Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - IndyStar's Jim Ayello on Philip Rivers, Colts offense, Tyquan Lewis' resurgence, and more

Episode Date: August 26, 2020

On today's episode, Evan is joined by. Jim Ayello of the IndyStar to talk about what he's seen from the Colts in training camp. Indianapolis' mock scrimmage game at Lucas Oil Stadium was the hot topic, but plenty other takeaways to parse through as well.The running backs look like they will be a focal point of Indy's offense with Philip Rivers at QB. Will Marlon Mack, Jonathan Taylor, and Nyheim Hines all see 20-30+ catches in 2020? Also, what does Jim think of Rivers in Colts colors?Jim gives his rundown on the impact from Trey Burton, plus Zach Pascal possibly starting over Michael Pittman Jr. Week 1 in Jacksonville.Flipping to the defense, Tyquan Lewis continues to be a standout. DeForest Buckner, Xavier Rhodes, and Rock Ya-Sin all have seen strong moments as well.Finally, Chase McLaughlin seems to be pulling away from Rodrigo Blankenship in the kicking competition. Will Indy try to stash Hot Rod on their practice squad?All of this, plus so much more, in our latest jam-packed episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello everybody, welcome back into your latest episode of Locked on Colts, part of the Locked on Podcast Network. Today's guest is Evan Sedra, and he's my very first guest on today's show. Jim Aiello, the Colts beat writer for the Annapolis Star. Jim, how are you doing today? I'm doing great, doing great. Glad to be back on the beat. I have enjoyed my time away getting to know my son, but it's been awesome getting back

to Lucas Oil Stadium. I know it was just kind of a scrimmage, but it was still really fun to see live football. And honestly, just being at Lucas Oil Stadium, it made me – you know, I think we've all been experiencing doubt about whether or not there will be an NFL football season. And just being there at Lucas Oil and seeing the Colts on the field, it kind of made me feel better about the whole thing. Yeah, let me ask you, Jim, because it might be a sneak preview

of what you saw yesterday throughout the regular season. As far as the stadium goes with Lucas Oil, just how weird was it to see an empty Lucas Oil stadium? Moving forward here, of course, the Colts right now are scheduled at 25% capacity use for Lucas Oil this year, around 15,000 fans, but who knows? That's always still fluid here. What do you think

of how it looked yesterday and how it's going to be throughout the year? I'll give credit to Frank Reich and the Colts and the players. Like, they ran through everything like it was a normal game day, stretching and player – like, not player introductions, but coming out of the tunnel and the music. And guys like DeForest Buckner and Darius Leonard were jumping around and kind of waving at their arms at a crowd that wasn't there,

trying to get people amped up. It was pretty – it was funny, but it was also like, okay, I get why they're doing this. They're trying to get people amped up it was pretty it was funny but it was also like okay I get why they're doing this they're trying to trying to get themselves in game day mode and it was weird at first I mean to kind of watch in an empty stadium and not hear reactions to stuff but I don't know I mean I don't know about you but I've been watching I've been watching a lot of baseball and there's no fans in those stands and I've been kind of I've kind of gotten used to it which is I guess a horrible thing to say and I was And I helped cover the Indy 500 for Indy Star,

and there was nobody there either. And that was weird. But during the race, it wasn't that weird. It was weird before and after. But during the race, you kind of just kind of get locked into what's going on, you know, into the action. And I think it'll be normal. You know, I mean, as normal as it can be when you're watching football with no fans

or, you know, a limited amount of fans in certain places. So it was weird, but I think we can all, I think we'll get used to it just like we have in some other sports. Yeah. Like the NBA bubble so far in Orlando is a good example of that. You don't even realize just how entertaining those games are, that fans are really just virtually there and not actually in the stand. So it's going to be really interesting to see how that really fares this year

for the Colts and Lucas Oil Stadium, because I love Lucas Oil Stadium, but unfortunately this year, not going to be a lot of fans are going to be able to experience that this upcoming year with COVID-19 happening, Jim. But let's talk first about your biggest takeaway from yesterday's scrimmage. I think it has to be the running backs here. Phillip Rivers, of course, we've known throughout his career in San Diego and Los Angeles that he loves checking down the running backs, loves utilizing them in the passing game, but not even Naheem Hines. I think he's poised for a big role from what I've read so far.

He's been a really versatile chess piece used inside and outside so far in the Colts offense and passing situations, but also Marlon Maxson to be adding in a lot more of a role, and even Jonathan Taylor's going to get a few catches too. What was your assessment of seeing Rivers using the running backs? You know what the thing about him is? When he throws the running backs, it doesn't seem like the classic check down. Like I've waited three or four seconds, there's nobody open,

and I have to check down out of desperation. And then all of a sudden, the back catches it, and he's tackled a second later because a linebacker's already closed in on him. What you see with Phillip Rivers, and I think it's pretty unique to him, is that he goes through his progressions, and I think I described it this way to somebody, I can't remember who, but it's like he goes through the progressions. And, you know, if you see a guy like Jacoby Brissett, not to knock him too much, but again,

he was learning the offense last year, but when he takes the snap, he's going, okay, A, B, C, check down. Whereas a guy like Phillip Rivers is going, okay, I see the defense. I have to snap. I'm already eliminating B and C because they pretty much know where those guys are going to be and they're going to be out. So I'm going to check A and if A's not there, I'm going right to the running back. And it's kind of fun to watch because he's really good

about knowing, hey, I'm just gonna get the ball to the back. And all of a sudden this guy has the ball in space. He's going to be able to make a linebacker miss. And there's a reason that Chargers running backs average more than nine yards per catch with Phillip Rivers. I mean, that is one of the highest numbers in the NFL over the last three years. And so he's going to get the ball to shifty backs. And again, we're talking about Naheem Hines, who we know how shifty he is in space. And Marlon Mack, you know, great stiff arm, really put quite a move on Malik Hooker. And we know he can make guys miss. And then Jonathan Taylor, blazing speed, but also can run you over with how big he is. So just the idea of getting these guys the ball in space, all three of them, I think is really exciting for the Colts

and for Frank Reich. I think the other thing that makes a big difference for them is it just makes them less predictable. I think that, you know, Marlon Mack had, I think, 14 catches last year. It wasn't very many. You pretty much knew as a defender that if Marlon Mack was in the game, even if they passed, you didn't really have to worry about him because he wasn't going to catch the ball.

And now he mines kind of the opposite, where if he was in the game, he had to be pretty aware that he was going to catch the ball. Now, he ran the ball some, but not much. What I think they're trying to develop is more uncertainty in the defense. So if Marlon Mack is out there, if Jonathan Taylor is out there, the defenders have to respect the fact those guys can catch the ball and will catch the ball. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a game early this season

where one of those guys has four or five catches, and you put that on tape, so the defense has to prepare for it later in the year. Yeah, and I wonder too, Jim, just what the split will be like, of course, with Marlon McIntyre's career so far. I think the career high for him in receptions for a season is 21. Last year, I believe, he had 15. Do you expect that number to maybe double this year? Yeah, the 14-15 number for sure. I wouldn't i wouldn't you know 26 and i wouldn't say 52 for him but i would say i think 30 to 35 40 is yeah 30 35 that i feel pretty comfortable in that range same for taylor and then you know so you got 30 30 and then yeah maybe 50

or 60 for naheem hines um i really do think they're going to use backs you're going to utilize backs again you saw the way phil used Danny Woodhead, Austin Eckler. But again, people lock in on those guys as kind of that Naeem comparison. But Melvin Gordon had a lot of catches with Phillip Rivers. And I think that, you know, Melvin Gordon being kind of the equal in this scenario to Jonathan Taylor and Marlon Mack. So kind of divvy up with, you know, Melvin Gordon between those two guys. So I think, yeah, 25, 30 catches for both of those guys

is a completely reasonable expectation. And Jim, we saw yesterday, at least you did it up in close and personal the first time, Phillip Rivers in his Colts uniform game day attire for the first time. What was it like seeing Rivers in the Colts colors, but also just the way he maneuvered this offense, where it seems like from all the cases that I've read and listened to so far, he's really taking control of this offense and his progressions,

the way he just really reads the field at a really high rate is going to really help this Colts offense be a lot more efficient yeah it's just smooth it's just the whole offense seems to run a little smoother with with Jacoby and and again it kind of worked sometimes Jacoby was able to ad lib or you know he'd shake off uh you know we all know how hard he is to bring down in terms of sacking him so he would he could make things happen but it was all kind of just, I don't know. It didn't seem like there was a plan a lot of the time. And that's not a knock on Frank Reich or Nick Sirianni, but it just seemed like Jacob Brissett had it kind of like he was getting used

to the offense, and if he didn't find his first read, well, now he's got to kind of run around, scramble around a little bit, shake off some guys and see what he can make happen. And obviously that didn't work so well when he was hurt and toward the second half of the season. With Bill Rivers, it's much more decisive. It's quick. The ball is coming out. He knows who he's getting it to. And like we talked about just a little bit earlier, if A and B aren't there, he's going quick to the back and that, and he's making that decision

really fast. Now, again, they threw a lot to running backs on Monday and I, you know, you can't read too much into one scrimmage. They're going to have one more on Saturday. Maybe things are different, but I just liked the idea that they were finding a way to get their ball, the ball to their talented backs and get it to them fast because the faster you get it to them, the more, the more time they're going to have to make guys miss. So yeah. And to answer, I guess the first part of your question, I still haven't gotten adjusted to see Phillip Rivers in a Colts uniform.

It's still very weird to me. I was 2006 or 2005 was his first year. 2006 I think was his first year starting with the Chargers, but he was there for two years. So 2004, so that means I was 16 the last time he was not wearing a Chargers uniform. It's just very strange to see him in a Colts uniform. Yeah, what a wild year 2020 is so far. Phillipers in a Colts uniform, Tom Horsey in a Bucs uniform. It definitely is going to be a wild year from that standpoint

as far as NFL gets a shot for quarterback movement. But let's talk about this offense a little bit more in depth like I mentioned the running backs that could be poised for a bigger role in the offense sure from a passing standpoint but I think it was a big day yesterday for not only Marlon Mack but the other running backs too like we mentioned earlier in the show as far as running the ball the offensive line when they get going and they get dominant they are very hard to stop they're one of the best offensive lines in the NFL but I feel like Mack and Taylor this one-two duo continues to really turn a lot of heads in camp so far for sure I to your point about the offensive line I mean I think we know what to expect from these guys they're it's one of the best units in football it's really great for them that

Braden Smith got back out there and played 20 snaps he was on a pitch count so that was good for him to get out there and get his work in and then kind of get out I did love what Anthony Costanzo said yesterday saying that like they actually played he thinks he played more first team reps yesterday than he did during four preseason games total last year so I just love that he's getting that experience and getting him back in there with with that offensive line the other thing I want to mention on the offensive line side of things is just the Raven Clark I mean again I I I saw I've been what I've been reading and seeing, but then yesterday, I really thought he looked pretty good.

And now we're not talking about a starting tackle in the NFL. And I by no means think that, Hey, they should trade Anthony Costanzo or Braden Smith. Cause they got the Raven Clark. What I do think is if one of those guys went down, the Raven Clark is a capable fill-in for a couple of games, especially on the ground. I thought he looked really good in the run game. They had a couple of big runs to the right with him

and Quentin Nelson pulling to that side. I think that was really encouraging for them to know that there's still parts of their offense they can run when Braden Smith, or if or when Braden Smith or Anthony Costanzo misses some time. Now, he struggles a little bit in pass protection, but again, you're going to know that going in. You're going to be able to have to give him a little more help

than you normally give one of your tackles, but that could be okay. To me, it's very encouraging after having lost Joe Haag for the Colts to see, okay, we got somebody that we can trust in a pinch. And then, yeah, I'm sorry, to get back to your point about running, I mean, it's just sometimes it doesn't look fair. I mean, the Colts' defensive line is very, very talented and deep, and they had a pretty good first half. They did actually control the line of scrimmage.

But in the second half, it was almost like the chargers game last year when the second half the cultures came out running and like ripped off huge run after huge run until you know matt had that big run for a touchdown that's what it looked like in the second half it's one of those things where uh frank reich i know he just knows if he keeps pounding 16 carries 17 carries 18 carries one of those times they're going to start wearing the defense down and then they start getting what they want. And that's what we saw on Monday. So, again, encouraging for Colts fans.

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Again, that is code LOCKEDON, L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N, in the HowGee Browse box. So you know that Locked On quote sent you over. Yeah, and for Rivers, he's dealt with a lot as far as horrible offensive lines the last six or so in San Diego, Los Angeles. So you have the running backs, too. I think the most talented running back group he's had is Sam Zeldanian-Thomas in the very early part of his years, LTA course Hall of Famer. But you see Marlon Mack and Jonathan Taylor and the way that they're able to

really be a yin and yang to each other so far, Jim and Camp. And Taylor's that bruiser in the red zone. Mack is the inside out guy who can really do a lot of damage, as we saw throughout the scrimmage yesterday. I think having both these guys, I mean, obviously it's a fair point to bring up here and a really obvious one, but keeping both Mack and Taylor fresh throughout the games and really preserving them throughout the year is going to make the Colts a

team where if they do get a lead, I just have a hard time seeing how a team catches up because you have Mack and Taylor and you can just bleed that clock down. Yeah, we saw this happen a few times. I mean, we had a Jacksonville game in Indianapolis last year where they just, I mean, they just ran all over them for like, it was like 300 yards or something like that. That's that. I really do think they're going to be games this year where Phillip Rivers throws the ball less than 20 times just because the Colts are running it so well. And when Frank Reich knows

his team is running it well, he just keeps doing it. He knows his offensive line loves it. And it, you know, you're taking the air out of the ball and that works really, really well for winning games, especially when you can trust your defense. and obviously we'll talk about the defense later but they they they do trust that defense to hold the lead but like you said i think there's gonna be a lot of times this year where they're just gonna run over people and not really need philip rivers to do all that much um jonathan taylor i actually think you know we've seen we've seen jonathan taylor is a guy who had 300 carries a year at wisconsin in fewer games than they play in the NFL. I mean, this guy was just giving the rock constantly.

And Marlon Mack handled a big load last year for the Colts. But to your point, I do think they'll be better fresh. I mean, I think most players are that way. And even if they're not, even if one of them is having an off game, then they can just go to the hot hand. I mean, it really gave themselves a lot of options when they dropped to Jonathan Taylor. And now they have two star-level backs. Moving to the wideouts for a second here, because of course, you have Michael Pittman Jr., the top rookie, they selected number 34

overall. You have T.Y., of course, out there, the stalwart. You have Paris Campbell, Zach Paschal. What did you see yesterday, Jim, as far as the rotation goes of that unit? Because it seems from what I've read so far, maybe Zach Paschal could be that extra receiver, at least early on in the year, as Michael Pittman Jr. still adjusts to the NFL. I think that's a fair point. I mean, I think you'll see Paschal get on the field quite a bit, especially in early downs, especially in rundowns. We all know what he can do in the run game

and be that potent outside blocker for you. I do think you're going to see a rotation of the four of them. It's a pretty clear one through four right now. I mean, you mentioned, and again, you can kind of flip Pittman and Paschal. I mean, again, ideally, you know, toward the end of the year, Paschal's your four, assuming everybody's healthy. And I think about Paschal, that's really great is that while he's, I mean, I don't know if that he excels in any area other than blocking,

as we just talked about, but he's really good at everything. He's got good hands. He's a good route runner. He understands the good hands. He's a good route runner. He understands the offense, and he understands all positions in the offense. He was kind of taught and brought up last year as the T.Y. Hilton replacement, if that was needed. And of course it was at certain points.

But he also learned the other spots in the offense that he needed to. So he's a guy you can kind of slip and fill in anywhere you need him to. And that's critically important to have. And as all Colts fans know, with all the injuries they dealt with last season. But yeah, I think that's probably a fair guess

or expectation that we'll see a little bit more Paschal than Pittman early on, just as Pittman gets used to the NFL and game speed. I don't think people understand how much different it is to play wide receiver at the NFL than it is to play in college football. I know we've written about it and we say it, but these corners are so much bigger and so much more physical,

and they're going to play a lot of press coverage and man coverage that you just don't see quite as much in college. And there's going to be like when Pittman is able to, he's going to be able to use his size to go snag a ball. And he'll do that in the NFL too. But there are guys that are out there now that are just as big as him, just as physical, just as athletic. He's going to have to learn the more of the nuances to getting open, to getting in and out of breaks and creating separation. Again, the Colts wouldn't have used

the pick that they used on him if they didn't think he could do it, but it's going to take a little time. Last point on the offense here, Jim, before we transition to the defense and of course the kicking competition, I guess kind of maybe wrapping up this point from what we saw yesterday. Trey Burton is a player I think is flying under the radar here from Colts fans because, of course, he was really under the radar signing there a one-year deal at a minimum deal. And I think with Trey Burton, he's had injury history in the past with Philadelphia and Chicago. Of course, he reunites with Frank Reich, the former OC of Philadelphia, and they're on

their Super Bowl run. I think from what I've read so far and from what it seems like he had a good day yesterday too, that Trey Burton could be poised for a big year and maybe surprise some Colts fans out there. Yeah, let's just keep him under the radar for now. All right. I mean, we don't want to blow up expectations too much. I'm with you. I think he can be a very big part of this offense. Frank Reich has not done his part in trying to keep that a secret. He has said he's going to fill into the Eric Ebron role and step in and be that guy. He just needs to stay healthy.

I mean, last year, he tried to come back multiple times with the Bears, and it just didn't work out. I think he tried to force himself on the field, and there was a misdiagnosis of his injury, and a lot of things kind of went against him where he couldn't show off that athleticism that he has. Right now, I would be happy if the first few games, he was just a healthy guy who played, you know, half the snaps.

Or, you know, what are we talking about there, Keyron? He played 35 to 45 percent of the snaps a lot of the time. Three or four or five catches maybe in a couple of these games. I think that would be an excellent start to the season. And then once he proves that he's healthy and ready to contribute in a bigger way, then maybe we see the guy that the Bears signed in 2018, which was like a 55 or 53 catch a guy, you know, big part of the red zone offense. This is the guy that Frank Wright knew in Philadelphia as, Hey,

he's backing up Zach hurts, but he's plenty capable of being a starter in this league. And so, yeah, I think Trey Burton is, could be poised for a big season, but again, it's all about health with him. So I do want to, you want to tamper expectations a little bit. And again, Jack Doyle is no slouch. I mean, again,

he's not the most athletic guy in the world, but he's going to be on the field a lot more often. And he's going to catch a lot of passes because Bill Rivers is going to like him a lot. Cause he's not going to drop a lot of passes and he's going to be in a spot that he needs to be every time. Now let's transition over Jim to the biggest surprise at Colts camp so far.

And it really blew me away because it's a player I originally had off my 53 man Ross prediction because we just haven't seen much the first two years of his career. But maybe year three, the light's finally coming for him. That's Tyquan Lewis, the former Ohio State defensive tackle, now with the Colts entering into year three. And Chris Bowdy mentioned at the end of the season press conference that he had that talk with Tyquan Lewis. It's go time, so to say.

It seems like from what I've read and from obviously what you saw yesterday, Jim, that Tyquan Lewis might be taking that leap, so to say, right now, and really being, if it does happen, a critical piece of this defensive line rotation. Yeah, don't beat yourself up. I think Chris Ballard probably didn't have Taequann Lewis on a 53-man roster projection heading into the year. Honestly, I mean, he said it at the end of the year.

He needs to have a great camp, and he didn't say or else, but we all kind of knew, or else, right? Well, Taequann Lewis looks, I mean, I hate, I hate, hate, hate the cliche of best shape of his life. It drives me crazy. But he does. He looks really good. And he looks, I mean, a little slimmer, just in great shape. And, man, is he quick off the line sometimes.

The burst that he is getting right now. Again, I only got to see it a couple times yesterday and talked to a lot of the other guys who have been there for the whole week or last week, but, man, he just blew up a play. Like, on one play, he just pushed Jake Elgin-Kamp pretty much right back into Phillip Rivers and then batted down the pass himself. Then on another one, he just burst right through. I think it was – I don't remember who the guard was at that play, but it doesn't matter because he would slip right past him.

I don't think anybody would ever stop him. And he almost took the hand off out of Naheem Hines' hands. I mean, this is the guy that Chris Ballard drafted a few years ago. This is the things that we saw on this college tape from Ohio State. I mean, he just looks quick, and we know he's strong, but I think it's that ability to get that first step and pass slower offensive linemen that's really going to give him an edge. And, man, if he can do that from the interior alongside DeForest Buckner,

that's such a huge, huge lift for this Colts defense, especially on the interior. But then again, this is a guy who we know has value and can play on the outside. He might get some early work on first and second down against the run. And then, you know, if the teams drop back and pass, he has the ability to get a little pressure too. I really think that if Tyquan Lewis all of a sudden takes a big step forward,

man, that's a big, big lift for the Colts team. It doesn't matter if you're a professional athlete, a stay-at-home parent, or you spend eight hours a day in an uncomfortable office chair. Everyone needs support to make it through the day. Luckily, our friends at CBDMD have an amazing deal that can help you relax, regroup, and recharge when life gets chaotic. CBD frees the menthols in a whirlwind product that offers instant cooling relief from muscles and joints and a convenient, easy-to-use roller or shareable squeeze tube.

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It'd add even more depth to that rotation that the Colts are building so far, led by DeForest Buckner. And like I asked you with Phillip Rivers, I mean, first time we saw DeForest Buckner in his Colts game attire, he looks like just from the pictures I've seen, like a schoolyard bully out there at six foot seven, 300 pounds and towers over all of his teammates. What was your impression from the press box seeing him, Jim? Yeah, so that's kind of the thing for me. I can't wait to see him like a little bit closer up, but it gave me the same memory. When I grew up in Chicago and I used to go to a training camp every year. Uh,

and I remember the year that they're signed Julius peppers and actually Chris Ballard was there when that happened. And I remember I'm walking up and I'm just like, what in that? I mean, this guy looked like he should be playing power forward for the bulls and, and he just, the way he stood out and he was just, I mean, sculpted, just huge guy. Like I could not believe, you know, my, again, you're talking about among other NFL athletes, these are other stars that he was out there and that's, he just, I mean, sculpted, just huge guy. Like I could not believe, you know, my, again, you're talking about among other NFL athletes. These are other stars that he was out there and that's, you just,

you couldn't take your eyes off of them. That's kind of what I felt like when I first saw DeForest Buckner, I was like, Holy cow. I mean, just look at this guy. And then you see how fast, how quick he is on the line of scrimmage for somebody his size. I mean, man, I, obviously that, you know, that comes with the inherent strength being his size, but the quickness that he has on the interior,

it's no wonder that he's been a pro bowler. Last few I have for you, Jim. Appreciate the time as always. One thing on the defensive backs for a second here, because obviously an important year for Xavier Rhodes, Rakia Sen, with Marvell Tell opting out, so there's really not much depth. They obviously got Tremont Smith to sign him a couple days ago

to really replace maybe Marvell Tell in that rotation. But what was your assessment of seeing Xavier Rhodes up close as well, but also Rocky Asenu, who I've heard has had a good camp so far? Yeah, Rock looks good. I mean, again, that's really... I'll tell you the truth. I really didn't think the corners were all that

tested in this game, or in that kind of scrimmage game on Saturday, or on Monday. I really kind of thought it was, they were, they were throwing a lot. Um, they threw the tight ends. They threw the running backs a lot. They did throw the receivers. I mean, TY Hilton, I think had five catches, but I don't know. I just didn't feel like I got a good read on what the corners were doing. Xavier Rhodes, I think had a pass breakup. Um, I know he's been doing a good job and kind of getting in Michael Pittman's face and showing him what a big defensive back can do to you.

And then, yeah, again, from what I've heard from Rock, I heard kind of conflicting reports. One, he's been really good, knocking some passes away. But I also heard he's getting a little bit – using his hands a little bit too much. And we all know that he got into a little bit of trouble with that against Denver. So you don't want to see him start getting a little too handsy and he starts seeing the flags. That's kind of been the thing about the first week of camp.

That's not normal is that usually during training camp, there are officials out there that are calling penalties and, you know, telling guys, get your hands off them and get them ready for the season. There weren't officials for that first week of training camp. There were officials for the, for the game or the scrimmage. But, and I, but there wasn't, I don't actually remember being a flag being thrown aside for maybe a false start. So again,

that's just one of those things that he's got to keep learning is just to keep his hands off the guy a little bit more often. But I mean, I think the reason you asked the question is, I think this is the biggest question on the Colts defense are these DBs, especially the corners. I think they're pretty deep at safety. They have guys they like there and they can rotate through. But you don't necessarily know what you're going to get from Xavier.

Is he the guy he was a few years ago when he was an all pro? Or is he the guy that the Vikings said, yeah, we'd rather not even have you on the team. And then rock. Yeah. I think he had a pretty good second half of the season last year, but you need him to be a little bit better than that. And you need him to take a step forward and not regress. And there's no guarantee he'll do that either. So it's a big question mark for them. And as you pointed out, they don't have a ton of depth. So you got TJ carry,

but he's probably better suited for the inside. Obviously, Kenny Moore is your slot corner. And then, yeah, with Marvell Tell, you felt a lot better because that guy played a lot of important snaps for you last year and was developing. Now you don't have him. Yeah, I think that's the one position where you might feel a little bit uneasy if you're Chris Ballard. However, I think if you're Chris Ballard, it makes you feel better. You say, well, if our defensive line is as good as I think it's going to be, corners won't have to guard for that long.

It's fitting here, Jim, I guess, for closing on the kicking competition with Chase McLaughlin and Rodrigo Blankenship, because obviously the kicker last year, Adam Benetieri, had his struggles maybe across the Colts a few games. So this position is pretty important to get right for this Colts team this year in 2020. Chase McLaughlin went 8-for-8 yesterday in the scrimmage. Rodrigo went 5-for-8. It seems

like from what everyone is saying that Chase McLaughlin looks like the better kicker so far. He probably has the lead right now. Do you agree with that, Jim? Also, a two-parter here for you on that. Do you think that Rodrigo Blankenship still makes the practice squad just because who knows what happens to COVID-19 this year? Chase McLaughlin

somehow gets COVID. You're kind of in a predicament. Yeah, I'll say this. I think they'll put, if it plays out the way you suggest, that McLaughlin wins the job, I think they'll try to stash him. But you know how it is in this league. Kickers, somebody needs a kicker every week, it seems like. So I don't know how long they'll be able to keep him. But again, I'm with you. I think they'll definitely try to stash him on the practice squad. But it wouldn't be a big surprise if somebody claimed him. Obviously, you know, great credentials out of Georgia and a very good kicker. I know he had a good first week at camp.

He didn't look great yesterday. I have to give him credit, though. He started off pretty rocky, two for five, and then rebounded to hit his next three, including one where they rushed him out there to make one. He hit his 50-yarder. They only each kicked a 53-yarder. He hit his.

So, again, I wouldn't say it was a total loss for Blankenship. Um, and he did again, I thought, I thought he showed good moxie and good poise to rebound, uh, after a rough start, but man, yeah, I, I, I've said from the beginning of this thing that Blankenship is going to go ahead and he has to come in and win the job. He has to take it away from Chase McLaughlin. We saw what Chase did last year, which was become a very good NFL kicker, a reliable NFL kicker. He only missed one kick for them. He made all those extra points. He did it in a real tough spot, replacing the greatest kicker of all time. You have to give him credit for being able to do that. And then he goes out and hits eight field goals in a row in a game that Frank Reich admitted you're going to wait

a little bit more than some of the other practices. So I think the kid's got ice in his veins. I think you know he can do it at the NFL level. Yeah, to me, I mean, he'd have to really fall apart here in this next week for me to go the other way. But, yeah, I like Chase McLaughlin. I think he ends up winning the job. Jim, we're two and a half weeks away from the season opener in Jacksonville. We are about two weeks almost exactly away from NFL football officially

starting back up with no preseason this year. Chiefs-Texans opener, then the Colts at Jacksonville. I'm getting a little antsy myself, but I think it's so exciting, Jim, that NFL is right around the corner here, only two weeks away. What do you think? Oh, yeah, man, I'm pumped. It kind of snuck up on me a little bit.

I think, one, it was partly having a kid and kind of being focused on that. But also, yeah, like you said, no preseason and training camp kind of just being like, oh, it's here. It's very strange, but again, it's kind of exciting, right? It's just that all of a sudden it's here and we get to watch NFL football. And I was a little bit worried that with no training, you know, or limited camps and no preseason, that the quality of football was not going to be kind of the standard that we were hoping for. But again, having listened to these guys and the way they played on Monday,

I'm very encouraged about these guys being ready and the starters being you know as ready as they can be for for the regular season now they haven't done a lot of tackling and they probably won't and that might be a thing that's a little bit you know shake off a little rust the first couple weeks but you kind of see that in most seasons anyway so yeah I'm not only am I excited just that we're gonna have football but I think it's gonna be up to the caliber that we that we've come to expect Jim I appreciate talking close to all we you as always. You guys can go follow Jim on Twitter if you're not already,

at Jim Maiello. You can listen to him talk with Joel Erickson as well weekly on the Colts Cover 2 podcast in Annapolis Star, and also go read his written work, which is always great, over at the Annapolis Star. Jim, I appreciate the time. Thanks, Evan. Anytime, man.