Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - LOCKED ON COLTS 9/19/19: Is Sunday the last stand for Adam Vinatieri?

Episode Date: September 19, 2019

On today's episode, Kevin Bowen is back to help recap the first two weeks of the Colts' regular season. How does he feel after closely contested matchups against LA and Tennessee?Also, is Sunday the l...ast stand for Adam Vinatieri? We look towards a hypothetical scenario revolving around paying up for a free agent kicker (Mason Crosby, Greg Zuerlein) or drafting the best kicker early on Day 3. What would you do, listeners?Is it time to open up the playbook? Kevin certainly believes so. Parris Campbell and Deon Cain should be getting targeted more often as the snaps for Zach Pascal and Chester Rogers dwindle.Finally, we look ahead to Atlanta as Kevin provides his main keys plus prediction. Will the Colts come out on top and move to 2-1 on the season? 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, as always, we have Evan Satter on the jump by area by weekly guest, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. How are you doing today, Kevin? Doing great, Evan. Thanks for having me on again, man. Yeah, no problem at all. And the last time we talked, it was before the season officially started. And I think just based off our last conversation, what I've heard as well on Kevin's Corner, your podcast, or 107.5 The Fan, go subscribe if you haven't already listeners it seems like this is the expectations or at least the results you kind of expected through the first two weeks yeah I mean I would say
Starting point is 00:00:32 honestly taking one and one is a win you know that that would have been a win for me I thought they'd lose the Chargers and I thought they'd beat the Titans you know once we got into the course of those weeks but if you would have told me back on September 1st or something that this team was going to be one and one to start the year, even if Andrew Luck understood it, I think you would have taken that. You know, it's something that I've mentioned before and that you look at this 2019 schedule, find me a tougher back to back stretch all year long. You know, I think having two road games, playing teams that you feel like are playoff caliber in the Chargers and Titans as well, that's very, very notable, the fact that you are one and one.
Starting point is 00:01:11 You're not playing from behind the eight ball again. And now you come back with two straight home games to where, you know, potentially you can go in your bye week above 500. And again, even with Andrew Luckett, quarterback, I don't know if that was something that we would have expected back when the schedule came out in April. Now, Kevin, it seems like there's a real drastic change, of course, without Andrew Luck now in Jacoby Brissett under center. The Colts are tied for second in the NFL in rushing yards per game and 30th in the NFL in passing yards per game.
Starting point is 00:01:39 Do you expect that to kind of stick throughout the season here as Jacoby Brissett's become sort of a pseudo game manager, so to say? Or do you believe it's going to rise up a little bit as he's progressed and maybe open the playbook more yeah i definitely don't think it'll be as drastic as it is now i mean now you probably can't get it much more drastic than it currently is but you know it is something to note the lack of chunk plays and i know a lot of people have just gone to last year and been like well the colts didn't have really any vertical passing game through the first couple of weeks, which is obviously true. But I think more of that was to do with how comfortable were they with Andrew Luck's arm
Starting point is 00:02:11 and his shoulder and the arm strength there. You know, the coaching staff has admitted, you know, took until kind of that Houston game, maybe a little bit of Philadelphia in week three last year, to where they felt like Luck could make all the throws. And then more of a vertical passing game opened up and you know Frank Rack is adamant the yards per attempt number the yards per play number from a passing game standpoint that's not at a proper level right now and I went back and watched some of the all 22 video from that Titans game and there are definitely
Starting point is 00:02:42 plays where the Titans coverage you know doesn't allow you to maybe throw the ball down the field or some pass protection breaks down for the Colts. But there were also some plays where, especially in the third quarter, I felt like Jacoby Brissett maybe could hit on a few chunks, T.Y. Hilton or, you know, Paris Campbell or even Eric Ebron. And so I think kind of, you know, throwing your white outs open, it's kind of a phrase that you hear from some coaches, you know, around the league. That's something I think is still to be desired out of Jacoby Brissett in this passing game through the first couple of weeks of, yes,
Starting point is 00:03:18 there might be moments, you know, over the course of a route tree or within the play where, you know, T.Y. Hilton and Malcolm Butler might be even or it might look like there's good coverage, but you've got to trust that your wide out is in full stride, knows where that ball is going to go, and you take a chance down the field a little bit more than you have so far. You know, I think Jacoby Reset has managed things, you know, pretty darn well. Obviously, he had a few turnovers in the Titans game that that can't happen but situationally the Colts have been outstanding which is a bigger reason why
Starting point is 00:03:50 they're one and one even though they haven't found a lot of success in the passing game but I do think eventually it will open up a little bit more but it is something to to keep an eye on because given you know Jacoby Versett's physical characteristics and the big arm, I think it's something that you need to tap into for his sake and certainly also for this offense to truly involve and potentially become whatever top 10 unit. Now, it seems like to me when I went back and watched the film, I wonder if you noticed this as well. It didn't really show up in the L.A. game because he was very efficient. But against Tennessee, he got kind of routed a little bit,
Starting point is 00:04:27 and he's kind of a person I'm noticing now. If he gets off his first read, he kind of panics a little bit. Have you noticed the same thing where if it's not the first read, it's not open, it's kind of like what's going to happen here at Jacobian? Yeah, yeah, I could definitely see that. You know, I'm trying to keep in mind it's a two-game sample size, but I don't want to get, like, too concrete with a whole lot of takes right now. definitely see that. You know, I'm trying to keep in mind it's a two-game sample size, so I don't want to get like too concrete with a whole lot of takes right now, but I've definitely seen some of that out of him. And Tennessee's defense certainly a lot more exotic
Starting point is 00:04:55 in what they do pre-snap, and I think playing a little bit more press man than maybe the Chargers did, and maybe that's something now we're going to see teams do a little bit more because the accuracy with Jacoby Brissett was just a little bit off on Sunday. I feel like the Colts were kind of slow getting out of the huddle at times. You know, a couple of borderline delay of games or having to take a timeout, which is a bit rare for a Frank Reich offense. And again, a lot of that can be attributed to what Tennessee does on the defensive side of the ball. But, you know, if you're going to throw out kind of letter grades for Brissette, you know, through the first couple of weeks, I'd probably give him close to an A in week one.
Starting point is 00:05:34 You know, it's hard to maybe give him a true A because he didn't win the football game, which I know had really nothing to do with him. But then in week two, you know know I probably would say individually played more like kind of a c-level quarterback but then you want to bump him up a little bit because you did win the game and he was three of three in the red zone and you were 50 percent on third down now granted he had the two big big turnovers you missed out on those chunk plays and he just wasn't as accurate as he should be. And, again, I think the big numbers we have to look at with him, it's the sack percentage and the yards per attempt. Those numbers are not great right now,
Starting point is 00:06:13 and I think he deserves some of the blame for that. Transitioning over to, I think, the hot topic here over the last couple weeks, and especially this week now after he has missed again, what level of concern are you at with Adam Vinatieri? Kevin, is that a DEFCON 9 for you? Yeah, I mean, it's at the highest level. especially this week now after he has missed again. What level of concern are you at with Adam Vinatieri, Kevin? Is that a DEFCON 9 for you? Yeah, I mean, it's at the highest level because what the Colts have done with this move is
Starting point is 00:06:32 they've committed to Adam Vinatieri until this happens again. And when it happens again, there's a decent chance that it will happen in a loss. And what that means is that you've lost two games this season because of your kicker. And it's really, really hard in this league to make up two games because of your kicker. You are putting so much pressure on your defense, on your offense, on your other parts of special teams to do the heavy lifting. Because, I mean, we've seen in the first two weeks, and if Vegas is right about Sunday, Sunday's going to come down
Starting point is 00:07:05 to the final minute. You know, these games in the NFL, it's why we love the league so much. There is gobs of parity. So many one-possession games. I mean, Colts are favored by, I think, one and a half on Sunday, which is not a big margin at all, obviously. So this is where I feel like it's just gotten to a point now where, you know, maybe being at home, he's going to kick better and things like that. But then what
Starting point is 00:07:31 happens in week five when you go to Arrowhead and it's a night game or, you know, whatever, you travel to Pittsburgh, which I feel like is always, you know, kind of a stadium on the, on the rivers where kickers tend to struggle. This is still going to be a question all the way until week 17. This is not something that is all of a sudden going to be a non-question because, again, when you've had these struggles for Vinatieri, five games in a row now, they've all been outside or open their stadiums. So I think it's something to where this is a big issue. It is about as catastrophic as you can get at the kicker position.
Starting point is 00:08:10 And Adam Venturi should be very grateful that Jordan Wilkins bust that run and your defense got a huge stop or else this team would be 0-2 because of their Hall of Fame kicker. Now, it seems like obviously for good reason, this coach speak here, Frank Reich has all the confidence in the world and adventurary. But if it happens again on Sunday, Kevin, or even before the bye week here in week five, like let's say he misses a couple kicks in your head, but he does good the next few weeks, do you think the next game this happens that he might be cut or at least pseudo-retire, so to say?
Starting point is 00:08:38 You know, it's such a good question, Evan. I don't think you can have another game like he had week one or week two and him maintain his job. Now, again, I don't know if that's retirement or if that's the Colts having to make the difficult decision to cut him, but look at the stats that the Colts have taken so far. Didn't do anything after week one. Brought in kickers to try out week two.
Starting point is 00:09:01 You would think the next move, again, if it happens for a third time, that you would part ways with him in some fashion. I know there's not like a great crystal clear answer on the free agent market, which, you know, is probably one of the reasons why so many people are like, keep out of the Terrier. What do you think Cody Parkey or Cole Hedlund or, you know, Greg Joseph are going to come in here and cure everything? And, yes, I understand that, and I can't say with much confidence that those guys are all of a sudden going to come in here and be great kickers. But when you have done what Adam Ventari has done over the last five games, the seven missed kicks inside of 35 yards, the struggles he had last season,
Starting point is 00:09:44 you know, I feel like we kind of forget he was not a top 10 kicker in the league last year. He wasn't the top 15 kicker in the league last year. And people can say, well, he had a groin injury and that's why he missed a couple extra points in Buffalo. The guy's 46 years old. Like injuries are going to happen. Any little nick or bruise gets exasperated at his age. And, you know,
Starting point is 00:10:06 Pat McAfee's alluded to maybe kind of a plant leg issue, which Adam Vinatieri had a knee, a knee problem during camp on the plant leg. So you can't just chalk things up to injuries at this point because his body's just not the same that it was 10 years ago. And the Colts have clearly made a stance in their locker room that the longevity of Adam Vinatieri and his career is why they are sticking with him. That's fine. I get it. But you also run down this, you know, this awkward road of like, not every story ends in this Hollywood happily ever after ending.
Starting point is 00:10:47 You know, Reggie Wayne struggled in his last season here. You know, Peyton Manning struggled throwing the football in his last season. You know, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, like all these great, unbelievable athletes that we will never tarnish their career and how we look at them and their place in sports history. We'll never diminish that from what they've done in their last season, but I think the Colts have just got to make sure that they're not letting this resume for Vinatieri or a win on Sunday cloud the reality of the situation
Starting point is 00:11:20 in what he's done the last five weeks. Because when it goes, it can go big time yeah I totally agree with you there Kevin I think this is definitely something to watch for the next couple weeks because if Vinatieri messes up again I think he is going to be done from this team in my opinion but I'm going to transition over to what's the message that you sent sorry I mean just one more one more quick thought I mean what's the message do you send to your locker room there's 52 guys busting their you-know-what, and if they made the type of errors that Adam and Terry has made,
Starting point is 00:11:54 there's a good chance they wouldn't be around much longer or things like that. And I keep on going back to if it happens again and it contributes to a loss, let's say you go 9-7 or something like that, and you're a game out of the playoffs at the end of the year. You're going to sit there and look back on those two games that your kicker cost you and think, what if? And it's such a foreign thing to think here in Indianapolis, because kicking in special teams has been so sound for this team. But that's the reality of where we're at here in 2019, which is just so shocking to me if you would ask me this a month ago.
Starting point is 00:12:29 Oh, absolutely. And I think just to finish it off here, Kevin, on the kicker topic, I'm just curious to hear your thoughts on what you'd do in this scenario. It seems like this is going to be the last year for Vinatieri, I'd assume so, with all that's going on right now. If you're in the cold position with $100 million in cap space, I was looking at the free agent kickers yesterday. There's Greg Zerlant from the Rams, Mason Crosby from the Packers
Starting point is 00:12:47 are going to be available next year if they make the market. Would you rather pay big bucks like they did in 2007 for a kicker like Benetary with a Zerline or a Crosby, or take your chance with a fourth- or fifth-round pick, go a little earlier than expected for a kicker in the draft next year? Yeah, that's a good question, Evan. I haven't looked at the kicker free agent market yet, so I'm glad that you threw out a couple of those names. I would probably lean more towards the free agent market. I think I'd want a veteran. Crosby may be a little bit too old. I think Zerline is a little bit younger. Could you find a kicker out there and give him a reasonable contract, bring him in here and he's your kicker
Starting point is 00:13:25 for the next handful of years I hate spending draft picks on kickers I I really do and I know the Colts have had some success with finding kickers this hasn't necessarily been in the you know kind of Bubba Ventrone you know Chris Ballard era but we've seen you know Brandon McManus and you know laugh about Cody Parkey like you will, but he did have a decent run there for a while. Can you find an undrafted kicker and can that guy help you out? I know you have some draft capital. I certainly would not draft a kicker before the sixth round. Maybe there is a talented college kicker that you want, but I would probably win. Considering how much cap space you have,
Starting point is 00:14:05 probably more towards that free agent market. MackWeldon is better than whatever you're wearing right now. I guarantee it. For 20% off your first order, visit MackWeldon.com and enter promo code LOCKEDON, L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N, to get 20% off your first order. Again, that is MackWeldon.com
Starting point is 00:14:20 and the promo code LOCKEDON. Yeah, it's going to be really interesting to see how they spend that cap space, Kevin, because they have the second most in the league now after the Dolphins tank experiment put them up to around $130 million in cap space. But I want to ask you this just because it seems like this is a note that I've been hitting on the last couple of days
Starting point is 00:14:37 and also a lot of fans are getting a little frustrated by. It seems like Paris Campbell is ready to break out here. He had three touches so far in two games, but I think it's criminally too low for him. I know they're easing him along here, but one touch on Sunday, one touchdown for him, he easily burned a top 25 cornerback in Logan Ryan with his 4-3-1 speed. Doing either this Sunday or in a few weeks from now,
Starting point is 00:14:56 I think it's time to let Paris Campbell maybe spread his wings, so to say. I could not agree more with that. Criminally low is such a perfect way to put it. I've been stunned to see just how few of touches really him and Deion Kane combined have gotten through these first two games. touchdowns to me that screams Campbell you know Campbell on on a little crosser that's a high percentage throw where the Titans or the Chargers whoever are very content and allowing that let that guy go make a play post catch now I found it interesting if you go back and I tweeted this out uh earlier in the week we all saw the Eric Ebron hurdle on the third and 12 on the first drive of the game and if you saw frank reich's reaction on the sidelines like he i think ebron first kind of slaps reich in the butt and then reich turns around and it's like you know probably a little
Starting point is 00:15:55 bit that's what i'm talking about sort of action and reich said that the reason he was so you know whatever exuberant and kind of anti-Frank Reich from what we're used to was because they had a team meeting the night before, and Frank Reich said to his team, there's going to be a third and long. We're going to have to check it down, and we're going to get a first down because we've got good players. Someone's going to make a play post-catch, and Ebron made an outstanding play. I cannot give Eric Ebron enough credit for that effort that he showed. That was a big-time play by him, but to me, that seems like a play that Paris Campbell could potentially make, where you're giving him the ball and a little bit of space. Let him make that play after the catch.
Starting point is 00:16:38 So yeah, I think that the Chester Rodgers, Zach Paschal snap counts have been a little bit higher than I thought they would be. And I just think you need to find some of your dynamic playmakers a little bit more. And Campbell is certainly that. You've seen obviously very scripted stuff for him. I think just generally in the flow of an offense, you know, yeah, maybe it's just a straight vertical go route. But also, what about some underneath stuff to get him involved? Let me ask you this, Kevin, because it seems like we haven't even seen this once. We saw it week four in the preseason when Chad Kelly threw in the ball, but have we seen that short cross a route for not only Camel, but really any wide receiver so far?
Starting point is 00:17:17 It feels like Bursette's really a guy who goes beyond the hashes, so to say. Yeah, that's a good point. Yeah, I mean, over mean over the middle of field i think it's probably all been tight end centric i can't recall anything too too crossing right i'm trying to jog my mind and i know brissette's got a great arm and he can make those throws outside of the numbers we saw the fun just week week one uh we saw a beautiful throw he made to Hilton on a third and long against the Titans. But I have been a little bit surprised. Even a guy like Kane. You know, I think Deion Kane can make – that's the difference
Starting point is 00:17:51 between Funchess and Kane. It's, yes, Funchess brings you more beef and, you know, outweighs Kane by 20-some pounds. But Kane can give you a back shoulder element. And then, boom, as soon as that corner is sitting on the back shoulder, there's a pump and go. And Kane's beating you vertical like he did with Adore Jackson on Sunday to draw the big pass interference penalty. So, you know, I like to think this offense will evolve, and again, it's just two games, but you don't have the kind of shoulder arm strength, you know,
Starting point is 00:18:22 sort of question that you could point to last year with luck. Now, you're just two games into it, and maybe you've wanted to scale Bursette back. Maybe that's been part of kind of your general approach, not wanting to, you know, have this deep arsenal of a passing game. But, you know, going back again and watching that all 22, there's been things dialed up. It's not like Frank Wright hasn't dialed these plays up. And for a variety of reasons, the Colts just haven't been able to hit them. Now, it seems like with Devin Funches, his collarbone injury, we haven't had a chance to speak about it yet.
Starting point is 00:18:58 Kevin, what's your thoughts on that? And what do you think it does for this offense? Because I think we're all on the same page here as far as Deion Canet, Paris Kellman, get to the the line sure it touches there. Eric Ebron maybe gets a boost there. Do you think maybe with Funchess' injuries, he'll be out until week 10 against the Dolphins at minimum. Do you think this kind of strengthens the chance that he might be a one
Starting point is 00:19:14 and done here? Yeah, I feel awful for him. You know, in a contract year, to have that sort of injury is just terrible. And clearly, you know, I wasn't probably the biggest, funtious guy. I probably would have leaned towards not re-signing them before the year started, which I guess is pretty unfair because I had never seen him in a Colts uniform. I felt like, clearly, Frank Reich had a specific role, and I should say roles, and ways to use him. We saw a little bit of that in week one we
Starting point is 00:19:47 also saw a drop in week one from him you know I tend to think that you know I'd probably lean towards no on the re-sign but we're so far away from giving a concrete answer to that we need to see how a guy like Deion Kane develops we need to see how a guy like Deion Kane develops. We need to see how a guy like Paris Campbell develops as well. And yes, you know, when Fletchers gets back, he's going to have a month and a half, you know, for him to try and contribute and show the Colts coaches that he deserves to come back. You know, the early returns in the 2020 wideout class appears to be a pretty deep group there so maybe the Colts would like to tap into some of that potential as well but you know Frank Reich really likes Devin Funches really really likes him I think that's something that we can't lose sight of when we do evaluate him you know more next offseason and him coming back and
Starting point is 00:20:40 that's certainly how he performs in the final month and a half it'll be a small sample size but that'll be big for him. I think one interesting question I'd be remiss not to ask you Kevin before we go on to our quick Atlanta preview what's your expectations for a guy like Marlon Mack the rest of the season because he has 225 rushing yards on five yards per carry he's top three in NFL in rushing yards total right now I think behind uh Saquon Barkley if he if this happens again or throughout the season and this maintains, he's only making $645,000 next year. Is he a candidate if Chris Bauer doesn't extend, which I believe,
Starting point is 00:21:12 I think he's been really good at that, extending his guys early. Is there a chance that Marlon Mack could hold out next year if he has a good season? Sure, yeah. I think there's a chance, but I also think Chris Bauer would extend him if he has a good season. You know, I think if you get to the 1200 yard mark I mean I know some people throwing out like 1400 1500 like that's really hard to do in today's NFL I feel like people kind of think that this might be like 1998 numbers like that is an extremely
Starting point is 00:21:42 high number to get up to that level you know and as we're taping this you know we've seen Mack miss one practice day here going into week week three I mean you're gonna have nicks and bruises throughout the season and he's carried the ball a whole lot the first two weeks of the year I think Frank Reich has even acknowledged that you know maybe it's been just a little bit too much in the carry department for a guy like Mack. But, you know, if he can play at least 14 games and rush for 1,200 yards, to me, I see him getting an extension next offseason. I think that would be smart not only for the Colts,
Starting point is 00:22:29 but obviously for deserving for Marlon Mack and smart for Marlon Mack to get your money a little bit earlier because you are paid extremely low for the type of production that, that he is, he's given the Colts. At the end of a hard week, it's great to sit down, take some time off and watch some football game. When you touch on some two minute drives, we're in X recently on the signs with no one to stop them.
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Starting point is 00:23:18 L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N to activate the offer. That's promo code LOCKEDON and visit MyBookie.ag today. You play, you win, and you get paid. Now, last few questions I have for you, Kevin. Appreciate the time as always. That's promo code LOCKEDON and visit mybookie.ag today. You play, you win, and you get paid. Now, last few questions I have for you, Kevin. Appreciate the time, as always. Let's pivot over to Atlanta right now because it seems like this is a game that
Starting point is 00:23:33 I feel like personally could be one of the games of the week this week. It could be a really close game. The spread's super close. It's the home opener at Luke Solo Stadium. What's your expectations for this game? And if Darius Leonard, I think we should hit on that first. If he doesn't play on Sunday, I think that's a crippling blow to that defense. Yeah, I think he is as well. Obviously, he is as well. I mean, you're going to take an all-pro linebacker potentially out of that defense. And, you know, the sample sizes have been small,
Starting point is 00:23:57 but when Leonard hasn't been on the field, it's not been a good look for the Colts defense. We'll see, you know, Bobby Okereke, Anthony Walker can, can step up. And, you know, I, right now I tend to want to go with the Colts. I mean, even without Leonard, I think it's a very, very competitive football game. I think it's a very close game. I'd say the one and a half spread is probably a little bit due to the Leonard injury. You know, I think if he was healthy, the Colts would probably be favored closer to three or four, which I know is a big uptick for one defensive player injury,
Starting point is 00:24:32 but I think he means that much to you. I think the biggest key for the Colts in this game is you have to dominate in the trenches. I know that can be a key seemingly every week, but if you look at Atlanta, their defense is more predicated on speed and a little bit less on beef. And if you can control the line of scrimmage around the football, that keeps you out of passing situations. Against a passing defense that is currently ranked number one in the NFL. And then you flip it over to Atlanta's offensive line. Chris Lindstrom, their first round pick is out.
Starting point is 00:25:03 Caleb McGrady, another high pick for them he's dealing with an injury and is iffy for this week so they're a banged up offensive line Matt Ryan's already struggled protecting the football early in the season if you could win there I think that would allow you to control this game so keeping it
Starting point is 00:25:20 in the 20s is probably what you want to do Atlanta I think is a very talented offense I think they're a very talented offense. I think they're a really talented football team. But my gut says I'm going to go with the Colts, but, you know, the other birdie on my other shoulder is thinking to myself, you aren't giving the Darius Leonard potential absence enough credit. I feel like, personally, this is the type of game with Atlanta and maybe a period to Sears and Goe. He did, I think, was a limited participant in
Starting point is 00:25:47 practice on Wednesday. He could be a go on Sunday. Even a gimpie to Sears, I think, is not going to stop Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, all these playmakers. The time possession, just running behind Quentin Nelson, those guys, and maybe getting seven, eight-minute drives going and getting points out of those, that's probably the biggest key to the game. I think that's the exact sort of blueprint that you want to try and use. You know, obviously, like I mentioned before, you want to still try and hit on a couple chunk plays.
Starting point is 00:26:13 But when you look at where Atlanta is probably weak and you're strong, it is in that trench area. I think if you start to get into a back-and-forth, high-octane sort of passing offense, back-and- and forth game that's just not great I mean Atlanta's wideouts you know I'd probably put that trio right up there with just about any of the trio in the NFC maybe even the AFC I guess New England's got some pretty good wideouts but um you know with what you have in Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley and Muhammad Sanu, some very, very dynamic players.
Starting point is 00:26:47 And Matt Ryan is, you know, he's in this middle of the quarterbacks in terms of Phillip Rivers is at the top end, Marcus Mariotta is at the bottom end. Matt Ryan's a little bit more just in the middle. And I think this will be a better evaluation to where your defense graded out probably D or F in week one. And then in week two, you're probably going to give them, you know, B or an A. Now we're going to find, I think, a little bit of a more accurate kind of baseline barometer test here with Matt Ryan and this passing game. But, you know, I think if you look at the home schedule as well, Evan, I mean,
Starting point is 00:27:22 Atlanta's right up there with any other team you're going to play at home all year in terms of their talent. Obviously, you have your three divisional games at home, and then you have Atlanta, Miami, Denver, Carolina, and Oakland
Starting point is 00:27:40 next week. So, I mean, those aren't very talented teams, and I think you'd put Atlanta at the top end of that group especially with a healthy Matt Ryan under center so I think it'll be a terrific game keep it in the 20s win in the in the trenches and um I think the Colts will sneak this one out last one I have for you Kevin because we won't be talking again here for a couple more weeks after these few games do you think the Atlanta and Oakland games are really going to be the barometer of how good this team could be this year?
Starting point is 00:28:07 I'm right now. I'm etching in a loss guaranteed in Kansas city. Cause that often just looks unstoppable patch my home. But if they lose here against Atlanta and Oakland, I think it's going to be a really worrisome sign. Yeah. I think it's vital to win both of these home games. You have to control home field.
Starting point is 00:28:23 I think to make the playoffs, you got to go at least six and two at home. And like I said, these quarterbacks, Ryan and Carr, these are better than Mariota quarterbacks. So how do you play against these guys? You struggled last year against Carr out there in Oakland. I mean, who knows what the dysfunction of the Raiders will look like a week from Sunday, but they've showed decent football at times, at times, stress there early in the season. But I do think it's something to where these two home games have got to be wins because, like you said, week five, even without Tyreek Hill,
Starting point is 00:28:56 it's still going to be tough sledding, I think, for the Colts to go into Kansas City and get that win. So this is the difference between, you know, three and two going into your bye week and two and three going into your bye week, which might not seem like a whole lot, but I think two and three is probably where a lot of people maybe thought this team would be with Jacoby Bursette. And if you go two and three,
Starting point is 00:29:17 maybe you're on the outside looking at it at the end of the year. Whereas with Andrew Luck, maybe you're going three and two and you're on the right side of that playoff picture going into the bye so these two home games offer you a lot of chances to string some wins together, build some confidence and if you can be 3-2 coming out of your bye week
Starting point is 00:29:35 that's something you would again sign up for with or without Andrew Luck Kevin, appreciate the time. If listeners haven't already done so I think you probably have by now because Kevin's a local personality. You all should be following at KBowen1070. Also, subscribe to his podcast, Kevin's Corner. Appreciate the time, Kevin.
Starting point is 00:29:53 Thanks for having me, Evan. Talk to you in a couple weeks.

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