Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - LOCKED ON COLTS 10/4/19: Positional breakdown of Colts vs. Chiefs

Episode Date: October 5, 2019

On today's episode, Jake Arthur of Colts.com helps go in-depth on the Colts vs. Chiefs primetime matchup. Indy will be very shorthanded, but is there any chance they can pull off a shocking result?Goi...ng position-by-position, who holds the edge between the Colts and Chiefs? Patrick Mahomes is going to put up points, but so will Jacoby Brissett. This is a matchup where establishing the run will be of the upmost importance.We close going over Jake's main keys to the game. Will the Colts pull off the miracle in Kansas City? Don't doubt them out just yet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:00 Hello, everybody. Welcome back into Locked on Colts, probably Locked on Podcast Network. Today's Oz and Roast, Evan Sutter. I'm joined by our weekly co-host of the show, Jake Arthur. How you doing today, Jake? I am awesome, buddy. Thanks again for having me. Yeah, no problem at all. Appreciate you coming on again. And we didn't have a chance to talk last week, so I just want to get your opinions on the Raiders' loss. What was your opinion of that? And I feel like it was kind of very similar to last year's Jets game where it was kind of like a failure on all sides there. And it was kind of
Starting point is 00:00:31 just an opportunity where they had a golden opportunity, so to say, in the second half of that game, but they just couldn't capitalize on. Yeah, I think you're right there. If you're going to look for a silver lining in a loss like that, and it is pretty similar to last year, like you said, uh, I don't think they lose that game if they don't kind of get in their own way. Um, you know, there were, there were some drops, there were probably some, some balls here or there that, that could have gone differently. Um, maybe, maybe capitalize on a sack here or there, but it's, it's not like they're getting overwhelmed by the opponent, which is good.
Starting point is 00:01:08 I thought they definitely should have and could have beaten Oakland. Just one of those things that they learned midway through last year to kind of calm down and focus on one thing at a time and not get in their own way. So hopefully they kind of realize that last week looked really similar to some of their losses last year and just kind of use the same formula going forward. Luckily, they do have the bye week coming up in week six. So that kind of gives them an early opportunity to regroup and see what they can start doing differently.
Starting point is 00:01:47 This is the pseudo quarter poll, so to say, Jake. So I might as well get your opinion on this as well. Putting in the factor that Jacoby Brissett is going to be the starting quarterback from the very beginning, 16 games he'll be starting in this situation, does 2-2 surprise you? Is it underachieving, overachieving with the situation currently? I think 2-2 with Jacoby Brissett, a quarterback, is pretty good for where they're at with the schedule they have coming up.
Starting point is 00:02:11 Yeah, I'd agree with that. I think a lot of people would have said, you know, they would have probably given them losses to the Chargers and maybe the Falcons. It wound up being losses to the Raiders and the Chargers, but they still came out 2-2 regardless. They looked impressive in their two wins. And there was a lot to be happy about
Starting point is 00:02:36 and kind of feel at ease about moving forward. Plus, Jacoby is kind of starting to get some love nationally. You know, he's tied for the league lead in passing touchdowns with Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, who might be the two frontrunners for MVP. He's killing it in the red zone. I think you've got to be pleased with what we've seen in the first quarter of the season. Yeah, I would certainly agree with you there.
Starting point is 00:03:03 I think what Jacoby Brissett's done has been super impressive with the situation he was thrown in. And also, the offense, I think, is still humming at a good pace, even without Andrew Luck as their quarterback anymore. But let's dive in here to your positional preview, Jake, that you do each week. I know the listeners love it when you go deep dive into these sort of matchups.
Starting point is 00:03:22 And let's start off with the quarterback position. And I got George Bremers opinion earlier this week, and he thinks that Mahomes kind of reminds him a little bit of Brett Favre as far as comparisons go. Where would you rank Patrick Mahomes, not only in the NFL right now, but also if you had to think of a comparison for him? I think historically Brett Favre probably is the most, you know, is probably the easiest answer.
Starting point is 00:03:44 But I think that Mahomes is probably a easiest answer. But I think that Mahomes is probably a little more efficient. I mean, don't forget Brett Favre. When he hung him up, I'm pretty sure he was the all-time leader in interceptions also. Mahomes doesn't really turn it over as much, and he doesn't get sacked all that much either. So he's got all the gunslinger and arm talent kind of components that Favre had, but at the same time, he takes a little better care of the ball. And,
Starting point is 00:04:12 you know, I, I honestly haven't, I haven't seen a player be able to do the things just kind of, I don't know if it's necessarily when a play breaks down or just their complete ability to just start playing backyard football. But Aaron Rodgers was always the guy who I said, you know, was probably going to be the best quarterback of all time. But now after seeing Mahomes, you know, kind of start to duplicate in year two what he did in year one and prove that he's the real deal, in my opinion. I mean, Mahomes might be a guy that we never see again. You know, we may never see a guy like that again, or at least not for a long time. Because I just – I can't think of a quarterback who –
Starting point is 00:04:58 it's not even – you don't even worry about your team playing because you know they're just going to go off. Because he can go off against any team. I could imagine Mahomes doing really well against the Patriots defense right now who has just smothered everybody. So it's hard to find a historical comparison for the all-around game. But just the eye test, I probably would agree with George and say Brett Favre. Now, what is the Colts' defense going to do this week, Jake?
Starting point is 00:05:30 I know it's a tough task against maybe the two-time MVP this time a few months from now with the way he's playing right now. On pace for 6,000 passing yards, Patrick Mahomes is. What do the Colts have to do here? They can't do what they've done the first month of the season because the quarterbacks they've played against so far have done fairly well against them. So what do they have to mix that up can do what they've done the first month of the season because the quarterbacks they've played in so far been fairly well against them so what they have to mix that up here against Patrick Mahomes to pull off a huge upset on something uh so I I think they did make him
Starting point is 00:05:54 look human in the playoffs like he did very well but I don't think he looked like the absolute just shredder that he did throughout the season um I think the Colts did very well with their corner blitzes with Kenny Moore coming off the edge from the nickel. I think they did really well with that. Jabal Sheard was able to capitalize in a matchup against Mitchell Schwartz, who's probably the best right tackle in the game. Danico Autry, if I remember correctly, did well. So I think it's probably the guys in the front seven,
Starting point is 00:06:29 and you can include Kenny in that if you're counting him as a nickel blitzer. I think it's those guys just kind of having to really take advantage and do their jobs because they are capable. It's not like the Chiefs' offensive line is, like, ridiculously elite. I mean, they can have matchups won against them. I do think the Colts' secondary is probably in slightly better shape than it was last year. I mean, it's odd.
Starting point is 00:06:59 You kind of had similar injuries at safety. But I do like Kari Willis being in there a little better than what the Colts were, you know, kind of had to put out there last year. I think there's a little more depth, even though Malik Hooker is going to be out again. But yeah, it's, I don't know. I don't know that there's much you can do against Mahomes other than just doing your job. You know, that's very coach-speaky. But the Colts' defense looked pretty good for most of last year just doing their job.
Starting point is 00:07:34 If they're fortunate enough to get Darius Leonard back this week, then it would be good to kind of see him turn on that maniac mentality and make some big plays. Because if you notice, these past couple weeks, there's just been almost like some blank spaces late in games where you're like, okay, big time Darius Leonard play here, but you know, he's not been playing. And they've maybe missed that big play. So if he's able to come back this week, it would be good to kind of see him come up with one of those big key Darius Leonard moments late in the game.
Starting point is 00:08:09 Yeah, they've certainly been missing Darius Leonard, that's for sure. I think that some plays, like you mentioned, their second half of all these last two games, there's been moments where I think Darius Leonard makes up for a possession here and there. But let me ask you about the other side of the ball here. As far as the Colts go, Jake, I know Patrick Mahomes is going to be a tough task for any defense, but Jacoby Bursette threw four games with the circumstances he got thrown into this time last month. I think with the way he's played, I know it's not elite, so to say, but just for what's happening right now with this team
Starting point is 00:08:38 and with the way he's played so far, 10 touchdowns, 200 receptions, you can't really ask for much better. Yeah, I think he's been pretty efficient, but I do actually think there is room for improvement there. I think there's been some opportunities where maybe just him and the receiver haven't been on the same page. I kind of think of some plays with Deion Kane and Paris Campbell that have been out there. They haven't been able to connect on them. But if he can get his chemistry with those, especially those two guys, if he can get his chemistry with them down pat,
Starting point is 00:09:15 I think that would really kick the offense up a notch because we know what both of those guys are capable of. It is unfortunate that Devin Funchess isn't out there because I thought at the end of training camp and into the preseason that Jacoby and Funchess were improving their chemistry. And you could tell they'd started to work together a little more. Brissette was kind of hitting him in stride and getting him on some back shoulder throws. So despite not having that guy that he was starting to get
Starting point is 00:09:51 a little more comfortable with in training camp, despite not having him out there, I do think he's performed pretty well for the cast that's been out there. And also think we haven't had T.Y. Hilton for a week and a half. Or a game and a half. So I definitely agree with you when you say he's done pretty well with the circumstances at hand. Going to the running game, Jake, I think this is where the Colts have a pretty big advantage on Sunday against the Chiefs in time possession and also just wearing down that Chiefs defense.
Starting point is 00:10:27 What's impressed you or what's your impression, so to say, of the Colts running game so far through the first month of the season? Because I think if Marlon Mack, even if Marlon Mack isn't 100% healthy, they might have to rely a lot on a guy like Jordan Wilkins on Sunday. Yeah, and I know some people might have been a little discouraged because of the run game last week, but at the same time, you know, they were playing from behind quite a bit, so they just weren't able to run the ball as much. I do think we saw some good things against Oakland, just in limited, in a limited sample size. We obviously know what they can do. We saw in week one it looked just like they did several times last year.
Starting point is 00:11:08 But this year, and especially this week, I think if they can keep the game close, then they do have an advantage in the run game, I think. I do have to kind of approach with cautious optimism because I thought the same thing last year the Chiefs were really poor against the run last year you know heading into that playoff matchup I really circled it as a big you know a big opportunity the Colts had but the problem was that the Chiefs defense was just so much better when they were at home.
Starting point is 00:11:50 And I'm kind of wondering if that's going to be the same case again this week because I think the Chiefs are 31st against the run overall and then 32nd in yards per carry allowed. So they're legitimately poor against the run. It is an area the Colts have a strength against them. But does being an arrowhead just kick the defense up a notch for the Chiefs? We'll have to see. But, no, I mean, outside of Chris Jones, I think the Colts have a definite advantage on the offensive line
Starting point is 00:12:19 versus their defensive line. We just got to see it actually happen. Again, if they can keep the game close and not let it get away from them so they don't have to abandon the run, then I do think, whether it's Marlon Mack or Jordan Wilkins doing the bulk of the early down stuff, I think the Colts could have a really productive day on the ground. I think what scares Colts fans the most, Jake, heading into Sunday
Starting point is 00:12:44 is just the playmakers the Chiefs have. You have Travis Kelsey. You have Tyreek Hill maybe playing. Let's just say he's not playing. Even if he's not playing, Jake, you have Sammy Watkins, McColl Hardman, LaShawn McCoy, Damian Williams. There's so much talent offensively on this team for the Chiefs, and it's going to put the Colts in a bind as far as kind of pick your poison
Starting point is 00:13:03 scenarios here, like who you want to take away from the game and who can maybe impact it a different way. Yeah, it's nuts. They're crazy deep pretty much everywhere. It's one of those things where, again, you just, I guess, not try to be a hero. You just kind of have to do your assignment and play your zone. The unfortunate thing is a defense like the Tampa 2 or a heavy zone defense, tight ends are often very productive against it like we saw with Travis Kelsey in the Colts last year.
Starting point is 00:13:35 I think he had 100 yards or pretty close to it. He's looked like his normal dominant self this year. I think we all saw that ridiculous play he had last week against the Lions, throwing that little lateral back to LaShawn McCoy. But it just shows you he's a special player. Kind of like Mahomes, I just kind of feel like he's a guy that's going to get his stats. I guess you can hope to defend him well, even if he's going to get his numbers,
Starting point is 00:14:06 but just don't let them dominate, you know, um, you know, get, get your head turned around on downfield passes, you know, things like that, things where you can control, you can't control a guy who's just an outstanding athlete. You can't do anything about that. But if you show up and, you know, get your hands in passing lanes, or like I said, turn your head around when the ball is coming at you down field and you're in that matchup, those are things you can do. You know, that's the difference between an incompletion or a 35 yard, you know, reception down the sideline. So yeah, that's another tricky situation
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Starting point is 00:15:07 If I'm a Colts fan, I'd definitely take advantage of that if I were you. Now going to the Colts side of the ball, Jake, what's stood out most to you as far as the target distribution so far? T.Y. Hilton was well on his way to creating more separation. He probably played on Sunday. Woodjie Cooper said he's his top target. What else has stood out to you as far as maybe Deion Kane not getting going, Paris Campbell starting to get more involved,
Starting point is 00:15:28 and you also have Eric Ebron and his struggles last Sunday. Jack Doyle is kind of going back to 2017 Jack Doyle where he's more reliable, and Brissett's really leaning on Doyle a lot more lately. What's been your overall thought of the chart distribution that Brissett's put together to these weapons? Yeah, I did kind of assume it was going to be the tight ends that picked up a lot of the slack with Hilton out, and that's exactly what it's been. I think without drops last week, the production probably looks a lot better.
Starting point is 00:15:59 But, no, I do like how Jacoby's distributed the ball. He doesn't have one clear guy that he's just locking on to. I would like to see some of those targets to Kane and Campbell become completions. I don't know what they have to do route-wise to make it happen, but I do think it's possible. If it were me, I think I'd try to get Paris Campbell at least a couple slant routes every week because he's just the kind of guy that can make anything happen with those
Starting point is 00:16:33 or bubble screens, you know. Deion Kane is kind of similar. We've seen that he can run after the catch as well. But I think you have to be pretty thankful that, you know, your veterans and Chester Rogers and Zach Paschal have kind of stepped up I thought Chester looked good last week you know Zach Paschal has answered the call anytime he's he's called on whether it was last year this year whatever he's not even a field stretcher he's just kind of he's he's one of those really reliable
Starting point is 00:17:01 chain movers but he's done exactly what the Colts have asked of him. So I will say, I think there's room for improvement there, which honestly is an encouraging thing. But I do think that Jacoby's done a good job with that target distribution, getting it to pretty much everybody. There's no one that's running away with the targets in Hilton's absence. So it kind of keeps the defense from having to key in on just one guy. Going into the trenches here, Jake, for this next point of our preview, who has the edge here between the Colts and the Chiefs? I know the Colts have the offensive line,
Starting point is 00:17:37 and then they have Justin Houston's kind of revenge game, so to say, as he goes back to Kansas City. But the Chiefs have been actually holding up pretty well on both sides of the ball so far. Yeah, and I did the Chiefs a disservice a moment ago by not mentioning Frank Clark on the defensive line. But yeah, he's a hell of a pass rusher, so you can't ignore that.
Starting point is 00:17:59 Luckily, I think Anthony Costanzo has played pretty good ball so far. So unless they're moving Frank Clark all around, I do think the Colts have a good blocker out there to hopefully neutralize Clark. That's not to say he couldn't get a couple pressures, but just keep him off of Jacoby's back. So that's tough. Chris Jones is one of the more dominant interior defenders in the league. You hear a lot of people talk about, you know, Aaron Donald and such, but there's a next group that has Chris Jones, Fletcher Cox, Geno Atkins, those guys. And, you know, Chris Jones
Starting point is 00:18:39 has a pretty favorable argument for being the number two defensive tackle. And for a guy that big, you don't often see the pass rush presence that he provides. He had over a dozen sacks last year, I think. He had a really crazy streak. But that'll be tough for the Colts offensive line to deal with. But luckily, they do have a quality offensive line. And even though the Chiefs have kind of changed up their defense a little bit, under Steve Spagnuolo, they're more of a base 4-3 than they were last year in the 3-4. I do think the Colts offensive line will, you know, that's a proud group. And I think we all saw that the Chiefs defensive line really got the better of the Colts front last year in the playoffs.
Starting point is 00:19:31 I do think the Colts offensive line will be up for the challenge and want to kind of impose themselves a little bit. I mean, these are guys that like to get nasty and run the ball and everything. So, you know, if the game is close, they'll probably be hounding, you know, coach right to really run the ball so they can get physical with the chiefs defensive line. And then on the, on the flip side of it, I think we all would like to really see a Justin Houston revenge game. Cause it didn't, it didn't super seem like an amicable split. You know, it was more one of those things where they let him go. He's kind of expensive.
Starting point is 00:20:05 And, you know, they're changing defensive schemes. So, ironically, he joins a team with a similar base scheme as the Chiefs moved to. And, you know, now it's time to show them, you know, maybe what they let go. So you hope to see Houston kind of just being happy for the guys, see him have a productive game out there. Um, but there, the, obviously the Colts pass rush has been a little missing in the last
Starting point is 00:20:33 couple of games as well. Um, there's been some pressures, but they just haven't quite gotten home and got sacks. I think Kimoko Touré has looked really good at times. I think you gotta kind of keep riding that horse and let him rush the passer. Cause I think heoko Touré has looked really good at times. I think you've got to kind of keep riding that horse and let him rush the passer because I think he can get there. Luckily for the Colts' defensive line, Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher has been banged up all week and has not practiced yet. So that could be a little advantage that the Colts have.
Starting point is 00:21:03 I think Jabal Shear being back is huge, not only for the occasional pass rush, but I think he is overall a really good edge-setting defensive end. It's one reason very few teams were able to run against the Colts last year is because he just had that left side locked down. And if they tried to get outside, you know, he was stretching it and allowing his linebackers to get to the ball. So I think him being back and being in his second game already, shaking off the rest, I think that'll be pretty big too.
Starting point is 00:21:36 And, you know, Danico Autry, I think we all know he's been a very productive, very dangerous interior pass rusher. Probably one of the more underrated ones in the game at this point considering how productive and disruptive he's been basically since halfway through last year. I think really what I'm most looking forward to with this matchup, Jay, we talked this last time for the Atlanta game, that Quentin Nelson 1-1 match with Grady Jarrett. Now it's surprising if, that Quentin Nelson one-on-one matchup with Grady Jarrett. And I was surprised
Starting point is 00:22:06 when I could watch the tape again. Quentin Nelson kind of dominated Grady Jarrett and the reps that they had together before he went out of the game. That's Jarrett with the injury they had to his toe. I think Chris Jones is one of those matchups. I think Jones is the best of Quentin Nelson this time last year, and I think this could be a statement game for him. And it's one of those where I think
Starting point is 00:22:22 who would win, like if he had an impractical situation, Jake, 50 one-on-one matches, how many would it be like for 50 50 split between those two guys as far as who wins the most reps there I feel like it'd be a really close one oh yeah I mean that that's two guys that are at the top of about the top of the league at their position like I said Chris Jones might be the second best defensive tackle in the league. Quentin Nelson, a lot of people already think he's the top left guard in the league. So that's just a complete toss-up right there. One thing I will say is that I'm glad the Colts are playing the Chiefs at this point in the season as opposed to last year.
Starting point is 00:23:03 The term running out of gas was kind of thrown around a lot, not by the Colts necessarily, but just the fact that they had gotten up so much throughout the year. They had to pour so much into coming back, even in making the playoffs. And then by the time they hit a team as talented as the Chiefs, they did just kind of run out of gas. But facing them here in week five, you know, everyone's on level playing ground pretty much, you know. It's early in the season. The Colts are banged up, but the Chiefs are a little bit too. But it's not like guys have had 20 weeks of wear and tear on them by this point.
Starting point is 00:23:43 You know, so I do think the Colts, I do think they'll look a little better in the trenches this time than they did last time in January. Yeah, it's certainly going to be a fun match to watch for that one, especially Quentin Nelson versus Chris Jones in the trenches there. Let me go to the linebackers here for a second here, Jake, because we had the chance to talk about a little bit at the start of the show, Darius Leonard and his absence, but just describe to the listeners here just how big of an absence, I think we've kind of seen on the field already
Starting point is 00:24:12 the last two weeks, but how critical of a piece Darius Leonard is to this defense. Yeah, so just for an example, the end of rounds that Oakland had good success with last week. That's something that I would like to think Darius Leonard picks up on and probably is able to close off and not allow to be those huge gains. I'm not saying they wouldn't be respectable gains, but maybe not a 60-yard touchdown and then however far the other one was. But no, just his diagnosis, his speed, his range. He also finds himself in the right position,
Starting point is 00:24:56 which is very important considering the Colts have a lot of young defenders out there right now. Darius already has a pretty advanced mind when it comes to diagnosing offenses. So you don't really see him overrunning or getting completely blown out of a play a lot. He is patient and kind of uses his hands to keep himself in good position. And even if he is on a block, he's got those long arms that kind of can keep him at a distance. And as the play is approaching him, he can just kind of jut off the block and make the tackle he's just kind of advanced and it's we shouldn't necessarily expect his backups to have that sort of all those sort of attributes but it is something that the Colts are missing with him not out there. He's just able to kind of, especially in the box,
Starting point is 00:25:46 he's really able to knife through the trenches, and he can kind of see through blocks, even if it's not him being blocked, that really good vision into the backfield. And then there was a couple things we saw last year, like him lining up in the slot against receivers. You know know not every linebacker can do that in a pinch and the Colts feel comfortable allowing Darius to do those kind of random things not again not everyone can do that so there's a lot of just unique play the
Starting point is 00:26:18 Colts are missing without him out there but with him being able to practice a couple times so far this week in a limited capacity, you know, fingers crossed that he's able to come back this Sunday because, you know, like Patrick Mahomes told him last year, he's a hell of a player and he's going to be playing against him a long time. So I'm really interested to see the Patrick Mahomes versus Darius Leonard battles that could be coming over the years. At the end of a hard week, it's great to sit down, take some time off and watch the football. Jane Wayne touched down a hard week, it's great to sit down, take some time off, and watch the football. Game-winning touchdowns and two-minute drives, running backs racing down the signs with no one to stop them.
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Starting point is 00:27:43 because we haven't had a chance to speak about it since it happened. How big of a blow is that to this defense? Because we saw already just when Hooker was out of the game against Atlanta in the third quarter, Matt Ryan kind of diced him up a little bit. Derek Carr kind of did the same thing on Sunday. Kari Willis has also done a really good job. But I feel like Hooker alongside Willis, for example, whenever Hooker returns, is going to be a really fun duo. But in the meantime, we can't see it for the moment due to Hooker's injury. Yeah, and I think him being out is especially a bummer this week because we didn't get to see him against the Chiefs last year either. You want Hooker in there against teams that push the ball downfield
Starting point is 00:28:22 and that take shots even into double coverage and things like that uh it's it's one thing for it to be kind of a dink and dunk team kind of like the raiders um or others but a team like the chiefs who has patrick mahomes and is going to fling the ball all over the field Quarterbacks aren't used to playing against safeties that have the range and the ability to eat up, you know, just yards of the field in an instant like Hooker does. So it is unfortunate for them to not have him this week. But like I said, I do think Willis and Gathers, if Gathers is able to play, or whether it's, you know, Willis and Gethers, if Gethers is able to play,
Starting point is 00:29:06 or whether it's Willis and Odom, what have you, I'm a little more comfortable with that pairing than what the Colts had going last year. Clayton Gethers was so banged up at the end of last year when he was out there, and I think J.J. Wilcox was the other starting safety. Things just didn't really go well in last year's matchup. And so I'm a little more comfortable this year.
Starting point is 00:29:30 Like you said, Willis has been very impressive. And I liked him, but he's already kind of outplaying where I thought he would be at this point. His diagnosis and his instincts was always a strength of his game and his ability to quickly get to the ball. But like you said, if he's able to kind of match up with a natural free safety next to him, like whether you have Hooker in the future or whether it's George Odom on Sunday, I do think even though Kari Wills can play different roles, I think his best role is kind of as a strong safety where the plays are kept in front of him
Starting point is 00:30:11 and he's just kind of able to diagnose and fire after the ball because that's just where I think he's at his best because he's very smart. He's kind of got a linebackers mentality, kind of like a Darius Leonard mind in him. He's got that kind of diagnosis and range to where he can just make a lot of plays. We've seen it a couple times with tackles for loss, where he can go and just crush a guy out on the boundary, or he sniffs out a quick screen pass or a flare pass. That's the kind of stuff that he can do. And if he's doing it more as a strong safety, then I think that's where he could have his biggest impact. But, you know, Clayton Gethers availability is completely up
Starting point is 00:30:58 in the air at this point. I don't think he practiced today either, if I remember correctly, on the injury report. So, I mean, that certainly doesn't, you know, bode well unless he's able to get in tomorrow at some capacity. But I do think if it's Odom and Willis that it's not the end of the world. You, of course, want a healthy Clayton Getathers and a healthy Malik Hooker out there, but they really love George Odom. I think he's got instincts as well. I think he's got toughness, and he's a good tackler as well. And Kari Willis, you know, we just talked about him.
Starting point is 00:31:37 I think you got a couple of safeties back there, if it's Odom and Willis, that are sure tacklers. And I don't think they're going to be liabilities, even though they're young guys. I think they could be a good pairing because we also saw them quite a bit together in training camp behind Hooker and Gethers. And we even saw them take reps together with the first team as the two safeties. So I don't think it's going to be as big of a deal as what will probably be made
Starting point is 00:32:10 leading up to the game if Gathers gets rolled out as well. Going on now to your three keys to the game, Jake, I just saw the spread is 11 points for this game on multiple sports books here. And then we also, it seems like everyone's kind of doubting the Colts in this game on multiple sportsbooks here. And then we also – it seems like everyone's kind of doubting the Colts in this game for – I mean, for some obvious reasons, they've gone down a little bit. They're injured and they're going to play against the likely MVP right now, Patrick Mahomes.
Starting point is 00:32:33 But what do the Colts need to do for your three keys to this game on Sunday to pull off a big upset in Kansas City? So two of the biggest things I think are something that they've struggled with a little bit lately um i do think they need to establish the run and not just for the purposes of eating up clock and keeping the chiefs off the field because the colts don't play they don't play that way they've they've mentioned it before mentioned it before. They're not going to change what they do because of the other team, you know, of the other offense. But, I mean, look at a team like Detroit last week.
Starting point is 00:33:15 They ran the ball really well, and no one would have thought Detroit would have been in that game. So I think if the Colts can establish the run and, you know, maybe rush for 125 yards, north of 125 yards, then that could do them really well and capitalize on third downs and things like that, even with the run. I think they definitely are going to have to have more pass rush than they've had the last couple weeks.
Starting point is 00:33:45 Because, I mean, you can't let a quarterback that basically is a Madden creative player, you can't let a guy like that not have any pressure. So obviously, they'll need to get some pressure with guys like Danico Autry up the middle, and then hopefully with Houston, Sheard, Toure, Banigou from the edge. They have been moving their personnel on the defensive line around a little bit. We've kind of seen some neat things. Jabal Sheard inside, Justin Houston inside, Danico Autry back outside. So I think mixing up those looks could also help produce some pass rush as well.
Starting point is 00:34:25 So those two things, definitely. And then the third thing, probably just eliminating those self-inflicted wounds, you know. Like we kind of talked about earlier in the show, over last season in this season the colts probably would have had a lot different results if not for those self-inflicted wounds whether it's drops untimely penalties just just things like that um you know mental mistakes like maybe a blown coverage or something just don't beat yourself you know this this chief's team is already gonna be a difficult enough opponent you know don't make yourself part of that opposition uh just kind of play as clean as clean of a game as you can you know focus on on your job and just you know again the chiefs do a
Starting point is 00:35:20 good enough job of beating teams don't't let yourselves be part of that defeat. If you do your job, you stand a good chance at possibly winning this game. Certainly, I think it's going to be a more fun game than a lot of fans expect on Sunday. I think the Colts are going to keep it close here. I think they will barely cover the spread. I think the Chiefs will eventually win and pull away in the fourth quarter though. 34-24. If you haven't already, listeners, go ahead and follow Jake on Twitter at JakeArthurNFL. You can also read his content over on Colts.com like I do. As always, Jake, appreciate
Starting point is 00:35:55 coming on. We'll talk again next week. Yeah, no problem at all, man. Thanks for having me.

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