Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts' Joe Flacco Forgets What Team He Plays For in Loss to Buffalo Bills
Episode Date: November 11, 2024Indianapolis Colts win-now starter Joe Flacco gave the ball to the Buffalo Bills' defense four times in the team's 30-20 loss on Sunday. How long should the leash be for the 39-year-old starter? Beco...me a Locked On Colts insider! Ask your burning questions and get prompt answers from someone who's around the team every day! Get special access from the locker room, practice field, and press box! JOIN HERE! Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms:🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-colts/📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQLocked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nfl/ Follow Jake and Zach's written work on HorseshoeHuddle.com, and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, @LockedOnColts, and @ColtsOn_SI, as well on TikTok and Instagram! This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks. Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnfl and use code all lowercase lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!5 Hour ENERGYWhat’s your Fan Fuel this week?! Whatever it is, do it with a 5 Hour Energy!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.Hillsdale CollegeAll of Hillsdale’s courses are self-paced so that you can start whenever, and tune in wherever. Plus, you can go deeper with readings, quizzes, discussions - or just enjoy the lectures. Go right now to hillsdale.edu/lockedon to enroll. There’s no cost, and it’s easy to get started.PrizePicksDownload the app and use code lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. You don't even need to win to receive your $50 bonus, it's guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms Apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelYou can start the season with a big return on FanDuel. New customers can place a FIVE DOLLAR bet and you’ll get started with ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS - if you win your first FIVE DOLLAR BET ! Visit FANDUEL.COM to get started.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)Ultimate GMUse the promo code LOCKEDONNFL, all caps, inside the game store to receive a free boost to your franchise. Make sure to get it, as this perk will jump start your play and give you the advantage you’ll want in creating a dynasty.Mint MobileTo get this new customer offer and your new 3-month premium wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, go to Mintmobile.com/lockedonnfl.  Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at MINT MOBILE dot com slash lockedonnfl. Disclaimer: $45 upfront payment required (equivalent to $15/mo.). New customers on first 3 month plan only. Speeds slower above 40GB on Unlimited plan. Additional taxes, fees, & restrictions apply. See MINT MOBILE for details.Omaha SteaksFrom legendary steaks to mouthwatering desserts and more, save fifty percent off site-wide at OmahaSteaks.com. Plus, our listeners get an extra thirty dollars off with Promo Code NFL and a thirty-dollar reward card when you shop early.
Transcript
Discussion (0)
The Colts lost another winnable game against one of the league's elite opponents tonight.
Now changes must be made going forward.
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 post game listen of the day this is your daily colts podcast
and we're part of the locked on podcast network your team every day and this show is brought to
you by price picks go to pricepicks.com locked on nfl and use code all lowercase locked on nfl to win 50 instantly when you play just five dollars hello everybody i'm jake arthur
that is zach hicks and you know us from horseshoehuddle.com i'm your red resident media
member here live from lucas oil stadium and zach is your resident film nerd for the site
and we are breaking down another stinker today, guys.
This has become old hat for us, I think, at this point.
But you know, we've been here with you at Lockdown for a couple years now.
So we are very well entrenched and, you know, we soak in these kind of losses.
You guys are always here with us.
And man, let's just dive right into it. So the elephant in the room the past several weeks now has been the quarterback play.
It doesn't matter if it's been Anthony Richardson.
It doesn't matter if it's been Joe Flacco.
But certainly Flacco threw some potatoes out there today.
You know, their first drive, pick six.
So Flacco was 26-35 today, 272 yards, a couple touchdowns,
and three interceptions, four turnovers overall.
In the past two games alone, since he's been crowned the savior of the offense,
six turnovers, just two offensive touchdowns,
and two losses in very winnable games to some of the league's better teams.
So, Zach, I'll let you have the floor here.
What are your main takeaways from this?
What is at the forefront of your brain when you think of this 30-20 loss?
Yeah, I mean, the biggest takeaway is, yet again,
this Colts defense showed up and did enough to give their offense chances
to win against a good playoff-bound team,
and their offense just stank it up.
I mean, the offense was not
good enough whatsoever in this game. And unlike the game against Minnesota, where yes, you could
point at Flacco, but you could also point at play calling. You could point at offensive line play.
He could point at wide receivers, just nobody really doing their job correctly on offense.
And this one, it felt like everyone on the offense, even the play caller for the most part
was perfectly fine. It, it really came down on the offense, even the play caller for the most part,
was perfectly fine. It really came down to the quarterback play in this game.
And again, I just keep coming back to when you make that move, when you're sitting at four and four, coming up on a really big stretch of games to determine if you're going to be a playoff team
or not, and you make that win now move to your 39-year-old backup quarterback. It needs to work.
This doesn't even come down to a Richardson versus Flacco thing.
It really comes down to when you make a decision like this, when you publicly bench your young quarterback for a veteran backup that gives you no future, that is purely for the present,
that move needs to work or it's on your head.
So Shane Steichen is the guy who's taking it on the shoulder, on the chin, I guess, in the media, the guy who said the decision was all
himself to everybody. I don't know who else was involved behind the scenes, but for Shane Steichen,
this is a terrible look because you made this big move to win these pivotal games, to push yourself
towards a playoff spot. And these last two games, your defense has played well enough
to win you the football game.
Your quarterback play has just been horrendous
in this two game stretch.
Like absolutely horrendous.
It's one thing if Flacco were just missing passes
like Richardson was and not completing what he needs to
and not converting for first downs,
but Flacco's also putting the ball in harm's way.
He has been turnover prone these past two games and in this one you can't just spot the Buffalo Bills 10
points out the gate spotting Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills 10 points out the gate on on gimme
turnovers that shouldn't happen you can't even beat bad teams by doing that but you can't beat
the Buffalo Bills doing that like they're lucky that they were able to even get close,
get back in this game and make it somewhat close at points in this game
because giving the Buffalo Bills 10 points out the gate is just a recipe for
disaster.
So yeah,
Joe Flacco,
it just doesn't really give you anything at quarterback.
Yeah.
He completes a couple more passes,
but if you're getting careless decisions,
you're getting like decent two of these interceptions.
I don't even know what he's looking at on some of these.
I mean, the screenplay, you've got to be a veteran and eat that play.
Like, I don't know what you're doing on that screenplay.
He does not throw the ball away ever.
No.
And then the first interception, what was he looking at?
He was full pre-snap, full post-snap.
And then the ball was not layered whatsoever.
It had no oomph on it.
I mean, it looked like we were watching 2022 Nick Foles
try to throw that football.
That ball just had no drive on it whatsoever,
and Taron Johnson could have called a fair catch
on a 15-yard pass that he caught.
Like, it was that bad of a throw.
And then the other one was just a horrible miss that,
again, we saw Richardson miss passes
like that.
But when you put the 39-year-old quarterback in, he's not supposed to be throwing the ball
30 miles over Alec Pierce's head to a safety that's yards behind him.
So you get that.
You get a quarterback who can't move in the pocket and can't negate sacks.
So he's taking sacks whenever there's a little bit of pressure.
And I just don't know what you're gaining here.
Even the run game,
the run game had its best performance under Joe Flacco that we've seen all year.
But even the run game, I mean, what Taylor had, what, 24 carries in this one?
He maybe had, he had three that made up like 90 yards, like 90, 95 yards.
He had three explosive runs to Taylor's credit, made something happen on those.
Outside of that, it was like 20 for like 13 yards. Like it was terrible. Aside from those big explosives. I'm glad those explosives happened.
But again, you see this impact with Joe Flacco where it's very difficult to run the football,
at least at a consistent level. So you're constantly behind the sticks.
You're having a quarterback now who's forcing passes and not hitting the open man. You have
a quarterback who can't move in the pocket and can't create.
And anytime he has to create this disaster for your offense,
anytime he has to think it's disaster for your offense.
And again,
this was your wind now move at quarterback to make this push to the playoffs.
And it's blowing up massively in your face.
Like again,
take the Anthony Richardson aspect of this.
I don't even care about the Richardson part of this.
When you're committing to this veteran right here to be your win now savior this season,
it can't be this bad, especially when you were sitting when you made this move.
You were in the playoff hunt. You were a four and four team in the playoff hunt. They had a win over
the Pittsburgh Steelers. I mean, it was a two quarterback job there, but they had a win over
a good Steelers team like they had some things going for them. Now they're essentially in win out mode
if you want to make the playoffs.
And they haven't looked particularly good whatsoever
on offense these last two weeks
when your defense has given you enough to win these games.
So yeah, man, I don't know.
Like last year, I was very in on Shane Steichen.
Even at parts this year, it's like, yeah,
Shane Steichen is the coach for this team,
but it's such an inex, Shane Steichen is the coach for this team, but it's
such an inexcusable mistake to do this, to make this move at quarterback and for it to regress
your entire offense. When your offense wasn't even good to start with this year, for your offense to
regress this badly when you put in a 39-year-old quarterback who's supposed to be the guy who's
winning now, it's just inexcusable. So yeah, we're running out of excuses, running out of time for this Colts team. And I mean,
they're one more loss to the Detroit Lions away from being pretty much out of the playoff hunt
before the final stretch before their bye week this season. So that that's your 2024 Indianapolis
Colts team right there. Yeah, I was gonna, they're not even out of the rough stretch yet.
They're just right in the middle of it.
And the awful thing about it is they really should have won these ones.
These ones that they had no business winning coming into it.
The defenses at least put themselves in position to win the game.
And I think the thing that drives me most crazy about this
is my keys to the game, they nailed them and they didn't win.
I said they needed to establish Jonathan Taylor.
He had a lot of times in this game looked like 2021 Jonathan Taylor.
So they did that, which could breed play action opportunities.
There were some chunk plays achieved here.
Obviously not enough.
Now, Joe had a terrible game and this is not an excuse whatsoever,
but I don't want to
be irresponsible and not mention that.
Bernard Ryman did get knocked out of this game,
and Matt Gonsalves did not have a
terrific performance. That's
one small little footnote to it.
I at least wanted to acknowledge that,
but they ran the ball.
They did get some
chunk plays in the passing game.
Obviously, the passing game is a whole issue itself.
They got to, to Josh Allen a little bit.
I said they needed to do something to Buffalo's offense.
That was uncharacteristic because they were best in the NFL.
They,
they have given up the least amount of sacks and they have the best turnover
differential in the entire league.
They sacked Josh Allen a couple of times and had a little bit of pressure on him,
and they forced two takeaways.
So, like, they checked both of those boxes with the pressure
and the takeaways, and they somehow still didn't win.
And the final numbers for the defense wind up being skewed
because it's over 400 yards.
It's 30 points, you know, justwed because it's over 400 yards it's 30 points you know just like
last week over 400 yards but when you consider the position the defense keeps getting put in
because of the offense giving the ball away four times this defense is playing so much better than
you would imagine and going into a game like Detroit in a couple weeks that's going to be
important but like how long can this defense hold
on until the dam breaks you know yeah like this team right there's it's so hard to say anything
positively definitive about them yeah one thing I'll say real quick is it does feel a lot like
2019 where the and also 2022 where the Colts defense held on quite a bit throughout the first
half a little bit past the first half of those seasons
ended up being non-playoff berth seasons for the Colts.
And then when it got to the final stretch,
when they just, their legs gave out
and they just couldn't hold up the weight
of the terrible offense,
they corroded and became this terrible abomination
by the end of the season.
And I'm scared that's the way we're going
with this defense where, look, man, we're what?
They're four and six right now through 10 games.
I would say the defense has been a net positive yes there's some issues and we'll
talk about in our final segment today the linebackers need to be better with their tackling
and coverage uh safety play could still be a little bit better pass rush could get home a
little bit more like there's still issues with this defense but i think by and large it's been
a positive year for the defense so far but how much longer is that going to hold up when they're
trying to hold up the weight of this horrible offense on the other side? And regardless of
the reason for the horrible offense, some weeks it's the play caller, some weeks it's the player,
some weeks it's the quarterback, or most weeks it's the quarterback. Whatever it is, this defense
can't keep holding it up forever. And we even saw in this last drive in this game where the Colts
defense had one of their worst drives in weeks because they
have been holding up so much weight these last couple weeks so yeah the Colts defense I think
has been fine these recent games we'll talk about in our final segment but they can't just keep
holding up the the weight of this Colts offense for so much longer because eventually your legs
are going to give out and it's just going to be the floodgates open for other teams are going to
start beating on you like we saw 2022, like we saw in 2019.
We've seen this too often under Chris Ballard.
Way too many times.
If I can reference two times in the last five years under Chris Ballard, we're talking about a pretty big issue here.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So Joe Flacco was Cinderella last year with the Browns.
He is clearly turned back into a pumpkin.
Now with the Colts, we're going to talk about the rest of the cast of characters on offense here in a moment.
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Alrighty, Locked On Colts every day
as we're back talking about this Colts
offense in this 30 to 20 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
And despite the team only putting 20 points in this game on offense,
I think there were some good things shown on offense in this one.
Jonathan Taylor got going for the first time with Joe Flacco at quarterback,
which was good to see.
Again, a lot of it came on three explosive runs,
but those explosive runs still happen. We can't just say they didn't happen. You want to see a
little bit higher success rate and more consistency going forward, but we will take a 21 for 114 day.
He had over a hundred yards rushing in the first half. So that kind of, again, explains where this
day ended up going for the Colts. And I also want to give a shout out to the Colts top three
receivers in this game.
And it kind of makes me feel like, look, man, just put Michael Pittman Jr. on IR.
This season is lost.
Let Alec Pierce, let A.D. Mitchell, let Josh Downs carry this thing going forward.
Because Alec Pierce, four for 81 in a touchdown in this game,
had a really nice touchdown catch at the end,
along with a really nice catch on the sideline for a toe tap reception late in this game. Did some good things in this one. A.D. Mitchell, career day, six for
71. We'll talk about that, I'm sure, all week on here because we've been saying for weeks, like,
get A.D. Mitchell on the field because Michael Pittman Jr. just can't move right now. It's time
to get A.D. Mitchell out there. And then Josh Downs, Mr. Consistent outside of the one drop in
the red zone that would have been a touchdown. Probably the only time a pass catcher really let down in
this game, but he still finished today with seven for 72. So man, Jake, I'm looking at this offense.
I'm like, hey, Jonathan Taylor showed up in this one. Alec Pierce showed up. A.D. Mitchell showed
up. Josh Downs showed up. The offensive line had some struggles. Three rookies out there for
majority of the game. They had some struggles, but fories out there for the majority of the game, they had some struggles.
But for the most part, man, the supporting cast was fine in this one.
Even the play calling, like the red zone touchdown to Tyler Goodson,
I thought was a nicely designed play by Shane Steigen.
There were open receivers that Joe Flacco just missed.
I thought this was a pretty fine day from the supporting cast on offense today.
No, I thought when we were thinking about silver linings in this one,
I looked at it and I was like, I don't want to say the passing game was lifeless. It just was
clunky at the end and it lacked fruit at the end of drives, basically.
But we've seen games before without Michael Pittman jr and the offense as a whole
cannot function this is the first time we've seen the colts without michael pitman jr
and we've seen guys step up and and there's some life there like you mentioned alec pierce is
becoming a guy like yeah it's not just a flash in the pan thing like this is a true playmaker for
this team josh downs mr consistent it seems like he gets at
least seven catches with flacco each time he's out there ad mitchell not only was this a career
best game for him but all six targets he got all six of them that like this is huge like this is a
building block game for a guy like this you know uh we we talked to Reggie Wayne this week out at the complex and,
you know, take Anthony Richardson's benching aside. We all knew the assignment with Richardson
was, you know, he was just needed reps to develop and it was going to take time.
Same thing with AD Mitchell. The Colts just haven't pulled the plug there,
but AD just needed more snaps, needed more game reps to get out there.
And it sucks that it came at the expense of Michael Pittman Jr. being hurt.
But, you know, whatever it takes to get this guy on the field and get more comfortable being on the football field with his quarterback.
Because we also we saw from the first week, you know, he was blowing by guys.
But the chemistry with the quarterback
just was not there. And we said from that very first game, you know, God, he's looking really
good. But once he starts connecting with the quarterbacks, it's going to start being really,
really productive. And I'm hoping today was a big first step towards that because
whether or not you have Michael Pittman Jr. out there for however long,
if you got a guy out there who's playing like this, I don't want to say it doesn't matter,
but it can absorb some of the shock of not having Pittman out there.
Yeah, and one thing about A.D. Mitchell, too, is he's still far from a finished product.
This was a great step forward, but there was still that horrendous fumble on the first catch,
which the Colts are very lucky to recover like I was like oh man another just A.D. Mitchell moment where he gets open
does the right thing but just some issue pops up and that's what we saw all season from him where
it was like this guy gets open but everything else is a struggle for him but he calmed down
after that fumble hauled in every other target that went his way looked really good doing so
and again this is the guy who gets open more than any other player on the team,
aside from the slot receiver, which is Josh Downs.
But Downs, again, has a very specific role to get open.
A.D. Mitchell is getting open as a boundary receiver, as an outside wide receiver,
which the Colts really haven't had in a long time.
So this is a great stepping stone game for A.D. Mitchell.
It's a great stepping stone game for him.
Alec Pierce, again, like you said, getting back to where he was early in the season and really producing in
this one. I was really bummed that that Joe Flacco pass went over his head for multiple reasons, but
especially because it was another like 30-yard gain for Pierce that was taken away because
his quarterback couldn't hit him. I mean, how many times have we seen that this year with Pierce,
where the ball has been sailing over his head when he's been wide open? I think he leads the team in receiving
yards right now, but imagine how many more he would have with better quarterback play on those
deep over routes, on those deep crossing routes, on open vertical routes that he's had. I mean,
he's had production this year, but it feels like it could always be a little bit more with him.
But he had some good plays in this game as well.
So yeah, the pass catcher showed up.
And I even think Tanner Bortolini on the offensive line had a fantastic day in this one too.
There were a couple of really big plays from him in this game.
Gonsalves really struggled,
but the rest of the offensive line I thought was pretty fine
outside of Gonsalves.
So yeah, it was a good game from the supporting cast.
It's just, again, you had to look at somebody when
you only put up 20 points in a game like this especially when your defense gave you two
turnovers and gave you a fork down stop in this one you need to score more than 20 points and
the guy i'm looking at is the guy who threw three picks the guy who fumbled the guy who threw three
other passes that should have been picked i I mean, the Bills dropped multiple interceptions in this game,
like clear drop interceptions where, again,
this could have been a Nathan Peterman type game from Joe Flacco at the end of the day
if the Bills caught more of these passes.
So I'm a little bit more encouraged by the offense in this game
than I was in last week's game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Still not where it needs to be because the quarterback play is so bad,
but I was more encouraged at least by the rest of the players on offense
from this game than I was last week against the Minnesota Vikings
where it looked like nobody wanted to be there and everybody was making mistakes.
Yeah, I want more Will Mallory also, but that's for another day.
Why not?
Coming up.
Why not?
Right?
The dude makes plays.
Here in a moment, we're going to talk about the defense, for another day. Why not? Why not? Right. The dude makes plays.
Uh, you know,
here in a moment,
we're going to talk about the defense,
you know,
the side of the ball that really held up its own end of the bargain and
Kenny Moore with some pretty strong words post game.
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Alrighty, Locked on Colts listeners,
we are back talking Colts bills,
30 to 20 Buffalo Bills beat the Indianapolis Colts in the Colts' own stadium, 30-20 Buffalo-Bills beat the Indianapolis Colts
in the Colts' own stadium, or kind of the Buffalo-Bills' own stadium
if you were really there in the crowd.
And gosh, it really felt like a Bills home game in that one.
I can't really blame the fans for that one with what we've seen from the Colts
these past couple weeks.
But another week where the defense, again, kind of showed out
and did good enough things to win.
Like, I'm not going to sit here and say the Colts defense was perfect,
allowed over four yards of carry.
You know, it was like I think four and a half yards of carry if you factor in
the Josh Allen scrambles and Josh Allen runs and stuff.
So still not perfect in the run game.
Still over 400 yards allowed in this game.
But again, the Colts defense allowed 23 points in this game.
It was 16 points up until late in the
fourth quarter. They allowed a basic put away touchdown, but they essentially allowed 16 points
for a majority of this game to the Buffalo Bills offense. They forced Josh Allen to two interceptions.
He had two interceptions all year coming into this game. They had two sacks in this one. Like
you mentioned, Jake, the Bills have been the best in football this year at preventing sacks and not allowing sacks.
So it felt like a fine game for this Colts defense.
Again, not perfect.
It needs to be better.
It can be cleaner.
Linebackers can be better in coverage.
Pass rush can get home a little bit more.
But it's another one of these games, man, where you're looking at it being like, I don't think Gus Bradley's side of the ball is the issue right now.
It's not perfect, but it's been fine these last couple weeks.
And so you go from this game where, you know, Kenny Moore gets an interception.
EJ Speed gets an interception.
You get that fourth down stop.
You get some red zone stops in this game.
And then you go to the after part of the game where Kenny Moore is calling out his teammates
in the locker room for not practicing hard enough, not giving
enough effort. And one thing we know about Kenny Moore from over the years, he will always speak
his mind for better or for worse, or for better or for worse, he will always speak his mind.
So I don't know, like, Jake, do you think this is about other players on the defense,
other players on offense, the just frustration with the team? Like, I know this thing's kind
of spiraling right now. But you don't want to hear when of your defensive leaders say guys aren't taking this thing seriously enough,
you know? Yeah, I feel like it's probably a little bit of everything because, I mean,
he obviously sees things in the film room and on the practice field and everything that we don't
see. I mean, we can see the finished product out here on the field.
But, you know, I don't think you say that without making certain observations throughout the week as well.
And I can't pinpoint a certain group or anything.
It was important that he was asked about the quarterback situation,
and he seemed to rebuff the fact that, like,
he's not talking about the quarterback specifically.
But, you know, there are areas around him that just are consistently a little iffy you know like the
linebackers you see a lot of missed tackles struggling to even be in the area in the gap where
the play is being made you see a lot of chunk runs a lot of these games like
even if they hold the team in check overall for the body of work of a
game,
there's plenty of times where guys aren't getting touched until like the
third level because the first and second level, you know, it's,
it's just a consistent problem.
And this really was the tip of the iceberg because Kenny kind of,
he went in on this after years of frustration.
This is something that's been building for a long time.
He referenced, this is the same stuff that's going on year after year.
So this is nothing new, but there's obviously something in here that needs to change.
Like, I don't know if guys are just getting complacent or whatever it is, but, you know,
hopefully this is the type of thing where, you know,
Kenny stood up and faced the music. I mean, he had a good game, so he didn't,
he didn't really have anything to apologize for,
but he went and spoke on behalf of the defense basically in the leaders and
said, you know, what we're doing is not cutting it. And you know,
what can you do moving forward? He's like, these,
these changes needed to be made yesterday. Like time is running out. The cracks are forming.
So,
I mean,
this is not with any inside knowledge or anything,
but this is about the time of a season for a lot of teams where you see
players only meetings and stuff like that.
I think they're ripe for one right now,
but guys have got to take a long look in the mirror because we've seen so
many of these guys playing uncharacteristically poorly or inconsistently to the
level we know they can.
And I,
something's got to change.
I mean,
if it doesn't,
obviously the season will just start dwindling and they could perhaps only be
saved by the fact that the AFC South is such crap right now,
but they,
they've,
they've got to take care of their own destiny.
Kenny himself said he's tired of worrying about outside,
outside sources,
helping them get to the put,
like he doesn't want to other teams losing,
helping them get where they want to go.
They want to control their own destiny.
And he's getting tired of the fact that they're not taking advantage of it.
Yeah.
One thing I will say real quick,
and I know this will be more of a conversation for the week, obviously,
because Kenny Moore's comments are pretty big news, honestly, with this.
They're not big news, but just noteworthy.
Sorry to interrupt, but if you guys haven't seen him yet,
I did post our session with Kenny Moore after the game.
So Kenny's on there, Shane's on there, Joe's on there.
After this, I'm going to put Jonathan Taylor up there as well.
So if you guys hadn't heard it yet i have kenny in his entirety up there
yeah but one thing i will say with this is when it comes to the complacency that that kenny is
talking about i mean this is a team culture where if you look at this 2022 team especially on defense
they pretty much brought back every single starter from the 2022 team. It's almost the exact same starters, the exact same coaching staff from a 2022 team,
which was the fourth worst in football.
And a lot of those guys got rewarded with extensions and more money on their contracts,
essentially.
And I'm not saying that any of those guys were undeserved.
But when you kind of build up this culture of if you're just kind of fine, you'll be set for life with this team.
You know, like there's not this standard of better than that.
Where, you know, Grover Stewart, I think, is a really good player.
Kenny, I think, is part of this too.
Like good players, Zyra, frankly, good players.
But when you have a season as horrible as 2022, should you be handing out extensions to everybody?
Or should you be looking at other avenues to change up the
defense? I mean, their big difference from 2022 right now is Laatu Laatu is kind of a starter
on edge and Jalen Jones and Sam Womack, everyone else is the same starter from 2022 on a defense
in an overall team that was horrendous. So it kind of gets to that complacency of like,
things are never going to change. So why do I need to go above and beyond I'm not saying that's that's exactly what Kenny's talking about here but it could
lead some credence to what he's saying but overall I know we're running short on time here Jake and
I don't want to spend too much time talking about the big picture when this game just happened but
overall again I think a mostly pretty good game from Gus Bradley pretty good game from the defense
defense of line got some pressure on Allen.
I wish they would have finished some of these sacks, but I'll take it.
I thought Kenny Moore was fantastic in all phases in this game.
The defense made some timely plays in the red zone.
And also on that fourth down conversion, I mean, Zyra Franklin had a nice pass breakup
on that fourth down attempt with a really good sim blitz by Gus Bradley.
So overall, I'm not too down on the defense.
It's kind of funny that Kenny's comments come after this game where it's like,
hey, you guys have three games stretch against three playoff teams.
You guys have done enough on defense to win these games.
It's kind of your offense on the other side each one of these times
that's kind of been letting you down.
But overall, I'm not too upset with the defense.
I'm not too upset with the playmakers on offense.
It's just, again, their win now quarterback forgot that he played for the Colts in this
game.
I mean, that's really the only way you can summarize it.
Because if you're watching this game, I mean, it's shocking that he had nearly 70% completion
percentage in this game because there were like seven passes that bounced off of two
Buffalo Bills hands.
You know, it was a crazy game to watch,
but yeah.
Jake,
give any other final words before we get out of here?
Like I can get us out of here,
but shoo,
just another Colts game.
Yeah.
This is another,
another wild ride.
I mean,
hanging here with us guys.
I mean,
I know we're all kind of going through this together,
but I mean,
we're,
we're here for it.
Uh,
you know,
we obviously love Q and a episodes, you know, we love interaction, but I mean, we're, we're here for you to, you know, we obviously love
Q and a episodes, you know, we love interaction, the insider program, like all these things,
if you want to commiserate, uh, we we've got plenty of avenues for you guys to, to chat with
us or interact with us, you know, watch the content we're putting out. So hang in there with
us. I know being a fan of the Colts right now is pretty frustrating, but hopefully we
can, you know, give some further detail and context to the things that are going on. Guys, we are two
weeks away from draft content anyway. It's a blast to get into the draft season. I mean, I don't know
what else to say at this point, but we do appreciate you guys tuning in with us every single week. And
thank you guys again for making Locked On cold to your first listen today and every day.
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