Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - SELLING HOPE: What Indianapolis Colts' Brass NEEDS to Do This Offseason (w/ Drew Lynch)

Episode Date: January 12, 2026

Indianapolis Colts fans are skeptical about the future after owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon retained both GM Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen. Comedian Drew Lynch rejoins the show to discuss a t...urbulent season and how to move forward. EVERYDAYER CLUBIf you never miss an episode, 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's written work on roundtable.io/sports/nfl/colts/ and Zach's on si.com/nfl/colts/, and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, and @LockedOnColts! Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. FanDuel is officially in Playoff Mode. Every game day during the NFL playoffs, FanDuel is giving customers even more ways to get in on the action. Visit Fanduel.com to get started.  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Ultimate QBUltimate QB is totally free to play, has no ads, and works 100% offline — perfect for when you want to sneak in a quick game or two on the go. Just head over to http://ULTIMATE-QB.COM.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. FanDuel is officially in Playoff Mode. Every game day during the NFL playoffs, FanDuel is giving customers even more ways to get in on the action. Visit Fanduel.com to get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires 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)PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.RobinhoodTrade Every Play with Robinhood. Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin.Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firmQuoMake this the year where no opportunity — and no customer — slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go tohttp://Quo.com/lockedonnfl.GustoTry Gusto today at http://gusto.com/lockedonNFL and get three months free when you run your first payroll.Home ChefFor a limited time, Home Chef is offering my listeners 50% off your first box, free shipping, and free dessert for life. Just go to http://HomeChef.com/LOCKEDON.IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/lockedonnfl.  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 Comedian Drew Lynch joined us to commiserate on yet another disappointing Colts season. 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 the Locked on Colts podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Now the number one sports podcast network around today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. FanDual is officially in playoff mode every game day during the NFL playoffs. Fandall is giving customers more ways to get in on the action.
Starting point is 00:00:39 Visit Fandle.com to get started. Hello, everyone. My name is Zach Hickshaw, Resident Film Nerd of Horseshoe.com. I'm joined, as always, by Jake Arthur, the boots on the ground over at Roundtable Sports. And today we're joined by a special guest, Drew Lynch, comedian, the stuttering comedian, Drew Lynch.com. You guys can check out all of his tour dates. He's on tour.
Starting point is 00:00:58 He's going around the country. He's basically just trying to get football off the mind right now. So he's going around, working his tail off. Check out again, Drew Lynch.com for all the tour in the next several months and check out the site for any of the dates near you guys. But Drew, last time we had you on here, the Colts were seven and two. We were talking about how great this thing was. One and seven after you came on the show and you dare to show your face again. I know.
Starting point is 00:01:24 Okay, so I didn't think it was going to be on me. I didn't think that was what it was going to be. That's not what we talked about in the beginning part of this video. So everybody listening right now, Jake and Zach, talk to me. like it was going to be a different thing. I didn't think that I was going to be cornered like this where it was like it was my fault. You don't get the script.
Starting point is 00:01:42 I get the script. I don't get the script. But no, like Drew, man, we got to talk. Like, are you a superstitious guy? Because I feel like after what you did to the season by coming on the show here, like I feel like this is your fault. Not okay.
Starting point is 00:01:58 Dude, not okay. But here's the thing. I'm telling you right now, if it is my, like, if it was me, Like if somehow, I don't know if I talk a second time, I don't know based on this interview, like, do you think that I don't know if the Colts do worse next season or like we got to scrub the footage and we can't, we can't ever talk to Drew again. I'll do it. I mean, I'll do it. I'll move. I'll move to, I'll move somewhere. I'll go, I'll live. I'll live abroad and I'll write a novel. I'll do whatever. I'll not follow them. I will. I'll not follow them anymore if it means that you guys can get to nine wins one time. The nine wins. I'm glad you're setting the standard. That won't be enough that year.
Starting point is 00:02:39 Remember the golden days. Two years ago, Zach. Oh, man, where's my? I need a cigarette. Nine wins. Ah, it was the time. Just barely missing the playoffs. Yeah, Gardner Minchu, our savior two years ago.
Starting point is 00:02:53 Why can't we go back to the good old days of Gardner Minchew? Actually, we did go back to the good old days with Philip Rivers, right? Drew, okay, you know what? Let's start with that. What were your thoughts on Philip Rivers coming in here with a beer belly and everything and just doing what he was doing. We loved it. I thought it was maximum respect.
Starting point is 00:03:12 Seriously. Like, I mean, he came in and it was, honestly, what was his first game, Seattle, right? Yep. I mean, that's not even, like, that was, I mean, I had shows that, that night, but I caught for, I caught all the way up the course. So you know what? Of course, they were winning before I went on stage and then I went on say, I got on stage and they lost.
Starting point is 00:03:33 So yeah, it's my fault. I'm now realizing it twice now. But I thought he was, I thought it was competitive. Like I was, I mean, I was shocked, actually. I mean, here's the thing. I knew it wasn't going to be as bad as how everyone thought it was going to be because he was catching so much black. I mean, I just felt so bad for him.
Starting point is 00:03:53 And it was just like, here's a guy who really is here to show you that like so much of the quarterbacking position, yes, it's system, but it's everything, it's everything between the ears, you know, you really can just, you know, he's making, he's making, He's making line of scrimmage adjustments. And I get it. Like, you know, physically he's not what what he once was. But I mean, if you're talking about coming in and doing the job of a backup quarterback,
Starting point is 00:04:15 he, I mean, he pretty well executed. I think a lot of times it was our, maybe our defense who was letting us down. Yeah. I agree. Because the thing, he never was awesome because of how physically gifted he was. He was just smarter than everyone. And, you know, he can't throw the deep ball, but he throws the anticipation and everything. But one of kind of the more.
Starting point is 00:04:34 interesting things that I feel like can only happen with the Colts is Riley Leonard is the next guy up and oh yeah Philip Rivers and Riley Leonard Phil trains him in the offseason already they're from the same home to small hometown in Alabama. We did get a couple small glimpses of Riley and he honestly might get a bulk of the starting reps next offseason until Daniel Jones is back. So what did you think of Riley and what do you kind of want for him moving forward after this. I thought he was really, really efficient. And I, it's like, I mean, he strikes me a little bit as like a, like a Brock Purdy, you know? I mean, even like watching Brock Purdy, you know, last night, you're just like,
Starting point is 00:05:16 this guy just, I mean, he didn't have any of it. Like everybody's saying like, oh, he needs a superstar cast to be able to make it work and talk about somebody who throws it like anticipation and just understands how a, how a play is supposed to unfold. Like, I actually thought that Riley Leonard showed showed a lot of promise. And I also think, like, I have to be very careful about how I'm viewing that because I'm in such a desperate, you know what I mean? I'm in so like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, he's the best. I like, I, you know, he's, you know, like I, he's a quarter, he throws the ball, but he, I bet he's good, he's good. Exactly. I caught it. He's sign him, sign him right now. It's everything. So it's, it's, you know, let mortgage the future. Get him in here.
Starting point is 00:06:01 And there was a first down twice. You know, it's like, it's like, I thought that there was lots of promise, but I also am just, I'm, I'm, I'm cautiously optimistic because you don't know what type of environment, you know, he's actually going to, you know, the start of the season, even with preparation can be different when you're like, oh, this guy has the starting job while, while Daniel Jones heals up or, or, you know, there was almost effectively nothing really to play for when, when we were playing. And that's probably a great learning environment.
Starting point is 00:06:34 But at the same time, it can, it can maybe affect our view or how we're judging it, you know. Yeah, no, for sure. And I'm just curious, have you started like the Riley Leonard fan club yet or like the Twitter accounts where you're putting Riley Leonard QB1? Those are all mine. Next time. Those are all me. Yeah. Yeah, Twitter, only fans. I do it all for Riley.
Starting point is 00:06:59 I get it. You know what? We're at the point. Like, again, we're like, we're like a high school boy just trying to find like some kind of love right now. A girl looks at us. It's like that's the one right there. That's us with quarterbacks right now. We're all new ones with no prom date. So yeah, we'll go, we'll go with a relative if we have to. Yeah. That's basically the way it's going right now. But, you know, the seasons in the books, unfortunately, another eight and nine season. And then immediately when the game's over, right, we get the message, right, that Chris Ballard, Shane Steichen are coming back. And, and, look, there's reasoning for why you bring them back, I guess, as a first time in this role for Carly or say, Gordon. It's not all her fault here, but just 10 years of Chris Ballard, man. What are your thoughts on 10 years with Chris Ballard? Man, I could not do what it is that I think Carly does and what it is that Chris does. I can't do either of those things because I feel like I would also be very much like I'm too close to,
Starting point is 00:08:00 like he cares so much about the people he signs and he works with. And maybe that's the same sentiment from the owners as well. You know, it's like you want to do right by people. It's almost like it's too Indiana for its own good. You know what I mean? It's like we can't be cavalier. And sometimes we hold on for something with something. We hold on to something that might not be ultimately good for us.
Starting point is 00:08:25 And we're holding on to a good thing because we don't want to risk maybe going for a great thing. And you have to make those tough decisions, I think, when it comes to truly just, I mean, just an objective evaluation, I am not really cold enough to be able to just say, but just looking at an objective evaluation, I mean, what are we doing? I mean, is the message at this point stronger than the idea that maybe someone's coming into not a great situation? And I feel like it might be. You have to communicate not just to your organization, but to your stance. You have to communicate to people that that things aren't just stalling.
Starting point is 00:09:02 That we're not just like, like, let me know, like, just let me know that like, we're not, that we're not, we're not, I'm just not, I'm not, like, I didn't, like, that I'm just, we're married now. And you, you're on the couch all the time. And you drink apparently.
Starting point is 00:09:20 And, and, and like you, you, you know, and you talk, and you get cats a lot. You buy many cats. And you, and they're on the couch. you and you know and you scrapbook clippings from a magazine that you found and you're in a and you're in a and you're in a and you're in a smut club i don't know got too specific but my point is you got to get up off the couch get up off the couch please we have to get up off the couch please you're describing a loveless marriage there are you are you good everything good at home not not not mine not
Starting point is 00:09:50 not mine so the clear message here is selling hope and here in a moment we're going to talk about you know There's a lot of the same being run back, but how can the Colts, even though we've already heard from the top brass, how can they sell hope in these coming months in the off season? This episode is brought to you by Price Picks. Whether you're starting a new routine or jumping into player projections for the first time, trying something you can feel like a challenge. But with Price Picks, it always feels good to be right. With high pressure football matchups every weekend and elite hoops action almost every night,
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Starting point is 00:12:46 everybody, welcome back to the show. We are joined by comedian Drew Lynch, Colts superfan from afar, very difficult to keep his heartstrings intact, I think. with this team and i think it's been difficult the message coming out of colts hq uh we're getting year 10 of chris ballard we're going to go into year four of shane stuyken there's been no playoffs for five years they even brought back the 44 year old quarterback who got them to the playoffs last time and it didn't work so it's kind of we're talking about what needs to change with the same cast of characters and without committing to it carly or say gordon kind of intimated that maybe not playoffs or bust, but like vibes have to be very high at the end of next year.
Starting point is 00:13:33 I don't want to say an ultimatum of playoffs or bust, but she said like the urgency to win for Chris and Shane has never been higher or something along those lines, paraphrasing. So Drew, like what do you need to see out of this same cast of characters this all season to be sold hope for 2026? Here's what I want to say. Okay. every season it has been, it has never been higher. Okay.
Starting point is 00:14:00 And I get, I do get that. I get that they have to, I mean, you, you, you've basically leveraged yourself into this, into this, you've cornered yourself into this place where you have to say that because the results not this is the same in that it's, it's not the result you want. So I think what is difficult about this is two things. One, yes, we got riddled with injuries, probably right at the worst time. I mean, I mean, and in, and in the worst way. I mean, it was like, I mean, I feel for Chris Ballard and for the organization of like they went out and they, they swung big and it and then other things collapsed around it. And it just, it just didn't, it, it just didn't line up in a way that, that, that, that, that, that worked out. And you, you, you, you, you, you, you got, you got, you, you, you got, you, you, you, you've faced consequences, not reward.
Starting point is 00:14:54 So it's hard to fully evaluate where we're looking next season when you started this season with that same level of like the urgency that they're talking about. This like this momentum of like, we're here to do this thing. We're here to actually make some changes and do something different. And this was starting to like right around that time, it was like, you know, right after the Chargers game. It was like, it was like I feel really, really good about this team. I just feel really good. And I felt good about, like, defensive adjustments and the coaching.
Starting point is 00:15:28 And there were some things that were occasionally questionable, but just overall, you just felt good about it. And I, I, I don't know that you can actually bring somebody in in, in like a, in like a, it's kind of like, I follow, I follow you guys on Twitter. Jake, you're very much like you, you report as, as it is a lot of times. Zach is like despondent. He is like, he is like just gloom, gloom city, dude. It's like, it's, it's so, it's so, it's so palpable and and still somehow so palatable. Because I'm like, I'm like, yeah, I mean, I think it's totally fair. I think it's totally fair to just be kind of a little bit gloomy about what the season is.
Starting point is 00:16:12 We were almost gloomy knowing that like Daniel Jones was signed and we knew he had a ceiling and we, like, we weren't, And no one I don't think was like, holy cow over the moon with the fact that we had him as our starting quarterback. And now he's coming off of an Achilles and we don't have much of a cap. We're going to say goodbye to probably a lot of veteran players. So in that way, it's really going to have to be like what can Chris Ballard do to really spin some picks, spin some magic to to bring juice to really address what what what we what went wrong because yes we got riddled with injuries but also we got exposed by the fact that our our schedule was so much more difficult in the second half and and these teams like the jags and the texans
Starting point is 00:17:01 peppered had their had their kind of adversity kind of sprinkled in or earlier on and you know it's we weren't you know it's it's good to win a home opener but i mean that's that's all that we can hang our hat on this season. Yeah, no, for sure. And I think for me, it's like, with the decision Carla Ursaig Gordon picked, right, of running this thing back at least one more year, I understand it from her perspective, right? And this is not me justifying it to Colts fans. As Drew said, it's doom and gloom over on my socials and stuff all the time now.
Starting point is 00:17:31 But, like, they were, they had a positive point differential. They didn't play against a backup quarterback once the entire season. They played against nine teams with 10 plus wins this year. They had a very difficult schedule. their quarterback tour is Achilles. They had five games without a starting quarterback, without their top two quarterbacks. So I understand from her perspective
Starting point is 00:17:49 running this thing back one more year, right? But Drew, this is the question I have for you and kind of all Colts fans when you look at this thing. It's like, we kind of acknowledge that we're on this like tipping point where it's like, if it goes a little bit more one way, we're going to tear this whole thing down and start over, right?
Starting point is 00:18:05 So how much do you want to go all in this season? Like how much do you want like Chris Ballard to push money to the future? in trade draft picks and like go get veteran past rushers and veteran linebackers to fix this thing, even though that tipping point is right there to where you might have to rebuild this thing and it could hurt that potential rebuild. It's like a really weird fine line. Yeah. It's in such a difficult place because it's not, it's not clear. And but the problem with that is, is that just cusping it is where we've is what we've already
Starting point is 00:18:36 been doing. So this is why I understand the predicament, you know, and this is, why it's it's very difficult to look to to to be optimistic for what the the next season can look like because I think their hopes even in bringing Phil was like let's just get into the playoffs and then we can kind of buy ourselves we can we can we can kind of bite our time a little bit and just be like you know because I don't think the Colts I think the Colts I don't think I think it I don't think it's unfair to say that the Colts might have been a little bit limited in in in thinking that there was there was a there's not a seal there's a ceiling on on on on Philip rivers getting us into the playoffs and maybe where we go from there.
Starting point is 00:19:16 But it's just like, is that the goal? Is is the goal to to get into the playoffs and then and then leave? Is the goal to have a winning season and not get into the playoffs? I mean, just at just cusping it is is we can't. I don't know, man. Like like I said earlier, the Patriots are are good again. They're out one of the all-time great coaches and quarterbacks, and they came all the way one lap around the sun to be good
Starting point is 00:19:47 and probably making a deep run in the playoffs. And we are still exactly where we are. And I can't fault Chris Ballard for really being aggressive, and it just blew up in his face. But it is hard to, it is really hard to look at like what this next season is going to be. and try to because you can't you can't go even further if we're if if it's like we just need to we just need to blow up the whole foundation right you talk about kind of the mystery of what that next season looks like and if there's if there's something you would prefer they do like there's a lot
Starting point is 00:20:27 they need to do like we we all know that but like whether it's get tough and like cut some rough contracts and like build more cap space or like trade a couple guys off like Anthony Richardson, Michael Pittman Jr., whatever, like guys where it's just like maybe time to create more draft capital or even like a position you think would be a big difference maker. Like knowing that they have to go for it this year because of who they brought back. Like they need to try and be good this year. It's not rebuilding. What do you want to see them address specifically the most to, I guess, be good at all? I think it's linebacker in line.
Starting point is 00:21:05 I mean, of course. You know, it's defense. I mean, and it's, I mean, and it's like, it's like, like, you need to, like, not like any other ways he's done before where we're like, let's bring in Yanik and Gagway and that's our defense, you know, no, no, no, like, like you need to address the defense in a, in a huge way. I want it to be like, if you bring back some of the same, same personnel on offense, which it looks like we are because we're under, we're under contract with a lot of them. Okay, like, we had a great, at one point we had a great offense. When Daniel Jones could bootleg. We had a great offense. When Daniel Jones could kind of roll out, it was like that was another thing that was a little more difficult to defend. And it was just so complex as a how do you defend this offense. That's where everyone was saying.
Starting point is 00:21:51 But then our defense like just kind of, you know, it's, it, I want to see next season a truly like a complete roster. And in that way. But the narrative for so long, no one has ever been like, the Colts are tough. That's a tough. That's a tough defense. You're going up against like get, just get like when I think about the Texans, I am just, I'm terrified in every way. Every single. I'm peeing.
Starting point is 00:22:23 I'm peeing. I have to pee right. I'm peeing. I have to pee because I'm a little bit here because you have Will Anderson Jr. And you have DeNeil Hunter who looks like he was made in a factory. He's just a, he's a giant. He's a giant. vein. And then you've got Derek Stingley, you've got like, why do I know their names? This is what's
Starting point is 00:22:42 bothering me. Why do I know the Texans names? That bothers me that I know that. I know, oh, yeah, and, oh, Tank Dell. Like, why do I, why do I know that? It's just, it just bothers me that it's like, they are just a scary, like, defense. And I'm not saying we need to, we need to be like the Texans. but if you would like to beat the Texans, you probably should. Yeah, no, for sure. And I think a lot of it's drafting, a lot of it's signing, and staying healthy for sure is a big part of because there was probably a point this year where I could name more Texans starting defenders than Colts starting defenders.
Starting point is 00:23:17 And I covered the team for a living, you know, because Cameron Vichel and Jonathan Edwards and all these guys getting thrown out there, it's like, man, what are we down to right now while the Texans are rolling out, you know, Jalen Petries and Caitlin Bullocks who are just studs and they're not even the guys you talk about, you know? It's just, yeah. Yeah, you want your defense to be formidable like that and not be this Ben Don't Break style. I'm not saying that's what Lou Anerumo was this past season.
Starting point is 00:23:41 He tried not to be Ben Don't Break. It's just they broke a lot on defense. Yeah. I mean, and sorry to interject here. Yeah. Like, like the, I mean, I know, like Justin Wally, like that was tough. We were all looking forward to like what may be what that was. And we were really excited.
Starting point is 00:23:57 We moved up to get this guy. You want to see all of your draft picks flourish. And what happened with Jalen Carlis? Is that guy on the team? What happened with Jalen Carlyze? Where are you, man? Are you in a lawn chair somewhere? Like, where is Jalen Carly's?
Starting point is 00:24:10 Every time I was like, why am I refreshing to figure out where Jalen Carlyze is? Like, it was, can we campaign to find Jalen Carlyce? Right. So, like, but what I'll say is, like, there was a time when, at the very least on the back end, on the back end of what the cults were when they were the, when they were the cults, Peyton Manning led Colts and we were, every year we were winning, if not the one seed, for sure, always the South. We had Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis on either end and it was like on the back end of the defense and maybe there are pockets that were not great,
Starting point is 00:24:46 but you have to be able to, you have to be able to get to the passer. You have to. It's not, it's not just like, we can't just generate pressure. We've like, well, we've got a lot of pressures. Okay, but were they ever on the ground? Were they really, were they uncomfortable? I get it, but it's just, it's like the proof is already exists. The model already exists. So it feels like if, I mean, if we are able to like maybe get something complimentary to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to collapse it. And from, I mean, it's just, and just, there's just so much time.
Starting point is 00:25:17 There's just so much time. Like, so, I was at so many games. I was, I was watching so many games. And I was at so many games. For some reason, I was at the games this season where I was saying, like, get him. Like, get him. Get, can you get, how are you, like, why are you massaging him? Like, why are you holding his, why are you, like, please don't caress him.
Starting point is 00:25:37 Get him on the ground, please. No more caressing. Are they coaching caressing? Because I get it. We want to be kind. But not caressing the quarterback. Yeah. No, that was a big issue this year for sure.
Starting point is 00:25:50 That's why you get a new D-line coach in there. Charlie Partridge went to Notre Dame now, Drew, like, they're going to have to get a new D-line coach in there who is anti-correcting. anti-massage, all violence. You know, I think, I think NFL team should be anti-carrested massage for sure at this yes. Yeah, we're not the Texans in that way. Right.
Starting point is 00:26:13 On that note, so we had some leftover Q&A from this week. You guys sent us in a ton of questions. And we figured we would get to a few of those with Drew here, get into some specifics. So we'll get to that in just a moment. The wild card round wraps up tonight. and it has been an incredible opening round of the NFL playoffs, and Fandul is officially in playoff mode. Every game day during the NFL playoffs,
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Starting point is 00:27:23 and grab your profit boost pack every NFL playoff game day. All right, everybody, Welcome back to the show. We are joined by comedian Drew Lynch. He is touring for the next several months ago and check out drewlinch.com for tour dates near you. We're going to get into some of this leftover Q&A that you guys sent us this week. You always just make it rain on us questions and we have to break it up into two, three, four episodes. So we love to do it and we thought, what better time to get back into it than with Drew.
Starting point is 00:27:55 So we're going to crack into this one here. Some of these are pretty tough, not going to lie. we'll start here with assuming the Colts get rid of Michael Pittman Jr. in order to keep Alec Pierce, what is the best way to fill that new wide receiver gap? That is from a viewer over on YouTube. Basically, do you want to elevate someone from internally? Do you want to trade for someone, draft, free agent? So I'll give you that.
Starting point is 00:28:18 Like, if the Colts do replace Michael Pipman, Jr., how do you want to replace him? And I guess stylistically, do you want that player to be the same? I think that Shane Steichen is creative enough as a offensive coordinator to be able to supplement whatever that role is. And I think as much as I'm going to miss Michael Pittman Jr. If, you know, but as much as I'm going to miss because he's got his whole light, he's got his farm here, he's got his family here. Like this is tough, especially when you get a first contract. like um i think ashton dulin is like so serviceable and i don't know if we keep him but i also think you can draft and i also think it doesn't he doesn't he doesn't it doesn't need to look like
Starting point is 00:29:07 uh michael pitman junior you know i mean there we can get creative and i think that's that's why we're moving off of michael pitman junior it's like we have alec pierce who kind of does a lot of the same things but he's a he's a deep threat and i just think like Like, I think Michael Pittman does a lot of unsum things, things that you don't see, and that's great. But at the same time, it's just, you know, can the job be done by somebody else for cheaper? And that is the question that you have to look at objectively. And it sucks. Yeah, it's kind of been the question of Chris Ballard's tenure is, can you separate the emotion from the business decision here?
Starting point is 00:29:46 And I'm curious what your overall thoughts are just on that potential where, you know, the Colts could save $25 million of, this next season by cutting or trading Michael Pittman Jr., which is probably right around what they need for Alec Pierce to bring him back. Are you of the opinion? Like if it came down to it, either or you'd prefer to have Alec Pierce on a long-term deal than have Michael Pittman Jr. back this year? I think so. I mean, I think that that's such a tough, tough thing to have to do, especially because, like,
Starting point is 00:30:17 you know, we were at a time where we were like, is Alec Pierce going to figure it out? You know, is he going to figure it out? And we also don't know if he wasn't even able to figure it out because of the opportunities that he wasn't getting. He had somebody now at the helm this, this, this, this, this, this, this season who, who, who, who was able to distribute the ball on, on time and accurately. And also really just like, throw it out there. I mean, it's like, Pierce comes down with it, man. Like, it's, he just comes down with it. His jump ball, I don't know that anybody else's is like, is like that.
Starting point is 00:30:50 And I think the answer is yes. I mean, it's unfortunate. But I think if you're going to separate the emotion from the business, I think the answer is yes. This next one is from Owen Stevens. He's always in the chat. So I guarantee he's watching right now. And it's essentially the same question, but looking at Mooney Ward. So Mooney Ward dealt with three concussions this year was on IR for it twice.
Starting point is 00:31:13 We spoke to him at Locker Cleanout Day. And he said, you know, I don't know what my future is, but if I get one more concussions, I might retire. I'm going to try and have an answer for the team as soon as possible. Talk with my family. So at very worst, like if you've got kind of a foot out the door like that, I can see from a team perspective why you might just pick. And it's probably best to go ahead and move on. So let's just say Mooney Ward is not a part of the picture next year either. This defense, we can tell by how many resources Chris Bauer through the cornerback room throughout the year, cornerback is incredibly valuable, if you don't have that great pass rush. So if you got to move on from Mooney Ward, you obviously
Starting point is 00:31:54 have Soss Gardner, which is a great, great number one option if you're not going to have Ward. How do you replace that? Do you just go with Justin Wally coming off his own injury, or do you want to see them go sign a starting level player? I think you have to, well, I don't know how you guys see the Justin Wally pick, but I kind of always thought that that was maybe Kenny's replacement. And that's another one. That's like, I don't want to see that guy go. I don't want to see Michael Pittman go. I don't want to see Grover go.
Starting point is 00:32:25 I love all these guys. But like, I can't, I, if I'm, if I'm someone who says, like, I love them, but we have to say goodbye. And I'm not the GM. That's a problem. You know what I mean? Like, so I think that you kind of, you kind of draft, you hope to draft that. I mean, you hope, I mean, you also can consider maybe Chris Bowler. towards success at drafting that position, and it's not, it's not necessarily been, been great.
Starting point is 00:32:54 And so it's like, I think when you had, when you had those two on the field together, like, which was for all of like five snaps or something where they were both on the field together, because the Colts can't be, we can't, we're cursed as we can't have them be on the same field at the same time for whatever reason. Like, I feel like it was a different defense, but, you know, I think you kind of have to, draft that and I wouldn't say you need to you need to do an expensive acquisition especially when you have a true number one corner in in sauce gardener yeah it's just you got to get more guys who fit what lou wants you know it can't just be dayland jones you're not going to play on my defense
Starting point is 00:33:32 because you don't fit okay why is he even here then you know like why is he even here there can't be this kind of this mixing here uh but we're going to put on our draft caps for a second now you don't have to tell me an exact player to take here drew I don't I don't expect you to watch every single college football player. We don't even know yet. So I'm not asking you a specific player. But Bo asked a question about like with issues at corner and linebacker and pass rush, you know, where do you go with the second round pick? And mind you, pick 47 now is our top pick in this draft, Drew. So this has to be the pick that we're all like, this is our Tyler Warren type pick, right? The pick we're mocking all offseason. Long snapper. All the way down. Each round, Zach.
Starting point is 00:34:16 Long snapper, long snapper. Longer snapper. I want a longer snapper in the sixth. Yeah, I think it could work. You know, I mean, they play linebacker a lot in college. But, you know, if you were just sitting here, put your fan cap on, like, thinking just like, you know, this is what we need. Another young, fast athletic player at this position, which position would you go with that second round pick? Is it linebacker?
Starting point is 00:34:39 Do we go linebacker that high? That's the way. I mean, I think, here's the thing. If you consider his drafting history, he's always able to find gems at that position in the later rounds. So that is something. Otherwise, I would say linebacker. But otherwise, you have to consider, I mean, his tendencies and maybe his superlative when it comes to trying to address that position in a later round. But usually the first two rounds are kind of reserved for like the bigs.
Starting point is 00:35:08 You know, those are kind of like, you know, these are the guys who are like, they're physical. They've got, they're big, they're big, like, you know, the, the line. And I think if you're going to look at someone, I don't know how, I don't know how at 47, you're going to find, like, a big that's like a difference maker, you know, like, I know we did it. I know we did to, JT, T, T, T, T, T, T, T, T, T, what, what, I can't. We've all been there, Drew, it's not fair for anybody to have to say. So, thank you. We're going to practice it.
Starting point is 00:35:38 Yeah. So, you know, but, and I think he was. I think he was good and he's got a great spin move and all that. But it's like, you know, I think what? He was what second round or he was he third round? Second round. So it's just, I don't know, man. Like it, I, I, my gut says you got to go one of the bigs because they're the novel picks.
Starting point is 00:35:57 But you're at 47, which is not a novelty spot. So, yeah. It feels like like they just need a good player. Like I don't care what position, right? They just need a guy who's going to produce next season. Someone in the front seven. And that's the thing, right? Like, because JT.
Starting point is 00:36:12 To Molo was just, he was out there every now and then. Justin Wally didn't play this year, third round pick. Tyler Warren was great at 15, right? That's a premium pick. But like round two, it's like, like, I don't care what, it could be long snapper, like Drew said. As long as they're good in year one, it's like, cool. Like, let's get a productive rookie contract player because I feel like we haven't had
Starting point is 00:36:33 a ton of those recently. Yeah, I mean, and you hope it's on defense. Like, you just, you hope it's on defense. and I mean, I mean, like think about, I don't know, you want like, if you want also someone to come in who's going to change the identity of your defense, a lot of times that comes from the linebacker position. You know, this was like a Darius Leonard. This is like a Fred Warner. This is like a, I mean, these guys are like, you know, these guys come in and they, they, you know, they change the whole mindset. They change the toughness of the defense.
Starting point is 00:37:04 And I just think like, I, I just, I don't feel. feel like that there's like a scale like I'm not scared of this this this defense and I'm and I'm I'm five four and 140 pounds I'm terrified of the defense. I don't know about you. Yeah. All right. So one more here, Drew. I think for a lot of Colts fans, they have found solace in the Indiana Hoosiers this year.
Starting point is 00:37:30 Next Monday night, Indiana, Miami for the national championship. Indiana, one of the best college football stories we've had in a while. You have your Indiana roots. What is going to happen next month? money. I can't even tell you what, because here's a thing, I don't follow college that much, but I'm a huge Kurt Signetti fan. I mean, it's like, that guy is like, he needs to be like studied and like, like all the time. Like, I don't know. I feel like he said, I feel like he says stuff. And, and you're just like, yeah, okay. Yeah, that's, yes, of course. Yes. Exactly. You know,
Starting point is 00:38:03 where he's like, you know, he'll say something, you know, so I'm like, you know, do the fortune cookie before the meal and that'll determine how you eat. And you're like, and you're like what? Yeah, of course. Yes, absolutely. Yeah, I would do that. I mean, we're at an Italian restaurant, but sure, whatever you say. Um, so like I just, I threw and through, here's the thing, independent of where I'm from. Like, you have to look at what he's doing and you have to look at how much of a culture shift. It really has been. I, I root for that guy all the way to the end. And I'm not going to, I'm not going to plague us or that or them by giving a prediction or even talking about it because it's all my,
Starting point is 00:38:40 fault ever apparently. But I think good things happen. Good, good. I think that was smart play right there, Drew. I appreciate that for sure. I'm sure the listeners appreciate it as well. I'm not known for being smart, but I had to do that. That was good. That was good. That was good. We want to thank you guys for tuning into this special edition of Lockdown Colts, though. We'll be back tomorrow with a brand new episode. Make sure you subscribe and follow to Lockdown Colts and get all the latest episodes. And if you don't already, make sure you're following at Lockdown Colts, at Jake Arthur, NFL, at Zach Hicks, and at the Drew Lynch all on socials. And if you would never miss an episode,
Starting point is 00:39:14 the Everyday Air Club is built for you, get Locked on Colts ad-free, plus members, only Discord access, and more. Head to LockdownColts.com to join the club. For those of you on video, we're going to send you over to the first ever 24-7 national NBA YouTube channel on audio. Make sure you check out Locked on NFL podcast next.
Starting point is 00:39:30 And again, this was Drew Lynch, joining us today, comedian on tour. Check out Drew Lynch.com for all the tour dates and near you. We really appreciate having them on. Thank you guys. and we'll see you guys back here tomorrow afternoon.

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