Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts Dark Horses: Dallis Flowers, Anthony Gould to Surprise in 2024

Episode Date: July 16, 2024

Indianapolis Colts veterans Dallis Flowers and Tyquan Lewis are dark horse candidates to produce for the team in 2024. Aside from veterans, rookies Jaylon Carlies and Anthony Gould have an easy road t...o playing time in year one.  Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms:🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOColts?sid=YouTube📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQLocked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNFL Follow Jake and Zach's written work on HorseshoeHuddle.com, and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, @LockedOnColts, and @ColtsOnFN! Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Terms and conditions apply.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month.eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotors.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms Apply.FanDuelFanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. As playoffs wind down, the sports stop sporting like we want them to. But this summer, FanDuel is hooking up ALL CUSTOMERS with a boost or a bonus, DAILY! That’s right, there’s something for everyone, every day, all summer long! Visit FANDUEL.COM/LOCKEDON and add a big win to your summer bucket list!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)

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Starting point is 00:00:00 The Colts have some certified studs on both sides of the ball, but we're going to tell you who else is going to make a name for themselves this year. 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. Thanks for tuning in and making us your first listen of the day. This is your daily podcast covering your Indianapolis Colts.
Starting point is 00:00:33 Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And today's show is brought to you by our friends over at GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account account and use code locked on nfl for 20 off of your first purchase terms apply what's up friends this is jake arthur and zach hicks of horseshoehuddle.com i'm your resident credentialed media member for the site and zach is the rootinest tootinest film guy in the whole biz you can check out his most recent piece on braden smith over at horseshoehuddle.com right now. But today we are fully gearing up for training camp for the start of the season.
Starting point is 00:01:11 And everybody knows, you know, who kind of the main horses, so to speak, are on the Colts. A lot of the guys catching a lot of buzz, but we've narrowed down about six guys who we think have a pretty decent chance of kind of carving out a name for themselves this season as well. These guys don't have the most treacherous roads to success, and they have the talent to get them there as well. So we're going to look at a couple rookies, a couple veterans, and some guys who are kind of looking to reestablish themselves a little bit as well. So first up, let's go ahead and talk about a couple of these rookies. We've got Anthony Gould and Jalen Carlisle. So with Gould, I think this one is, I mean, it's pretty straightforward. I mean, he's got the limited offensive role that we're
Starting point is 00:02:00 anticipating, Zach, but the return game is where he's really going to make his mark. And then from there, I think we could see an offensive role grow even further. Yeah, he was the guy who first came to mind when you when you brought up this topic, you know, for this type of episode here was Anthony Gould, mainly because of the special teams role. But there's just something about his potential on offense to that intrigues me to where I think it's going to be a little bit more prominent of a role in offense than maybe we're expecting. Or maybe it's not like super prominent, but maybe it's like still more so than what Isaiah McKenzie got last year, or it's a little bit more involved than what a lot of people expect,
Starting point is 00:02:39 because Gould is a guy who has a lot of experience at the college level playing on offense, playing special teams, obviously. He's got that next level speed and explosiveness that the Colts are looking for. And in the little bit we saw from that Isaiah McKenzie role in this offense last season, Shane Steichen liked to use that speedy, shifty, faster player just for pre-snap motion, just for quick screens, just for getting the ball in his hands. And I think Gould could be the better version of what McKenzie brought. And then you can also add in the other element of who was one of the players who performed very well out in Philadelphia when Shane Steichen was with Philly. And that is Kez Watkins or Quez Watkins
Starting point is 00:03:19 as that slot receiver, as that extra deep threat guy, as that burner they can bring on the field every now and then. When you're looking at this Colts offense, yes, Adonai Mitchell, sorry, Adonai Mitchell has the next level speed as well. But when you're looking for like that sub package guy who could play a little bit in the slot, who also brings that speed, that's Anthony Gould on this team. So I think you can get a little bit of Quez Watkins. I think you can get a little bit of Quez Watkins. I think you can get a little bit of Isaiah McKenzie. And then obviously you have the return man role of the new kickoff rules that are coming in. You have the punt returning ability that Gould brings where
Starting point is 00:03:54 you saw it in the East West Shrine game, how good he could be when it came to the punt returning ability. So yeah, I think this is a player who, you know, it's not going to be a season where you're looking afterwards being like, wow, this is a rookie of the year type player. But I think you're gonna be looking after the year being like, OK, you got a couple hundred yards receiving. He had, you know, productive return season like this is a player where, you know, maybe even like a better version of like an Ashton Doolin type role on the teams in terms of just his overall impact on offense and on special teams. So I'm kind of bullish on Anthony Gould, and it just felt different, too, when you see, like, how Reggie Wayne reacted to the draft pick, how the Colts have talked about him. Like, it doesn't feel like a typical day three flyer.
Starting point is 00:04:34 It feels like a player they expect to have some sort of role. It kind of feels like a Jalen Jones-type situation last year, where it's like they were kind of talking from day one, being like, yeah, this guy can help us early. They're kind of talking similarly about Gould, where it's like they were kind of talking from day one being like yeah this guy can help us early they're kind of talking similarly about Gould where it's like it's not like this is a shot in the dark this is the guy who they think can help them here in 2024. Yeah and we have used the Isaiah McKenzie comp a lot I mean because the role in the offense it seems like that's the void to fill I also was looking at some pre-draft stuff where they compared him to Isaiah McKenzie. But for me, I think the role is Isaiah McKenzie-ish, but his skillset, I think you could probably compare it a little more to some of the
Starting point is 00:05:18 stuff they did with Paris Campbell, because he can get downfield a little better. But you also do have that shifty gadgety stuff closer to the line of scrimmage as well. But the good thing for him is, number one, just from based on what I saw this spring in practice, his main competition for the return specialist roles is Josh Downs, who we both anticipate won't have that role because they want him to focus mostly on offense and then Dallas Flowers,
Starting point is 00:05:44 who's in his own starting positional battle and is coming off the Achilles. But I mean, I think we're pretty sure that they drafted Gould to be the return specialist, especially with the new rules. But the other good thing for him is he's looked pretty good in the practices we've seen when Joe Flacco was out there. I mean, he had a really good downfield connection with Gould. I think I saw him target the guy downfield at least like four times and they connected on a couple of them. So that's definitely good. We've seen
Starting point is 00:06:17 it look good. We see that the role is there because I mean, God forbid, if something happens to Josh Downs, I don't know if the Colts go with Pittman, Pierce and Mitchell, it might be Gould sliding in there to, to take over those snaps for down. So I think there's a clear road there. And the same can be said for this next guy, Jalen Carlisle, rookie safety from Missouri transferred into, to a linebacker role. He's got the great size, you know, about 6'3", 225, really good athleticism, particularly when you look at it from a linebacker standpoint. But the guy has a really good, well-rounded game. I mean, he led Missouri in interceptions one year
Starting point is 00:06:57 and his final two years there, he led them in tackles. So the guy can do a little bit of everything. I think just like gould he's gonna have at least a small role regardless as long as he earns it you know some passing down stuff i'm sure but he also seems like the most logical high ceiling option if something does happen to like let's ej speed for example because i don't know that they would put him out there at mike maybe but i mean if zy or franklin something happens to him they'll probably have to do some shuffling but like if EJ Speed something happens to him for example they need to throw new Will out there I think Carlisle makes a lot of sense yeah Jalen Carlisle of all the rookies in this
Starting point is 00:07:38 class I mean aside from Leatu Atu even I would even put this alongside Adonai Mitchell or Matt Gonsalves or any of these other guys I think Carlisle has the easiest projection for the future just because we know what this defensive staff has done with this exact archetype of player in the past they've had Kaiser White in in LA slash San Diego I can't remember if it was San Diego still when they had Kaiser White there they had Divine Diablo with the Raiders. They did it last year with Ronnie Harrison as well. Like they have shown the ability to do this with bigger safeties, put them in the box, get them around the line of scrimmage, have them play that run and chase type role in that coverage type role.
Starting point is 00:08:16 And they've gotten these guys to being NFL level players. I mean, Ronnie Harrison was essentially out of the league. I mean, he's a former second round pick out of Alabama. It was basically out of the league. I mean, he was a former second round pick out of Alabama. It was basically out of the league. The Colts had him on their practice squad all year last year, working him at linebacker. He comes in for a couple games, you know, due to injuries and due to just, you know, the, I think it was right after they released Shaquille Leonard
Starting point is 00:08:37 and he gets two interceptions, you know, right out the gate. One of them is returned for a pick six. And now I know it wasn't perfect when they had to move him back to safety late in the season. But, you know, even in that short stint right there, you saw the projection for Jalen Carlisle, where, you know, maybe he's not going to be as productive as what Harrison was in those couple games. But you saw what the Colts could do just with a couple of weeks with a veteran player who was essentially out of the league, putting him at linebacker. So I think Carlisle has the best opportunity that a safety linebacker convert could have coming into the NFL. Like there
Starting point is 00:09:10 is no other staff that you want to work with than this Colts defensive staff when it comes to making this switch from safety to linebacker. So he's going to have everything in his disposal to be a very effective player. He was a ball hawk in college. He did a lot of things in college that you like to see. Love the length, love the athleticism. So I'm with you. I think, you know, alongside Gould, I think these are two day three guys where they're not typical day three guys.
Starting point is 00:09:36 Like we're going to see them produced a lot more and they might even outproduce the Colts to day two guys in terms of Mitchell and Gonsalves in year one. Like these two guys could be the Colts most productive rookies outside of Latu Latu just because of their roles and just in terms of like overall impact, like Gould, I don't think he's going to outcatch Adonai Mitchell by any means, but I think, you know,
Starting point is 00:09:57 his production on special teams might outweigh the production Mitchell brings on offense or Carlisle, his overall production on defense might end up being like a divine Diablo type rookie season with the Raiders. So I really do think, yeah, these two rookies right here are the ones to keep an eye on. They're the guys on day three that have the most to bring to the table and could really do something here in their first season. Yeah, and I don't feel like I can understate the importance of also Kato June being an assistant linebacker coach there, a guy who's literally been there, done that big safety at Michigan, came down, became a Pro Bowl linebacker with the Colts and the pros.
Starting point is 00:10:33 And I think, you know, even if he doesn't carve out some big defensive role, a nice floor for Carlisle this year could be a pretty good special team. So coming up next, we're going to look at two more guys guys who are gonna have a little bit grittier jobs to to manage this show is sponsored by better help comparing yourself to others is something that most of us are guilty of but it honestly just doesn't do anybody any good it doesn't get it doesn't it doesn't seem productive whether you're, we're doing it by viewing people's perfect social media lives. You just kind of view them from afar at your workplace. Like not everything is what it's cut up to be.
Starting point is 00:11:15 I mean, Zach, whoever's got your goat. I mean, they're nothing. You are good. They are bad. No worries about it. Me, I mean, social media, I'm annoyed by people all the time like it is what it is and you know when it comes to all that and
Starting point is 00:11:32 you're just doubting yourself and you're comparing yourself to others it can be good to get an outside perspective and get some outside help and that's where better help comes in I've personally not been to therapy but mean, I got plenty to work on all the time. It doesn't mean I don't need it. I mean, shoot, no one's, I mean, Beyonce probably needs therapy from time to time. You know, I mean, we all need it, you know, and if you're thinking of starting therapy, then give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online, which means you can do it on your couch. BetterHelp is designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire
Starting point is 00:12:07 to get matched with a licensed therapist and switch therapists anytime for no additional charge. Stop comparing and start focusing with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com slash locked on today to get 10% off of your first month. That's betterhelp, H-E-L-P dot com slash locked on. Are you guys tired of watching Fox Sports That's BetterHelpHELP.com. streaming channel is programmed for you every day to bring you the biggest stories without all that screaming locked on sports today brings you can't miss analysis opinions and news streaming 24 7 on youtube or with the free amazon fire tv channels that part of the lockdown podcast network your team
Starting point is 00:12:54 every day all right locked on colts every day as we hear talking to other players now we're moving past the rookies so we're moving past the very fun players obviously the rookies rookies, the new guys, the fresh faces in the building, we all love. We all love to talk about them. But these are two players who have been on the team, one more so than the other. One has been with this team for a long time. The other one, there was a lot of excitement going into last year. But Tyquan Lewis and Evan Hull. Now, Evan Hull, Jake is going to handle that one because fantasy football guys are in love with Evan Hull.
Starting point is 00:13:30 Jake is obviously one of those guys, so he'll go all crazy about that. But for me, I really want to talk about Taequann Lewis for this type of episode because he gets lost in the shuffle when it comes to this Colts pass rush. I'm not saying Taequann Lewis is some superstar defensive end by any means, but when you look at the production the Colts had on the defensive line, Taequann Lewis was a part of like a pretty big part of that, like to have a rotational player who was as productive as him, like, you know, 44 pressures last year, the 76.6 pass rush rate from defensive end, according to Pro Football Focus, 76 grade, sorry, not rate, 17.1% win percentage was first among the colts defensive linemen like 31 hurries was was one of the best among all colts defensive linemen like this was a very very productive player despite being in that sub rotation type role every time
Starting point is 00:14:16 he got on the field last year he produced whether it was straight up beating his matchup straight whether it was uh using his energy and his hustle to run down quarterbacks who got out of the pocket, like whatever it was, he was someone who was able to produce. And he's a player who can play either defensive end spot. He can play the strong side spot behind Quidipe. He can play the weak side spot behind Latu and Ebukom. Like he can do kind of it all across the defensive line. We've seen him rush from the interior too, like Dayo Odengbo. So if anything were to happen to a Colts player in front of him, whether Payne misses time, Odengbo misses time, whoever it is in front of him, to have that quality of a backup player behind them to where
Starting point is 00:14:55 like, this is not a guy who would be a backup for most teams. Like this is a quality player who can go out there and give you productive snaps. I think that is immensely valuable, especially when it comes to pass rushing. We have seen in the past that when a pass rusher goes down, it's like an offensive lineman going down. The drop off in play is so massive that it could lead to a loss the next week, no matter who it is on your offensive line or your defensive line. So having a player like Tyquan Lewis, you know, it's kind of like the Joe Haig of offensive linemen years ago, back in the, you know, the 2016, 2017 days of Colts, whatever it was, where Joe Haig of offensive linemen years ago, back in the, you know, the 2016-2017 days of Colts, whatever it was, where Joe Haig could just fill in anywhere and give you competent, good, effective
Starting point is 00:15:31 play. Tyquan Lewis is kind of that for this Colts defensive line, where he can fill in, he can have a week where he handles 40 snaps on the defensive line, and he's going to be a productive player for you. That is so immensely valuable in today's NFL to have that as a rotational pass rusher. So even if he finishes this season with, you know, it could be anywhere from like 150 to 300 snaps. Like it's not going to be something massive. I know for a fact with Taequann Lewis that in those 150 to 300 snaps, the Colts are going to get good productive play, which is something you can't say about every backup on this team or across the league by any means. So Tyquan Lewis is a player I really wanted
Starting point is 00:16:08 to shout out for something like this because what he brings to this Colts defensive line is extremely valuable and probably the most valuable backup on the team right now because of what he can do as that backup player. Yeah, I don't think you'll ever hear either of us say a bad word about Tyquan Lewis. He's been one of the best stories on the Colts since they drafted him in 2018. I'll be honest, I didn't love him coming into the draft, but just seeing everything he's gone through and how productive he still was through it all, I've really come around on him and it didn't really take long. Like you mentioned, incredibly productive in just the short sample size. The 44 pressures that he had were third on the team behind Buckner and Evicom, despite playing
Starting point is 00:16:51 200 fewer snaps than those guys each. So the guy is just getting it done. Like you said, you can move them around pretty much everywhere. And I think for him, we're probably going to contradict ourselves a little bit or at least myself when we did our positional reviews and everything we talked about the defensive line and the edge defenders I don't know that Lewis's role is going to be greatly decreased at least not the snaps because again you can move them around you can fill them in pretty much anywhere that's needed and we know injuries happen. But Laatu, Laatu Laatu is the big addition here.
Starting point is 00:17:34 They just don't have similar enough roles, I don't think, to where it's going to super threaten Lewis's impact. And the fact that the guy had back-to-back 21 and 22 patellar knee injuries, which can be a death knell for a lot of guys in separate knees and back-to-back years and came back and played one of his only complete seasons. I think that's very telling. And it was probably his best season as a pro. So really big on him. Very much appreciate him. On the flip side, another guy who has had his own injuries, Evan Hull.
Starting point is 00:18:04 His season lasted just like a handful of snaps. He got one carry and then the meniscus injury knocked him out for the whole year back in week one. So this is a guy that's kind of totally based on projection. I thought he looked really good in rookie camp last year and then looked decent. There's only so much a running back can do in training camp because it's not necessarily live. but what we know about him is he's productive as a pass catcher 55 catches for just a hair under 10 yards per catch in his final season at northwestern which means he's not just a dump off get out of bounds running back when it comes to being a pass catcher um so he's got the short road to snaps
Starting point is 00:18:45 because behind Jonathan Taylor, it's not like you have Zach Moss again. We do both think that Trey Serban is the guy to be the next early down back. But the passing down back is always going to be flasher than the early down backup is. I think there's a road to more snaps there because, I mean, Jonathan Taylor is going to dominate
Starting point is 00:19:04 that share of the early down stuff. And you got, you know, your guy who's going to come in and catch passes and then maybe participate in pass protection. That's going to be a big deal. But that's another big thing we have to see from him as well as the pass or pass protection. There was some decent stuff from him last preseason. You know, he got a really good grade in pass protection that first week of the preseason. The third week, not so much, but he did have a nice pancake block in pass pro. So there's good film of him out there doing just about everything well, which to me gives him a leg up on Tyler Goodson. Yeah. And the big thing with him too is we're not,
Starting point is 00:19:43 we're not so far removed from Shane Steichen's time in Philly to where we can't use what Shane Steichen did in Philly for, you know, future evidence of what could happen in, in Indy. So when you look at like Philly, for instance, two years ago, when Shane Steichen was there, Kenneth Gainwell had a really prominent role as like a pure passing down guy. Like he was just going to be the passing down guy. He came out there for those third downs, gave good pass protection, leaked out of the backfield
Starting point is 00:20:08 and had a good chunk of catches. I think he had like 40 plus catches there with the Eagles. And they're not known for scheming up a lot to the running back. So a lot of those were dump downs and check downs. I think Evan Hull can fill that role very well. And he's very similar to Kenneth Gainwell
Starting point is 00:20:22 in a lot of ways. So I do think there is a clear role for Evan Hull. He's got, he just has to beat out Tyler Goodson who, you know, outside of the one really awful play that we all know at the end of last season, the Colts were very high on him and they really do like him. As long as he can beat out Tyler Goodson in camp though, there's nothing stopping him from being a player who can, you know, finish the next season with 30, 40, whatever catches and be that third down back for the Colts. Yeah, totally agree. Again, I do think a lot of people are discounting Goodson and it probably sounds like I am as
Starting point is 00:20:55 well, but I just think, especially being a fourth round draft pick, the Colts are going to probably do their due diligence and try and see a little more what they have in him. But coming up next, we're going to talk about two guys who are probably even a little more flashy, looking to build off of seasons that maybe didn't necessarily go the way they thought last year. It is summertime. So whether that means for you catching a baseball game, going to a concert, whatever it takes that gives you your fix, GameTime's got your back. GameTime is an authorized ticket marketplace of Major League Baseball, which makes getting tickets faster and easier. And prices on the GameTime app actually go down the closer that
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Starting point is 00:23:04 All right, let's talk about some guys who make even more plays, Zach. So we're going to discuss Will Mallory and Dallas Flowers in this section. So coming up first, Mallory is second year tight end. I thought he had a pretty decent rookie year overall, but he was banged up a lot during the preseason and training camp, which kind of held him back from really taking advantage of all the other injuries that were happening in the tight end room. And then, you know, he was in an active several weeks, so probably could have been a little more involved than he was, but very productive when he was on the field. He was third on the team in receiving grade and drop grade, only behind Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. Wasn't knocked for any drops. He was second on the team in yards
Starting point is 00:23:52 per route run, despite being 10th in average depth of target, which I think that's a big deal. That shows that the guy is churning out yards and being super productive, no matter where he's being targeted on the field. So that's huge. And then again, the tight end room is pretty much wide open. Like who out there owns the position. We feel like the starters that are out there are out there kind of by default, you know, until Jelani Woods takes it, Will Mallory, Drew Ogletree. So tight end, I think they've got some guys, but it's relatively unsettled.
Starting point is 00:24:26 Yeah. Will Mallory is actually the first guy that came to mind when you brought up this idea for the show because I think he's the forgotten man a little bit in the tight end room because he played very well last season I know he doesn't have necessarily the great like as great a chemistry with Anthony Richardson as Drew Ogletree does for instance like Ogletree and Richardson are really clicking early in the season so I understand being excited about Ogletree does, for instance. Like Ogletree and Richardson are really clicking early in the season. So I understand being excited about Ogletree. Obviously, Granson and Richardson were really clicking last season as well when Richardson played.
Starting point is 00:24:52 So I get having those guys a little bit higher. But for me, if you really want to put all these tight ends in a bucket based off how they played last year, I think Will Mallory is right up there with these guys, if not the best overall performer on the team. I mean, when you're looking at what this offense wants to do, like when it comes to the passing game, Mallory fits a lot of what it does in the short game.
Starting point is 00:25:12 Like he is a dependable underneath player, very strong in the RPO game, just doesn't drop the ball, which is fantastic. I mean, he hauled in, I think when I was doing my charting on, on his season last year, I think it was like 19 of 20 catchable balls or 20 to 21 catchable balls last season. So anything that was even well, like just somewhat in his catch radius, uh, he caught last year outside of, I think it was one in the Houston game at the very end of the season.
Starting point is 00:25:38 Outside of that, he caught everything in his catch radius. Uh, he was a very, very dependable player. And I'm not trying to say that he's exactly like this player, because this would be obviously the greatest outcome possible for him. But I think when you're looking at his type of role and what he brings to the offense, he's the closest thing that Shane Steichen has to a Zach Ertz. And I know Zach Ertz didn't overlap in his prime with Shane Steichen, but Shane Steichen did get a good year. I think it was a good year, year and a half of Zach Ertz there in Philly. And he had that, you know, chain mover underneath
Starting point is 00:26:09 possession type tight end. And that's kind of what Mallory is to me. I don't know if he'll ever be a guy that hits, obviously, the peaks that Zach Ertz hit by any means. But I think he can be a player where, you know, third and five, third and six, or even in the early downs, whatever it's going to be, you can get him out there and he can run those little pivot routes he can run those option routes over the middle whatever it's going to be and win his route and be a dependable pass catcher for a laser arm quarterback like Anthony Richardson so Will Mallory I think he is the dark horse in this tight end room to lead the group in receiving next season. And honestly, I would probably bet on him more than I would, you know, like an Ogletree or obviously like an Allie Cox or maybe even a
Starting point is 00:26:51 Granson when it comes to leading the room in receiving yards, because I was really impressed by what he did late last season in this offense. Yeah, I think as long as he stays healthy, continues progressing at least a little bit like he should as a second year player. I mean, and continues efficiently catching the ball and not making gaffes. Like, I think he's got a pretty easy road to being one of those primary players in the room. And then we're going to finish up with a Dallas Flowers appreciation post. So, of course, this guy, I think it was week five against the Rams when his season ended. But this guy in a small sample size was pretty good and he has the favorite mentality of mine for
Starting point is 00:27:31 corners which is get beat come back and break up a pass and act like you've been shutting guys down the whole game like i love a corner who i don't want to say arrogant but is very confident in themselves and has that short memory uh he was actually third on the team in coverage grade, according to PFF last year. Was tied for first in forced incompletion percentage, 17%. And then, oh yeah, let's not forget that as a rookie two years ago, he led the entire NFL in kickoff return average with 31.1 yards per return. So obviously a guy you can have in the mix there in the return game with Gould and Downs, like I mentioned, but he's still very much in the mix to be that third starting cornerback on the outside competing with Jalen Jones.
Starting point is 00:28:20 Yeah. And I think the big thing for me too, is I looked at all these corners under a microscope after the season and it was trying to see, you know, the goods and the big thing for me, too, is I looked at all these corners under a microscope after the season and I was trying to see, you know, the goods and the bads, obviously, in each player. And I would say for my money, Dallas Flowers, outside of Kenny Moore, because Kenny Moore's in a different stratosphere from all these guys. But for my money, I'd say Dallas Flowers probably had the best flashes and best moments of the cornerback room. Obviously, Juju Burns had some really good flashes, too, and Jalen Jones, too. Like, I'm not saying that those guys didn't, but for flowers, I think what's different with him is
Starting point is 00:28:48 he felt, he looked more comfortable out there. He looked more confident in everything he did. And as the starts went on before his unfortunate injury, he was getting to the point where he looked like a good corner. I mean, that Rams game was a fantastic outing. I think he had two pass breakups in that game. He had a tackle behind the line of scrimmage on a wide receiver screen thrown his way. He was really, really rolling in that game. And look, if the Colts just don't go to overtime, he's healthy after that because I think he tore his Achilles in like the first play of overtime or something like that. So it was a fairly unfortunate injury.
Starting point is 00:29:21 The Colts lost a really good corner at that point. And a player who was really coming into his own, you know, injuries suck regardless. But to have them happen in your best game of your career, like your coming out party game, it kind of just just ruins all the fun there. So if he can just get back to what he was doing in that Rams game, the Colts actually have a pretty good starting corner out there in Dallas Flowers, because that game was a really, really good showing from him. I'm very optimistic. I think the you know, like what we say with baseball players who have like
Starting point is 00:29:49 good moments or whatever, but you look at the next gen stats or the advanced stats and you try to see if it's like consistent or it's going to keep going. I think all the stuff behind the scenes, even with Flowers, looks good. You know, if you even look at like separation and all that, like everything that he was doing in those first couple of weeks, I think Flowers is translatable. Like it looks good. The eye test passes the analytics, the numbers pass. I think there's some good things with Dallas Flowers. He just has to stay healthy and get back on track to what he was doing early last season. But I'm very excited about him. The new number changed to 21. That is massive. That is one. That's the greatest number in sports right there. So just moving to 21, it's like from 33 to 21. Is there massive that is one that's the greatest number in sports right there so just
Starting point is 00:30:25 moving to 21 it's like from 33 to 21 is there a bigger i mean besides the naeem hines 42 to 21 uh during his rookie season i can't imagine a bigger upgraded number so uh fantastic stuff there from from dallas flowers i think he's gonna have a really good season for the colts before we get out of here though guys i do want to ask you guys to go to the comment section. Let us know in the comments who is your unheralded player, your dark horse player to produce for the Colts this year. You don't have to get too crazy with it. You don't have to throw out Saguna Luby. I know that we were really tempted to on this one. That's not crazy. Or, you know, Curtis Brooks. He's going to come back triumphantly and win it all for us. That's
Starting point is 00:31:03 what's going to happen. But you guys let us know in the comments section who is going to have that breakout. Not breakout, but who's that dark horse candidate that's going to produce for the Colts this season? Or who do you want to keep an eye on going into training camp? And also before we get out of here, Locked On Sports has launched the first ever national sports 24-7 streaming channel on YouTube. And now it's also available on Amazon Fire TV and the free Fire TV channels app. Lockdown Sports Today is here for you 24-7
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