Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts Offseason Review with Kevin Bowen

Episode Date: May 20, 2021

On today's episode, Evan is joined by 107.5/1070 The Fan's Kevin Bowen to recap the Colts' entire 2021 offseason. From acquiring Carson Wentz to signing Eric Fisher, plus everything in between, all goes under the microscope.First, though, the Julio Jones rumors need to be addressed. After it's been reported Atlanta is open to trading Jones, many have pointed to why Indianapolis could be a great fit. However, that's not truly the case. Evan and Kevin explain why Jones becoming a Colt makes no sense.Diving into the offseason discussion, we kick it off with Carson Wentz. How has Indy built a solid ecosystem around Wentz to succeed? Will the offense look any different from Andrew Luck, Jacoby Brissett, and Philip Rivers?How did Indy go about addressing big needs on both side of the football? Evan and Kevin go over why GM Chris Ballard really hit everything at an efficient rate.All of this, plus so much more, in a must-listen episode recapping the Colts' 2021 offseason! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You are Locked On Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello everybody, welcome back to our latest episode of Locked On Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Today as always, your host Evan Sider, joined by a very special guest for today's episode. Recap really the Colts offseason as a whole. We're going to talk through everything here on today's episode. Kevin Bowen of 107.5, 1070 The Fan joins us. Kevin, how are you doing today? Doing good, Evan. How are you doing? How are you doing, man? No, I'm doing good like it's finally

like we're just talking off the air for a little bit you finally got back to the practice field today for the first time in a little bit has been very sporadic throughout the pandemic and hopefully we're getting back to some normalcy there it's great to see you out there on the practice field getting some coverage in for for the website you also wrote a great notebook on that so go check it out over on 107.510 sending 10 sending the fan, but Kevin, let's talk versus real quick. I want to shoot these down before they get started, because I imagine you're mentioned or just like mine as well. At the moment,

Julio Jones, we're hearing a lot of rumors around Atlanta, trying to offload that huge contract that Julio Jones has. He's 32 years old. He's been banged up the last couple of years as well. It makes sense on paper for obviously, because the Colts are one of the teams that has some cap space left. Really not much, though, even after the Eric Fisher trade.

And with the limited extensions, too, for Darius Leonard and Braden Smith, it's probably going to be near zero here pretty soon. Let's just go ahead, Kevin, and just shoot this down. I don't think there's any possibility that Chris Bauer trades draft capital for a 32-year-old wide receiver. I know Julio's a great receiver, one of the best of all time. But the fit here in Indy, think is not really that great especially when they really are banking on a lot of potential for huge years for Michael Kim and Junior and Paris Campbell yeah I mean to be totally honest with you Evan I don't really know where traction began with this rumor I'm a little confused by just like you said given the cap space situation the

Colts have um they'd really have to finagle some things and that's not really the Colts MO at all um I do think Julio Jones is still a very good player I know he's a little bit banged up last year but I feel like he's been relatively durable actually probably pretty durable over the previous years leading into that. And, I mean, you know, 1,300-yard seasons, 1,400-yard seasons, that's been the norm even as he's reached the age of 30. Again, I know last year, obviously, he was a little bit banged up and certainly didn't produce to the type of, you know, where he set that Hall of Fame bar that he'll obviously go into Canton

one day for. So I still think he'd be a pretty good player. But again, I think given the cap situation like you laid out, and then obviously the draft capital is not, you know, at that point to where I think you just have a lot of expendable picks to make that move. And it's a team that's bullish on Michael Pittman, rightfully so, and still has a ton of belief in Paris Campbell,

which I think is more of just kind of guesswork because you can't really predict injuries like that when he's had the injury history that you have. But, yeah, I don't see it happening. I'm not, again, entirely sure where all this buildup has happened, but I'd be pretty stunned. Yeah, totally right there with you. And just last point here on the Julio talks, just to put it to bed here, Kevin. Let's say hypothetically that T.Y. Hilton does end up in Baltimore instead of Indy. He comes back to Indy, obviously, on a one-year $10 million deal with some incentives thrown in there as well.

If T.Y., let's say, ended up in Baltimore instead, went to Baltimore on that multi-year deal, maybe that changes the discussion there because, obviously, the Colts would need a veteran, but T.Y.'s kind of that guy now. Yeah, that's a good point. Yeah, certainly if your cap situation or how the offseason went would have gone differently, that would have been in the cards. Now, you know, obviously are you going to get whatever,

two months removed from the bulk of free agency and then you just kind of bank on, you know, a la Eric Fisher. I know Eric Fisher was on the open market for two months, but, you know, Julio would be a little bit of a different story. And then also you've got to give up some draft picks as well. So I thought the wideout market was deep enough that I was a little bit surprised they didn't make another move just because, you know, if Campbell does go down, you really are in the same situation

you were last year. Now, obviously, you're hoping Michael Pittman emerges and takes another step forward. You know, a guy like Desmond Patman, he's not the same skill set as Campbell. I think too many times we just kind of group all the wideouts together, and we don't necessarily look at individual skill sets, which is, you know, when I guess Campbell went down for the first time, everybody's clamoring for Reese Fountain there. You know, I even think Patman at the time, but, you know, to Michael Harris ended up being a guy that

got a bigger role because, again, he is a little bit more of a similar skill set. So I do think that's something to keep in mind as well if that does happen. Kevin, let's go ahead and dive in now to some offseason talk for the Colts. Obviously a huge offseason just pretty much

wrapped up after the Eric Fisher signing. I can't imagine the Colts really do much of anything else heading into training camp. Today was your first time seeing Carson Wentz up close and personal throwing the ball, obviously with COVID-19 protocols a little bit further away than the field and right up close where he could be at Grand Park. But three months after the trade, Kevin, how do you feel about the Wentz trade and after seeing him today throw for the first time? What's the difference that you saw between a guy like Phillip Rivers last year

and with Carson Wentz around the ball well i would say my first impressions were kind of this i mean size wise you you're used to that type of quarterback for the colts i mean andrew luck was what six four two thirty jacoby brissett very similar build as well uh obviously philip rivers probably bigger than that i I think they listed him at 6'5", 240. And I feel like Wentz is very, very close to that. So that's the first thing that stands out to me is just, I mean, Colts do have some big quarterbacks. And you see a guy like Sam Ellinger out there who's not, you know, small.

But, I mean, he's definitely smaller than the other two and probably even smaller than Jalen Morton now that I think about it. But I would say the two things that stood out to me that you don't see with Rivers is the speed. All right, I guess speed probably isn't the right word, but just there's a fluidity to his athleticism where you're rolling out and you just have the ability to make a few more plays and certainly escape things and create some off-script stuff.

And then the arm. I mean, there is just kind of an effortless motion, similar to Jacob Eason with both of them throwing together because oftentimes you would watch Philip Rivers and Jacoby Brissett throw back-to-back, and you would see a stark contrast in their arm strength. But I would say that's what kind of jumps out to me about Wentz is, you know, you see these number two overall pick traits of a guy that, again, is big,

can move, and then has that arm. Now, obviously, in today's session and, you know, really until we get to the preseason and more so the regular season, the guys like Wentz, guys like Jacob Eason, like they should and will look very good in these sessions because that's exactly what they're made for. These are guys that have the big arm. You know, there isn't much of a rush. No one's getting near them.

They should be making these plays, you know, really where I think a guy like Rivershines, when it does get a little chaotic and, you know, defenses where I think a guy like Rivers shines is when it does get a little chaotic and, you know, defenses are throwing different things at you and you've got to be really quick with your decision making. I think that's where a guy like Rivers does shine. So I always try to, when we evaluate offseason work, I always think you got to kind of mention some of that stuff because it does, I think, favor different skill sets, different players with that. But certainly, you know, in the hour plus that we watch Wentz today,

it's the size, it's the effortless with the arm, and it's the ability for a 6'5", 237-pound guy to move. Health permitting, Kevin, just looking at the ecosystem now around Carson Wentz, obviously the Frank Wright connection with Press Taylor as well as on the staff might grow another Philadelphia connection. But on the field, wide receivers being connection with Press Taylor as well is on the staff. Mike Gruner, Philadelphia connection. But on the field, wide receivers being T.Y. Houghton as the veteran presence. You have health-permitting Paris Campbell.

He could be in for a big breakout year this year. Michael Pittman, they have obviously high hopes for there. Zach Paschal is always reliable. And then that tight end, you have Jack Doyle, Molly Cox, Kylan Granson being that new tight end. Obviously, Taylor and Naeem Hines and Marlon Mack in the backfield as well. And then one of the best offensive Mack in the backfield as well. And one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, adding in Eric Fisher,

who might start on the pup list, so he might miss the first six weeks of the season. But probably later on down the road, you might see him really start to gel with the offensive line and really make it a great cohesive unit. It kind of feels like to me, post-draft, post-Fisher signing Kevin, the ecosystem around Carson Wentz is pretty much suffering to thrive, but it really is all in his shoulders here to really right the ship and make things right from what we saw in 2020, where he really just fell off a cliff. Yeah. And that's really the biggest thing that the Colts are, you know, banking on. I asked Frank Reich, you know,

a question earlier in the week about, you know, when you hear, you know, talk of Carson being broken, you know, and obviously that term is not something Frank wants to hear, but it is a term that we've heard. And, you know, how do you unbreak him? In more of an indirect manner, Frank lays out what you just mentioned, Evan, of, you know, better pass protection, better offensive line, you know, more of a stable unit up front. Certainly a bell cow, and Jonathan Taylor, who, you know, can and I think should, I should say could and should really flourish this season. And then I just think a head coach in Frank Reich and a play caller in Frank Reich that he respects.

Now, obviously, Frank was in much more of a good cop role in Philly, and he is going to have to be a little bit of a bad cop if necessary at times because he is the play caller here now, and he is the head coach and not just the offensive coordinator who wasn't calling the plays in Philly. But without a doubt, they believe, and for good reason, support system around Carson Wentz is, again, just puts him in a much better position. And then I think atmosphere-wise, environment-wise, whatever, the city of Indianapolis, the surrounding community,

I believe his wife is from Kentucky. You know, all of that is a little bit more to Carson Wentz's speed than what you have to deal with in Philadelphia. So for all those reasons, I think that is why they believe that a quarterback who did have the most interceptions in the league last year, despite not playing the final four games and, and them and the Eagles, you know, the Wentz camp and the Eagles camp, you clearly had a divorce just, you know, a couple years after thinking that this was going to be the direction moving forward

that the Colts could get him back to. Again, it doesn't have to be 2017 status, but 2018, 2019, I think Colts signed up for that very happily. Last point here on Wentz, Kevin, before we dive into some more offseason talk. Looking just at this Colts offense on paper as a whole and how Carson Wentz can operate it, I went back and watched some more 2017 Wentz with Reich as the play caller there. A lot of motions, a lot of rollouts using his mobility.

Same thing with Andrew Luck in 2018 later in the year. Kind of did the same thing. And then thinking back more to Phillip Rivers last year in 2020, a lot of quick hitting stuff, slants, drags, really not many deep shots, just letting Rivers, without his mobility, just kind of just sit there and go one, two, three, throw, one, two, three, throw, for example, to really limit those turnovers he had in his last year in LA. How do you see like the playbook opening up with Carson Wentz, a quarterback compared to the quarterbacks you've seen in the past with Rivers, Bursette and Luck?

Do you see it's like a mix of everything or how do you see it going down? It's a good question. You know, certainly the rollout element, I think has got to be there a little bit more. I think in general, just the RPO side of the playbook to where you did some stuff last year with Rivers, but it was more of instead of the run,

it was more of honestly just his reacting, I guess from keeping them the R letter because you were, you know, much more locked Rivers's mind in that situation and less of obviously what he could not do with his legs whatsoever so I do think Wentz now gives you more of the multiple multiple options when you get into those types of types of plays and you know type of trust where you're putting it more on the quarterback shoulders to make that read and react as is so I would say yeah that the rollouts and

then obviously the vertical pass game a lot that I've talked about on my podcast is, you know, Carson is a really good seam ball thrower. So I think that adds to kind of, you know, the selection of Kylan Grants. And, you know, I think back to the Hilton big play last year against Houston at home, late in that game. And I want to say it was like a second and super long. You really needed a chunk play to get back in the field goal range,

and Rivers delivers a strike to Hilton down the seam. But it's not a ball we saw Rivers attempt a whole lot last year. But in the moment, I think he knew he had to kind of thread it and take a chance. I do feel like Carson will be a little bit more open to that. I guess one thing that we have to mention, which given Carson's personality, I don't think he is in this boat, but like there are some skeptics in Philly that feel like he's gotten a bit gun shy and just, you know, making those reads, confident reads, throwing guys open.

Now, obviously when you throw 15 interceptions, certainly there's a risk factor that is there, but I do think that's something to keep an eye on. You would think an offensive line that is going to protect him better on paper would lend to him, you know, having more confidence and not being afraid of it. You know, again, maybe that's not the right term to use, but I do think that is something to watch. But as long as he has that confidence and, you know, isn't afraid to rip it, then I think there will be different parts of this offense that will be utilized.

Whereas Rivers, like you said, certainly his quick rhythm and his timing, that was a huge asset to this offense and helped out the offensive line and got some playmakers the ball in their hands and really allowed the Colts to move the football on a pretty consistent basis when they needed, when they wanted to, through the air. Colts fans, rockauto.com is the place to go if you want to save money on your next car purchase. Whether it be saving over $100 on a fuel pump assembly, or even more. You can get stuff like motor oil, tail amps, engine control modules, brake parts, new carpet,

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adding another weapon, whether it be wide out or tight end, and as well addressing left tackle. And how they went about it in the end, looking back on it, Quidipe and Dayo Odengbo rounds one and two in the draft. You sign Eric Fisher to a one-year deal in free agency. It sounds like there could be a potential for a multi-year deal if he does well this year. And you draft Kylan Granson and re-sign T.Y. Hilton

for the pass catchers, so to say, to add on to this team. Looking back on it now, how do you feel like the Colts addressed those three key needs after the one straight? Yeah, well, I guess let's start with Quidipe. You know, I was a big fan of, again, just doing something a little bit more in free agency. I felt like the opportunity was there. It was kind of a rare opportunity, but it was there for you to go ahead and just lessen that need

a little bit obviously would that have changed how you're looking at drafts wise sure possibly Dio D'Angelo is a huge huge guy that Chris Bauer is obsessed with so maybe it wouldn't have but I do think that

if he could have done something a little bit there, maybe you don't take pay at 21. Maybe it's Christian Derusau at 21 or something like that. But so I think long-term, you obviously have raised the ceiling on that group, but I still think we just have to be honest with rookie rushers. You usually take time. Obviously, the Colts feel that with some of their rushers they've drafted in years past.

We've seen first-round guys take a little bit of time to really produce well. Left tackle, obviously, you know, I think Fisher was kind of always in the back pocket. And clearly, Chris was just not, you know, that in love with really any of the tackles. I mean, I mentioned Darryl South possibly at 21 if it wasn't pay. Besides that, I don't think, you know, really anybody else who may be trading back up into the tackles. I mean, I mentioned Darryl South possibly at 21 if it wasn't pay. Besides that, I don't think, you know, really anybody else who may be trading back up into the third round, you know, could have been a move. I know Spencer Brown was a guy that I threw around on a beers with Bowen

right before the draft. I think he's a guy that, you know, potentially could have been in their cards, but without that third-round pick, he didn't have that. My big issue with left tackle is more so just long-term. I mean, obviously Fisher, if healthy, there's really little worry. And, you know, he still theoretically could play multiple seasons, but long-term there's just nobody at that position that you even feel good about, you know, grooming down the road.

What was the third position? Yeah, just the overall pass catchers like re-signing T.Y. and getting Kylan Branson Yeah, the Branson pick I'm a fan of, I know from a size standpoint he's definitely on the smaller end of tight ends, I feel like he can get up to

245 or 250 though but really you just don't see a lot of speed run after the catch, you know, yak sort of ability out of tight ends. So I think that's really intriguing. I was always a big fan of, you know, getting that sort of skill set just to complement what you have in Doyle and Allie Cox. I'm kind of going back to what I was saying earlier about wide out.

I like bringing back T.Y. I think he better, you know, is better suited for how Carson operates as a QB. But I would like to have seen just another move at wide out in free agency, you know, just in case this Campbell thing doesn't work out. Because I go back to skill sets. That's what you're trying to do. You're trying to match skill sets. You know, it's easy to say, well, if Campbell goes down,

you have Desmond Patman. If Paris Campbell, Desmond Patman, well, first off, Desmond Patman hasn't, you know, he's played two snaps in the NFL. But, I mean, those skill sets aren't even close to each other. So that's where I think running the back of that position is just a little bit too risky for my liking there. And I know a lot of people are like, okay, cap space, roll eyes, you know, how do you juggle a lot of this?

You know, obviously, you know, maybe Fisher would have been in the cards but I think it is something to where it's a little bit more for me kind of higher end quality than sort of some of the quantity in free agency I was all for building the depth along the O-line but there's just a few signings that just seem like well you know when you come back from the draft and now it's going to be like, okay, where does a Sean Davis fit for you? Where does an Isaac Rochelle fit for you? Some of those guys, you know, take two of those guys out and now you add a wide out.

I think that offers you a little bit more of the insurance there because supporting Carson Wentz, I thought that from a pass catching standpoint, they didn't go really above and beyond anything at the skill group to really, Supporting Carson Wentz, I thought that from a pass catching standpoint, they didn't go really above and beyond anything at the skill group to really, really support him. Jumping over to the skill position just real quick before we dive into the defense for a second, Kevin. I don't know if this is like a hot take or not,

but I feel like maybe I'm very bullish on Michael Pittman Jr. in year two. Just what he did in some games last year, especially in the Buffalo playoff game. I feel like he could be inman Jr. in year two. Just what he did in some games last year, especially in the Buffalo playoff game. I feel like he could be in for a really big year two. Carson Wentz also loves those bigger-bodied weapons down there. I feel like Alshon Jeffrey, when Frank Reich was the play caller in 2017. Paris Campbell, obviously, you have to throw out the health card every time you talk about Paris

because if he can stay healthy, he does add that new speed element to the inside routes that we haven't really seen in Andy the last couple of years. But do you feel like, honestly, if both those guys ascend, which I think the Colts are really betting on, really not addressing wide outside of re-signing T.Y., is it fair to say T.Y. could be more so in a backseat role this year where Pittman and Campbell, if they do ascend, maybe T.Y. is more so like a secondary option?

Yeah, yeah. I mean, obviously those are big ifs to have both of them do that. But certainly, I mean, I think we saw that at times last season, to be honest with you. I know it was only week one for Campbell, but when healthy, he was the guy. He out-snapped T.Y. in that game late in the season. You know, Michael Pittman was out-snapping T.Y. Hilton. So I think we saw signs of that last year.

You know, something I talked about when T.Y. was signed, or I should say re-signed, for me, and obviously T.Y. has never really been a huge, you know, whatever, six, seven-catch guy. It's more of just do you make the most out of those, you know, four or five catches a game to where, as I was talking about earlier, that Houston play last year where he just makes a big-time play in a big-time moment for you. Do you still get that out of Hilton where it's not just strictly the whole possession stuff and all that?

It's never been his game. But even if, you know, quote-unquote, he's the third wide out in playing time, he still can be a very timely, timely weapon for you. And I think that's necessary. And I also think there is an element of, like, I've been in these moments before and I've done that. Yes, Michael Pittman's played in a playoff game and played very well in that playoff game.

But, you know, even Pittman had a couple drops in that game. You know, Campbell obviously hasn't been in those moments yet. So I do think there is that presence of a T Y of if it's third down and you're looking for a go-to, you know, do Carson and him develop that sort of rapport of a guy that's been there, done that. Now going over to the defense now,

Kevin, and you were in the draft room actually with Chris Ballard recapping the draft. I think eight or nine of the media members in Indianapolis local media were with him. He does this yearly thing. Unfortunately, last year due to COVID, it wasn't a possibility. But always great insight in there talking about the draft. And really anything on the Colts, Ballard, is always an open book,

which is great for us in the media. But looking at the one player to me that really is standing out to me more every time I hear Chris Ballard talk about him is Dio Odengbo. And if you would have just put just the quotes next to each other, Kevin, you would think that Quitty pays a second-round pick and not Dio Odengbo. Because I think Chris Bauer has a love affair with Dio Odengbo, and it's fair to see when you watch him on tape. But they're rolling the dice with him, really going to let him sit out

most of the 2021 season. But I think they truly see a huge payoff with Odengbo where he could be a first-round talent. really going to let him sit out most of the 2021 season. But I think they truly see a huge payoff with Odengbo, where he could be a first-round talent. What's it been like watching Odengbo when you've had a chance? I think you guys saw him just out on the side today at practice. He seems like a huge guy, too, with his arm length and his overall just size for a guy his size. It really does feel like Dio is really a true love crush for a guy like Chris Ballard.

He really is. I mean, I'll be honest, Devin. I mean, obviously, Quentin Nelson, he was obsessed with. I don't know if I've ever heard Chris Ballard this obsessed over one of his draft picks. And I don't think it's recency bias in saying that because, you know, it was just a week ago we were in that draft room. I really think I mean it. And obviously, when you

look at him, watching him today on the field, there is the wingspan and the arm length that is similar to Buckner. His body fat, I know, is just incredible for a man his size. Dio, that is. I'm sure Buckner as well.

Which is really impressive considering he is four months off the Achilles injury. So I think when you look at him and, you know, Ballard had a comment, you know, just – and I posted this in that notebook recap from that draft film room of just – he would talk to SEC coaches and they'd say, this is the guy that we just can't get over. Almost like, how is he not, you know, out of the SEC West defensive line, and yet he's playing for Vanderbilt.

So, Ballard is, you know, always loved length, always loved measurables, especially on that defensive line. You know, there was a reason DeForest Buckner went, you know, eight overall. And I think, honestly, you know, if it was up to Ballard, I mean, Dengbo could have been a guy in the first round. And I even think that's with the Achilles. But, you know, I think Pei offers a little bit more of a – certainly a little bit of a safer pick and more of that true, true edge.

Whereas a guy like Dengbo is probably, you know, edge early downs and then slides inside on those passing downs. So they feel like he'll be ready to go at some point this season. A little bit behind Eric Fisher in that Achilles rehab. But they do feel like he'll be ready to go again at some point. And I'm definitely eager to see him because, you know, when you do watch and you see the highlights, there are some wow, wow moments. Now it's just, you know, how does he come off the Achilles? Can he do it over a four-quarter period?

Things like that. But certainly, you know, when you look at him, there's not many whatever 20, 21-year-olds that walk onto an NFL field and they look like they belong right away. And he certainly looked at least, you at least wearing shorts and a jersey today. Bet online is the fastest and easiest way to bet on all your sports action. Baseball scene is in full swing and track all the action over at Bet Online. Get all the latest news, odds, info for all your sporting needs,

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order. Again, that's promo code LOCKED15, L-O-C-K-A-D 1-5, and for 15% off at BiltBar.com. On paper, Kevin, just as defense as a whole, we all knew that pass rush was the biggest need in the offseason. With the question marks around Ture, Bandigo, Taekwon Lewis, they draft Quidipe, they draft Dio, Dangbo, who's going to be, like you mentioned,

probably play around November, December time off his Achilles injury. When you see this whole unit on paper, though, the defensive line with Pei and Buckner leading that, Okereke and Leonard at linebacker, you have Rhodes, Moore, Yasin, Blackman, and Willis as your starting DBs. How do you see it on paper going for them? Because I think the Colts were missing that edge presence last year.

If they do find a consistent edge rusher that could be a potential double-digit sag guy, they could take this unit to the next level. How do you see it going down in 2021 for them? They were a top-ten defense last year, I think number ten overall. Do you think they could take a step up this year in 2021? Yeah, I mean, to me, it just comes out of that edge rush. Obviously, got to stay healthy at linebacker with Okereke and Leonard.

And then the back end, I'm not, you know, overly concerned about it just because I thought Xavier Rhodes showed you a lot of good football last season, but it is a back end. I thought Kenny Moore was very candid earlier this week that when you did play some of the better quarterbacks, it is a unit that really struggled. But the run defense has been incredible under Matt Eberflus. Honestly, before the fourth Buckner got here, it was still a really good unit. Then it took it to another level last year with Buckner in there.

I think number two on defense. But, yeah, the edge rush and just the general disrupting up front. I mean, I know Justin Houston, and I've said this many times, he had decent sack numbers, not as consistent pressure numbers that you would like. Autry, really good sack numbers. And I think solid pressure numbers for a guy that kind of plays a little bit all over.

But, I mean, you didn't lose two guys that have rushed in the NFL for kind of six or seven years. If you look at the rest of the group and kind of their total sacks in the NFL, the resumes are not very extensive. So that is, I think, something to keep in mind of just are these guys, you know, kind of budding and ready to bloom, if you will? You know, Ture and Lewis and Al-Kadim Mohamed, you know, like those type of guys, are they ready to take another step forward

and become, you know, whatever, seven, eight sack guys, because if they can do that and compliment Buckner, that's going to be huge. But if those guys continue to have the career that we've seen so far, that pass rush could take a step back. Because again, I just think it's high expectations for whatever you expect Quidipe to walk in here and have a nine or 10 sack season or Dayo Adengbo to be healthy for, you know, over half the year and be a 7 or 8 sack guy as well. So I do think we probably need to be realistic a little bit with those D-line expectations.

There are a lot of names in there. And if some of those young guys can take the third, fourth-year jumps that you hope they can take, then that group, I think, can take the next jump. But if not, I think we're probably looking at a group that's relatively status quo to last year or possibly taking a step back just because the history did give you something.

Last one here for you, Kevin. Appreciate the time, as always, when you come on the pod. But looking at this offseason as a whole and the needs they had to address, obviously Phillip Rivers and Costanza retire. You had the needs at edge rush. You had to add a couple playmakers here and there as well, re-sign or getting in the draft. The defense needed a little bit of a facelift as well.

How do you feel like Chris Bauer and the Colts addressed their needs when you look back a week after the Buffalo game and Costanza and Rivers retired, and now you look back on it in mid-May? Yeah, I mean, certainly have addressed all of them in some capacity. You know, Wentz, it's just so rare to get a quarterback outside of the draft that you feel like has a higher ceiling, and that's what's so attractive about that trade. Obviously, Fisher is health dependent.

If healthy, boy, you shouldn't take a step back as an offensive line. That's pretty wild to say about that. Obviously, long term, you haven't solved that. You know, it's kind of the flip side almost on the defensive end spot where you really addressed in the draft, have, you know, such a long-term future that, boy, you could really find something there. But in the short term, again, how big of a jump do you make,

considering you had some pretty established veterans in that spot? And then corner, I think for the most part, is really status quo. Now Marvell Tell was out there today. He's a guy that I'm really eager to see just a little bit more of, considering he had some flashes in that 2019 rookie season as well. So, for me, those were the five big needs. You could break them down, I think, all very individually. I think all have kind of a wide range on that scale of how they can go.

And it's going to be fun to watch play out. Certainly, I think it's a harder schedule this year. Obviously, out of the gate is very, very difficult, so I think it's really important for, you know, especially without much of an off-season program because they really aren't doing much, that, you know, training camp in the preseason, you really utilize that time for a lot of those veterans

or for a lot of those frontline guys, I should say, because you got to get off to a good start and don't want to be behind the eight ball. So you look at those five needs. Again, all of them can kind of be broken down individually. They've been addressed. Some positions got super high ceilings on. Others, you know, not as much. Some of them is health dependent.

But I think for the most part, you know, when you're penciling in a starting 11 on both sides of the ball, I'm very capable of winning the AFC South. I don't think it's a team that's on paper right now, you know, May 20th. I don't sit here and put them in the same sentence with, you know, maybe the top two or three of the AFC. But when you knock on that other door and then you show some stuff in the fall, that can definitely change. So I can't wait to see how it all plays out. Kevin, always enjoy having you on, man.

Colts fans, go ahead and follow Kevin on Twitter. He's a must follow over there at KBowen1070 and go read his work as always over on 107.5 1070 The Fan and listen to his podcast as well. He always does great work weekly on Kevin's Corner. Kevin, appreciate the time today. Thanks, Evan. Have a good one, man.