Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts vs. Green Bay Packers: Keep Malik Willis in Check and Indy Wins
Episode Date: September 12, 2024The Indianapolis Colts travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers this week. They must ensure they make untested QB Malik Willis look pedestrian while cleaning up their uncharacteristic ...issues from last week's loss. Check out this week's Crossover Thursday with Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) of Locked On Packers! Become a Locked On Colts insider! Ask your burning questions and get prompt answers from someone who's around the team every day! Get special access from the locker room, practice field, and press box! JOIN HERE! Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms:🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-colts/📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQLocked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nfl/ Follow Jake and Zach's written work on HorseshoeHuddle.com, and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, @LockedOnColts, and @ColtsOn_SI, as well on TikTok and Instagram! Crossover Thursday is presented by PrizePicks. Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnfl and use code all lowercase lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. For your next listen, check out the Locked On Fantasy Football podcast. Get daily insight to the best Fantasy draft strategies so you can win your league this season. Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!DoorDashUse promo code LOCKEDFALL24 for 50% off up to $10 value, when you spend $15+ on your first order. Limited time offer. Terms apply. Promo is not valid for orders containing alcohol.HimsStart your free online visit today at Hims.com/lockedonnfl. PrizePicksGo to https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFL and use code lockedonmlb to win $50 instantly when you play $5. You don't even need to win to receive your $50 bonus, it's guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month.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.eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotors.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms Apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelNow through September 22nd, ALL FanDuel customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get a THREE WEEK free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. 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)
Transcript
Discussion (0)
It's a pair of 0-1 teams at Lambeau Field.
It's a Locked On Packers, Locked On Colts crossover Thursday.
Let's do it.
You are Locked On NFL Crossover, part of the Locked On Podcast Network.
Your team every day.
You are Locked On Packers and Locked On Colts, Your team every day. on Colts. We are here to preview week two, a pair of Owen one teams. As I said, two teams that probably feel like they could have, and maybe should have won their week one games against
teams that also expect to factor into the playoff race. Jake, let's dive in there. Uh, what, what is,
what is the vibe? What are the vibes coming out of week one for the Colts where Anthony Richardson
makes three of the craziest throws you've ever seen in your entire life. Um, and, and they just come up just, just
short at the end. Yeah. It's, it's a real mixed bag right now because the only thing that matters
is how Anthony does. And he passed the test. Like he's part of the thing that looks like the arrow
is going up. Um, but honestly, I think said it at least two or three times on shows leading into last
week.
The thing I'm most confident in is the run game.
And then outside of Anthony is three yards per carry.
And Tennessee totally or Houston totally loaded up to stop the Colts run.
But there's only so much you can do when you have a quarterback like that.
The defense, woof.
The pass rush was really good.
They did what they needed to to keep
C.J. Stroud rattled and limit
him to only the
special throws that had to be made
when they needed to be made. He didn't
kill them throughout the game.
The defense
made Joe Mixon look like
vintage Joe Mixon.
As a team, they ran for over 200 yards,
which was the most the Colts have given up since like 2022.
Mixon had the most yards as an individual
against the Colts since Derrick Henry back in like 2020.
AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Yeah, and everybody was healthy.
So it's like, what are we doing?
Gus Bradley basically explained that they were prepared to let Houston run,
but it kind of got out of hand in the fourth quarter.
Essentially they,
they used all their resources to try and disrupt CJ Stroud as much as
possible,
but the run defense became a major victim that they didn't intend to get
that bad in the intend to get that
bad in the process.
So that's a,
that's a,
and I don't want to preempt too much of the matchup stuff that we're going to
get to a little bit later,
but Gus Bradley talked about,
you know,
feeling like,
okay,
they,
they might've been a little too worried about the CJ Stroud piece of this got
a little outside of their character.
Cause Gus Bradley is a single high cover three,
like dogmatist when it comes to some of this stuff, like that's just, he's going to do what he does. got a little outside of their character because Gus Bradley is a single high cover three like
dogmatist when it comes to some of this stuff like that's just he's gonna do what he does and
they're very well schooled at it like it doesn't kind of matter that the talent at corner is not
elite level like it's not sauce gardener and and Patrick Sertan out there and yet they're able to
make this all work because Gus Bradley is such a good teacher when it comes to this stuff.
But I do wonder, okay, quarters on early down is something they've leaned into a little bit more.
That's the college football, that's the answer for the quarterback run game.
But they did it with CJ Stroud, presumably to stop the big plays. Now Malik Willis,
we think, is going to play quarterback, right? this is the big story in green bay right now is who's going to be the quarterback matt lafleur leaving
the door open so if they're going to lean into more of that run game is gus bradley going to go
well actually what we need to do is load up to stop the run because we're going to make
malik willis pass or hey this is actually the answer for the quarterback runs and we want to
make sure we have an answer for that like where do you lean on all of that that is really tough because i i think they're preparing
for malik willis i mean gus bradley said as much they said i i was surprised but i i think you know
in their mind they're like they can say all they want that jordan love could play but it's malik
willis i mean josh jaco Jacobs is better than Joe Mixon.
They have got to use all their resources to stop the run in this one and make Malik Willis beat
them. I think they can live with that. That was their philosophy last week, was as long as we
take care of CJ Stroud, we can live with giving up stuff in the run game, the big thing last week too was that led into time of possession being cut in half.
So they don't want Green Bay to have 40 minutes while they have 20 and be so incredibly reliant on Anthony Richardson's explosive plays.
That is the big plays and the inefficiency outside the big plays, right?
Like they can't do much outside of those big plays.
And so when that happens, you're not going to hold the ball very much. Yeah, exactly. I mean, they needed those
badly. I mean, that played into part of it was those quick drives on the huge plays, but
Houston really controlled the ball. They had it like the entire third quarter, essentially.
Yeah. Well, I think that's what the Colts have to do no matter what is just make sure that the
Packers run game doesn't kill them. Cause it's so obvious. It's a big neon sign.
And I mean,
do what you can against Malik Willis.
Like what the cold secondary is perhaps going to trot out this Sunday is the
equivalent to what green Bay's quarterback situation.
They're really banged up in the secondary right now.
So like,
let's just attack what we know is the obvious strength
here well and part of that is okay if you're gonna if you need to stop the run if you need to rush
the passer which we expect the colts to be able to do i thought deforest buckner on sunday was
outstanding this pass rush overall was outstanding and then you see the injury report on wednesday
and you go okay deforest buckner did not practice he's got a DeForest Buckner did not practice. He's got a back injury. Quitty Pay did not practice. He's got the dreaded soft tissue injury, which makes you, especially as
Quitty is a twitched up pass rusher, you need those soft tissue muscles. I just wrote a great
piece. Okay. I thought it was great for the leap about this, that you don't have to be a Packers
fan to appreciate about the sports science and getting into some of this soft tissue stuff.
But it is,
that stuff is scary,
man.
If those two guys don't go and the cornerback situations like that,
that's,
that's tough.
If you're Indianapolis.
And that's just kind of the tip of the iceberg because Juju Brent's their top
outside corner on IR season ending IR knee injury,
Julian Blackman,
who is their only really reliable safety
shoulder injury, didn't practice today either or Wednesday. And his season ended last year with
the shoulder injury. We don't know yet if it's the same one because media availability was before
practice and before the injury report. But yeah, I mean, two of their three most important defensive backs are banged up.
Quidipe is not only an improving pass rusher, but he's one of the better run defending ends
in the NFL.
And of course, DeForest Buckner is invaluable.
I mean, there's, if he's not on the field, even when he's healthy and he's got to take
a break, uh, opponents smell blood in the water and they attack.
And so if it's Taven, Brian andaven Bryan and Grover Stewart starting on Sunday,
that's a lot less attractive.
And then maybe you have to essentially go with two nose tackles
and Raekwon Davis and Grover Stewart.
It's not ideal no matter how you look at it.
Some of their most important defensive players are not out there to start the week.
Quickly here, Jake, the Packers also had a defensive performance
that yielded a conference player of the week.
Saquon Barkley was the conference player of the week in the NFC on offense.
So a pair of teams that will not be able to stop the run.
Just from the Colts side here for a second,
why do you think they were not able to get Jonathan Taylor going,
who is one of the best, most explosive and dynamic running backs in the league?
That one's tough, but I think you have to start with the offensive line.
Houston's defensive line just, I don't know,
they just really showed up for the challenge.
They got pushback.
I mean, the Colts did really not do a good job of creating opportunities for Taylor.
Now, there were a couple spaces where Taylor could have, you know, cut inside or out and probably gain more yardage.
I personally feel like he tends to start slow anyways and then gets rolling really well, you know, about a third of the season through.
In the game, too, like he'll break off that 60 yarder in the middle of the third quarter
after he's gotten 15 carries and he's like got 15 carries for 40 yards and you're like okay when is
he gonna do it and then all of a sudden bang right and i mean he had a great summer he looked great
in training camp i don't i don't imagine he's gonna have a couple games in a row averaging
three yards per carry but the offensive line has got to show up and do some things too but it's
not like it's not like Green Bay has a bad line.
It's going to be a tough matchup with Kenny Clark.
There's some good guys over there.
And the Colts coaches have already been talking about it
for the past couple of days.
Let's dig into some of those matchups here.
And by the way, the Packers hope that he does average three yards a carry,
at least for one more game here.
We'll talk about these matchups coming up on a Locked on Packers,
Locked on Colts crossover.
Today's episode brought to you by our friends at DoorDash.
Of course, DoorDash.
It is the on-demand delivery platform for your food.
If you want food on game day, if you want food on just a random weeknight,
DoorDash is the place.
DoorDash is the app that I use.
Me and my wife,
if we don't feel like dealing with dinner,
then, and I like to cook,
we call DoorDash
because they've got our favorite places on the app.
They make it easy.
And of course,
it's delicious food delivered right to my door. Why would I not
want that? Of course, your game plan is going to be trying to put yourself in a position to
succeed, to win the game. DoorDash puts you in that kind of position. Use the promo code
LOCKEDONFALL24. Locked, sorry, LOCKEDFALL24 for 50% off up to a $10 value.
And you spend $15 on that first order.
It's a limited time offer in terms apply.
Promo is not valid for orders containing alcohol.
DoorDash, your door to game day greatness.
Your door to more.
Download the DoorDash app now to order your game day favorites.
Must be 21 to order alcohol.
Drink responsibly.
Alcohol only available in select markets.
Today's episode also brought to you by our friends at HIMSS.
When we leave the house, it's phone, wallet, keys.
How's my hair look?
Right, guys?
But if you're experiencing hair loss, you may not be so confident when you step out the door.
It's time to get that confidence
back and restore your hair with hymns. It's something I've been thinking about. I got a
haircut recently and I was like, is this looking a little thinner than it used to? Is the hairline
a little further back than it used to be? I'm looking into trying to figure out how I can
adjust to getting a little bit older, a little more gray on the sides than there used to be,
HIMS can help.
HIMS provide access to a range of hair loss treatments
that work all from the comfort of your couch.
Start your free online visit today at HIMS.com
slash LockedOnNFL.
That's H-I-M-S dot com slash LockedOnNFL
for your personalized hair loss treatment options.
HIMS.com slash LockedOnNFL.
Results vary based on studies of topical and oral minoxidil.
Prescription products require an online consultation with a healthcare provider who will determine
if a prescription is appropriate.
Restrictions apply.
See website for full details and, of course, important safety information.
We're back here. Locked On Packers,
Locked On Colts, a crossover Thursday.
And go check out our friends over at Locked On NFL,
the Madman, Tyler Rowland.
Colts fans know Tyler Rowland from Locked On Titans,
of course, and he is a Madman.
They also know our pal, the barber, Tony Wiggins.
So go check out the new Locked On NFL.
It's twice a day. We just had, Jake, we just, Tony Wiggins. So go check out the new Locked On NFL. It's twice a day.
We just had, Jake, we just had Tyler on the show this week
because we're talking Malik Willis.
Oh, yeah.
And so he knows Malik Willis much better than I do or you do.
And so that's the beauty of the Locked On Podcast Network is
I can just call up Ty and we can chop it up talking about Malik Willis.
So let me throw this at you and you tell me what you think. Okay.
Tyler said this, if you're going to start Malik Willis,
it would be great to get him in an offense that has a support structure that he didn't really
have in Tennessee. And also it would be great if you could start him against the team
he's prepared against already.
A team like the
Indianapolis Colts. And I'll
add a team that, in
Gus Bradley, is just
always themselves. Gus Bradley
is going to do what Gus Bradley does.
They are a static shell team
for the most part. They do some
disguise, they do some blitz,
but it's all kind of league average stuff in terms of the rates at which they do it.
They're not a chaos defense. So if you're going to start Malik Willis in a game,
this is kind of a pretty good game to do it, especially coming off a game where they could
not stop the run and the Packers second in the league in EPA per rush in week one.
What do you think?
I'd love to tell you that the Colts don't make every young or new quarterback look like they're Brett Favre, but they kind of do.
I mean, there's too much of a sample size there to say they're going to feast
against young quarterbacks.
This probably is a good matchup for Malik Willis.
If his offensive line is doing their job and getting some push on the
defensive line,
then he is going to be able to use his mobility a little bit as well.
Cause it wasn't a super impressive showing from Zaire Franklin and EJ speed
last week.
And normally I would say,
as long as,
you know,
Grover Stewart is getting some push up front and occupying some blocks that
allows those two guys to flow around.
But they were just getting occupied as well.
So the linebackers have not really shown that they're playing super strong right now.
That could be a byproduct of the preseason and historically offensive line play
and tackling is pretty porous to start the year or the last few years.
It's the fourth preseason game in week one.
We know that.
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah um it's probably a good matchup for Malik Wallace I'm not gonna lie to you especially I mentioned the secondary I can't the the Colts pass rush is the only thing I really
think could give him problems is if they're really clicking I mean if there's no quitty pay
then you know that opens more opportunity for a lot to a lot to obviously who.
But no DeForest Buckner. There is no replacement.
Like there is no first round pick waiting in the wings to go DeForest Buckner.
That one's tough. I will say that one's definitely tough because rushing next to Buckner has been huge for a lot to as well.
Like only small sample sizes because you're obviously not going to pour a ton of snaps into guys in the
preseason,
but he's received great grades in,
in every opportunity that he has received.
But obviously Buckner not being there would be a big problem because Raekwon
Davis,
isn't going to get that type of push.
You know,
Taven,
Brian is not at a Tommy out of war is not.
But yeah, I mean, Taekwon Lewis uh we're not going to say quitty pay dio a dang bow layout to these are all guys who did have some success
last week as well though but great names on that defensive front in Indy wow oh yeah it's it's a
challenge like before the draft every year we just need to you know do our vocal exercises you know
tip of the tongue the teeth the lips you, that we always got to do that.
But no, the Colts defense is going to be totally reliant on the pass rush.
Well, and this was a Packers team against the Philadelphia Eagles that handled that pass rush with a plum most of the game, even with some bad footing concerns.
I mean, Jordan Morgan is a rookie who's in there starting at,
at right garden.
And you got to think of to force Buckner can go,
that's going to be a place where they try and take advantage,
right?
Like if you have to force Buckner against a rookie,
that's the matchup that you want to try and exploit.
But Jordan Morgan held his own against a pretty good interior for the
Philadelphia Eagles.
So Zach Tom played at an all pro level against Josh sweat against whoever they put out there at defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles. So Zach Tom played at an all pro level against Josh Sweat, against whoever they put out
there at defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles on the edge. So this is an interesting
matchup in that regard. And I think injuries are going to end up playing a pretty huge factor here.
Let me flip this for you because I have been, since the pre-draft, kind of obsessed with Anthony Richardson.
I think the physical ability is just outrageous.
And you see it in a game where on 16 throws, he goes 6 of 16 for, I believe, 41 yards.
Maybe it's 42 yards.
It's something like that.
And then on three throws, he's got 170 yards and they're all
in the air with the, the, the Doolin one. There's some run after catch, but it's still like this
ridiculous throw in the air. I don't know what to make of him right now. I don't understand it,
but the only reason they were in that game is because he made three throws that maybe only Anthony Richardson can make.
And I don't know how to give a better compliment to a player than that.
So my perspective from the Packers side is going, okay, if you can, instead of three 50-plus yard plays, if you can make it two, and he's going to go six for 16 in the rest of that.
And maybe he will, maybe he won't. Right. But if you can do that, that's the key to the game to me.
Yeah. I, I don't think he's going to be so peaks and valleys ish. Once Josh Downs gets back.
Um, I mean, Michael Pittman jr. Is normally, but his status is right. Miss week one with an ankle
injury practice in a limited fashion on Wednesday. So we for the role. But his status is right. Missed week one with an ankle injury,
practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday.
So we're still waiting on that one.
Personally, like if gun to my head,
I think it'll be one more week for him because he doesn't, you know,
talking to him in the locker room,
he doesn't sound super gung-ho.
Like when guys are itching to get back,
like you can kind of tell,
and he's still kind of waiting to like,
make sure he's confident in his cutting and everything.
So I think he may still be a week away,
but that is Richardson's his comfort blanket.
Basically.
Michael Pittman jr.
Has been that for the revolving door quarterbacks for him throughout his
career and him and Richardson do still have a very strong report,
but the guy who I think is going to smooth out Anthony's completion
percentage a little bit
and, and help him with those layups and move the chains a little bit is Josh Downs.
Um, cause of course, Michael Pittman jr. Gets a lot of attention from defenses as well.
Um, so if Downs isn't, it might be the next guy too, because man, he had a couple opportunities
on Sunday, brother. like there were a couple throws
where i know i know i know anthony richardson wants those back because he had there were three
there's three where it's a touchdown if richardson can put it on him yeah i tell you those two are
really close to being something crazy because like mitchell week three jake week three please
can we do it in week three with with, with Chicago, of course. Yeah.
Yeah. Okay. Thank you.
They're getting close though, man. And I think part of it is, you know,
AD is kind of running into some things he's not expecting to see.
And then he becomes open.
And then so Anthony is quickly trying to readjust and they're just not,
they don't have the lizard brain together yet, but
like he has it with like Pittman and downs, but I mean, they're both essentially rookies. Hopefully
they get there soon. Cause God, you can see the potential. Like Mitchell was burning dudes left
and right. And they like with what Anthony already did in that game without those completions to
Mitchell, like that, like there's a lot of potential there.
And that's something that I'm, that I have my eye on because, you know, Jair Alexander,
um, against the Eagles could have easily had two interceptions, had an opportunity late in the game
where I frankly thought should have been OPI. They never call it in a situation like that,
where the DB runs the route for the receiver and the receivers over the back of the DB, but
he should have had the interception if not for the OPI,
but he is someone who can be a little jumpy on those underneath routes.
And it was two double.
He got Derek Stingley,
who's a really good cornerback twice on double moves where he's out the
gate and they're going to try it on jaw.
And he is going to have to be disciplined in those circumstances
because it was a double move that Anthony Brown got him on on the touchdown.
Excuse me, A.J. Brown.
It's A.J. Brown.
It's hard for me to be mad at Ja Alexander for that.
But we just saw A.D. Mitchell do it to Derek Stingley.
And Alec Pierce.
Pierce burned Stingley on the big time.
And Alec Pierce is another player who, if you're going to just like,
let's go make a 50-50 ball, it doesn't seem like it's 50-50 when he's up there.
Former volleyball player, that 40-inch vertical jump.
Like he is a physical marvel, someone that a lot of Packer fans
were very interested in back in the 2022 draft.
So, yeah, it's the big plays.
And I feel like I'm doing a lot of the same conversations with you that I have with Louie
about limiting big plays, limiting the quarterback run game.
It's a very similar game plan.
It's no coincidence that Shane Steichen, it's the former Eagles guy doing the Eagles
thing in Indianapolis.
So in some ways, I do think the Packers are going to have a better feel for this because
they've seen it already.
We will,
we will get to the keys here,
the keys to who is going to win the game.
The Colts three and a half point favorites at Lambeau field.
Don't agree with the line,
but our friends at FanDuel have said it.
We will talk more about all of that and who we think is going to win next
on a locked on Packersed on Colts crossover.
Today's Crossover Thursday, sponsored by our friends at FanDuel.
You've heard us talk a lot about FanDuel,
America's number one sportsbook.
Well, we have something a little different for you.
Now through September 22nd, all FanDuel customers can bet $5
and get a three-week free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket
from YouTube and YouTube TV.
Then with a YouTube TV base plan, you'll be able to watch every regular season out of
market game.
All you need is a Google account and a current form of payment, and you can cancel any time.
As I mentioned, it is Colts three and a half point favorites on the road at Lambeau Field.
Got that low,
low,
low total to 40,
41 right now.
I like the over on this.
Go make your bet and get your Sunday ticket.
And if that's not enough,
be sure to check out Fandles profit boost in the app and use it for
Fandles double your winnings for all of Sunday,
September 15th.
That's this Sunday pregame money line bets. Profit boost will be live startingth. That's this Sunday. Pre-game Moneyline Bets.
Profit Boost will be live starting Thursday.
So that's today.
View your account page now
to learn more about the boost.
Just visit fandled.com
to download America's number one sportsbook.
And just a reminder,
Crossover Thursdays, as always,
brought to you by our friends at PrizePix.
PrizePix, go check it out right now.
America's number one daily fantasy platform.
Jake, we're here on a crossover Thursday, locked on Packers, locked on Colts.
We don't get to do this very often, which is kind of a bummer.
I like watching the Colts.
I think this is a cool team.
When it comes down to it, like I said, I'm scared of Anthony Richardson, very much so.
What is the key?
Like the Colts will win if.
So offensively, I think they did enough last week to win it.
It was just like, it was very erratic.
But I will say offensively still, I think the offensive line kind of needs to get it together.
It's very uncharacteristic for them to not be able to get much push. Over the last year and a half, two
years, they've really reestablished themselves as one of the better O-lines in the league.
So I've got to have faith that that is, I mean, it's the same guys. So I've got to assume that
they're still capable of at least run blocking very well, which should unlock Jonathan Taylor a little more
and make it so they're not so dependent on Anthony
to have those kind of magical plays.
So they can establish the run a little bit,
which if week one for Green Bay is any indicator, it could happen.
I like that.
Defensively, you know, they've got to keep up the pass rush
because they did enough to keep C.J. Stroud on the move
and not quite comfortable last week.
So do that against Malik Willis.
But, you know, prove Chris Ballard right in the secondary, I guess,
because this injury with Juju Brents.
It's tough.
He was someone I really liked coming out of college
too and he's such a great fit for what they want to do what's it's really unfortunate because
everyone was screaming about them needing to add more help in the secondary all offseason and they
stood pat and were like no we like the young guys we've got and it's like but juju is one of your
like three most important dbs and the guy has not been 100% healthy at any point since you drafted him,
even in the offseason.
Always recovering from something,
and now you're kind of laying in the bed you've made.
He's out for the year.
So they're starting corners.
Jalen Jones on the outside, seventh rounder last year.
They lucked into him being capable of starting.
Again, you draft a guy in the seventh round,
you don't think he's going to be your starter right now.
On the other side, we don't know.
It could be Dallas Flowers, who was a healthy scratch last week,
or Samuel Womack, who they got off waivers at the end of the preseason
from the 49ers, who we thought was a nickel,
but is actually going to be playing outside.
And then Kenny Moore and the nickel maybe you move kenny to the outside for more reliability there but it's like look at what is happening can you do that kenny moore is one of the best slot
defenders in the league like i feel like you're you're making two places worse if you do that
yeah it's it's i don't know and then behind them if julian black jane reed like jane reed was
awesome last year you got to have kenny like at least some shot against Jane Reid.
It's it's just crazy how everyone was like, you better be careful with this.
And then here we are. It's not even the second game is here yet. And something big has gone wrong.
So, you know, make Chris Ballard look good here with this, because right now the vibes are not great
in the secondary. Okay. How about this for the Packers in terms of, in terms of keys,
don't lose the game on offense. I feel like that's it. Just don't lose the game on offense
because if Malik Willis is trying to do too much and throwing a lot of interceptions, and by the way, when he was starting, it wasn't like he was reckless with the ball.
He was an inaccurate thrower, and he was an inaccurate thrower in college.
A high variance thrower because he has the horsepower.
A lot like Anthony Richardson, who is also a little bit of an inconsistent thrower
because they have the horsepower to make every throw.
Just don't throw it to the wrong color.
Jersey is, is the mandate here because I do think the running game is going to be able
to get some traction.
I think Matt LaFleur can scheme up enough looks here to give them an opportunity at
some big plays play action.
That was something that I think you're going to see a lot of play action, deep overs, you
know, big, big posts, posts, those kinds of things.
I bet they'll run leak maybe once a half.
They're going to have specials,
because this is a crucial game for the Packers without Jordan Love.
If you're the Colts, yes, you want to be a playoff team,
but really, you mentioned it.
It's more about the Anthony Richardson of it all.
Does Anthony Richardson look like your guy?
And do you compete for a playoff spot?
The Packers are trying to go win a Super Bowl, Jake.
They can't go 0-1.
And so there's this great stat.
Teams that lose in week one and are underdogs in week two
cover the spread 57% of the time since 2003
because they're desperate teams.
Now, both of these teams are on one, but one team is an underdog and one team isn't.
And so I feel like from a Packers perspective, I like them covering the three and a half.
I'm going to pick them to win this game just because I do think there is an urgency gap here.
I think the Packers feel that this game is going
to be more important for them. Matt LaFleur is going to bring out the tricks. There's going to
be the specials. I think they're going to have a little bit more intensity on defense after the
awful footing in Brazil. I think the defense is going to play better. It'll be a close game. I
mean, I think this is sort of like one of those 24-20 kind of games, 24-21. I think that's right in that range.
It will be a game that it's going to have both fan bases pulling their hair out.
I have no doubt about that.
I said that the same thing in the Eagles game.
I think that's true in this one.
So that's where I've landed here.
Yeah, I don't think it's going to be anything crazy.
Now, I do think the ingredients are there.
For some reason, this gives me the vibes of Colts Browns last year.
Total barn burner between PJ Walker and Gardner Minsh.
Yeah.
Like 70 points scored almost.
That would be fun.
This game has no business being that, but it could be.
We don't know.
But I'll go on the reasonable side.
I do have the Colts winning, I think, 30 to 24.
Okay.
Some of the things they did not capitalize on or establish
last week are things we have seen them prove they are actually good at, you know, running the ball
and blocking up front. We know they're capable of doing that. They, they have the quarterback,
the running back in the line to do it. We, we didn't see much involvement from michael pitman jr we know there's room to go
there and the linebackers played so uncharacteristically poor last week too we know
they're capable of more uh still terrified of the secondary for what it's worth is which is why i'll
give malik willis 24 points um but yeah i i i also think they're better at stopping the run than they showed last year.
Like every, everyone was healthy and totally different story right now, but some of their
better guys against the run should still be out there. Um, I think it'll go that way. The Colts
tend to prove me wrong at times, but I picked against them last week. I actually picked them within
one point. I said they were going to lose 30 to 27 and they lost 29 to 27. I'll give them the
benefit of the doubt this one. I think they're going to write some of their wrongs from last
week and I'm going to say 30 to 24. All right. Well, we're both right in that close range.
By the way, both think that the Packers are going to cover the spread
if those numbers turn out to be right.
So maybe you can make a little money over with our friends at FanDuel.
I will be live after the game on Sunday.
Are you guys going to go live after the game?
Yep, we will be live.
And since it's a way game, I don't travel.
We will be even quicker after the game than normal.
Bang.
All right, so come check us out Sunday on YouTube.
So you can stay locked on Packers and of course locked on Colts.