Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts' Sam Ehlinger, Stephon Gilmore X-Factors vs. Washington Commanders

Episode Date: October 28, 2022

The Indianapolis Colts' run game may unfurl on Sunday against the Washington Commanders, which in part makes Sam Ehlinger an X-factor. Defensively, the Colts need Bobby Okereke and Stephon Gilmore to ...step up against Antonio Gibson and Terry McLaurin, respectively. Finally, who's going to win the game, by what score, and why?Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms:📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQ🎧 Apple https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1151621306🎧 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6meP450baAtjX4rTENZ5ij🎧 Audacy https://www.audacy.com/podcasts/locked-on-colts-daily-podcast-on-the-indianapolis-colts-21701🎧 Google https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vUFBZODk1ODUyODkyNQ🎧 Megaphone https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/lockedoncoltsFollow Jake and Zach's written work on HorseshoeHuddle.com, and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, and @LockedOnColts!Today’s episode is sponsored by SimpliSafe Home Security. With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe dot com slash LockedOnNFL to learn more.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFLBuilt BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds, and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!PrizePicksFirst-time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That’s PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDONSimpliSafeWith Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnNFL to learn more.BirddogsTHE most comfortable shorts, pants, and sweatpants with built-in liners. Go to birddogs.com, use promo code “LOCKEDON” and boom, a free Birddogs Rope Hat with your pair of Birddogs.BlueNileMake your moment sparkle with Blue Nile. Go to BlueNile.com and use code lockedon to save fifty dollars on your purchase of five-hundred dollars or more.BetterHelpThis episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at Betterhelp.com/LockedOn and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Led by their new quarterback, the Indianapolis Colts are going to beat the Washington Commanders at Lucas Oil Stadium this Sunday, and we are going to tell you why. All that and more on today's episode of Locked on Colts. 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. Thank you all for tuning in and making us your number one listen of the day. This is your daily podcast covering your Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Today's episode is sponsored by SimpliSafe Home Security. With Fast Protect technology exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24-7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response there's no safe like simply safe visit simply safe.com locked on nfl to learn more
Starting point is 00:01:13 this is jake arthur alongside zach hicks once again back with you together after yesterday's crossover episode if you haven't checked that out yet go go ahead and do so for us. You know the two of us from horseshoehuddle.com. This week, we have just been cranking out all the Sam Ellinger content and all the trade deadline content that you guys can stand. Jake, Jake, Jake, Jake. Sam Ellinger, Ellinger. I already messed it up. Comment section, we saw you. Comment section, we saw you. Yeah. Yeah, we had no clue i i heard people say sam ellinger multiple times uh but you know sam ellinger sam ellinger i was practicing in the car ride over like back home today to make sure i had it so it's gonna be like the bobby okara kate thing for me yeah uh and i know it'll probably be like that for you too jake but yeah
Starting point is 00:02:00 again comment section you can get mad at me for cutting jake off again but i had to correct it because you guys were telling us this respectfully. A lot of you guys were doing it very respectfully. I appreciate it. Even the people who weren't saying it super respectfully, like, I get it. Like, we should know. But yeah, no, Sam Ellinger. Sam Ellinger. Okay, we're good. Yeah, some people super care about name pronunciation. So I will try to be better for you guys anyways today we're going to discuss the latest colts news and examine both the offense and defense including who might be the x factors that
Starting point is 00:02:31 make the difference in this matchup plus we'll give you our final predictions all right so of course this sunday it's a 4 25 p.m kickoff at lucas oil stadium it's not a one o'clock game pretty sure they made it a 425 game because they thought it was going to be Carson Wentz versus Matt Ryan. Sam Ellinger versus Taylor Heineke. Much different matchup, but I digress. So Zach, obviously Sam Ellinger is the biggest part of this whole matchup from a Colts perspective. You just did a pretty good piece on him today, Thursday, regarding the run game and how it's going to open up RPO opportunities and things. So why don't you just tell us a little
Starting point is 00:03:11 bit about what you see transpiring in the run game or just from the offense in general with him under center? Yeah, you know, Sam Ellinger is a really good athlete with a quick, you know, very quick motion. And again that that athleticism to get out on the edge to kind of reset his feet quicker i mean it opens up a lot for obviously read options which i've talked about a lot this week you know i want to see a lot more qb runs which i am very happy to see sam ellinger the other day when he was talking to media uh i think somebody asked him like what quarterbacks are you watching league wide and he was like oh yeah jalen hurts josh allen pat mahomes i like how they have QB runs in there for them.
Starting point is 00:03:46 And I was like, ooh, okay, there we go. We might get some QB runs. But talking specifically about RPOs, you know, the Colts did a lot of different types of RPOs with Carson Wentz in 2021 than they have done this year with Matt Ryan. You know, with Matt Ryan this year, you don't want Matt Ryan to be moving around too much. So a lot of his RPOs were, you know,
Starting point is 00:04:04 just quick glance routes or quick pass combinations behind the defense where, yes, if they did overcommit to that run, you could throw it behind them. But with Carson Wentz, you know, there was a lot more mobile opportunities with the RPOs. You know, there was pulling it out and maybe moving with the screen action or with a flat or something like that down the line and kind of using that athleticism to get out of the pocket even on these quick rpo passes where the ball has to be out within you know two seconds because your offensive line is run blocking you know you obviously don't want to hold the ball back there on these rpos so i do think having someone like sam ellinger back there opens up more of the carson wentz rpos that we saw last year we saw you know a decent amount of success and uh jj uh i want to say his last name right stankovich i think is that you said stink of bits stink of it yeah stink of it yep jj stink of it uh did
Starting point is 00:04:50 mention in his mailbag piece at colts.com so you guys can check that out as well that the colts are kind of staying true with their their rpo trends over the past year you know if it was carson wins jacob reset andrew luck or even matt ryan they're typically around that 10th to 15th in the league in RPO usage. So I don't think with Sam Ellinger, it's going to fly up to, oh my gosh, they've used the most RPOs. But I do think we will see a little bit more. We will see a little bit of an uptick because these are one read plays. They are very simple, relatively speaking to the game of football. Nothing is simple in the game of football as we've seen with the Colts offense this season. But RPOs are one read plays. You're reading that one key read player. It could be the Mike linebacker. It could be the slot corner. It could be whoever. You're reading that one player and you're either handing the ball off or you're throwing it. That's your one read.
Starting point is 00:05:40 It's nice and simple. And for a quarterback like Sam Ellinger, who's in his first career start, who did a lot of that at Texas, you know, that's a comfort area for him. So I do think we will see a good amount of RPOs and especially against this Washington linebacker group that is very, very underwhelming. So yeah, that piece, I go into some RPOs that the Colts did with Carson Wentz and talk about how, you know, again, these are one read plays that can really help out a young quarterback like Sam Ellinger. Yeah, I think the passing concepts out of that could work pretty well on Sunday. When I was talking with David Harrison from the crossover Thursday, he mentioned Cole Holcomb is a big part of that. The commander's linebacker, but he's been dinged up all week in practice.
Starting point is 00:06:24 So if he doesn't play, that's going to be a big hit there. Because an area I was hoping it would unlock is the tight end usage like right i think with a young quarterback it makes a lot of sense to have things drawn up you know dump offs to the running backs quicker things with the the tight ends especially kyle and grants and you can do some things after the catch so let's hope that you, with those quick reads and everything, they can get some yak opportunities with that. Right. Right. I agree. Yeah. And then my next, my next little check mark I have here says Colts O-line versus Washington D-line. Jesus, take the wheel. Yeah. The Washington D-line has been actually playing the expectations in recent weeks. I know, you know, I live in the Washington, you know live where Washington fan base is out here in Virginia, so I've been following this team.
Starting point is 00:07:09 Even if I'm not trying to follow the team, you kind of just hear a lot of it from around here. And for all the first-round picks they spent on that defensive line there in Washington, they've been very inconsistent the last couple years. But it seems like as of right now, Jonathan Allen is maintaining his dominant play that he's been playing for two years. Montez Sweat is in the best stretch of his career of years. But it seems like as of right now, Jonathan Allen is maintaining his dominant play that he's been playing for two years. Montez Sweat is in the best stretch of his career of late.
Starting point is 00:07:30 And then Darren Payne is an outstanding player as well. So yeah, this Washington defensive line, if the Colts are not moving the pocket, if they're not using RPOs to slow up the pass rush and slow up the defensive line, if they get into very obvious passing situations, they're going to get beat up by this defensive line because this defensive line is taking advantage
Starting point is 00:07:50 of a lot of bad offensive lines this year. And that's what the Colts are right now, a bad offensive line. Yeah, after that solid showing two weeks ago, they kind of came back down to their own version of earth last week. You know, Dennis Kelly, who was an absolute stud two weeks ago, was either lowest graded. It was him and Matt Pryor, I think, according to Pro Football Focus. Shocking.
Starting point is 00:08:12 Shocking. Right guard and left tackle are an issue for the Colts. Wow. No way. Yeah, so hopefully they can rebound at least a little bit. It'll be at least two, three weeks with this offensive line configuration, so hopefully they can gel a little bit it'll it'll be at least two three weeks with this offensive line configuration so hopefully they can gel a little bit are there any matchups that you're looking forward to specifically in this one everything's just sam ellinger for me that's my whole brain right now
Starting point is 00:08:35 is sam ellinger i don't you don't know how anything is going to look yet so you can't right you can't say expectations yet really yeah like as far as i know he's not going to be able to throw the ball past 10 yards so i can't even get excited, really. Yeah, as far as I know, he's not going to be able to throw the ball past 10 yards, so I can't even get excited about wide receiver matches. But also, as far as I know, he could be going out there and just chucking it every single play. And it could be, oh, I should be excited about every wide receiver cornerback matchup. So we'll know more about the Sam Ellinger vibe after this week. But that moves me to my X Factor.
Starting point is 00:09:02 I know that was our next thing that we were going to talk about. My X Factor of the week is none other than Sam Ellinger. Everything in this game is all about Sam Ellinger and everything about the rest of the season is about finding out, you know, is Sam Ellinger a guy that couldn't, you can maybe be a starter going forward or could be your guy. You know, it's obviously a very small percentage chance that this is going to happen,
Starting point is 00:09:23 but you know what, he's getting a rare opportunity that a lot of six round picks don't get, you know, it's obviously a very small percentage chance that this is going to happen. But you know what? He's getting a rare opportunity that a lot of six-round picks don't get, you know, a quarterback. So I'm excited to see Sam Ellinger out there. Every time that we have seen him in a Colts uniform, it's been really, really good play. But it's always been in the preseason against a bunch of backups. So I'm excited to see what he looks like, you know, in the real deal against a defense that, yeah, their defensive line is pretty good, but it's really not that great of a defense overall. No, and, you know, people don't ever talk about this, but did you know Tom Brady was a six-round pick? What? No way. I would expect first overall. No chance.
Starting point is 00:09:58 Yeah, Colts ownership has never, you know, made that parallel before either, so it's weird. So my x factor is going to be someone that ellinger might hopefully be passing to a good bit that's alec pierce so i did a piece this week if you guys haven't checked it out yet basically in these two pre-seasons that ellinger has played who is he targeted the most and for the most part it's been his big outside receivers it was mike strawn and definitely Desmond Patman. Patman was like far and away his most productive receiver. So in the regular season iteration of that,
Starting point is 00:10:32 that is Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. Pierce has been more so their outside downfield guy this season. So I'm looking to see if Pierce continues to be involved in that, those downfield things. You know, Matt Ryan got him involved downfield occasionally. I think if I had to guess, I think Elger will be a little more aggressive downfield, plus since he can buy some more time with his legs
Starting point is 00:10:57 and kind of make something happen out of those busted plays, I think that presents an opportunity. Not to mention Alec Pierce, one of his specialties is the contested catch. So I think that bodes well there. Before we move on and talk about the defensive side of the ball, we want to let you guys know about one of our favorite sponsors, SimpliSafe. Okay, so here's a sports analogy for you guys, just to put it simply. When it comes to burglars, your home is like the end zone, and you need the absolute strongest defense you can muster. This is why I use and trust SimpliSafe Home Security.
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Starting point is 00:12:39 now taylor heineke who is a fan favorite a lot of fans there want him to be the guy. He's the perfect definition of the backup quarterback being the most popular guy in town, basically. So this matchup looks like it's going to be two guys who are just going to be able to do some goofy things outside of the structure of the actual play under pressure and things. You know, the commanders led by Heineke beat the packers last week which is not like a super tall task nowadays but regardless he went toe-to-toe with aaron rogers oh taylor heineke is magic man i mean around here you would think that he's you know besides alex ovechkin in hockey he's the biggest thing in all of you know firsthand from sports
Starting point is 00:13:21 radio i'm right right he's the biggest thing in all of sports here in Washington. You know, the Nationals are bad. The Wizards are bad. The Capitals are, you know, they're usually pretty good. But, you know, we got Taylor Heineke. That's, you know, he comes in. He can beat Tom Brady on the road. He can throw punches with Tom Brady in the playoffs.
Starting point is 00:13:37 He can beat Aaron Rodgers in his first start this year. But, no, Taylor Heineke, being honest, is a phenomenal quarterback for UDFA for a guy coming from where he was phenomenal career so far what he actually is though is he's a very sporadic weak-armed quarterback that is capable of some good magic I mean he you can't deny that there's every now and then he just puts together a couple you can give me a couple drives or a couple of series or even a game where you're like, wow, this is a pretty good quarterback. You know, not like a great quarterback, but like where it's like, oh, wow, he gives us a fighting chance. But the thing is, he'll never be able to put together.
Starting point is 00:14:14 It's just who he is. He's a lifelong, you know, destined to be a backup. But of all the backups you could have in the NFL, like he's the one you want because he gives you a chance to win every time he's out there. And he's so much fun. He is so much fun. But when it comes to this Colts and how you kind of prepare for him, there are going to be a couple of interceptable balls in this game.
Starting point is 00:14:34 You know, he threw 15 picks last year and 15 games played. I think he had five turnover worthy plays in this past start against the Packers in terms of just throwing the ball too. That doesn't even count the one that he fumbled that was brought back for a touchdown that got negated for a penalty down the field so he is wild he's absolutely wild you will you will get some ducks that go down the field into double coverage you just gotta take advantage and we have not really seen this Colts defense take advantage of turnover worthy plays this season we gotta see those those
Starting point is 00:15:03 come to fruition this week if the Colts are gonna to have a chance you know and get that short field back for Sam Ellinger uh but no Taylor Heineke you know you could think that he's gonna he's in the midst of like the worst game you've ever seen from a quarterback and then you'll have like three series in a row where you're like oh my gosh we went against Aaron Rodgers in this prime like Taylor Heineke is an absolute blast to watch and I'm so excited to see the chaos that he's going to bring back. They have to keep him in the pocket, make him force it into windows, and make him try to attack downfield into double coverage.
Starting point is 00:15:33 And, you know, he will throw some ducks up there for him. It honestly doesn't sound wildly different from if they were going to play Carson Wentz. I mean, I don't know how Heineke is pre-snap, but, I mean, the Colts, I think the Colts' defense could have absolutely eaten against Wentz. But again, we'll see. This guy's a backup for a reason, although he's like the, he sounds almost like a Ryan Fitzpatrick type. Yeah, Heineke is more of a wild card than Carson Wentz even, because like Carson Wentz is like, okay, he has the talent.
Starting point is 00:16:00 You know, Heineke, it's really not even that he has the talent. It just randomly comes together sometimes. Like he's, like I'm telling you, he's an absolute blast if you love backup quarterbacks. Like, he is some of the best backup quarterback play that you can get. Like a Ryan Fitzpatrick. So, expect chaos. Expect some chaos. I'm really looking forward to that.
Starting point is 00:16:19 A couple guys I'm worried about from the Washington offense, though. They've got this nice little new running back duo with Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson. Gibson, who is criminally underrated by his own team, apparently. But the Colts have not been doing well against the run. I mean, honestly, if you look at Derrick Henry's stats, what I'm going to say sounds stupid, but I thought they did well against Derrick Henry. But the offense kept putting them in a position to just get worn out, and the Titans were just pounding the ball, and that damage is eventually going to break. Like, Derrick Henry will one, two, three yard you to death, and then get that 25 or 80 yard run. You know, that's just how it goes. He's always going to get his yardage against the Colts, but even before that, Travis Etienne and Jermichael Hasty and
Starting point is 00:17:05 James Robinson with the Jaguars killed the Colts defense. So right now there's not a ton of optimism that the Colts are just going to come out and shut down Robinson and Gibson. Yeah, I think the biggest thing is you got to hope that for some reason Washington tries to run up the middle a lot in this game. Like I feel confident they're going to run up the middle because that's where we have Bobby O'Kerrick, Grover Stewart, Forrest Buckner. That's where Grover was in God mode against Tennessee last week. Yes. Yes. So, you know,
Starting point is 00:17:35 that's where the strength of the Colts run defense is, but if they start running outside of the tackles, you know, Yannick Ngakwe has been one of the worst run defenders in football this year. The other side replacing Quiddie Paye, Taequann Lewis, and Dio D'Ambo have just not been that level that Quidipe was. I think that's where the Colts are kind of susceptible. But, hey, you know, Washington's not a great team just like the Colts, so maybe they just try to run up the middle a lot,
Starting point is 00:17:55 and we feel pretty good after this game because you ran right at Grover. Yeah, no doubt. And I'm going to kind of parlay this next section, the matchups, into our X-Factors because they blend nicely with it. So for you, you know, the commanders have a dangerous receiving duo with Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel. And the Colts, there's a defender you're pretty confident in, and then there's one, maybe not so much. So who is your defensive X factor for the Colts? Yeah. So my X factors, honestly, you know, I'm going to say it's Stefan Gilmore, but my X factor is basically the two outside quarters. It's Isaiah Rogers, if that's him or Brandon Faison, which hopefully it's not. And then Stefan Gilmore on the other side, because look for everything that Washington is not, you know, they are a fun team that will go down the field with it, you know, and even if Heineke's throwing ducks down the field, he's going to give these receivers chances. And these receivers are pretty good. You know, they are a fun team that will go down the field with it, you know, and even if Heineke's throwing ducks down the field,
Starting point is 00:18:45 he's going to give these receivers chances. And these receivers are pretty good. You know, if Jahan Dotson plays, that's another weapon that's out there for them. You know, you could get Jahan Dotson in those jump ball situations. Terry McLaurin always comes down with these jump ball plays down the field. So, yeah, the outside corners for the Colts, especially Stephon Gilmore, you know, they need to be on their A game. You're going to get some chances where you could make some plays in the ball
Starting point is 00:19:05 for the first time this year because the Colts' corners really haven't had many opportunities this year to make plays in the ball. Heineken will give them to him, but also will give chances to his top receivers down the field. They have to be on their A game against Terry McLaurin, maybe Jahan Dotson, and obviously Curtis Samuel there in the slot.
Starting point is 00:19:23 I'm going to go out on not a limb, and I'm going to say Isaiah Rogers gets his first pick of the year in this matchup. It just seems so right. I hope so. Yeah. So we talked about the outside run game and things like that, but also, you know, Logan Thomas is a really good tight end for the commanders, which leads me to give my X-Factor being Bobby Okereke.
Starting point is 00:19:49 I really think, especially against Antonio Gibson, I think he's just going to play a big role in limiting what Gibson can do in the passing game and when him and Robinson get outside on the run game. And then just patrolling the middle of the field, if Logan Thomas or, you know, Curtis Samuel as the slot receiver gets going, you know, linebackers are out there too. It's not just the nickelback all the time. So I think that Okereke is going to, I don't think they need him to play well in order to win. But I think if he has a really good game that it's going to show that the Colts will be victorious in this one. Absolutely. Absolutely. Now coming up, guys, we're going to talk about our game prediction and final thoughts about this game.
Starting point is 00:20:33 But now a word from our sponsor, BetterHelp. At times there can be just so much going on where you get overwhelmed and it can be easier to be caught up in focusing on your problems rather than solutions. However, with a little help, you can get back on track. It can be tough to train your body to stay in problem-solving mode when faced with a challenge in life, but when you learn how to find your own solutions, there's no better feeling. A therapist can help you become a better problem solver, making it easier to accomplish your goals, no matter how big or small. You know, personally, guys, I have been to therapy before. I haven't tried BetterHelp yet, but I have been to therapy. It was a great experience for me.
Starting point is 00:21:09 It helped get my life back on track when I was dealing with anxieties and depression and stuff like that. So if you guys are thinking about giving therapy a try, BetterHelp is a great option. It's convenient, accessible, affordable, and entirely online. Get matched with a therapist after filling out a brief survey and switch to therapists anytime when you want to be a better problem solver therapy can get you there visit betterhelp.com locked on today to get 10 off your first month that's better help.com locked on all right jake let's talk about this projections, predictions. I'm assuming you did your predictions yesterday. So I think the people know yours, but you know, my streak got broken last week.
Starting point is 00:21:52 I am officially one in six in predictions this season. So I'm on the up and up. Now I can't do anything wrong. I guess my prediction game is just perfect. So I'm going to take this as whatever I predict is going to come true. And I think what Colts Nation desperately needs, and I know, you know, we have half the fan base saying we need to tank the rest of the year and get that top quarterback. The other half is saying Sam Ellinger is our guy forever,
Starting point is 00:22:17 and he's going to lead us to the promised land next year, six-round pick Tom Brady. I think this Colts fan base, though, needs a win this week. It would just – we can all breathe a sigh of relief. A fun win. A fun win. Not a Broncos game win. They need a fun win.
Starting point is 00:22:34 But I do think people need a win. And, yeah, I think Indy's going to get it this one. I think this is a team that Indy wins against. You know, NFC team, typically the wins against, you know, NFC team. Typically the Colts, you know, not last year, but in years past, they've had success against their NFC opponents that they played against. And, you know, albeit, I do think these teams are kind of similar. I do think the Colts are just the better team overall.
Starting point is 00:23:00 Shockingly, I think they're much better coached, which I know a lot of you guys might disagree with there. I think on both sides of the ball, they're just better coach than Washington. But yeah, I'm going to go 23 to 16. Indy in this one. I think Sam Ellinger throws two touchdowns, a bunch of field goals because you know, these quarterbacks are fun.
Starting point is 00:23:16 They'll get you down the field, but they probably won't get you in the end zone. They might turn the ball over a little bit, but I do think we're going to win for a wild ride. I think it's going to be a fun game. I think it's, it's the four, it's like the four 30 game,'re in for a wild ride. I think it's going to be a fun game. I think it's the 430 game, right? Like the 425.
Starting point is 00:23:28 I love it. That makes it even better. It's just a goofy game that a lot of people are going to be watching, and hopefully it airs on the side of fun instead of, like, boring or something like that. But, yeah, I think 23-16, you know, the defenses are obviously good enough to slow down these fun quarterbacks, but we're going to see a lot of goofiness in this one.
Starting point is 00:23:48 I mostly want it to be a good experience because I don't want to be getting home from the stadium at midnight after watching a sloppy game with the commanders, killing the Colts like that. That seems like a super bummer for me. Well, Hey, look, the commanders kill them. We're in draft mode for sure. Like draft mode for sure like oh yeah draft mode yeah like even if they barely lose we can kind of be in like a little bit of
Starting point is 00:24:09 season mode but i i really don't think it's going to happen i do think this is going to be a kind of close game but i i do think indy's defense does enough to slow down taylor heineke and then sam ellinger brings some magic to the offense that we've been kind of desperately needing so yeah i'm feeling good about this week and i know for a fact I'm not nervous I I know I could speak for a lot of you guys there because you guys have basically been telling me that all year like or not all year all week or whatever since the news like yeah it's kind of a relieving thing to have a guy like Sam Ellinger because you don't really feel nervous going into the games and yeah I don't really feel nervous I feel kind of excited for the first time this year. I would echo that same thing. I'm not really
Starting point is 00:24:48 nervous either. I'm a lot more optimistic. I'm not like thinking it's going to spark the team to like go to the playoffs or anything, but I just think Sundays are going to be more enjoyable to watch with a guy like Ellinger who can just kind of mix it up and make things happen. Now my prediction is going to be a little bit of a downer. I do have the Colts winning, but I don't want to give the Ellinger Colts offense 20 points yet until I see it, especially against a defensive front like Washington, which is capable of absolutely just eating the Colts offensive line alive based on what we've seen so far this year. So I have the Colts winning 14 to 10. I'm always pretty confident in the Colts defense. They've done it against the Chiefs. They've done it. We've seen them do it plenty
Starting point is 00:25:32 of times. So I think Jonathan Taylor gets back in the end zone finally. And then I'll give Ellinger one really nice red zone passing touchdown. To his boy, of sense. To his boy, Kylan Granson. To his boy, Kylan Granson. Yeah. Both of them, their first touchdown of their careers. That would be sick, would it not? Has Granson not scored yet? I don't think so, because he only caught like 10 to 15 balls last year. It was very nonexistent, and then he hasn't scored this year.
Starting point is 00:26:01 I think he got to the one-yard line twice last year. Yeah, they did a couple gadget one yard line twice last year so yeah yeah they did a couple gadgety things with him last year so for if anyone who's not familiar um kylan granson and sam ellinger played together at westlake high school in austin texas uh granson graduated in like 2015 and then ellinger in 2016 so they played together at least a couple of years. Um, but I mean, small world, I think it's the same high school that drew breeze. Did Nick Foles play there too? I think so. Yeah. Those guys are obviously way older than those other two, but like, that's, that's still pretty crazy. All right.
Starting point is 00:26:36 So over under Jake five catches for Kyla Granson in this one, I'll give him the over on that. Yeah. And I don't, I don't think it's because Ellinger is going to be locked on him or anything but they do have chemistry but I just think it makes a lot of sense for a young and experienced quarterback
Starting point is 00:26:56 to rely on his running backs and tight ends and Granson is the Colts leading tight end receiver this year so I could see him getting five, six, maybe seven catches in this one. I think that makes sense. I love for Jonathan Taylor, if he's going to get seven catches again for it not to be like three yard average. Like, did you ever in your life think that Taylor could have like seven catches and have absolutely zero opportunity to do anything with
Starting point is 00:27:25 him like I was so shocked when I looked at the box square after and all he had that many catches like there's no way yeah it did not feel like that at all it was just ugly man I'm just hoping you know I know it's an outside hope and maybe I'm just too optimistic or whatever but like what if we just get like a little bit of how sam ellinger looked in the preseason like just a little bit like that'll be so much fun like it would just be a blast i like i like i'm cool either way win or loss because i think win or loss either way you can kind of we can kind of spin that positively for the team i work with the spin doctors here we can spin it positively win or loss but uh i do think indy uh in the colts nation really needs a win this weekend and sam ellinger looks good in a win this fan base is going to be buzzing just like just
Starting point is 00:28:10 because it's the first time we've seen a young quarterback since andrew luck shoot up and play in the regular season and i'm not trying to compare him at all to andrew luck but there's nothing more exciting than having a young quarterback start for your team and then them look pretty good you know like there's nothing more exciting about that it young quarterback start for your team. And then them look pretty good. You know, like there's nothing more exciting about that. It can be Taylor Heineke for Washington. It can be Sam Ellinger for, for Indy doesn't even, they don't have to be a starter caliber guy, just a young quarterback looking good. Always makes you so excited. Yeah. I mean, with Phillip Rivers and Matt Ryan,
Starting point is 00:28:38 the Colts fans were seeing quarterbacks to get excited for like accomplished veterans, but their best years were five years before they got to the colts and with jacoby brissett you'd already seen 2017 what that looked like so you kind of knew who brissett was um but this is this is kind of a clean slate it's been a long time since they've seen a quarterback with a clean slate. So there's a reason to be excited. And honestly, I would rather get annoyed by people saying that. So the Colts go out and do really well. Elngard does well, and they win. I would rather be more annoyed by people saying he's the next Tom Brady
Starting point is 00:29:17 than us having to just report on another dumpster fire game. So I'm rooting for his success in this one for sure. Even if they lose, please just throw for like 300 yards, Sam Ellinger. I don't care if it's all in garbage time. Just make it a fun one. That's all I care about. All right. That's it for us, everyone.
Starting point is 00:29:37 The next thing to do, of course, is to play the game. Stay tuned to Locked on Colts this weekend, though, as we're going to start a new special series on some Sunday mornings, name-pending, called Colts Over Coffee, where we play you some interviews with players from over the week. I've been talking to some guys about the move at quarterback this week in the locker room, so we'll bring you what the players themselves have to say. Colts Over Coffee? Colts Better Than Coffee or something? Zach, if you didn't know,
Starting point is 00:30:07 Zach is a psychopath and is not a fan of coffee. Make sure you guys are following us on social media at JakeArthurNFL, at ZachHicks2, and at LockedOnColts. Yell at me about my coffee take on Twitter. That's where you can find all that. Also subscribe to our show on YouTube, wherever you listen to your podcasts. And thanks again for making LockedOnColts
Starting point is 00:30:24 your first listen every day. For your second listen today, check out the Locked On Sports Today. From the games that matter most to the biggest stories in sports, go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes with local experts and insights only Locked On can provide. Locked On Sports Today, available on this app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. We'll see you guys on Sunday.
Starting point is 00:30:43 Sunday. Sunday.

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