Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - SNAPPED: Indianapolis Colts' Late-Game HEROICS Topple Houston Texans

Episode Date: September 28, 2026

The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Houston Texans behind some late-game heroics. It broke a five-game losing streak to the Texans and a nine-game losing streak overall. Daniel Jones is adjusting bett...er to the blitz, but he continues to turn the ball over. Meanwhile, Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, and Tyler Warren stepped up with the run game smothered. Defensively, the Colts had their first good performance of the young season. Photo Credit: Grace Hollars/IndyStar 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 and Zach's written work on ColtsRoundtable.com, and give them a follow on Twitter: @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, and @LockedOnColts!  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!HomeChefFor a limited time, Home Chef is offering my listeners FIFTY PERCENT OFF and free shipping for your first box PLUS free dessert for life! Go to http://HomeChef.com/LOCKEDONNFL. GustoTry Gusto today at http://gusto.com/LOCKEDONNFL, and get three months free when you run your first payroll.Gameday Men's HealthBook your complimentary test and consult at https://join.gamedaymenshealth.com/reasons_to_choose_gameday-1201?utm_source=lockedon&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=NFL&utm_network=lockedon&utm_adgroup=corp&ghl_tag=national,corpButcher BoxIf you're looking for an easier way to get great meals on the table, give ButcherBox a try. Go to https://ButcherBox.com/LOCKEDONNFL to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ribeye, new york strip, or filet mignon in every box for a year — with free shipping always.AppleYou can earn up to 3% unlimited Daily Cash back on every purchase you make with Apple Card using Apple Pay. Apply in the Wallet app on your iPhone today. Subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank, USA. Salt Lake City Branch. Terms and more at apple-card-dot-com.https://learn.applecard.apple/unlimited-daily-cash?cid=apy-318-2000008800000-400000000000039&itscg=2030032&itsct=srvs-crd-P3004756-C3004897&mttnagencyid=c1a&mttnsiteid=133087&mttnpid=LockedOn%20%28Audio%29&mttnsubad=srvs-crd-P3004756-C3004897&mttnsubplmnt=&mttncc=USIndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFL and use code LOCKEDONNFL and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.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.FanDuelGet three hundred fifty dollars in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMFANDUEL 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 00:00:01 The Indianapolis Colts notch their first victory in over 300 days. 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.
Starting point is 00:00:26 I'm Zach Hicks. That's Jake Arthur, and on today's episode, we are breaking down a victory Monday for the first time in forever. I mean, it has been the Colts first win in their last 10 tries, their first one score win in their last six tries, and their first time beating the Houston Texans since 2023. So I don't care how it looked out there. I know I said this a lot on the squad show last night. Getting a win is all that mattered on Sunday to me, and the
Starting point is 00:00:51 Colts got it despite a pretty ugly fourth quarter from the team in general. So we'll talk about all that today. We're going to start off talking about Daniel Jones and just the overall conversation around QB1, how it was mostly good, but the couple bad things almost sank them in that fourth quarter. So we'll talk about that. And then we'll talk about the offense and the defense as well to round out today's show. But Jake, let's start with QB1 because in some regard, I think he looks so much better this year than he did last year.
Starting point is 00:01:22 And I know that's a weird thing to say when the stats are not even remotely as good as what they were last year. But he's doing more for this offense. he's pushing the ball into tighter windows. I think he's attacking the middle of the field more, and he's doing more with less, right? The running game hasn't been as prolific as it was last year. No Alec Pierce, no Michael Pittman Jr.
Starting point is 00:01:42 It's been a very different situation for Jones, and I think he's done some really good things. But five turnovers through three games, including that near backbreaking fumble in the last game, which is just inexcusable. Also a yolo ball interception in the third quarter when they were in the red zone. Like, these are things that,
Starting point is 00:02:01 a quarterback just can't do. So not to sound too, like, Twittery here, because this is how people on Twitter talk, but, like, he's playing good football, but that bozo gene is, like, just popping up every now and then, you know, and that's kind of what it feels like right now. So if he can just iron that out, I think he's playing better ball than he did last year, which, again, people in the comments might kill me for, but I do think he's playing better football. It's just those turnovers cannot happen, and that's going to hurt the team, like it did in the first two weeks, almost hurt them this past week. It's going to prevent them from winning games in the future if he keeps turning the ball over like this.
Starting point is 00:02:38 Yeah, I think I agree with you where there's like some parts of it where it looks better than last year already, even though like the numbers aren't where they were last year. Like the Colts were that offense was kind of nuts to begin last season. I will say he looks more like confident and in control of the offense, like not locking onto certain things as much. He's able to go through his reads. And he seems more battle test. Like he it's like he was doing really, really well last year because everything was going well. And when everything is going well around you, well, the quarterback should succeed.
Starting point is 00:03:12 It looks like he's able to hang in there and like make good plays even into the fourth quarter when things, you know, there's been hiccups along the way throughout the game. So I do think that's definitely a big positive. It's a step in the right direction. You could live with the dip in statistical production as long as the turnovers, just. just like they're never going to completely disappear, but it's not something he was doing last year. Like he didn't really start turning the ball over last year until the Pittsburgh game midway through.
Starting point is 00:03:42 He had like an interception here or there, but the good news is this stuff's pretty correctable. It's like just nonchalant ball security, which they'll hammer into his head for sure because this wasn't the first game this year that that's been really an issue. And with four sacks, like you're also not going to face Will Anderson's
Starting point is 00:04:01 every week, but you still need to be cognizant of where pressure is coming from behind to get you. But yeah, the the, the, the, the, the, the, the yolo ball, basically. I call him arm punts. But that, I know he was being hit as he threw, but that play to Josh wasn't going to happen. Like, he was trying to go back pile on to Josh, I think, into double coverage, it seemed. That just wasn't going to wind up working. Like, the ball wound up sailing. And he had a couple other turnover worthy throws in that game, too, that that he got kind of,
Starting point is 00:04:31 of lucky with. So I think if he's a little more conscientious about what he's doing with the ball, everything will be fine. And, you know, the dip in statistical production can kind of level out a bit because if drives are allowed to continue and end in points and things, well, they're not going to be abruptly ended with turnover. So I think all those things should iron themselves out. I think as guys like Keenan Allen get more comfortable in the offense, you integrate Darius Slayton, you figure out what Tyler Warren needs to be doing in the offense. And then as Josh Downs continues to grow and the chemistry continues to get stronger between him and Jones, I think all of those things will kind of level out a bit. Yeah. And I will say this. I don't think
Starting point is 00:05:15 interceptions by themselves are like this horrific thing for a quarterback. I think too often we get obsessed with quarterbacks like their touchdown interception ratio. But honestly, if a quarterback is throwing too few at interceptions, then I don't think that they're actually testing the windows that they should be testing a lot of cases, right? So again, I'm not saying that I want to see interceptions like James Winston in that 30-30 season or anything like that, but I think being close to like 10 interceptions is fairly healthy for a quarterback because that means you are testing those windows in the middle of the field. And we actually see quarterbacks of the Daniel Jones archetype, in my opinion, like the Brock Purdy's and the Jared Goss. They typically
Starting point is 00:05:51 finished around 10 plus interceptions each year because they're testing those middle of the field windows. So I'm fine with, again, the occasional interception over the middle of the field, right? Like, those happen, but you can't have the fumbles in the backfield. Those are the big ones. You've got to hold on to the football in those situations. And then like you said, like the yellow one when you're in plus territory, that's taking points off the board. They were in field goal territory already. That hurt. Right. Because if you're even, I mean, at this point with House Raiders playing, if you're within the 40-yard line, you're in field goal territory at this moment, I think they were like the high 20s, I think is where they
Starting point is 00:06:24 were on that one. Yeah, 29, I think. Yeah. So clear field goal range, especially in a game where just getting points on the board was probably burying the Texans, that took away three points that would have to more success later in the game. So those are the ones you can't have. Like, again, throw an aggressive ball in the first quarter and it gets picked off, okay, we can live with it, right? Third quarter in a tight game, towards the end of a fourth quarter, like fumbling around midfield when you're up by six points, those are the ones that just can't happen. So overall, if I had to evaluate how Daniel Jones is playing, I think there's a lot of good. It's like I told you before we started recording. It's like an offensive tackle who, if they had
Starting point is 00:07:01 60 pass rushing block attempts and 57 of them were awesome and they're just stonewalling pass rushers, but then the three times they get beat, they allow a sack. Well, they allow three sacks, right? So it's not a good day. You can't say it's a good day. Even if 57 of them were perfect. I think that's kind of where I'm seeing it with Daniel Jones. It's like, we are seeing a lot of good play. but if those big negatives are so negative that they take away from the offense, it wipes away all the goodwill of the positive plays. So he needs to clean that stuff up. And again, interceptions are fine.
Starting point is 00:07:31 If he finishes around 10, 12 interceptions, I can live with that. The fumbles can't happen. The fumbles cannot happen, especially that second one. That second fumble was one of the most egregious mistakes the Colts player has made this season. Like, you can't be hitching like that when you're facing a five-man rush against Houston Texans when they have two all pros against you. You just know what's happening.
Starting point is 00:07:50 That was Red Zone 2, wasn't it? No, that was midfield. That was midfield. Okay. Yeah. It was nearly field goal range. If they just ran the ball three times, they probably kick the field goal and go up by nine with four minutes left and it's over. So like it took, it basically took points away as well.
Starting point is 00:08:03 So that stuff cannot happen from your quarterback, especially someone you're paying as much money as the Colts are. So you're going to be harsh on a quarterback when they're getting paid like Daniel Jones is. He needs to be better in that regard. I think we are seeing good things from him, but it still needs to be better going forward. Yeah, I think, especially. especially if you're going to be fumbling. I think the fact that they've adjusted to pressure and blitzes from defenses better, that's a good sign. But like pressure's still going to come.
Starting point is 00:08:32 You're dealing with it better and getting rid of the ball quicker. But a great example of why those turnovers are so backbreaking. Each of the first two weeks, it was like Colts touchdown. And then their next drive was a Daniel Jones turnover, which the opponent then went and scored on. And then so not every offense sucks as bad as Houston does. You know, like some of these teams are going to be able to roll you like the chiefs and Ravens can. So they got a little lucky that this offense they were going up against can't really capitalize on stuff like that. But that's not always going to be the case.
Starting point is 00:09:08 But good news, I like how they've adjusted to pressure because teams are just going to keep doing it. But those turnover has got to get cleaned up. And if they do, then I think they'll be able to sustain success better and have a better chance at, you know, being, winning more often than not. Yeah, I will say Jones has been a lot better against the Blitz the last two weeks, 19 of 23 passing for 189 yards and a touchdown against the Blitz. He did have the fumble and that late fumble was against the blitz. But aside from that, very, very good numbers against the blitz. And also just to bring it back to something positive on Jones, I think the throw to Laquan Treadwell on that game winning drive, was one of the best throws of his career.
Starting point is 00:09:48 The way that he looked off the linebacker and stepped in and ripped that that dig route over the middle of the field against a very good Texans defense to get them into field goal range, that's what you need your QB1 to do. So it's kind of like the Falcons game last year where it's like you did so much bad, I guess, because of those turnovers, but you redeemed it with the last drive. Like they won the game because of that throw he made to the Quantreadwell. So overall, a lot to improve for Daniel Jones, but also I like a lot of things I'm seeing as well, just clean up the turnovers.
Starting point is 00:10:15 and I think we'll be in a good place. But coming up, we're going to talk about the rest of the offense. It was a tough day for the offense, but having seven drives break the 50-yard line and five scoring drives against a very good Houston Texans defense, I think is a positive showing going forward for this team. All right, guys, listen up. A quiz on your phone and a box at your door is not a clinic.
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Starting point is 00:13:04 One more time, gusto.com slash locked on NFL. Already locked on Colts, Everettaires. We are back. talk about the rest of the offense, how the Colts were able to, again, cross the 57 times against a Texans defense without Alec Pierce out there. If you had told me that going into the week, I would have told you no way whatsoever. Before we do that, don't forget to check out the Everydayer Club for ad-free episodes and access to group chat with other listeners of this show.
Starting point is 00:13:31 Me and Jake, tap the link in the show notes or go to locked oncultz. com. All right, Jake, so this was a tough one for the offense. Low success rate, high ball control, very little in the ground game. couldn't really hit any big, big plays, but I think the Colts still had like seven explosive passing plays in this game against the Texans. I count explosives as 15 plus yard passing plays, so some people do it as 20, but regardless, they had a good chunk of plays that did feast on the middle of the field.
Starting point is 00:14:01 And, yeah, it was the Josh Down show early. It was kind of the Tyler Warren show throughout, and then Keenan-N-Ala and LaQuan Treadwell kind of in the second half there to close the deal. the Colts really only had one avenue for success on offense, and it was throw the ball at the middle of the field, and they peppered that all game long, and that's how they were able to do just enough to win this game. So I do commend Shane Steichen in the offense for, again,
Starting point is 00:14:24 in a game plan where you really didn't have much that could work. You're playing against one of the best run defenses in the league. You don't have your deep threat to test them vertical. Short game, they're squatting on all those routes. The only place you could really attack them was intermediate middle of the field, and the Colts were able to do that. all game long and get 19 points on the board. So tough sledding for sure,
Starting point is 00:14:43 but I think they found a way against a very good Texans defense. Yeah, they identified a weakness and they absolutely attacked it. And when you don't have that vertical element, I think that was super necessary. Like they pretty much got everyone involved. Although, you know, I think six catches from Josh Downs. It felt like all of them were like 15.
Starting point is 00:15:02 I think you had two of them that were 18 yards. So phenomenal game by downs, his ability to create little, you know, little extra opportunities after the catch as well as huge turns 12-yard gains into 19-20-yard gains. I thought Kenan Allen's usage was like perfect. I mean, without Alec Pierce, he's got to get used a little more now, obviously. But like just anything other than what happened in Kansas City. I think this was a great way for him to get back.
Starting point is 00:15:32 It was a move-the-chains type of operation. You know, he had that drag route to get the touchdown. I thought that's exactly what it means to look like for him. And just these little complimentary plays, you know, the Moe-A-Cox play. I was shocked it was Moe at first because he was booking. Like he was actually moving a lot better than Moe normally does. But it was that little dump off over the middle, the delayed screen, you know. And then the Treadwell one just obviously brilliant.
Starting point is 00:16:00 Treadwell is their new closer, obviously. That was Alec Pierce's duty. But I think we know Treadwell is certainly the closer. He joked after the game. He's like, I'm not getting up. I caught the ball. I'm down. I'm staying down.
Starting point is 00:16:12 But no, that was great. I liked how they used Tyler Warren. You know, teams are still obviously just kind of cupping him over top. They don't want him to push past them and they're getting to him very quickly. But I like that the Colts found a new way to use him other than just these, you know, rollout dumpoffs. You know, they used him over the middle multiple times. And the yards per catch, again, was, it left a lot to be desired. but it was productive.
Starting point is 00:16:40 You know, he was getting first downs. They keep using him on that fullback dive as well on short yardage. So I like better how they used Warren in this one versus the first couple weeks. Yeah, it was interesting. They actually split Warren out wide a lot more in this game. And they basically were putting him on the boundary and saying, hey, if you're so worried about this player, go cover him out there, right? Like if you really want to take him away, go cover him all the way out there,
Starting point is 00:17:04 put Lasseter, put Stingley on them, which the Texans did in a lot of cases. cases, and then the Colts were able to attack the middle of the field with Keenan Allen and Josh Downs off of that. So he was still kind of used as a decoy, right? But it was more of a decoy away from all the action to open up things in the middle. And they still found ways to give him the ball. I think the honeyhole shot at the very beginning of the game was nice from Jones reading that two-level concept and throwing it behind the cover two corner. There were a couple ones more over the middle of the field instead of just peppering him in the flats. So I think we did see some good things from Warren. I will say my only big knock was
Starting point is 00:17:37 that one where he couldn't make the DB miss in the flat, like, you're a tight end, Tyler. We got to, you've got to break that tackle. I'm sorry, man. I know you're kind of a big clunky guy sometimes, but, and Camarie Lashore is a good corner, too. But, like, if we're throwing you the ball in the flat, you got him break that tackle. He got blasted too. I know. Well, he fell forward.
Starting point is 00:17:55 It's just like, come on, man. Like, you got a, you got a break up for it with the Hail Mary. He got the PVU out of bounds. Yeah, yeah. I hate putting tight ends out there for that, but that's, that's neither here nor there. Offensive line, though, I think this was a really tough game for them, especially Jalen Travis. Welcome to the NFL, right? Going against the best pass rusher in the league this year with Miles Garrett out.
Starting point is 00:18:18 Like, this is the best pass rusher in football. Will Anderson probably is going to win defense player of the year this season. And he looked like it on Sunday. So again, welcome to the NFL, Jalen Travis. I'm not too down on him after a game like this. This is just how it's going to be. If anything, I'm more down on Stuyken for not giving him help on every single rep because what did you expect against him?
Starting point is 00:18:40 And we saw just the game-breaking ability there. But, yeah, tough game for the O-line. But this is, I mean, even with Caden McDonald-out, this is probably the best D-Line in football, right? Two top five pass rushers. Some really good vets on the interior, too, like Toggiye and Mario Edwards and Sheldon Rankins, I think, is on the interior still for them.
Starting point is 00:18:58 Like, it's a good, good defensive line. So they battled. I think they averaged just over or just under four yards per care in the second half, which was better than like the two yards per carry in the first half. So I do think they battled and they were a lot better like in parts in the second half, but certainly want to see a bounce back from the O line against the commanders next week. Yeah, I think it's unrealistic to expect that Will Anderson and DeNeil Hunter aren't going to make their plays.
Starting point is 00:19:26 But I do think they did a really good job against Hunter. I don't, I mean, I haven't watched the TV copy again yet, but like I don't recall seeing him be a huge thorn in their side. Anderson different story. like he was a terrorist against them the whole time. But yeah, no, they've got really solid players. Their secondary is always something to fear and be cognizant of. But with the run game, I like that they stuck with it. And they should have had a more productive game.
Starting point is 00:19:52 That holding call on Treadwell on the right side was bogus. So, yeah, it felt very similar to when Taylor broke that 24-yard touchdown against the Chiefs. It was very similar kind of situation there. So I'll give them that. It won't count on the stat sheet, but they had an explosive run there. Yeah. You're not going to be able to go out and have 150,
Starting point is 00:20:17 175 yards rushing against guys like this in the front seven. I mean, Aziz Al-Shayir was in and out of the lineup with injuries throughout the game, but that's a tough guy to play against as well. Yeah. They are just a good sound defense in pretty much everything they do. Yeah. Coming up, speaking of, defense. We're going to talk about how the Colts went from historically bad defense in the first two weeks to allowing what half of what they allowed in week two to the teams to the Texans under 250 yards of total offense for the Texans.
Starting point is 00:20:48 Is the Colts defense back or the Texans just that bad? We're going to talk about that in a second. David Harrison here at the Locked-on Commanders podcast. Talk about Butcher Box. I'm someone who's always trying to make sure I'm getting enough protein. For me, that gets a whole lot easier when I've got a freezer full of the good stuff and I'm not stuck trying to. to figure out what to do for dinner. And I like having that quality protein ready to go, whether it's for the whole family or it's just for myself so I can avoid that dreaded takeout order. And Butcher Box delivers 100% grass-fed beef, organic chicken, wild-caught seafood, and more, all sorts to standards they can actually tell you about.
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Starting point is 00:21:42 New York strip or filet mignon in every box for a year. And you always get free shipping always. That's butcherbox.com slash locked on NFL. Again, butcherbox.com slash locked on NFL. Make sure you use our link so they know we sent you. All righty, guys, we are back for a final time talking about the Colts defense. Are they actually back or are they just kind of? kind of reaping the rewards off the Houston Texans, not knowing that what they're doing.
Starting point is 00:22:10 I will start by just talk about the things I am buying with this Colts defense right now, Jake. Really buying the Atatomio Adabore next to DeForest Buckner combo as a pass rusher. I put this out on Twitter earlier, but only 24% of Tommy's overall snaps in four or five men down, like fronts in the first two weeks came with the Forrest Buckner. This past week, all 14 of Tommy's snaps with them came next to Buckner. They basically moved him to designate a pass rusher for this game, and we've reaped the rewards of it. He had one and a half sacks, two other pressures, a QB hit in there, like exactly what we needed in the first two weeks. Their pass rush is still not great, but it's better now with Tommy in there next to Buckner. And Buckner was great as well.
Starting point is 00:22:53 So I do think I'm buying that. Grover Stewart looked like Grover Stewart again. I'm buying him being back because he's always been great. The first two weeks just felt weird, not seeing him be great. So seeing him look like Grover Stewart again, I think was a big part of their success. And I'm also buying some of the changes that they made for this game. Now, I don't know if this was Houston Texans related or if it was Colts related, but I saw a lot more split field safeties, like a lot more just bailing into two high safeties,
Starting point is 00:23:21 take away the explosive plays and play a little bit more zoned than playing as much man as they did in the first two games. And then in the run game, I think they did a good job of just attacking these linebackers downhill more. of having them sit back and sift through traffic and having to read things a little bit more, it was more so shoot gaps. Shoot gaps, beat guys to the spot and fill those gaps there. You can get beat for some explosives that way against better running teams, but I like getting these guys moving downhill instead of having them move side to side where these are smaller backers. They get touched by a line and they're going to get knocked out of the gap. So having them move forward, I think, was a better change too. So I am buying some of the changes. I'm buying the new look pass rush,
Starting point is 00:24:01 but do I think they're as good as what they look at on Sunday? No, the Texans are a mess. Their O line is rough, and I think that their past catchers are even rougher. Their running backs were pretty bad. Like, David Montgomery looks like a 30-year-old running back out there. So I'm half-buying this. I think that they're not as bad as the first two weeks. I don't think they're as good as week three.
Starting point is 00:24:26 I think they'll be, like, averaging, like, 24 points against going forward and stuff. So Colts offense better be scoring, but I do like that we did, like, I think, like, what would we always say about Gus Bradley, Jake? Was like with Gus Bradley, right, no matter which team they played against, they were going to allow like 26 points, right, 27 points, right? Good team or bad team, they were going to feast on Bradley's defense and get into like that mid-20s. At least with Louana Rubo, it feels like the good teams have shredded the Colts, but the bad teams had been held down. So, I mean, I guess I'll take that. It's something, right? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:24:59 Now, there are things I definitely buy. I think especially just like with the lack of physicality and training camps across the league over the last 10, 15 years and teams playing starters less and less, you see things like tackling and all that. It's awful to start the year. So that always is something that improves as the season goes on, unless you just have bad players, which I think these guys were putting a little. more advantageous spot this time. Like you mentioned, the linebackers, they're, those aren't, they're, they're just not guys that are sideline
Starting point is 00:25:37 and sideline like that. They do need to go downhill. That's when we saw like Zaire Franklin at his vest. You're going to give up some plays over the middle and stuff, but you don't have guys out there right now where they're going to defend that well anyways. Like eventually, if you can get C.J. Allen and like Bryce Becher out there more often,
Starting point is 00:25:56 those are probably more of the type, even though Betcher just has a hell of, of a time in coverage right now. But you know what I'm saying. Like, that's just, that's not the guys that are going to really excel there anyway. So you might as well just lean into their strengths because you don't want Carlize and Akeem Davis Gathear out there just not, just putting them out there and not even allowing them to play their best.
Starting point is 00:26:22 Like, they're already imperfect players. If you're going to have them out there, you might as well have them doing what they do best. I like Davis Gather's energy level better than what we've seen as well. Because I think we've got to be tired of hearing the, well, they're tired. Excuse, like, that's crazy. Like, get them off the field then. So I think just like fundamental things like effort and tackling, all that was much better. You hate to see guys get injured, but with no Michael Clemens, that does mean more Tommy. it means more Cade and Curry, which I'm in big favor of both of those things happening. And then I thought Justin Wally and A.J. Halsey both really grounded themselves.
Starting point is 00:27:07 I thought both guys had much better performances than we've seen. And you especially need that out of Wally because like he's going to play a lot this year, especially when you consider like if Mooney Ward keeps getting in and out of the line. Even sauce, like his ribs are really bothering him right now. like while he's going to wind up playing like a huge role on the defense because he kind of has to fill in gaps for other guys. I thought he had a much better game on Sunday. Yeah, no, I liked, uh, they used him a lot more in zone coverage this week instead
Starting point is 00:27:36 of man. Like there were still some man coverage reps. He allowed a 12 yard completion against man. Also had a pass breakup against man though. So, you know, some, some back and forth there. But his past breakup in the back of the end zone, he was playing deep safety, um, was playing some, uh, flat coverage zone a lot in this game as well. Like, they used him a lot.
Starting point is 00:27:53 more in different ways instead of just, oh, go out there and cover this slot receiver and man all game long. And I think that was better for him. A.J. Halsey, as well, had a couple stops on third down, some tackles right around the sticks that I thought looked really good, showcases stopping power a little bit more. So, yeah, I'm buying the defense being better than what they were in the first two weeks after seeing this game as well. Do I think they're going to be as good as what I even thought in the preseason, though? Probably not. Layatu Latu is a perfectly fine player, but he really hasn't taken in that step this year. And I know he dealt with injury in this past game,
Starting point is 00:28:25 so I'm not trying to use that against him. But through the three weeks, I mean, the Colts, far and away their best two pass rushers have been Buckner and Tommy. It's like Lottu's not in that conversation. Honestly, Arn Key is probably the third best pass rusher this year if we had to rank the top three. So I don't think they're going to have that star impact off the edge. And I don't think the linebacker plays ever going to be like good enough. But I do buy some of the aspects of how the defense played.
Starting point is 00:28:49 I will also give credit to, guy who had been pretty tough on this year, Mooney Ward. Not really for the coverage too much, though, but a lot of what the Texans were trying to do in the run game was motioning receivers in tight. And the Colts, they played a little weird sometimes. They don't have the slot corner come over to those run fits. They'll sometimes bring off the outside corner inside to cover those tight ends on the short side or cover the receivers that motion in.
Starting point is 00:29:11 So the Texans were trying to get Mooney Ward to have to fit against the run quite a few times. And I would say like the three or four times I saw him really, really had to get his nose in there and fit. like better than I would have thought. You let up in tackles. Yeah. And you can tell when you watch the, like, he had a couple like really good run fits, like getting his nose in there and getting, and I was like, okay. I don't want his nose in there is the problem.
Starting point is 00:29:35 Right, right. I don't want it. But I'm saying if that's what it takes, right? It is what it is. Yeah, you have to be ready to get in there. And I thought it looked pretty good. So I don't know. Like, a lot of this was the Texans offense being awful.
Starting point is 00:29:48 Like it's true. Like, because they don't have the past catchers right. now. Their O-Lions bad. The running backs are bad. And their quarterback is average. Like, he's whatever. I do think, I mean, now, London is London, but if we're just doing a very quick snapshot, I do think they also will still look good next week, whether it's Marietta or Jaden Daniels still look good. It won't look this good, but I do think they should have a
Starting point is 00:30:13 good game on Sunday. Yeah. So we shall see. You guys let us know in the comment section below, though. What are your thoughts on our first victory Monday in nearly, well, over 300. days, nearly a year. 322, I think I heard. 32 days. So you guys let us know in the comment section how you're feeling, and we'll have a big week coming to you guys, talking about even more of this Indianapolis Colts team.
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