Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts: Alec Pierce, Jelani Woods Set to THRIVE Under Shane Steichen

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Indianapolis Colts have their new head coach, but which players on the Colts are going to benefit most from this move? We're going to talk about that all here on Locked on Colts. Let's get to it. You are locked on Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast, part of the Locked i just read the wrong thing there guys so we're off to a great start. But thank you guys for tuning in and making this your first listen of the day.

Starting point is 00:00:47 This is your daily podcast covering your Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. This episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, official sportsbook partner of the NFL. Make every moment more. Visit FanDuel.com slash Locked On today to get started. I am Zach Hicks. Obviously, you could tell by the crazy rambling and too much energy that I am Zach Hicks and

Starting point is 00:01:09 not Jake Arthur today. And Jake is also not going to be here. I wanted to come forward and say I apologize to you guys that me and Jake have not been together once this week. He started a new job to where he's working till like eight o'clock at night. And I've been on 4 a.m. shifts all week. So it's just been a horrible, horrible time for us to try to get together to record. But for my episodes this week, I wanted to make sure that I was introducing our new people at horseshoehuddle.com.

Starting point is 00:01:36 So I had Shad McGinnis on the other night. And now I got Destin Adams, our other new member at horseshoehuddle.com. Someone I'm happy to finally say is a colleague of mine. Destin, what's up, man? Welcome to the podcast. Hey, it's good to be back on the Lockdown. I feel like I have only ever now been on with one of you. I've been on with you once before. I've been on with Jake once before. One of these days, I'm going to be on with the both of you, I swear. But super pumped to be at Horseshoe Huddle, super pumped to be here today. But a lot of Colts news, so everything's been picking up. Ever since me and Shad signed with Horseshoe Huddle, all the news is just picking up. So, I mean, whoever you want to give that to.

Starting point is 00:02:16 Definitely Shad. Definitely Shad. Probably. Probably Shad. Guys, we have a fun show for you planned today. First up, we're going to talk about some of the breaking news. We had to get through some of the breaking news and just kind of, you know, we had to get through some of the business stuff here in the first segment.

Starting point is 00:02:28 But after that, we're going to talk about three players that are going to benefit from Shane Steichen coming in. Plus, you know, most likely keeping this defensive staff in place. We're going to talk about three players who are going to benefit from those two things. And then in our last segment today, we're going to talk about three players who, you know, this kind of hurts, you know, this kind of hurts bringing in Shane Steig and it hurts keeping Gus Bradley around if they do end up keeping him so we're going to get to all that but first let's talk about some news and notes I know the biggest thing today that everybody was talking about is the Indianapolis Colts have requested to

Starting point is 00:02:58 interview Jim Bob Cooter passing game coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars Bob Cooter is a guy who has been around the league quite a bit for a 38-year-old. I think he got his start back with the Colts in like 2010. Big time Jim Caldwell guy. He's been with Jim Caldwell for most of his career. I know you guys are kind of hot and cold when it comes to Jim Caldwell, but very good offensive mind, very good coach. He actually was an offensive coordinator under Caldwell there

Starting point is 00:03:24 with the Lions for a couple seasons. Was not the greatest, not the greatest tenure. But again, we're talking about a guy who was 32, 33 years old. You know, he was still fairly young. He's grown from there. And the last two seasons, he's worked with Shane Steichen with Philadelphia as a consultant in 2021.

Starting point is 00:03:43 And then he was worked with Doug Peterson here in Jacksonville this past season. So Jim Bob Cooter, you know, kind of a younger offensive coordinator type guy. Obviously, he would be calling plays. But what do you think, Destin, of Jim Bob Cooter? Elite name. I mean, I feel like that has to be said, first and foremost. The name value gives it some weight. Outside of that, I mean, I think he is a young mind.

Starting point is 00:04:06 I think he's an up-and-coming mind. I know there's people near the Jacksonville area that have said that Doug Peterson obviously has helped Trevor Lawrence a ton, but they give Jim Bob Cooter a lot of praise there, saying that he has had a lot to do with Lawrence's second-year rebound, in a sense, after the first year, whatever we want to call what Jacksonville was last year with the coaching staff there. So it's an interesting name. I expect more names to kind of come in that are going to get the interviews for that spot. Like you said,

Starting point is 00:04:35 they're not going to be play calling. So that affects it a little bit. Personally, I still would like someone that I'm going to trust if Shane feels the need to pass on play calling duties. Just because you never know with a first time head coach if they believe they can actually balance it once we actually get into the season. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Another name, another reason to like Jim Bob Cooter is a lot of his career he spent working with the passing game, working with passing aspects of offenses. Even when he was offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions, they were very very pass heavy like extremely pass heavy so he's a guy you know if you're bringing in like a specialist to be one of those coordinators that's a guy who's a specialist you know he's a specialist when it comes to pass game stuff we'll see if the Jacksonville

Starting point is 00:05:18 Jaguars will let the Colts interview him I believe because he's a coordinator technically that's viewed on the same playing field same level as offensive coordinator because he's a coordinator, technically that's viewed on the same playing field, same level as offensive coordinator because he's a pass game coordinator. So we'll see if the Jaguars let that go. They haven't blocked any of his interview requests yet this offseason, so we'll see. Another thing here, and this one's more speculation. Nate Atkins of the Indy Star said that Roy István, assistant offensive line coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, is the most likely candidate for the Colts offensive line coach. We also had some speculation from my guy Honest NFL on Twitter. If you guys don't know Honest NFL, I'm not going to reveal who he is, obviously, but he used to work in the Eagles

Starting point is 00:05:56 front office, like scouting department. So he does have some connections with Philly. He did kind of hint at it on Twitter that Roy Istvan is likely to come to India's offensive line coach you guys have heard me mention this name a couple times now in the past week Roy Istvan is a guy who I really want the Colts to get to kind of emulate Jeff Stoutland the best they can Destin what do you think Roy Istvan I think this is a home run higher personally yeah I mean I think it makes a lot of sense I think it's to get anything near Stoutland is the goal. I think that's the goal for all 32 NFL teams. It just so happens that only one team gets to have Stoutland themselves, so they don't have to replicate it. What I am more curious about was like what your squeal was like when Nate put that out there that it was

Starting point is 00:06:41 and the Honest NFL put it out there that it's actually likely and it's not just a dream of yours you know Destin I feel like people have kind of realized this some of the things I say are not pure speculation by me so I try you know I don't want to ever be a newsbreaker I I really don't like to be I I sometimes put stuff out there that I that I've heard from my like three sources but some of the sometimes put stuff out there that I, that I've heard from my like three sources, but some of the things I say out there when I'm speculating, really speculation. So nothing that I heard when I heard Nate mentioned that and I heard honest say that I was like,

Starting point is 00:07:14 yeah, yeah, I figured. So the squeal actually came much earlier for you. Yeah. You're saying, yeah. Well,

Starting point is 00:07:20 let's just say there's a reason why, like, obviously you're just putting puzzle pieces together. I would have said I wanted Roy Esteban, but there's a reason why, like, obviously, just putting puzzle pieces together, I would have said I wanted Roy Esteban. But there's a reason why I've been so for it from the beginning. But yeah, wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Okay, okay. Right, right.

Starting point is 00:07:33 But no, Roy Esteban, if they are able to just seal the deal with that, I think that's going to be a phenomenal hire. Some other news and notes, Brian Decker, the Colts, I think team president of like player personnel or something like that. He's got he's had a few different titles here with the Colts. He is leaving Indianapolis to go take a position with the Carolina Panthers. I'm not going to get too into it, but I don't I don't think this is too big of a loss for the Colts. Not going to lie. I mean, when when you're talking about a player personnel guy, a guy who his whole shtick is that he's interviewing these guys about and getting kind of like that football character and then we heard all the things we heard last season about guys needing to have like being held more accountable and they

Starting point is 00:08:14 can't you know hold themselves up to that that their end of the bargain without a coach yelling at them maybe Brian Decker wasn't doing a great job. That's the most I'm going to say about this, but I don't think this is too huge of a loss. And the Colts also made a roster move today. They claimed wide receiver. I think it was Christian Wilkerson. I think that's how you say his name. Yeah, Wilkerson from the New England Patriots.

Starting point is 00:08:38 He didn't play at all this past season, but played in week 17 two years ago where he had two touchdowns in his debut game. Very, very athletic player. I think he ran like a 6.69 or something on the three-cone drill, which is phenomenal for a receiver. But Destin, before we move on to this next segment, what do you think about those two things?

Starting point is 00:08:55 Any thoughts? I mean, the Decker front, it's been an interesting one. All the Colts fans who use the Decker memes are devastated. Decker has been a fan favorite to blame when anything bad happens. So my thoughts go out to all those who lost their meme worthy. They're having to clear out that part of their gallery today. The thing with Decker that interests me a little bit is that this move comes after it was announced that he sat in on most of these second round of

Starting point is 00:09:27 interviews. He was one of the selected to get to sit through all of that. So I'm curious if it was known that he was leaving before that and he just got to like go, they were like, can you just do this one last thing for us? Can you make sure that these guys are good elite character one more time for us mr brian decker uh but i mean he got to sit through it and now he's going to carolina with his old buddy frank reich i guess we're gonna get to see that go down there a lot of colts connections out there in carolina it's looking like now uh and then i mean the waiver claim i mean it's it's it's adding at

Starting point is 00:10:03 least someone of high upside to the receiver room so i guess i have no ifs, it's adding at least somewhat of high upside to the receiver room, so I guess I have no ifs. Like, it's no bad things about it. Any player acquisitions you're getting this time of year aren't going to be major, believe it or not. So it'll be interesting to see how it looks come training camp, but it'll be fun for the next few months where everyone can just talk about how in the last game he had two touchdowns.

Starting point is 00:10:25 So we'll see what comes next. Definitely preseason darling for sure. He's going to be one for us here in Indianapolis, but coming up guys, we're going to talk about three players that I have picked. This is not Dustin's pick. So you guys can yell at me if you don't like them, but three players,

Starting point is 00:10:39 please yell at Zach. You don't like them. Yes. Yes. Three players that I think are going to thrive under the shane steichen era here and also you know gus bradley coming back through players that i think kind of fit those those two things really well but first the midpoint the midway point of the nba season is here and now is the perfect time to download fan duel america's number one sports book that's because new customers get a no sweat first bet up to one thousand dollars

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Starting point is 00:11:38 official sports betting partner of the NBA. All right, Destin, I have curated this wonderful list here, just wonderful list of players. I'm excited. I'm excited to rip it apart. Yes, yes. But we're going to start on offense here. Two guys who have not broken out yet, but I think with this change to Shane Steichen, we're going to see just a lot more production. And also kind of goes in line with the second year breakout. So Alec Pierce, obviously, is one guy that I pegged as being a major breakout and I actually wrote up an article that's going to go up tomorrow on horseshoehuddle.com about this but Alec Pierce I was looking at some of Shane Steichen's past with downfield threats you know throwing the ball down the field getting vertical

Starting point is 00:12:19 and his three years as a play caller as as an offensive coordinator play caller, Shane Steichen's quarterback, his number one quarterback, has been top 10 in pass attempts of 20 plus air yards. You know, Justin Herbert, I think in 2020, had 67 attempts. Jalen Hurts last year had 75. And in this past season, despite missing two games, Jalen Hurts had 71 attempts of over 20 yards. The Colts last year, with all their quarterbacks, had 38 attempts past 20 yards last year. Alec Pierce had 15 of those. And on those 15, he had seven catches for 243 yards in the touchdown, four contested catches in there as well out on eight opportunities. So Alec Pierce was a really, really good downfield threat for

Starting point is 00:13:02 the Colts. Shane Steichen likes to throw the ball down the field, especially if he has some kind of rushing element, because when he gets that single coverage on the outside, he's not afraid to call four verts. He's not afraid to call, hey, Alec Pierce, you're in press coverage. We're just going to throw a jump ball to you here on second down. On second and four, we're going to throw it up to you. On first and 10, we're going to throw it up to you. And if you make a play or draw a pass interference, this is perfect for us.

Starting point is 00:13:22 A.J. Brown last year was fourth in the NFL in targets 20 plus yards down the field with 35 so I think just looking at all this even even just like if Alec Pierce does becomes nothing else but a downfield threat I think his production is going to go up so much next season because this offense is going to throw the ball down the field a lot more yeah I'm I'm for anything that gets Alec Pierce the ball more. I mean, so whatever that takes. I mean, I was at the point at the end of last year that Nick Foles was completely awful, but Nick Foles kept throwing downfield, so I didn't care. I was like, keep him in the game. Like, he can throw 12 interceptions in a game. If he keeps throwing downfield, I don't care. So anything that gets Alec Pierce the ball like that is a good one. I think

Starting point is 00:14:05 the receiving room, you could make the argument that the receivers in general is a big upgrade for him just because, I mean, now it says a lot when he got to work with the Chargers with multiple receivers and Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, goes to Philadelphia, gets to have A.J. Brown this season with Devontae Smith. But even last year, you just see that the ball gets spread around in these offenses that he has had a hand in, which is nice to see. So we don't have to go back to two years ago when Michael Pittman has over a thousand yards and the second leading receiver had under 300. Yes. And another thing to throw in with Michael Pittman Jr. with this as well. Michael Pittman Jr. last season on 20-plus area yard targets,

Starting point is 00:14:46 one catch on seven attempts. That's all he had past 20 yards last year. Alec Pierce doubled up the second leader and targets 20 yards down the field. So, yeah, the Colts offense is going to be a little more explosive this season. I think that's a safe bet. The next player I have here is tight end Jelani Woods, which I know you guys are pretty high on.

Starting point is 00:15:04 I'm extremely high on as well. I think watching his rookie film, you could see why this is going to be a really good tight end one day if they figure out how to use him. And he's actually kind of the opposite of my reasoning for Alec Pierce. My reasoning for Jelani Woods is Jelani Woods was only used as a downfield target last season. He averaged 10.7 yards downfield. That was the average depth of target last year, which I think was sixth among all tight ends in the NFL. So he was only targeted down the field and he never really got anything underneath or never anything run after catch. Now, if you look at Dallas Goddard last year with the Eagles, I think he had like he's like the sixth lowest yards per catch or sorry, average depth of target with the eagles last year was like four yards down the field or something like that or five yards down the field that's all they did

Starting point is 00:15:49 but they got him opportunity to run after the catch he was top five in yards after catch for tight ends he was top five in yards after catch per reception among tight ends along with getting a ton of work uh in the underneath passing game and Dallas Goddard's a great player. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Jelani Woods is better than him. But 6'7", 253 pounds, runs a 4'6", and you're going to get me some more tight end screens. You're going to get me more mesh concepts underneath. You're going to get me just kind of underneath things where he can run after the catch.

Starting point is 00:16:20 I'm excited, man. I really think, even though this is a changing of a role here for him, just get him more targets underneath and let him go to work because he is so massive and so fast for a tight end that if he's getting 20 to 30 targets under five yards, that's the line of scrimmage, you know, like in screens and quick hitters, he's going to at least fall forward for like eight more yards because he's that big.

Starting point is 00:16:43 So I really think Jelani Woods in that Dallas Goddard role and kind of bring that that ADOT down and kind of target him underneath and let him run after the catch could bode really well for the Colts next season. Yeah, I mean, you don't have to teach Jelani Woods how to make big plays down deep using his size. I mean, he's got that under control when you're're 6'7 with that frame and that catch radius, I mean, that's going to come natural to him. So being able to develop ways to get him the ball in space because I guess the thing that people – I mean, if you were a big combine person last year, you're going to remember that Jelani Woods blew that thing up.

Starting point is 00:17:17 But when you just look at Jelani Woods, you don't think he's going to kill you with his legs. But if you give him the ball in open space, we saw even in glimpses last year that Jelani Woods can move once the ball is in his hands. So he can be a weapon. You just got to get him the ball and let that one of the best nicknames I've ever heard for him. And just let that angry moose just run through the field, man.

Starting point is 00:17:38 Cause Jelani Woods, anything I said it for Alec Pierce, anything that means more Jelani Woods action is a good thing for the Colts. Yeah. And another thing with Jelani Woods, he played quarterback in high school. Kind of like that option rushing quarterback. So he knows what to do when the ball is in his hands. Now imagine Jelani Woods at quarterback for the QB sneak formation that the Eagles run. Let's just keep trying to figure out ways to make that formation more elite, okay? Oh, yeah.

Starting point is 00:18:05 Let's do it for sure. My last one here, I wanted to go on defense, but in my article tomorrow, or today, I guess, when you guys are listening to this, it will be another offensive player. But to go to the defense side of the ball is a guy who already just broke out under Gus Bradley and just having another year with Gus Bradley, I think is going to do wonders for his career. And that's Zyre Franklin.

Starting point is 00:18:22 I mean, we can't say enough about Zyra Franklin on this podcast or just in this this you know state here in Indiana like we just all love Zyra Franklin after what he did last year but I can only imagine where he can go with his game with more experience in this scheme like he played some outstanding football last year and I just think the sky's the limit for him as a person as a player and he's one of the players I think the Colts need to build around going forward. So yeah, Zaire Franklin, the longer he's in this Gus Bradley scheme and lets him do what he did last year, I think he's just going to keep getting better and better. Yeah. And the thing about Zaire with Brian Decker leaving, Zaire is not one of the guys

Starting point is 00:18:58 that needs to be yelled at. So we don't have to worry about that acquisition hurting him at all. I mean, Zaire has enough self-motivation to go the rest of his career. But, yeah, hard to dislike Zaire Franklin, unless you're Jamal Williams from HBO from the hard knocks last year. Maybe you found a reason not to like him. But it'll be interesting for this next year because with the likely exiting of Bobby Okereke, whether that ends up being just leaves in free agency,

Starting point is 00:19:24 whether the Colts find someone to be able to tag and trade Bobby Okereke, whether that ends up being a free, just leaves him free agency, whether the Colts find someone to be able to tag and trade Bobby in some way. It's going to be a very similar situation where Zaire is going to have the same amount of snaps, even with a healthy Shaquille Leonard out there. Yeah. And we kind of saw it last year too, even when Shaquille Leonard was getting back out there, he was cutting into Bobby Okereke snaps, snaps not in desire Franklin snaps so yeah and let's not even count Shaquille Leonard is playing last year I like that that's a that's a myth that people have made up that he played snaps I think um not real not a real stat yeah do you think I missed anybody here do you want to throw out any other guys you think are going to thrive in this Shane

Starting point is 00:19:58 Steichen era um I'm just gonna say like I mean Jonathan Taylor has strived like obviously he had the breakout a couple seasons ago um I think the element that's going to say, like, I mean, Jonathan Taylor has strived. Like, obviously, he had the breakout a couple seasons ago. I think the element that's going to be added is just how creative that the Eagles run offense has looked. So giving Jonathan Taylor not where he doesn't have to just do it himself. Like the thing that was crazy about two years ago is that Jonathan Taylor would go out there and just create opportunities. He would get hit in the backfield and just make people miss to the point where big plays would happen. Give him a guy who is very intentional on how they develop the run game, very intentional

Starting point is 00:20:33 on getting the formations on the offensive line to open up space. Like Jonathan Taylor could go crazy this next year, guys. And that's exciting to think about. Definitely, definitely. Well, guys, that was your exciting to think about definitely definitely well guys that was your daily dose of optimism here on locked on colts next next up we're going to talk about some negative points of you talk about some guys who maybe don't benefit from shane steichen coming in and maybe don't benefit from gus bradley coming back we're going to talk about

Starting point is 00:20:58 that here in a second but first today's episode is brought to you by ultimate football gm you've heard me talk about this mobile game app and i can't tell you how much fun I had competing against my fellow locked-on NFL hosts. Chris Carter of Locked On Steelers was our locked-on NFL host champion this past season. If you came in first or third place, tell the audience. Oh, that's for me. Sorry.

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Starting point is 00:22:05 franchise when using promo code LOCKEDON in all caps in the game store. It's LOCKEDON in all caps, so make sure to check it out today. To download the game, visit ultimate-gm.com or look it up in the app stores. That's ultimate-gm.com. Ultimate Football GM, start your dynasty today. All right, Destin, well, I'm going to start with a very obvious one, a guy who I don't think is going to be here next season and a guy who certainly would not benefit from Gus Bradley coming back, and that's going to be cornerback Kenny Moore II. I think he's a guy who certainly needs a change of scenery

Starting point is 00:22:41 if Gus Bradley is returning as defensive coordinator, which all odds are Gus Bradley is coming back. He's just a guy who didn't mesh well whatsoever in this new scheme. You know, we didn't see the playmaking. We did see a little bit of the run defense, though. Like, he was still a really good run defending corner this past season. But he struggled when he was left on the island. He struggled to man coverage again this season.

Starting point is 00:23:03 And he just didn't make those game-changing plays that we're accustomed to. So, you know, it makes most sense for him to probably go to Chicago and get back with Matt Eberflus, a scheme that he was thriving in. But I don't think Kenny Moore, if he is back, is going to be too happy about being back under Gus Bradley. I just don't think those two mesh super well

Starting point is 00:23:22 in terms of playing ability and and scheme so so more likely to be in a Chicago Bear uniform next year Kenny Moore or Bobby O'Kerkey I'm going to say Kenny Moore I think Kenny I mean especially the Colts are trading up to one Kenny Moore's going to be tossed into that deal for sure I think because why not right why not? Because they would do that in a separate trade probably anyway. So I'm going to say Kenny Moore because I think Bobby Okereke is going to get some interest around the league. Or Kenny Moore, it's probably mostly going to be the Bears that want him. But yeah, I just don't see Kenny Moore coming back.

Starting point is 00:23:57 But if he does, this is not a great move for him to come back to the Colts. I mean, he was pretty candid. He's always kind of been a pretty candid guy when the camera's in his face. There are some players that that's not the case for, but Kenny's usually been a guy who tells it as he sees it, tells it as it is. And with, I mean, I guess you can call it a little prompting by the question, but with very little prompting, he pretty much gave out that this could, this could have been the last time he put on that horseshoe helmet, that horseshoe Jersey.

Starting point is 00:24:30 So like, it's already out there. And like you said, I mean, I just think the scheme fit is not there for him. I think in that nickel corner spot, he just needs to be able to do more to put out his skillset than just be a 90% coverage guy all the time in that order where if he goes back to play for Ibra Floos in Chicago we saw how dynamic he was used and how many

Starting point is 00:24:54 different ways he got to be used there and I think Chicago would welcome it and I think he wouldn't have to go very far and you know he could he could join his ex-teammate al-qadim muhammad who was last year's guaranteed lock to go to chicago so yes well this year's guaranteed lock was parks frazier following frank right to carolina that was the most obvious guaranteed lock but next is kenny moore going to chicago at some at some point this offseason the next guy i have on this list i didn't really go too hot takey with this list here about guys to worry about or guys to be negative about because it's optimism time, guys. It's optimism time. I'm not going to get too crazy, but I went with right guard Will Fries, you know, and this is a guy who I love. I love Will Fries. I think he did some really good things

Starting point is 00:25:38 last year, and I think he's going to be a quality reserve offensive lineman going forward. But with this scheme, this scheme requires offensive linemen to be so athletic and to get so much displacement with their strength you know you need to be a guy who either has pure dominant strength to move players or a guy who's a freak athlete who can get out in space and and do some things that way Will Fries is kind of just solid at both you know he's he's a good athlete not. He's fine at being a people mover, but he's not like a bulldozer type at right guard. I just think the Colts need to get more of an imposing presence there, whether that's with the 35th pick in the draft, with their third round pick from Washington, or through free agency. I do think they just need to get more of someone who has

Starting point is 00:26:21 an elite specialty. And I just don't think, I think Will Fries is very, very solid. I think he's a very fine player, good technique and pass protection, and just a guy to have on your roster. But I just think with this scheme and how important the offensive line is, they need to make some kind of move here. And I just think this hire of Shane Steichen kind of moves them away from Will Fries being the starter at right guard next season. Yeah, I mean, I like Will Fries too. I've been pretty open about that. I like, I think you kind of hit it right. Like he's just very solid. I think the one thing that kind of could go for him

Starting point is 00:26:55 is just how much the Eagles like to use that sixth lineman that like in these different schemes like that. So the possibility that if he separates himself as that best reserve, he could see snaps still. Obviously, Andre Dillard in Philadelphia was a tackle, so it was easier to do that swing tackle type method and be able to use him in that light. But if Will Fries can show himself to be the best reserve, I feel like he could get in in those six lineman sets.

Starting point is 00:27:24 Another person that I would mention that is probably going to be in the negative light here, Michael Strong, or anyone in that light, any player who has not found his footing yet with this team and has upside and all these other things that you would argue, with a new coaching staff coming in on the offensive side, there's less people that are going to be in the room just banging the table for that guy to make the roster. There's going to be less people just hoping and saying,

Starting point is 00:27:52 well, this guy has something. We've seen it for two years. Shane Steichen hasn't seen it for two years. Shane Steichen is going to be seeing him for the first time this offseason, and there's a chance that he may not even know who that is right now, if we're being honest with each other. So guys like Michael Strong, there's other people that you could not even know who that is right now, if we're being honest with each other. So guys like Michael Strong, there's other people you could probably come to mention thinking of them,

Starting point is 00:28:09 but anyone in that light where you're a player who people see potential in you, you just haven't been able to do it. Desmond Patman would be another one, but obviously he went on to Buffalo during that playoff run when he got signed off the practice squad. Yeah, that's a great point. Great point to throw that in there. The last one I have here is any of the quarterbacks currently on the roster.

Starting point is 00:28:29 So in that Ryan, who we know is going to get released, if he were to stay for whatever reason, I think it's a terrible fit in the Shane Steichen offense, no matter what offense Shane Steichen is running. I think it's just a horrible fit. I love his brain. I would love Matt Ryan to be a coach or something like that but absolutely not as a quarterback on this roster Nick Foles is absolutely shot in every way when it comes to being a passer that aren't I mean his arm is worse than Matt Ryan's right now so definitely not Nick Foles and he still throws it deep yeah I love it man you know I think he had 13 attempts over 20 yards last year and Matt Ryan only had 20 for the whole year.

Starting point is 00:29:06 Nick didn't care, man. People hated it. People really did. They wanted Nick Foles benched from the moment he played. But the fact that that man did not look at the check down, like, I loved it. It was a fun – it at least made it fun. Yeah. And the last guy I'll throw in here is Sam Ellinger. I don't think this really hurts him.

Starting point is 00:29:24 I don't think it really hurts him I don't think it really helps him because I think that you know Shane Steichen has more connections to other quarterbacks around the league so if they do take an Anthony Richardson or a CJ Stroud or Bryce Young super high he's probably gonna already bring in like a Gardner Minshew or someone that he's worked with to be that backup and I don't see Shane Steichen keeping a third quarterback for a dude he hasn't even seen develop for the last couple years like he could turn on the film and say hey Ellinger had a good week 17 game against Houston but that's not enough for him to be over Gardner Minshew who I think can win me a game in a pinch so any of these quarterbacks currently on the roster I think this hiring of

Starting point is 00:29:58 Shane Steichen kind of I think they're going to clear house at quarterback this offseason I mean every time you heard someone praise Sam Ellinger, like the first thing they would say is he just has such a good grasp of Frank Reich's offense. That, uh, that pro just leaves the table for him. I mean,

Starting point is 00:30:16 I will say Sam Ellinger grew on me a little bit over the time. I have a tweet still out there and I'll leave it up there forever that I said, the worst draft, whoever draft Sam Elling it up there forever that I said the worst draft whoever drafts Sam Ellinger in that draft class would be the worst pick of the draft later on in that draft obviously the Colts would make that selection he's grown on me a little bit I think Sam has value as a scout team quarterback I just don't think Sam is ever going to be a guy that you can rely on, even as a backup, to come in and win you a game in a pinch.

Starting point is 00:30:46 And I think that is where the backup position will go. A little fun question for you. Who is more likely to suit up at quarterback for the Colts next season, Matt Ryan or Phillip Rivers? I mean, Phillip Rivers is more likely. I mean, it's got to be, right? It's not happening. It's not happening.

Starting point is 00:31:03 Neither of them are happening. But the fact that a retired man who was just coaching in Alabama is more likely to be quarterback than Matty Ice sad sad days right right well guys I think that's all we have for today I mean look I want to say one more thing about Sam Ellinger he's proven me wrong before so I hope he's proven me wrong but uh yeah I think that's all we have for today, guys. Destin, thank you for joining the show and filling in for Jake. Next week, guys, me and Jake are going to be back as our normal duo all next week.

Starting point is 00:31:33 But shout out to Destin, Andrew, and Shad for jumping on this week and filling in for us during our crazy work week. Make sure you guys are following all of us here on social medias, at LockedOnColts, at JakeArthurNFL, at AndrewMooreNFL from yesterday, at Rashad McGinnis, and at TheDestinAdams. Hey, whoever has at Destin Adams, if you want to give it to me, I'm game, but until then,

Starting point is 00:31:58 the has to stay. Yeah, I'm in a feud with at Zach Hicks, and at Zach Hicks won right now. We're in a three-way fight that they haven't been on Twitter since 2012 so exactly same thing same thing for at Destin it's the same person they're all hoarding yeah they are man they are we'll also subscribe to Locked Out Colts on YouTube and also Horseshoe Huddle on YouTube as well where you can find Destin and Shad shows on there I think you guys just went live last last night right were you guys first show yep every Wednesday you'll see us going live now so sadly you guys got to see our faces now oh gosh oh gosh I'll have to jump over

Starting point is 00:32:29 there a little bit too just to just to beautify everything I'm sure on either side here guys we would love your ratings and reviews make sure you guys leave me all the comments and guys we will catch you next week

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Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts: Alec Pierce, Jelani Woods Set to THRIVE Under Shane Steichen

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