Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts' Nick Cross Among Those Needing Rebound vs. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Colts begin their joint practice journey this week as they host the Arizona Cardinals. And here are some of the most critical things that I'm going to have my eyes glued to. 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, part of the Locked On Podcast

Starting point is 00:00:36 Network, your team every day. And today's show is brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs, which helps you find the qualified candidates that you want to talk to faster. Just post your job for free at linkedin.com slash locked on NFL. That's linkedin.com slash locked on NFL to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply. What is up, everybody? This is Jake Arthur from horseshoehuddle.com, and I'm your resident credentialed media member.

Starting point is 00:01:02 Your boots on the ground there throughout training camp, they're in the press box during the games, telling you what I know and what I'm your resident credentialed media member. Your boots on the ground there throughout training camp, there in the press box during the games, telling you what I know and what I'm thinking. If you want to become a Locked On Colts insider and chat with us directly, get that inside scoop from the locker room, the sidelines, the facility throughout the season, follow the link in our show notes. So today what we're talking about, the Colts on Wednesday and Thursday

Starting point is 00:01:26 have joint practices. They're at Grand Park in Westfield against the Arizona Cardinals coming all the way from the Southwest. They're going to have two days of practices and then on Saturday they will have their second preseason game. So we're going to talk about guys who could really bounce back with big performances in these joint practices and then kind of the keys I'm looking for for the Colts offense and their defense. So first off, just to kind of explain the magnitude of the joint practices. So players, coaches, teams in general take these joint practices much more seriously than preseason games. There's more game planning involved. You can get your significant players more reps. You're not just trying to get guys shuffled through to make sure you can evaluate as many people as possible like you would in a

Starting point is 00:02:20 preseason game. So this is the best gauge for where some of your players are. And so guys who have had kind of a rough summer or are coming off a rough preseason opener Sunday, these guys, if they really stand out during these joint practices, it can kind of turn their summer around. So we've got a handful of guys here who could really use the bounce back. Let's start with tight end Jelani Woods. So this is someone who, again, has not had the best go of it really for the last year or so. Last offseason, it started, he got some hamstring injuries. He was out during pretty much the whole offseason program. I think he had two training camp practices before he went out with a hamstring injury. And around the time he was going to start coming back

Starting point is 00:03:10 off of IR during the season, he got another one. And so we never saw him during his second season. And it was unfortunate because he got pretty hyped up after showing a lot of flashes of being like an athletic mismatch playmaker as a rookie two years ago. So this offseason got off to a pretty good start, looked really good in spring ball, was able to stretch the field, you know, catch the ball down the field, but also catch the ball in stride and make some things happen with his feet. During camp, he's really had more days with multiple drops than he has big plays.

Starting point is 00:03:48 And the preseason game, he did make a nice play in traffic, but just kind of mixed results overall. And he's really getting the vast majority of his work with the second and third teams. So it's not a good indication when you look at guys like Drew Ogletree, Moella Cox, and Kylan Branson. They're all running with the first team for the most part. So Jelani Woods really is going against Will Mallory just to really survive and make the roster, in my estimation. At one point, it was assumed that Woods was going to be like the guy at tight end. Now we're we're to the point where we're just wondering if he's going to be able to hold on and make the roster. So showing out against a pretty weak Cardinals defense could be a big thing for him.

Starting point is 00:04:49 Everyone knows what he's capable of, but you kind of got to get out of your own way at a certain point and quit dropping the ball and take advantage of the opportunities you're given. Because the more he does that, the more he's going to get reps with, you know, Anthony Richardson and, you know, the people of consequence that he needs to be playing with. So hopefully a good weekend coming for Woods. Nick Cross, I'll throw Dallas Flowers in here as well. So Cross has had kind of a mixed summer. He has had some good plays. He made a nice interception one day against Anthony Richardson. But he also has kind of become public enemy number one for Colts fans on the defensive side of the ball. Because the coaches just seem to be clinging to him. The Colts aren't making any outside moves.

Starting point is 00:05:27 And so without really having a great camp and, and dominating and really grabbing hold of that free safety spot, he's kind of a point of frustration, it seems. So on just on Sunday, at first, I thought he had made a really heads-up play, actually giving up a short passing touchdown. But I asked Gus Bradley about that today, and he said that Cross just simply wasn't out far enough in his coverage.

Starting point is 00:05:58 So that's a guy we've seen make big plays before. Last year in the joint practices against the Bears, he had an interception. So Cross can have a big showing against the Cardinals. And, you know, he goes primarily against the first team. So if he has a big week against Kyler Murray, that could go a long way. And then Dallas Flowers, rough game on Sunday. Had a couple defensive pass interference calls. Was involved in that short passing touchdown with Nick Cross that gave up the touchdown.

Starting point is 00:06:28 So rough go of it for him, especially since the starting outside cornerback race pretty much seems over. It's Jalen Jones' job to lose. Flowers just needs to bounce back in a big way. And he's playing competitive football again, really for the first time since rupturing his Achilles last year. So he has some adjusting to do, but that's a guy who's coming off the worst showing in a year for him. So he needs to bounce back, definitely.

Starting point is 00:07:01 We'll stay on defense here. Eric Johnson, the second, the defensive tackle. The Colts' defensive tackle depth does not really look like a strength right now. Now, part of that is Raekwon Davis has not returned to the field yet. He's got the high blood pressure thing that's kept him on the non-football illness list. Him being out is kind of gumming up the works, it seems. You know, Taven Bryant is having to see a lot more work. It's allowing you to see out of Tomi out of Bore more often.

Starting point is 00:07:33 But a guy like Eric Johnson really has not taken advantage. He of course didn't last year either when Grover Stewart was out with his suspension. So you really hope, especially like in one-on-ones if, if Johnson can show something. It doesn't even have to be during the 11-on-11 reps. But the Colts really need a guy like Johnson to kind of turn it around. Jalen Carlisle.

Starting point is 00:07:53 Now, he has missed the last six practices and the preseason game. I don't know if he's going to return this week from his hip injury against the Cardinals. But if he does, he can build on the momentum that he had really built up about the first week or so of training camp. He got an interception, which of course he got one in the spring as well. So he was starting to make a name for himself as a really solid coverage linebacker. So hopefully, fingers crossed, Carlisle can get back soon, hopefully against the Cardinals in these joint practices. And then we're going to talk about, just real quick, a few offensive players.

Starting point is 00:08:32 Tyler Goodson. So the Colts are pretty banged up at running back right now. So it's really going to shine a light on guys like Evan Hull and Tyler Goodson. Now that Trey Sermon's out, Trent Penix is out. So Goodson, it's not so much that he's been bad. I just think that Evan Hall has received a lot more attention. So if Goodson is really going to make this thing interesting, he could use a strong week here, at least to show the coaches that, hey, I'm still the guy you really liked late last

Starting point is 00:09:00 season. I'm still here. I can make some plays and maybe know, maybe he wins the RB3 job. We'll see. And then Blake Freeland and Jake Witt. Freeland had a real rough go of it in the preseason game on Sunday. And then Jake Witt has kind of had an off and on summer, spent the first part of training camp having to deal with Laatu Latatu. And then it didn't get a whole lot easier when he was handed Gennard Avery and Isaiah Land and Titus Leo. So Witt is still very much developing, but he could use a break

Starting point is 00:09:34 and kind of a standout performance against the Cardinals. So that's it for guys who we really hope can rebound and improve their stock coming out of the two joint practices. Coming up, we're going to look at the offensive side of the ball and some things to keep an eye on. Passion, drive, and patience. The formula for winning championships is also what keeps your ride or die alive. eBay Motors is everything that you need to maintain your vehicle and level it up to peak performance. Superchargers, roof racks, exhaust kits, LED headlights, and more. Whether you're into speed, power, or style, eBay Motors has got you

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Starting point is 00:10:44 Your first listen today. Now for your second list and afterwards, customers. And thanks again for making locked on culture. First listen today. Now for your second list and afterwards, enjoy the locked on fantasy football podcast. Cause after all your redraft leagues are about to start firing up tenfold here in a couple of weeks, get the daily insight to the best fantasy draft strategy. So you can win your league this season. It's part of the locked on podcast network,

Starting point is 00:11:04 your team every day. All right, so let's talk Colts offense and what we'd like to see against the Arizona defense this week. So first off, I'm looking at the Colts offense, and I'm saying we all know what it's capable of. Like they've got a lot of guys with high ceilings, with playmaking ability. They've got to show that this week because Arizona's defense is not great. So last year they ranked 25th overall in yards per game.

Starting point is 00:11:31 They were dead last against the run. They were second to last in points per game. Pro football focus kind of trumpeted that. They had them graded as the worst defense in the league by a wide margin. They had a 50.9 grade. I think second worst was 60. So by 10 points, they were considered the worst defense in the league. So the Colts offense has to make them look like it. Now I will say to their credit, they've done some things to try and build up the offense this off or the defense this off season.

Starting point is 00:12:07 But a lot of it's young guys. I don't know how quickly it's going to take hold. They obviously, they added Darius Robinson, Max Melton, who we really liked Elijah Jones, who actually fit the Colts. Deidre and Taylor Demerson was Zach's favorite safety in the draft. A handful of defense or a handful of free agents as well.

Starting point is 00:12:26 Justin Jones and belong Nichols on the inside. Linebacker Mack Wilson, Sean Murphy Bunting, really experienced corner and free agency. So Arizona is trying. They're trying to get better defensively, but this Colts offense has got to make them look like the crappy defense that they were last year. So how is Anthony Richardson and the offense going to look in an extended look against another team? Because again, they just got two drives on Sunday and mixed reviews. I mean, Anthony was two of four. He had a run in there and those two drives, they punted and didn't score any points. But this is going to be all day. It's going to be like two hours against another team. It's going to be the closest thing to a regular season game that they're

Starting point is 00:13:08 going to get to for a month. So Anthony, how does he work obviously in his development footwork and, you know, kind of just the fundamentals, those things, but how quickly does he process what the Cardinals defense is bringing and distribute the ball?

Starting point is 00:13:25 Is he going to glom on to just a couple guys? Is it going to be where Michael Pittman Jr. and, you know, A.D. Mitchell catch 100 balls a day? Is he going to spread it around and work through his reads? Because Jim Bob Cooter, offensive coordinator, just said today, one thing that really stands out to me about Anthony is kind of his spatial awareness and his ability to see the defense quite literally through his peripheral vision and process where defenders are versus where he can make his reads and how quickly he can get the ball out.

Starting point is 00:13:59 So I think Anthony needs to show a bit of that. How do the Colts pass catchers look? Because I think this is a good opportunity for them to exploit a defense that's kind of rough in a lot of spots defensively. I mean, obviously you've got like Buda Baker, but in the middle of the field, they're just definitely I think they could take advantage of the cornerback situation. So you've got this new look with like Michael Pittman Jr.

Starting point is 00:14:24 and Alec Pierce on the outside with A.D. Mitchell on the inside, Anthony Gould getting some work there as well. Do we see guys like Kylan Granson and Drew Ogletree and hopefully, like we mentioned, Jelani Woods step up and start making even more plays in the passing game? Pretty confident with the run game. If Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor are back there, I'm never really going to have any concerns about that because that would be, honestly, on the whole roster, I think that would be the most shocking thing if it didn't work out this year. As you look at the run game and you look at the

Starting point is 00:15:03 defensive front and the pass rush if those things aren't clicking things are going terribly because those should be the two most secure areas of the the colts whole roster so um how do those pass catchers look again how is ad mitchell adjusting to the slot uh jim bob cooter you know i'm going to mention again today because we just got done talking to him uh he said a lot of times teams with rookie receivers, they try and focus rookie receivers just on one role. You know, master this role from the X, even just simply as a deep threat. But A.D. Mitchell has been moved around quite a bit, you know, both outside spots. He's been put in the slot. He's gotten most of those looks in the slot since Josh Downs went out.

Starting point is 00:15:52 And Jim Bob said they've really been pleased with how well AD is able to pick things up, learn them, and keep it moving. He's adjusted really well. So those are some things really looking forward to the pass game. There's a couple battles as well. RB3, we kind of mentioned. Evan Hull versus Tyler Goodson. Again, Arizona gave up the most rushing yards in the league last year. They've added some beef in the middle, but how

Starting point is 00:16:13 are things going to look from the Colts' perspective? Obviously, it's not going to be a lot of live hitting. There's going to be some, I'm sure, but how does the blocking look? How are guys hitting the hole? I mean, we know how it's going to look with Jonathan Taylor, but are Evan Hull and Tyler Goodson going to take advantage of that? They've got Demetrik Felton in there now who kind of took Trent Penix's spot. So just look for guys to take advantage of what is hopefully good blocking from the Colts up front. Offensive tackle three as well. Blake Freeland coming off that really rough showing on Sunday. But Matt Gonsalves, that is a guy who has turned some heads. He had a good showing on Sunday. So two guys vying for the same role that

Starting point is 00:16:59 are kind of going in two different directions. Freeland, you know, he's got more experience. He's older, but Gonsalves is looking a little better. So keep an eye on that, especially against Darius Robinson. I don't care how good he is as a player yet, but when it comes to one-on-one reps, I think a guy like that is going to offer fits to really any blocker who's going against him. He showed that at the Senior Bowl. He was one of the most dominant defensive linemen there in those one-on-one reps. But he's kind of reminiscent of Danico Autry, where he's got really strong grip, long arms, really powerful upper body.

Starting point is 00:17:37 And his mixture of length and strength just really causes issues. So how's that going to look against the Colts blockers? I think like Robinson versus Gonsalves and Freeland, I guess you could say, will be really good one-on-one reps for us to check out. So coming up next, let's tie this thing on. Let's look at the Colts defense. When you're hiring for your small business, you want to find quality professionals who are right for the role. And that's why you have to check out LinkedIn Jobs, which has the tools to help find the right professionals for your team faster and for free. LinkedIn isn't just a job board

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Starting point is 00:18:59 Terms and conditions apply. All right, so defense. I think they're going to have a little bit more of a unique challenge against the Cardinals offense. Obviously, Kyler Murray, he's a little guy, but he's very fast. He's very quick. He's got a strong arm. He poses a lot of the same issues that Anthony Richardson does for defenses. So you look at the defensive front, your guys with better lateral movement, like Laotulatu, DeForest Buckner, Quitty even up front, those guys are going to have a challenge.

Starting point is 00:19:36 How does Zyre Franklin and EJ Speed respond? I think that'll be really big for them to kind of combat Arizona's run game horizontally because up the middle, I'm very confident in the Colts defense, really big for them to kind of combat Arizona's run game horizontally. Because up the middle, I'm very confident in the Colts defense. But when Arizona tries to stretch them sideline to sideline, how does that look? Obviously, Marvin Harrison Jr. coming to town, huge test for the Colts pass defense. I mean, they do have some talented players.

Starting point is 00:20:05 Otherwise, you know, Michael Wilson, Trey McBride. So I don't think a lot of people are super confident in the Colts pass defense right now. Juju Brents had to miss Friday's game. He missed Friday's practice Sunday's game with a little bit of a shoulder issue is mostly rest. But if he had to play an actual regular season game, he would have been out there. But is he going to be out there? Is he going to look good when he's out there against some capable players in the Arizona passing game? If Marvin Harrison Jr. makes you look foolish, understandable. If you're in good coverage, that is. But you've got to show if you're in good coverage, that is.

Starting point is 00:20:45 But you've got to show that you're able to at least stick with your man. So, the Marvin Harrison juniors of the world are going to make everybody look bad at some point. But you just have to at least be in the right spot. And just have gotten honestly beaten by someone who's going to be a superior athlete to pretty much everybody they face. So really looking at, you know, brands, guys like cross Rodney Thomas, um, Dallas flowers, guys, we talked about needing a big bounce back. How do they look against Arizona's passing game? Uh, and then when it gets to Arizona's second, third team, um, you know, Clayton tune at quarterback,

Starting point is 00:21:26 Desmond Ritter at quarterback. Toon is a young guy, and Desmond Ritter was one of the most poorly graded passers last year in the NFL. So when you look at Sunday's game, it didn't, you know, with the Broncos, it didn't really matter who was out there, especially Bo Nix, a rookie in his own right. They were kind of torching the Colts defense. So don't let these guys who are backups for a reason go out there and just stomp all over you. That pass rush has got to be clicking. Again, guys like Jannard Avery, Isaiah Land, Titus Leo, they're lesser known names. They're smaller names, but you really got to get those guys running with the backup. So, you know, a couple of position battles are going to the defensive tackle depth. At a Tomiwa, stepping up would be big. Eric Johnson, again, we mentioned that.

Starting point is 00:22:19 Taven Bryan, again, he's not the guy everybody loves to see, but he does have some strengths. He's quick. He does have some pass rush ability. How does he look? Does it make you feel better about what is behind DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart? And who knows? Fingers crossed, maybe Raekwon Davis gets out there sooner rather than later. The free safety battle.

Starting point is 00:22:43 Gus Bradley just told us today that in the last 10 days or so, they're noticing a change in Nick Cross and Ronnie Thomas. Cross in particular is kind of improving his angles and his leverage. That's when he's at free safety. They think he's still got some stuff to work on when it comes to strong safety, you know, missed tackles and things like that. So I don't know, guys, we're going to see. Hopefully you guys can go out there for the two 6 p.m. practices, Wednesday and Thursday. I will be out there, of course, bringing you coverage,

Starting point is 00:23:17 post-game shows here over on horseshoehuddle.com, my whole notebook as well. So make sure if you guys can't get out there i got you covered uh go read my stuff go watch what uh what zach and i'll bring you here and again thank you guys for making locked on colts your first listen today now go over and listen to locked on fantasy football podcast get daily insights to the best fantasy draft strategies so that you can win your league this year and again if you want to become a locked on Colts insider and chat with us directly, get the inside scoop,

Starting point is 00:23:49 follow the link in our show notes. And if you don't already follow at locked on Colts at Jake Arthur, NFL, and at Zach Hicks too on Twitter, we are on Instagram and Tik TOK as well. So get us there and subscribe here on YouTube. If you are already in wherever you listen to podcasts, we would love your ratings and reviews as well. So get us there and subscribe here on YouTube if you aren't already and wherever you listen to podcasts. We would love your ratings and reviews as well. Really proud of where we are on the charts. We're going up, up, up and the ratings and reviews definitely helps us,

Starting point is 00:24:14 gets even more eyes and ears on us. So with that, you guys have a great day and we will see you for these joint practices.

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Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts' Nick Cross Among Those Needing Rebound vs. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

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