Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Men's been all right here with you.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Special thanks to the Hall of Famer Steve Atwater for
joining us in studio last hour. We missed any part
of that, obviously, you can go to Broncos Country Not
dot Com, Slash podcast wherever each podcast, Apple, iTunes, Spotify
to the free, and also my heart radio app Neoda.
Didn't quite nail it, but we're getting there. Gotta go
up like an octave almost to the Grand Smith levels
and we'll get We'll get it there. You can download
(00:23):
it there as always if you ever missed any part
of that, we appreciate you guys doing that and like
writing and subscribe all that kind of stuff. We don't
have to gaateway comment Spirit Health Hotline though. Get behind
Enemy Lines with Deston Adams on Twitter at the Deston
Adams is a Colt beat writer in fil draft analysts
for Agency Sports and a good friend of mine.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Destin.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
How you doing this evening?
Speaker 4 (00:43):
I'm doing good, guys. How are you guys doing doing well?
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Doing well? This?
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
This game which you know, I know every hot take
artist out there with the microphones says every game is
must win and all that kind of stuff and all
that Hyperboley but for the Denver Broncos.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
This game might be the most.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Important game in Denver for the Broncos since the run
up to Super Bowl fifty because you lose this game
to the Colts and all of a sudden, every wild
card eligible team owns a tiebreaker on you. Uh, you
win this game, and you put a game distance and
have a tiebreaker on at least one team going into
a Thursday night football game on the road against the Chargers.
From the Broncos side of the house, I would say
(01:18):
fans here feel pretty confident about this game coming off
the bye week. But what is the sentiment up there
in Indy from the fan base?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Yeah, I mean I've had this game circled for about
three weeks as well. I mean, this is do or
die for Indianapolis. I mean, you look at the standings.
They're two full games back from the Broncos, the Chargers,
and the Ravens in this wild card hunt. You lose
this game, you're you're pretty much out of it. You're
you're basically asking these other teams to lose out which
(01:48):
is a lot to ask down the stretch to even
have a chance. And like I said, that's a lot
to ask, and then for the Colts, you get this
win gives you the tiebreaker over Miami, who's below you,
and the Broncos, who are above you. So I really
can't stretch how big of a game this is. I
don't think the Colts as a fan base feel good
about any game right now. Ben. I think every game
(02:12):
is a sit at the end of your seat and
just kind of see what happens. I think Anthony Richardson's
a roll of the dice and what you're going to
get on any given Sunday. There's some fun in that,
there's some good in that, but there's definitely been some
low moments as well.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Yeah, there have, and I wanted to dive in on that.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
I mean, fans in Denver here, now what a quarterback
with a forty seven percent completion percentage looks like they
had Tim Tebow. But Anthony Richardson is also doing something
and Tebow did not, And that's leading the NFL in
hearts for completion with a lot of these deep shots,
specifically with Alec Pierce.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
How you know you look at this sent on paper.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
I mean, the Broncos have won their last three, the Colts,
who won to it the last three, but the Colts
have been one point victory's on the road against you know,
lesser n the East teams and then you know, convincing
loss to the Detroit Lions. As you look at these,
he's Anthony Richard's in the guy in terms of now
and is he the guy for the future.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Can you win with a guy.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Who's throwing passes complete?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
I mean I think the benching was a big wake.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Up call for him, and I think the team is
in general. I think a lot of these bets took
some ownership in their part in their poor play, leading
to that decision having to be made for some other
reasons as well, and I think he showed in two
of these last three weeks. I mean, there's the roller
coaster of a season for him in terms of good
(03:34):
and bad moments, but I think these games even have
have it. And since coming back from the bye week,
I feel like there is a sense of trust in
this locker room. In the fact that you said they
won two of their last three and the fact that
both of those wins come off of clutch drives that
are on Anthony Richardson's back. I think this team is
(03:56):
just starting to trust the kid a little bit more,
and I think because that trust is there, we've seen
him be able to move on a little bit faster
from some of these bad throws that he'll have here
and there.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Whereas pre Benching we didn't see that as much.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
We saw a kid that would go out and throw
a bad interception, come back out and then try and
force another ball deep. I don't think we see that
same mentality in the kids since he's came back, and
I think that's been really interesting to watch and I
think that's been a big development for this team and
how much they actually believe the playoffs might be possible
this year.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Talking within Adams at the Destin Adams on Twitter, if
you were to describe this Colts team to a Broncos
fan base that largely hasn't seen them play much, what
would you say?
Speaker 1 (04:42):
This team is offensively and defensively?
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Yeah, I mean on offense, this is a team that
they want to live by the run game. And when
I say that, usually with other teams that's handoff over
and over and over again. In terms of the run game,
with the Colts is a little bit more mystery there
because of the play one that Richson gives you in.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
The backfield since the mention coming back that they've.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Really dove in to the direct quarterback runs and design
quarterback runs, and that's been a big element of what
they want to do.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
And I also think because of.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
That, like it is a situation that gets the kid
a little bit more confident going forward to where run is.
It's probably like a seventy to thirty run game plan
early on to open it up to be a fifty
to fifty game.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
In the end.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
In the end periods, which is really what you can expect,
you can expect a lot of deep shots after that
first half is over. Entering the second half, you really
see them kind of dive into.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
The past game a little bit.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
More On defense, man, I don't know if anyone here
even knows what to expect from this post defense. I mean,
there's been so many different directions this team have gone.
They really like the defensive line here. They have multiple
guys that have been able to create pressure at a
pretty consistent rate when they're healthy. Worst buster is one
(06:01):
of the best defensive tackles in football. Crover Stewart is.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
A great run stopper.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
But after the defensive line, they it's a bunch of
question marks. I mean, the linebackers have good games, but
they've they've had a lot of tackling issues with mistackles.
Nick Cross is having a really good year of safety.
I wouldn't say he's on pace, but he's gonna have
a chance to break the safety tackle record. It's going
to take forty eight over the next four games, which
(06:28):
is a tall task, but even have the ability to
do it shows that he's had a lot of tackles
this season.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
But you don't really want to safety to have that
many tackles, and that.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Tells you that It tells you that the Colts run
defense has just not been where it needs to be
this season. So it'll be interesting down the stretch. Not
a whole bunch of teams that really live and die
by the run left on the schedule for Indianapolis. But
I mean, I really feel like other opposing offenses should
look at this Colts defense and be licking their lips
(06:58):
at the idea of running the ball on them until
they can stop it.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Well, at Coach's defense, that's not been great against the run.
Can meet at Denver's Broncos offense, it's not been very
good running the football and you know see where the
rubber meets the road on that Shane Snyken head coach
there in front of the show obviously, and you know,
we all love Shane here and he's done a great
job of getting the most out of quarterbacks. But this
is his first go as a head coach. How has
(07:21):
he been received there by Indy? And then you know,
I heard some some rumblings out there, but Chris Ballard
and you know on his job security.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
How does the fan base feel about that duo?
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Yeah, I mean I think Shane after year one, I
think fans were in love with the with the offensive
mind that Shane Stikein brings and the creativity that he
was able to keep in the offense even after having
to go to the back of Gardner Minshew for the
majority of the season. I think in year two the
game playing with Richardson early on turned some of the
fans off. The fact that we didn't see a whole
(07:55):
lot of direct quarterback runs and design quarterback runs early
and the fact that it's not but come a big
part of this offense until after his benching and returning
to the lineup.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
It was a little bit puzzling, but I think.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Overall, I think Shane has looked at as a guy
who knows often in terms of football so well that
it's hard to question him in terms of game planning
and play calling, where I mean every fan base, if
you have any fail on any given Sunday, they're going
to say they hate their play calling, no matter who their.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Play caller is.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
It's one consistency that.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
There is a cross NFL fan bases.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
But personally, as someone who covers the team, I think
the Colts have a pretty dang good play caller and
Shane Stiken and a guy that just loves football. And
when it comes to Chris Ballard, I think the fan base.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
That are are really starting to realize how.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Long it's been since they won an AFC South championship
and the fact that Chris Ballad has never been the
general manager of a Colts team that has won the
AFC South. And there was a lot of excuses and
some of them are warranted early on in his tenure, obviously,
but we when you're in the year eight and you
are still bringing up Andrew looks crazy retirement right before
(09:05):
a season, it starts to lose a little bit of
its weight when it comes to being a rightful excuse
for what's being put on the field. I've been a
person that's been against saying he's on the hot seat
just because I know how close Chris and Jim Rthay are,
But personally, I really started to buy in a lot
from things that I've heard and things that I am
(09:27):
starting to believe on the situation that this team needs
to end this year well for Chris Power to be back,
and that's where that's the that's where I'm starting to
fall on the topic.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Talking with Justin Adams at the Dustin Adams on Twitter,
this team's been a little bit injured on the offense,
you shot of the ball, defense has been fairly healthy.
What can we expect in terms of the receiving core
for this game?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Yeah, I mean getting the buy week came in a
great time.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
I mean they weren't able to have Josh Downs against
the Patriots, and I mean there'd be a lot of
arguments with this statement, but I make I think Josh
Downs is the best receiver on this Colts team. I
think what he brings is just so consistent and he
can be such a big part and I think He
is a major part of what their game plan is
as a passing offense. Whereas I know Michael Pittman just
(10:15):
had his contract in his event in the room and
has had multiple thousand yard seasons. I think missing Josh
downs is that big of a deal. So hopefully the
bye week was able to get his shoulder where it
needs to be and he's able to go out there.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
That kid's tough his.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Nails, So if he has the chance to go out
there and it's his call, I know he's going to
be out there in Denver. So we'll see how it
all plays out. But besides that, I mean, Pittman's been
dealing with a back injury, but he's been on the field.
I'm sure the bye week has helped him. He's not
a guy that's going to go down without a lot
of fighting on his end, so I'd expect him to
be out there. So the cults receiving room should be
(10:50):
pretty healthy, and then the offensive line is where the
big question mark is and how well the buye was
able to.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Get some guys back.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Talking with Dustin Adams here allowed a lot too somebody,
a lot of a lot of Broncos fans were interested
in before ultimately they selected Bowe Knicks. How has he
acclimated to the NFL game there and how has the
team enjoyed him as a rookie.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Yeah, I mean these guys have really bought it. Even
the other pass rushers that maybe win Indy takes a
pass rusher over a secondary player at fifteen whenever, it's
some shock initially, like they've bought fully into the kid.
I mean, leatu Latsu is a guy that loves.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Ball, maybe as much as Shane Styche does.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
So I bet they get along. Even though Shane's expertise
is on the offensive end. Lots of the guy who
has just spends time and time again just on his
craft and perfecting so many different pass rushers. I don't
think you see rookies come into the NFL and have
as many ways that they can go up and beat
a left tackle like we've seen from leatu Latsu does.
(11:52):
Like what he does, it'll be interesting. I mean, I
personally feel if he goes to a team that plays
him had a higher snap town and doesn't have him
so much on a rotation and only playing on passing
downs like the Colts have this year, he's probably talked
about more as.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Rookie of the Year.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
He doesn't have that luxury like we've seen from Jared Verse,
who they kind of opened the door day one and
kind of just unleashed him. The Colts are a little
bit slower putting him out there. He's getting on the
field a little bit more now and a little bit
more consistently, and we've seen the stack totals start to
come here in this that cand half of the year
as a result.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Yeah, it's just one that a lot of fans here,
Jared Vers, a lot of two guys they kept an eye,
they kept eyes on, and then ultimately team selected bon
Nicks and you know, you'd had guys like John Cooper
and you know, especially Nick Ben you don't really have
a breakout seasons.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
So that's kind of fallen by the wayside. But the
excitement for those.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Guys in the run up and getting to see them
on the field is certainly something that fans enjoy.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Looking at these game. The Colts win, if what the
Colts lose. If what.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
I mean, if the Colts win, the goal very much
is the playoffs. I mean, like I said earlier, you
win this game against Denver, you have the tie breaker
against the team below you and the Dolphins already, and
then you'll own a tiebreaker against a Broncos team who
has a very tough go of it after this, I
mean just pulling it up. And you guys know this
already obviously. But after the Colts, the Broncos played the Chargers,
(13:15):
the Bengals, the Chiefs. After this game, the Colts are
going to play the Titans, Giants, Jaguars, very different into
your schedule, two teams, and if the Colts can get
this win over Denver, they just need the Broncos to
lose one down the stretch and then the Colts have
the tiebreaker over the Broncos in terms of that wild
card spot if it comes to it. So it's crucial
(13:36):
if you lose this game, your playoff odds dropped to
less than five percent to make it. If you're Indianapolis,
where you need a team to essentially lose out and
you have to win out after the stretch, and that's
a lot to act. And these three very talented teams
ahead of you, and I think any time you're banking
on another team messing up for you to get in,
you probably don't deserve to get in. So I think
(13:58):
the Colts as a team look into the mirror and
have to decide what that goal is after this. And
like I said earlier, I think a guy whose fate
really really relies on a good finish right now is
Chris Ballard as the GM. I really feel like if
the Colts fall down and down this stretch and are
not able to at least be in punching distance at
(14:18):
that playoffs come week eighteen, I'd be worried if I
was in.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Yeah, it sounds like it sounds like it.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Well, it's going to be an interesting game on Sunday,
and like I said, for Broncos fans, this is probably
the most important game since the run up to Super
Bowl fifty. Looking forward to these two teams square it off.
And appreciate you taking some time.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
For us anytime, man.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Thanks for having me absolutely take care of Destin Adams.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
That the Destin Adams on Twitter, and I always appreciate
you getting a chance to talk to him, and I
get a little pulse of what's going on there with
the with the Indianapolis Colts this game. You know again,
I hate it when you get every shock jock out
there hot take orders out there with a microphone talking
about hyper about something.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
It's important, but this game is it is not important.
It is you know, it is one of those.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Ones you have to win because it's much easier to
take the win bank to win against the Colts here
at home than it is to count on your next
two games going on the road a short week against
one of the most physical teams in football to Los
Angeles Chargers, and then you turn around after that and
you're on the road at Cincinnati, one of the highest
octane offenses in the NFL. So I you know, if
you're the Broncos, it's very feasible that you could win
(15:28):
this win and lose out. You know, there are all
kinds of scenarios here which the thing could blow up.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
You have to win this game, finally, agree.
Speaker 5 (15:35):
You know, you feel like maybe you have two games
margin verir to work with. Even then that's projecting a lot,
but you don't want to waste some of that margin
frer on the easiest game or second easiest game remaining
on your schedule Bengals and Colts. You just got to
take care of business those two weeks, because you know
the Chargers are a nightmare and the Chiefs. I mean,
maybe they're resting starters for that game, but you do
(15:55):
not want to be banking on that a month.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Out, No, you really don't.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
And so that's you know, I would love to be
surprised by the Stidham versus Carson Wentz game week seventeen,
Week eighteen, but that's not something that you want to
bank on. And at this point, banking on the Chiefs
to be resting starters that you can try to get
a dub is not something that I think at the
end of the day, that's hope, is not a strategy, right,
(16:19):
So go in handle business against his Colts team and
if you get that out of the way, then some
of these games you could afford a loss down the
stretch and still be in good shape.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Roccos Country tonight. We'll be back after this
Men's been all right here with you.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Special thanks to the Hall of Famer Steve Atwater for
joining us in studio last hour. We missed any part
of that, obviously, you can go to Broncos Country Not
dot Com, Slash podcast wherever each podcast, Apple, iTunes, Spotify
to the free, and also my heart radio app Neoda.
Didn't quite nail it, but we're getting there. Gotta go
up like an octave almost to the Grand Smith levels
and we'll get We'll get it there. You can download
(00:23):
it there as always if you ever missed any part
of that, we appreciate you guys doing that and like
writing and subscribe all that kind of stuff. We don't
have to gaateway comment Spirit Health Hotline though. Get behind
Enemy Lines with Deston Adams on Twitter at the Deston
Adams is a Colt beat writer in fil draft analysts
for Agency Sports and a good friend of mine.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Destin.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
How you doing this evening?
Speaker 4 (00:43):
I'm doing good, guys. How are you guys doing doing well?
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Doing well? This?
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
This game which you know, I know every hot take
artist out there with the microphones says every game is
must win and all that kind of stuff and all
that Hyperboley but for the Denver Broncos.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
This game might be the most.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Important game in Denver for the Broncos since the run
up to Super Bowl fifty because you lose this game
to the Colts and all of a sudden, every wild
card eligible team owns a tiebreaker on you. Uh, you
win this game, and you put a game distance and
have a tiebreaker on at least one team going into
a Thursday night football game on the road against the Chargers.
From the Broncos side of the house, I would say
(01:18):
fans here feel pretty confident about this game coming off
the bye week. But what is the sentiment up there
in Indy from the fan base?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Yeah, I mean I've had this game circled for about
three weeks as well. I mean, this is do or
die for Indianapolis. I mean, you look at the standings.
They're two full games back from the Broncos, the Chargers,
and the Ravens in this wild card hunt. You lose
this game, you're you're pretty much out of it. You're
you're basically asking these other teams to lose out which
(01:48):
is a lot to ask down the stretch to even
have a chance. And like I said, that's a lot
to ask, and then for the Colts, you get this
win gives you the tiebreaker over Miami, who's below you,
and the Broncos, who are above you. So I really
can't stretch how big of a game this is. I
don't think the Colts as a fan base feel good
about any game right now. Ben. I think every game
(02:12):
is a sit at the end of your seat and
just kind of see what happens. I think Anthony Richardson's
a roll of the dice and what you're going to
get on any given Sunday. There's some fun in that,
there's some good in that, but there's definitely been some
low moments as well.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Yeah, there have, and I wanted to dive in on that.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
I mean, fans in Denver here, now what a quarterback
with a forty seven percent completion percentage looks like they
had Tim Tebow. But Anthony Richardson is also doing something
and Tebow did not, And that's leading the NFL in
hearts for completion with a lot of these deep shots,
specifically with Alec Pierce.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
How you know you look at this sent on paper.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
I mean, the Broncos have won their last three, the Colts,
who won to it the last three, but the Colts
have been one point victory's on the road against you know,
lesser n the East teams and then you know, convincing
loss to the Detroit Lions. As you look at these,
he's Anthony Richard's in the guy in terms of now
and is he the guy for the future.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Can you win with a guy.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Who's throwing passes complete?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
I mean I think the benching was a big wake.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Up call for him, and I think the team is
in general. I think a lot of these bets took
some ownership in their part in their poor play, leading
to that decision having to be made for some other
reasons as well, and I think he showed in two
of these last three weeks. I mean, there's the roller
coaster of a season for him in terms of good
(03:34):
and bad moments, but I think these games even have
have it. And since coming back from the bye week,
I feel like there is a sense of trust in
this locker room. In the fact that you said they
won two of their last three and the fact that
both of those wins come off of clutch drives that
are on Anthony Richardson's back. I think this team is
(03:56):
just starting to trust the kid a little bit more,
and I think because that trust is there, we've seen
him be able to move on a little bit faster
from some of these bad throws that he'll have here
and there.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Whereas pre Benching we didn't see that as much.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
We saw a kid that would go out and throw
a bad interception, come back out and then try and
force another ball deep. I don't think we see that
same mentality in the kids since he's came back, and
I think that's been really interesting to watch and I
think that's been a big development for this team and
how much they actually believe the playoffs might be possible
this year.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Talking within Adams at the Destin Adams on Twitter, if
you were to describe this Colts team to a Broncos
fan base that largely hasn't seen them play much, what
would you say?
Speaker 1 (04:42):
This team is offensively and defensively?
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Yeah, I mean on offense, this is a team that
they want to live by the run game. And when
I say that, usually with other teams that's handoff over
and over and over again. In terms of the run game,
with the Colts is a little bit more mystery there
because of the play one that Richson gives you in.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
The backfield since the mention coming back that they've.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Really dove in to the direct quarterback runs and design
quarterback runs, and that's been a big element of what
they want to do.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
And I also think because of.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
That, like it is a situation that gets the kid
a little bit more confident going forward to where run is.
It's probably like a seventy to thirty run game plan
early on to open it up to be a fifty
to fifty game.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
In the end.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
In the end periods, which is really what you can expect,
you can expect a lot of deep shots after that
first half is over. Entering the second half, you really
see them kind of dive into.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
The past game a little bit.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
More On defense, man, I don't know if anyone here
even knows what to expect from this post defense. I mean,
there's been so many different directions this team have gone.
They really like the defensive line here. They have multiple
guys that have been able to create pressure at a
pretty consistent rate when they're healthy. Worst buster is one
(06:01):
of the best defensive tackles in football. Crover Stewart is.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
A great run stopper.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
But after the defensive line, they it's a bunch of
question marks. I mean, the linebackers have good games, but
they've they've had a lot of tackling issues with mistackles.
Nick Cross is having a really good year of safety.
I wouldn't say he's on pace, but he's gonna have
a chance to break the safety tackle record. It's going
to take forty eight over the next four games, which
(06:28):
is a tall task, but even have the ability to
do it shows that he's had a lot of tackles
this season.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
But you don't really want to safety to have that
many tackles, and that.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Tells you that It tells you that the Colts run
defense has just not been where it needs to be
this season. So it'll be interesting down the stretch. Not
a whole bunch of teams that really live and die
by the run left on the schedule for Indianapolis. But
I mean, I really feel like other opposing offenses should
look at this Colts defense and be licking their lips
(06:58):
at the idea of running the ball on them until
they can stop it.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Well, at Coach's defense, that's not been great against the run.
Can meet at Denver's Broncos offense, it's not been very
good running the football and you know see where the
rubber meets the road on that Shane Snyken head coach
there in front of the show obviously, and you know,
we all love Shane here and he's done a great
job of getting the most out of quarterbacks. But this
is his first go as a head coach. How has
(07:21):
he been received there by Indy? And then you know,
I heard some some rumblings out there, but Chris Ballard
and you know on his job security.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
How does the fan base feel about that duo?
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Yeah, I mean I think Shane after year one, I
think fans were in love with the with the offensive
mind that Shane Stikein brings and the creativity that he
was able to keep in the offense even after having
to go to the back of Gardner Minshew for the
majority of the season. I think in year two the
game playing with Richardson early on turned some of the
fans off. The fact that we didn't see a whole
(07:55):
lot of direct quarterback runs and design quarterback runs early
and the fact that it's not but come a big
part of this offense until after his benching and returning
to the lineup.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
It was a little bit puzzling, but I think.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Overall, I think Shane has looked at as a guy
who knows often in terms of football so well that
it's hard to question him in terms of game planning
and play calling, where I mean every fan base, if
you have any fail on any given Sunday, they're going
to say they hate their play calling, no matter who their.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Play caller is.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
It's one consistency that.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
There is a cross NFL fan bases.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
But personally, as someone who covers the team, I think
the Colts have a pretty dang good play caller and
Shane Stiken and a guy that just loves football. And
when it comes to Chris Ballard, I think the fan base.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
That are are really starting to realize how.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Long it's been since they won an AFC South championship
and the fact that Chris Ballad has never been the
general manager of a Colts team that has won the
AFC South. And there was a lot of excuses and
some of them are warranted early on in his tenure, obviously,
but we when you're in the year eight and you
are still bringing up Andrew looks crazy retirement right before
(09:05):
a season, it starts to lose a little bit of
its weight when it comes to being a rightful excuse
for what's being put on the field. I've been a
person that's been against saying he's on the hot seat
just because I know how close Chris and Jim Rthay are,
But personally, I really started to buy in a lot
from things that I've heard and things that I am
(09:27):
starting to believe on the situation that this team needs
to end this year well for Chris Power to be back,
and that's where that's the that's where I'm starting to
fall on the topic.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Talking with Justin Adams at the Dustin Adams on Twitter,
this team's been a little bit injured on the offense,
you shot of the ball, defense has been fairly healthy.
What can we expect in terms of the receiving core
for this game?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Yeah, I mean getting the buy week came in a
great time.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
I mean they weren't able to have Josh Downs against
the Patriots, and I mean there'd be a lot of
arguments with this statement, but I make I think Josh
Downs is the best receiver on this Colts team. I
think what he brings is just so consistent and he
can be such a big part and I think He
is a major part of what their game plan is
as a passing offense. Whereas I know Michael Pittman just
(10:15):
had his contract in his event in the room and
has had multiple thousand yard seasons. I think missing Josh
downs is that big of a deal. So hopefully the
bye week was able to get his shoulder where it
needs to be and he's able to go out there.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
That kid's tough his.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Nails, So if he has the chance to go out
there and it's his call, I know he's going to
be out there in Denver. So we'll see how it
all plays out. But besides that, I mean, Pittman's been
dealing with a back injury, but he's been on the field.
I'm sure the bye week has helped him. He's not
a guy that's going to go down without a lot
of fighting on his end, so I'd expect him to
be out there. So the cults receiving room should be
(10:50):
pretty healthy, and then the offensive line is where the
big question mark is and how well the buye was
able to.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Get some guys back.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Talking with Dustin Adams here allowed a lot too somebody,
a lot of a lot of Broncos fans were interested
in before ultimately they selected Bowe Knicks. How has he
acclimated to the NFL game there and how has the
team enjoyed him as a rookie.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Yeah, I mean these guys have really bought it. Even
the other pass rushers that maybe win Indy takes a
pass rusher over a secondary player at fifteen whenever, it's
some shock initially, like they've bought fully into the kid.
I mean, leatu Latsu is a guy that loves.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Ball, maybe as much as Shane Styche does.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
So I bet they get along. Even though Shane's expertise
is on the offensive end. Lots of the guy who
has just spends time and time again just on his
craft and perfecting so many different pass rushers. I don't
think you see rookies come into the NFL and have
as many ways that they can go up and beat
a left tackle like we've seen from leatu Latsu does.
(11:52):
Like what he does, it'll be interesting. I mean, I
personally feel if he goes to a team that plays
him had a higher snap town and doesn't have him
so much on a rotation and only playing on passing
downs like the Colts have this year, he's probably talked
about more as.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Rookie of the Year.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
He doesn't have that luxury like we've seen from Jared Verse,
who they kind of opened the door day one and
kind of just unleashed him. The Colts are a little
bit slower putting him out there. He's getting on the
field a little bit more now and a little bit
more consistently, and we've seen the stack totals start to
come here in this that cand half of the year
as a result.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Yeah, it's just one that a lot of fans here,
Jared Vers, a lot of two guys they kept an eye,
they kept eyes on, and then ultimately team selected bon
Nicks and you know, you'd had guys like John Cooper
and you know, especially Nick Ben you don't really have
a breakout seasons.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
So that's kind of fallen by the wayside. But the
excitement for those.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Guys in the run up and getting to see them
on the field is certainly something that fans enjoy.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Looking at these game. The Colts win, if what the
Colts lose. If what.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
I mean, if the Colts win, the goal very much
is the playoffs. I mean, like I said earlier, you
win this game against Denver, you have the tie breaker
against the team below you and the Dolphins already, and
then you'll own a tiebreaker against a Broncos team who
has a very tough go of it after this, I
mean just pulling it up. And you guys know this
already obviously. But after the Colts, the Broncos played the Chargers,
(13:15):
the Bengals, the Chiefs. After this game, the Colts are
going to play the Titans, Giants, Jaguars, very different into
your schedule, two teams, and if the Colts can get
this win over Denver, they just need the Broncos to
lose one down the stretch and then the Colts have
the tiebreaker over the Broncos in terms of that wild
card spot if it comes to it. So it's crucial
(13:36):
if you lose this game, your playoff odds dropped to
less than five percent to make it. If you're Indianapolis,
where you need a team to essentially lose out and
you have to win out after the stretch, and that's
a lot to act. And these three very talented teams
ahead of you, and I think any time you're banking
on another team messing up for you to get in,
you probably don't deserve to get in. So I think
(13:58):
the Colts as a team look into the mirror and
have to decide what that goal is after this. And
like I said earlier, I think a guy whose fate
really really relies on a good finish right now is
Chris Ballard as the GM. I really feel like if
the Colts fall down and down this stretch and are
not able to at least be in punching distance at
(14:18):
that playoffs come week eighteen, I'd be worried if I
was in.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Yeah, it sounds like it sounds like it.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Well, it's going to be an interesting game on Sunday,
and like I said, for Broncos fans, this is probably
the most important game since the run up to Super
Bowl fifty. Looking forward to these two teams square it off.
And appreciate you taking some time.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
For us anytime, man.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Thanks for having me absolutely take care of Destin Adams.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
That the Destin Adams on Twitter, and I always appreciate
you getting a chance to talk to him, and I
get a little pulse of what's going on there with
the with the Indianapolis Colts this game. You know again,
I hate it when you get every shock jock out
there hot take orders out there with a microphone talking
about hyper about something.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
It's important, but this game is it is not important.
It is you know, it is one of those.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Ones you have to win because it's much easier to
take the win bank to win against the Colts here
at home than it is to count on your next
two games going on the road a short week against
one of the most physical teams in football to Los
Angeles Chargers, and then you turn around after that and
you're on the road at Cincinnati, one of the highest
octane offenses in the NFL. So I you know, if
you're the Broncos, it's very feasible that you could win
(15:28):
this win and lose out. You know, there are all
kinds of scenarios here which the thing could blow up.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
You have to win this game, finally, agree.
Speaker 5 (15:35):
You know, you feel like maybe you have two games
margin verir to work with. Even then that's projecting a lot,
but you don't want to waste some of that margin
frer on the easiest game or second easiest game remaining
on your schedule Bengals and Colts. You just got to
take care of business those two weeks, because you know
the Chargers are a nightmare and the Chiefs. I mean,
maybe they're resting starters for that game, but you do
(15:55):
not want to be banking on that a month.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Out, No, you really don't.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
And so that's you know, I would love to be
surprised by the Stidham versus Carson Wentz game week seventeen,
Week eighteen, but that's not something that you want to
bank on. And at this point, banking on the Chiefs
to be resting starters that you can try to get
a dub is not something that I think at the
end of the day, that's hope, is not a strategy, right,
(16:19):
So go in handle business against his Colts team and
if you get that out of the way, then some
of these games you could afford a loss down the
stretch and still be in good shape.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Roccos Country tonight. We'll be back after this
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