Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - LOCKED ON COLTS 10/25/19: Positional breakdown of Colts vs. Broncos

Episode Date: October 26, 2019

On today's episode, Jake Arthur of Colts.com returns to go over the Colts' latest game against the Denver Broncos. Before we do that, we recap his thoughts on the 30-23 win over Houston. What stood out the most to him?Denver shouldn't present many challenges for the Colts, but they need to avoid another letdown like we saw with Oakland. If they can avoid another misstep, there's a good chance this one ends in a blowout. After all the close finishes thus far, it certainly would be a nice change of pace.Who are possible game breakers for Denver that the Colts need to watch out for? Finally, we close with Jake's keys to the game and his final prediction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, everybody. Welcome back into Locked on Colts, probably Locked on Podcast Network. Today, as always, we have Evan Satter and Drew Byer, our weekly guest. Jake Arthur of Colts.com. How are you doing today, Jake? Hey, I'm good, bud. Thanks for having me. No problem at all. I appreciate coming on, as you always do here each week. And I know our listeners are really enjoying your positional breakdowns. We're going to do that once more for everyone today with the Denver Broncos coming up on tap on Sunday at the Casolo Stadium. What's your thoughts today before we get started on the color rush jerseys?

Because the all-blue jerseys, they debuted them last year. It's the Dolphins. They're going to have that again on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. I think they're by far my favorite jersey combination. That all-blue just looks so nice. Yeah, I am here for it. I like theirs because it all blends together nicely. There's some of them that I'm not a big fan of just because whether it's the helmet jersey or pants,

part of it doesn't make sense and doesn't go together well. But theirs all goes together perfectly. I think the blue pants are a perfect complement to the jersey. So it's something that definitely adds a little more excitement into this stadium when there's an alternate jersey worn especially for a team like the colts that only does it pretty much now just once a year so looking forward to that yeah it's gonna be a fun little thing on the side there for some fans who are gonna be there on sunday and on tv if you watch i just enjoy seeing the all blues out there once more against the broncos but let's talk about

last week's game for a second, or Jake, before we dive into our preview. What was your opinion of the game on Sunday? 30-23 was the final score. The Colts really in the first half won a slugfest a little bit there, and the defense really buckled down when they needed to. Truly, Bimba don't break. When they got in the red zone,

the Texans really didn't do anything at all much of the day. That was an all-around team victory. I think that was one of the more solid victories, maybe even more so than Kansas City. Maybe it's right outside that because that victory, even though they kind of sputtered a little bit at the end, I think is a very solid win for them. Yeah, absolutely.

I think they stripped away some of Houston's advantages outside of Deshaun Watson buying extra time and gaining extra yards with his legs. I think they did a lot of things that probably frustrated Houston because it's stuff they're normally successful at. Third down, they only held him to four of 12. Red zone, only two of five. And I think Houston was tops in red zone offense going into it. I wasn't too worried about their run game outside of Watson and they pretty much held that in check. You and I definitely talked about it being a potential passing game for the Colts and that's what it wound up being. I don't know that either of us

thought it might, you know, turn out to be a career game for Jacoby, but it was. The run game held in check. You know, I think that was probably a little predictable just because the Colts embarrassed them on the ground so bad just in January. And pretty much all the personnel there is the same. So, you know, I'm sure they probably didn't want that to happen again. And, you know, right now Jacoby is still new, and teams are still going to have the approach of, okay, they dominate with the run game.

Let's make this kid pass against us. And, you know, just like a team like Atlanta, Houston found out that's not going to be a good formula either. Yeah, about Jacoby for a second, Jake, I think that was one of the most impressive, I think it was even more impressive to me than the Atlanta game, because as we know, Atlanta's secondary is really not that good, and the Houston, I know Houston's kind of banged up though, but in that Atlanta game, it was a lot of first read option went Jacoby's way, in this game, Houston sometimes took away that first option, and Jacoby really read the field well,

and he hit his secondary options, and he really really took advantage he got a lot of strong plays and that was a actually a thoroughly impressive performance by Jacoby yeah and it wasn't a game he could have had every reason to force the ball to T.Y. I mean T.Y. owns the Texans and it would have made total sense for him to think okay well I'll just go ahead and keep getting him the ball. No, the leading receiver was Zach Paschal. And we saw Eric Ebron's by far biggest game of the season. So, you know, he delivered the ball to who was there to be open and who he was most comfortable with.

I talked with Paschal after the game, and he said that the Texans were playing a lot of man against them, and that's why he felt they were able to get so open and guys like him were able to capitalize on that. And, you know, Jacoby was as well. He noticed some of his guys in man coverage and knew he could beat them and kind of rewarded them with the ball. I think I asked George Berman this earlier in the week, Jake, but I wanted to ask you this as well. I mean, we were over there together at training camp for a couple days

watching just the wide receiver battle happening with Paschal and Fountain before Fountain's unfortunate injury. But is Paschal's emergence as a true wide receiver running these routes really becoming a top target for Jacoby Broussard the last couple weeks? Is this the biggest surprise story of the year for you so far? I don't know about the biggest surprise just because I think we were all in agreeance, you know, all of us in the media when we were talking about, you know, the wide receiver battle. You know, it came down to being a numbers game,

and I don't think anyone discredited what, how quality Zach Paschal was. I don't know that anyone knew he would do some of the things he's doing this season. But he's a solid player, reliable guy who does everything you want him to. I don't think anyone was going to discount that. And I also think, now he's a quality player, don't get me wrong, but at the same time he's – you know, there's some opportunities being given there because of injuries to Devin Funchess, Paris Campbell. Deion Kane's out there but hasn't, you know, hasn't quite –

he hasn't put the numbers up yet. T.Y. was out for a little bit. So I'm not surprised by the fact that he's showing good route running, good run blocking, and good hands because he's always been able to do those things. I just think it's his time he's being called on and he's being relied on more now. It's interesting to see what the role will be for him once the receiving court is fully healthy because I definitely think he's deserved a continued role in it I think he's very very reliable again as a route runner solid hands he he carved out a role last year in a deep receiving core because he was so good at run

blocking you know that's that's just a guy that you got to have on your team. And it's one of those guys where he's maybe not the sexiest player, but you just are going to kill yourself trying to figure out whether, you know, you can move on from him or not. Because he's kind of like a jacked oil type, but as a receiver, he's just a really good – I can't think of the word, but he's a really good fundamental player. He does pretty much everything well, and you need those guys around. I think another player before we go on, Jake, is Justin Houston as well

because the last few games he's really woken up a little bit. What's been your opinion of Houston? I think that trip back to Kansas City really sparked a fire in Houston. I know he's been getting home a lot as far as pressures go out to sack numbers, but I think those sack numbers are starting to flip now. Yes, absolutely. And even though, I mean, I think he's at four sacks now, which is still pretty decent, I've noticed plenty of times

where he is getting in and hitting the quarterback. Maybe the quarterback gets rid through the ball before, but he's getting home. On that play where Pierre Desir got his interception, it was Justin Houston that forced that. He was right there in Deshaun Watson's face, dove at him, and caused Watson to make a questionable throw. It was intercepted.

So I definitely think that that switch has flipped. Now that he's, you know, a 4-3 defensive end, he's probably getting a little more comfortable, a little more in the groove. Jabal Sheard out there probably helps a little bit, just because, you know, Jabal's another veteran, and they can kind of bounce things off of each other. Both of those guys are capable of playing insider out in certain packages that the Colts have been using. So that definitely is a kind of a fun little tool Ibraflus can use. But no, they've definitely needed Houston to kind of turn this thing on, especially with Ture out. Because Ture was just being very,

very productive as a pass rusher. And they were going to miss that, and they still are. But having a guy like Houston out there kind of kick it up a notch definitely helps. And I think before we move on to our preview, Jake, I wanted to also hit on just the play-action pass game so far. And that's what really stood out to me as well on Sunday. I know the running game didn't produce the numbers, but the attempts were there.

And even if you are starting to get numbers on the ground, you're just staying committed to the running game. It's going to continue to open up these passing lanes for the offense. And I think that was a perfect story of that on Sunday when you saw all these easy wide-open lanes because the running game was so solid because they had it in perspective. Oh, absolutely. And that just – chunk plays are something the

Colts have struggled with a little bit in the passing game this year, but a successful play action game opens those up and they don't always have to be these big 25, 30 yard downfield shots. Sometimes it's, you know, Jack Doyle lining up on the line and chipping a defender during the play action and then runs an outside post and suddenly he's open with no one around him for 10 yards and then he gets a 15-yard gain.

It's just stuff like that. They have really versatile guys that help keep defenders honest. Guys like Mo Alleycox, while he's primarily been a blocker this year, you don't know if he's going to go out for the pass. Same with Jack because, you know, Jack is an effective pass catcher and he moves the chains, but teams know that he's going to get his nose dirty and block as well. And then Paschal has turned into one of those kind of jokers as well

because last year he was out there, you knew it was going to be a run. Now he's out here putting up 100 yards and a couple touchdowns. So, no, that play-action game that the Colts have been able to develop because of how good of a running team they are, it's really invaluable because they haven't taken many true downfield shots like those 40-yard, 50-yard bombs. They haven't done that a lot. But they've still found a way to pick up some chunk plays.

The Chester Rodgers one is another one that kind of comes to mind. I can't remember if that was off play action, but I think it was. But just stuff like that. It doesn't have to be these enormous gains, but 15, 20-yard gains kind of work just as well. And they can keep drives alive. Also. The folks at Roman, a men's health company are changing the game with Roman swipes,

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Heading into our preview now, Jake, of this Denver Broncos team. They just traded Emmanuel Sanders actually a couple days ago. What stands out the most about this team that you've seen on film and what Colts fans should expect on Sunday? I know Colts fans might be expecting an easy win, but what stands out the most when you talk about the Broncos and you watch them play? So on paper, it's obviously not a super threatening group,

especially without Emmanuel Sanders. But they have one of my favorite backfields in the NFL. You got Phillip Lindsey, Royce Freeman, and Devontae Booker. That's a talented group of runners. And while the offensive line hasn't been all that great and hasn't been able to give them much, both those guys are averaging four yards a carry or over four yards a carry.

So I think you got to focus on that first and foremost because that's the most dangerous part of their team right now. Without Emmanuel Sanders, I think it's really going to be tough for them to move the ball through the air. Because you look at Noah Fant, who I did love in the draft, and I do think he's going to be a great player. Just not really paying dividends yet, which is okay. I mean, tight ends take a while to develop in the NFL. But then you've got Cortland Sutton, who's just been a monster. I think I had him ranked as my first or second receiver last year coming out. He's been a big play guy for them. He's using his body to make those plays and shield out defenders. But then you're just kind of looking at Deshaun Hamilton as the next

guy, which again, good slot guy, really quick, shifty guy. A lot of us liked him coming out of Penn State, but not super proven. Again, the offensive line hasn't been that great. They're near the bottom of the league in sacks surrendered. So I just really don't know what Denver is going to be able to do against the Colts if they don't get that run game going. I think – what kind of game plan would you expect against this Broncos team on defense?

Because I know Von Miller's a player, almost like J.J. Watt last week, where you have to pay attention wherever he is. I think he's going to be obviously a major part of their game plan. Yeah, absolutely. And, I mean, it's going to be a big test for Braden Smith, probably the biggest one he's faced yet. But at the same time, the Colts have the luxury of having Mo Alleycox and Jack Doyle to load that side of the line if they feel like giving Smith help. And you know, if they decide to designate Mo as that guy throughout the game, cool. Jack Doyle

is an effective pass catcher and vice versa. If it's Jack blocking on there with Braden most of the game, maybe we see more of a Moe Alleycox game, his 2019 breakout, like we saw a little bit last year. I think they've got the luxury to do a lot of things because they've got the luxury to do a lot of things because they've got versatile players. So yeah, if, if,

if I was, if I was Denver on the inverse side, I would probably look at attacking the Colts with the tight ends. I know fan hasn't been too productive yet, Jeff Hyrman, but tight ends have been successful against the Colts in the past, so that might be a little niche they want to break out in this game if they're going to do anything through the air.

And then also for the Colts, Jake, what kind of – when you look at this Broncos defense, from what I've seen so far, the pass defense looks pretty good, but this rushing attack on their defensive side, we saw Leonard Fournette go for about 200 yards against them. This could be a day where the offensive line really establishes themselves early, and Marlon Mack has that kind of depth. Yeah, I kind of see this as a running game for the Colts this week. The more I looked at this matchup, the more I kind of compared it to last year's week seven matchup against the Bills. Just kind of a real iffy offense led by just kind of a real

statuesque quarterback who's not going to get out and move very much. Now, obviously, Joe Flacco is better than Derek Anderson, of course. But both of those lines gave up sacks, quite a bit of sacks. I mean, I think Flacco was just sacked eight times against the Chiefs. So that's definitely an area where the Colts can attack. But yeah, it's on the defensive side of the ball, good pass defense, of course, just like the Bills had last year, but really struggled to stop the run. If I was the Colts, I would think that would be my game plan. Just kind of look at a lot of things you did against Buffalo last year because I think a lot of those things kind of sync up.

Even statistically, they're near the bottom of the league in most of the same categories that the Bills were last year. I went up and brought up my scouting report on the Bills last year. The teams are pretty comparable. So I think the Colts will – I don't know if it will be a big melee like it was last year. It was like a 30-point victory. But it could be lopsided I think

that's just how I kind of see the whole thing stacking out I think one of the better storylines of the year so far for this Colts team is the offensive line and the continuity up there and really the dominance that we've seen in most of these games so far this season and Sunday was no different from them you know the rushing game wasn't working they kept a clean pocket most of the efforts Cobra set whenever he wanted to get around in the pocket what's been your impression And Sunday was no different for them. You know, the rushing game wasn't working. They kept a clean pocket most of the day for Jacoby Brissett whenever he wanted to get around in the pocket. What's been your impression of this offensive line so far, Jake? And looking at this Denver team, I agree with what you're talking about

with the rushing attack. This feels like a game for them. And really throughout the year we've been saying this, that this offensive line really holds the edge on really any team in the NFL. Yeah, and the Broncos do have a really good defensive front. I mean, they've still got, you know, Derek Wolf and Vaughn Miller and Todd Davis up there, but at the same time, I don't know. I just think there are units in the NFL that are probably matchup proof. And for the Colts, I think that's their offensive line. If the run game isn't clicking, then pass protection still will

and vice versa, you know what I mean? Rarely have we seen this offensive line get beaten in both of those areas. And it was kind of the same against Houston last week. The Colts' run game didn't get going too much, but Jacoby was only sacked one time, and he called it a coverage sack. You know, he's kind of holding on to the ball for bit. So yeah, I just don't see, I think as long as you take care of Von Miller and don't let him wreck things, I think they probably learned a little bit of a lesson from JJ Watt last week. Then I think everything should go smoothly. I just don't see how, I mean, of course,

unless they load the box all the time and make Jacoby pass the ball, I don't see how I mean of course unless they load the box all the time and make Jacoby pass the ball I don't see how Denver's gonna stop the run because it's just not they just haven't proven to be able to do that at all and like you said Leonard Fournette ran nuts against me at 225 I think you can't hide that when that happens that's a bad day at the office, and those problems don't just get magically fixed. So, I mean, we've seen the Colts go over 150 yards rushing like eight times, I think, since last year. That includes several 200-yard games. So, yeah, I think that would definitely be the area

where the Colts have the biggest upside. Flipping to the defensive side here for a second, Jake, and you look at this Broncos offense that Joe Flacco and they've been really sputtering as a way. It might be cratering at this point with the way they've been playing. And you saw last Thursday night against the Chiefs, it came to maybe rock bottom when they got sacked eight times and Flacco couldn't move the ball at all against that Chiefs defense.

What do you think is the game plan here for the defense? Because it seems like all you have to do at this point is stop Phillip Lindsay and that rushing attack and that trio you mentioned, as well as the quick passing game. I don't think it's going to be a lot of deep passing with Flacco. I think it's going to be a lot of quick game. So how should a defense plan for that kind of matchup? Yeah, like you said, I think as long as you do your job

and contain Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman I think you obviously move your attention to just making sure whatever the Broncos are attempting isn't working um it's I mean I don't want to sound like too much of a homer here but there's just not a lot that knowing the colts defense how we know them i just don't think there's a lot denver's passing game can do to be that effective if uh if no offense had had been blowing up to this point i would say maybe that'd be a big advantage because we've seen guys like uh travis kelsey last year darren. Like, tight ends can be good against this defense. But at the same time, the more man coverage that the Colts are playing,

that also kind of takes tight ends away a little bit more. It's not as easy as it is with zone coverage. My main concern, I think I would be concerned about those big sideline shots that Flacco takes with Cortland Sutton because there's not always a ton you can do to defend a guy with that kind of size and athleticism. That's why I think Pierre Desir, as long as he's out there, I think there will be a big test for him.

Sutton's not as quick as a guy like DeAndre Hopkins is last week. But I think that's something where you'll definitely want Pierre to see her all over Sutton in that instance and probably have safety help over the top. And then I really want to see if Deshaun Hamilton, I'm ready to see if he's going to have a little bit of a coming out party now that Sanders is gone. He's a real quick guy. He can move the ball. He's a guy I could see being targeted a dozen

times by Flacco in this one if he just wants to get rid of the ball quickly. That's probably the type of formula we'll see for them if I had to guess. Before we close today's show, Jay, what would you say are the three biggest keys for the Colts on Sunday? And a matchup, I think at this point, I'll start with Kevin Bowen earlier today when we recorded. I think that Oakland loss earlier this season was a wake-up call for this team. And I think you're going to expect Frank Reich and the coach staff to really hammer that point home that this is a team that you should be

and you should be in pretty thoroughly. Yeah, I would agree with that i i think the colts are good for a couple smackdowns a year one or two smackdowns a year and i mean they they were obviously the better team against tennessee but i think this could be their their first really overwhelming win uh Like I said, I kind of look at it like the Buffalo game last year. My keys, I would, you know, I think you got to be able to run the ball in this one because that's the biggest advantage you have in this game. If they're stacking the box and everything like that, then we know that Jacoby can sling the ball around. You know, we've seen it a couple times with opponents selling out to stop the run.

Jacoby's made them pay both times. Next, I would keep trying to wreck Denver's backfield and disrupt Joe Flacco because it can be done. He was just sacked like eight times. They're near the bottom of the league in sacks allowed. The Colts, meanwhile, have, I think they've got seven sacks in the last two games themselves. Keep that going. You know, Justin Houston knows what he's doing against like Garrett Bowles and things like that. I think that is another clear area where the Colts should be

able to take advantage of that. Interiorly also, we haven't really seen danico autry have many games where he's blown up yet this this is another candidate uh and then last i would just keep up the good work against the run they've done pretty well the last couple weeks now that jabal sheard's back daris leonard's back clayton gathers is back um they've done pretty well last couple weeks i think they're they're holding guys to an average of 68 rushing yards per game. Last week, that number gets even better if you take away Deshaun Watson's numbers. So they've been doing well against running backs. But again, I think that's the most dangerous part of Denver's offense is

Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman. Both can catch the ball as well. Freeman is one of their leading receivers as their kind of backup running back. So, yeah, I think as long as you take care of their run game, I think the rest is just doing your job, and they'll be all right against the pass otherwise. I think my prediction for this game, Jake, it's going to be 27-10 Colts win. I think it's going to be maybe 27-3 in the final few minutes of the game and they get a garbage time touchdown.

That's Denver, that is. But I think I might be underselling the Colts here a little bit. If they really want to make a statement here, I could really see them after the Oakland loss or the season. I feel like this could be a game where it could be like a 42-10 type of game. I could see that. I think it's more so that if they get a defensive touchdown involved. But I think if it's going to be a heavy run game,

then it might be in the 20s, like you said, about 27 to 10. That makes a lot of sense to me. Because Denver does have a good pass defense. I'm not going to discount that. But at the same time, if you're getting pounded on the ground so long, it will open up some things in the pass game, like play action, like we mentioned. So, yeah, I think what you're talking about, 27-10, 30-10,

something in that ballpark is probably about right. Before we close to this show, Jake, I wanted to ask you, because I feel like these next four or five weeks maybe even six weeks we count the Houston and Tennessee games like separation Sundays so to say I want to like call them that because not the Colts control their own destiny and the Texans have a rough schedule coming up a little bit they play the Ravens I believe in the next couple weeks and the Titans are kind of falling might be falling down a little bit maybe not with Ryan Tannehill up to see on that.

But these next few games, and especially these next four games when you play the Broncos, Steelers, Dolphins, Jaguars, in two divisional games, you can make a lot of separation in this division. Oh, absolutely. And, I mean, now that you've got the upper hand on Houston, I mean, even if they went out out which i mean it's it's possible and then the colts cover these next four games i mean that that's that sets up you know the next date there is houston if you do well over that time and you get another another win over houston then i mean i don't want to speak too soon but that almost all but puts it in the bag. If

you look at it that way, um, you would sweep them. Who's your main competition for the AFC South. And if you stack four more wins in a row right now, then you're probably putting yourself, you're putting yourself in, in real good position. I mean, for a wildcard spot. Yes, absolutely. But I would think you absolutely lock up the division in that instance. And I hate to say it that early because we've seen how quickly things can change like last year, but yeah, I think if you take these next four games and do with them what they should do with them, then they'll, they'll be in a good spot.

Yeah. Jake and I, I think are both in agreement here with how this game is going to go on Sunday. And I've just been thoroughly impressed by this Colts team throughout the season so far, the way they've had this resilience from the end of August through now. I think it just so impressed me the way the coaching staff and players are going about this. But before we close today's show, I want to let everyone know you can follow Jake on Twitter

at JakeArthurNFL. Also, digest his content, if you haven't already, over at Colts.com. Jake, appreciate the time as always, man. Yeah, absolutely, brother. Thanks for having me.