today was success rushing for 197 yards. And look, LaQuan Treadwell was a six for 160? and a touchdown, Riley Leonard, let me see. I wrote it down so I wouldn't forget it, but he was 15 to 20, 189 yards and a touchdown. I mean, that is very good execution.

And so the Colts walk away from preseason, I would say with just a little momentum to carry themselves into the regular season, you always take a win. And you don't ever, you know, say, okay, well, it was just preseason doesn't count. Hell, yeah, it counts. You went out and you accomplished your goal. You got the W.

And there are a lot of people that put out good tape today. You know, even if you're not part of this team in a week, I think there was a lot of good tape from what you saw. And, Zach, to your point, I mean, I was just assuming we weren't going to see any key players at all. And you saw Matt Gonzalez for a couple of series. It was awesome to see Juju Brent's out there. We hadn't gotten a lot of clarity on how severe that hand. hamstring injury was. So to see, Juju out there was great. JTua Malala was out there playing deeper into the game as well. And you feel great for Daniel Scott because he never even had

a training camp. I mean, you know, this was a guy, his season was DOA right at the beginning of the last two years. And for him to have this now and, you know, what a great Renaissance and a great comeback story for him. But, you know, I wanted to point to a couple of other individuals that I think, you know, really guys that were fighting for roster spots because that's what the third and final preseason game is about, and you had mentioned it, Zach, but, you know, a guy that I think it's going to come down to, you know, the very last round, but a guy that they're really going to have trouble keeping off of this team, I think, is Isaiah Land. Yeah, it'd be tough for me to cut. It would just be tough to cut. Like, again, it's not like this is a guy who just

came in here as an undrafted free agent and you're like, okay, we can sneak him to the practice squad and still develop them. You've had them on the roster the last two years. You clearly solid enough to keep him around other teams see have seen that as well and he's put out great preseason tape the last few seasons along with today where i thought in the first half he was unblockable like he was his i mean i'm curious to see what the pro football focus like pass rush win rate was because it's probably going to be in like that 30% range which is like elite elite range if that were a regular season game then he had that really nice sack to start the second half as well so i wouldn't cut isaeland i would just find some way to make it work even again if he's

a healthy scratch all season, so be it. But I just can't cut that player there. I think he had a really good game out there today. I thought a couple other guys that were fighting for, like, legit roster spots really showed out. I mean, Ulysses Bentley at running back, we don't know what the numbers game is going to look like at running back because Herbert and Goodson are both banged up right now.

So maybe a player like Bentley can make a case to be the RB3 to start the season before eventually, you know, either putting him back on the practice squad or, heck, if he's playing well enough, still make the team you know um i thought austin ajake had a pretty solid game at linebacker as well a couple good snaps out there uh juju brentch just being on the field and then i think that the toughest one is going to be that cornerback six spot between alex johnson and jonathan edwards like oh man those guys have both had fantastic off seasons fantastic pre-season and you know with that injury to justin wally it opened up a spot where one of these guys could maybe make the team and

I mean, I think I would go Edwards, but it's kind of tough for me to pick between those two. I think they're both really intriguing young players. And then I did want to shout out a couple guys who I don't think there's really any avenue for them to make the team, but they still came out and showed out today. Coleman Owen, of course, another just great preseason performance. There's just no real way for him to make this team right now, but the Colts got to get him on the practice squad. He has been awesome, all training camp and all offseason. Lequan Treadwell as well. I mean, we got to call him Unk out there, basically.

He's just falling against the third and four stringers who were 10 years younger than him. But he does this every preseason. Comes out there, has a great showing, and keeps himself around and keeps himself in the conversation. Jason Bean before the injury, I know the interception was rough, but he had a couple of good series out there, including two touchdown drives. And then on defense, I mean, I thought some of the very bottom of the roster guys as well, Trey Washington, a couple of nice tackles. I think at the lineback room, Shagu at Luby had one of his. better preseason games. So overall, I just think this team came out to play today.

A lot of the bottom of the roster guys, heck, Nate Noelle at Running Back, I thought was awesome late in the game. That's one of my favorite players from college the last couple of years. As someone who's really followed the App State program, Nate Noelle and Cam Peoples were a fantastic one-two punch there for a couple of years. So it was great to see him out there in a Colts uniform. So, yeah, a lot of guys who even if they don't make the practice squad,

like, or the roster at all, like they put out some good film for the rest of the league. league and I think they're going to have a shot to make it elsewhere. But my big fight today is like Coleman Owen, you better get him on the practice squad. There's something with Coleman Owen. And like there's no room for him, but man, I want to keep him around because he's had just an awesome offseason. It's hard to not reward a guy like that, but they already kind of have their six at wide receiver. Well, I will just follow up by saying that I heard Isaiah Land's name quite a bit in the first half, but I know that the happiest person in the world when he got his sack

was you, Zach, because I feel like you're the president of the Isaiah Land Fan Club. Oh, yeah. So I was, again, happy to hear his name. And you can see the talent. And it's just, you know, a couple little mechanical things where he's going to turn that corner and turn those, you know, maybe. hurries into sacks if he gets the opportunity. And so you want to be going into the regular season, ascending,

and I believe that he is ascending. And I echo your thoughts on Coleman. He just kept making plays, and even when he made a mistake, you know, when you do make a mistake as a player, it's like, God, I hope I get another chance so I can redeem myself from that mistake. And sure enough, he did, what he catches a past, for 25 yards. You know, so a lot of tough decisions.

And it's really a sad time of year when they come up against cut. In fact, one of the things that happens is, you know, like the first, second stringers, they will have relationships with, you know, each other. But it's hard to, you know, try to develop a relationship with a guy that might get cut. Because once they're cut, they're gone. They're out of your life. You know, so you tend to not really associate with them. You give them encouragement.

You, you know, wish them all the best and everything. And then next thing, you know, boom, boom, they're gone. It's like, I didn't want to pour my heart into this potential relationship for the guy to be gone. So you really don't establish those friendships until you get that final 53-man roster. Yeah, Alan, you've got to be pretty happy about the running back room. And, you know, Zach, I know this has been a topic with you and Jake predating Alan and I jumping on to the locked on Colts team here. But, you know, that running back depth chart was a real weakness for the Colts last year. And now it appears, you know, certainly if not a strength, it's something that's become solidified.

And I say that, if you would have asked me that four weeks ago, I wouldn't have said that. And I feel that way now because of what we've seen from Tyler Goodson in camp. and during the preseason. And now when you look at some of these deep reserves as well, like if they're able to sneak Ulysses Bentley the 4th on the practice squad, he's an intriguing talent. I love the way he runs. And of course you have Jonathan Taylor, of course, at the top,

who's still the constant in that room. But, Alan, I think overall the running back room, you've got to be pretty pleased with what we've seen over the last couple of weeks. Especially today, watching all the different runners, they each have a different style. They each have something they can add to the offense. and it's going to be incumbent on the running backs to keep this offense going, to keep the defense honest, to be able to scratch and claw for every yard to shorten the field.

And it's good for Jonathan Taylor, too, to know that even though I'm the top dog, these guys behind me, they're coming. And so if I want to stay in the game, I've got to keep running hard. And so you'd love to have great competition at the running. back spot, but you want to have great depth because you always need more than one, even though as a running back a lot of times, you're selfish, you know, I'd love to get 30 carries a game. But it might not benefit the team to have 30 carries a game. But, you know, every carry I get, I'm going to try and maximize what I can. And I'm sure I think that's what the running

backs on this roster did. Every opportunity they had, they made it as if it was their last carry. That's how you make an impact, and that's how you make it difficult on the coaches to, you know, pick which group is going to be on the squad. From off the radar rookies to overlooked veterans, we've talked about some of them here to start this locked on Colts squad show. Who are the top Colts preseason performers? We'll give you our picks next when the show returns. This portion of the Locked on Colts Squad show brought you by five-hour and. Time to fuel up and turn it up with five-hour energy transfusion. It brings the bold grape, ginger, and lime flavor of your favorite golf drink, minus the alcohol, into a quick, energizing shot.

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Thanks so much for tuning us in following Indianapolis's 4114 route there in Cincinnati. And I understand it's a preseason game, but still feels pretty good to win a game like that. and have some of the individual performances that we just talked about. Guys, let's kind of tie a bow on the preseason overall, sort of adding everything up and taking training camp into account. I wanted to go around the room with top preseason performers. I actually have two at one position, and one of them I don't even think is going to make the team.

So this isn't even guys that you're sure going to make the 53, man. And I don't even need guys that are necessarily in the cut line, but guys that jumped out to you this preseason that you really think did. everything they could do to show this coaching staff what they're about. Zach, let's start with you. Yeah, so before I get to my one player, though, I do want to go on a little bit of a tangent on an aspect that I think was the biggest winner this preseason. And I think it was just whatever the coaching was in this cornerback room, from Chris Hewitt

to Jerome Henderson, those two coaches came in here to fix a Colt cornerback room that, quite frankly, has been rough the last couple of years. And even with the injuries piling up all offseason long at corner, to the point where we were signed, we signed Xavier and Howard the other day. So the injuries are still a present issue. I feel like every guy they threw out there this preseason at Corner has just been outstanding from guys like Alex Johnson to Jonathan Edwards to some veterans like Duke Shelley and just like other guys that have been just touched the field at Corner.

I think it's just been an overall very, very good showing from this cornerback room from top to bottom. And I know they've only really played against backup quarterbacks. I didn't play against one starting quarterback at all. all this preseason but if you look at the numbers this preseason with with opposing quarterbacks against the colds it's probably what below 50% complete percentage three picks and just the what the one touchdown may be thrown in this preseason like it has been a really really good showing from this cornerback room and that's what's going to make it such a difficult

like cut down day is just all these guys just had outstanding preseason and it's really hard to differentiate there but if I had to go with one player again I talked to about them enough in the first segment, but I think Coleman Owen, man. It's just really shown so much this preseason to me where I wasn't too aware of him coming into camp. He's a low-end, undrafted free agent guy, really, really productive last year at Ohio. So those guys are always, you know, the type of players that you want to keep an eye on. But he did fall through the cracks as an undrafted free agent, but he looked every bit like Josh Downs out there all preseason long, just in terms of the punt returning ability, the long speed, the ability to beat zone coverage.

by finding space had some outstanding catches today including that 25 yard uh what was it 25 yard like post route or whatever it was down the sideline oh my gosh what an outstanding catch it was on that and like alan said that was him coming back from a really poor decision on that punt return the like the two plays before goes down and catches a 25 yard catch on third and 10 that's what you want to see from a young player so i think he's my MVP at the preseason just in terms of the production in terms of what his skill set looks like and just like becoming a guy where I think like you want to do everything you can to convince his agent like hey you're one injury away from getting up on the roster please don't go to another practice squad like we want you here to develop you it's just

right now with the way it is right now it's hard to like let you get it's hard to keep you on the roster but like don't worry one injury away we will we'll boost your pay on the practice squad whatever it is I don't want this guy to leave I think he's just been awesome all preseason long And I really, like I said, I just don't want this guy anywhere else. Well, you make a great case for Coleman Owen, and he definitely did flash. There were some other guys that flashed, but unfortunately got injured. I know some guys you were high on like a Justin Wally. But I would have to say that I would have to say the MVP of camp is Daniel Jones.

Think about it. He came in here. That's fair. You're not wrong. He came in here. Yeah. in here not knowing the system, all right? First time with head coach Stan Seichen, didn't know any of the players and takes over the starting position. The most important position on the team, he takes it over.

Now, hopefully he can gel with the other players, develop good relationships, you know, so, you know, they can learn to trust him. He can learn to trust them. But you think about it, what, Anthony Richardson has been in his system for what, this is his third year. Daniel Jones didn't know anything about this system. Comes in, takes the job. So in my eyes, and in my mind, he's got to be the star of camp. And I'm sure that in the back of his mind,

he was thinking strategically, of all the plaintiffs to go to, where can I go to, where I'll have the best chance to resurrect my career. And so he thought right and he picked right. And now we'll just have to wait and see what happens. But to me, he's the one that is the clear MVP taking over that starting quarterback position. Yeah, I mean, I had not thought of Daniel Jones, but if you're just saying biggest winner of the preseason, absolutely, right?

Yeah. No, one thing I was going to say on that is just one huge thing you can give Daniel Jones credit for is that he knew exactly what it took to win this job coming into camp. Because he came in here, he didn't really try to push the arm, a little bit. He didn't come in here trying to make like the biggest play every single pass. It was really just come in, show up every day, show that you can operate the offense and get the ball out. And that's kind of what he did. So yeah, he didn't come in here and have some spectacular camp, but he knew exactly what he needed to do to win that QB1 job. And he came in here and did it. So to Alan's point, I mean, there's no bigger winner, obviously, than Daniel

Jones, because he's getting that second chance that he really wanted to come in here and compete for. So he's going to get his second chance to hopefully for him, turn it around and have a big payday. I mean, we saw what Sam Darnold just did with his second chance and turned it into a $100 million contract. So for Daniel Jones, like this is what you obviously want to do. And he came in here and did his job. No doubt about it. I was just going to say, and this is a familiar story for a lot of quarterbacks in the NFL. Sometimes the first team they're with, they just don't make it because they haven't been

groomed enough. They haven't seen enough, you know, defenses. They haven't become educated enough in their mind to realize that, oh, if that guy is over there, I should throw it over here, you know, all that kind of stuff. But we're starting to see some guys just catch on later than others. Not everybody is Patrick Mahomes. Not everybody is Jaden Daniels. You know, a lot of guys, they've got to go through the fire a little bit to realize that, okay, The game is finally slowed down. I see where I'm supposed to go. I know what I'm supposed to do.

I know how I'm supposed to prepare. And that's how I view Daniel Jones because what? Seven years he's been here? I only thought it was a couple, but he's been here seven years. Yeah, he got drafted pre-COVID. So you have to add 10 years to everybody's career. That's true. Right?

Because that's just kind of how it feels. But I actually went with this is a much maligned position. And rightfully so. It was a disaster in 2024. We all know that the tight end production was not even close to where it needed to be. But I really feel like those guys, and I started with Will Mallory here, had a great camps. Now, in the preseason that, you know, Mallory had, I think he had a catch today maybe. He didn't play super often, but I think he saw in Westfield especially him really show out

and do what he needed to do to secure his spot on the team. he's shown some ability as a past catcher that I don't think we've seen in a while like it's almost like early on in Will Mallory's career saw a little bit of it and then it kind of went away and then you were reminding yourself

oh yeah like this is why this coaching staff likes this guy so much like he can do these things and I think we've seen that over the last couple of weeks and Jelani Woods is another guy that we talked about he's probably not going to make the team even but a guy that I think did everything that you could have asked him to do this year to show himself a little bit better

So, you know, I think the Colts were in a position last year where they had a bunch of third string tight ends. They had a room full of third stringers. And the problem is that that's a really difficult thing to have when you're trying to make roster cuts at the end of the day where you have three guys that are legitimately great third string tight ends in Ogletree and Ali Cox and Mallory and Jalani Woods. And you're trying to, you know, you can't have all of them on the roster at the same time. But I think those guys did a really nice job. And Alan, you had mentioned Wally also special exemption to, Hunter Woller had a terrific offseason, and the only reason that he's not my number one on this list is because of the injury.

Yeah, and one thing I want to say about the tight end room, too, is to your point, you know, they are a bunch of tight end threes is what they were last season, fighting for that one job. So the Colts were kind of doing a committee approach at tight end, but when you are a team that plays 78% 11 personnel, you have to have a guy who can do both pass block, run block, and catch the ball. You can't just have specialists come in because defenses know exactly what's coming when you have specialists come in at tight end. So these guys were more supposed to be used as just like sub players. Like just occasional 12 personnel guys can come in and make a play or for the blocking guys, guys can come out there in heavy sets and lead the way. And now with Tyler Warren at the top of the depth chart, it defines everybody else at tight end. So now we're seeing like, I think Mallory and Woods had good camps. Like, don't get me wrong, but just because Warren's presence is there,

these guys can properly be defined on who they actually are as players, which is like good reserve tight ends to have that can fill a role for your team and come in and fill those just, again, that specific role instead of having to be this all-around players. So we saw Mallory have his best receiving camp. Jolani Woods finally healthy had a really good receiving camp. Your Ogletree, Molly Cox, really good blockers. You know what they're going to bring. So I think honestly, the biggest part for these tight ends is just having Tyler

Warren that properly defined what these guys are going to be behind him and let them focus on, you know what, I might only be a 20% snap guy as the third tight end coming in to catch some passes. So I'm going to be the best darn pass catcher I can be at tight end instead of trying to, again, you want to be a well-rounded player, but instead of it just being all about trying to build up my blocking, build up this, I'm just going to be the best past catcher I can be. So when I get out there, I can really be a complimentary piece of this offense. I think, again, just Warren's presence really help these guys. And production at the tight-in position is desperately needed.

Needed, excuse me, when I look at the fact that all tight-ins combined for 467 yards receiving, you know, that's almost criminal to me. It's like those tight-ins were out there stealing, you know, so they, in order for this team to improve offensively, you've got to had that badass at that position who can be the end. enforcer and, and, you know, add some, some weight to the secondary that can go and beat guys up and also be able to block and have the versatility to do both. It's only going to help the quarterback position in terms of completion percentage to have a viable tight end that's going to help them make more first downs and move the chains. Yep. Well, Alan just brought up Daniel Jones, and I was thinking we weren't going to make it until the second half of the show before mentioning one of the quarterbacks. But let's go ahead and continue with Daniel Jones because there's been a narrative around the team that the Colts floor for 2025 is raised because of Jones being a veteran and being a little less volatile than Anthony Richardson at the quarterback.

When we come back on the Colts squad show, we're going to discuss exactly that. Has the floor been raised? We'll go around the room. Stick around. Don't go anywhere. It's the Colts Squad show. This portion of the show brought you by game time. Have you ever decided at the last minute to head to a ballgame with friends or family?

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Welcome back, rolling right along here on the Colts Squad Show, sponsored by GameTime. I'm your host Derek Schultz alongside Zach Hicks, who you every dayers know from Locked-on Colts. And Alan Pinkin, a former Notre Dame running back, Oilers running back as well, who left South Bend as the leading all-time rusher in fighting Irish history, where we've been recapping the Colts emphatic win in Cincinnati, 41-14, and just kind of tying a bow on the preseason and training camp,

which I guess we'll have the chance to do in the next couple of weeks as well as there's a bit of a gap between now and the season opener in week one. But guys, in the wake of the decision last week to tab Daniel Jones, the starter. Shane Steichen didn't say this. The Colts didn't come out and say this. But one of the beliefs, if you were in the pro Jones camp, was that, well, things can't only get so bad with Daniel Jones, right? Whereas we've seen the high variances of play with Anthony Richardson, where, you know, sometimes it's a 65-yard bomb in the air that hits Alec Pierce in stride. And sometimes it's, you know, the Houston game a couple of weeks later in Houston where, you know, he couldn't throw the ball in the ocean.

Not that Daniel Jones has exactly cloaked himself in glory the last couple of years because there have certainly been struggles there, but a guy that knows his way around as soon to be a seven-year NFL event. So, you know, first off, that premise in general, Zach, do you agree that the Colts floor is raised with somebody like Jones under center? Yeah, I think he does raise the floor as long as, one, the team stays healthy. And two, everyone else does their part. because I think if it came down to everyone around him is playing awful,

I'd rather have Anthony Richardson in there because we saw the Patriots game, for instance, last year, where the entire Colts team just lay down in that game. It was a dreadful performance from the entire Colts team, and there was no reason why that game had to come down to the wire against a pretty bad Patriots team. But we saw Richardson convert two or what three fourth down conversions on that final drive and then including the game-winning touchdown that he ran in.

and empowered through. So I think Richardson, when everyone else is not doing their part, is the quarterback you'd rather have because he can will some points on the board. But I think when everything is consistent around them, when the offensive line is healthy and good, when the receivers are catching balls and when the scheme is getting guys open, you'd want to have Daniel Jones out there in terms of floor, because he's just going to operate the offense on a more sustainable level

than Anthony Richardson. Where Richardson will miss easy reads, he will not pick up blitz reeds that are coming his way. Protections could have an issue with him. Jones is such a veteran where he's going to know all those things like the back of his hand. And even if he's not going to raise the floor to some super high level, he can at least get you competitive in these games. It's kind of like what we saw with Gardner Minchu a couple years ago,

where the floor was never really that low with Minchew. I mean, they scored over 20 points for like 10 straight games or like 12 straight games to start that year with Minchu. It was a lot of 20s and 21s, but you're really. right exactly they were able to get exactly to like 20-21 and that's what we talk about with the floor like your offense is going to consistently get you into that 20 to 22 range it's about your defense holding the other team below that because you're probably not going to get much higher than that with the Jones or the minchew type of quarterback out there but you you give yourself a decent

floor I think as long as everyone else is doing their part the way that it falls lower than that and again going back to like the minchew season is when a team like the falcons comes in they run press man coverage against your receivers who can't separate, and then Minchu just can't do anything else because he's so predicated on those receivers making the plays for him that the cold score 10 points in that game. Or if you want to go to Daniel Jones, when Saquan Barkley left, all of a sudden, it's more on his shoulders to be a playmaker and be a guy who can create for this offense and be the primary playmaker on the team, and it kind of went really poorly.

But if he can get back to being that game manager he was in 2022 in terms of using his legs, throwing screen passes to playmakers, getting the ball out of his hands as quick as possible and operating in a system that works, then yeah, I think Daniel Jones probably raises the floor for this Colts team. Well, I would associate the floor with last year and the record being eight and nine. And of those nine losses, there were three games that were lost by three points or less. So if you can just turn that around, where can you improve on your roster to win those close games. And I think the Colts have done that drafting Tyler Warren. Now you've got another weapon on offense. I think the receiving core is pretty

good. We're going to talk about that later. And you've got Jonathan Taylor. And you made moves in the offseason to improve the defensive backfield. Yes, there's been some injuries, but you brought some studs in on defense. So to me, it's a matter of, can we improve? And we improve. at a couple of key positions, and I'm going to say yes, a tight end. And the other thing is, can we, when we get in a close game, come out on the winning side? That's why I say last year was the floor. Nine losses was the floor. If they hit nine losses again, no improvement.

So they win those close games. And now you've got a shot at the dance. And that's all you want to do is getting that dance. Yeah. And I think, Alan, the impetus, and this kind of goes to what you were saying, Zach, as well, if we're, like, trying to go through the operation of Shane Steichen's brain, which is probably difficult to do. But looking at 2023, I mean, this was an offense that had far less on paper than what

this offense is projected to have. And they're probably thinking to themselves, hey, if I could do this with Minshu, then if I could just get somebody in here that can do some of the simple stuff. And I know that you and Jacob talked about this, then Jones can then kind of raise that there but you know what i worry about when it comes to last season it's kind of a two-way street right alan because you're right that they had a couple of games like that that they they were close and they lost but they also had games where they really had the i mean that Patriots game the Patriots missed a 24-yard field goal i think in that game um they gave the Colts every opportunity to

come back and then they were begging the Colts to win that game and then finally the Colts converted what four fourth downs on that final drive i mean they had a little bit of a horseshoe in that game. So it kind of, it cuts both ways. But I think really what we need to see more is just the consistency of something. So it's not just these wild swings and you don't quite know what you're signing up for. And I think with Jones, at the very least, even when it's just like kind of boring, mediocre play, it's expected. Whereas there was just something with Anthony Richardson that was exciting, but it also scared me bleepless. every single Sunday when the Colts took the field, if that makes sense.

Yeah, no, again, you're banking on every other part of the operation to hold up their end of the bargain, and then Daniel Jones will raise that floor for you, because if you can be a team that, you know, your defense allows 18 to 20 points a game and your offense can consistently get you to 20, then, yeah, the floor is obviously like risen where you're not going to beat like the Kansas City Chiefs, you're not going to beat the Buffalo Bills, but you should beat the the adequate to below average teams. The problem is, again, you need everything else to be perfect right now for the Daniel Jones thing to work because if your defense is average to below average, then you're probably not

going to be able to run this ball control offense that you want, you know, because I don't think Jones is going to come out here and put up 28 points a game. I think it's going to be more in the low 20s to high teens, and that's what they're banking on this year. I think on offense, again, if you have a couple injuries to receivers and then you have some inconsistencies there. If one of these tackles were to go down, you start having guys miss blocks, you know, a guy like Richardson, again, for all of his faults, and by far in a way, he's like he lost a quarterback battle with Daniel Jones. We're not talking about some great

quarterback here. But with Anthony Richardson, when it really came down to it late in the games, they were down by seven, down by 14, even if he's the reason they got put in that hole, he came out there and he would deliver big throws. He would bring the Colts back. And in his few starts. He brought the Colts back from deficits quite a few times. I don't know if Jones can play that hero ball to steal a couple wins. So the thing is, like, Jones will get you the wins that your team is capable of getting you. You know, if your team shows up on Sundays, plays good defense, running backs or run the ball well, and receivers are making plays on contested balls or, you know, creating after the catch, then Jones will win you more games than Richardson.

But if guys are not holding up their end of the bargain, if they are struggling on the field, if the scheme is not getting guys open or there's busted coverages on defense, then the floor is technically going to be lower because, again, Richardson could steal you a couple wins. Jones is not going to steal you some wins. He'll get you the win that your team deserved, which, I mean, again, if you think your team deserves more than the eight wins they got last year, then that's a good thing. But if we see showings like they did against the Patriots, which I think that's

the prime game to go to here, Derek, because, again, that Patriots game, they had no right winning that football game with how they showed up last year. I don't think Jones is going to be able to win those type of games. But I think, again, they're banking on this team they put together, the coaching staff they put together, and the players they have around Jones to elevate him to where if you just do what we say, we'll win more games this year. And I don't fault them for that thinking. It's just, again, everyone else has to hold up their end of the deal, or it could be worse than the eight wins last year. Or have an offensive production like I had today. yeah yeah or everyone's doing their part like because yeah i wouldn't say either of these quarterbacks

today were like otherworldly performances or anything you know riley lenter had a really nice deep ball to tread well and we saw bean have a couple of nice throws here and there but a lot of this was run the football rushing for nearly 200 yards offensive line look good and getting the ball out short to your coleman owens and treadwells and stuff who made some plays so again yeah like you can put up big performances with this type of quarterback play it's just it's going to going to be when everyone else is holding up their end, like I said. So that's going to be the biggest thing for this entire year is how well are the Colts receivers, tight ends, offensive line, and defense performing? Because Jones will kind of show us that on each Sunday.

Alan, do you think at this point, I mean, I guess this is the start of the new season, but the veterans may be getting on board with this. Maybe, and I might be reaching here, but sometimes teams say something publicly. And internally, the players are skeptical because they know, yeah, that's not really how it's going to go. But the Colts came out and said, this is going to be a quarterback competition. And we are going to pick, this is 50-50, Queen Slate, we're going to pick the best person for us moving forward. And clearly, at least in their mind, regardless of whether you're pro Richardson or pro Jones or whatever, they picked the person that I think a lot of people in the outside did not expect them to pick. So you've been in those locker rooms.

unlike Zach and I, that credibility and, you know, coming out and saying something publicly and being truthful and honest and then living up to that, what kind of play does that get in the locker room? Well, number one, as a player, you want a guy in there that's going to help you win. Bottom line, can you help us win? That's all that matters. I don't even have to like you, you know, but can you help me win? Yeah, so that to me is number one.

But I also understand, and guys in the locker room want stability at that position. They want to know they can count on someone. And the way they have set this thing up, they have no choice but to try and count on Daniel Jones. But Daniel Jones has shown I'm going to be reliable. You know, I'm going to make the right decisions. and every now and then I might have a flash play. But it's one of those offenses where, Zach, you said it right, everybody's level of execution has to be superior in order for this thing to work.

And so I think as a player, what happens is whether they like to Anthony more or less, in order for everybody to eat well, everybody's going to have to, you know, put forth their best effort. And when they start getting some favorable results, they get some wins, then that momentum starts to build. Then the relationship with everybody starts getting better. Right now, they just want to win. Show me you can win, then we can be boys.

The first month of the season is going to be huge for this team. First month is going to be big because, again, you want people to have short memories. and be able to bounce back from wins and losses. But when you make this change of quarterback here and for stability for the higher floor like we're talking about, if you start off one and three, I mean, even the strongest willed people in the locker room

will start to doubt this thing. And when guys start doubting the process and start doubting the results, that's when seasons can go haywire. So they got to start fast for the first time and my time covering the Colts. I've never seen this team ever start fast. So they need to start fast.

again, I'm going on, what, nearly year eight, year nine covering this team. Let's get out the gate with a win and then build some wins from there and have people believe in this. So like Alan said, like even if not everyone in that locker room is sold on Daniel Jones, they can be sold on that win loss record if they're sitting at three and one, if they're sitting at four and two, whatever it's going to be, because winning cures everything, like Alan said and is opening to start this entire thing. And, you know, I had Jack Pardy as a coach when I was at the Oilers for a couple

years. And he used to always emphasize that it takes four games for you to figure out what your personality is. What is your, what in your scheme? You know, so there's going to be a little bit of growing pains. But after that fourth game, we're going to know, is it a running team? Is it a RPO team? We're going to know what that personality is. So it's a little bit of growth, but then they figure out who they are after four games. You mentioned fast start, Zach, one of my favorite, albeit most depressing Colts trivia, little bits and pieces. Their last season opening win came in the 2013 season.

Do you know who the opposing quarterback was that day? Oh, geez. So this is way before I covered the team. So let's see, 2013. The caveat is this is way before, this is five years before Zach started covering him, right? man so i'm guessing i'm gonna just guess it was a divisional opponent and let's just say it was like in those houston like t j yates years or something so i'll just say like a t j yates just for the heck of it here i'm gonna come back with the answer that wasn't even the plan t's but i'm gonna come back

with the answer we've also got our wide receiver position group next here on the colt squad show Hicks of Lotton Colts and former NFL or in Notre Dame running back, Alan Pinkett. I'm Derek Schultz. Sorry, Zach, I really did put you on the spot there with that answer. But 2013, it was against the Raiders. I don't remember if they were Oakland or whatever. Torell Pryor. I was close.

Similar tears. Similar tears. And funny enough, I got to see Terrell Pryor play receiver in camp when I covered Washington a couple years later. And everyone thought he was going to be, you know, 1500 yard receiver. And he was benched by the mid-season point. So that says how much of a quarterback he was, obviously, in that Raiders game. I just want one of those streaks.

It doesn't have to be the season opening streak, but if they get the one in Jacksonville, like one of those streaks needs to die. Please. Please. So we can put it behind us here in this town. Let's talk something positive. The wide receiver position group, as we continue, we've been doing position groups here with the Colt Squad show over the past couple of weeks.

We covered offensive line. We covered defensive line. Guys, I think this is maybe the best, certainly the deepest. position group and mostly, you know, knock on wood, health-wise. They've been that way with what they have there. And then guys that have been in the system and kind of understand the system and a couple of wild cards that are that are sort of mixed in there. But how do you feel about this group overall? Zach, we'll start with you for wide receiver. Yeah, I feel pretty good. I mean, it's not like I can't put it in like a top five, top 10 conversation because

you just don't have that Jamar Chase, that Justin Jefferson, that even Malik neighbors, that New York Giants had last year where he really emerged as like that legit number one last season. I don't think they really had that top tier guy in the room that on third and 10 is going to win his route no matter what and make a big play. But I think they have the next best thing where you just have a bunch of players who compliment each other really well. And this isn't like the tight end room where I talked about a couple segments ago just being like, you know, you don't want to have a bunch of guys who are specialists fighting for the one role because only one of those guys on the field at the time. With wide receiver, you're going to have three guys on the field

together pretty much all the time. So it's good to have specialists. It's good to have guys that compliment each other. And you're looking at them. I mean, Michael Pittman Jr. is a throwback physical receiver who will, you know, punch a team in the mouth in the run game. And then as a receiver, he will catch those tough balls over the middle. Every team needs a player like that. That's why the Colts pay him like that. Alex Pierce, one of the best deep threats in football. And Josh Downs, a fantastic slot receiver who, you know, he could go. for 10 catches at any game, any moment of any game. Like, he is that good of a player.

So I think when you're looking at these top three players, again, you're not talking about Justin Jefferson or anything, but the goal is to get that in the aggregate with how all three of these guys can be, how good all three of these guys can be. And I think that's what the Colts have here. So, again, it's not the top of the tiers in the league, but I really like the ruin that they got. And it's like a basketball team with a bunch of players that just fit together. I think all these guys are really good complimentary pieces.

Well, and I would agree there's no clear number one receiver, but you got a lot of solid guys that I think is going to make it hard on defensive coordinators because they're going to have to figure out what do we want to take away, you know, who is the one that can beat us, you know, and who is the guy that we don't mind catching the ball because we'll just tackle them. But there are, you know, the traits that Alec Pierce has, it's like a gamer, you know, who's going to go, he may not make that play in practice. But you put his ass in a game and he's going to make that play. Pittman, say no more. And I hate to praise him because he's from USC. But say no more. Just your big, strong, fast prototype NFL receiver. And then you get in the slot with Josh Danz.

There is, to me, very good talent. I don't want to say great talent yet. But it's the ability to be able to spread this ball around so that you can't be keying on one or another. You can't double one guy because you're going to get killed by the other guy. I see their talent level is equal. And then hopefully AD emerges as another. threat that just drives the defensive coordinator wild.

And yes, we're talking about the wide receivers, but the other thing that's going to help the wide receivers is the emergence of the tight end. So I think Daniel Jones is sitting back there happy as hell at the group of receivers that he has because they can all make plays and they kind of all help you win. Yeah, and he never, you know, to Zach's point, this may not be a top 10 room in the league, it's a lot better than what the Giants had for the last couple of years, for sure. And, you know, if Pittman Jr. is healthy, you kind of know what you're getting there, even if there's not another gear of him being a true game breaker type.

But, guys, I'm really intrigued. Josh Downs might benefit the most from Daniel Jones being QB1. He's everybody's candidate for a big breakout year. And I know that, you know, Pearson Richardson maybe had a little bit more of a connection for the deep ball. But, Zach, I thought we saw a lot of improvement as a short and, intermediate route runner for Alec Pierce you know I was originally thinking oh man he's just a one trick pony that's great he has the one trick but I'm still wondering if there's more that's in that bag for him yeah he's a one trick pony in the in the sense that like he can't do what ad Mitchell can do

where 80 Mitchell is man-to-man coverage he's going to win he's going to get open against man Alec Pierce a little bit stiffer in the hips he's not the most loose route runner I don't think he's going to get create a lot of separation against man but to your point Derek where we really see him in the underneath the intermediate game is against zone coverage. If he's running a deep dig route because he can sell that vertical speed, he's going to get open over the middle of the field as long as the quarterback throws with anticipation and touch to him. He's going to make a play there. When it comes to broken plays in the backfield where he's scrambling away from pressure,

Pierce showed last year it can be kind of that Johnny on the spot and get to where he needs to go and get to the sideline and make a play down the field. And then also in the red zone last year, he emerged as a pretty good red zone threat, especially with Joe Flack. later in the year called a couple jump balls in the red zone so yeah i think pierce can be more than just a go ball guy i just think if you're expecting him to be like this pure separator in the short to intermediate game he's not really going to be that but he can still be a really effective all around receiver it's just going to be in a different way and and kind of just wanted

to talk a little about ad michael because we've talked about him so much uh this entire off season he is i mean as far as x factors goes this is the pure definition of a next factor because I think what you have in this wide receiver room is again Pittman can be your RPO guy you're over the middle of the guy the guy makes the tough catches Pierce can maybe do a little bit more than just the vertical game but that's where he's going to win the most and downs everything short but again they need that guy on third and 10 who backside one-on-one is going to get open get to his landmark when he needs to get there and make that big play catching in traffic or again if he gets open not catching in traffic

But they need that guy where when teams, like you have a got to have it down, a guy who's going to go get it for you. And if Mitchell can just be a little bit more consistent with his timing and with his hands, he can be that player. He is unguardable one-on-one. We saw it last year against so many really good corners in Derek Stingley and Christian Benford, two of the best corners in football. We saw Mitchell make some plays against those guys on an island. But if he can just refine what he's doing, and even if that's his specialist-type role is just, got to have it downs. We're getting him out there to make a play and get open. That can make this wide receiver room maybe a top 10 unit because then they don't really have many weaknesses,

even if you know what each guy is going to bring. So yeah, I love the top three guys. And like you said, Derek, I think Pierce can do a little bit more. But so much of this comes down to A.D. Mitchell. If he can really take that step forward, this wide receiver room can be like that top 10 unit that we were talking about. And you got to hope that for A.D. Mitchell's sake, that he has success early, because if he can get success early, he's only going to gain confidence. Because right now, he's a guy who's making great plays in practice. Okay, well, you don't get paid for making great plays in practice. But what you want to be able to do is have that practice play carry over into games. If he can gain that same confidence in games

that he has in practice, the cold receiver is going to be held to deal with. And Alan, I'm sure you play with guys like this. He, to me, is a swagger guy. So when he's feeling it, he lets you know and he's feeling it, and you can see it translate to his play. Whereas when he's in his head, he goes into the turtle shell a little bit. You know, AD, I think the mental thing is just so important for him, much more so than just your normal kind of run-of-the-mill guy.

Yeah. No doubt. And that's the guy you want to try and get the ball too early, you know, so that they don't feel like they're just running routes as decoys, you know, but it's important that they catch it and make a play so that their confidence can be built so so that you feel confident throwing a ball to them that they're going to be able to make the play. So it's, I think like you said, Zach, he is the X factor among the wide receivers. you know, he can make a break that wide receiver room.

And three guys, I do not want to leave out. I don't want to forget about Ashton Doolin. He's always been the constant. You always know what you're going to get there. He's invaluable for the things that he does. Anthony Gould had a great preseason as well. Very good. There might be a future there, you know, when there's a little more room at the inn for him

to be more of a front-line player. And then you would mention him as well, Zach, if we talk about guys that just had a great camp where you're like, man, I really hope they find a way to stash him somewhere. Coleman Owen. I mean, that's not bad. I mean, we're talking about your fifth, sixth, and seventh guys. But if the Colts don't have the best wide receiver room in the league,

maybe they have the best five, six, seven in the league. I mean, that's a pretty good group. And heck, we can go to Agen. We can say Laquan Treadwell, the guy who had over 100 yards today in one half. I mean, yeah, it's a pretty good room. I like what they have at receiver. They've developed it well. I mean, credit to Reggie Wayne and Chris Ballard for getting the guys in here

and developing them and getting them up where they need to be. but I want to take this time because this is just what I do at the end of these things and just sending some praise to a guy like Ashton Doolin. And I'm sure, Alan, you were around a lot of guys like this in your playing time where Ashton Doolan, a guy who came from Malone University. If you guys have never heard of Malone University, it's because right when Ashton Doolan left, the program collapsed in terms of no more football at Malone University.

So he broke every single record you can break for all purpose, receiving. He even had some rushing yards in there and stuff. and then the program collapsed. Oh, and he was also a really good track star there as well at D2 Malone. But comes to the NFL, has these great testing numbers, but no one's going to give you a chance out of Malone. Like, you have to earn that chance. And he didn't just commit to being a receiver.

He came out here to be the everything man, from the gunner to the return man. And then he built up his receiving rapport as well. So the same type of credit I gave to Tyler Goodson a couple weeks ago for following this same path, it's what Doolin's been doing since 2019. He's one of the longest tenured Colts as an undrafted free agent out of Malone University. Again, Malone that doesn't exist anymore in terms of football.

So, I mean, to string out a career like this, like, I mean, Alan I talked about it a couple episodes ago. Like, he's going to be able to retire with benefits from the NFL because he came in here and did what he needed to do to make the team. So I always have so much just respect for a player like Doolan to go from a roster bubble guy for years to now. We don't even blink when we talk about Ashton Dool. This is the guy who's going to be on the team. He's going to make plays. He's going to do what's asked of him. And he's just the perfect guy to have at the bottom of roster.

All right. Well, I'll say this. Athletic ability will get you about two years. Okay. It's become more of a cerebral game. And you've got to think when you're out there. And you've got to be very well-rounded. And we already talked about the average career being three and a half years

because after four years, you qualify for a pension. and they would much rather take a younger guy than make a pension contribution. So, this, Ashton Doolin has clearly established himself as a valuable piece. Because this is what, year seven for him? Yeah. So he's already, he's already beaten the odds. And you love a good story. He's a good story.

And, you know, it's just one of those you feel for him because, you know, He's supposed to be watching on Saturdays if his team is not playing. Who's he supposed to cheer for? You know, it's, but he made his mark. And I think his story is inspiring to Malone University about what, you know, he did and what they can eventually become. Another great story. The Colts ending the preseason with a 41-14 win over Cincinnati.

Thanks so much for joining us at the Colts Squad Show. I'm going to keep hammering this at the end of every show, but we are your place for live game recaps following each and every Colts game this season. To my knowledge, I don't think anybody else is doing this immediately after the way Locked on Colts is and will with these squad shows. Now that the preseason is open, we're going to settle into this Wednesday, Sunday, Cated.

So 9 p.m. Wednesday will be our midweek show, and then Sunday after the Colts game will be our post-game show. So set your calendars and watch this accordingly. Obviously, we'll adjust that for the Monday night game, et cetera. But we'll be back with you on Wednesday. we're going to talk roster cutdowns and how the 2025 Colts look but until then follow us on socials and at Lockdown Colts check us out on the other great locked on content on YouTube TikTok and everything else that we've got going on and we will see you next time right here on the Colts Squad show