Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - PLAYOFFS?: Will Indianapolis Colts SNAP Their Streak in 2026?

Episode Date: September 4, 2026

Will the Indianapolis Colts return to the postseason for the first time since 2020? Jake and Zach give their final takes on the season before it begins.  EVERYDAYER CLUBIf you never miss an episo...de, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms:🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-colts/📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQLocked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nfl/ Follow Jake and Zach's written work on ColtsRoundtable.com, and give them a follow on Twitter: @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, and @LockedOnColts! Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get $10 when you trade $10. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.PrizePicks Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFL and use code LOCKEDONNFL and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!KALSHIFor a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get $10 when you trade $10.GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelCollege football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited, and this season, FanDuel is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable free bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Will 2026 finally be the year the Colts break their playoff drought? Let's get to it. You are Locked-on Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome to Locked-on Colts. I'm Zach Hicks. That's Jake Arthur, and today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time down the Kalshi app and use code locked-on to get $10 when you trade $10. On today's show, Jake and I are doing one more season roundup for this Colts team before we get into our first week of coverage for the 2026 NFL season. We are pumped. Colts Ravens coming at you sooner than expected now. But before we get to that, we're going to dive into our overall record prediction where we think this Colts team finishes.
Starting point is 00:00:58 Talk about some projections for players in the second segment. And then just some takes that we have laying around that we want to throw out there, get it on a record. before the season gets started. Maybe some potential breakout players. We're going to project all of that in the final segment to close out today's show. But first, Jake, let's talk about the big one here. Will the Colts make the playoffs, what their record predictions will be? I'm going to throw it to you first here.
Starting point is 00:01:24 Like, give you a chance to be bold in either direction. Do you think this is finally the year that they break, like, double-digit wins and finally get in the playoffs, or do we just see the same story at the last couple seasons? Yeah, you know me. I try and be a little optimistic when I can. So with everyone and everything they have coming back in terms of health, they had a pretty unscathed summer, luckily. I'm going to say, yes, they do make the playoffs. I think what they do have coming back is very, very important. I think they're still missing some important stuff. But when you look at Daniel Jones, and I mean, Jonathan Taylor is there as well. I think the offensive lines still will be very good. Alec Pierce is making it back in time. This should be a very explosive offense.
Starting point is 00:02:17 And then on the defensive side of the ball, they were absolutely ravaged by injuries. So we can't predict injuries. We know they're going to happen, but we don't know to who and for how long. So I'm not no Stradamus in that way. So I'm going to assume some good health. We're going to put some good juju out there for some of
Starting point is 00:02:36 these guys. I do have them making the postseason. I have them going 11 and 6. I think they're going to get, I'll give you the losses here. I have Houston sweeping them. Losing at Pittsburgh, which is cool because I'm going to make that trip. Losing at Jacksonville because that is just the way God intended it. Losing with the Cowboys at home and then I think it's at Philadelphia as well. So those are the ones I look at and I'm like, if there's six likely losses, that's, you know, that's kind of how I paired it out there. So I'm going to hold you to this then next week, Jake. Okay. You're predicting a win in first game against the Baltimore Ravens, huh?
Starting point is 00:03:18 Okay. Yeah, there's a lot of newness there in Baltimore. We don't know what that's going to look like. No John Hall, Harbaugh, after like 18 years. The Colts definitely got the better of this defensive coordinator when he was with Miami. and they faced him in week one last year. We don't know what Declan Doyle looks like as a play caller. So, yeah, I like them against Baltimore.
Starting point is 00:03:38 Yeah, that's a nice little preview for next week's coverage, because even though I'm going to sound a little more pessimistic than you here, I actually do kind of agree with you with week one. Maybe not as much with week two. We'll get to that, obviously, when we see what Pat Mahomes looks like in his first week game. But that'll be a big question. But, yeah, I mean, I do think that there is a feasible scenario
Starting point is 00:03:57 where the Colts win 11 games this season. But I feel like I've said that. the last like three seasons with this team, right? Where it's like, oh, yeah, if a couple things break this way, a couple things break that way, if their players stay healthy, they can win 10 plus games. I mean, I think the colds were feeling that way last year, especially when they started off eight and two, but there's always something that gets in their way, always something that drags them back down to eight wins, nine wins, eight wins, nine, like every single year.
Starting point is 00:04:24 And that's why this playoff drought has persisted. So I'm going to take the easy road for myself and say, I'm predicting nine wins for this Colts team, but I'll use it to be critical before the season starts here because I do think they have a lot of ingredients in place. And like you said, I don't want to predict injuries. I don't want to say like, oh, they only win nine games because Daniel Jones gets hurt or anything like that, right? Because you're just playing with fire at that point. It's pure guessing at this point. So what I will say is I do think just this defensive line construction is going to bite them in the butt.
Starting point is 00:04:59 I really think that they're just going to have too many times this year, especially like early in the season, right? They got Lamar Jackson and Pat Mahomes in the first two weeks. You're going to see it in these type of matchups, I think, where like the lack of talent on this defensive line is going to hurt them. I think DeForest Buckner is awesome, and I really hope he can get back to being all pro DeForest Buckner this year. But typically players don't get better as they age, right? Typically we see a regression. Maybe it's not a steady regression, but some sort of regression when it comes to players aging. So predicting him to be better than what he was last year is always a risky gamble for a guy who's over 30 years old.
Starting point is 00:05:40 Outside of that, like, yeah, maybe La Tula too takes a step, but that's one guy that you feel like maybe could. The rest of them, it's tough. It really is tough to predict any massive jump or many massive leap or even a guy contributing, like George Gumbs Jr. and Caden Curry, who are really. rookies that were day three picks. Like, it's hard to really predict those guys to be better than what their draft status says in year one. So, yeah, I just think that defensive line is going to come back to bike them, especially the second string defensive lines run defense. Like, those are your key rotational pieces. And your best run defender might be Tommy, like,
Starting point is 00:06:17 out of Tommy, out of boy, where, like, I think he's taken strides as a run defender. It's like average right now, though. But if you're saying that your second team defensive line is him, Jerry Tillery, Jalen to him a low out, Michael Clemens. It's probably Tommy in terms of just like knowing where to be and being explosive. So if any injury happens to one of those starters, you're inserting a bad run defender. That's probably not a good pass rusher either into the starting lineup. And again, I'm not trying to predict injuries here and saying that's what's going to hurt, but like rotations are needed on the defensive line.
Starting point is 00:06:53 And I just don't trust the rotation. I don't think they have enough star power in the starting group. either. And I do think this is going to hurt them. I love the secondary. I think the offense can do a lot of good things that the starter stay healthy. So I do think that they can push for a playoff spot even with the deficiencies up front on the defensive line. But I just keep coming back to that, man. I just keep coming back to that being the Achilles heel. And I think ultimately that's what we're going to be looking at come week 18, come, you know, week 19 looking at these other teams in the playoffs and saying maybe if they got Trey Hendrickson, maybe if they would have drafted
Starting point is 00:07:27 Gabe Ocas or someone else, like in the second round. Maybe if they would have done this or done that, maybe if they would have got Genevian Clowny or signed Joey Bosa, that could have been the thing that pushed them over. But as of right now, they're not doing that. And I think ultimately it's going to hurt them. I do think if they're going to crumble again, that will be their downfall because we've seen it time and time again.
Starting point is 00:07:49 Whole games where they don't touch the quarterback. And they make these guys look like all pro-level quarterbacks, but they're actually going to be playing. some all pro level quarterbacks this year. So yeah, I'm with you. My thinking on that, again, if I'm putting an optimistic spin on it, I think in coverage, they will be good enough to like buy a little extra time. I think Lou, if the summer is any indicator, is going to be dialing up a lot of pressure. And it's been pretty successful this summer, whether it was against the Colts front or the Falcons or the Patriots. So I do like what they're going to be able to generate.
Starting point is 00:08:27 beyond just four linemen because I don't think their four man rush is going to be very successful. Yeah. And one extra thing I want to throw in here too is this is going to be such an interesting test for this Colts team this year because unlike what we've seen in some of their late season collapses where it's been a little bit easier early on in the season, they've been able to rack up some wins and they crumble down the stretch, either like 500 at best or last year losing every single game, right? Because it gets a little bit tougher down the stretch. this year the easier part of their schedule, I know it's on paper right now,
Starting point is 00:09:00 so who knows what it actually ends up being, but the easier part of their schedule is the second half of the season. So right now it's like, survive the first half and then go on your run in the second half. We haven't seen them do that. Outside of 2018 with Andrew Luck,
Starting point is 00:09:14 we haven't seen them surge late in the season. It's always been falling off the mountain late in the season. Even Frank Greg was trying to say always climbed the mountain, but they kept falling off of it in the second half of the year. So I do think that,
Starting point is 00:09:26 that'll be an ultimate test for them is like, can they finally have a season like 2018, like 2020 as well, because they did surge in the second half of that year too, where they are surging in the second half of the year. And they're winning these games they should be winning, beating the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals, some of these teams down the stretch are going to play. That'll be a huge test for a team that just hasn't done that much in Chris Ballard's tenure. Yeah, without a doubt. All right, guys, coming up in a moment we're going to talk about what should be expectations
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Starting point is 00:11:31 Don't forget to check out the Everydayer Club for ad-free audio episodes and access to a group chat with other listeners of the show as well as Zach and myself. Just tap the link in the show notes or got a locked on colts. Dot supercast.com today to join. All right, Zach, so let's start up top. Daniel Jones, he is back. He participated fully throughout the summer. It's like he was never injured.
Starting point is 00:11:54 What do you think about this guy? whether it's statistically, just overall quality as a quarterback, what do you envision when you think of Daniel Jones this year? I mean, I think of the best quarterback in indie since Philip Rivers. I think that's kind of good. 2020, Phillip Rivers, yeah? No, obviously last year is Philadelphia. No, 2020 Philip Rivers, obviously.
Starting point is 00:12:16 I think that's what we could say about last year. I think arguably his season last year was on pace to be better than what Philip Rivers 2020 was. But so much of his play, so much of his career is just, been marred by injuries. So it's hard to project a full 17-game pace for Daniel Jones because the injuries keep piling up for him every single year. But I do feel comfortable predicting that if he stays healthy, I think he breaks like 4,000 yards passing. I think he, you know, is a healthy 25 touchdown passes type player. Like, I think he can be a guy that has a really, really productive
Starting point is 00:12:49 season. Like, I don't think it's going to be like MVP caliber, but like, you know, a little over 4,000 yards passing, 25-ish touchdowns passing, and like 10 picks, right? Like, that's a productive, good season for a starting quarterback. I think that's what I would project if he played all 17 games. It's just, again, we've seen the injuries pile up, and that hasn't been the thing with him. So when it comes to his overall play, though, I mean, really my only questions are for him and Shane Steichen, how do they respond to the blitz?
Starting point is 00:13:17 Is it like the early part of last season or right before his injury last season where it was really falling off? If they can really fix that, though, I think he's a good, productive quarterback. I'd put him in the same category of a Brock Purdy, not a Bryce Purdy, Brock Purdy, and a like Jared Gough type player, like just a good game manager that gets the ball out on time where it needs to go. Can create a little bit off script, but that's not their game and can do some good things for you. So I'm pretty high on Daniel Jones, especially considering where I was last year at this time, Jake. I was very low on Daniel Jones.
Starting point is 00:13:50 Yeah. So I've really come around on him. I think he had some good play last year. and I think he's a good quarterback for Shane Steichen's system. Yeah, he came out and helped bust like a dozen year curse, not winning in week one for however long. It does help to play Miami though. I will say that. It really helps to play Miami.
Starting point is 00:14:06 Yeah, it's a little different than playing Baltimore for sure. Right. So it's funny that you said about 4,000 yards, 25 touchdowns because he was on pace for 4,055 yards and just under 25 touchdowns. He basically either exceeded all career bests, when it comes like completion percentage pass rating all that or was on pace to do it when it came to like cumulative ones like passing touchdowns and yards and all that so he was he was in the midst of a record you know personal record here for sure so yeah that's about where I was going
Starting point is 00:14:42 to put him as well about 4,000 yards 25 touchdowns very curious to see if they continue his level of usage in the low red zone like they did because I think he had like five rushing touchdowns too. They used him a lot, like on sneaks and just getting like down at the goal line. So I'm interested to see if they're going to be apprehensive to do that or if they keep it up. But I mean, so much of the quarterback position is mental more than physical. And I mean, he's physically fine. But mentally, there's not a lot of guys out there smarter than him. And he's got great chemistry with Shane Steichen.
Starting point is 00:15:18 Like together they have, I think, really good ownership over this offense. So that gives me confidence that the offense. is going to be more successful than not. So moving beyond Daniel Jones, do we need to spend much time on Jonathan Taylor? I mean, good offensive line, he's healthy. I mean, high expectations, yeah? Yeah, I mean, I don't think they're going to be, well, actually, it's weird because like last year, I think his overall like season stats ended up averaging out to being fine.
Starting point is 00:15:46 But it was out of a historically great first half, and historically bad for his standard second half, right, where he just wasn't able to get going in the second half. So I think overall the numbers could be around the same. I just don't think we're going to have as great a run as it was early last season or as rough of a run as it was in the second half of the year. So I think anywhere between like 12 and 1,400 yards rushing, maybe the touchdowns are a little, because touchdowns are very like, you know, dependent on game flow and stuff like that. So maybe the touchdowns aren't as high, but yeah, I mean, it's Jonathan Taylor. you can as long as he's healthy you can put him down for 1,200 plus yards in a season.
Starting point is 00:16:23 I think that's a pretty healthy bet to make when it comes to Taylor. Yeah, honestly, I think like 1,200 is like low end. I would think I would like to think he'll get to 1,400 and at least 15 touchdowns, only because we've seen what high end looks like for him is like north of 1,600 and 20 touchdown. So I would like to think he won't take like some massive dip in production. Let's look at a couple past catchers here. Alec Pearson, his new role is wide receiver one. You know, you got Tyler Warren and Josh Downs now, elevating their level of usage.
Starting point is 00:17:00 We've talked a good bit about Keenan Allen and what we expect that role to be. I don't think anything's really changed in the last couple weeks, despite the arrest. You know, I don't think there's anything there that's going to prevent him from being a part of the offense. But these past catchers in their new roles, what do you see there? Yeah, I mean, I think ideally you want to force feed the top three. of Pierce, Warren, and Downs, like get them more involved than anybody else, feed them early often as much as possible, and if they're healthy for all 17, I think all three of them have a good chance to go over 900 yards.
Starting point is 00:17:31 Like, I really want, like, those guys to be the focal points of the offense. I mean, obviously, Alec Pierce, right, you're paying him $30 million per year. Force feed him the football. He's been so efficient on the vertical plane, so efficient in the intermediate game as well, just make sure that he is more involved this season. And Josh Downs, maybe the targets stay around the same, but maybe you use them a little bit more, especially on early downs.
Starting point is 00:17:52 That has always been something that hasn't been a big part of his game in his career. And then I think, I mean, Tyler Warren, I mean, maybe we say this for like Boulder predictions, Jake, but I feel like a take for you that you would probably have here is that he leads all tight ends and receiving yards this year. That feels like a Jake take right there. Man, there's some good ones, man. Like, Tray McGride and Brock Bowers.
Starting point is 00:18:15 Yeah, like, let's say touchdowns. lead all tied ins and touchdowns. I'll say that. Yeah. Because like, like Las Vegas and Arizona, I mean, Arizona has some other guys, but like Las Vegas really only has Brock Bowers and Arizona has force fed, Tray McBride the ball. But yeah, I'll say Tyler Warren leads and touchdowns. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:18:34 Do we want to get in some predictions for Latu and Soss Gardner real quick? Yeah. A lot too. Lot two is interesting. I do think he breaks the 10 sacks this year. Mm-hmm. What kind of 10 sacks are they? is going to be the big question, though.
Starting point is 00:18:48 The ethical sack counter, yeah. Yeah, like, again, I think all sacks are, like, sacks are important. Don't get me wrong. But there's obviously a difference between, like, what, you know, the top five rushers do, like, what a Miles Garrett does versus what, like, Yonik and Gokwe did for the Colts a couple years ago, right? Where, like, oh, my gosh, they were all coverage sacks, you know?
Starting point is 00:19:08 So what kind of sacks do we get from Latu this season? I think it'll be a mix, but I do think, I just don't know if I can predict him making that jump into being, like, a top 10 pass rusher. I just don't, that seems like too steep of a jump for me, even though that's what the Colts need this year. I just, I do like a lot of the steps he took last season, like added some power to his game and started winning a little bit more inside, but to me, there's still enough questions where I don't know if he makes that huge of a jump. I mean, I would love he did, though. If he got like 14 sacks this year, we'd be rolling,
Starting point is 00:19:40 but I think it'll be like 10 and a half with a couple covered sacks in there. And then I think we're going to still be having these same conversations at the end of the season. I was going to put him at like 11, 11 and a half sacks. I will say, though, here's how about this one, he leads in forced fumbles. Let's say he gets like five strip sacks there. That'd be awesome. You know what? I'll get a little bold with it too.
Starting point is 00:20:03 I want those sacks to matter. Hey, if they're covered sacks, if you're forcing the fumble, I don't care. You get the value there. Robert Mathis showed that, right? Yeah. Yeah. And then so sauce gardener, I mean, expectation-wise, I mean, expectation-wise, think he's never been a guy that gets tested a whole lot.
Starting point is 00:20:19 So like I'll say he gets a couple picks, but generally his value is going to be getting not tested. So quarterbacks will continue to not throw his way a whole lot. So, you know, he'll probably allow a passer rating of like only 80 or something and a completion percentage under 60. So I think just really good coverage numbers for him and a couple interceptions. Yeah, if we get to like two interceptions and having those target numbers and I think we're having a good year with him.
Starting point is 00:20:46 I think he'll be in the all-pro talks, be a pro-bowler for sure. I'm pretty high on sauce gardener still. Maybe, again, not as high as it was years ago, but definitely higher than where the consensus is on him right now. I think he's a better player than where that is. So, yeah, sauce gardener, good player. We'll be a good player for the Colts this upcoming season. Coming up, though, we're going to just plan our flag on some takes,
Starting point is 00:21:07 talk about some other player projections, just kind of get out our final thoughts and things that we want on record before the season starts. and I'm sure Jake will have some fun ones for us here in just a moment. Before the season even kicks off, everybody's making predictions. Who wins the division? Who makes the playoffs? Who's lifting the trophy at seasons in?
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Starting point is 00:22:18 Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information, see calshy.com slash regulatory. All right, welcome back, party people. We are giving one more kind of season preview for the Colts because next week, it's a game week. We focus solely on that game at hand for the most part, unless news comes up. This is a very macro look at the season now, Zach. let's talk about like what kind of maybe not hot takes but like what are you like really confident in declaring about this team like what are your takes on this team i don't really
Starting point is 00:22:58 have many man like it feels it's a lot of wait and see yeah it's a lot of wait and see and then a lot of returning players to where you're banking on either like a bigger role increase or uh like a like a fourth year jump for a couple of these guys i like one that you i like a player that you have mentioned here in the comments uh with at a top of Adibore. We've seen him getting better every single year in the NFL. And I think the Colts desperately need a third pass rusher to step up. And I'm hoping that he gets the most run alongside Buckner-Lat-U-Lat-Kee on passing downs. So I'm kind of with you here where I think Tommy is a dark horse to be like second on the team in sacks. Like behind Laotu-Latu or whoever.
Starting point is 00:23:40 Like I think he could be a dark horse because even if Buckner is being disruptive, I think we could see Tommy finishing some of these sacks. He gets a lot of quick wins, too. Like, I would honestly say- He's so explosive, yeah. Yeah, I would even dare to say, like, him and Buckner are the two quick winners on this team. Like, Latu can get some quick wins here and there, but I think Tommy, at his best, gets more quick wins than Lattu does.
Starting point is 00:24:04 So as long as he can finish some of those sacks, you can get them before the ball is out, because last year there were a couple where he hit the quarterback as the ball was out. I mean, I think eight sacks is realistic for him. And I think he can really emerge and help quell some of those defensive line concerns. So, yeah, I want to say Tommy finishes like second on the team in sacks this year. I hope he gets the snaps to get it. But I think Atatomi Wada Bore can be a guy to watch this season. He has been trending the right way.
Starting point is 00:24:31 He's in a contract year, which is always big for NFL players. And also I think he's going to be involved in a lot of pass rushing situations. So I am very high on Atatatomi Wadabori. He is just, again, he's trending in the direction that you want for a young player. player. Yeah, absolutely. I think he's going to get a ton of run this year. Like, they cut Colby Wooden. So that opens the door for even more usage. And he has that a great summer. Like, he has been consistently in the quarterback's grill. He's gotten a lot of run with the first team, the second team. He's been, he's just been really, really productive. And nothing I've seen from him doesn't indicate that
Starting point is 00:25:06 he's going to have a pretty good year. So yeah, like seven or eight sacks, I think he is going to be one of those guys. Like we saw it from Dio, you know, like not necessarily got like he played the most snaps among defensive linemen, but he's not who you would have expected to lead. Just kind of coming out of nowhere to be pretty high up in sacks with this team. I also want to talk about Justin Wally, really excited to see him. I've always been a little skeptical of him. Like I didn't love the draft picks. I mean, it just seemed like a little bit of a reach. He really grew on me as the summer went last year and then the ACL, so I become skeptical of them again. But man, if he did not have just an awesome summer as well, like the coverage skills are there. His feet and hips are great.
Starting point is 00:25:55 Like he stays just step by step with receivers. I've seen him take on Josh Downs and do really, really good throughout the summer. Like I'm excited about Wally. I think he's going to finish with about like four interceptions this year. That's one of my, I don't want to call it a hot take because it's not like a huge number, but it's his first experience playing, you know, live in the NFL. I'm going to give him four picks. Yeah, that would be an outstanding season for him. I want to go to a player where I put my money where my mouth is with this player because I drafted him in fantasy leagues even before he got back to practice.
Starting point is 00:26:29 That is Alec Pierce. I have always been a proponent this offseason that he was going to play week one, even when the timeline kept adjusting, right, with the recovery of the injury. And at the end of the day, he has just old. always been, like the last two years, he's been so productive for the Colts when targeted. He brings so much value to the offense on the vertical plane in the intermediate game. And now he's getting paid the money that's going to warrant more targets. And this is something we've been calling for years, right, Jake, where it's like, just throw
Starting point is 00:26:58 the ball to Alec Pierce more. Like, I was almost at the point the last couple years where it's like anytime you see one-on-one with no safety over the top, who cares about who's covering him, who cares about what your play call? You could have the sexiest play call ever, right? Like, oh, my gosh, look at all these play designs happening to the strong side of the field. I don't care. You see one-on-one backside, you're throwing a jump ball because he's just been that productive for you, right?
Starting point is 00:27:21 He's going to draw a pass interference or he's going to catch the football. You know, that's just what he does. So I think just having now the money that warrants more targets to him, I mean, I really think he could explode for a good, like, 12, 1,300 yards receiving. Like, I think this could be a really big season for him. I think a player that's most comparable to him in the NFL is like a Nico Collins type guy, just that guy who is so explosive at his size that can win on the vertical plane easily. But now if you're targeting him more on the shorter plane, you can see the numbers rack up. I think he can be a very productive player like that.
Starting point is 00:27:55 He's just never gotten the targets. But when he's targeted, he's hyper-efficient with it. So let's get him the ball more. Now you're paying him $30 million. You're marketing him. You're putting his face on the side of the stadium. You're putting videos out there with him every single day. He is now one of the faces of your,
Starting point is 00:28:12 him and Jonathan Taylor are the faces of your playmakers right now, especially with how much they're each getting paid. So I think that, like, if he gets the targets here, I think he's going to have a huge season because everything about his last two years has just said, target him more, and he'll be, and he'll put up the great numbers. So he had 1,000 yards last year on what, like 40-something catches?
Starting point is 00:28:33 49, yeah. Yeah, get him the ball. And we'll see some good things happen this year for the, for the Colts. No, crazy efficient. Like, when I see what he does with the ball, it really does just look like a wide receiver. It looks like one of the high-end
Starting point is 00:28:48 receivers across the league, like a kind of a Drake London, for example. The ball's in the air, he's going to get it or he's going to draw DPI, like you mentioned. He's beating the best corners in the league. Like, we saw him beat Patrick's or Tann multiple times. We've seen him beat Derek
Starting point is 00:29:03 Stingley every time they play. Like, the dude knows how to get open, and beat everybody. I'm in that Jets game in 2024. I saw a starter. On that comeback or the late drive. Yeah. Exactly.
Starting point is 00:29:15 So like I'm bullish on on everything Alex Pierce. Now that he's healthy and we're pretty confident, he's going to be out there week one. And it's not going to be some long drawn out process. Like he's still going to have to grow into this new role a little bit. But like I'm, I'm really high on Pierce this year as well. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:29:32 Do you want to get one more in here before the buzzard? Jake, you have any other takes that you want to throw out here? let's say Quentin Nelson gets done before the deal I was like what do you mean gets done no not not retires or anything but no let's say Quentin Nelson's extension gets done like before the trade deadline okay yeah the Colts they typically have one in like September every year so I think we could see that Quentin Nelson deal come down in September I would like to see him extended I don't want to see him ever play for another team because no matter what phase of team you're in
Starting point is 00:30:02 offensive lineman of his caliber is always needed. Rebibble contending, middle of the road, you always need someone like Quentin Nelson, so just get him locked up, have him retire Colt. He is that great. That is all we have for today. Thank you guys for making Lockdown Colts your first listen today and every day. Now on video, we send you to the first ever 24-7 YouTube channel on the NFL and on audio. Check out Lockdown Fantasy Football with Fabs and Marcus for your second listen. If you don't already, make sure you're following at Lockdown Colts, at Jake Arthur, NFL, and at Zachix 2 on socials. And speaking of following, you guys have been following us like crazy on YouTube and all platforms. Jake, you have the numbers for us, right?
Starting point is 00:30:38 You want to run through some of the numbers. Yeah, we just recently went over 15,000 subscribers on YouTube, which feels significant. So thank you guys so much for that. Just over 4,000 on TikTok. We're nearing 1,000 on Instagram as well. So we have several thousand on Facebook too, I think like four or five thousand. So like thank you guys very much. Like we're putting out the content, but you guys are making it worth all the hard work. Yeah, we really appreciate it. And for all of you guys who never want to miss an episode, the Everydayer Club is also built for you.
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