Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor Wins Despite Team's Loss to Jacksonville Jaguars

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Colts player whose stock rose the most over the weekend is someone who didn't even play. 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, what's up, everyone? Thanks for tuning in and making us your first listen of the day. This is your daily podcast covering your Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And today's show is brought to you by PrizePix,

Starting point is 00:00:47 the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports. Go to prizepix.com slash locked on NFL and use code all lowercase locked on NFL for a first deposit match up to $100. Welcome to the show, everybody. I am Jake Arthur of horseshoehuddle.com. I am your local credentialed media member from the site, bringing you the latest from the team facility and the stadium on game days. On today's show, got kind of a good one for you, I think.

Starting point is 00:01:14 We're going to discuss the latest in the Jonathan Taylor saga. Physically, he, nothing's really changed, but we got a little bit of an update, I guess you could say, on Sunday that maybe changes things a little bit. We're going to explain why his arrow may be actually pointing up despite not playing. We'll also go over some updates and some finds from the film, both on offense and defense. After re-watching the game also, now that we've heard from some of the players and coaches in the days following the game. So we'll get into that here in a minute. But first, the Colts, of course, made some minor tweaks to the practice squad on Tuesday. A couple notable moves, really. First one, they brought in center Jack Anderson, running back Tyler Goodson, and tight end Jordan Murray.

Starting point is 00:02:04 Now that's a different Jordan Murray than the offensive tackle that's been around the team for the last couple of years. To make room for those guys, they cut running back Jason Huntley, tight end Johnny Lumpkin, and wide receiver Mike Summertime Strawn. Man, if this is the last chapter for Strawn and the Colts, best of luck to you. Thanks for the memories during training camp. You always made things exciting those last couple of years. But I digress. So probably the most notable addition in this group is Jack Anderson. As we've mentioned ad nauseum, really the offensive line depth for the Colts behind the starters, really nobody had nfl snaps on offense uh josh sales did get some in a brief relief of quentin nelson on sunday but anderson has actually started three games has seen action

Starting point is 00:02:53 in 14 games throughout his nfl career uh so the colts get a little bit of uh experience depth on the interior there i like that move it's decent Tyler Goodson, I don't know a ton about him, but I believe he's an adequate replacement for Huntley if they wind up needing to bring someone up. I've heard his name before, so he's at least a notable player. So looking at this Jonathan Taylor thing. So locally here, it's really not been news that this seems like more of a hold in like Taylor's ankle probably isn't as much of a mess as, um, as it's been reported as, and that he could probably pass a physical, you know, uh, it's even been reported that the Colts felt that at one point, even though they've publicly refuted it. Um, but Adam Schefter came out on Sunday morning and basically just said that Jonathan

Starting point is 00:03:47 could pass a physical now if he needed to, and that I guess he will be doing it soon. And then he's also planning to play as early as week five. As he's on the pup list, he's got to miss those first four games. So it's the last part there that is noteworthy for me. Obviously, he could probably pass the physical. It's been forever since that ankle procedure. But the fact that Taylor himself is apparently planning to play by week five, we didn't know Taylor's intentions, really. As far as we knew, he didn't want to be around the Colts. He doesn't want to play for him. He wants traded.

Starting point is 00:04:22 But really, he just does not have much leverage unless he's going to come back and play and look like himself. And apparently that is reportedly the plan here. And I think that's a good idea for him. The Colts, I mean, they haven't wanted to like re-sign him right now. But if he comes back and looks good, maybe they can come to the table. And even if the relationship is done for Taylor if he comes out and shows that he is Jonathan Taylor then okay other teams can see that and then may want to make a pricier offer to the Colts to actually get his services so any way for Taylor to get what he wants either monetarily from the Colts or to go to another

Starting point is 00:05:02 team and get a new deal he's got to show up and play first. And it sounds like that is the plan. So it's going to be a few weeks. Let's say that the Colts, let's say it's an extra week for him because he's got to get his legs under him. The next four opponents for the Colts, you look at it, Houston, Baltimore, the Rams, and the Titans, they are only giving up 84 yards per game so far through the first game. Only one of those teams gave up over 100 yards.

Starting point is 00:05:34 So it still might be tough for the Colts running the ball. And so if Taylor is able to come back, you know, week five, week six, whatever, I think it would be pretty welcome. So it's no secret. One of the, the, the biggest thumbs down from Sunday's loss to the Jaguars was the run game. Even with Anthony Richardson running the ball in totality, it was not good. 26 carries for 65 yards as a team, one touchdown, that's two and a half yards per carry so not great if you take richardson's stats out of it 10 carries for 40 yards it's rough uh 16 carries for 25 yards which is 1.6 yard per carry uh deon jackson who far and away led the group uh 13 carries i think it's 14 yards and 1.1 yard per carry. He also lost two fumbles.

Starting point is 00:06:29 He's easily gotten the most of the flack after that one. And rightfully so. I mean, he coughed up the ball twice. He couldn't really find room to run. But he had a couple decent plays that were called back due to injury. So it's not great. I even saw a stat from Aaron Schatz, formerly of Football Outsiders. Jackson's DYAR was like really historically low for Colts running backs. So not great company. It's been a while since apparently there's been a performance that rough for the Colts at running

Starting point is 00:06:59 back. So here's the thing. Jonathan Taylor, you could say, yes, hurry, get back. And then some people say, well, Zach Moss will probably be back next week, which is true. But Evan Hall, who himself could potentially be an upgrade over Deion Jackson, if that's what you're lookingull, you still got Jackson there. You're still without Taylor until week five, week six, whenever he's able to actually come back. So where does that really leave you? I think a lot of people are saying, okay, yeah, at first I was going to let these guys play it out, but they really need to bring in an outside running back. It's not great out there.

Starting point is 00:07:43 I'm curious if the Colts want to do that. They obviously made the, uh, the contract offered a cream hunt back like a month ago, but you look out there, there's Leonard for net cream hunt, Daryl Henderson, James Robinson. Uh, that's some of the notable guys on there. I think if the Colts want to bring someone else in, it needs to be a veteran who's been there and done that. Like you're probably really only going to get Zach Moss types at this point. You know, just elevating a young guy from the practice squad or something's probably not going to cut it. Even though perhaps they know your system a little better. I don't know, because I think that's part of the whole issue.

Starting point is 00:08:19 Also is a lot of these guys on the offense are still from Frank Reich's tutelage in his system, his run schemes and Shane Steichen's run schemes, you know, with Tony Sperano Jr. As well. It's just a bit different. So they've got to get used to this.

Starting point is 00:08:37 It's going to take while there's going to be growing pains. I mean, everyone was expecting growing pains from just like Anthony Richardson, but the run game to even veterans, like these guys have to learn what they're and they already know what they're doing is in terms of like studying it in the playbook. But they have to put it on the field in real game scenarios now. So that's going to take a little bit of time. I don't know. They may want to bring in a veteran.

Starting point is 00:09:02 I think it makes sense. Even pairing this veteran into the group with Zach Moss and Jonathan Taylor, if Taylor does, in fact, come back, that may be a good way for everybody to not get too run down. I don't know. It's a tough situation, certainly, but at the end of the day, I think with how poorly the Colts performed in the run game on Sunday, and then they lose Evan Hall for however long, and one guy they had confidence in, Deion Jackson, performing pretty poorly, it just makes Jonathan Taylor's star shine a little bit more, I think. We'll see how that goes. The Colts probably would really like to get him back in a hurry. So coming up here in a minute, I'm going to mention after I rewatch the game, some of the things that really stood out to me on offense.

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Starting point is 00:10:33 And every dayers, you know the deal. If you've been with us through last season, you know what's coming up the rest of this week. Thursday, Crossover Thursday presented by PrizePix. We'll be chatting with the fellas from Locked on Texans. That's always a good show. So keep hold there. You know, we'll also bring all these little news and notes, these old transactions and everything, injury reports,

Starting point is 00:10:56 practices coming up Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. So we'll have every little detail for you that you could even want coming up soon. So let's chat offense again. So just rewatching the game, you look at Anthony Richardson and I did call his performance a mixed bag after the game. And I still think that's true. But I think there's plenty of positive coming from that.

Starting point is 00:11:18 You know, there, I saw some people out there reacting to things like people who just have like such extreme snap reactions we knew things were not going to just be like super smooth for richardson right away his anticipation everything is not a polished product yet like he's still got to work on it so there were a couple missed opportunities out there like i i think of a third down throw to kylan granson that was a little behind him that, you know, that caused them to have to punt the ball away.

Starting point is 00:11:49 You know, there was a high ball to Drew Ogletree, like those things will get ironed out with further reps and everything. So overall, I came away relatively impressed with Richardson. And if you caught our post game show, I said after the game, you know, it's not exciting to have to go against zone defense and Richardson's having to do a lot of checkdowns and throwing the short balls, but that's an area of his game that needed the most work. So honestly, to have that thrown at him week one, I don't hate it. Like again, it's not exciting and it's not the type of offense the Colts want to play, but you know, he didn't, he didn't really force a lot of terrible throws. He didn't force a lot of stuff into traffic. Um, he did have the interception, but that was

Starting point is 00:12:37 oddly enough when he's inaccurate, he tends to go high. That throw was just a little too low. Uh, it looked like it could have been on target on the sideline and you know at the very least if you would have got it a foot or two higher it's probably not intercepted and you know at worst is an incompletion out of bounds so that performance you know it took note across the NFL he's actually nominated for offensive rookie of the week so you guys guys can go actually, if you want to go ahead and vote from there. But otherwise there was a couple of players in the passing game that I really came away impressed with. Josh Downs, he had, I think three catches for 30 yards.

Starting point is 00:13:17 That was a good game for him. And so he's going to be put in a position as slot receiver where he's going to have to make a lot of his own decisions. Like he's, he's a rookie of course. But that, that 20 yard play that he hooked up with Richardson down near the red zone, that was an option route where he really baited and set up the, the defender to an outside route and cut inside and actually asked Shane Steichen about that on Monday. That takes a lot of trust between quarterback and receiver, just how much do they work on that. And Steichen was really impressed with that as well. Not only Downs' decision making and his ability to sell that outside move, but for Richardson to trust it and know that Downs was going to go there as well. So those rookies, they've got something going on. That's really good to see.

Starting point is 00:14:06 Kylan Granson, he's pretty much tied in one, not only until Jelani Woods gets back, but until Woods establishes himself all over again. And he really hasn't even done that yet because we all assumed that would happen, but he missed a great deal of the offseason. So Kylan Granson, he's the guy among tight ends in the passing game, and really, if you forecast the first several weeks after

Starting point is 00:14:34 Michael Pittman, he might be the second or third target overall. You probably look at Richardson, Josh Downs, and Kylan Branson, or Michael Pittman Jr., excuse me, with Downs and Granson. And that's probably the top three pass catchers. And Granson has responded really well. You know, I think any gripe anyone had about him in his first two years was, you know, he has the drops, which was mostly an issue as a rookie. It wasn't as bad last year, but he barely ever drops it anymore. He's got some pretty sure hands and he can make tough catches. He's able to go up high and get it. We've seen that in practice. We've seen that in games. So Richardson seems really comfortable with Granson.

Starting point is 00:15:15 And I think it's only going to get better from here because Granson can be used as a mismatch. Like if he's matched up against slower linebackers or even safeties, the guy gets separation. He was statistically one of the best separators at tight end in the NFL last year. And there's no reason for that to change now. Looking at the offensive line, they kind of got some flack as well. There were some low lights, but I didn't think it was that bad. Like in pass protection, I thought it was went pretty well. There were some things in the run game to get cleaned up again. I mentioned it in the first segment talking about run scheme and the running

Starting point is 00:15:54 backs having to, you know, meet the offensive line and learn how things are going to go. So that's a work in progress. I thought it was generally fine. I didn't like, there was nothing that really caused me alarm moving forward. So I'm fine there. But Bernard Ryman is kind of the main point I'm coming along to. I thought Ryman stood out really well. Every time I looked at him specifically, I thought he had good leverage and did a good

Starting point is 00:16:21 job of guiding defenders outside of the arc. So I thought he did really well run game too. He got shouted out from Shane Steichen and Jim Bob Cooter this week. So his arrow continues to point up as well. He's not Anthony Costanzo yet, but this guy is definitely an adequate starting left tackle at this point. And at this point, we've seen enough body of work to where I don't think it's something like where it's still up in the air. I think at this point, we could be relatively confident that he's a solid, solid player. So thumbs up there. My last note, running back, we saw they get really, really shallow. I think tight end is kind of the same thing right now after Drew Ogletree suffered a concussion and

Starting point is 00:17:10 had to leave the game. You never know how long that'll keep him out. He could clear the protocol and be back this week against the Texans. It could take him a couple of weeks. We don't know. So that basically left the Colts down to Mo Alleycox and Kylan Granson as the only active tight ends in the game. Uh, Will Mallory was a healthy scratch. So like he's an option, of course, uh, Jelani Woods is on IR is still going to be out another few weeks. So what do you do about that?

Starting point is 00:17:37 Do you look at, you know, your own practice squad? You know, I mentioned they had just brought in this, this Jordan Murray, but I don't know. Uh, this is a tough one. Cause again, you're waiting on a guy to get off an injured list with Jelani Woods. I mentioned they had just brought in this Jordan Murray. But I don't know. This is a tough one because, again, you're waiting on a guy to get off an injured list with Jelani Woods. It's tough because Mo Alleycox, would he have made the roster if not for Woods going on IR? How much do they want to really trust him there? Looking at the list of free agents, I don't think it's something they have to do. But a decent player that's out there is Dan Arnold.

Starting point is 00:18:11 It's another good pass-catching tight end. But, I mean, shoot, Will Mallory's unproven. He hasn't played yet. If you're down to Kylan Granson and Mo Alleycox, through Ogletree again, we don't know how long he's out. Jelani Woods, he'll be out another few weeks at least. It could make some sense to bring in a guy who can play in a hurry. When he went to Arizona, I think he contributed pretty early as soon as he got there. Same thing with Jacksonville.

Starting point is 00:18:35 When Jacksonville obtained him, he was able to contribute pretty quickly. So that's a guy who seems to be smart and can pick things up quickly. So I don't know, just from in terms of of limited depth because of injuries and having some inexperienced guys in there, it's probably not the worst idea to bring in someone like Dan Arnold. But again, the urgency meter, I don't think is screaming by any means. But coming up in a minute, we will now discuss the defense, some of the things that stuck out when re-watching the film. But first, let's chat about our pals over at PrizePix. Testing my skills on PrizePix this football season

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Starting point is 00:19:56 So I thought it was notable when Shane Steichen came out for his Monday conference call. One of the first things he did was commend the defense and the job that they did. And he pointed out DeForest Buckner, Zaire Franklin, and Shaquille Leonard, which I thought those guys definitely stood out as well. DeForest Buckner had an all pro type of game, was very disruptive. And it seemed like he was actually on a pitch count, at least early in the game. He had that forearm injury that he had late in the week, and he wasn't in there in as many situations as you probably thought. So in somewhat limited action, DeForest Buckner had a huge game. He was living in the backfield, had a couple, a tackle for loss, a sack, had the play

Starting point is 00:20:37 where he caused the fumble against Trevor Lawrence, and then after another fumble, he ultimately scooped it up and scored the touchdown. So don't be surprised if that guy is going to be nominated or among the nominees for AFC defensive player of the week. So I hear Franklin again, 18 tackles. You know, that's one of the biggest performances we've seen since Shaquille Leonard had 18 tackles back in his rookie year. The guy is just really, really on it. He's flying around. I had mentioned after the game a guy like Kenny Moore just earning like a master's degree in the defense and former defense with Matt Eberflus.

Starting point is 00:21:18 And honestly, after Zyre Franklin had kind of some speed bumps at the beginning of last season when Gus Bradley's defense was first starting up. I'm really starting to think Zyre's getting a master's degree in Gus Bradley's scheme. Like this guy looks comfortable, confident. He shoots the gaps. He flies around. This guy knows what he's doing. He's really becoming a star. Actually, Zach just wrote about that this week about Zyre's film and how he is becoming a star in this defense. So after this, go ahead to horseshoehuddle.com and check out Zach's piece on that.

Starting point is 00:21:52 Shaquille Leonard, I think it was eight tackles as well. Big checkmark for him getting to just have full contact, be in a full game. Just get those things out of the way, not have to worry about it anymore. He, again, sniffed out things in the backfield, made a couple big plays, was really impressed by him being able to come back and just show that he still can be that guy. Now, is he 100% the maniac? I don't think so yet. I think it looks like he's getting there himself.

Starting point is 00:22:22 He even said that last week. It looks like he's getting closer. So that's a big positive for the Colts. Their other linebacker, their other starting linebacker, EJ Speed, stud, like he had a big game. You know, he recovered a fumble. I think it was out of bounds, but he was right there to make the play, force the fumble to, I believe, or he was at least right there to kind of influence it. Had a couple of big plays right at the line of scrimmage or in the backfield. Really impressed by him. The coaches love him as well. So as far as having three linebackers, like the Colts have got to have one of the best

Starting point is 00:22:56 linebacking groups in the whole league. And not just because of the weight that Shaquille Leonard carries, but Zaire Franklin is becoming a real, real stud. EJ Speed, he doesn't play as many snaps, but that guy makes a big impact as well. And then another guy that really stood out was Quidipe. You know, for those of you who don't, you know, just kind of follow the ball,

Starting point is 00:23:19 you don't necessarily watch, you know, the linemen and everything, it can be easy for those guys you know get overlooked because they don't necessarily stuff the stat sheet and quitty actually did have a decent game in that regard too he did have four tackles he had a sack uh zach actually tweeted a video of the sack it came on a bull rush it was really nice play uh and then two tackles for loss and another quarterback hit so he had a really active day as well. Now that that guy is fully healthy, like he is ferocious.

Starting point is 00:23:51 He's strong. He's explosive. He's getting better all the time with his pass rush moves and his ability to disengage from blocks. So if you're looking for a starting defensive end to really take over and do some nice things, it looks like Quitty might finally become that alpha pass rusher that they've been missing really since Robert Mathis retired. On that note, I thought Samson Abugam did some nice things as well.

Starting point is 00:24:18 During the game, maybe he didn't get mentioned as much, but when I rewatched, I saw him really getting after it as well and his summer was pretty quiet too uh he missed a couple weeks with a hamstring and so when he got back out there on the practice field he was just kind of a guy he just kind of melted into the abyss i guess but he i thought he stood out and did some really nice things against the jaguars and then then just in general, the defense did have some things that happened, you know, early in the game, there was Calvin Ridley and all that, all that stuff. But although the defense did a really nice job overall and what, what

Starting point is 00:24:59 really stood out my, like my very first takeaway when rewatching was, my God, Trevor Lawrence is that dude. Trevor Lawrence is good. He does some things out there that you just do not see other guys do. Very Andrew Luck-esque in the way that he's able to just pull something out of the air. Improbable things just happen when this dude's got the ball. He's rolling across his body and makes two really good plays throwing across his body that were incredibly accurate.

Starting point is 00:25:30 He has the play to Calvin Ridley that causes, I think it was Kenny Moore and Dallas Flowers to collide, right in between them to Calvin Ridley. Like, the dude just has an uncanny ability to make plays. He's got a special, special arm. And as we all know, when you face quarterbacks like that, you just kind of, what can you do? You know, those plays are going to happen.

Starting point is 00:25:54 There's no way to defend it really. Just put yourself in good position. And even on some of the big plays and like touchdowns that the Colts gave up, I thought guys were in good position. Maybe not the first Calvin Ridley one where it was just alone in the back of the end zone, but the defenders put themselves in really good spots. And sometimes no matter what you do, the people you're playing on the other side of the ball are just incredibly talented. So that was my main takeaway from rewatching the

Starting point is 00:26:23 game. I know Zach's going to have some good stuff for you guys coming up as well. And again, remember crossover Thursday's coming up. We'll be chatting with the guys from locked on Texans. So that'll be good. I'm pretty eager to learn more about the Texans now with CJ Stroud under center, uh,

Starting point is 00:26:37 D'Amico Ryan's. There's a lot to like there. So I'm, I'm pretty eager for us to learn more. If you don't already follow at locked on Colts at at JakeArthurNFL and at ZachHicks2 on Twitter slash X. Also subscribe to Locked on Colts on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. We would love your ratings and reviews as well because as you know, that helps us move up the charts. And with that

Starting point is 00:26:59 we will see you find folks bright and early tomorrow.

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Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor Wins Despite Team's Loss to Jacksonville Jaguars

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