September 3, 2025 • 11 mins
Locked on Colts host and Sports Illustrated Beat Reporter Jake Arthur joins the show to preview the Houston Texans' AFC South foe, the QB situatuon and overall thoughts coming out of Indianapolis.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
It is the A team Sports Talks seven to ninety
Space City Home Network, Adam Wexler over there, Adam Clanton
right here, and Jake Arthur. He follows or covers the
Colts on SI, also covers them on Lockdown Colts as
our tour of the AFC South continues leading up to
this opening weekend in the NFL. Jake, appreciate you taking
(00:26):
the time out, and I'll just ask you what I
kind of stated the other day. Is the originally slated
starting quarterback for the Colts before all this mess happened?
Is he a bust? Is he done? Is that where
you guys are at in Indianapolis right now?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I think Anthony's time in India is certainly difficult to
salvage at this point outside of Daniel Jones getting injured.
So I would be hesitant to say that we've seen
the last of him, just because you know, as in yours,
Anthony as Ben Daniel Jones has not had the cleanest
bill of health in his career either. But like saying that,
(01:07):
let's say twenty twenty six, he'll be in the mix
to be the starter that I have very serious doubt about.
Now they're saying all the right things. They won't give
up on him, they still believe in his development and everything.
But I mean, can any of us think of a quarterback's.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Career who was really successful that.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Got started out this way without at least changing scenery.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
I would say not.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Well, he doesn't throw the ball to where it's supposed
to go. It's pretty much the name of the game
for quarterbacks, no matter how athletic you are. And he
can't throw passes where they're supposed to go. And it's
been a two year long problem, if not also a
Florida problem for as little he was on the field.
So I think they're making the right decision. I thought
signing Daniel Jones, considering what their options were, was smart.
I don't even believe there was a quarterback competition, much
(01:51):
of one, and as much as Shane Stiken tried to
point towards one. So they have a poor quarterback yet again,
which has been the story ever since Andrew Lux said
this is it for me out. Can they win games
with the rest of their roster in spite of what
is likely some park quarterback play.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Well, I think so.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I mean they've they've gone seventeen to seventeen the last
two years with Gardner Minshew, Joe Flaco, and Anthony Richardson.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
As their quarterback. So as you guys will know, you know,
twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Three, that was a play in game there in Week eighteen,
you know what winner wins the division and if not
for that botched fourth down play against the Texans there
at the end, the Colts somehow.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
May have won the division. So I think it's what.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
The Colts kind of see here is you know, with
Gardner Minshew, as unspectacular as he was, he was at
least someone that could execute what Shane Stikeen was asking
of him.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
And I think they're getting a slot.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
I think they think they're getting a slight upgrade in
Daniel Jones over Minshew in twenty twenty three. And you know,
outside of that, this is this is a pretty decent
roster that just needs reasonable quarterback play in order to
be back in playoff contention. I've seen some you know,
national pundits have kind of got them even at low
(03:07):
as like four thirteen or five and twelve. I think
that's a little wild. I think they're they're real ranges
anywhere from like seven to ten to.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Ten and seven interesting. One of their players in particular,
I think is kind of like an acquisition. I've had
three Fantasy drafts and not one time has ad Nin
Mitchell been taken by anybody auction or otherwise. It's basically
to me like they acquired him in the offseason because
playing with Anthony Richardson was useless for him. He kept
getting open and he kept getting nothing to show for
(03:36):
it because the ball was nowhere near him. Do they
have with now Warren their draft pick, Mitchell and Pittman
obviously a healthy Jonathan Taylor. Is that kind of where
you're coming from saying I think there's a talented group here.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
It is a pretty talented group now with with aighty Mitchell.
His problems did go with Joe Flacco as well.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
As much as he got.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Opened, he had a already poor rookie season. There was
just you know there, he doesn't play with a lot
of urgency, and when the ball did get to him,
he kind of showed an aversion to contact, you know
here in footsteps and kind of gator arms.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
So to speak.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Remember that said, he did have a great summer and
awesome summer, But the thing is, he's like the fourth
receiver and he might be the fifth or sixth option
in the passing game when you had in Tyler Warren
in their running backs as well. So yeah, Pittman, Pierce,
Josh Downs, Adie Mitchell should eventually.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Figure it out like that.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
They the Colts believe that he's really the most talented
receiver on the roster, and you saw you saw start
to flash more often during training camp. But I don't know,
it's it's hard because I think a successful season for
him might even just be like thirty or so catches
because he's just there's just a lot of mouths defeat
(04:54):
in this offense, especially in the passing game. For him,
it's about efficiency and making the most of his opportun unities.
But as far as you know, the Daniel Jones of
it goes with kind of a decent group of playmakers
around him, I would say, you know that outside of
that twenty twenty two season with the Giants where he
earned that big contract, I mean, this is probably the
(05:15):
best group he's had around him. The offensive line should
be decent. He got a tight end and Tyler Warren.
He's got these receivers, So if he can't really put
it all together here, It's going to be pretty tough
to justify him after this if he doesn't, if he
doesn't pull the strings.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Talking to Indianapolis Colts with Jake Arthur here on Sports
Talk seven to ninety. Jake, what's your assessment of Chris Ballard?
It's been an up and down tenure. It's been I think, well,
in my opinion, it's been a lot longer than I
thought it was going to last, just based on just
the tenure he's had there, the amount of time he's
been in place, and everything that's happened good and bad
(05:54):
since he's been there. Is he is he on a
hot seat? Does the erses like him?
Speaker 3 (06:00):
What is?
Speaker 1 (06:00):
What's the deal with him right now?
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (06:04):
I think it's fair to say he's absolutely on the
hot seat. I think most of us were surprised that
he survived last year, you know, him and Stike and
getting kind of one last go of it. But I
think the Rsaye sisters are having this season be just
a true evaluation period. And I don't know if there's
a mandate in.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Place, like playoffs or bust, but I think.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
The vast majority of majority of us around here certainly
feel like it's playoffs or bust because most likely, regardless
of how Jones says, you're probably in the quarterback market
next year.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
It's it's just tough.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
You know, it's been four years without the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
He's only made.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
It twice in the this is now year nine, and
that was with Philip Rivers and Andrew Walckett quarterback. So
it's it's just more and more difficult each year that
goes on without any postseason birth or postseason optimism to
keep him around. And you know, if you're going to
be searching for a quarterback again next offseason, well, I
(07:06):
don't think he's really earned the trust to be championing
that approach because they have not gotten the quarterback position
corrects and luck retired, and it's it's always kind of
been able to be somebody else's fault. You know, you
could tie the quarterback to Frank Reich or Shane stike
In or this or that, and it's like at a certain
(07:28):
point you just got to move on and kind of
figure something out. Now there's a I think a very
narrow avenue for Ballad to retain his spot here, and
you know you got to.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Have you got to get to the postseason.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
You got to have some building blocks in place for
next year to be able to really sell ownership on
this is our identity, this is where we're going. We
need you know this and this and then we'll take
that big next step. But outside of that, it's it's
just so hard to justify giving it a tenth year.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
You cussed out its playoffs or bus you're talking about
Ballard's tenure. You talk about a possibility of a ten
win season needs to go to the playoffs. Isn't winning eight,
nine or ten games the worst thing that could happen
for the Indianapolis Colts because Daniel Jones, you said it yourself,
he's not gonna be the quarterback next year. So what
do you want a nine or ten win team being
quarterbacked by the guy on the way out? When it
(08:20):
lands you somewhere in the middle of the first round
of the draft, when you still need the same thing
you've needed since Andrew Lux said good riddance.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Yeah, that's certainly been a hot topic around here. Is
you're just kind of you've kind of been stuck in
treading water area for quite some time.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Now.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
You know you're picking anywhere from fourteen to twenty. You're not,
you know, high en up in order to really go
get what you want. I mean, when you were you
got Anthony Richardson. So there's there's certainly some validity to that.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
You hate just to just be in the middle.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I don't think I've quite ever heard as many fans
clamoring for a higher draft pick and a worse result
of the regular season than they are now. You certainly
don't want to root for loss. Is there anything? But
I think the better thing they could do is just
maybe flip.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Some assets for higher draft capital and.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Move up in the draft next year in what should
be a pretty good quarterback class.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
All right, last thing for you, if you can think
back for me, because it's such a huge topic here
in Houston, for what it resulted in with the Texans.
Texans go and score late and get the two point
conversion and win the game and with it lose the
number one pick draft second to take CJ. Stroud. The
resulting win for the Colts obviously impacted their draft strategy,
(09:45):
and it's kind of where they are now. Are they
also ticked off that the Texans one, we're able to
win that game?
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Well, in hindsight, the Anthony saying, you know, I don't.
I really don't think drafting Anthony was a mistake. I'll
be honest.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
I think whatever their plan was in the development of him.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
That's what was botched. I don't think Anthony would have
just swapped in any.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Scenario, and I don't I don't want it to be
lost in the fact that he actually did have a
pretty good summer and most of us around here have
thought that he won the.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Quarterback competition, so he showed some progress. But yeah, the
way that he was kind of.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Brought into the league, they've even admitted themselves in hindsight,
was not what they would have done if they got to.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Do over at this point. You know, I think C. J.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Stroud was someone they definitely would have wanted as well,
as Stroud may have even been their top quarterback, but
they were very much on board with getting Richardson. He
wasn't considered a consolation prize, so.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
I don't think they would do that over. But I
do think they.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Would love a review on his development or lack thereof.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Interesting perspective where Richardson stands with the Colts stand in.
Our trip for the through the AFC South will continue Jake,
really appreciate your time, enjoy your coverage, and we'll hope
to catch up with you later this season.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Absolutely, thank you guys, love to share you got.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
It, Jake Arthur. We'll be just fine here on the radio.
Jake Arthur of Colts on s I Locked on Colts
as well a number of different places you can catch
his work. Texans and Colts, Well, we won't be talking
about that till way way late in the season when
they meet for the first time. We will be talking
about whatever's on Chris Gordie's mind. We come back here
on Sports Talk seven
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Ninety The eight on Sports Talk seven ninety
It is the A team Sports Talks seven to ninety
Space City Home Network, Adam Wexler over there, Adam Clanton
right here, and Jake Arthur. He follows or covers the
Colts on SI, also covers them on Lockdown Colts as
our tour of the AFC South continues leading up to
this opening weekend in the NFL. Jake, appreciate you taking
(00:26):
the time out, and I'll just ask you what I
kind of stated the other day. Is the originally slated
starting quarterback for the Colts before all this mess happened?
Is he a bust? Is he done? Is that where
you guys are at in Indianapolis right now?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I think Anthony's time in India is certainly difficult to
salvage at this point outside of Daniel Jones getting injured.
So I would be hesitant to say that we've seen
the last of him, just because you know, as in yours,
Anthony as Ben Daniel Jones has not had the cleanest
bill of health in his career either. But like saying that,
(01:07):
let's say twenty twenty six, he'll be in the mix
to be the starter that I have very serious doubt about.
Now they're saying all the right things. They won't give
up on him, they still believe in his development and everything.
But I mean, can any of us think of a quarterback's.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Career who was really successful that.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Got started out this way without at least changing scenery.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
I would say not.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Well, he doesn't throw the ball to where it's supposed
to go. It's pretty much the name of the game
for quarterbacks, no matter how athletic you are. And he
can't throw passes where they're supposed to go. And it's
been a two year long problem, if not also a
Florida problem for as little he was on the field.
So I think they're making the right decision. I thought
signing Daniel Jones, considering what their options were, was smart.
I don't even believe there was a quarterback competition, much
(01:51):
of one, and as much as Shane Stiken tried to
point towards one. So they have a poor quarterback yet again,
which has been the story ever since Andrew Lux said
this is it for me out. Can they win games
with the rest of their roster in spite of what
is likely some park quarterback play.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Well, I think so.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I mean they've they've gone seventeen to seventeen the last
two years with Gardner Minshew, Joe Flaco, and Anthony Richardson.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
As their quarterback. So as you guys will know, you know,
twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Three, that was a play in game there in Week eighteen,
you know what winner wins the division and if not
for that botched fourth down play against the Texans there
at the end, the Colts somehow.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
May have won the division. So I think it's what.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
The Colts kind of see here is you know, with
Gardner Minshew, as unspectacular as he was, he was at
least someone that could execute what Shane Stikeen was asking
of him.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
And I think they're getting a slot.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
I think they think they're getting a slight upgrade in
Daniel Jones over Minshew in twenty twenty three. And you know,
outside of that, this is this is a pretty decent
roster that just needs reasonable quarterback play in order to
be back in playoff contention. I've seen some you know,
national pundits have kind of got them even at low
(03:07):
as like four thirteen or five and twelve. I think
that's a little wild. I think they're they're real ranges
anywhere from like seven to ten to.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Ten and seven interesting. One of their players in particular,
I think is kind of like an acquisition. I've had
three Fantasy drafts and not one time has ad Nin
Mitchell been taken by anybody auction or otherwise. It's basically
to me like they acquired him in the offseason because
playing with Anthony Richardson was useless for him. He kept
getting open and he kept getting nothing to show for
(03:36):
it because the ball was nowhere near him. Do they
have with now Warren their draft pick, Mitchell and Pittman
obviously a healthy Jonathan Taylor. Is that kind of where
you're coming from saying I think there's a talented group here.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
It is a pretty talented group now with with aighty Mitchell.
His problems did go with Joe Flacco as well.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
As much as he got.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Opened, he had a already poor rookie season. There was
just you know there, he doesn't play with a lot
of urgency, and when the ball did get to him,
he kind of showed an aversion to contact, you know
here in footsteps and kind of gator arms.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
So to speak.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Remember that said, he did have a great summer and
awesome summer, But the thing is, he's like the fourth
receiver and he might be the fifth or sixth option
in the passing game when you had in Tyler Warren
in their running backs as well. So yeah, Pittman, Pierce,
Josh Downs, Adie Mitchell should eventually.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Figure it out like that.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
They the Colts believe that he's really the most talented
receiver on the roster, and you saw you saw start
to flash more often during training camp. But I don't know,
it's it's hard because I think a successful season for
him might even just be like thirty or so catches
because he's just there's just a lot of mouths defeat
(04:54):
in this offense, especially in the passing game. For him,
it's about efficiency and making the most of his opportun unities.
But as far as you know, the Daniel Jones of
it goes with kind of a decent group of playmakers
around him, I would say, you know that outside of
that twenty twenty two season with the Giants where he
earned that big contract, I mean, this is probably the
(05:15):
best group he's had around him. The offensive line should
be decent. He got a tight end and Tyler Warren.
He's got these receivers, So if he can't really put
it all together here, It's going to be pretty tough
to justify him after this if he doesn't, if he
doesn't pull the strings.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Talking to Indianapolis Colts with Jake Arthur here on Sports
Talk seven to ninety. Jake, what's your assessment of Chris Ballard?
It's been an up and down tenure. It's been I think, well,
in my opinion, it's been a lot longer than I
thought it was going to last, just based on just
the tenure he's had there, the amount of time he's
been in place, and everything that's happened good and bad
(05:54):
since he's been there. Is he is he on a
hot seat? Does the erses like him?
Speaker 3 (06:00):
What is?
Speaker 1 (06:00):
What's the deal with him right now?
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (06:04):
I think it's fair to say he's absolutely on the
hot seat. I think most of us were surprised that
he survived last year, you know, him and Stike and
getting kind of one last go of it. But I
think the Rsaye sisters are having this season be just
a true evaluation period. And I don't know if there's
a mandate in.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Place, like playoffs or bust, but I think.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
The vast majority of majority of us around here certainly
feel like it's playoffs or bust because most likely, regardless
of how Jones says, you're probably in the quarterback market
next year.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
It's it's just tough.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
You know, it's been four years without the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
He's only made.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
It twice in the this is now year nine, and
that was with Philip Rivers and Andrew Walckett quarterback. So
it's it's just more and more difficult each year that
goes on without any postseason birth or postseason optimism to
keep him around. And you know, if you're going to
be searching for a quarterback again next offseason, well, I
(07:06):
don't think he's really earned the trust to be championing
that approach because they have not gotten the quarterback position
corrects and luck retired, and it's it's always kind of
been able to be somebody else's fault. You know, you
could tie the quarterback to Frank Reich or Shane stike
In or this or that, and it's like at a certain
(07:28):
point you just got to move on and kind of
figure something out. Now there's a I think a very
narrow avenue for Ballad to retain his spot here, and
you know you got to.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Have you got to get to the postseason.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
You got to have some building blocks in place for
next year to be able to really sell ownership on
this is our identity, this is where we're going. We
need you know this and this and then we'll take
that big next step. But outside of that, it's it's
just so hard to justify giving it a tenth year.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
You cussed out its playoffs or bus you're talking about
Ballard's tenure. You talk about a possibility of a ten
win season needs to go to the playoffs. Isn't winning eight,
nine or ten games the worst thing that could happen
for the Indianapolis Colts because Daniel Jones, you said it yourself,
he's not gonna be the quarterback next year. So what
do you want a nine or ten win team being
quarterbacked by the guy on the way out? When it
(08:20):
lands you somewhere in the middle of the first round
of the draft, when you still need the same thing
you've needed since Andrew Lux said good riddance.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Yeah, that's certainly been a hot topic around here. Is
you're just kind of you've kind of been stuck in
treading water area for quite some time.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Now.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
You know you're picking anywhere from fourteen to twenty. You're not,
you know, high en up in order to really go
get what you want. I mean, when you were you
got Anthony Richardson. So there's there's certainly some validity to that.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
You hate just to just be in the middle.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I don't think I've quite ever heard as many fans
clamoring for a higher draft pick and a worse result
of the regular season than they are now. You certainly
don't want to root for loss. Is there anything? But
I think the better thing they could do is just
maybe flip.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Some assets for higher draft capital and.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Move up in the draft next year in what should
be a pretty good quarterback class.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
All right, last thing for you, if you can think
back for me, because it's such a huge topic here
in Houston, for what it resulted in with the Texans.
Texans go and score late and get the two point
conversion and win the game and with it lose the
number one pick draft second to take CJ. Stroud. The
resulting win for the Colts obviously impacted their draft strategy,
(09:45):
and it's kind of where they are now. Are they
also ticked off that the Texans one, we're able to
win that game?
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Well, in hindsight, the Anthony saying, you know, I don't.
I really don't think drafting Anthony was a mistake. I'll
be honest.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
I think whatever their plan was in the development of him.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
That's what was botched. I don't think Anthony would have
just swapped in any.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Scenario, and I don't I don't want it to be
lost in the fact that he actually did have a
pretty good summer and most of us around here have
thought that he won the.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Quarterback competition, so he showed some progress. But yeah, the
way that he was kind of.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Brought into the league, they've even admitted themselves in hindsight,
was not what they would have done if they got to.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Do over at this point. You know, I think C. J.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Stroud was someone they definitely would have wanted as well,
as Stroud may have even been their top quarterback, but
they were very much on board with getting Richardson. He
wasn't considered a consolation prize, so.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
I don't think they would do that over. But I
do think they.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Would love a review on his development or lack thereof.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Interesting perspective where Richardson stands with the Colts stand in.
Our trip for the through the AFC South will continue Jake,
really appreciate your time, enjoy your coverage, and we'll hope
to catch up with you later this season.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Absolutely, thank you guys, love to share you got.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
It, Jake Arthur. We'll be just fine here on the radio.
Jake Arthur of Colts on s I Locked on Colts
as well a number of different places you can catch
his work. Texans and Colts, Well, we won't be talking
about that till way way late in the season when
they meet for the first time. We will be talking
about whatever's on Chris Gordie's mind. We come back here
on Sports Talk seven
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Ninety The eight on Sports Talk seven ninety
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