Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts Make HUGE Move, Bench Matt Ryan for Sam Ehlinger

Starting point is 00:00:00 We've got a special breaking news edition of Locked On Colts for you guys today as the Colts have made a big move at quarterback. Matt Ryan has been benched and now Sam Ellinger is in. Thank you guys for tuning in and hearing what we've got to say. This is your daily podcast covering your Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. I'm Jake Arthur alongside Zach Hicks and you know the two of us from horseshoehuddle.com. So yeah, just right to it. The Colts announced, Frank Reich announced during his Monday media availability that one, we'll just address it real quick, Matt Ryan has a grade two separated shoulder. I'm sure all of you guys saw him holding his arm during the game. He's not

Starting point is 00:00:43 going to practice or play this week leading up to Sunday against the Commanders. But Reich said regardless, they were going to pull him for Sam Ellinger. So Sam Ellinger, the plan is for him to be the quarterback the rest of the season. It's going to be interesting. And firstly, hats off to all you guys who've been calling for this. I know Zach and I were definitely open to it, but we did not think that it would actually happen, at least not this early. And I think it was funny that Nate Atkins brought up, you know, the timeline of this. Right after the game, Frank Reich says, Matt's our quarterback. Jim Irsay is seen leaving the visiting locker room not very happy.

Starting point is 00:01:21 I guess had a meeting with some people, Reich included, and now they've got a new quarterback. So Zach, the floor is yours. You know, it's funny. I saw a lot of people saying like, how do Frank Reich and Chris Ballard do this with their jobs on the line? Like, it doesn't make any sense. How could they make this move? Because no matter how you, even if you're the biggest Sam Ellinger fan ever, if job is on the line you'd rather have Matt Ryan because it's just a little bit safer it is it's safer there's less variety there's less uh volatility potentially and you know but Matt Ryan has struggled this year and I really do think the only way that this happens unless unless you know it was guaranteed that Reich and Ballard are staying, is I feel like Jim Irsay said, like, gave Ballard the okay

Starting point is 00:02:08 that you're probably staying, you know, after the season. But Reich, it's probably like, you got to make the playoffs for the LNJ to stay, which, yeah, Reich is probably gone after this season. But, you know, just getting to the Sam Ellinger stuff, like, I'm excited, man. We were dead. We were lifeless on this show yesterday. But just getting to the Sam Ellinger stuff, I'm excited, man. We were dead. We were lifeless on this show yesterday.

Starting point is 00:02:32 And I know you guys probably were okay with that because you probably felt the exact same way. I just felt so lifeless on this show yesterday because I was just dead with this team. This team was going nowhere. It was just seeping towards mediocrity and sitting in mediocrity. And I'm not even saying Matt Ryan's the only reason for that. There's so many issues with this team, with this coaching staff, with this front office that, you know, throwing out just a veteran quarterback and hoping that he fixes everything was just so, you know, not inspiring whatsoever. Now with Sam Mellinger, I don't think he's going to be good. I don't know if he's going to be good.

Starting point is 00:03:07 I hope he's awesome. I hope he becomes the franchise quarterback. I hope that he goes out there and throws for 300 yards and 10 touchdowns every single game. Like I hope it's just a beautiful, beautiful showing every week. But we actually have some really fun stuff ahead of us. We have a mobile quarterback who could create out of structure. We can have a more diverse run game with read option and,

Starting point is 00:03:29 and, and stuff like that. And, you know, at the end of the day, a young quarterback is going to take more chances. I mean, Matt Ryan took chances,

Starting point is 00:03:36 but they were mostly just idiotic throws. You know, Sam Ellinger is just going to chuck the ball down the field. He's going to make things happen out of the pocket. It might not all be pretty. A lot of it will be bad, but I'm so excited just to have a quarterback in Indy starting that is not some washed up has been or some guys moved around in free agency. I say this with all the love in the

Starting point is 00:03:56 world. I think Matt Ryan has always been a great quarterback. This year, it obviously didn't work. I thought Phillip Rivers was awesome. I was really against the Carson Wentz trade, but he had some moments even, but it is time for Indy to kind of embrace the, like, I'm not even saying St. Mollinger sucks or anything, but like, it's a kind of embrace the, the no mediocrity standard, you know, like mediocrity is the worst thing. I said it a couple of weeks ago, mediocre mediocrity is like a stain on your t-shirt. You know, you keep that t-shirt because you think the stain is not that bad, and you end up wearing this stupid stained t-shirt for years, where if you have a giant hole in that shirt, you're going to toss it. Now the Colts are finally going to either rip that shirt in half, or they're going to clean that stain. That's what Sam Ellinger is.

Starting point is 00:04:39 He's either going to clean that stain, or he's going to totally rip that shirt off. And I'm so excited for it. And it was kind of like a weight off of my shoulders, you know, like the second they said Sam Allender is the starter, all of my fears and worries about this season just went off my shoulders because now I'm not going into games being like, okay, the Colts have to win. This is like their, you know, it's their win now season. You know, this is, they threw all their chips at Stefan Gilmore, Yannick Ngakwe, Matt Ryan.

Starting point is 00:05:04 And, you know, they're trying to go all in to save these guys' jobs, Frank Reich and Chris Ballard's jobs. Now it's basically a rookie quarterback, first-time starting quarterback, and have some fun out there. I'm feeling so much more full of life with Sam Ellinger, the quarterback. Even if I think he's worse than Matt Ryan somehow, I just feel way more excited about Sam Ellinger than, and, you know, like the direction of this Colts team right now than I did

Starting point is 00:05:29 these last couple of years of just settling for mediocrity. Yeah, I honestly can't say how this is going to go because, I mean, Matt Ryan, I was on board with that move when they made it. And I mean, they're pulling the plug midway through the season. I think for the team they thought they had, Matt Ryan might have been the right guy for that. But it turns out their team is in much more, is in much dire straits than they thought. And so, you know, it's time for a change. This clearly wasn't working. You know, even when Ryan did have time to throw, he was making some just terrible mistakes. He looked, he just looked rattled. And maybe that's something they're acknowledging as well. And one thing I, again,

Starting point is 00:06:12 I'm not going to say this is going to go great or anything, but something that makes me feel better was, you know, I've seen Sam Ellinger now two summers in a row in training camp in the preseason, really smart kid. Number one, I don't think they're just throwing some numbskull out there hoping he makes plays. Since day one of him being in the building, they've talked about this kid's a sponge. He's a really smart player. He's a perfect backup quarterback because he's going to know the system right away, day one. Mentally, Ellinger knows Frank Reich's system. He doesn't have the reps on the field to actually do, you know, he hasn't physically done them, but he knows it mentally. And so watching him play in the preseason, for example, if we thought the Colts offensive line, the starters were bad, their second team

Starting point is 00:06:57 line was terrible. Like if you guys remember, Ellinger was under duress constantly, but he still balled out big time. Like, if your line is going to be that bad and the Colts' line is still very leaky despite what they've done these last few weeks, you've got to have a guy that can move around by time and find guys downfield. Because that's another thing that's been missing is the downfield shots. Michael Pittman Jr. pulled no punches about it after the game.

Starting point is 00:07:24 He said, they have to trust us to get the ball downfield shots. Michael Pittman Jr. pulled no punches about it after the game. He said they have to trust us to get the ball downfield. This might work out a little bit with Ellinger. He can extend plays. He can escape that pressure. And he's not got the strongest arm, but he is going to be aggressive. From what we've seen, he's aggressive about going downfield. Just to jump in for a second, I will say this. I have always made fun of Sam Ellinger's arm. I have. And you guys know that. I have been very clear about making – last year I even said – I think there was a time in the offseason where I said,

Starting point is 00:07:54 if you just give Sam Ellinger Jacob Eason's arm, you're looking at a really good quarterback. Because I liked so many things about Sam Ellinger. I liked the head on his shoulders. I liked his mechanics. I liked his mobility. I liked his poise. It's just I didn't believe in that arm.

Starting point is 00:08:06 And I even made a joke on this show before training camp even started, you know, Sam Ellinger versus a strong gust of wind. You know, can he beat that strong gust of wind? But I will say this. He came into camp, and I'm not saying that his arm looked like Josh Allen in camp by any means, but just watching that camp and watching what he did in the preseason, I came away being like, you know what? The arm doesn't look like a major liability. Like, yes, there were still some moments, but like his arm looked better in training camp and in the preseason. So, you know, if that arm is taking the steps forward and it's starting to, you know, if the throws are a little easier for him in terms of like driving outside the numbers and driving in the tight windows,

Starting point is 00:08:48 then he can be a good quarterback. Because again, he's got the smarts, he's got the mechanics, he's got the poise. It's just that arm strength is always the big holdup. So now we're going to see it against real NFL players, not against guys who are going to play in the XFL going forward or anything like that. But I'm just excited, man. I mean, even if it completely fails and he doesn't win a game the rest of the season, that's good for the Colts. You know, they're out of mediocrity and they're getting a high pick for a quarterback, maybe for their next coach or their next GM. So I think there's no real loss here in starting Sam Ellinger. Maybe it gives the team a spark

Starting point is 00:09:23 and Sam Ellinger plays well and they make the playoffs or it blows up in their face. Like I, I'm excited for it, man. It's just going to be, it's going to be fun football. You know, I, we said it a lot on this show that the Colts this season have just been boring and bad. Like it has just been so boring. It's the defense is saving one of the worst offenses in football.

Starting point is 00:09:42 Now, you know, the offense could still be bad, but at least you're going to have a quarterback that can run in circles back there and make something happen. Even if it's a horrible thing that he makes happen, that's more fun. Like I had so much more fun watching Carson Wentz than Matt Ryan this year, because at least it was crazy with Carson Wentz. You know, there was some goofiness with it. And I'm hoping Ellinger's not like that, but I just like a mobile quarterback that's going to make something happen if you're going to already be bad. So, yeah, I hope Sam Ellinger's awesome, and I hope he's the franchise quarterback going forward, and I hope he excels. But either way, I think this is a win for the Colts because, finally, they're not settling for mediocrity. They are going with the young kid and just seeing what's happening.

Starting point is 00:10:21 Yeah, at least if it's going to be chaotic, there aren't expectations. Like with Carson Wentz, it was crazy chaotic, but there were expectations because the Colts were pretty good. There were high expectations going into this season and it's been chaotic in a different way, like almost soul crushing, but you have a brand new young quarterback. So if it's chaotic, it's whatever. Before we move on and talk about some of the other guys around Elinger that may benefit from this move or get hurt, we'll see, we're actually going to talk to you about something else that's pretty exciting, we think, our new sponsor, Prediction Strike.

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Starting point is 00:11:57 for example. Invest in what you know on Prediction Strike, the stock market for sports all right Zach so other than uh Michael Pittman Jr you know his his high Target share and everything Paris Campbell recently even though he's cleaning up way shorter to the sticks he's not averaging 10 yards of carry who are some of these guys around the Colts offense that you think might benefit from Ellinger being the new quarterback? Yeah, I think the biggest benefit is going to be the run game. This run game has been so predictable and just ugly this season. And when you have an offensive line that is just missing block after block in the run game, it obviously is, you know, your running backs are set up to fail, but it's also such a predictable rushing attack.

Starting point is 00:12:41 It's just going to be shotgun sweep, shotgun dive. And then earlier in the season, it was you know up the middle a lot of just kind of like uh you're under under under center and then just up the middle like h back dive stuff like it was just very very simplistic and everything that they were doing uh with the run game but now when you add someone like sam ellinger you know you've got read option as something good you have you know plays where the defense kind of has to account for Ellinger. You could have some RPOs where you're going to have that defense sitting back because Ellinger could pull it out and throw it right behind them to a

Starting point is 00:13:13 receiver. Now, again, it might not be perfect, but just having that threat of a mobile quarterback, having the threat of a quarterback that could beat you with his legs, it's going to open up the running game a lot more. And then the other player that I think really benefits from this is Alec Pierce. You know, I'm not saying Ellinger is going to be a guy who's going to throw the ball 60 yards down the field to him every single play. But when you have more broken plays, Alec Pierce is phenomenal at broken plays.

Starting point is 00:13:35 That was one of his calling cards in college. You know, whenever there was a broken play, he was working back to his receiver. He was working open. And he was usually down in the field. So it can be, you know, a big chunk play on a broken pocket. I think Alec Pierce is going to get a lot more of those broken plays where Ellinger is getting out of the pocket, he's scrambling for his life, and he's going to find Pierce down the field. So I think this run game has the potential to get a lot better with Ellinger. And I think Alec Pierce, we're going to see that stock go soaring here in

Starting point is 00:14:02 recent weeks, in the next couple weeks. Yeah, I think that's a really good point. And let's also not forget that Ellinger was just promoted to backup a couple, a few weeks ago based on that mobility and the pizzazz that he brings to the offense. So that was already something they hoped to have in their back pocket. Now it's something they can use throughout the game. Opens up the playbook a little bit. but i think you're right with alec pierce i think you know his ability to make contested catches and everything will be huge joannie woods to a similar degree right uh but one

Starting point is 00:14:34 guy i thought ellinger really meshed with this summer you know in training camp in the preseason was kylan granson yes uh so we'll we'll see who becomes Ellinger's security blanket. But gone to my head, I think Kylan Granson stock goes up a little bit, obviously the run game as well. It's more diverse, but yeah, I'm a, I think these big receivers might be used as big downfield receivers now. Yeah. Well, Kylan Granson is going to be awesome in RPOs. Like he is a tight end built for rpos because what you could do is you could fake you know like a wham or a trap run and where you're pulling him across the line and

Starting point is 00:15:10 then if ellinger's pulling that ball out it's just a quick dump off to grants and grants is good after the catch he's fast you know so that could be a nice little thing for him or you know again you do the rpo fake and then you have grants and doing a little little uh curl route or you know just a little spot route right there up the middle like Like those are all options for someone like Kylan Granson in the RPO game. So yeah, I think Kylan Granson's a great call. I didn't even think about that. I knew the tight ends, you know, I was feeling good about Jelani Woods and Kylan Granson with this, but Kylan Granson, yeah, I'm with you. I think that's going to be, there's some really good potential for him and he's already had a pretty good year. But yeah, you know, at the end of the day, the ball is going to hopefully

Starting point is 00:15:45 just come out and there's going to be more broken plays and more opportunities when this offensive line is just getting steamrolled because this offensive line is going to continue getting steamrolled the rest of the season. It's just who they are. They are not a good offensive line whatsoever. And Sam Ellinger stepping in is not going to change that. You just have a quarterback that could get away and could break the pocket. And, you know, you're going to see a lot of guys working to uncover down the field. And, yeah, Alec Pierce, Kylan Grant, and Jelani Woods, Michael Pittman Jr., obviously. I think the stock is up for all of those guys where, you know, it might hurt for someone like Paris Campbell just because, you know, how accurate and how quick is that ball going to come out now if you have a quarterback?

Starting point is 00:16:24 You know, Ellinger's probably going to hold the ball a little longer than Matt Ryan. So you're probably not going to see as many – you know, you're not going to see eight targets to Paris Campbell two yards down the field because that ball's probably going to come out. You know, the running backs might not get targeted as much either. So I think those guys could get hurt by Ellinger starting. But I do think, you know, again, more broken plays,

Starting point is 00:16:42 more throws down the field once the pocket is broken. I think that's just going to be another fun element to this offense now with Ellinger out there. Yeah, and just to kind of keep it balanced, of course, you mentioned some of the downsides, some guys who may be affected negatively. Now, Ellinger is a smart guy, but you obviously lose those 15 years of experience from what ryan can process in his mind you know he's seen this you know this guy come on a blitz before in this style he knows all about this defensive coordinator he can identify this extra rusher coming in this package things like just random things like that i i do think ellinger will pick those things up

Starting point is 00:17:22 but that is something you lose but still this, it's not like that's been something that's been a huge benefit for the Colts. Other than Ryan having some high passing yardage games and comeback attempts and stuff, it's not like the passing game has been some gaudy Peyton Manning-esque type of deal. Yeah, I will say, I think you lose... I think the Colts passing game in straight drop back like obvious passing situations is going to look worse. Because I think Matt Ryan, for how bad he looked this season,

Starting point is 00:17:53 when the game was on the line and they needed like a fourth quarter drive or whatever, he looked good. That game against the Jaguars, he looked good the entire game. And those were in a lot of straight drop back, quick passes, and stuff like that. I do think Ellinger is not that kind of guy. He's not a guy who can just drop back and be a pocket passer for 50 passes a game. He's a guy that you want to move the pocket.

Starting point is 00:18:12 You want to use RPOs. You want to use read options. You want to use him like Jalen Hurts. You know, I think that is the way you want to use him. So if you get in situations where the Colts are down two scores and you have to throw the ball to come back, I don't think that's a good situation to have Ellinger. That is kind of where I'd rather have a Matt Ryan, even though Matt Ryan, again, has been bad this year. I would rather have that veteran quarterback who can operate from the pocket. And if you have to throw the ball 50

Starting point is 00:18:36 times, you feel better about that than Sam Ellinger. But if the Colts can stay ahead, if they can not turn the ball over, hopefully, hopefully Ellinger's not turned the ball over a bunch and they can keep that run pass balance and that rpo balance and the read option balance i think ellinger can be effective uh but again if they get into dire straights like they've been getting into yeah i think it could look bad but again it's gonna be more fun either way it's gonna be fun i'm excited sure yeah if you can't tell i i think you guys can see that we're both in favor of this cautious optimism but i think more than anything it's gonna be fun it's it's a welcome change i think for us today we could obviously talk about this more but we're

Starting point is 00:19:17 gonna bring you something bigger and meatier on wednesday you know now that we have this kind of enormous move uh we can we can kind of craft a pretty nice approach for you guys. Because there's also, you know, there's down, not downfalls, but there's dominoes to this too. Like how do the Colts move from here? You guys are going to see Zach is going to put something on Horseshoe Huddle here shortly. Something that we'll definitely touch on when we get back with you guys. Yeah, yeah.

Starting point is 00:19:43 So you guys who follow the show religiously or daily or something like that, this will be our quote unquote Tuesday show. We know we're posting it here on Monday night, so you guys can get it right away. Uh, but this will be our Tuesday show. We'll be back with you guys on Wednesday. Uh, and before we, we leave today, I want to tell you guys about our friends at Blue Nile, whether you're looking to pop the question, have a milestone to celebrate, or want to let your love life sparkle. Blue Nile. Whether you're looking to pop the question, have a milestone to celebrate, or want to let your love life sparkle, Blue Nile can help you make your celebrations even more memorable. As the original online jeweler, dang it, one day I'll get it, one day I'll get it. Blue Nile offers the largest selection of independently graded diamonds and pieces, priced significantly below traditional retailers. Blue Nile has helped

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Starting point is 00:21:06 That's B-L-U-E-N-I-L-E.com, code LOCKEDON, to save $50 on your purchase of $500 or more. BlueNile.com, code LOCKEDON. Guys, we will be back on Wednesday morning to talk all things, kind of the fallout from all this, guys. So check us Wednesday morning, Locked on Colts. We'll be back.

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Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts Make HUGE Move, Bench Matt Ryan for Sam Ehlinger

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