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The Colts Report with Will Retherford: Training Camp Preview (Podcast 334.1) · The Central Indiana Sports Report

0:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Before we get going, I want to thank Will Rutherford for filling in this week on the Colts Report.
0:15
[SPEAKER_01]: We are currently looking for a Colts contributor.
0:20
[SPEAKER_01]: We would prefer somebody with some experience or background in sports journalism of some kind, whether it's radio or print, but that is not a necessity.
0:32
[SPEAKER_01]: If you have no experience, but like to talk about the Colts, and most importantly,
0:38
[SPEAKER_01]: Our passionate about the cults.
0:41
[SPEAKER_01]: We'd love to hear from you, maybe meet you and see how things work out.
0:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Right now, the position is just a hobby talking sports.
0:50
[SPEAKER_01]: We hope that one day soon it will be a paid position.
0:54
[SPEAKER_01]: Something that can provide a little side money.
0:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Please email Greg.mengealt at gmail.com.
1:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Demates Greg.mengealt in the NGLT.
1:07
[SPEAKER_01]: at gmail.com if that's something that interests you.
1:12
[SPEAKER_01]: What you're listening to now is the central Indian Esports Report podcast number three hundred and thirty four point one.
1:18
[SPEAKER_01]: The culture apart with will read the third hour training camp preview.
1:35
[SPEAKER_00]: You're listening to the central Indiana Sports Report with your host, Greg Midgall.
1:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Welcome Colts fans to the Central Indiana Sports Report and our first Colts report in a long time.
1:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Filling in until we find somebody is will run theford.
1:54
[SPEAKER_01]: Here to talk about the Colts and training camps opening.
1:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Kind of snuck up on us will.
2:00
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, all of a sudden, you know, July, starting to turn into August, and I mean, there's a football game in next week.
2:08
[SPEAKER_02]: I believe it's a week from tomorrow is going to be the all the fame game between the Charters and Lions in Canton.
2:14
[SPEAKER_02]: So I mean, we're right here.
2:16
[SPEAKER_02]: We're on the precipice of a new football season.
2:18
[SPEAKER_02]: And a lot of questions still linger really around the league, not these with the Colts, but we're going to figure them out in a couple weeks though.
2:27
[SPEAKER_01]: We should tell people coming up tomorrow will be the will run the first show we'll talk some more cult will talk some other stuff as well.
2:36
[SPEAKER_01]: Coming up in our second season in August probably the first week of the high school football season is when the second season of the central in and sports report will be officially underway.
2:47
[SPEAKER_01]: We will have a new name and time slot for the will, rather virtual, whatever you decide to call it.
2:52
[SPEAKER_01]: I like the will, rather virtual, but whatever you want to call it, we can go with and you'll take it from there.
2:57
[SPEAKER_01]: But for now, you're filling in to do the cults.
2:59
[SPEAKER_01]: And we had a Chris Ballard press conference yesterday, standard for training camp opening, your thoughts on why he had to say anything jump out at you.
3:10
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, it was kind of the same old same old for Ballard.
3:13
[SPEAKER_02]: I didn't really hear anything that to me felt like it was much different.
3:18
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I don't think that his issues ever been with the media as far as like conversations getting his narrative out.
3:27
[SPEAKER_02]: I just think his issues kind of been putting his money where his mouth is.
3:32
[SPEAKER_02]: It all sounds good until you recognize that
3:36
[SPEAKER_02]: everything that he says kind of just lacks a backbone to the certain extent like he says things in the media and then really doesn't act on them or really I think.
3:47
[SPEAKER_02]: overplays what he did.
3:49
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, you know, I do think this year he did was more active day, one of free agency and get in by them and get in ward.
3:56
[SPEAKER_02]: And that's something that to me, you have to acknowledge and say, okay, he learned from his mistakes, but really outside of that, it's not act like he did much.
4:06
[SPEAKER_02]: He did enough.
4:07
[SPEAKER_02]: He didn't do it.
4:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Definitely turned a weakness into a strength in the defensive backfield.
4:12
[SPEAKER_01]: No doubt about that.
4:15
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, I mean, and I think it was something that had to change.
4:18
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, it was really the point where you saw that this was not sustainable for what the organization was doing as far as the secondary.
4:25
[SPEAKER_02]: And they had to make an adjustment.
4:26
[SPEAKER_02]: And it was either going to come to the draft or it was going to come through free agency he opted to bring it out of free agency.
4:34
[SPEAKER_02]: I do think there were some corners there in his second pick.
4:37
[SPEAKER_02]: And he passed on that to me would have been sound options with that being said.
4:42
[SPEAKER_02]: He went defense and
4:45
[SPEAKER_02]: three agency and then he went with obviously offense with his first round pick, which is also a desperately needed position only to so I mean he I think he accomplished his goal now it comes to his Richardson going to be a quarterback that can take it to the playoffs.
5:00
[SPEAKER_02]: I said it last year when I mean before we even had a named any of this when we were just talking on the back porch that the coach was far as rich.
5:09
[SPEAKER_02]: as far as Richardson took him and what you saw last year is where he took him.
5:14
[SPEAKER_02]: So I think you're hoping that he can adapt from a seven to eight when player do it's in eleven when player.
5:21
[SPEAKER_02]: I still see no scenario that Daniel Jones is the starter really.
5:25
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that Richardson has got the runway to win it.
5:31
[SPEAKER_02]: I feel that way.
5:32
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think that there's a second before we get to the quarterback competition.
5:39
[SPEAKER_01]: The bottom line is this.
5:41
[SPEAKER_01]: Chris Ballard has put together an average roster pretty much across the board, average average average average.
5:49
[SPEAKER_01]: The only thing that it will save is a great quarterback.
5:53
[SPEAKER_01]: That's the only thing that's going to save this is if somebody steps up and plays great at the quarterback position, otherwise this team is not very good.
6:03
[SPEAKER_01]: And so that's the bottom line.
6:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Chris Ballard took Anthony Richardson.
6:08
[SPEAKER_01]: He brought in Daniel Jones.
6:09
[SPEAKER_01]: If one of them isn't great, it's going to cost Chris Ballard as job.
6:14
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I would.
6:17
[SPEAKER_02]: I would push back that I do think that the roster is definitely better than it's been.
6:23
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if this is the best roster that he's had in his time.
6:27
[SPEAKER_02]: Obviously, the luck years were good, the Philip River year was good.
6:30
[SPEAKER_02]: But I think of the last three years and the stake in regime as head coach.
6:35
[SPEAKER_02]: And this will be his third year.
6:36
[SPEAKER_02]: I think this is the best roster stake in his head.
6:39
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that's probably offensively.
6:41
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
6:42
[SPEAKER_02]: I do think that they're going
6:44
[SPEAKER_02]: What is a playmaker, man?
6:46
[SPEAKER_02]: They're going to be better defensively.
6:49
[SPEAKER_02]: They really couldn't be any worse.
6:51
[SPEAKER_02]: They really could not be any worse than they've been the last two years defensively with Gus Bradley and I don't expect that.
6:57
[SPEAKER_02]: They're going to be worse this year.
6:58
[SPEAKER_02]: I see this as a team that, I mean, they won seven games last year and they really played pretty bad the whole year.
7:05
[SPEAKER_02]: Like you really kind of sit back and think about it.
7:08
[SPEAKER_02]: It's like they really shouldn't have won seven games last year.
7:11
[SPEAKER_02]: So you hope that they can bounce back and they can improve where they have to be a ten-win team.
7:18
[SPEAKER_02]: To me, that is the baseline to get in the playoffs in this AFC and eleven wins.
7:24
[SPEAKER_02]: It's probably what you need to solidify a spy.
7:26
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, can get to see that seven seed conversation, but to me, eleven is where you have to be.
7:32
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're going to be twelve wind teams that don't win divisions in our wild card teams in the AFC this year.
7:38
[SPEAKER_02]: So that's where you have to be.
7:40
[SPEAKER_02]: You have to improve by four games to even consider yourself fortunate enough to have an opportunity to play in January.
7:47
[SPEAKER_01]: But eleven might win the division.
7:50
[SPEAKER_01]: It could.
7:50
[SPEAKER_02]: The South, yes, the South made.
7:52
[SPEAKER_02]: But to me, I still think, oh, eleven has to be the baseline of like this gets us in the playoffs.
7:59
[SPEAKER_02]: If we do not win eleven games, then we're on us.
8:02
[SPEAKER_02]: We're putting it in the hands of other teams being bad.
8:05
[SPEAKER_02]: That's, that's to me is what this all shakes out to be.
8:08
[SPEAKER_02]: This is an eleven win AFC.
8:10
[SPEAKER_02]: That's where you have to be to consider yourself a playoff team, barring just
8:17
[SPEAKER_02]: absolute.
8:18
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't even know what if if it there were eleven windings that didn't get in the playoffs it would be absurd.
8:23
[SPEAKER_02]: That was just bad luck.
8:25
[SPEAKER_02]: That was just bad luck.
8:27
[SPEAKER_01]: No, eleven winds of the auto burst basically.
8:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Tim is pretty close, but not quite any more.
8:35
[SPEAKER_02]: Seven anymore.
8:36
[SPEAKER_02]: Ten and seven anymore.
8:37
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, you, you, you, with that extra game, you know, when it was a, when it was a, when it was a sixteen game, ten, what, ten, six was getting in the playoffs.
8:47
[SPEAKER_02]: I think there I can recall one year that the Arizona Cardinals were ten and six and didn't make the playoffs, but that was also one or two wildcard when they're only two wildcard teams too.
8:55
[SPEAKER_02]: So I mean, it's it's different.
8:57
[SPEAKER_02]: But to me, this Colts team has this circle eleven wins and said, that's what we have to get to to win when a chance to play on the playoffs.
9:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Here's the way I think that the Colts management is looking at this quarterback competition.
9:14
[SPEAKER_01]: I believe they think that Daniel Jones gives them a certain floor that they believe is the playoffs.
9:20
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't believe that, but I think that's what they believe.
9:23
[SPEAKER_01]: But I have that he Richardson gives you a much, much, much higher ceiling.
9:27
[SPEAKER_01]: There might not be a higher ceiling for a quarterback in the NFL, considering he can throw the ball eighty yards in the air, and he is the best athlete in the NFL, or at least to the quarterback position, probably not in the entire league, but at least at the quarterback position.
9:43
[SPEAKER_01]: So his ceiling is off the charts.
9:49
[SPEAKER_01]: It kind of depends on their priority.
9:51
[SPEAKER_01]: If it's me, I roll with Anthony Richardson today.
9:54
[SPEAKER_01]: I say he's my guy.
9:55
[SPEAKER_01]: We're going to go with him because he gives us the best chance to be great.
9:59
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's our only goal that has to be your only goal.
10:02
[SPEAKER_02]: I agree.
10:03
[SPEAKER_02]: Dale Jones is not winning you a Super Bowl.
10:05
[SPEAKER_02]: And to be quite frank Anthony Richardson is done nothing.
10:08
[SPEAKER_02]: So far, his career to prove that he is going to win you with support either.
10:11
[SPEAKER_02]: However, you see the athleticism.
10:14
[SPEAKER_02]: You see the athleticism and you see the intangibles that he has are is different than the danger.
10:19
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm sorry, Daniel Jones.
10:21
[SPEAKER_02]: Is it taking this team to the playoff season?
10:22
[SPEAKER_02]: Not even in the AFC South.
10:24
[SPEAKER_02]: Daniel Jones is not taking this team to the playoff.
10:27
[SPEAKER_02]: You're sealing with Daniel Jones us nine wins.
10:29
[SPEAKER_02]: You're nine and eight with Daniel Jones is your quarterback.
10:32
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, we act like that, you know, that year with the Giants.
10:36
[SPEAKER_02]: Let's not forget the offensive line was pretty good that year.
10:39
[SPEAKER_02]: Dable was still considered an offensive guru and say, Juan was awfully good.
10:45
[SPEAKER_02]: Daniel Jones was was efficient.
10:47
[SPEAKER_02]: He was good enough to get you there, but he's not the reason that that team got for the playoffs.
10:51
[SPEAKER_02]: The same reason won't be the reason this year.
10:54
[SPEAKER_01]: and then he was bad after that.
10:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Never was anywhere near that same level.
10:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Of course, the team kind of fell apart around them, but part of that was they didn't have a quarterback.
11:06
[SPEAKER_02]: Feel as if Richardson is to me, if you don't start Richardson, you're punting.
11:12
[SPEAKER_02]: Like you're punting on the season, you're just saying, okay, well, you know, we don't want to be great.
11:16
[SPEAKER_02]: We just want to be okay.
11:17
[SPEAKER_01]: We just want to win a poor AFC South, which by the way, it's possible won't be poor.
11:24
[SPEAKER_01]: It's possible.
11:25
[SPEAKER_02]: It's not going to be a poor division.
11:26
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think this is a going.
11:28
[SPEAKER_02]: I've said it since the draft.
11:30
[SPEAKER_02]: I think the AFC South is going to be better.
11:32
[SPEAKER_02]: To me last year was I've said it.
11:34
[SPEAKER_02]: The last year was the year that you could sneak into a bad division, a potentially win it and they pissed that away.
11:40
[SPEAKER_02]: Jacksonville will not be for thirteen again.
11:43
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Travis Hunter is going to be a real difference maker as far as that organization and their direction.
11:49
[SPEAKER_01]: They were seven plays from being eleven and six or something.
11:53
[SPEAKER_02]: I also think that they're yeah they had eight games of one one score games.
11:59
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, we change yeah a bounce of a ball one way or another.
12:02
[SPEAKER_02]: You're talking about a team that goes to the playoffs.
12:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, there were five weeks in a row games that you said when you
12:09
[SPEAKER_01]: When the game ended Jacksonville should have won that game.
12:12
[SPEAKER_02]: They shouldn't have won.
12:13
[SPEAKER_02]: They should have won that happened all the time.
12:16
[SPEAKER_02]: It was a constant conversation.
12:18
[SPEAKER_02]: I do think that they actually have a competent general manager now.
12:20
[SPEAKER_02]: I think this Gladstone guy is on.
12:23
[SPEAKER_02]: He's ballsy is all get out for what he did his first draft in the organization as far as moving up to get Hunter, which I think should concern the cults because that's not the cults in me.
12:33
[SPEAKER_02]: And if to me,
12:35
[SPEAKER_02]: If Jacksonville, that's the way that some of these great teams have operated with their chances and willingness to take gambles.
12:42
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that is something that you have to look at and say, we have to adapt to that.
12:46
[SPEAKER_02]: I also think that Tennessee will be, they were competent quarterback play away from being also not bad.
12:54
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, they were a top five defense, the entire year.
12:57
[SPEAKER_02]: The entire year, they have the number one take on the draft.
12:59
[SPEAKER_02]: So it's not an issue of the division doesn't have talent.
13:02
[SPEAKER_02]: Obviously, the Texans have won the division last two years.
13:05
[SPEAKER_01]: And Texans have a high ceiling and a low floor.
13:09
[SPEAKER_02]: I agree.
13:10
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that that's a team that could win seven games.
13:12
[SPEAKER_02]: That's a team that could win thirteen games.
13:14
[SPEAKER_02]: And I would not be shocked either way.
13:16
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it all comes down the strides ability to adapt to a new offensive coordinator.
13:21
[SPEAKER_02]: This is just going to show that the cults really don't have the cults, you know, could be fortunate enough to limit division with ten games and they could be fortunate enough to win nine games and be
13:33
[SPEAKER_02]: Third place in the division, fourth place in the division, if it's depending on how game shake out, they do have to play the West this year.
13:41
[SPEAKER_02]: They have a tough, they have a tough out of conference schedule.
13:44
[SPEAKER_02]: I will say to South is going to have a tough out of conference schedule or either division schedule.
13:49
[SPEAKER_02]: So I mean, it's all.
13:52
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, what makes the NFL so great is that the league changes every year.
13:56
[SPEAKER_02]: No year you come in.
13:58
[SPEAKER_02]: There's the cheese to win four games next year and you wouldn't like it.
14:05
[SPEAKER_02]: It's just there's not a league.
14:07
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that's more cyclical as far as recycling.
14:11
[SPEAKER_02]: teams getting better teams being competent.
14:13
[SPEAKER_02]: You have your duds like you have the line two were historically awful, the raiders who have been bad, the jets and stuff, but you only have three or four organizations really that are not having any chance of making the playoffs this year.
14:27
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think even those forward division, those four organizations look at it and say there's a chance.
14:32
[SPEAKER_02]: There is a chance if it all shakes out the way we need it to that we ultimately make the playoffs.
14:39
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, they're going to be some bad teams probably, but I don't see any that are glaringly bad like a couple going into last year.
14:45
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll we'll talk more about the NFL coming up on the will rather for show coming up tomorrow morning.
14:52
[SPEAKER_01]: Sorry, producer Susie Thursday morning.
14:56
[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, Thursday morning across.
15:00
[SPEAKER_01]: The quarterback competition isn't the only competition and it's one of course we're going to be talking about as we go.
15:07
[SPEAKER_01]: through the weeks here before the season begins.
15:14
[SPEAKER_01]: One is offensive line.
15:16
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know about if if the competition is really that fierce, but it's going to be very interesting with a new center, a new right guard, a right tackle who returned last year and was good.
15:27
[SPEAKER_01]: A couple years there, not good, mostly injury filled seasons, not good and Braden Smith.
15:34
[SPEAKER_01]: And he got guys like
15:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Blake Freeland and Jalen Travis kind of pushing those guys.
15:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Offensive line is definitely going to be one to watch isn't it?
15:43
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I agree.
15:44
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that I mean, board a lenient pinter as far as that starting center.
15:48
[SPEAKER_02]: I think is probably the one that I feel and right guard.
15:51
[SPEAKER_02]: I think going pal, this is ultimately who will win that battle.
15:55
[SPEAKER_02]: He was kind of the swing man that they had last year.
15:57
[SPEAKER_02]: Although he would be moving from tackle to
16:01
[SPEAKER_02]: the interior, which I think is an easier adjustment than moving from the interior to most of the tackle.
16:06
[SPEAKER_02]: But I feel that to me, board a leaning probably is the one that should win it.
16:10
[SPEAKER_02]: We know what Danny Piner is.
16:12
[SPEAKER_02]: He's the sixth lineman.
16:13
[SPEAKER_02]: He's a sixth seventh lineman.
16:15
[SPEAKER_02]: He would like to have is who you like to have is, you know, security, but he's not ultimately probably a starting center in the NFL.
16:22
[SPEAKER_02]: And I feel like you drafted board a leaning last year with the envision that Ryan Kelly probably wasn't coming back.
16:27
[SPEAKER_02]: So it's one of those organizational decisions where
16:30
[SPEAKER_02]: If Borderline is not your starting center, well, then why did you waste a fourth-round draft pick drafting your center of the future when you knew you probably weren't resigning Ryan Kelly?
16:39
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, that's just the way it got to go.
16:42
[SPEAKER_02]: You can't, you gotta be drafting for two years from now.
16:46
[SPEAKER_02]: You can't just be drafting for this year.
16:49
[SPEAKER_02]: It has to be borderline.
16:50
[SPEAKER_02]: I think for that reason, because you drafted them, you used capital on them.
16:54
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, a fourth round fix, not anything that crazy, but I mean, there's an almond, you're all Saint Brown, fourth round.
16:59
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, there, you know, Pook and Kula was a fourth fifth rounder.
17:02
[SPEAKER_02]: There's a little bit out there.
17:05
[SPEAKER_01]: You can get, you pick good guys later in the draft.
17:09
[SPEAKER_02]: I agree.
17:09
[SPEAKER_02]: So to me, it's got to be borderline.
17:12
[SPEAKER_02]: I think for that reason, she came in.
17:14
[SPEAKER_02]: He played well in Ryan Kelly's absence last year.
17:18
[SPEAKER_02]: It feels like a no-brainer.
17:19
[SPEAKER_02]: I do think the, I mean, Raymond and Nelson are locks.
17:23
[SPEAKER_02]: They're both very good lines.
17:26
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're lines going to be pretty good.
17:28
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're going to be young, but I think they've been developed the right way that seems to be a position that Ballard does a good job of identifying talent and developing.
17:37
[SPEAKER_02]: So I feel like you hope that they can take that next step.
17:41
[SPEAKER_02]: And maybe I see a scenario where there are top ten offensive lines in the game.
17:46
[SPEAKER_02]: next year as far as they're building your run in past attack.
17:50
[SPEAKER_01]: A lot of it's going to depend on these second year guys, but I think they're both pretty good to be honest.
17:59
[SPEAKER_02]: Every season, you have to look at young players who drafted and say that they have to take a leap forward.
18:05
[SPEAKER_02]: At some point, you always have to, it's not, you're just not always going to be able to resign everybody and say, well, our team's going to stay the same for five years.
18:12
[SPEAKER_02]: Like you have to expect these players to take a leap.
18:15
[SPEAKER_02]: And ultimately, it's their responsibility.
18:16
[SPEAKER_02]: It's their responsibility as professionals to develop, get better.
18:20
[SPEAKER_02]: We've put a lot of pressure on the organization, but at some point, it kind of come down to a little bit of player, calendar, there will be two.
18:26
[SPEAKER_02]: How where do you want your career to go?
18:29
[SPEAKER_02]: You hope that they take a lead forward.
18:30
[SPEAKER_02]: You expect them to.
18:31
[SPEAKER_02]: And if not, then you're going into next year, knowing where you have to get better.
18:36
[SPEAKER_02]: You were never resigning for eyes with that deal that Vikings priced him out.
18:40
[SPEAKER_02]: You weren't bringing back Ryan Kelly.
18:42
[SPEAKER_02]: So you knew this was happening.
18:44
[SPEAKER_02]: So now it comes on the organization, the player to take that step forward and say, we are starting alignment in a national football league.
18:53
[SPEAKER_01]: Another thing I want to talk about will is the weapons in the passing game.
18:57
[SPEAKER_01]: No upgrades at wide receiver, but a big year for AD Mitchell.
19:01
[SPEAKER_01]: He's got to be better this year.
19:03
[SPEAKER_01]: And if he is, that's a pretty good wide receiver core.
19:06
[SPEAKER_01]: And then of course, you throw in Tyler Warren into the mix.
19:11
[SPEAKER_01]: The reviews of our been great on Tyler Warren could be a pretty good receiving core.
19:17
[SPEAKER_02]: Warren was going to be great.
19:18
[SPEAKER_02]: His tape did not allow.
19:20
[SPEAKER_02]: Like he's just one of those players.
19:21
[SPEAKER_02]: Like he's just going to be good in the NFL.
19:23
[SPEAKER_02]: Like he's a guy.
19:24
[SPEAKER_02]: You see, he's a Sunday guy.
19:25
[SPEAKER_02]: Even when you sell it on Saturday, his versatile, the I see a scenario where Tyler Warren probably leads this team and receiving yards.
19:31
[SPEAKER_02]: I, I think Pitman was just rattled with injuries last year.
19:36
[SPEAKER_02]: I still think Michael Pitman is an awfully good receiver.
19:39
[SPEAKER_02]: If he's my two
19:40
[SPEAKER_02]: I really love Michael Pittman as my two, but you need AD Mitchell to take that step forward.
19:45
[SPEAKER_02]: And honestly, out Pierce showed that he is, he can be a competent wider receiver as far as the downfield threat.
19:51
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, he had, he had over eight hundred receiving yards last year.
19:54
[SPEAKER_02]: The, the cults were the only franchise in the entire league after three receivers over eight hundred yards last year.
20:01
[SPEAKER_02]: Wow.
20:01
[SPEAKER_02]: Only thing between downs, hitman and outpairs, only organization to have that.
20:07
[SPEAKER_02]: So I think it's one of those where it's good not great, but that good can be awfully dangerous if you use it in the way that it should be, they kind of have receivers at each level.
20:19
[SPEAKER_02]: It's, it's a team that in a positional group that, you know, once again, they need to take a step forward as far as downs and peers and eighty Mitchell really solidifying themselves as legit NFL threats because you know what you're getting with Michael Pittman.
20:33
[SPEAKER_02]: You're getting a possessioner seever who's going to catch a lot of passes if he's there.
20:37
[SPEAKER_02]: and healthy if they find him, which I do think last year, there were some issues finding Michael Pittman a lot of times in the flat, stuff like that, especially in the inner, the five to ten yard range, that's kind of where Pittman feasts.
20:50
[SPEAKER_02]: You've got pierces the downfield threat and then you're gonna have a warrant up the scene.
20:54
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, that's, that's, you, your offense is still how it should be now.
20:57
[SPEAKER_02]: You have an excellent run game that's gonna make the past game even better.
21:01
[SPEAKER_02]: You have quarterbacks that can throw the foot up, you know, Daniel Jones,
21:06
[SPEAKER_02]: can throw a football.
21:07
[SPEAKER_02]: I can throw a football too.
21:09
[SPEAKER_02]: He does it better than I am, but anybody can do it.
21:12
[SPEAKER_02]: But you've got an Anthony Richardson who couldn't really throw a football.
21:16
[SPEAKER_02]: Who's a, you know, a one of maybe a couple arm talents in the league.
21:21
[SPEAKER_01]: So by the way, will it's then your judge is not an incompetent quarterback.
21:26
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think he's.
21:27
[SPEAKER_02]: He just loves to throw the football dealer team.
21:29
[SPEAKER_02]: I had the same wrong.
21:31
[SPEAKER_02]: I played in high school.
21:32
[SPEAKER_02]: I apparently was colorblind where I couldn't see my own receivers.
21:37
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think, you know, Jones has that same issue.
21:38
[SPEAKER_02]: Only difference is that he's in NFL for.
21:41
[SPEAKER_02]: Again, there's a lot more scrutiny when you do that.
21:44
[SPEAKER_01]: So I don't think one for the Owood Panthers is a big deal will.
21:49
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
21:49
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, you know, I had down around me as a shame I couldn't do more form, but
21:54
[SPEAKER_01]: I guess that's where I know about quarterback struggles.
21:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's move a little to the defense and it's just going to come down to are the linebackers good enough and because right now it just looks like the answer is no.
22:08
[SPEAKER_02]: I said that linebackers are massive positional need.
22:11
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that their front force good.
22:13
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're back for.
22:16
[SPEAKER_02]: Buckner and Stewart are both top fifteen interior linemen in the league.
22:22
[SPEAKER_02]: and they might have the worst pass rushing duo in the in the well that I think that's fair but as far as their a gap pressure is good and their ability to stuff the run is
22:32
[SPEAKER_02]: admirable.
22:33
[SPEAKER_02]: Now, what I do know for a certainty is that Nick Cross, a strong safety, cannot be the third leading packer on the, on the Indianapolis Colts.
22:43
[SPEAKER_02]: It cannot happen.
22:44
[SPEAKER_02]: He cannot be having tentacles in the game.
22:46
[SPEAKER_02]: Because that means that we're not just getting past the first level, we're getting past the second level.
22:50
[SPEAKER_02]: And we're making tackles that, you know, in twelve yards down field, those are first downs.
22:55
[SPEAKER_02]: And that's not a recipe that's clock running.
22:58
[SPEAKER_02]: That's, they've got to be much better in that aspect.
23:02
[SPEAKER_02]: Is that your friend can look like he couldn't tackle a shadow last year?
23:05
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, that is how bad he will eat a speed.
23:07
[SPEAKER_02]: They literally look like they could not tackle themselves if they tried to.
23:11
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think that's a huge issue.
23:13
[SPEAKER_02]: Like your linebackers have to tackle.
23:15
[SPEAKER_02]: That is even go beyond defensive scheme.
23:19
[SPEAKER_02]: If your linebackers, whose one job really is to tackle and they're not doing it, you're really in trouble.
23:32
[SPEAKER_01]: zero impact on me last year and in the depth I've never heard of any of.
23:38
[SPEAKER_02]: No, the line backing cords really somewhere that I hope that they see in training camp.
23:42
[SPEAKER_02]: Hey, this is an issue and we need to go get the best available free agent because we this is not sustainable the way that this team is defensive team is is fielded because I think that that's the only unit that is going to fail this team.
23:56
[SPEAKER_02]: Like I see the front for I think you hope that law two takes a step forward.
24:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Hope so, yeah.
24:02
[SPEAKER_02]: And if he does, if he does, if he's a twelve, ten twelve sat guy and they're getting pressure from Bucknear and Stewart, that's definitely what you want to see.
24:12
[SPEAKER_02]: Now, the issue isn't, is that the line backing cannot be bad behind it.
24:17
[SPEAKER_02]: I expect the secondary to be good.
24:19
[SPEAKER_02]: Actually, I expect it to be a pretty good secondary.
24:23
[SPEAKER_02]: The line backing has to be average if not better.
24:27
[SPEAKER_02]: Like if it's if it's below average, I think that that's really going to be an exploited issue and one thing I cannot watch Greg, I cannot watch tight ends have a hundred receiving yards against this team.
24:38
[SPEAKER_02]: That's all I felt like every game I turned on last year were given up.
24:43
[SPEAKER_02]: about a hundred and twenty yards to there, you know, third string tied in.
24:47
[SPEAKER_02]: It's like what the hell are we doing?
24:49
[SPEAKER_02]: We've got to cover tight ends.
24:51
[SPEAKER_02]: We've got to play better in zone coverage, which is really where your linebacks are placed.
24:56
[SPEAKER_02]: You draw, it's just every facet of the game they have to get better at.
25:01
[SPEAKER_01]: So doubt about it.
25:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Now the defensive backfield depth is incredible.
25:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe you can make a move and
25:11
[SPEAKER_01]: get a linebacker because they have to.
25:13
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, it's just, it's not just the worst linebacking core in the NFL.
25:19
[SPEAKER_01]: It's one of the worst I've ever seen.
25:22
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it's really bad.
25:24
[SPEAKER_02]: It's really, really bad.
25:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Before we go here, give me a best case scenario and a worst case scenario for the cult.
25:34
[SPEAKER_02]: Best case scenario, they win a playoff game and get to the divisional rounds.
25:42
[SPEAKER_01]: What has to have worse kit?
25:44
[SPEAKER_02]: Richardson just has to play well.
25:46
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, he just has to be, he has to be good.
25:49
[SPEAKER_02]: Like he doesn't even need to, I think if he can throw it hit, fifty five to sixty percent of his passes and complete those and run the ball efficiently, that's all you need from Richardson.
26:01
[SPEAKER_02]: Like his talent is enough that he'll make those fifty five, sixty percent of his throws worth it.
26:06
[SPEAKER_02]: Like you see that when he is able to step into a throw and rip the ball down field, good things happen all the time.
26:13
[SPEAKER_02]: If he can run, I think he looks like he's in better shape.
26:17
[SPEAKER_02]: So if he can run and stay free of injury, there's no reason that this team can't win a playoff game.
26:24
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not saying that it's, you know, maybe just making the playoffs is a win, but I like to say, let's win a wildcard game.
26:32
[SPEAKER_02]: Worst case scenario, the draft in for our remaining last year or next year, because
26:39
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, you don't want to have a season that the cults win three games.
26:43
[SPEAKER_02]: You know what?
26:44
[SPEAKER_01]: They won three games than six or eight.
26:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Sure.
26:48
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's winning three games the worst case scenario.
26:51
[SPEAKER_02]: We can't if we're going to we're I'm going to view it through the lens of the worst case this year not for the future the worst case this year is that this team for this in for this Indianapolis Colts team.
27:02
[SPEAKER_02]: This iteration of it there worst cases being the worst team in the league for next year.
27:07
[SPEAKER_02]: It's the great greatest thing.
27:09
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it might be the best case scenario for this roster that they are three and fourteen.
27:15
[SPEAKER_01]: And drafting a quarter back next year because there are three or four franchise quarterbacks.
27:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Now, if they do want to play off game, I think that's probably best case scenario because that means Anthony Richardson is the franchise quarterback.
27:29
[SPEAKER_01]: But after that, going three and four team would be preferable to me than even going nine and eight sneaking into the playoffs and getting spanked in the first round.
27:40
[SPEAKER_02]: Actually, I want to change my answer.
27:41
[SPEAKER_02]: I want to, I've, I've thought about a little bit more.
27:43
[SPEAKER_02]: I want to change my answer.
27:44
[SPEAKER_02]: Worst case scenario is that Chris Mallard is still the general manager next year.
27:48
[SPEAKER_01]: There you go.
27:48
[SPEAKER_01]: See, and if they go three and fourteen, there's no chance that's happening.
27:54
[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's a dead man walking in any way.
27:56
[SPEAKER_02]: I think he, they can put a playoff game and I think his ass is fired.
27:59
[SPEAKER_02]: I really, I think he's fired either way, but because they haven't, they've had a plan.
28:05
[SPEAKER_01]: And this is, this is a bridge year.
28:08
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if it's,
28:09
[SPEAKER_01]: The plan I've been talking about that they have a plan I believe.
28:14
[SPEAKER_02]: I think I think that the doctors, the Ursa girls are women, I should say, are more than competent, more than ready.
28:23
[SPEAKER_02]: And honestly, I think they're ready to shake things up.
28:25
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that if anything, there's going to be a different vibe around this team in the future.
28:30
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they're going to be winners.
28:32
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Jim had a plan going into next year.
28:35
[SPEAKER_01]: And of course, his daughters, and it's okay to say,
28:38
[SPEAKER_01]: girls because they're his girls.
28:41
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's okay to say the Ursa girls I like that.
28:45
[SPEAKER_01]: But I think there's been a plan all along starting next year that has been in place.
28:50
[SPEAKER_02]: I hope you're right.
28:51
[SPEAKER_01]: I really hope you're right because it explains retaining everybody.
28:56
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm patiently waiting.
28:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'll take a four keen and three or a three and fourteen anything in between.
29:02
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not going to be real thrilled.
29:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Thanks so much Will.
29:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, thank you.
29:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Once again, make sure you turn in first thing tomorrow for the Will Rutherford show.
29:15
[SPEAKER_01]: We talking more NFL will be talking a lot of AFL.
29:18
[SPEAKER_01]: It'll be mostly NFL.
29:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, the fever fever and a little all star game, but mostly it's going to be.
29:26
[SPEAKER_01]: It's NFL time now will.
29:28
[SPEAKER_01]: We've ignored it for like three months.
29:30
[SPEAKER_01]: It's time.
29:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Thanks so much to Will for filling in and thank you for listening.
29:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Please share this podcast with the
29:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Coax fans in your life and help spread the word about the syndrome and the sports report.
29:44
[SPEAKER_01]: Appreciate it as always.
29:52
[SPEAKER_01]: This syndrome Indiana sports report is a product of ITG media and I love Susie.