Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts Succeeding Despite Absence of Anthony Richardson, Jonathan Taylor
Episode Date: September 27, 2023Head coach Shane Steichen has the Indianapolis Colts playing outstanding football through three weeks. Aside from the main man in charge, which players have surprised the most in the early season? Wil...l Fries and Bernhard Raimann locking it down? What about Samson Ebukam's play on defense?Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms:🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOColts?sid=YouTube📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQLocked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNFLFollow Jake and Zach's written work on HorseshoeHuddle.com, and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, @LockedOnColts, and @ColtsOnFN!Catch the Locked On Colts pregame show at Nevermore at Union Station before every Colts home game! Info here: https://www.tailgateplanet.com/indianapolis-colts-tailgatesSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Harry'sGet your best shave ever this summer with Harry’s razors and skin care products. Get a $13 Starter Set for just $3 at harrys.com/NFL. NutrafolTake the first step to visibly thicker, healthier hair. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com/men and enter the promo code LOCKEDONMLB. DoorDashGet fifty percent off your first DoorDash order up to a twenty-dollar value when you use code lockedonnfl at checkout. Limited time offer, terms apply.Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.PrizePicksGo to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnfl and use code lockedonnfl for a first deposit match up to $100!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed.eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Terms and conditions apply.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcript
Discussion (0)
The Colts are 2-1 and atop the AFC South through three weeks,
but that's not the only thing that has us surprised about them so far.
Let's get to it.
You are Locked On Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast.
Part of the Locked On Podcast your first listen of the day.
This is your daily podcast covering your Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.
I am Jake Arthur, and that is Zach Hicks, or someone from Super Troopers, or Reno 911,
we're not sure.
This man keeps evolving every day, and I know you guys are a big fan of it, just reading
through the comments.
Yeah, I was shocked.
You guys were very nice in the comment section, which, much nicer than my wife when it comes
to my mustache, so I do appreciate that. I did trim it up a little bit more just to make it
a little more even because it wasn't super even yesterday on yesterday's show. So this is a little
bit cleaner cut, a little bit more even. We're going to wear it like this for at least the rest
of the week. We'll see, guys. I'm still not comfortable going out in public like this.
We'll see how this evolves over the week, but I do appreciate the nice comments and
all the YouTube stuff there.
It does raise my self-esteem from negative five to like negative three when it comes
to this.
So it's great.
It's great.
Online, your clout is huge, but out in public, you're just getting pummeled.
Not great.
Right.
Right.
I'm terrified of it.
I'm terrified of it.
Oh, man. Anyway, on today's show, we are surprised people through three weeks.
We're going to tell you what has surprised us about the Colts so far offensively and defensively.
And then maybe what are some things that come that might still be surprising that haven't
reared their head yet, whether it's positive or negative, we'll see. But first up, let's just
talk about it real quick. You know, the Colts are two and one. And I think the biggest surprising part about that is they could be three
and oh, they had a late lead against the Jaguars in the fourth quarter back in week one. So they
could be three and oh, but they've done it with Anthony Richardson, not even playing half the
time yet. You know, he's had a couple injuries. They've done it without Jonathan Taylor. Jelani
Woods is on IR.
That's someone who everyone thought
was going to be a huge X factor this year.
So they're doing really well
while being kind of shorthanded so far.
Kudos to Shane Steichen and his staff for that.
It's, man, I mean, they're 10th in scoring as well
without those guys I just mentioned,
24.7 points per game.
I mean, Zach, I think we both expected them to be a little better than Vegas and the oddsmakers
thought, but are you surprised that they're two and one so far?
I mean, the rest of the division isn't quite there, but I mean, I think they're further
along than a lot of people expected they would be.
Jake, I am wearing a mustache right now because I'm so surprised that they are two and one right now. I expected to be one and two because I made this bet not thinking that Gardner
Minshew and the Colts offense are going to be able to score enough to win that game late. So clearly
if you guys are watching on YouTube, you can see that I am shocked that the Colts are two and one
right now. But no, this is a competitive team. They've done a lot of good things through three
weeks. I mean, having a blowout victory over a divisional opponent
in the first three weeks of the season with that Houston Texans team,
who with what they just did to the Jaguars in week three,
that win looks a lot bigger for the Indianapolis Colts.
I mean, they dismantled that Texans team.
And that Texans team that went against Jacksonville the week later
and won that game handedly.
So yeah, I think this Colts team is better than what we expected
going into the year,
at least better than what a lot of oddsmakers expected.
It still remains to be seen what kind of team they're going to be,
because starting quarterback was out last week.
Offense still hasn't been super productive.
Like, yes, they're 10th in scoring right now with 24.7 points per game,
but efficiency-wise and EPA per play and a lot of the advanced metrics are not
really speaking too well to this Colts offense right now. You want to see a little bit more
consistency with the drives. You want to get those three and outs going down. You want to see more,
you want to see drives end with better than 50-yard field goals. You know, it's great when
you have a kicker who can make those 50-yard field goals, but you'd rather them either be
30-yard field goals or be touchdowns. You know, you'd rather them either be 30 yard field goals or be touchdowns.
You know, you'd rather them be a lot more easier chances at points and higher percentage chances
at points. So I think we can be really optimistic through three weeks, but we still have to say,
Hey, we're waiting and seeing with this team right now. We don't know what kind of team they are
right now, outside of the fact that they are a feisty, young, energetic team that really plays
like this coaching staff, this young coaching staff that gets after it. This team has kind of embodied that entire
personality. And the next step is actually improving on offense, taking strides on offense
and being more efficient and effective there. And then on defense, cleaning up some things that are
some minor issues there to continue being a top defensive unit. I think the good part about that
with offense is it should only go up
from here because again, you should be getting Anthony Richardson back. And in the limited
sample size we've seen, at least we knew what he could do as a runner. That was no surprise,
but he's a lot cleaner of a passer as well. Not that he doesn't have things to work out,
but he has, he has surprised plenty of people with how polished he already is in the passing game.
Yeah. You know, he's going through of people with how polished he already is in the passing game. Yeah.
You know, he's going through his reads a lot quicker than I expected, which sometimes he's
going through them a little too quick.
Like he's going from one, two, three, four, like within two seconds.
And it's like, okay, Anthony, like sometimes you got to sit on one a little bit and wait
for it on cover or, or read the defense a little bit better there.
But for the most part, I like how he's moving his feet in the pocket.
I like how he's getting from read one to two to three to four. I like when he's making decisions to pull it and run and decisions
when to extend and find someone down the field. So when Anthony Richardson has played, I've been
really impressed with his development so far. And I think it can only go higher from here. So
one of the biggest surprise for sure was in that week one game where it's like, yeah,
Anthony Richardson didn't look phenomenal, but he looked way more polished than what I expected I was expecting like a 40 completion
percentage some big runs some big passes here and there but he was an efficient short passer
who mixed in some running ability as well which was really interesting to see so yeah I think
one of the biggest surprises through these first couple weeks is just when Richardson has played
he's looked pretty polished for the most part. And the big assumption with an offense being led by him was that the ground game was just going to be really, really good.
But like we mentioned, he's only played in five quarters and Jonathan Taylor has been on the sideline and had a super clunky week one.
But without, you know, taking all that into account, they're already a fringe top 10 rushing team.
Right now they rank 12th at 110 yards per game.
You could say if they, again, they had a really bad week one, if they would have had just a normal rushing performance, they'd be about eighth or ninth right now.
So this is a really productive run team.
Now yards per carry is not great.
They are running it a lot, but they are running it effectively.
Like Zach Moss in the two weeks he's been around, great. Over 100 yards from scrimmage,
touchdown in each game. This run game looks really legit. Like it could be, I mean, I'm putting the
cart before the horse in terms of playoffs. I'm not saying they're going to make the playoffs, but
they already look like a January running team so far with Zach Moss. And then they're going to make the playoffs, but they already look like a January running team so far with Zach Moss.
And then they're going to get Richardson back and then perhaps get Jonathan Taylor back, which is something we'll get to in the third segment.
But the ground game really good so far.
Yeah, I think the biggest takeaway, though, in these last two weeks is Zach Moss getting nearly 200 total yards rushing with Gardner Minshew at quarterback.
And that's what defense is teeing off on the run game.
That's what defense is not having that threat of that quarterback pulling it and running.
So what's Zach Moss going to do when Richardson is back there with that threat of running,
with his ability to pull the ball, with spreading the defense a little bit wider so there's
more creases in the run game.
So the run game being so effective the last two weeks without with basically without Richardson,
like with Zach Moss running without Anthony Richardson, I think that's just a really positive
sign for the run game going forward.
You know, the run blocking is not perfect right now.
Zach Moss's vision isn't perfect right now, but it's it's grinding out wins.
It's grinding out really good opportunities.
So I'm really excited to see what Moss and Richardson can do going forward.
And also, hopefully, what Taylor and Richardson can do going forward. And also hopefully what Taylor and Richardson can do going forward
after this week four game coming up.
Yeah.
And as we saw last year, the offense can go nowhere
if the offensive line isn't performing well.
And they really rebounded compared to where they were last year.
And a big part of that is Bernard Ryman has been playing really, really well.
Second year, he didn't have any competition being the
left tackle and he's answered really well. And then Will Fries, which the speculation about the
Colts offensive line was that they would find a new starting right guard all off season. Like the
assumption was that someone would come in and threaten Will Fries and that hasn't been the
case and he's played pretty well. Yeah, you know, I feel very comfortable saying that both Bernard
Ryman and Will Fries have played at an above average level to start this season. Yeah, you know, I feel very comfortable saying that both Bernard Ryman and Will Fries have
played at an above average level to start this season. Now, Bernard Ryman's been a little bit
more consistent than Will Fries. Will Fries had some higher peaks at times, but for the most part,
they both played at a very above average level. Will Fries is getting better each week. He's
getting really sturdy in the pass game. In the run game, you still want to see a little bit more
aggression and tenacity, but for the most part, he's hanging in there on both phases and then bernard ryman for a player who looked
like a revolving door at times last season that first year that he was a starter and just looked
like a player where if there was going to be some kind of bull rush or some kind of power move he
was going to get driven back this year his core strength is so much better it is so much better
he's not doing anything particularly
amazing in terms of technique or finesse or like you know he's not playing like a 10-year vet
on the left side but he looks so much stronger and more comfortable and has a better base on
every single pass pass protection uh play or whatever that he's just able to withstand the
pressure that's being thrown at him and he wasn't able to do that for a lot of last year so bernard ryman taking a massive step forward is establishing himself as the left tackle
for the colts and will fry is not being a liability whatsoever like again there's a couple snaps the
game where will fries is getting beat but for the most part he's looking like a more consistent like
mark gluinski for the most part like he's looking like a more consistent version of gluinski
because he's
even better in the past game than Lewinsky was.
So I think these two have been two shining stars to start this season.
And I'm excited to see what they can do going forward.
Big test coming up this week,
especially for Will Fries though with Aaron.
Yeah,
that's yeah,
that's no doubt.
I mean,
Bernard Ryman put on a bunch of solid positive weight this off season last year, I mean, a lack of anchor was a big thing that showed up,
and he's taking steps to rectify that.
So here, coming up in a couple minutes,
we're going to talk about the defensive side of the ball,
a really strong group that has surprised plenty of us,
even heading into second year with Gus Bradley.
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all right guys diving into this colts defense obviously the talk of the hour is just how good
this colts front seven has been. Now we've,
we've talked about this a lot the last couple of weeks. Uh, and I think going into the year,
you and I, Jake, we're really, really high on this Colts front seven, but maybe not this high.
Like even this high is kind of insane to think about because this Colts front seven right now,
you have the numbers in front of me. So perfect for me to read them off. 23 tackles for a loss first in the NFL, 12 sacks, which is tied
for second in the NFL, seven forced fumbles tied for second. And then obviously the man of the hour
Zyre Franklin at linebacker leads the NFL in tackles, leads the NFL in solo tackles.
I think our boy Kenan on Twitter put a fantastic, just a fantastic stat out there that Zyra Franklin leads all linebackers and snaps this year, but also leads all linebackers and percentage of snaps resulting in a solo tackle.
So that's how far ahead he is in the NFL and tackles right now.
I mean, he might hit 100 tackles by like week seven this season.
It is absolutely insane what he's doing and what the rest of this Colts front seven is doing the defense on pace for 68 sacks which is a Colts an Indianapolis Colts and a Baltimore Colts record
so I told you Jake I told you I told you to be a little bit more crazy in the offseason with that
prediction uh but yeah this Colts front seven right now is just playing some outstanding football
I can't I can't think of one player within that front seven
who has been a negative asset for this team so far.
You can say some players are playing average
or rotational level player guys,
but for the most part, this front seven,
everyone is playing at an average or above average level,
and it's just fantastic to see.
Yeah, they're getting contributions everywhere.
And again, on pace for 68 sacks, that's huge.
Because I didn't even want to pull the trigger on saying they'd hit 60 sacks.
Yeah.
So not only are they on pace to break the Indianapolis era record,
they're on pace to fly past it.
And again, it's getting spread out.
Everyone seems to be getting in on the party.
It's not one guy dominating all the sacks.
Quiddy Pay taking that solid step forward in year three
healthy three sacks uh ebucom has been great as a compliment on the other side of the line
grover stewart's playing out of his mind deforest buckner has been there one of my pleasant surprises
been taben brian because i'll be honest i thought he was just going to be just a guy like just
morphing into the mix maybe provide a pressure here or there.
But he's made a couple really big plays so far.
And for you to be getting pass rush and harassment in the pocket
from your second wave of interior defenders, like that's pretty nice.
So very impressed with this group.
It's been the run game too.
Like, again, tackles for loss, leading the league.
The front seven in general, EJ Speed's been nuts. He's been the run game too like again tackles for loss leading the league uh the front seven in general ej speed's been nuts he's been great zyre franklin league of his own right
now yeah i mean i questioned yesterday is he one of the best linebackers in the nfl he's certainly
been one of the most productive so far there's some things he can fill in here or there to kind
of add to the the tool chest but in terms of what's happening in
front of him in the game like he is diagnosing things brilliantly and uh his ability to chase
people down like he basically looked like Syracuse Zaire Franklin against Louisville Lamar Jackson on
Sunday I I know you know what I'm talking about there but now this this front seven has been great
and all that with saying Shaquille Leonard has played in these first three games.
And I mean, not to diminish anything he's contributed, but we haven't really said his name since week one.
And this is how well the Colts front seven is doing.
So almost at the Jonathan Taylor type thing, but on the defensive side of the ball, once those
contributions start coming in from Shaquille Leonard more and more, what level can this
defense reach?
Yeah.
And I wanted to touch on Shaquille Leonard for a second on this show because I've been
wanting to touch on it the last couple of weeks, but we just haven't really had a time
to talk about it.
It's Zyra Franklin and EJ Speed are both playing at a really, really high level.
Like Zyra Franklin's obviously in a league of his own.
EJ Speed has been doing some really fantastic things.
So Shaquille Leonard's kind of just been,
I actually saw a pretty good comparison for this earlier today.
It's kind of like that Anthony Walker and Anthony Walker's last season
where he was rotating with Bobby Okereke,
but we knew Okereke was taken over eventually.
So, you know, it was like, okay, when's it happening?
And I'm not saying that Shaquille Leonard's on his way out but to me right now Shaquille Leonard is kind of a wild card
for the team it's kind of like a lottery ticket if he ends up being Shaquille Leonard again
then you have three really high level linebackers in this in this second group in this second level
of the defense but if he doesn't which is a realistic scenario where he just doesn't get
back to being Shaquille Leonard it's not the biggest deal in the world like it's horrible
to say because I love Shaquille Leonard he's been a great player for the Colts but they have two guys
that are playing at such a level where it kind of makes in my mind at least my mind as a film guy
like I don't feel the need to talk about shaquille leonard right now because
these other two are playing at such a high level i've had so many questions like can you cut up
all shaquille leonard's film can you talk about what you've seen from shaquille leonard i'm like
he's been fine but like there's not really much to say about him because the other two
are playing so at such a high level and that's not like a negative thing on him it's not
an overly positive thing on those two it's just as of of right now, if he does become Shaquille Leonard again, awesome. Oh my gosh, that'd be incredible to have a Shaquille Leonard again with this defense.'s been able to get back on the field. I think he's done some good things for the team this year.
But as of right now, he is the third linebacker.
And he should be the third linebacker because the other two are playing much better than him.
And I hope he can get back to being Shaquille Leonard.
But as of right now, this linebacker group is EJ Speed and Zyra Franklin.
And I'm not trying to say this is a negative thing.
It's just those two are playing out of their mind to start this season.
Yeah, I think you and I are in the same camp where when we talk about the linebackers,
we don't want it to be about what Leonard's not doing.
It's more so Franklin and Speed are just really, really standing out.
Yeah.
And mentally, Shaquille Leonard has a great football mind.
He's able to diagnose things, and he trusts his instincts.
So I think it's only a matter of time until that all comes back around.
But through these first three weeks, EJ Speed and Zyra Franklin lights out.
And looking behind those guys in the secondary,
one of the biggest concerns about the defense was just how green this
cornerback group was.
And as a group, it really has not been a detriment or a disaster or any huge negative.
The Colts are showing with the coaching staff the accountability.
Darryl Baker had a really rough week, too, pulled from the lineup in exchange for Juju Brents making his NFL debut and actually responded
really well.
So, so far in this, in this whole team, cause you can look at it, examples on offense too.
If you're not performing well, they'll, you know, they'll, they'll replace you.
Like not only will you just get sat on the bench, but they'll, they'll find something
else to do.
But cornerback has been really solid so far despite that.
Yeah, I think they've had some blips here.
And obviously the second half against the Texans wasn't great by any metric, but it
was a blowout game.
It's kind of hard to use that in comparison for things.
But yeah, I think the cornerback group has been fine.
Dallas Flowers has been really competitive on a lot of routes.
Juju Brent's had a really good debut.
So hopefully going forward, they can keep taking those steps forward.
I want to see a little more of the safeties,
but we have a lot of time to talk about that,
obviously in the coming weeks and,
and all the games coming up,
but coming up guys,
we're going to talk about what's to come from this Colts team.
We're gonna give some predictions on what we think could happen going
forward with this Indianapolis Colts team.
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All right, Jake. So getting into what's to come for this Colts team, our predictions here,
I want to start off with a little bit of a banger because I know that this entire Colts
fan base is so down on this player right now, but I'm telling you guys it's there. It's coming.
It's coming. I
guess people think he had a drop in this past game. It was a tough catch. He could have had
down the sideline late in the game. You want him to see him come down with that catch, but
I do think there's a big game coming for Alec Pierce soon. Maybe this is me just being that
girl in a relationship with like a guy who sucks being like, no, no, I can change him.
I can change him. Maybe that's just what I'm doing here,
but I really do think it's coming.
If you're watching the film the last couple of weeks,
there are opportunities down the field where he's stacking his defender and getting open down the field.
Obviously there was this play this last week against the Ravens where sure he
should have caught it or whatever you want to say with that,
but he did do a good job of creating that space down the field late in the
game.
There was another one where Gardner Minshew just didn't slide in the pocket
correctly and threw it all weird or whatever way over Pierce's head out of bounds where Pierce had
two steps on his defender and a three by one set there there was one with Anthony Richardson two
weeks ago at the Texans where Richardson just came off the deep route too early and that was
after Richardson's concussion so obviously we've already talked about that here on this show. There are opportunities for him down the field.
It's just about converting on those opportunities and getting the ball to him accurately down the
field. I do think the big game is coming. There were chances in this past game against the Ravens.
There were chances in that Texans game. It's just for the majority of the year, they've had
a dink and dunk quarterback in there, even in week one with Anthony Richardson.
Richardson was a little bit dink and dunk in that first game, just trying to get the
rhythm out in the offense.
So I do think when this offense opens up a little bit more and when they do start taking
more chances down the field, that is where we'll see Alec Pierce shine.
You know, we're seeing the receiver roles really emerge for each player.
Michael Pittman Jr. is that wide receiver one who's going to make the tough catches
over the middle. Josh Downs is third downs. He's going to get you those conversions
when you need it. And those underneath routes, Alec Pierce is the deep threat. And that's the
one thing missing from this offense right now. And it's not because he's not really converting
on the deep shots. He's just not getting targeted. So once they start taking those shots down there
and he has a chance to convert and he has a chance to stack and get open, I do that that missing link of the offense is going to come so I'm telling you guys don't give
up on Alec Pierce yet I really do think it's coming I do think when they start taking chances
down the field they start getting those opportunities he's going to make some things
happen and his Colts offense is going to find some efficiency and find some effectiveness going
forward yeah I've seen that's just too important of a part of their plans to think it's not
coming.
And like you said, on the film, you can see he's doing his part mostly.
I mean, it's been about missed opportunities that drop against the Ravens.
To me, that was more of a good play by the defender.
Like it was like, again, you want him to make that play, but it's not a drop.
Like it's it's it's a please make the play. That's what it is.
Right. I mean, I think he catches it if the defender doesn't rake it away. I think it's a big play. Otherwise, the preseason drop makes people even more sour on it, but I'm with you. I think it's coming. It's a big part of their plans.
And I think when, I don't know, there's just a couple more things that could help.
I think Jonathan Taylor being back can help. Anthony Richardson being back can help.
Jelani Woods being a threat. Like when everything's at full strength, the playbook's just going to
open more. And again, the opportunities are there. They're just not very vertical right now. But it'll come. Looking beyond that, I mentioned Jonathan Taylor
a little bit. One of my things, what's to come, I think Jonathan Taylor is going to return,
return to Jonathan Taylor form, and it's going to be for the Colts. Now, will that be for the
rest of the year? I don't know, but I think we're at least going to get a couple weeks where Jonathan Taylor looks like an absolute stud for the Colts. May not
be his first game back. I also don't think they're going to give him 20 carries in his return,
but I mean, that seems like his only choice is to come back and look like a good football,
healthy, good football player again, so that the Colts or another team might want to invest in it. That's really his option.
I hope he comes back for the Colts. I mean, it'd be really fun to see him in this offense,
especially the way Zach Moss has been running the last couple of weeks to have that thunder
and lightning of the thunder of Zach Moss and the lightning of Jonathan Taylor. Well,
lightning slash thunder of Jonathan Taylor in there. It would just do wonders for this offense.
I could open up a lot of things.
I just,
I had to see it to believe it at this point.
Like,
well,
I said the same thing about Shaquille Leonard's injury in the off season.
Like,
do I think he'll ever play again?
We'll have to see it to believe it.
And he's playing now.
So we'll see there.
We'll see there.
I'm not,
I don't know.
I don't know how to think about it.
One more thing I do want to throw out is with
this Colts defense. I am excited to see Juju Brents more in this starting role. I do think
if we're looking at projection, projection to future weeks and projection to what he's going
to do coming forward, there's going to be a lot of rookie moments from him guys. I just want everyone
to get prepared for it. But the big thing I want to hype on or harp on, especially compared to the guy he replaced,
is everything's going to be made at 100 miles per hour.
There's going to be a lot of big hits.
There's going to be a lot of, you know, him flying downhill from his deep zone.
But there will also be some holding penalties
and some defensive pass interference.
And there will be some times where he whiffs on tackles
because he's coming downhill too much.
Again, it's fine.
If you're making mistakes 100 miles per hour, it's fine. But I do think in the next couple
weeks, especially against Matthew Stafford coming up, there's going to be a really grinded out game
against the Tennessee Titans coming up where he's going to make a lot of tackles on Derrick Henry
because that's just how the Titans are. I do think there's going to be some rookie mistakes from him
that we're going to live with. But I think overall, in the long term, it's going to be positive for
him. But I do think for projecting to the next couple of weeks,
there are going to be some struggles coming for Juju Brents. And I'm excited to see how he
recovers and handles those kinds of struggles. So you had mentioned Stafford, which leads me
to wanting to make a very short term prediction. I think Rodney Thomas, who again, has just
been floating around so far through three weeks. I think he gets
his first pick of the season against Matthew Stafford this week. Stafford, that's an aggressive
passer. He's not afraid to go over the middle. And I mean, Thomas led the team with four picks
last year as a rookie. He did a lot of cleaning up over the middle, a lot of downfield stuff.
I think he gets his first pick this week. I think we've all just been waiting on that. I don't think he's having a down year. He just hasn't made the
splashes so far through three weeks that he did last year. But I think it's coming. I mean,
the Colts don't seem eager to replace him in the lineup or anything. I think Julian Blackman has
done a fine job of doing things. What's in front of
him similar to, I mean, I'm not going to compare him to desire Franklin, but I, in terms of the
vision and everything, I think Blackman has done a fine job cleaning up things in front of him as
the strong safety. Uh, but Rodney Thomas as the ball Hawk, we knew him last year. I think it's
coming. And I think it happens this Sunday against the Rams. Awesome. Awesome. Every dares.
Leave a comment below what you think is yet to come for this Indianapolis Colts team.
Do you think Jonathan Taylor comes back and becomes Jonathan Taylor yet again?
Do you think Anthony Richardson starts airing it out down the field?
Or do we just stay at this dink and dunk Gardner Minshew-led, Zach Moss-led offense?
You guys let us know in the comments section below this video. And every day, again, we'll be back tomorrow
talking Locked On crossover
with the Rams, getting ready
for that big Rams-Colts matchup.
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