Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - FREE AGENT SPOTLIGHT: Colts' Arden Key, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Best Suited for Very Specific Roles

Starting point is 00:00:00 One of the Colts' biggest outside moves of the offseason was bringing in an edge rusher from within the division. But what should we expect from Arden Key? Let's get to it. You are Locked on Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. All right, welcome to Locked on Colts, part of the Locked On podcast network. I'm your host, Jake Arthur, the Indianapolis Colts beat reporter for Roundtable Sports. and I am joined today by the one and only Tyler Rowland of Locked on Titans. You know when you love them, Colts fans.

Starting point is 00:00:42 Everybody on Twitter, very good relationship with Tyler. But no, the Colts have kind of crossed paths with the Titans a little bit this offseason. So Tyler's going to be a really valuable resource for us here. Arden Key, Key, Nick Westbrook, Akina. You know, Key was within the division even before the Titans as well. So we're going to go ahead and yap here with Tyler a little bit about Arden Key today. just kind of what should the Colts expect from someone who right now is in a significant role, but maybe should take a step back once all is said and done this offseason.

Starting point is 00:01:15 So Tyler, let's go ahead and dive into it. The Colts signed key to a two-year deal worth $16 million. What, from your perspective, I know the Titans defense and the past rush in general wasn't all that great, but from your perspective, what did Key provide to the Titans? and, you know, kind of what's the vibe about him going elsewhere? Did you guys want him back or what's kind of the deal there? I'll be honest. I'll start with the second question there.

Starting point is 00:01:43 He was somebody who people were ready to let go. He is just another guy. He's just enough. There's hundreds of Arden Keys in the NFL who he's not going to make a difference. He'll make some plays. You know, he's not an untalented player. He's not awful or anything like that. just, he doesn't stand out in any real way, never really lived up to his contract with the

Starting point is 00:02:08 Titans. He has some good physical characteristics. And I will tell you this, he is loud. He is a loud personality. You'll see him in the videos. You'll hear him. But that kind of cuts both ways. By the end in Tennessee, he was kind of, you know, in interviews, talking about the coaches, you know, what we're doing out there. We didn't know what we were doing and stuff like that. And DeNard Wilson got a lot of praise. from a lot of other Titans players as the defensive coordinator and got instantly hired by the Giants.

Starting point is 00:02:37 I don't know if that looks great on him. The Titans won a game in Cleveland and Cam Ward was kind of upset that they didn't play their best football and Arden Key got on the airplane and was saying, don't listen to Cam Ward, enjoy the wins, and it's just like,

Starting point is 00:02:52 there's two ways to look at that of, yeah, you should enjoy the wins. Like it's a journey, you got to, but also Cam Ward's like, no, we have a standard here and that wasn't good enough. Like, yeah, we won, but like, I'm not going to pop bottles and act like, and Arden Key's like, have fun anyway.

Starting point is 00:03:08 He's kind of like the class clown, basically. And it just, you know, that's good when times are good. You need guys like that to lighten the mood. But when times are bad, sometimes that, that act kind of wears old. So I think people were ready for Arden Key to leave, but it's not because he's just like a waste of space, terrible player either. I guess if that makes sense. Sure.

Starting point is 00:03:28 So, I mean, it definitely sounds like he's best suited as a role play. player. So for the Colts right now, now how their edge group looks right now is not what they intended for it to look like so far. Like they were very much in on Trey Hendrickson and I think, I think they expected to have him. But right now it's Laiatu Latu starting on one end. And you can either look at it as, you know, the established veteran Arden Key is on the other end starting right now or he's going to be the third guy behind Latu and hopefully JT2 and lowout takes a jump, but logic says Key would be the other starter right now. Now, in this defense with Lou Anirumon, I'm sure you noticed it quite a bit, like,

Starting point is 00:04:12 these edges drop into coverage a bit and they're not just used to attack. So athletically, Key was a guy at least coming out of LSU where he could check a lot of those boxes. Have you seen him do much like in coverage? Like, how does he do moving all around? See, I don't think you want him to do that at all. I don't think that he's at a stage in his athletic career where you would want him to do. Arden Key needs to do one thing.

Starting point is 00:04:42 He needs to get off the line of scrimmage, use his length and his decent flexibility, and get after the quarterback. Like to me, his role should be he is a third down pass rusher. And he's a guy who had some success in his career rushing from the inside. He didn't get the opportunity to do that as much in Tennessee as I thought maybe he would when he was initially signed. So that's a good rule for him. He's good on twists and stunts because he's very slithery.

Starting point is 00:05:07 Like for a guy who's six foot five with long arms, he can kind of slide as you need to when you're doing an inside stunt from the edge. So I think asking Arden Key to drop back in coverage, I think that would be a big mistake and misuse of what he should be doing at this stage in his career. And if he's slated to be a starter, he's not a good run defender.

Starting point is 00:05:26 Like we can get into that, but he is an awful run defender, in my opinion. So at this stage in his career, he should be a DPR who just helps you in rush packages as a versatile guy who can move up and down the line of scrimmage, asking him to go backwards, I think would be a mistake at this point. Yeah, I think we're all kind of on this side of it in agreement there because I don't think anyone, I think the general sentiment around the move is positive. It's fine. If he's in the proper role.

Starting point is 00:05:56 think anyone wants him starting. Like you mentioned, designated pass rusher seems correct. Now, he does seem kind of like a one-for-one replacement of Samson Ebbecom's role right now, who that was a guy he was decent against the run, but you didn't really want him in coverage either. But just there is that third guy, like change a pace. Like, you need to take your starters off the field. It seems like that's kind of the way to go. Now, when we talked to Key when he did his, you know, opening presser after the Colt signed him. I kind of caught my ear a little bit. He mentioned that he likes to start out,

Starting point is 00:06:32 like when he was describing his style, he likes to start out with power and then kind of go with some counter moves and stuff off of that. Like his frame doesn't necessarily scream power, but mixing in the fact that you said he's not a positive run defender either, like how would you describe him if he was going to be a base end, like defending the run and then like how he is as a password? pressure. Well, he needs to use his length. That's and his get off on the line of scrimmage. I wouldn't say that he is a

Starting point is 00:07:01 powerful guy also, but when you have that length and you have that speed, you can convert, as we say, speed to power. You know what I mean? So it's like he's not a super strong guy, but because of the length and how quick he can get on offensive tackles and get in their chest, and then he does have good get off and good athleticism off the snap. I would say that's how he can kind of create that ramp up speed and then drive guys back. But he is a good get off. And he is a good get off. I would say that's a lot. I would say that's a little bit wiggly, you know, like he can dip a little bit for a guy his size as well and get underneath. And again, he uses his long levers to kind of move people around once he gets a move on him. He'll be able to shield with his inside arm. He did a lot of rushing, you know,

Starting point is 00:07:41 around the edge and he would use his long arm to kind of get inside. And sometimes that can help create some force fumbles and things like that. So if he's going to win, whether it be in the run game or in the past game, it all starts with the length. But in the run game, it's about keeping people off your frame. The problem is he just doesn't have a good anchor. You know, he doesn't have that raw strength because he's a kind of a long athlete. He doesn't have that core to kind of sit down and anchor and set that strong edge. So he can kind of get busted out on the edge.

Starting point is 00:08:13 But if he can get his length and get into the guy's chest and kind of get his feet planted, he can hold for a little bit. But it's just, it's harder for him to do it with the way that his body is built. But at the same point, the way that his body is built helps, him as a pass rusher because then he has that length to get to the quarterback from a little further away. He can use his arms to kind of shield off guys or get to the quarterback from being further out than most other people will and the good athleticism paired with that. That's why he's so good on the twists and the stunts.

Starting point is 00:08:41 Because as the line kind of tries to condense so that they're all next to each other to create that wall so the stunt can't penetrate through, as they're doing that, he's still got the long enough arms to get in there. So whether it's run game, whether it's past, game, the length is at the core of all of it. It's just about how he can generate power. And in the run game, it's harder because he doesn't have the build up. Okay. Okay. All right, guys, well, that is good to hear on Arden Key. I think it kind of reaffirms what we already thought. Coming up here in a moment, Tyler is going to tell us about another former Titan. This guy, I think we're a little more questionable about the intentions here.

Starting point is 00:09:17 It's wide receiver Nick Westbrook Aquina. What if sports were traded like markets? Now you can put your sports IQ to work in real time. with Robin Hood prediction markets. And it's not just you against the house. It's you participating in a live market. You could buy or sell your positions live all game long. Use your sports knowledge in the moments that matter. Robin Hood prediction markets changes the game. It's people moving the action so that when the momentum shifts, you can move with it. I always knew the game, but never really had a dynamic way to apply that knowledge. But now I can actually take part live in a market powered by people. You're no longer just a spectator. Play-by-play, you decide. Trade every play with Robin Hood, now available

Starting point is 00:10:01 across the U.S. Download the Robin Hood app now to begin. Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and are not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robin Hood derivatives LLC, a registered futures commission merchant and swap firm. All right, welcome back everybody. We are now going to shift focus to a Colts receiver. So the Colts parted ways with Michael Pittman Jr. in the offseason, they traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Very little return on investment. They packaged Pittman and a seven to the Steelers for a six. Seems like kind of a favor to him to kind of go somewhere he might want to go.

Starting point is 00:10:41 A.D. Mitchell as well, that also, that always gets kind of lost in the shuffle. They're still kind of trying to find a way to replace A.D. Mitchell, too. They traded him at the trade deadline for Soss Gardner, of course. So the Colts are kind of, they got this big void at receiver. A.D. Mitchell was more of a big play threat. That wasn't the long-term vision, but the short-term, he was a big-play threat. Pittman was a bit of a do-it-all guy. Obviously, their most frequently used target since 2020, kind of the tough yards over the middle, the chain mover. That's not necessarily Westbrook Aquinas game. So from the Colts perspective, how we see it, I think, Tyler, he was a Colts killer, number one. big play guy you know he had a couple seasons where he was just under 500 yards usually

Starting point is 00:11:30 averaged around 15 yards per catch 24 had that big season nine touchdowns so i guess let's first go to kind of where we let off with arden key now this is a year removed because he did just spend last year with the dolphins and kind of a no man's land year but westbrook Aquina, what was the sentiment there in Tennessee? Like, it feels like a nice homegrown story. Like, you guys got him into a nice contract in Miami. What was the vibe around him? Should you guys have brought him back?

Starting point is 00:12:03 Or how did that go? Fans loved NWI. You know how it goes. Again, like you said, that homegrown talent, undracted free agent, guy who really had to work his way up before he got opportunities. Brian Callahan was playing Trayland Burks over him at the beginning of the season. and people were so angry about it. They're like,

Starting point is 00:12:22 Burks is terrible. NWI may not be a first rounder, but he's a better player. You know what I mean? I will be honest with you, though. Like, as long as I'm alive, NWI will have one hater. You know, like...

Starting point is 00:12:37 Is it you? Yes. I hate saying hater, but that's, you know, that I've been put into the villain role by the fan base in this regard because I just, I don't see him as anything more than a depth

Starting point is 00:12:49 4 or 5 wide receiver. I don't see him as a starter. You're right, he can't replace Michael Pittman Jr. He is a good straight line runner. Now, he ran like a 4, 6, 8 or something like that, 40-yard dash coming out of college. So this guy is not a burner by any means, but when he is asked to go straight,

Starting point is 00:13:11 he ran like 22 miles per hour on GPS one time, and fans always love to say he's not slow. He's because I always say he runs in combat boots. But that's just when he's going laterally. Like you don't want him on, you know, these quick ends and these quick slants where he's got to beat somebody real fast at the line of scrimmage. And then he's big, you know, he's six foot three, big physical. He can kind of think about like Mac Hollins.

Starting point is 00:13:35 You know, for the Patriots, Mac Hollins. I always wanted Matt Collins because to me, Mac Hollins is a wigglier version of NWI. Like he's just got a little more side-to-side juice than NWI. For me, NWI is just one of those role players that rosters are built on. Like, he goes in there, he's going to catch the football if it's thrown to him. He's not going to make any spectacular plays unless it's a deep play down the field that he happens to get to. But he's going to be a good gunner on special teams.

Starting point is 00:14:03 Maybe we get into that, like he's very good on special teams. He's a good guy in the locker room. He's going to know his job. He played all three positions. Like he could play in the slot, either of the outside, the Z or the X. He is a very smart player. all those like intangible boxes, which is how you go from being an undrafted free agent who ran a frickin' 4-7 in the 40 to being in the NFL for five to seven years.

Starting point is 00:14:27 You know, they only do that because you check all of these boxes that coaches want. But I think you have it right where he's not a replacement for A.D. Mitchell. He's not going to give you that kind of pop in the athleticism. He's not a replacement for Michael Pittman. He doesn't have kind of the smooth agility, even a guy at Pittman size who's, you know, not Zay Flowers or anything. like NWI is on the other end of that spectrum. So I see him as more of a four or five,

Starting point is 00:14:52 not somebody who you necessarily want in your top three rotation. I will say just from the outside looking in, the Colts taking their wide receiver room from such a strength to, you know, what it is right now where I think they need help there, quite honestly. Like they need another starting level player. It kind of surprised me because I always looked at them as like a strength of the sum of the parts type team.

Starting point is 00:15:16 they're kind of, you know, betting it big on Daniel Jones, elevating people, I think, at this point. Yeah, I think it's going to have to take a little bit of a group effort to replace what they lost in Mitchell and Pittman. I think that's their intention because they had to make room financially number one for Pierce's deal and for more targets. And just having your guy who has led you in targets and receiving most years for the last five years, that's the easy guy to kind of jettison.

Starting point is 00:15:44 but Ashton Doolin's going to have to step up a little bit. Obviously, you have Tyler Warren and Josh Downs. That's going to raise it up a little. But I think, I do think Westbrook Aquina's role is supposed to be like that four or fifth guy. Yeah. Because he's on a one year vet minimum deal. They didn't give him like eight, nine million dollars. But I think between Doolin, Nick Westbrook, Akina, just among guys who don't already have huge roles.

Starting point is 00:16:12 And then probably a rookie, like by the third. or fourth round. Like we're big Deshawn stribbling guys around here. Like he seems to fit, yeah, that would be a great pick. Man, the Colts always get all these guys I like in the draft.

Starting point is 00:16:25 I'm sick of it. You know what I mean? Yeah, well, I mean, we don't even have a first round pick this year and you have a top five. So we're living jealously and vicariously through you, uh,

Starting point is 00:16:35 this time around. But yeah, it's, again, I think you have reaffirmed our thoughts on Arden Key and Nick Westbrook of Kina today. So let's not get our, our expectations and

Starting point is 00:16:44 hopes that too much these guys are supposed to be kind of minimal role players. Key probably needs to have a little bigger role than just minimal. But Nick Westbrook-Akeena, of course, he probably needs to, I don't want to say be already replaced in the draft, but you need to get someone who's already pushing him through the draft. That would be good. And then Key, just stick in that third edge rusher role. The Colts probably need to trade for someone or, again,

Starting point is 00:17:13 find an early edge rusher. It feels like it's a broken record. You're always looking for edge help the Colts are. But yeah, these guys, I think, can be, they have good utility and the rules they should have. But let's not boost them up into starter status. That's the perfect way to put it. Like, they're not

Starting point is 00:17:29 bad players. They're just not great players. They're, you know, they'll make a couple of plays during the season. They'll make two to three plays during the season that kind of justifies them. They'll do small stuff. Well, Key doesn't really do the small stuff, but he'll make the two to three plays and NWI does small things that won't have a lot of value to a casual fan, but if you watch it, you're like, oh, he just made a tackle as a gunner on punt coverage.

Starting point is 00:17:50 Oh, he just got some dirty yards. Oh, he just digged out of safety and let Jonathan Taylor run off his butt for a touchdown. Like, if you really know the game and see it, NWI is the perfect four or five wide receiver to have on the back end of your roster and key in the right role can still make the plays that you need them to make. So I think they're just good signings. And nowadays, in the internet culture that we're in, it's trash or treasure, everything's terrible or it's great and there's no in between.

Starting point is 00:18:16 These guys are just in between good role players to have. Yeah, the Colts getting a lot of online trouble for signing role players. But it's like, that's what 75% of your roster is supposed to be is like very small time guys. But you gave me just kind of like a light bulb moment. Nick Westbrook Aquina may not be here to replace Pittman or A.D. Mitchell. he might be here to replace Tyler Goodson, who was one of their backup running backs and their other gunner opposite of asking.

Starting point is 00:18:46 Westbrook Aquina might be there to block when he's on offense and be the other gunner. That really, you just set something off for me. I like that. There you go. Yeah. All right, guys, well, thank you again for tuning in today

Starting point is 00:18:57 for this bonus episode of Locked on Colts. We'll be back tomorrow, of course, actually tonight for our squad show. Make sure you subscribe to our shows so you get all of the latest episodes. If you don't already follow at LockdownColts at Jake Arthur NFL and at Zach Hicks too on social media, of course, at TikTok Titans. Don't forget to check out the Everydayer Club for ad-free episodes on audio and access to a group chat with Zach, me and other listeners of the show. The thing is always popping.

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Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - FREE AGENT SPOTLIGHT: Colts' Arden Key, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Best Suited for Very Specific Roles

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