Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Shane Steichen's GENIUS Has Led to Daniel Jones' REBIRTH

Starting point is 00:00:00 Shane Steichen's genius as a head coach has led to Daniel Jones's rebirth in Indianapolis. 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 making Locked On Culture first.

Starting point is 00:00:27 Listen today and every day. We're part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. your team every single day. And today's episode is brought to you by Fanduel. Right now, new customers could bet just $5. And if your first bet wins, you'll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. Hello, everyone. My name is Zach Hicks, your resident film nerd of horseshoe huddle.com.

Starting point is 00:00:45 My partner, Jake Arthur, is their credential crocs on the ground for roundtable sports. I had some feedback that people wanted the return of crocs on the ground. So we're back to Crocs on the ground for you. Okay. That's what we are. The sad truth is I just still don't own it. any crocks. I'm buying you some crocks for Christmas there, Jake, just to fit the bit here. But today, guys, we have just a loaded show for you. We're going to be giving all the praise in

Starting point is 00:01:09 the world to Shane Steichen for this turnaround of the Indianapolis Colts. Obviously, it's not just him, but the head coach gets all the scrutiny, and he also needs a lot of the praise when things are going right. So we're going to talk a lot about Shane Steichen today. We're going to talk about breakout players. You know, there are a couple of late breakout players, including a quarterback who a lot of people counted out, including, you know, the two hosts on this show. coming into the season. And then we're going to talk about players who need to step up down the stretch. You know, this Colts team is rolling right now.

Starting point is 00:01:37 They're six and one number one team in the NFL, but there are still some areas that they can improve going forward. So we're going to talk about that to close out the show. But Jake, let's talk about Shane Steichen. The number one coach in terms of odds, I think, by Fanduel and most betting sites, to be the first coach fired this season. Some people were saying an in-season firing could happen with Steichen. Now, we never really bought that, but we did agree that this was kind of like a hot seat season for him,

Starting point is 00:02:05 especially when he made the choice to go with Daniel Jones over the young quarterback that kind of buys you a little bit more time. And the result is historically great offense through seven games. DBOA, I think they're the 10th best offense of all time as of right now. In terms of points per drive, they're sitting up there with the 07 Patriots and what Peyton Manning's Broncos teams and stuff like that. And it is just special stuff we're seeing from this Colts offense. So before we get into Shane Sakey just as a head coach, because I think he's also shown a lot of improvement as a head coach, as a manager of a team, the offensive play design, the play calling and putting guys into the right position, Jake. It has just been special this season. Yeah, and I've really enjoyed seeing the recognition of that across, you know, you and I kind of live on on Twitter a little bit.

Starting point is 00:02:57 And that's our little echo chamber is, you know, football guys. But to see a lot of the guys who just break down X's and O's all the time just absolutely gush about what they're seeing on the Colts film, it's number one, it validates what we're seeing. Because, like, we watch this team constantly every day, you know, we, we know what we're seeing from them is different. But nationally from people who make it their livelihood to study tape can't get enough of what they're seeing. And the variety is something we've talked about all season, not just from the passing game, but from the running game as well. There's so many cool things they do in the run game that it's not even just Jonathan Taylor-based. It's the spacing. It's who they place where.

Starting point is 00:03:41 It's, you know, the personnel packages, you know, 12 and 13, they're, you know, they're using a lot more of that 13 now. It's just really cool to see. And you talked about, you know, historically, they're ranking really high up there. Jonathan Taylor is the only superstar on this offense. You know what I mean? Like those Quinn Nelson, Quinn Nelson. I mean, I mean among guys that touch the ball. You know, I mean, like the Patriots team, for example, had Prime Randy Moss,

Starting point is 00:04:08 Prime Tom Brady, the run game, West Walker, those run games were fine. They had some contributions from Titans as well. I mean, don't get me wrong. Tyler Warren is on his way, but he still hasn't had that like enormous game yet. So they're spreading the ball around and just deciding what needs to be done at a given moment to get them where they need to go. And they like, Shane Steichen has not been stubborn one time this year that I've noticed. Like, and that's something I have noticed over the last couple of years is, God, man, this isn't working. You probably need to bail on it.

Starting point is 00:04:41 Or just because this hasn't worked for a drive doesn't mean you need to pull the plug on it or relying on plays versus players. I don't have any of those gripes about him this year. And then that's just the X's and O's. Like what he's done as a leader also can't be understated either. This team's dealt with a lot of injuries. You know, not much turmoil outside of that. But I think the players knowing what to expect from him, day in and day out, and now for going on three years, him allowing his players to be who they are

Starting point is 00:05:18 and for the leaders to kind of hold guys accountable and police things a little bit, I think there's a great deal of trust there. So just from just the entire umbrella of coaching, from X's and O's, to managing an organization and people, I think he's doing a killer job. Yeah, and I really want to get into that a little bit more too, but to just go back to the play calling and the play designing, I just don't know if there's a coach doing it better than the Colts right now in Shane Steigin, where guys are are being put into the best position to win, their game planning is at a very, very high level

Starting point is 00:05:54 right now and just in terms of like the Chargers game. I think this past game was a great example of just what kind of role this Colts team is on and when it comes to the coaching is they had specific things that were just so charger-based where that deep shot to Alec Pierce on third and 17, they know the Chargers want to play cover three on passing downs. They know that that outside corner they target on that side of the field will attack downhill out of his out of his deep third so they know the tendency of the player they know exactly the tendency of the defense in that situation and that was a play where the colts probably had in their back pocket all week long saying this is going to be our shot play this week and why not pull it out on third and 17 when you're backed

Starting point is 00:06:35 up and want to keep that drive going so just little things like that we're just seeing the perfect answers for the perfect time they're one of the best short yardage offenses in football now having Jonathan Taylor and Quentin Nelson certainly helps, but we saw the RPR design in that fourth down in the red zone where they pulled it out and threw it to Michael Pittman Jr. in the flat. We're seeing a lot of completions in short as well. This Colts team is just rolling in so many ways on offense. And Shane Steikin's the architect of that where guys are wide open. The running game is perfect.

Starting point is 00:07:04 I also want to give credit to his coaching staff as well, though. I don't know the exact roles of everybody in the coaching staff. I wish I did so I could just lay it out perfectly for you guys. but from little bits and pieces that I've picked out over the years, Jim Bob Cooter's passing designs are a huge part of their play action game and a lot of their deep passing game comes from Jim Bob Cooter. A lot of their pre-snap motion and window dressing is a lot of Tom Manning influence from his days as an offense coordinator at Iowa State.

Starting point is 00:07:32 And a lot of their running game, Tony Sparano Jr. has a big hand in that, much like how the Eagles relied on their offensive line coach over there under Shane Stuyken. And they rely heavily on Spirano Jr. Here. So the coaching staff he's put together has really done a great job in their little segmented roles as well as coaching their position players up to a really high level. So, yeah, this Colts offensive coaching staff and just offensive design has been perfect this year. But to go more so into like the head coaching duties of leadership, like you said,

Starting point is 00:08:01 a lot of guys been held accountable. DJ Giddins running back they really like coming into the year is no longer in the rotation because of his mistakes. The E.D. Mitchell stuff, I think they've handled it pretty. well because other guys have stepped up and played pretty well in that spot and then in the game in game coaching as well like how many times have we seen them steal timeouts from opponents this year how many times have we seen uh them just out maneuver opponents with their aggressiveness on fourth down and and all these other situations i think outside of the them playing a little bit too

Starting point is 00:08:32 conservative at the end of the Broncos game i think he's been flawless in a lot of this in game management as well where we've seen more issues in the past a lot of the way they've navigated drives before the half time has been great this year in terms of making sure the opponent's not getting the ball back and making sure we're getting points on the board before the half so yeah i think shane stuyken is is the runaway favorite for coach of the year for for a good reason he's doing everything you want out of a head coach and he's the architect of this historically great offense like daniel jones was one of the missing pieces don't get me wrong i want to give janel jones all its credit. But Shane Steichen's the architect behind this thing. Yeah, and can confirm they're

Starting point is 00:09:12 very cognizant of not only what their opponents do or are capable of schematically each week, but what their problems are from a personnel standpoint. Yeah. They're very well aware of that. I do want to just ask you one quick much because I don't want you to dive into all the conversations you have with Shane Steichen because as media, there are some conversations that aren't put out there. But are you seeing more of a confident Shane Steichen and a lot of your conversations this year maybe compared to like the last few years i'd say yeah and i mean for for good reason because i think they have all all the tools possible to be able to figure out any sort of game plan going into any opponent matchup you know what i mean like

Starting point is 00:09:53 right whatever the opponent does defensively they have an answer for it you know they've got josh downs and tyler warren are guys that can offer some similar things and the short yarder stuff. Pitman has kind of been allowed to do his thing. Alec Pierce has evolved a bit. And then that has not even mentioned Jonathan Taylor leading the league in rushing. So there's really not much they can't do offensively. And then so they do enter every game confident that they can craft something productive. Yeah. No, it's just been beautiful to watch. And there's so much more we could say about Shane Siking, but we do need to move to our next segment here, which is talking about breakout players again when you're six and one leading the NFL in terms of point

Starting point is 00:10:33 differential and record like you're the best team in football by all accounts right now there's a lot of players that have to be breaking out for that to happen and we have a lot of them on offense and a couple on defense that we're going to talk about here in just a second I'm Cody Roark from lockdown Broncos in this episode is brought to you by peloton peloton is shaping the future of fitness with the brand new peloton cross training tread plus powered by peloton IQ this is peloton's most advanced equipment yet giving you real time guidance and endless ways to move whether you're running lifting or you're cross training with your favorite instructors like alex tucson it's training reimagine to make your

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Starting point is 00:12:26 Mazda, move and be moved. Welcome back every dayers. We are kind of just reflecting on this first seven games of the cold season so far. What's gone right? We just talked a lot about Shane Steichen and everything he has been able to do and brought to the table. But obviously, coaching is part of it, but players have got to go out there and execute.

Starting point is 00:12:49 And they've got some guys that are doing it at a really high level. level. So some of these guys, we're going to talk about some guys who are heavily responsible for this, but because of their growth, like there are some guys who are already very well known. So our breakout players are going to be guys who have really kind of taken a step forward and, you know, leveled up the expectations from what was previously held. So we've got to obviously start with Daniel Jones, Zach. Like you and I, we did say like there was an avenue for this to be successful for him to be okay. But it wouldn't. look like this like we thought maybe a more chilled out gardener minchew or just i i don't even know

Starting point is 00:13:29 just whatever he was in 2022 but it wasn't it wasn't game changer now like he's not going out there and being patrick mahomes or josh allen but the things he's doing you know mentally and with his accuracy and the way he's spreading out the ball and making good decisions that's been incredibly valuable yeah and i don't want to go too long on this because we've talked Daniel Jones to death at this point because he's the starting quarterback and he's been the greatest story with this Colts team this year. But I mean, the things that Daniel Jones is doing this year are stuff that he's never done in his life as a quarterback. I mean, going back to college, like he was not a guy in college who threw for 5,000 yards and went just crazy

Starting point is 00:14:11 there at the college level. He was an adequate college quarterback that became a high pick because of his smarts and his IQ and in the projection of him getting better in the NFL. And even in his one breakout season with the Giants, a lot of that was his rushing output. You know, it really wasn't what he was doing as a passer. He was mainly like a checkdown guy in the passing game. So what we're seeing him do this year in terms of distributing the ball, in terms of making plays when the play breaks down, his pressure to sack rate is the best it's ever been. It's the first time he's been under 10% it's the first time he's been under like 15% in his career of converting pressure as a sack he's at like 7% like leading the NFL Colts are barely sacked because he's avoiding

Starting point is 00:14:53 a lot of them back there in the backfield his big time throw rates really good like he's doing a lot of big things for this Colts team so I would really call it a breakout even though he's what my age he's 28 years old so like he's almost 30 years old and he's breaking out because this is the best he's ever been his life at quarterback and he's he's well-deserved served all the praise he's getting, but another big breakout, and I think this is probably the second most important breakout on the team, Jake. Tyler Warren, even, like, you and I were high on him coming in the year. You had him with 10 plus touchdowns coming to the year, which he's starting to pick that up a little bit recently. He's starting to get there for you.

Starting point is 00:15:31 You know, we were very high on him, but even in our highest expectations, we had him as like five or six hundred yards receiving, you know, being like the third or fourth option in the offense but maybe getting a lot of red zone work he might hit a thousand yards as as a rookie tight end and he's not the third or fourth option like i know i know a lot with the colts it's one a one b one c one d but he'd probably be the one a of that like he's the prime guy in this offense in the passing game the guy the colts want to get in space and let him do his work like he has just been everything for this passing offense and that's even overlooking how great he's been in the run game with his blocking as well. I mean, Tyler Warren has stepped onto this

Starting point is 00:16:14 Colts team and he's been arguably an all-pr, I don't know if it's arguable right now. I think through the first seven games, he's been an all-pro tight end for the Colts. And when you talk about what the Colts needed in this past draft, everything that he has brought is what they needed. Yeah. I mean, it's crazy because tight ends, you usually want to give them a little bit of grace their rookie years because it takes a while for even the best ones to do. develop into what he's become, especially usually not in the first year. But yeah, as a blocker and receiver and just the multitude of things he's being asked to do even without the ball, it's a lot for a tight end to be able to handle. And he's doing it very well. He's leading the

Starting point is 00:16:53 Colts in receiving. He's second in the NFL among rookies and receiving first among tight ends. So like he's been super productive. I think it's four touchdowns now. And I think he's got one in each of the last three or four games. So he's been very, very productive. he seems to be the guy the Colts want to dial it up to when they need something. He had those couple of 29-yard catches and runs throughout the game on Sunday. So, yeah, he's just been a breath of fresh air. And you can tell Shane has just been waiting to have a tight end that he can use for so long. Because obviously, Kylo and Granson was Kyle and Granson.

Starting point is 00:17:32 Mo is very good at what he does, but what he does is not what Tyler Warren does. and then Drew Oval Tree is a decent blocker as well. But Shane's been waiting for a guy like this. And I just appreciate the way, you know, you see some unique players coming to the league sometimes and it just feels like they're not being used the right way. No, Grex, with how Shane's using him. No, using him in every which way possible for a tight end.

Starting point is 00:17:57 And it's been perfect for this offense. Two more guys on offense before we get to the one that we need to get to on defense as well. Tanner Bordellini and McInsolves, you know, we were very optimistic on them coming into the year, especially me with Tanner Bordellini. I was all in on his potential. But I expected more growing pains from this duo. It has not been many growing pains on the inside. Like, I'm not saying they've both been perfect. Like, I think they've been above average starters for the Colts this year.

Starting point is 00:18:26 But to get above average starters out of guys who were rookies last season, I mean, again, McIntylau is playing a position he's never played before. Right. to come in here and give up very few sacks and pressures. Bordolini these last two weeks has looked like an all pro. I mean, these guys are playing some great football on the interior for the Colts. Yeah, and I think the most encouraging thing about that is the things we knew about them and assumed they would be good at. It's been really the reverse has been what they most stood out.

Starting point is 00:18:53 Like, Matt Gonzalez and past pro, we thought that would take a bit to catch up, but he's looked pretty good there. And Tanner Bordellini with his strength and drive in the running, game he's an undersized center yeah and like explosion and like agility and all that stuff with his game so he himself even said like he was going to have to find ways to succeed despite being undersized but he both of these guys have been among the best in the league at their positions i mean there's probably not a ton of right guards better than gonzalves right now and then center isn't necessarily the richest position in the league so bordolini

Starting point is 00:19:28 quickly laying claim to one of those higher-up spots. Very encouraging, again, because we just, we didn't, we thought it would take longer. And I think the fact that those guys have come in and advanced so quickly and the offensive line has been so good because of it has been a huge reason why Daniel Jones looks great. Shane Steichen looks great. John the Taylor is leading the league in Russia. All of this is possible in part because those two guys are ahead. of the curve. Yeah, the Colts are winning in the trenches on offense. And there's one more

Starting point is 00:20:01 play we're going to mention in the trenches, but this guy's on defense, a locked on Colts favorite for multiple seasons, at Atamiwa, Atabore, a guy that we have been pounding the table for, get him more snaps. He deserves it. He's got the potential. This year, he's finally, finally has a role on defense. He has played seven games this year, Jake. He's already hit his most defensive snaps in a season already this year. He has earned it, too. He's earned it. Yeah, second on the team right now among defensive linemen in pressure rate at 17% only behind Laotou, two, his time to pressure rate is second on the team only behind Taekwon Lewis with 2.73 seconds. Pro football focus has his eighth highest rated pass rusher in the NFL among defensive tackles.

Starting point is 00:20:46 And another one I want to throw out here, he's got a 14% run stop rate in run defense, right? For pro football focus, top 10 among all defensive tackles. now his down-to-down efficiency hasn't been as good as like a grover steward force buckner in that degree but he's probably been their most impactful splash play guy on the on the defensive line this year in terms of his snaps to splash play ratio has just been really really good for the Colts and i think he's going to earn even more snaps going forward so we are finally in that time where at a time he was getting snaps Jake our boy for years in year three we're getting that breakout from him yeah like his first couple years i was definitely very optimistic but truthfully i came into this

Starting point is 00:21:28 season a little lukewarm because i was like Tommy and neville gallimore i was like are we going to get into another tavan brian situation or someone has to play out of position and that hasn't been the case like Tommy is making plays regularly like you notice at least one or two plays a game where he's killed the lineman immediately like with you know i think the swim move is one of his go-toes now And he gets in the backfield immediately. And if he's not making the play, he's affecting it. That's very regular for him now. And it makes you think he's legitimately good because they're not effort plays where,

Starting point is 00:22:03 you know, four seconds into the play. He's just there at the end or anything like that. Like he is making the play happen. And I think that's significant. Yeah, I would say since week four, when he really got into the defensive rotation a little bit more, he has been the third best pass rusher on this Colts team. And I think he's only going to get more snaps going forward.

Starting point is 00:22:21 But coming up, guys, speaking of that Colts pass rush, we have to speak of areas on this team that need to be a little bit better down the stretch if they want to be a legit Super Bowl contender. A lot of things going right, but a couple of things that could go better for this team. We are in the throes of the NFL season, and Fandul has an offer that you don't want to miss. All right, guys, so right now, new customers, if you haven't joined yet, you can bet just $5 when you do join,

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Starting point is 00:23:51 as well. But there are some players who we need to see a little bit more for from the Colts. You know, we like that they're six and one and everything. We think they can compete with any team, any given Sunday. But for the same reason, you know, we feel they need to be active in the trade market or player acquisition. You never want to be satisfied. You want to keep going. So we think these players need to step it up a little bit. And some of these guys have done well. They just need to show a little bit more. So we'll go with kind of some layups here, Zach. I'll start with rookie running back, DJ Giddens, and second year wide receiver, A.D. Mitchell. So Giddens, the error was pointing up in the summer.

Starting point is 00:24:30 Everyone was talking really highly of him. You know, we even said, if Jonathan Taylor, if anything were to happen with him, DJ Giddens could probably carry the run game. Just we really like this tape and what he could offer. It hasn't gone well. He's had some gaffs, particularly in the passing game. that just it's it's caused them to need to refocus on other guys behind Taylor. Luckily, Taylor's become this just almost flawless three down back,

Starting point is 00:24:59 so they haven't had to worry about it as much. But it's a reason you've seen the Colts try to continue relying on like Tyler Goodson when he's healthy and now Amir Dula. Yeah, you know, this Colts offense right now is so process oriented in terms of guys need to be complete players. Like I don't care if your complete game is a 70, percent of like a star player whatever we would rather take a guy with a complete game that's at a little bit lower of a level than a guy who does some things exceptionally well but other things at

Starting point is 00:25:27 a very low level so that's why we're seeing players like ad mitchell and and d getins who have these gaps in their game even though like i think getins is a better runner than amir abdula i think ad mitchell is a better route runner than ashton dulin these guys are getting benched in favor of those other guys because those other guys have more complete football games you know a duel is a better past blocker past catcher than get-ins was showing ashton dula does everything at a at a pretty solid level where mitchell showed those moments of you know poor judgment and then the the holding on on the long tailor run in the fourth in the fourth game of the year uh so those things are holding those guys back luckily the colts have high floor

Starting point is 00:26:06 guys behind them that can fill those roles but the goal is for those guys to really fill out their their entire game while they're sitting and learning right now so the benefit of being a player in the NFL and a rookie contract is you're not really expected to be like this high level impact player until like year three year four so the colts had the benefit of just kind of letting those guys marinate a little bit even if the fan base is proclaiming that we need those guys out there or vice versa that we need them cut or something let them marinate let them learn let them fill out their game and if they can then they also bring those high end traits that we like so luckily the colts aren't hurting too much but it would be nice to have them fill out their game and

Starting point is 00:26:45 and be impact players down the stretch. Yeah, always good. It's not hurting the team that those guys aren't where they need to be. The Colts luckily have that luxury, but it is what it is. Now, an area that just really, really, really needs to step up is the pass rush. Now, since stats have been going around this morning where they're getting there, the pass rush is getting there eventually the success rate there actually ranks pretty high. But the actual finishing of the play and coming up with sacks, it's not there.

Starting point is 00:27:15 And you and I have kind of talked about this a little bit recently. They're not really winning quickly is part of it. Like they're winning eventually, but they're not beating guys right away and getting the quarterback. The quarterback is getting pressured, but he still has just enough time to get rid of it. Yeah, I think the bigger concern is just the edge room. I think the interior defensive line room has been great. All four players, I think, have produced above expectation as pass rushers, especially with how to Tommy was breakout that we're seeing on the interior. But the edge room just needs to win quicker.

Starting point is 00:27:44 you know that's that's a real thing because layout too lots who is getting a lot of pressures this year and obviously he's made those impact plays uh getting those interceptions on on the back end as well uh but i think his pressure is uh time to pressure rate is like almost four seconds this season like we just need quicker pressures uh from the colts edge room and it is kind of hard to navigate sometimes because when you go against a herbert when you go against a cam war you want to keep them in the pocket so it's more so about displacing and then keeping those guys in the pocket but In other situations, like against like Gino Smith and other quarterbacks or other areas where they can really pin their ears back and get after it, we're not seeing the quickest wins from the edge rush room. You know, Taekwon Lewis has had a couple, but outside of him, Laotu Latu is mostly like on counters in like second or third moves, Quitty Pay. If he gets there at all, it's like a third move or a stunt he's getting in there on some stunts. But the Colts really just need like an alpha edge rusher that can win quickly with their first

Starting point is 00:28:42 move. And that's really what they haven't had this. here and when you can't run press man on the back end because your cornerback room is so depleted and you can't delay those throws and disrupt routes it leads to the ball just getting out before your pressure is going to get there so you either got to win quick to allow your defense to play zone on the back end or if you're going to win late you have to have the press man on the backside so that's kind of where the issue is right now the Colts can't do both because they have depleted cornerback room and edge room that's not winning quick enough so something's going to break eventually

Starting point is 00:29:12 they're going to need to add somewhere there or they're going to need someone to step up. Again, I think Latu's had a good season. Like, I don't want to sit here and say he's been bad this year by any means. I just want him to win with his first move more often. That's more of the concern right now is outside of the Rams game where he won a lot with his first move because he was getting jump-setted and he was able to quickly just get the hands off and go. We haven't really seen him win with the first move.

Starting point is 00:29:37 Like, he really struggles against vertical sets winning with the first move. and that's going to be something that has to change if the Colts want to have success this year. More success, more success this year. They're six and one. More success this year. I want to addendum to that there. Never satisfied.

Starting point is 00:29:55 No, but I mean, totally unrelated. I wonder what Max Crosby's up to right now, but I don't know, that's just me thinking about that. He's chilling with $100 million in Vegas right now. You think he wants to leave? Absolutely not. All right, so next up. Now, this guy, he hasn't had a bad season either.

Starting point is 00:30:10 Zaire Franklin. He actually, his tackling numbers, not so much the volume of them, but the efficiency of them and like not missing tackles and stuff. That's been as good as it ever has. He's actually, his efficiency there has been the best of his career. But we've seen him throughout his career as a starter over, you know, three or four years, added new things to his game. And then he became a guy who not at Shaq Leonard's level, but like was really forcing turnovers at a high rate and it was super valuable to the defense now this team they they still have it they're still getting turnovers every game and everything but if you're going to be a bend but don't break unit because of how depleted you are you probably need more splash plays and a

Starting point is 00:30:55 real opportunity there is zair franklin created more of those yeah you know you said not at the shack leonard level but honestly last year he was close to a shackler level he had what like three interceptions and like five fourth fumbles last season like that's pretty darned good. And that's really my biggest thing with Franklin. I think the tackling has been good this year. I think the run defense has gotten a lot better in recent weeks. And yeah, he gets a lot of hate for past coverage. But in the modern NFL, unless it's a Fred Warner, your linebackers are going to be average at best in past defense. So much of NFL offenses are built to go after linebackers. I mean, there was one big catch he allowed to Gadsden on a play action, I remember,

Starting point is 00:31:32 where he was in great position. The ball was just so perfectly thrown by Justin Herbert. And he had the great play in Tampa too late in the game as well so I think Franklin's been pretty solid this season I just want to see more splash plays from him and when you're getting and look like I don't think it's unfair to ask that when you're getting paid what he's getting paid where it's like you know you're bringing some really good play this year but let's get some splash play let's get some turnovers I think that's the last thing he needs to step up and then once he does that I think a lot of the concerns we have with him will kind of dissipate a little bit I think that's fair at his pay rate like you probably need a little bit more than what you're doing which is already productive

Starting point is 00:32:07 but just give me the splash look grover stewards giving me the splash plays i need i need some from you now zeyer and it will be good yeah i have one more quick one before we wrap up and this is just me being picky but anthony gould from the return game now he's one of the actual more productive kickoff returners hasn't returned i think he's returned like he's got like one more return than he does fair catch so far as a punt returner you haven't seen a lot of impact there and then as a kickoff returner we've seen both Ashton Doolin and Amir Abdullah kind of outshine him a little bit. And again, it's not that he hasn't been good at it, but there are teammates of yours making more plays in that department than you are. So it's the reason you're in the position you're at as the kickoff return specialist.

Starting point is 00:32:57 I mean, let's get some more big plays, both as a punt and kickoff returner. I mean, special teams returns is always the biggest X factor. I mean, it was huge when Abdullah got that big return that he got. on Sunday. Yeah, absolutely. I think you're fair to say that, especially in the punt return game. I think that could stand to be a little bit more explosive, like force some more miss tackles and create more some more big plays. That's how you turn the tide of games in terms of momentum and just stealing points on opponents. So yeah, I'm with you. I think they could be a little bit better there. I think they've been solid, especially with like ghouls that have been just like

Starting point is 00:33:29 solid, but I want to see a little bit more than solid. I'm greedy. We're six and one right now. I want the special teams to be as good as the offense going forward. Exactly. You got to of just, yeah, you got to find these little areas where they can get a little better and make a difference. And that's one of them. Yeah. And then the last one, I think if we had to add another one about where they need to get better is health at cornerback. I think that, you know, I don't know who we need to talk to to get that happen. But yeah, getting Charverius Ward back, I think would be massive for this team, getting Jalen Jones back even at this point. Like, just somebody back, getting another body in here. Like, I don't know. Just more bodies at corner.

Starting point is 00:34:05 I think it could certainly help this team. But that's all we have for today, guys. We want to thank you all for making Lockdown Colts your first listen today and every day. The NFL season is here. So for your next listen, get a double dose of the Locked on NFL podcast. Tyler, the Madman, Rolling gives you a double shot of NFL or gives you a shot of espresso to start your football day. While Tony Wiggins takes you into the barbershop for the smoothest breakdowns to end the day. Find Lockdown NFL on YouTube where we list your podcast.

Starting point is 00:34:29 If you guys want to become a Lockdown Colts insider and chat this directly and get that insider scoop, follow the link at our show notes. And if you don't already, make sure you're following out, on Colts at Jake Arthur NFL and at Zach Hicks 2 all on socials also subscribe to us on YouTube or wherever you list of your podcast we'd love your guys ratings reviews and we'll catch you guys back here tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow night for Colts Watch show so we'll get you guys back here twice tomorrow

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