Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts What If's? Quarterback, Head Coach, Trades

Episode Date: January 6, 2023

What if unexpected scenarios unfold for the Indianapolis Colts as they search for their next quarterback and head coach? Has the turmoil surrounding the team this year soured any more players who now ...want out? Listeners asked and we answered.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 (@ColtsOnFN), and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, and @LockedOnColts!Today's episode is brought to you by BetOnline. BetOnline has you covered this season with more props, odds, and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFLBuilt BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds, and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!PrizePicksFirst-time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That’s PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDONUltimate Football GMTo download the game just visit Ultimate-GM.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:00 It's about to get even spicier in Colts land with the team's offseason beginning in just a few days. You guys gave us some burning questions that we've got answers for today on Locked on Colts. Let's get to it. You are Locked on Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Thank you all for tuning in and making us your 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. Today's show is brought to you by BetOnline. BetOnline has you covered this season with more props, odds, and lines than ever before.
Starting point is 00:00:59 BetOnline, where the game starts. I'm Jake Arthur. He is Zach Hicks. And you know the two of us from horseshoehuddle.com. Today we're taking your questions about the Indianapolis Colts. You guys gave us some good ones out there on Twitter. Man, with one game left, it is almost full systems go and home free for the offseason. We just got to hold on for this weekend. Some of the really good topics that you guys brought us questions on. Who are the Colts options truly at head coach? You know, everyone's got their wish lists, but what are
Starting point is 00:01:31 kind of the realistic options? What might the Colts do early in the draft outside of quarterback? Because you have to expect the unexpected with this team. Even if they do get a quarterback, they're still a second and a third round and they got our other early picks out there to choose from and then if all the turmoil surrounding this year what's been some of the fallout and what's the attitude in the locker room which honestly i mean some of that stuff has come out but i'm i'm sure there's more we're gonna learn in the coming months for sure. So Zach, this first one we got here on Twitter was from at C Ford foot doc. He said, let's say Jim Harbaugh follows the money, meaning he goes Denver Carolina somewhere else.
Starting point is 00:02:15 That's going to give a massive amounts of money basically. And Jim or say does not hire Jeff Saturday. So no Jim Harbaugh, no Jeff Saturday. What's the best realistic coaching candidate to get excited about in the non-Leslie Frazier slash Steve Wilkes category? And they said, please tell me that the category exists. Zach, I'll open the floor to you because I know you love that one. I love this question so much because of all the exclusions this person had to throw in
Starting point is 00:02:44 there. Okay, if we're not talking Jeff Saturday, if we're not talking Jim Harbaugh, if we're not talking Steve Wilkes, we're not talking Leslie Frazier, who are we going after? And I'm like, okay, I love the optimism. Let's have some fun and talk about Plan C and Plan D. Who are the three other people that are possibilities after that? But no, I love it. i love it so much it's a great question but yeah no i to address the leslie frazier steve wilkes category first i think those are the most just like absolute safe options like i fully believe leslie frazier come
Starting point is 00:03:20 in and he could build a pretty solid staff and bring a lot of that Buffalo Bills culture over to Indy and do some decent things. Like I'm not saying he's the guy who's going to get into the Super Bowl and win a bunch of championships, but I think he can he can kind of right the ship a little bit. And Steve Wilkes is the way we saw Steve Wilkes there in Carolina took over an absolute dumpster fire and got them in playoff contention until this recent weekend against the Buccaneers. So I do think those are very, very safe, like high floor options, low ceiling type options at coach. But you did throw a couple guys down there. I do think Ben Johnson from Detroit is going to get a lot of good looks. And honestly, throw another Detroit guy out there, Deuce Staley, their assistant head coach slash running backs coach.
Starting point is 00:04:02 If the Colts really want a raw type guy at head coach slash running backs coach. They also really want a raw type guy and head coach. Deuce Daly is every bit Dan Campbell without being Dan Campbell. I think that he could do some good things. But, yeah, some other guys across the league that I think are going to be very, very popular in every coaching cycle, especially in this one. Kellen Moore in Dallas. Shane Waldron in Seattle. Those are very popular ones.
Starting point is 00:04:24 Obviously, D'Amico Ryans in San Fran is going to be huge for everybody. We'll see if Indy can get in on that. But, well, yeah, I'm not too sure that they'll be able to get in on that. And then Gerard Mayo from New England is another super, super popular one that's picking up some steam. So there is a plan D and plan E and plan F. There are guys down there, but I would say the smart money would probably be on like a Jim Harbaugh
Starting point is 00:04:50 or Jeff Saturday or, and then, you know, that next category of Steve Wilkes, Leslie Frazier, maybe Lovey Smith if he gets fired because of his connections to Chris Ballard, but there are some good options across the league for sure. Yeah. Taking all those exclusions into account, you obviously named off some, some good ones. Aaron Glenn, the defensive coordinator from the lions. If we're looking at yet another lions connection there,
Starting point is 00:05:16 but a couple from the opponent that just whooped the Colts. You've got offensive coordinator, Mike Kafka giants. And then wink Martindale is a name I hadn't really heard about until lately. I was reading something on The Athletic, and I guess he's probably going to receive more head coach consideration than we thought. He kind of seemed like one of those old-timers who was content being a coordinator. But no, he's a great coordinator, a long time with the Ravens. His fingerprints are all over that identity from the 2000s and things. So those are some interesting options as well.
Starting point is 00:05:52 If you're looking for someone that like, so Zach Kiefer put out a piece earlier today, kind of a big look behind the curtains. It looks like Jim Mercer definitely wants someone who's kind of fiery, going to hold guys accountable. A lot of those guys that Zach and I just mentioned fit that bill. And you know, with Jim Irsay saying, he kind of alluded to, they're going to look into some candidates that a lot of people weren't thinking about and stuff like that. So I think Martindale is an option. Matt Campbell from Iowa State, the head coach. That's one of my nightmare scenarios. I'll be honest. Just because like, the
Starting point is 00:06:32 college head coaches don't often work out. And it's like you're, he's not he's not even like one of the top ones that people are going for. It's just like a random connection with the Colts. So yeah, he, my, my last thing I'll say on this is if, you know, we take Jim or say this word through Kiefer's article and through other comments, he said, where it's going to be, you know, expanding that search search to guys we don't think. And then in Zach Kiefer's article where it's like,
Starting point is 00:06:58 we're going to be looking at fiery type guys and guys who can motivate a locker room or guys who are like Jeff Saturday, where it's going to be like calling out that offensive line on day one and being like your standard is not good enough right now. I really, really hope they look at Deuce Daly. I might be the only person in all of Colts Nation that could get excited about Deuce Daly. But when I look at what they've done with that run game there in Detroit, when I look at his past with Philadelphia and how much they valued him there in Philly, and I look at, again, if you like the Dan Campbell type of head coach,
Starting point is 00:07:31 that's what Deuce Daly is, except he also brings that added addition to drawing up a really genius run game. So I'm not saying he's my top option, but if you're going to go with the fiery rah-rah type guy and you're going to go that route already, give me Deuce Daly, man. I'd have a blast with Deuce Daly as head coach. Dude, I'm right there with you. He's basically, he gives you some of those same attributes as Jeff Saturday, but with coaching experience, which is always a plus. I don't want to be too picky, but I would love for it to be someone who's coached before. Our next one is from at run TMC 317. If Jim Ursa seriously hires Jeff Saturday as the full time head coach, God help us all in parentheses. How many years will that set the franchise back from returning to contention? So with my answer,
Starting point is 00:08:20 I'll be a little more on the optimistic side just because we don't totally know. It's been all bad so far for the most part. But I'm going to say it kind of depends on what else they do outside of that. They have to get this quarterback figured out because, you know, if they just do the same thing they've been doing, that's obviously going to be awful. We've seen those results. Saturday's been in over his head, no doubt. But what does his team look like with a full offseason to prepare and do things the way he wants to do it? What's the staff look like? Is he gonna bring in a bunch of other guys without experience, though? That's something you got to kind of be scared of as well. Dan Orlovsky is offensive coordinator right i was literally thinking that in my head
Starting point is 00:09:08 but no it's i'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say like this may not look like at all what a team that he puts together would look like because he literally was thrown into it in the middle of the season with a few days to prepare so i don't think it can be as bad as it has been, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. What do you think? To kind of cut down on time and not go too long on this, let's just say they keep him and he's as bad as we expect next season. Being in a great position to draft Marvin Harrison Jr.
Starting point is 00:09:42 to go along with their C.J. Stroud or their Will Levis or their Bryce Levis or their Bryce Young that they take this year so I mean I don't know how much it would really set this organization back because you just get a huge playmaker or you're even in position to draft Caleb Williams who might be the cleanest prospect since Andrew Luck or something you know which we'll see thrown out there quite a bit uh so I don't know how much it really set you know I'm not saying like Jeff Saturday is one year of a head coach. We'll set this program or this organization back like 30 years or something like they're not going to turn into the Washington Commanders or Detroit Lions
Starting point is 00:10:14 with that. But yeah, I do think it would be a bad hire. No doubt about it. I think the only ways that he can kind of work is if he spends all offseason preparing for it and actually getting acclimated to being a head coach. He absolutely like just absolutely nails that offensive coordinator hire. And then they dropped a quarter quarterback who is really can't miss. I don't really think there's that guy in this class, but, you know, players can surprise us once they get to the league. Look at Justin Herbert. Nobody really expected him to be as elite as he is. The second he stepped on a on a football field, though, he became this can't-miss quarterback that can do no wrong. That could be somebody in this class, too. So a lot of things have to go
Starting point is 00:10:54 right for Jeff Saturday to be a successful NFL head coach. I would love him back as an offensive line coach. I really think he'd be a ground supply coach or maybe something in the front office. But I think the comment was great and saying, God help us if he's the head coach next season. I'd rather even go into that Leslie Frazier or Steve Wilkes tier category from the previous comment. Yeah, I'd love for him to get a little more experience first before being handed the reins once again. We may all not be able to choose the Colts next head coach or quarterback, but you guys can pick which players that you want to ride with over at PrizePix. Either on their mobile app or online, just pick two to five players, and if they score more or less than their stat projections, which always trips me up, then you can win up to 10
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Starting point is 00:12:28 Alright, so this next section were questions that you guys asked us about non quarterback draft picks. Obviously, we've touched on quarterback stuff a lot lately, including your the fan question shows. The first one from at toad underscore numb, which I really liked that name. Great. And what,
Starting point is 00:12:48 right. And what scenario do the Colts not draft a quarterback with their first draft pick? No, honestly, I, no, you don't,
Starting point is 00:12:57 but think of who's doing the picking here though. I mean, I know, I know they have to, but you just don't think there's any way. No. No. I refuse.
Starting point is 00:13:10 I refuse, Jake. No. No. You're not skipping this opportunity. If you lower your expectations, you're less likely to be hurt. I've learned that in my life. It's probably something I should work out in therapy a bit. No.
Starting point is 00:13:24 You could work that out with better help. No, I'm just kidding. We're not going to transition into one here. That'd be great. No, Jake, like, how long has it been? Like, it's been, what, since Andrew Luck? I guess technically with Quentin Nelson here, they had a top five pick, but they traded out of that.
Starting point is 00:13:40 They were at three. They went back to six, yeah. Right. But let's talk about how rare it is to have a top five pick and not have a quarterback already on your roster. It is so hard to get to the position they are at right now. Teams trade millions of draft picks to get up to this position. We have seen it constantly.
Starting point is 00:13:59 The Washington Commanders now, but obviously they're a different name back then. Washington Commanders now, but obviously they're a different name back then. Washington Commanders back in 2012, the first round pick to move up to take RG3 right behind Andrew Luck. You know, teams killed to be in the situation that the Colts are going to be in, especially when you have four quarterbacks that are going to be worth taking in the first round in this class. Three that are probably going to go in the top 10, Will Levis, C.J. Stroud, and Bryce Young. So, no, absolutely not. Do not,
Starting point is 00:14:27 do not take something else with this pick and then didn't mortgage all these future picks to go back up and get a quarterback or just skip quarterback overall. There is, there's zero, like there's zero scenarios in my mind where they don't take, even if the top four quarterbacks all go with the first four picks right in front of them, still just force a quarterback at five because like they they
Starting point is 00:14:49 need to come out of this class with a young quarterback i don't care which one any of the top four guys i'm fine with move up if you have to i don't care there's no scenario where i'm going to be okay and i really feel like i'm speaking for a lot of colts fans here you are you could be taking will anderson who might be von mill Khalil Mack in the NFL like this it might be legit like one of the best passers in football in two years and I would still be pissed if they passed on one of these quarterbacks to take him because you need a quarterback I cannot do another season with Matt Ryan or or Jared Goff or Derek Carr Derek Carr or these guys give me a young quarterback. And you have, they have the ability to take one this year.
Starting point is 00:15:33 Do not pass a quarterback. Absolutely not. You're going to be even more mad when they take an edge rusher and it's not what they take miles Murphy at five or something. Oh my God. What I'm afraid of is being there in the media room. take an edge rusher and it's not what they take miles murphy at five or something oh my god what i'm afraid of is being there in the media room they have an early pick we have to wait you know they make their pick and then we have to wait three four more hours to talk to the guys at the end of the night we have to stew on that just hours of people berating our mentions with what the hell are they doing but i'm'm telling you, like this group,
Starting point is 00:16:05 this group, we've learned to expect those kind of, what are you doing? Not the draft. I can't, I can't, man. There's no way I can't,
Starting point is 00:16:14 I can't even like, even with Chris Ballard, who likes to, you know, he's actually gotten better in recent years. He's taken more prime position. You know, he's,
Starting point is 00:16:22 he took a defensive end and quitty pay high. He took a cornerback high and rock you sit. Like he's actually doing better position. You know, he took a defensive end in Quidipe High. He took a cornerback high in Rakusit. Like, he's actually doing better at taking valuable positions early, wide receivers, pass through that high for mid-second round pick. I just can't see it. I really can't see it not being a quarterback. Like, even if it is a guy who so many people are torn on right now, and Will Levis from Kentucky, even if it's will Levis at pick five or six,
Starting point is 00:16:46 I can talk myself into that more than will Anderson. Even, even though I think will Anderson is a more of a surefire hit. I can talk myself way into will Levis more than will Anderson. I just can't talk myself into anything but quarterback with the top five pick. Hey, I get it. I do not think any of us will survive the night otherwise but something more realistic let's say they get there and this one's from at k smith 1872 says a quarterback in round one seems like a lock just not sure who what positions do they target
Starting point is 00:17:18 in rounds two and three to provide the greatest impact to the team now obviously after they get their quarterback it's going to be best player available. They're probably not going to. And honestly, you know a lot more than I do. You're ahead of me by leaps and bounds right now. What are some of the rich positions on day two right now that they might look to go for? Yeah, so one thing I'll say real quick is this team,
Starting point is 00:17:42 I think across the board, yes, there are some needs across the board. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying this team is close to contention when they're about to finish the season with four or five wins this season. So obviously there's a lot of needs, but I really don't think they're in a position where it's like, oh, this one position is so terrible that we need to take it with our round two pick. I think that there are enough, like everything's kind of like a soft need right now. There's no hard needs across the board. So yeah, I think whatever is the best case scenario or best position available, but from everything I've seen so far,
Starting point is 00:18:15 I think cornerback is going to be pretty strong in season and in round two, I think offensive line is going to be really strong. I actually think this offensive line class doesn't really offer much in terms of first-round prospects, but I think once you get into that round two, you're going to get a ton of really, really interesting prospects. I really like Tyler Steen from Alabama at left tackle. I really like Wanya Morris from Oklahoma at tackle. John Michael Schmitz, I think is his name,
Starting point is 00:18:44 center from Minnesota is the guy i really like you're telling me john jacob jingleheimer is gonna be a cult i'm pretty sure it's john michael schmitz but i haven't looked at his film or his name in a long time that's just a guy i remember liking last year i pray that that is their second round pick now yeah yeah he he's awesome he's really really good so i think there's awesome. He's really, really good. So I think there's a lot of offensive line depth in round two. And even though with the development of Bernard Ryman, left tackle might not be the biggest need right now,
Starting point is 00:19:14 I still think they could bolster center or right guard through the draft or maybe even grab a swing tackle in case Ryman has a bad offseason or something like that. So I think, yeah, offensive line, cornerback, pass rusher. This looks like a really good pass rusher class. I think there's a lot of options they could go. But again, I kind of see the whole roster outside of quarterback as a soft need. Like there's soft needs everywhere.
Starting point is 00:19:36 They could go wide receiver, even though it's not the greatest wide receiver class. They could stand to grab another tight end. They could stand to grab an offensive lineman, defensive line, even linebacker, maybe, you know, Shaquille Leonard up in the air, Bobby O'Kerrick might lead in free agency, cornerback, safety. Like there are so many positions that this team could grab that I wouldn't kind of pigeonhole them into saying like, oh yeah, they're going to take this or they should take this.
Starting point is 00:20:01 I just think there's a lot of soft needs across the board for this team. Yeah, honestly, I think everything's on the table the only positions i wouldn't see them going in round two obviously quarterback running back uh the values is probably not there and if they intend to keep taylor obviously and then special teams otherwise everything else is should be available because you have free agency coming up. You know, Michael Pittman, he's going to be a free agent after the year. You might cut Mo Alleycox at tight end. There's just a lot of things you wouldn't think of really are options. Right. Absolutely, guys.
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Starting point is 00:21:00 whenever it comes back. We've got it all here at BetOnline.net. If you love sports podcasts, you can even find those at BetOnline as well. We're always the fastest and easiest way to go about your betting info. Head to the website today or use Motivize to learn more. BetOnline, where the game starts. All right, Jake, so are we doing if-then or whatever like the if for them or like the rather questions are we gonna have some player turnover questions here no this is player turnover this
Starting point is 00:21:32 week we're gonna save our uh our rather than or whatever our fmk our fmk for next week all right now the first one we've got a lot of people wanted to ask about like current colts player turnover kind of related to some of the turmoil that's been going on this year uh first up is at matt roberts real he said i feel like the colts should trade michael pitman jr i'm not certain he would want to be extended after his comments in the offseason about being disappointed with the new quarterback every year if they did what would be a realistic return? I'd be happy with a second rounder, TBH. I think that would be right. I don't think a team would go for a first rounder for Pittman, but I don't think the Colts would accept anything worse than a second. I think that's, especially when you look
Starting point is 00:22:23 at the landscape of the NFL and who's been traded for what, uh, Pittman's a really good wide receiver. He's going to be a hundred catch guy, probably, but he's not like, he's not a can't miss wide receiver. He'd be an awesome wide receiver too. And as we've seen, you know, a startable wide receiver one, uh, that's, that's what I would do. And I w I wouldn't be shocked if he's traded either I'm not forecasting that by any means but he is a free agent after the year, these wide receivers are getting really expensive
Starting point is 00:22:52 if Alec Pierce starts really coming on you just don't know what the future holds and if he's disgruntled about quarterback stuff you never know who wants what I think that's going to be such a tricky situation because we've seen wide receivers who are clearly better than him get traded for first round picks in recent off seasons you know obviously tyreek hill was traded for a first
Starting point is 00:23:17 rounder but aj brown who i think was the draft class right before him was traded for a first round pick similar situation to him being an early second round pick himself and got traded for a pick in the 20s but I think we can all kind of safely say that A.J. Brown even before this this explosion this season was a better wide receiver than Michael Pittman Jr. and and I think this system was kind of a it was a tough one for Pittman Jr. because last year we were going off that high of yes he had that second that second New York breakout under a quarterback that we all kind of agree is not the greatest. You know, Carson Wentz is getting benched for his second time in Washington this season. And Michael Pittman Jr. still looked like a legit wide receiver one with all that turmoil last season with Carson Wentz and that offense.
Starting point is 00:23:59 Come to this season, there's even more turmoil with Matt Bryan in this offense and multiple other quarterbacks. But Michael Pittman Jr. still didn't take that positive step we expected. You know, the drops came in quite a bit. The separation was down. It seemed like he wasn't getting open at times. There were some of the comments, like this guy said, about, you know, frustrating and stuff in the locker room. So yeah, it's a tough one. I really think, like, I don't think he's going to be worth a first round pick I don't think teams are going to trade a first round pick for him
Starting point is 00:24:29 but maybe a second and some change like a little bit of change because we're talking about a thousand yard receiver a guy who's really close to being a thousand yard receiver for two years in a row on his rookie contract uh that's gonna be a really tough situation because personally I, I probably rather take the second and some change than pay him 15, 16, $17 million a year. And I think Michael Pittman jr. Is an outstanding receiver. I think he's going to be a high end wide receiver two or low end wide
Starting point is 00:24:56 receiver one across the league for many, many years. But again, is that worth that much of the salary cap? It's going to, it's going to take to keep him? The Colts are going to be in for a tough one with that one. I don't know what the right answer is.
Starting point is 00:25:10 It's hard to trade a player of that caliber. But again, the money is going to be tough for a player like that, especially when you're already paying your offensive line so much. You're paying your linebacker on the other side so much. You're paying your quarterback so much in dead money this next season. It's going to be tough to to kind of talk yourself into that pitman deal but i hope honestly again all things perfect i hope he comes back next year with cj stroud or will levis or whatever and puts up 1500
Starting point is 00:25:37 yards and then we don't even have any concerns about him in 2020 year but uh yeah as it stands right now i think that's going to be an extremely difficult conversation for the colts and yeah if you get the right deal if some team for whatever reason is offering you a first round pick for him heck i take it that works for me yeah there's teams like the the packers and ravens that always seem to be looking for receivers um i just had another one in my head but of course I can't think of it now. But no, there's always going to be teams willing to pay good money for receivers of his caliber. Oh, it was the Chiefs.
Starting point is 00:26:13 If Juju Smith, Schuster, walks, Michael Pittman is not too dissimilar to that. That'd be interesting. That'd be really interesting. I think a team with a really good quarterback could see themselves wanting to get Pittman and be like, this is all this kid needs is an awesome quarterback. I would honestly love him in Baltimore, though, if Lamar Jackson stays there. Just RPO slants all game long. He'd be amazing in that role.
Starting point is 00:26:39 So that 2021, yeah. Yeah, he'd be so good there. So, yeah, it's going to be tough. I would rather keep Pittman Jr., and I hope he takes a huge step next year. But whatever the Colts end up doing with that, it's probably going to be the right call. Yeah. Next one from at JR11648161. JR, lots of numbers.
Starting point is 00:26:58 If we can only keep one player, who would you rather re-sign? Yannick Ngakwe or Bobby Okereke and throw just disregarding hypotheticals for all everything at face value right now I think you gotta say Ngakwe just because you don't want to be paying two linebackers that combine like 35 million dollars per year that's the only reason why you don't know what's going to happen with Shaquille Leonard. I would love to have Okereke, and as a player, I think I would rather have Okereke than Ngakwe. But that's just a ton of money to sink into your linebacker group.
Starting point is 00:27:37 Yeah, it is. And you know Ngakwe is going to get you eight sacks. And if a new defensive coordinator comes in, maybe they would be willing to make him more of a rotational edge and not an every down player. No, I can't. I had to say Bobby O here. I have to say Bobby O'Kerrigan here.
Starting point is 00:27:58 Like Bobby O'Kerrigan is just the better player at what he does at this point. Like, don't get me wrong. Yach and Ngokwe gets those sack numbers. He gets them no matter how many times, if you unblock him 12 times in a season, he's going to get 12 sacks. Like they can be on run plays and he'll somehow turn them into sacks. He's amazing at just getting to those sack numbers every year. But Bobby Okereke is a high level coverage linebacker. He gets after in the run game.
Starting point is 00:28:24 He's developed a bit of a punch out this season in terms of forcing fumbles. I really think if every team ends up playing him this season, if it's the Colts or someone else, they're going to be super happy with that deal. You know, honestly, I really think the best place for him, and I would absolutely love it just as a fan of football, if he somehow found his way to Philly with that scheme, because that's really the missing piece they need on that defense. Oh my gosh, that'd be so much fun to watch.
Starting point is 00:28:49 But I really think, you know, like Chicago is probably the best, is probably the place he's going to end up. But yeah, Bobby Okereke, I think he's just the higher level player at what he's asked to do. So I would go with Bobby Okereke. But I understand the Yannick Ngakwe stuff, you know, pass rusher who gets sacks. It's hard to say no to that.
Starting point is 00:29:04 And the Colts are already paying so much to an inside linebacker, but man, it's going to hurt if Bobby O'Kara K leaves this off season. He's so good. He's so, so good at what he does. And I would, I, I can't do it. I'd have to say I'd rather have him in this scenario. Yeah. That's why I don't get paid the big bucks to be a GM because I will mention on ultimate football GM, I did get fired as GM. I will say that.
Starting point is 00:29:30 I started playing, I got on a roll, I guaranteed a Super Bowl and it did not work out. And I was dismissed and relieved of my duties. So tread lightly when you play Ultimate Football GMmer you might get camp look at us throwing in some other ads without even having to in this episode that's a that's a twofer real quick this last one uh and we won't divulge much into it but at real robin j heard rumors about players wanting to get trades any names any names no we're not we won't do that but i will say the colts really need to be careful about how they approach this offseason and you know you don't want to ruffle any more feathers in that locker room of important players because i mean look what it's
Starting point is 00:30:18 cost you so far this year and there i mean there's plenty of players who have had frustrating moments that haven't asked to get out or anything like that. I just think they're on shaky ground and they're going to really have to tread lightly. Yeah. But again, without going too much into Taylor, the things I'll say here is, look, these are professionals. Like it takes a lot for guys to request trades or be so unhappy that they want out to where they're going to get traded to another situation that they're not familiar with, you know, or or a different city where they have to move their kids and their families to. That's just a tough thing for anybody. So no matter no matter how unhappy you are at your job, it's hard to relocate and request a relocation. is in terms of some rumors about players wanting out of Indy or wanting trades, there have been some practice squad guys and bottom of the roster guys that have wanted out in recent weeks.
Starting point is 00:31:12 And some of them have been granted. That's the most I will say. Some of them have been granted. These guys are now in other opportunities and other areas and stuff like that. So, yeah, I mean, they just want to attach to a different team before the end of the season, so they have a hope of making that roster next year. But outside of that, you know, I'm not too sure about specific guys.
Starting point is 00:31:33 One thing I will say, though, is Jim Irsay has to be really careful about continually dragging Frank Reich's name through the mud this offseason. Like, just don't do what you did with Carson Wentz last year, because don't get me wrong. Carson Wentz, it's easier to drag his name through the mud because it's been done before. No, he doesn't have that many fans across the league, but Frank Reich is a guy who's so well-respected not only league wide,
Starting point is 00:31:56 but also in this locker room, even though it was time for a change. And I do agree that it was time for the Colts to move on. There are a lot of people in that locker room, some guys who are going to be free agents this upcoming season or, you know, towards the end of their deals who love Frank Reich as a person and think Frank Reich is a great dude. And just,
Starting point is 00:32:15 even though it didn't work out as a coach, they think he's just a phenomenal person. If you keep going on this war path against Frank Reich and interviews and saying like, I reluctantly gave him an extension and I hope this would turn it around for him and stuff like that, you're going to really alienate that locker room.
Starting point is 00:32:31 Just say it was time for us to move on and that's why we did it. That's all you have to say. Don't go any further into that. Don't be like, he forced me to take Carson Wentz and I hated him for it. Just be quiet about this stuff. Just just leave that in, in your brain,
Starting point is 00:32:47 you know, it gets you nowhere to, to sling and everything like that. It doesn't make people want to join that party. Right. Right. So I'm just saying, I don't know how alienated the locker room is right now,
Starting point is 00:33:00 but be careful with that because that is something that could alienate his locker quite a bit even if again the players all agree that it was time to move on from frank reich they still love him as a human being i still love him as a human being people across the league still love him as a human being be careful going on the war path against frank reich yeah i mean the season's not over he's not in a new place yet but far, he's the one that kind of looks like he's coming out on top of this situation. Right. And with that said, that is it for us. There's a game to play on Sunday against the Texans.
Starting point is 00:33:32 And we'll bring you guys instant coverage of that after the game. Again, it's almost over, guys. And then it is full offseason mode. Yep. Make sure you guys are following us on social media at LockedOnColts, at JakeArthurNFL, and at ZachHicks too on Twitter. Also subscribe to the locked on Colts podcast on YouTube, wherever you list your podcast.
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