September 3, 2025 • 41 mins
On today's edition of Inside Football with Rick Venturi, Rick joins host Matt Taylor to outline his three biggest keys for a successful 2025 season for the Indianapolis Colts. Venturi also rolls out his blueprints for both sides of the ball for the Colts to defeat the Dolphins in week one. How can the Colts contain a healthy Tua Tagovailoa and slow down Miami’s explosive offensive weapons, including Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle? And what strategies can the Colts employ to generate offense against a Dolphins defense that finished in the top 10 last season? Venturi breaks it all down—matchups, schemes, and the critical factors that could shape the outcome in Week 1 and beyond.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Football is about the Jimmy's and Joe's, and x's and
o's guys writing numbers. Three, Jet Spielberg, I'm one, all right,
nast big fly, turbot Selda fourteen, diabolo.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Whim out a bunch, right, Robert de Niro. It's time
to get out the chotboard and diagram some plays. Hey,
sure you get enough dep like twelve yard, fourteen yards,
break on everything.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
This is Inside Football with former Colts and NFL coach
Rick Venturie. Come on now, it is time to rock
and roll. Hope you had a good Labor Day weekend.
Hope drinks were cold and you had a great time.
But now it's time to go to work, baby. Week
one is here and the regular season is upon us.
I'm Matt Taylor. Welcome inside the Indiana Union Construction Industry
(00:46):
Radio studio and welcome inside Inside Football. Here with my
main man, Rick vent Turrey. This is our weekly podcast
talking Colts football and now previewing the opponent coming up.
And it all starts week one on. Rick, you join
us now with your nearly thirty years of NFL coaching background.
Happy regular season to you, my friend. How are you?
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Oh? I'm doing good and you know, to use a
Matt Taylor phrase, the August season is behind it. It
is and once that Labor Day rolls around me and
I enjoyed college football over the weekend. But now now
she gets real, I mean eighteen weeks now and hopefully
more so, you know, can't you know? And the great
(01:29):
break of having you know, two home games to start
the season to give us a chance here, So God,
I can't. I can't wait till Sunday.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
No doubt about it. So we have a very busy
podcast per usual. We're gonna get you ready for Week
one against the Miami Dolphins. We're gonna talk all about
that dynamic offense led by to a tongue of Iola,
and we're also gonna break down the magnitude of this
game with the Colts. We're looking, of course, to get
off to a fast start this season against a team
in the Miami Dolphins that could be in the mix
(01:57):
for a playoff spot later in the year as well.
So a lot of ramifications on the line right out
of the gate potentially. But RV, I want to begin
with your keys for the Colts to have a big season,
right we know they haven't won an opening season game
since twenty thirteen. Starting the season slow, it's been a
franchise problem. The Colts are eighteen and twenty one record
(02:20):
wise in the month of September in the last ten seasons,
and they've opened a season zero in two or worse
six times. So I know you got this laid out
for us. Tell us how this year can be different
with your keys to a big season for the Colts
going into week number one.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Yeah, And I think the first thing psychologically, just to
you know, to dovetail off what you just said, the
first thing we have to get across with these guys
is the last eleven years really does not matter Sunday.
It's all about what we put into it, what we
get out of it on Sunday. Anything in history is
just a diversion and as bad as that history is,
(02:58):
you know, as bad as it is is, it really
has absolutely zero effect unless we allow it to be
because it'll all be about Sunday. You know, I'm gonna
I'm gonna go big picture and then nuance some things
for you. I think there's three things that are really
really critical in terms of big picture winning. I think
(03:20):
you know, there are three stats that I look at
and I put great emphasis on before I even look
at a team on tape or even put their depths
art down. And there's three things I think that the Colts,
if they do these things, I really believe they can
win the South. And I think they're realistic things. I
don't think they're things that I'm asking you to, you know,
(03:41):
to go somewhere, you know, Superman type deal. I think
number one, you know, points giving up. I think that's
the number one statistic in football because it's not just
about your defense and your fourth quarter, you know, it's
also about special teams, field position, time and possession. It
all goes into that. And we ended up twenty fourth
(04:01):
a year ago, which is unacceptable, and we need to
get into that top twelve. We need to get And
the reason I say top twelve, top twelve really puts
you in the hunt. It puts you in the dance
in the you know, in the playoffs, and you know,
with the coaching changes that we've made, you know, with
the players we've brought in, with the experience we've gained.
(04:24):
To me, it's very realistic that we could go from
twenty four to twelve in terms of points I think
number two so much is going to be determined by
quarterback play. You know, last year Daniel Jones was number
twenty six, AR five was number twenty seven. Now we've
got to get that into the top twelve. We got
(04:46):
and we're capable. Danny's capable of that. Danny was number
six in QBR in twenty two, so we have to
find that. We have to get that kind of quarterback play.
And then number third, probably the most statistic over the
years in terms of determining playoffs no playoffs is turnover differential.
(05:07):
And last year, because we gave the ball away so much,
you know, just absolutely so much, we were number twenty
nine in giveaways. Is our turnover differential ended up a
minus four, which is in the bottom twelve. And if
you're in the bottom twelve, you're not close to the playoffs.
And we've got to get that into the top twelve.
(05:28):
And that number normally is a round of plus six.
But I think so much of that is coaching and
control at the game time. But I think realistically, if
you do those three things, if you can get those
three things fixed, which I think we can, then I
think you're a playoff team in terms of you know,
the keys on both sides of the ball. You know,
(05:50):
I think number one, we've got to do a good
job on offense of really getting our game changers the
ball in the right spots. That is Taylor, Warren and Peers.
Those three guys can definitely change a game. They've got
to be there, and you know our other role players
that you know have to be there. If we can
get Mitchell to his ceiling, it could make all the
(06:11):
difference in the world. I think number two, you keep
Danny in his in his lane, you do what he
can do. He's going to be decisive and accurate and
in control of the offense. Uh. Maybe you get him
to be a little bit more of a gunslinger on
fifty to fifty fade balls. And you know, have confidence
in Pierce and Warn and Mitchell and Pittman, And you know,
(06:32):
I think I would incorporate a little bit of NCAA
packages for AR five, kind of like Sean Payton and
Taysom Hill did. Uh. And then of course the offensive line,
you want to stay healthy. You want Bordolini and Gonzalvez
to you know, get get experienced quick because you know
they're going to be tested with with pressures and things
(06:55):
like that. It's not it won't be a matter of talent, right,
It'll be more a matter of playing together because you know,
in passing off stunts and things like that, it's really
a physical feel for one another. You can put it
on the blackboard, you can walk through it, but you've
got to do it live. And then on defense, I think,
you know, we've got a lot of back end talent now,
assuming that Howard and Ward are healthy and can find
(07:19):
their ceiling. You know that this is a top five
group that is as good as we've had in a
long long time. Ward more, Howard Cross and buying them
is a really good unit. But what you need to
do is get instant cohesive. I mean really it's a
brand new group as well, you know, coming together in July,
so you've got to get instant cohesion there. We got
(07:43):
to get another impactful season out of Grover and Buck,
and I think one of the biggest keys to everything
you talk about quarterback on offense is a lot to
I think we've got to, as you always use the
term stud we have to establish an ambient edge where
the offense has to worry about it. They have to
(08:04):
you know, protect them schematically. You know they've got to
turn protection chip, they got to do all those things.
And to me, a lot too was drafted to be
that guy who's the number one draft pick on defense,
and so what you want him to do, in my opinion,
I won't pull any punches is put your big boy
pads on, get in that brier patch, play with a
(08:25):
lot more toughness and power. And as I say, you
can't be a horseshoe player. Horseshoes means you're close to
the pin. You got to be a hangarnade player and
blow people up. So I mean, I think that would
be critical because you're talking third downs and where you're
really talking win in the game. You know, when the
Coats were great, obviously they scored a lot of points,
(08:46):
but freey and mathis took over the fourth quarter and
took over two minute drill, and that's where you really
got to have it. I don't think any question that
Lou coming in. You've already seen it a much different style.
You know, both in players select and in scheme. You know,
much more tight knit. You know, aggressive non concession coverages,
(09:08):
more frontal stuff, more pressure. I don't think any question
that alone is going to make us better. So you know,
I mean, I think those really are the keys. And
of course you know Strader who we like, who was
good a year ago and look good in the preseason.
Obviously his kicking pressure kicking. And I would add, because
(09:30):
you have a lot of new players involved in special teams,
is the kick covers. Those are the key issues we
do those things, yep, you know along with those top
threes you know will be it will be a real factor.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
There again, the top three points given up last year,
number twenty four. In twenty twenty four, Rick subscribes, hey,
let's get that down. Let's cut in a half, get
it down to about twelve. Yep, qbr in twenty twenty four,
Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson obviously towards the bottom of
the league, respectively. Got to get that up the middle
of the and then turnover differential. Last year the Colts
(10:02):
were minus four, that was bottom twelve. Get that up
to the top twelve and then you got something going
into week number one. So again, those are the kind
of the big overarching keys for a successful cult season
before it starts here. So Rick, you ready for these
blueprints I'm ready to go on the Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Absolutely absolutely couldn't wait to start it here with the Dolphins,
And actually, interestingly enough, the first three games, you know,
we've got experience with them, even though TWOA didn't play,
but we have experience with I. You know, I was
actually went back to my notes, looked at a lot
of tape and you almost feel like their division games.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
You know, played them last year, so a lot of
familiarity there as well. So let's talk about him here.
Let's set them up on the big picture eight and nine.
Last year, second to the AFC East, they missed the
playoffs for the first time in three years. Mike McDaniel,
young coach, great coach, going into his fourth season with
the record of twenty eight and twenty three, and the
offense runs through the quarterback to a tongue of Viola
(11:02):
is back and as you know Rick, statistically, he's one
of the best quarterbacks in football when he's healthy, but
injuries to him have kind of derailed Miami's success lately.
He's missed fifteen games due to injury the last four seasons,
most notably has dealt with concussion problems. Sensational talent around him,
Tyreek Hill, Jalen Waddle and then dual threat running back
(11:24):
Devon ah Cham And they were also able to lure
tight end Darren Waller out of retirement, so he's looking
to become the explosive player that he was with the
Raiders a couple of seasons ago. On defense, they bring
back a top ten unit on that side of the ball.
Across the board, they're gutted by defensive tackle Zack Seeler,
who has ten sacks in each of the last two seasons.
(11:45):
They also drafted defensive end Kenneth Grant out of Michigan
in the first round. He could have a very big
impact right away from Miami. He was drafted actually one
slot ahead of the Colts thirteen overall back in April.
So that's kind of the big picture. Look at the Dolphin, Rick,
What else do we need to note about them going
into Week one trying to rebound and make the playoffs again.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Yeah, they're under a lot of pressure, There's no question
about it. Both head coaches are coming in here with
a lot of pressure on them. In the opener, McDaniel,
you know it's under fire. They've had a lot of
offseason issues. I don't think they mean that much. But
you know he has been to two playoffs out of
three lost playoff games. But you know he's a quirky guy,
(12:27):
real smart guy, a tactician. Uh he wears Miss Sherry sweats.
They they come down to his knees. You know, he's
a little bit quirky.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
And now that might be that might be the first
head coach fashion report we've ever gotten on the on
the big picture. And you know what, I'm I like it.
I'm here for it.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
I couldn't help, but I pointed it out to you
last year when they came.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
We've come a long way from you know, Hank Stram
suit and tie on the sidelines, haven't we.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Absolutely those I call him those high water sweats he wears.
But you know, they've got a real solid defensive coordinator
and Anthony Weaver. And then they made a move internally
that was very important to them. They really were a
disaster in special teams a year ago, and they brought
in Craig Ackerman, who's a real veteran, to try to
(13:18):
fix that disastrous twenty four performance. You know, he kind
of kind of dovetailing with you. I see the Dolphin
game as scary, but winnable. I think scary because, as
you said, you've got a quarterback that basically hits seven
out of ten passes. He's a career sixty nine plus
(13:39):
percentage guy. You know when he plays, they're totally different
football team and they have great, great skills. We know
what Hill can do. He's a game changer. You know. Waddle,
he's a real classy receiver. Malik Washington is kind of
game chemistry this summer. He's a diminutive little slot but
(14:03):
he's another gadget guy that you know. They brought in Waller.
Waller played for their offensive coordinator in Vegas, so there
was a familiarity there. And a Chan is one of
the most dangerous running backs. I'll get into that. They're
gonna they'll stretch you vertically with Hill and horizontally with
(14:24):
a Chan. But they've got guys that can really score.
This is a highly skilled team. And then on defense,
you know they have you know, they have all those rushers.
I think I mentioned too the other day. Their four
top rushers have one hundred and forty and a half sacks,
So you know they've got guys that can win the
(14:44):
game on the edge. Siler is one of the best
defensive tackles in the league. Fitzpatrick good linebackers, really good
down the cylinder, really good. Now, you say they're scary
from that standpoint, and that's true because this is not
a team that's flat. Like there are some flat teams
in the NFL that will play competitively but don't have
(15:06):
those skill guys to make the difference they do. Now,
why is it winnable, Well, it's winnable because you know
they're a bit of a mess. I mean, you know,
they've they've had off season issues. You know, He'll has
become even though he's a great player, he's a pain.
He into a feud and even though that doesn't make
a difference, in some ways, it does make a difference.
(15:27):
And McDaniels has done nothing to you know, to to
really stop that in that regard. Plus, I think they're
a team with liabilities. You know, they've got their offensive
line is up and down. It looks pretty good on
k paper, but it's inconsistent, you know, particularly against movement.
I think they struggle, you know, they struggle there. I
(15:48):
don't know if Waller's availability is going to be that good.
In the opener, and getting rid of John Smith really
hurts to a Jonathan Smith was his security blanket in
terms of you know, out lefts when it wasn't there,
you know. And then on defense, as good as they
are in the cylinder and their very sound team, you know,
they're playing with basically marginal corners and they're bringing guys
(16:12):
off waiver wires every day. So I mean, they've got
a real liability there from the corner standpoint in that regard.
So I mean, again, I define it as scary because
of the skill level and the ability to have game
breakers on both sides of the ball, But there's plenty
of liabilities too.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
All Right, I like it. That's a look at the
Dolphins from the blimp week number one. Let's talk about
the game plans now, let's roll out the blueprints for success.
Let's talk about this Colts defense going up against the
Dolphins offense. And like we talked about, it all starts
with Tua at quarterback. He's never played the Colts, He's
missed the first two meetings with Indianapolis with concussions, but
(16:53):
he is certainly the straw that stirs the drink there
on offense. Last year, you know, just kind of driving
at home Miami. They went six and five with Tua
in the lineup and averaged over twenty four points per game.
But Miami was also two to four without Tua in
the lineup and averaged just thirteen points per game. And
this is crazy, and it kind of played out in
(17:14):
that game against the Colts when they had such a
hard time completing passes and getting their playmakers involved. Rick
neither Tyreek Hill nor Jalen Waddle has scored a receiving
touchdown without Tua. Tongue of Viola as a starter since
twenty twenty two, but he's been outstanding throughout his career.
He's led the NFL in passer rating, did that in
(17:37):
twenty twenty two, led the NFL on passing yards twenty
twenty three, and then last year in twenty twenty four,
led the NFL in completion percentage, and for his career,
like you talked about, he's at sixty eight percent. That's
the second best mark in NFL history, behind only Joe Burrow.
So the weapons on the outside are some of the
fastest in the NFL, and Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle.
(17:59):
Hild leads the NFL in receiving yards since twenty sixteen.
Jalen Waddle, before last year, had three straight one thousand
yard seasons to begin his career. And then the primary
running back is Devon a chan do it all guy.
Became the first Dolphins player to have at least seven
hundred and fifty rushing yards and five hundred receiving yards
(18:19):
within a single season, did that last year and also
accounted for twelve scrimmage touchdowns a year ago as well.
And one final thing on the Dolphins, Rick, you know this,
they can ball control you. They did that to a
lot of teams last year even without Tua. They completed
seventy percent of their passes for the season and they
ranked fourth in time of possession. And those were two
(18:41):
really big problems for the Colts last season. I know
it's a completely different scheme, new system now under lu
An Arumo, but the Colts last year not being able
to get off the field and allowing easy completions, that
was a problem. So what else do we need to
know about the Dolphins on offense and then take us
through the must for the Colts defense.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Well, just to validate exactly what you just said, and
I didn't put this in the issues. But the other
issues that the Colts have is, you know, as you
said number thirty, we were thirtieth in time of possession.
You know, in terms of our offensive percentage, we were
number thirty two, and on defensive past percentage we were
(19:21):
number thirty. So you know, those are areas where the
Dolphins have the advantage. I want to just talk conceptually
for a minute and then I'll get into the muss
I think conceptually what you have to be ready for here.
One of the reasons that they move the ball so
well time of possession is they have a really good
quick and screen game. They give you a lot of
(19:44):
what I call perimeter issues. In other words, wide receiver stacks,
one behind the other, coves where they're in tight two
on one side, two on the other side, bunches, three
man bunches, and then what I call basties, which are
punches on one side in the X and clothes on
the other side. So those are all perimeter motions. A
(20:07):
lot of pre snap motions, both run and pass. They
love to eventually get into spreads, whether they motion to
it or they don't motion to it. They like to
create either like a three by one to one side
or even a four by one with h Chan over
there and leave waddle back to the weak side individual
(20:28):
in a in a kind of an isolation type thing.
You know. Again, they're going to get it out of
their quick in their quick game and a ton of
quick screens. You know that obviously compliments to A keeps
the percentage really high. And then number two, it also
protects an offensive line that struggles if they have to
(20:50):
hold the ball into different things. And you know, there's
no question if you don't contest to A, it's seven
on seven, Matt, it'll be ten out of ten, you know.
And then if you if you don't contest him, then
you know, offensive line also plays stress free. Now in
terms of what I think are the defensive must and
I'm gonna I'm gonna kind of lump one and two together.
(21:15):
You know. Number one, you just can't let the running
game get going. And what they like to do, what
you gotta be careful of is they will set strength,
let's say, to the to our right, and then they
will shift or motion or shift and motion and recreate
the strength to our left and they will run it there.
(21:36):
In other words, if they can, if they think they
can get an edge, they will run to that new
power side. So you've got to make sure that all
your defenses adjust very quickly, you know. And Ingold is
a good they'll they'll run more twenty one personnel than
most people. And he's a good kind of fullback tight
end type guy. But they're not. They haven't been a
(21:57):
good run team. They really haven't. They were twenty four
in the league last year in rush purr, which is
all I care about. And so you have to validate that.
You have to keep that down. Absolutely no running game.
So it all has to be a pass game and
protection game. Now two guys, I say, you have to
keep him in the circle. You can't give up easy
(22:17):
big plays to hell. You know who has over eleven
thousand yards, eighty two touchdowns thirteen to nine career average,
and a chan who comes out of the backfield you
chronicle the twelve hundred combined yards plus and he is
really good when he catches those screens or those quick
(22:39):
balls to the outside. If he gets in space, he's
a handful. And so what I'm telling the team is
you cannot let those guys beat you. You know, don't
get me wrong, They'll get some yards, but don't give
them easy plays. And just understand that Hill is going
to stretch you vertically, and a chan is going to
stretch you horizontally across the field, you know, and he'll
(23:02):
is gonna make believe it or not. Most of Hill's
damage comes from the inside, from the slot, because that's
when they can run him through, run him over, and
then occasionally run a burst corner back to the outside again.
So stop the run and keep those two guys in
the circle. Now address Wattle situationally. Okay, Wattle twenty touchdowns
(23:28):
as a young kid, four thousand plus yards, but they
like him in isolation. Where Hill is a speed runner
a lot like Hilton, you know, and Achan is loose play,
Wattle is the classy route runner. And if you over compensate,
you bring your defense and show it too quick to it,
we'll come back to Waddle immediately. So make sure you
(23:52):
don't undress Waddle on the weak side of that stuff,
and make sure you defend him on the third on
third down. I think number four, I think this is
just so critical and it's not easy. Is we've got
to disrupt this passing game and disrupt Tua. You can't
if you let Tua get in rhythm. As I said,
(24:12):
you know, he's seven out of ten in competition, he'll
at ten for ten if he was playing against the
defense we've played in the past. You have to disrupt him.
I think you have to play tight coverage, whether it's
a man or zone. You cannot allow open windows. You've
got to make sure that your man coverages adapt to
(24:32):
all those things I talked about before, The stacks, the bunches,
all that stuff is to get free access and to
get you confused. And when you're it's not as hard
as zone, but in Manda man you have to really
be sharp at that and you know, I think that's
important and make sure that you can handle all that. Again, Tua,
(24:52):
you've already chronicled that, you know, sixty eight to one lifetime,
seventy last year, you know, and unbelievable fifteen thousand plus yards.
And then finally, I think we have to dominate their
offensive line. Even though they're a quick rhythm team, they
were still seventeenth and giving up sacks. I think movement
(25:13):
hurts them, particularly on the right side. Jackson is nicked
up their right tackle. I think between him and Daniels,
you can move I think you can move on Savonah
the left guards. He's a real road grader, but I
think you can move on him. I think if you
want to put a power player like Grover on top
of Brewer and drive him back into power rush, I
(25:36):
think you can do all those things. But I think
if you put it all together, no runs circle on
hill and at eight chan Wattle situationally disrupt and choke
the passing game, and then movement on their offensive line,
and I think that's a good blueprint for slowing them down.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
That's Rick Vinterry. We're rolling out the blueprints here on
Inside Football. Let's shift over to the other side of
the ball now. We're going to break down this Colts
offense and their blueprint against the Dolphins defense, a unit
that ranked in the top ten in all of the
major categories last season ranked ninth and rushing defense, ninth
and passing defense and fourth and total defense, giving up
(26:17):
just a hair over three hundred yards per game in
twenty twenty four, and the Colts did gouge the Dolphins
last season on the ground one hundred and fifty five yards.
But going back and looking at that game, the Colts
only managed two eighty four for the contest in terms
of total offense, and Anthony Richardson did most of the
damage on the ground in that game, and we know
(26:37):
he's not going to start this one on Sunday. So
the Dolphins were really stingy inside the red zone. Last year.
They gave up just twenty seven red zone touchdowns. That
was fourth fewest in the NFL. So they're really good
situationally there. And the names to keep an eye on
on defense from Miami. Defensive tackle Zach Seeler leads the
NFL and sacks among defensive tackles in the last two seasons.
(27:02):
He has ten in each of the last couple of years.
Last year became the first Dolphin by the way to
record at ten plus sacks in consecutive seasons since Cameron
wake Back in twenty sixteen twenty seventeen. And then we
talked about this at the top. They drafted Kenneth Grant
thirteenth overall in the first round. He comes from that
great Michigan defense. He's the pride of Meryville High School,
(27:24):
by the way, up in the region northwest Indiana. They
also have tackling machine Jordan Brooks that lionbacker Bradley Chubb
is back on the edge. Rick he missed all of
last season recovering from a torn acl that he suffered
in twenty twenty three late in that year, but his
last season fully healthy, he racked up eleven sacks, so
he's looking to bounce back. And then the back end
(27:45):
highlighted by eighth year man one of my favorite safeties,
Minka Fitzpatrick. He was traded to the Dolphins from the
Steelers back in late June, so he's reunited with the Dolphins.
He was drafted there in twenty eighteen. He's got twenty
career picks, including a pick six against the Colts when
he was with the Steelers in twenty nineteen. So that's
kind of the lowdown on this Dolphins defense. Rick kind
(28:07):
of filling the gaps for us and tell us the
musk for the Colts here.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Yeah, they're you know, they're really sound under Weaver, They're
not exotic, but they're really sound, and they're really talented
in what I call the cylinder, which is the front four,
the two stack linebackers, and obviously Fitzpatrick at free safety
makes them much better. You know, they didn't have a
lot of sacks a year ago. But that's a misleading because,
(28:32):
as you said, Chubb was out, Phillips was out most
of the time, Chop Robinson was just a rookie, and
they didn't have Judon. Yeah, Syler got paid. I think
he's the highest paid interior guy now in the league.
I love Grant coming out from Michigan and Maryville. So
they're very, very solid there. As a matter of fact,
I put it all together, and when you put Chubb,
(28:54):
and you put Phillips and Chop Robinson who's been great
this summer, and now they signed Matthew Judon last week,
who brings seventy two career sacks, you put them all together,
you have one hundred and forty and one half sacks
career sacks off the edge. So that's that's the real
deal right there. In that regard again, Brooks Dotson gay
(29:18):
good stackbackers, and we'll get into this. I think they're Waterloo.
Their achilles heel really is the storm Duck Marshall and Douglas.
You know, they're they're very you know, they don't have
a lot of experience. Their marginal corners and then their
acquisitions are waiver wires, so you know they've left themselves
(29:38):
fairly thin. Conceptually, you know they will play. They will
mix between the three and four man front, a lot
of over defenses and overloads. They will use a lot
of five man bear you know, with those two edge guys,
two edge guys sitting outside and then three big guys inside,
and they'll add jones to the to the situation when
(30:00):
they need the third big guy inside. They're not a
big blitz team, but they're gonna give you a lot
of that what we call that double barrel mug. You know,
two guys walking up, one guy walking up, and you
know they'll bluff or they'll blitz from there. You know
they will. They do like a lot of what I
call cats and dogs off the edge, just to give
(30:22):
you five man nuisance. Might be a linebacker, might be
a safety. You know, occasionally a zero blitz, not a lot.
And then they'll mix their coverage concepts quarters, three deep,
and they use a lot of different Tampa twos. They'll
run different guys deep when you look at them, and
that's a long yard its coverage. And then in the
(30:44):
red zone, of course, you know a lot of hard
match cover quarters and hard match cover one. When they
really need a stop, they're gonna get impressed and go
man to man with a down guy in the hole.
I think they're safeties actually conceal well. You know, they'll
give you two, play three, give you three, play two,
(31:07):
run out of there kind of at times. But I
think if you study their corners really more than the safeties,
I think the corners tend to give you a profile
before the snap, when you got a pretty good idea
of what's coming. I think from a must standpoint, from
as far as the coast offensive must the first two
(31:29):
one in two really revolve around those edge guys. Number one,
we have to pound the bubble. Okay, there's gonna be
a bubble, and I advocate check with me runs in
this game because if there's a bubble, like an over
or a load, you want to run right at it.
You want to run right at it, preferably our left side.
(31:52):
Set the formation right, run at that bubble behind Ryman
and Nelson. And then if they're in bear, if they
jump into either by form forcing it or subbing late.
Now you want to check to the off tackle to
the edge, and you want to pound it. And I
think they'll give us a lot of bear to stop JT.
I think they're gonna try to stop JT first, and
(32:14):
we have to ride JT. We have to pound those edges.
One for yardage, but two it's another way to keep
those edge guys off balance. If you get behind any count,
you know and just let those four guys, they'll come
in ways. You know, they're gonna come off and they're
gonna give our tackles problems. So one, we want to
pound the edges, put them off balance. And then number two,
(32:38):
we have to protect the edges. We can't take anything
for granted. You know, we like our tackles, but at
times be smart, do a little bit of chipping. This
is their strength. Now, this is one hundred and forty
and one half sacks. So you've got to run the
edges and you have to protect the edges on early downs.
(32:58):
Number three, This on first down and second and five
or less. This is where you want to work your
passing game inside. Okay, you want to get that ball
inside to Warren, to downs to Pittman. Now, the reason
I say that they'll they'll play the run heavy and
they don't match coverage very much underneath. On first and
(33:19):
second down. Now when you get the third down, they
will so they'll play a lot of area zone on
first and second down, so you know, quick rhythm passes,
bootlegs where you get linebackers running one bay, come against
the grain, you know, play action all. I think underneath
on first and second between the numbers. Then number four,
(33:42):
and I think this is obviously critical and you have
to pick your spots here. We got to get explosive
plays on the outside. We got to own them deep.
We got to own their corners deep when we need to.
You know, don't be afraid, Danny to throw the fifty
to fifty ball to a pierce, to a mitch, to
a pitman. Don't be afraid. We've got to own outside
(34:04):
the numbers. And the other thing is catch and run.
This is not a good space tackling team. They come
into the season. They come into the season twenty eighth
in the league and mistackles. So again, explosive plays from
our playmakers, and I think number five, this just applies
to the whole team. This is one you got to
(34:25):
play clean. You win the turnover battle the Dolphins are
minus five, and you win the penalty battle. The Dolphins
are twenty four and I think Miami will self destruct.
I think the issue with Miami is not just pure talent.
There are some liabilities, but there's a character them that
will self destruct.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
All right, well done. Those are the breakdowns from Rick
Van Turiy on offense and defense for the Miami Dolphins
in preparation for Game number one. I'm telling you, folks,
that's the best game preview you're gonna get anywhere. And
Rick to close out, you know, we go into this
twenty twenty five season and before it all starts, of course,
there's hope, there's optimism, there's a plan in place to
(35:08):
end that playoff drought that's lasted four years for the Colts.
And again, they haven't won on opening Day since twenty thirteen,
eleven straight years, second longest such droughts in NFL history.
We always close out these portions of Inside Football now
that we are into regular season mode. We always end
(35:28):
with your final instructions for the Colts. So what would
you say to the team on this opening day if
you were addressing them before the game, either Saturday night
or Sunday of the game game number one on opening Day?
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Okay, first of all, Opening Day in the NFL. You've
heard me say this can be part Christmas where you
open your new toys and you're really happy with them
and they all work. And sometimes it's Halloween when it
becomes horror shows. Since twenty thirteen for the horse Shoes,
there'd really been horror shows and that must end today.
(36:04):
This is unacceptable. Is Miami dangerous yes? Do they have
the skills to win, yes, But are they the best
team on the field and the Luke this Sunday, absolutely not.
What has happened in that past, in that past decade
really has absolutely zero effect on Sunday. This Sunday, and
(36:28):
for that matter, all Sundays. The game winner will be
determined by the team that has the most mental and
physical toughness and that undying will to win. Don't be scared,
don't be tight, throw caution to the wind and let
it rip, and simply refuse to lose. All it will
(36:50):
take for sixty minutes is do what you're supposed to
do and leave nothing of yourself on the field. Do
your job. With the changing of the guard in the
ersa leadership organization, this is really a new dawn and
a new beginning. This is the moment for you to
(37:11):
prove that you truly are good enough and you will
bring the horse shoes back to the championship standard. Yes,
this is truly a bright new beginning, and yes, the
future is now.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
The future is now. I'm telling you now, that's Rick Venturi.
Those are the final instructions and his keys for success
against the Miami Dolphins. After those words, I'm telling you,
after the blueprints were jacked up, ready to go. Man, Rick,
you do such a great job with that. In all seriousness,
When you were a coach and you had to get
in front of the team, do you have a favorite
(37:48):
memory or a favorite pregame speech that you gave to
the team that really not only resonated with them, but
resonates still to this day with you.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
You know, you know, I really tried to taper every week,
so there there wasn't redundan a lot a lot of times,
you know, motivation is redundant. But I I went out
of my way every week, and I would start on Wednesday.
I would start with a a motivational theme, whether it
was for the whole team or you know, in most
cases for my defense, emotional theme for that week, and
(38:20):
then I would conclude with a little bit of pep
at the end, and just reiterate everything. And I really
made it game specific, just like your game plan. I
remember we used to play the you know, the Greatest
Show on Turf in the RAMS, and I would use
a lot of historical reference. The players used to laugh,
but then they'd go they'd go to Google and look
(38:41):
it up. What is he talking about? You know? When
we play the RAMS, I would I would talk about
the Royal Air Force and the Battle of Britain, you know,
I you know, we when we were down and out
and we had to pull an upset, I'd talk about
Valley Fards, you know, you know when we when we
went on the when we went on the road, and
it was one of the and you'll hear me talk
about that because I still bring those themes back for
(39:04):
us every week. You know, you'd go on the road
and you you know, you you know, like the Vikings,
they burn the ships, so there was no way out.
You had to win, you know, So you know, I
just I just I always had a good time with that,
and you know what I mean, it's still all about
but you know what, I find that the same things
that motivate thirty year olds, motivate fifteen year olds, so
(39:27):
doubt you know, I don't think I don't think it's
corny if it's well prepared and you deliver it, right.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
Yeah, trying to win Week one and we're crossing the
Delaware with Rick von Turry revolutionary war references. Man, I
love him so much. It gets our adrenaline pumping, and
we are so fired up. And now we still gotta
wait for Sunday. We still have a couple of days
before we get there, but it'll be here soon enough
and we will be back on the air and we'll
(39:53):
be breaking down the ball and this is when life
gets really good. Rick, I really can't wait for it.
It's been a long off season. Really appreciate the entire
layouts and the inspiration today and enjoy the rest of
your week and cannot wait for Sunday to get here.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
Yeah. I can't wait to be in the booth with
the best in the business this month. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
I appreciate that. All Right, that's gonna do it here,
Rick Venturrey. That'll settle things down for a Week one
and a look at the Dolphins on this edition of
Inside Football Now. Reminder Sunday's game starts at one o'clock
Eastern Time. Radio coverage begins ten am. Colts pregame Huddle
on ninety three five and one oh seven five the
Fan in ninety seven to one Hank FM and Indianapolis Countdown.
(40:38):
A kickoff that's gonna start at noon on the network
those same Indianapolis stations, but also network wide on the
Ascension Saint Vincent Radio network all over Colts Country and
then at one o'clock Colts and Dolphins Game number one.
And we will be back to break it all down
next week and preview Week two against the Broncos. But
(40:59):
until then, and thanks for listening everybody. I'm Matt Taylor
for Rick Venturrey. This has been Inside Football here on
the Colts Podcast channel.
Football is about the Jimmy's and Joe's, and x's and
o's guys writing numbers. Three, Jet Spielberg, I'm one, all right,
nast big fly, turbot Selda fourteen, diabolo.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Whim out a bunch, right, Robert de Niro. It's time
to get out the chotboard and diagram some plays. Hey,
sure you get enough dep like twelve yard, fourteen yards,
break on everything.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
This is Inside Football with former Colts and NFL coach
Rick Venturie. Come on now, it is time to rock
and roll. Hope you had a good Labor Day weekend.
Hope drinks were cold and you had a great time.
But now it's time to go to work, baby. Week
one is here and the regular season is upon us.
I'm Matt Taylor. Welcome inside the Indiana Union Construction Industry
(00:46):
Radio studio and welcome inside Inside Football. Here with my
main man, Rick vent Turrey. This is our weekly podcast
talking Colts football and now previewing the opponent coming up.
And it all starts week one on. Rick, you join
us now with your nearly thirty years of NFL coaching background.
Happy regular season to you, my friend. How are you?
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Oh? I'm doing good and you know, to use a
Matt Taylor phrase, the August season is behind it. It
is and once that Labor Day rolls around me and
I enjoyed college football over the weekend. But now now
she gets real, I mean eighteen weeks now and hopefully
more so, you know, can't you know? And the great
(01:29):
break of having you know, two home games to start
the season to give us a chance here, So God,
I can't. I can't wait till Sunday.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
No doubt about it. So we have a very busy
podcast per usual. We're gonna get you ready for Week
one against the Miami Dolphins. We're gonna talk all about
that dynamic offense led by to a tongue of Iola,
and we're also gonna break down the magnitude of this
game with the Colts. We're looking, of course, to get
off to a fast start this season against a team
in the Miami Dolphins that could be in the mix
(01:57):
for a playoff spot later in the year as well.
So a lot of ramifications on the line right out
of the gate potentially. But RV, I want to begin
with your keys for the Colts to have a big season,
right we know they haven't won an opening season game
since twenty thirteen. Starting the season slow, it's been a
franchise problem. The Colts are eighteen and twenty one record
(02:20):
wise in the month of September in the last ten seasons,
and they've opened a season zero in two or worse
six times. So I know you got this laid out
for us. Tell us how this year can be different
with your keys to a big season for the Colts
going into week number one.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Yeah, And I think the first thing psychologically, just to
you know, to dovetail off what you just said, the
first thing we have to get across with these guys
is the last eleven years really does not matter Sunday.
It's all about what we put into it, what we
get out of it on Sunday. Anything in history is
just a diversion and as bad as that history is,
(02:58):
you know, as bad as it is is, it really
has absolutely zero effect unless we allow it to be
because it'll all be about Sunday. You know, I'm gonna
I'm gonna go big picture and then nuance some things
for you. I think there's three things that are really
really critical in terms of big picture winning. I think
(03:20):
you know, there are three stats that I look at
and I put great emphasis on before I even look
at a team on tape or even put their depths
art down. And there's three things I think that the Colts,
if they do these things, I really believe they can
win the South. And I think they're realistic things. I
don't think they're things that I'm asking you to, you know,
(03:41):
to go somewhere, you know, Superman type deal. I think
number one, you know, points giving up. I think that's
the number one statistic in football because it's not just
about your defense and your fourth quarter, you know, it's
also about special teams, field position, time and possession. It
all goes into that. And we ended up twenty fourth
(04:01):
a year ago, which is unacceptable, and we need to
get into that top twelve. We need to get And
the reason I say top twelve, top twelve really puts
you in the hunt. It puts you in the dance
in the you know, in the playoffs, and you know,
with the coaching changes that we've made, you know, with
the players we've brought in, with the experience we've gained.
(04:24):
To me, it's very realistic that we could go from
twenty four to twelve in terms of points I think
number two so much is going to be determined by
quarterback play. You know, last year Daniel Jones was number
twenty six, AR five was number twenty seven. Now we've
got to get that into the top twelve. We got
(04:46):
and we're capable. Danny's capable of that. Danny was number
six in QBR in twenty two, so we have to
find that. We have to get that kind of quarterback play.
And then number third, probably the most statistic over the
years in terms of determining playoffs no playoffs is turnover differential.
(05:07):
And last year, because we gave the ball away so much,
you know, just absolutely so much, we were number twenty
nine in giveaways. Is our turnover differential ended up a
minus four, which is in the bottom twelve. And if
you're in the bottom twelve, you're not close to the playoffs.
And we've got to get that into the top twelve.
(05:28):
And that number normally is a round of plus six.
But I think so much of that is coaching and
control at the game time. But I think realistically, if
you do those three things, if you can get those
three things fixed, which I think we can, then I
think you're a playoff team in terms of you know,
the keys on both sides of the ball. You know,
(05:50):
I think number one, we've got to do a good
job on offense of really getting our game changers the
ball in the right spots. That is Taylor, Warren and Peers.
Those three guys can definitely change a game. They've got
to be there, and you know our other role players
that you know have to be there. If we can
get Mitchell to his ceiling, it could make all the
(06:11):
difference in the world. I think number two, you keep
Danny in his in his lane, you do what he
can do. He's going to be decisive and accurate and
in control of the offense. Uh. Maybe you get him
to be a little bit more of a gunslinger on
fifty to fifty fade balls. And you know, have confidence
in Pierce and Warn and Mitchell and Pittman, And you know,
(06:32):
I think I would incorporate a little bit of NCAA
packages for AR five, kind of like Sean Payton and
Taysom Hill did. Uh. And then of course the offensive line,
you want to stay healthy. You want Bordolini and Gonzalvez
to you know, get get experienced quick because you know
they're going to be tested with with pressures and things
(06:55):
like that. It's not it won't be a matter of talent, right,
It'll be more a matter of playing together because you know,
in passing off stunts and things like that, it's really
a physical feel for one another. You can put it
on the blackboard, you can walk through it, but you've
got to do it live. And then on defense, I think,
you know, we've got a lot of back end talent now,
assuming that Howard and Ward are healthy and can find
(07:19):
their ceiling. You know that this is a top five
group that is as good as we've had in a
long long time. Ward more, Howard Cross and buying them
is a really good unit. But what you need to
do is get instant cohesive. I mean really it's a
brand new group as well, you know, coming together in July,
so you've got to get instant cohesion there. We got
(07:43):
to get another impactful season out of Grover and Buck,
and I think one of the biggest keys to everything
you talk about quarterback on offense is a lot to
I think we've got to, as you always use the
term stud we have to establish an ambient edge where
the offense has to worry about it. They have to
(08:04):
you know, protect them schematically. You know they've got to
turn protection chip, they got to do all those things.
And to me, a lot too was drafted to be
that guy who's the number one draft pick on defense,
and so what you want him to do, in my opinion,
I won't pull any punches is put your big boy
pads on, get in that brier patch, play with a
(08:25):
lot more toughness and power. And as I say, you
can't be a horseshoe player. Horseshoes means you're close to
the pin. You got to be a hangarnade player and
blow people up. So I mean, I think that would
be critical because you're talking third downs and where you're
really talking win in the game. You know, when the
Coats were great, obviously they scored a lot of points,
(08:46):
but freey and mathis took over the fourth quarter and
took over two minute drill, and that's where you really
got to have it. I don't think any question that
Lou coming in. You've already seen it a much different style.
You know, both in players select and in scheme. You know,
much more tight knit. You know, aggressive non concession coverages,
(09:08):
more frontal stuff, more pressure. I don't think any question
that alone is going to make us better. So you know,
I mean, I think those really are the keys. And
of course you know Strader who we like, who was
good a year ago and look good in the preseason.
Obviously his kicking pressure kicking. And I would add, because
(09:30):
you have a lot of new players involved in special teams,
is the kick covers. Those are the key issues we
do those things, yep, you know along with those top
threes you know will be it will be a real factor.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
There again, the top three points given up last year,
number twenty four. In twenty twenty four, Rick subscribes, hey,
let's get that down. Let's cut in a half, get
it down to about twelve. Yep, qbr in twenty twenty four,
Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson obviously towards the bottom of
the league, respectively. Got to get that up the middle
of the and then turnover differential. Last year the Colts
(10:02):
were minus four, that was bottom twelve. Get that up
to the top twelve and then you got something going
into week number one. So again, those are the kind
of the big overarching keys for a successful cult season
before it starts here. So Rick, you ready for these
blueprints I'm ready to go on the Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Absolutely absolutely couldn't wait to start it here with the Dolphins,
And actually, interestingly enough, the first three games, you know,
we've got experience with them, even though TWOA didn't play,
but we have experience with I. You know, I was
actually went back to my notes, looked at a lot
of tape and you almost feel like their division games.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
You know, played them last year, so a lot of
familiarity there as well. So let's talk about him here.
Let's set them up on the big picture eight and nine.
Last year, second to the AFC East, they missed the
playoffs for the first time in three years. Mike McDaniel,
young coach, great coach, going into his fourth season with
the record of twenty eight and twenty three, and the
offense runs through the quarterback to a tongue of Viola
(11:02):
is back and as you know Rick, statistically, he's one
of the best quarterbacks in football when he's healthy, but
injuries to him have kind of derailed Miami's success lately.
He's missed fifteen games due to injury the last four seasons,
most notably has dealt with concussion problems. Sensational talent around him,
Tyreek Hill, Jalen Waddle and then dual threat running back
(11:24):
Devon ah Cham And they were also able to lure
tight end Darren Waller out of retirement, so he's looking
to become the explosive player that he was with the
Raiders a couple of seasons ago. On defense, they bring
back a top ten unit on that side of the ball.
Across the board, they're gutted by defensive tackle Zack Seeler,
who has ten sacks in each of the last two seasons.
(11:45):
They also drafted defensive end Kenneth Grant out of Michigan
in the first round. He could have a very big
impact right away from Miami. He was drafted actually one
slot ahead of the Colts thirteen overall back in April.
So that's kind of the big picture. Look at the Dolphin, Rick,
What else do we need to note about them going
into Week one trying to rebound and make the playoffs again.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Yeah, they're under a lot of pressure, There's no question
about it. Both head coaches are coming in here with
a lot of pressure on them. In the opener, McDaniel,
you know it's under fire. They've had a lot of
offseason issues. I don't think they mean that much. But
you know he has been to two playoffs out of
three lost playoff games. But you know he's a quirky guy,
(12:27):
real smart guy, a tactician. Uh he wears Miss Sherry sweats.
They they come down to his knees. You know, he's
a little bit quirky.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
And now that might be that might be the first
head coach fashion report we've ever gotten on the on
the big picture. And you know what, I'm I like it.
I'm here for it.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
I couldn't help, but I pointed it out to you
last year when they came.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
We've come a long way from you know, Hank Stram
suit and tie on the sidelines, haven't we.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Absolutely those I call him those high water sweats he wears.
But you know, they've got a real solid defensive coordinator
and Anthony Weaver. And then they made a move internally
that was very important to them. They really were a
disaster in special teams a year ago, and they brought
in Craig Ackerman, who's a real veteran, to try to
(13:18):
fix that disastrous twenty four performance. You know, he kind
of kind of dovetailing with you. I see the Dolphin
game as scary, but winnable. I think scary because, as
you said, you've got a quarterback that basically hits seven
out of ten passes. He's a career sixty nine plus
(13:39):
percentage guy. You know when he plays, they're totally different
football team and they have great, great skills. We know
what Hill can do. He's a game changer. You know. Waddle,
he's a real classy receiver. Malik Washington is kind of
game chemistry this summer. He's a diminutive little slot but
(14:03):
he's another gadget guy that you know. They brought in Waller.
Waller played for their offensive coordinator in Vegas, so there
was a familiarity there. And a Chan is one of
the most dangerous running backs. I'll get into that. They're
gonna they'll stretch you vertically with Hill and horizontally with
(14:24):
a Chan. But they've got guys that can really score.
This is a highly skilled team. And then on defense,
you know they have you know, they have all those rushers.
I think I mentioned too the other day. Their four
top rushers have one hundred and forty and a half sacks,
So you know they've got guys that can win the
(14:44):
game on the edge. Siler is one of the best
defensive tackles in the league. Fitzpatrick good linebackers, really good
down the cylinder, really good. Now, you say they're scary
from that standpoint, and that's true because this is not
a team that's flat. Like there are some flat teams
in the NFL that will play competitively but don't have
(15:06):
those skill guys to make the difference they do. Now,
why is it winnable, Well, it's winnable because you know
they're a bit of a mess. I mean, you know,
they've they've had off season issues. You know, He'll has
become even though he's a great player, he's a pain.
He into a feud and even though that doesn't make
a difference, in some ways, it does make a difference.
(15:27):
And McDaniels has done nothing to you know, to to
really stop that in that regard. Plus, I think they're
a team with liabilities. You know, they've got their offensive
line is up and down. It looks pretty good on
k paper, but it's inconsistent, you know, particularly against movement.
I think they struggle, you know, they struggle there. I
(15:48):
don't know if Waller's availability is going to be that good.
In the opener, and getting rid of John Smith really
hurts to a Jonathan Smith was his security blanket in
terms of you know, out lefts when it wasn't there,
you know. And then on defense, as good as they
are in the cylinder and their very sound team, you know,
they're playing with basically marginal corners and they're bringing guys
(16:12):
off waiver wires every day. So I mean, they've got
a real liability there from the corner standpoint in that regard.
So I mean, again, I define it as scary because
of the skill level and the ability to have game
breakers on both sides of the ball, But there's plenty
of liabilities too.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
All Right, I like it. That's a look at the
Dolphins from the blimp week number one. Let's talk about
the game plans now, let's roll out the blueprints for success.
Let's talk about this Colts defense going up against the
Dolphins offense. And like we talked about, it all starts
with Tua at quarterback. He's never played the Colts, He's
missed the first two meetings with Indianapolis with concussions, but
(16:53):
he is certainly the straw that stirs the drink there
on offense. Last year, you know, just kind of driving
at home Miami. They went six and five with Tua
in the lineup and averaged over twenty four points per game.
But Miami was also two to four without Tua in
the lineup and averaged just thirteen points per game. And
this is crazy, and it kind of played out in
(17:14):
that game against the Colts when they had such a
hard time completing passes and getting their playmakers involved. Rick
neither Tyreek Hill nor Jalen Waddle has scored a receiving
touchdown without Tua. Tongue of Viola as a starter since
twenty twenty two, but he's been outstanding throughout his career.
He's led the NFL in passer rating, did that in
(17:37):
twenty twenty two, led the NFL on passing yards twenty
twenty three, and then last year in twenty twenty four,
led the NFL in completion percentage, and for his career,
like you talked about, he's at sixty eight percent. That's
the second best mark in NFL history, behind only Joe Burrow.
So the weapons on the outside are some of the
fastest in the NFL, and Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle.
(17:59):
Hild leads the NFL in receiving yards since twenty sixteen.
Jalen Waddle, before last year, had three straight one thousand
yard seasons to begin his career. And then the primary
running back is Devon a chan do it all guy.
Became the first Dolphins player to have at least seven
hundred and fifty rushing yards and five hundred receiving yards
(18:19):
within a single season, did that last year and also
accounted for twelve scrimmage touchdowns a year ago as well.
And one final thing on the Dolphins, Rick, you know this,
they can ball control you. They did that to a
lot of teams last year even without Tua. They completed
seventy percent of their passes for the season and they
ranked fourth in time of possession. And those were two
(18:41):
really big problems for the Colts last season. I know
it's a completely different scheme, new system now under lu
An Arumo, but the Colts last year not being able
to get off the field and allowing easy completions, that
was a problem. So what else do we need to
know about the Dolphins on offense and then take us
through the must for the Colts defense.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Well, just to validate exactly what you just said, and
I didn't put this in the issues. But the other
issues that the Colts have is, you know, as you
said number thirty, we were thirtieth in time of possession.
You know, in terms of our offensive percentage, we were
number thirty two, and on defensive past percentage we were
(19:21):
number thirty. So you know, those are areas where the
Dolphins have the advantage. I want to just talk conceptually
for a minute and then I'll get into the muss
I think conceptually what you have to be ready for here.
One of the reasons that they move the ball so
well time of possession is they have a really good
quick and screen game. They give you a lot of
(19:44):
what I call perimeter issues. In other words, wide receiver stacks,
one behind the other, coves where they're in tight two
on one side, two on the other side, bunches, three
man bunches, and then what I call basties, which are
punches on one side in the X and clothes on
the other side. So those are all perimeter motions. A
(20:07):
lot of pre snap motions, both run and pass. They
love to eventually get into spreads, whether they motion to
it or they don't motion to it. They like to
create either like a three by one to one side
or even a four by one with h Chan over
there and leave waddle back to the weak side individual
(20:28):
in a in a kind of an isolation type thing.
You know. Again, they're going to get it out of
their quick in their quick game and a ton of
quick screens. You know that obviously compliments to A keeps
the percentage really high. And then number two, it also
protects an offensive line that struggles if they have to
(20:50):
hold the ball into different things. And you know, there's
no question if you don't contest to A, it's seven
on seven, Matt, it'll be ten out of ten, you know.
And then if you if you don't contest him, then
you know, offensive line also plays stress free. Now in
terms of what I think are the defensive must and
I'm gonna I'm gonna kind of lump one and two together.
(21:15):
You know. Number one, you just can't let the running
game get going. And what they like to do, what
you gotta be careful of is they will set strength,
let's say, to the to our right, and then they
will shift or motion or shift and motion and recreate
the strength to our left and they will run it there.
(21:36):
In other words, if they can, if they think they
can get an edge, they will run to that new
power side. So you've got to make sure that all
your defenses adjust very quickly, you know. And Ingold is
a good they'll they'll run more twenty one personnel than
most people. And he's a good kind of fullback tight
end type guy. But they're not. They haven't been a
(21:57):
good run team. They really haven't. They were twenty four
in the league last year in rush purr, which is
all I care about. And so you have to validate that.
You have to keep that down. Absolutely no running game.
So it all has to be a pass game and
protection game. Now two guys, I say, you have to
keep him in the circle. You can't give up easy
(22:17):
big plays to hell. You know who has over eleven
thousand yards, eighty two touchdowns thirteen to nine career average,
and a chan who comes out of the backfield you
chronicle the twelve hundred combined yards plus and he is
really good when he catches those screens or those quick
(22:39):
balls to the outside. If he gets in space, he's
a handful. And so what I'm telling the team is
you cannot let those guys beat you. You know, don't
get me wrong, They'll get some yards, but don't give
them easy plays. And just understand that Hill is going
to stretch you vertically, and a chan is going to
stretch you horizontally across the field, you know, and he'll
(23:02):
is gonna make believe it or not. Most of Hill's
damage comes from the inside, from the slot, because that's
when they can run him through, run him over, and
then occasionally run a burst corner back to the outside again.
So stop the run and keep those two guys in
the circle. Now address Wattle situationally. Okay, Wattle twenty touchdowns
(23:28):
as a young kid, four thousand plus yards, but they
like him in isolation. Where Hill is a speed runner
a lot like Hilton, you know, and Achan is loose play,
Wattle is the classy route runner. And if you over compensate,
you bring your defense and show it too quick to it,
we'll come back to Waddle immediately. So make sure you
(23:52):
don't undress Waddle on the weak side of that stuff,
and make sure you defend him on the third on
third down. I think number four, I think this is
just so critical and it's not easy. Is we've got
to disrupt this passing game and disrupt Tua. You can't
if you let Tua get in rhythm. As I said,
(24:12):
you know, he's seven out of ten in competition, he'll
at ten for ten if he was playing against the
defense we've played in the past. You have to disrupt him.
I think you have to play tight coverage, whether it's
a man or zone. You cannot allow open windows. You've
got to make sure that your man coverages adapt to
(24:32):
all those things I talked about before, The stacks, the bunches,
all that stuff is to get free access and to
get you confused. And when you're it's not as hard
as zone, but in Manda man you have to really
be sharp at that and you know, I think that's
important and make sure that you can handle all that. Again, Tua,
(24:52):
you've already chronicled that, you know, sixty eight to one lifetime,
seventy last year, you know, and unbelievable fifteen thousand plus yards.
And then finally, I think we have to dominate their
offensive line. Even though they're a quick rhythm team, they
were still seventeenth and giving up sacks. I think movement
(25:13):
hurts them, particularly on the right side. Jackson is nicked
up their right tackle. I think between him and Daniels,
you can move I think you can move on Savonah
the left guards. He's a real road grader, but I
think you can move on him. I think if you
want to put a power player like Grover on top
of Brewer and drive him back into power rush, I
(25:36):
think you can do all those things. But I think
if you put it all together, no runs circle on
hill and at eight chan Wattle situationally disrupt and choke
the passing game, and then movement on their offensive line,
and I think that's a good blueprint for slowing them down.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
That's Rick Vinterry. We're rolling out the blueprints here on
Inside Football. Let's shift over to the other side of
the ball now. We're going to break down this Colts
offense and their blueprint against the Dolphins defense, a unit
that ranked in the top ten in all of the
major categories last season ranked ninth and rushing defense, ninth
and passing defense and fourth and total defense, giving up
(26:17):
just a hair over three hundred yards per game in
twenty twenty four, and the Colts did gouge the Dolphins
last season on the ground one hundred and fifty five yards.
But going back and looking at that game, the Colts
only managed two eighty four for the contest in terms
of total offense, and Anthony Richardson did most of the
damage on the ground in that game, and we know
(26:37):
he's not going to start this one on Sunday. So
the Dolphins were really stingy inside the red zone. Last year.
They gave up just twenty seven red zone touchdowns. That
was fourth fewest in the NFL. So they're really good
situationally there. And the names to keep an eye on
on defense from Miami. Defensive tackle Zach Seeler leads the
NFL and sacks among defensive tackles in the last two seasons.
(27:02):
He has ten in each of the last couple of years.
Last year became the first Dolphin by the way to
record at ten plus sacks in consecutive seasons since Cameron
wake Back in twenty sixteen twenty seventeen. And then we
talked about this at the top. They drafted Kenneth Grant
thirteenth overall in the first round. He comes from that
great Michigan defense. He's the pride of Meryville High School,
(27:24):
by the way, up in the region northwest Indiana. They
also have tackling machine Jordan Brooks that lionbacker Bradley Chubb
is back on the edge. Rick he missed all of
last season recovering from a torn acl that he suffered
in twenty twenty three late in that year, but his
last season fully healthy, he racked up eleven sacks, so
he's looking to bounce back. And then the back end
(27:45):
highlighted by eighth year man one of my favorite safeties,
Minka Fitzpatrick. He was traded to the Dolphins from the
Steelers back in late June, so he's reunited with the Dolphins.
He was drafted there in twenty eighteen. He's got twenty
career picks, including a pick six against the Colts when
he was with the Steelers in twenty nineteen. So that's
kind of the lowdown on this Dolphins defense. Rick kind
(28:07):
of filling the gaps for us and tell us the
musk for the Colts here.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Yeah, they're you know, they're really sound under Weaver, They're
not exotic, but they're really sound, and they're really talented
in what I call the cylinder, which is the front four,
the two stack linebackers, and obviously Fitzpatrick at free safety
makes them much better. You know, they didn't have a
lot of sacks a year ago. But that's a misleading because,
(28:32):
as you said, Chubb was out, Phillips was out most
of the time, Chop Robinson was just a rookie, and
they didn't have Judon. Yeah, Syler got paid. I think
he's the highest paid interior guy now in the league.
I love Grant coming out from Michigan and Maryville. So
they're very, very solid there. As a matter of fact,
I put it all together, and when you put Chubb,
(28:54):
and you put Phillips and Chop Robinson who's been great
this summer, and now they signed Matthew Judon last week,
who brings seventy two career sacks, you put them all together,
you have one hundred and forty and one half sacks
career sacks off the edge. So that's that's the real
deal right there. In that regard again, Brooks Dotson gay
(29:18):
good stackbackers, and we'll get into this. I think they're Waterloo.
Their achilles heel really is the storm Duck Marshall and Douglas.
You know, they're they're very you know, they don't have
a lot of experience. Their marginal corners and then their
acquisitions are waiver wires, so you know they've left themselves
(29:38):
fairly thin. Conceptually, you know they will play. They will
mix between the three and four man front, a lot
of over defenses and overloads. They will use a lot
of five man bear you know, with those two edge guys,
two edge guys sitting outside and then three big guys inside,
and they'll add jones to the to the situation when
(30:00):
they need the third big guy inside. They're not a
big blitz team, but they're gonna give you a lot
of that what we call that double barrel mug. You know,
two guys walking up, one guy walking up, and you
know they'll bluff or they'll blitz from there. You know
they will. They do like a lot of what I
call cats and dogs off the edge, just to give
(30:22):
you five man nuisance. Might be a linebacker, might be
a safety. You know, occasionally a zero blitz, not a lot.
And then they'll mix their coverage concepts quarters, three deep,
and they use a lot of different Tampa twos. They'll
run different guys deep when you look at them, and
that's a long yard its coverage. And then in the
(30:44):
red zone, of course, you know a lot of hard
match cover quarters and hard match cover one. When they
really need a stop, they're gonna get impressed and go
man to man with a down guy in the hole.
I think they're safeties actually conceal well. You know, they'll
give you two, play three, give you three, play two,
(31:07):
run out of there kind of at times. But I
think if you study their corners really more than the safeties,
I think the corners tend to give you a profile
before the snap, when you got a pretty good idea
of what's coming. I think from a must standpoint, from
as far as the coast offensive must the first two
(31:29):
one in two really revolve around those edge guys. Number one,
we have to pound the bubble. Okay, there's gonna be
a bubble, and I advocate check with me runs in
this game because if there's a bubble, like an over
or a load, you want to run right at it.
You want to run right at it, preferably our left side.
(31:52):
Set the formation right, run at that bubble behind Ryman
and Nelson. And then if they're in bear, if they
jump into either by form forcing it or subbing late.
Now you want to check to the off tackle to
the edge, and you want to pound it. And I
think they'll give us a lot of bear to stop JT.
I think they're gonna try to stop JT first, and
(32:14):
we have to ride JT. We have to pound those edges.
One for yardage, but two it's another way to keep
those edge guys off balance. If you get behind any count,
you know and just let those four guys, they'll come
in ways. You know, they're gonna come off and they're
gonna give our tackles problems. So one, we want to
pound the edges, put them off balance. And then number two,
(32:38):
we have to protect the edges. We can't take anything
for granted. You know, we like our tackles, but at
times be smart, do a little bit of chipping. This
is their strength. Now, this is one hundred and forty
and one half sacks. So you've got to run the
edges and you have to protect the edges on early downs.
(32:58):
Number three, This on first down and second and five
or less. This is where you want to work your
passing game inside. Okay, you want to get that ball
inside to Warren, to downs to Pittman. Now, the reason
I say that they'll they'll play the run heavy and
they don't match coverage very much underneath. On first and
(33:19):
second down. Now when you get the third down, they
will so they'll play a lot of area zone on
first and second down, so you know, quick rhythm passes,
bootlegs where you get linebackers running one bay, come against
the grain, you know, play action all. I think underneath
on first and second between the numbers. Then number four,
(33:42):
and I think this is obviously critical and you have
to pick your spots here. We got to get explosive
plays on the outside. We got to own them deep.
We got to own their corners deep when we need to.
You know, don't be afraid, Danny to throw the fifty
to fifty ball to a pierce, to a mitch, to
a pitman. Don't be afraid. We've got to own outside
(34:04):
the numbers. And the other thing is catch and run.
This is not a good space tackling team. They come
into the season. They come into the season twenty eighth
in the league and mistackles. So again, explosive plays from
our playmakers, and I think number five, this just applies
to the whole team. This is one you got to
(34:25):
play clean. You win the turnover battle the Dolphins are
minus five, and you win the penalty battle. The Dolphins
are twenty four and I think Miami will self destruct.
I think the issue with Miami is not just pure talent.
There are some liabilities, but there's a character them that
will self destruct.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
All right, well done. Those are the breakdowns from Rick
Van Turiy on offense and defense for the Miami Dolphins
in preparation for Game number one. I'm telling you, folks,
that's the best game preview you're gonna get anywhere. And
Rick to close out, you know, we go into this
twenty twenty five season and before it all starts, of course,
there's hope, there's optimism, there's a plan in place to
(35:08):
end that playoff drought that's lasted four years for the Colts.
And again, they haven't won on opening Day since twenty thirteen,
eleven straight years, second longest such droughts in NFL history.
We always close out these portions of Inside Football now
that we are into regular season mode. We always end
(35:28):
with your final instructions for the Colts. So what would
you say to the team on this opening day if
you were addressing them before the game, either Saturday night
or Sunday of the game game number one on opening Day?
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Okay, first of all, Opening Day in the NFL. You've
heard me say this can be part Christmas where you
open your new toys and you're really happy with them
and they all work. And sometimes it's Halloween when it
becomes horror shows. Since twenty thirteen for the horse Shoes,
there'd really been horror shows and that must end today.
(36:04):
This is unacceptable. Is Miami dangerous yes? Do they have
the skills to win, yes, But are they the best
team on the field and the Luke this Sunday, absolutely not.
What has happened in that past, in that past decade
really has absolutely zero effect on Sunday. This Sunday, and
(36:28):
for that matter, all Sundays. The game winner will be
determined by the team that has the most mental and
physical toughness and that undying will to win. Don't be scared,
don't be tight, throw caution to the wind and let
it rip, and simply refuse to lose. All it will
(36:50):
take for sixty minutes is do what you're supposed to
do and leave nothing of yourself on the field. Do
your job. With the changing of the guard in the
ersa leadership organization, this is really a new dawn and
a new beginning. This is the moment for you to
(37:11):
prove that you truly are good enough and you will
bring the horse shoes back to the championship standard. Yes,
this is truly a bright new beginning, and yes, the
future is now.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
The future is now. I'm telling you now, that's Rick Venturi.
Those are the final instructions and his keys for success
against the Miami Dolphins. After those words, I'm telling you,
after the blueprints were jacked up, ready to go. Man, Rick,
you do such a great job with that. In all seriousness,
When you were a coach and you had to get
in front of the team, do you have a favorite
(37:48):
memory or a favorite pregame speech that you gave to
the team that really not only resonated with them, but
resonates still to this day with you.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
You know, you know, I really tried to taper every week,
so there there wasn't redundan a lot a lot of times,
you know, motivation is redundant. But I I went out
of my way every week, and I would start on Wednesday.
I would start with a a motivational theme, whether it
was for the whole team or you know, in most
cases for my defense, emotional theme for that week, and
(38:20):
then I would conclude with a little bit of pep
at the end, and just reiterate everything. And I really
made it game specific, just like your game plan. I
remember we used to play the you know, the Greatest
Show on Turf in the RAMS, and I would use
a lot of historical reference. The players used to laugh,
but then they'd go they'd go to Google and look
(38:41):
it up. What is he talking about? You know? When
we play the RAMS, I would I would talk about
the Royal Air Force and the Battle of Britain, you know,
I you know, we when we were down and out
and we had to pull an upset, I'd talk about
Valley Fards, you know, you know when we when we
went on the when we went on the road, and
it was one of the and you'll hear me talk
about that because I still bring those themes back for
(39:04):
us every week. You know, you'd go on the road
and you you know, you you know, like the Vikings,
they burn the ships, so there was no way out.
You had to win, you know, So you know, I
just I just I always had a good time with that,
and you know what I mean, it's still all about
but you know what, I find that the same things
that motivate thirty year olds, motivate fifteen year olds, so
(39:27):
doubt you know, I don't think I don't think it's
corny if it's well prepared and you deliver it, right.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
Yeah, trying to win Week one and we're crossing the
Delaware with Rick von Turry revolutionary war references. Man, I
love him so much. It gets our adrenaline pumping, and
we are so fired up. And now we still gotta
wait for Sunday. We still have a couple of days
before we get there, but it'll be here soon enough
and we will be back on the air and we'll
(39:53):
be breaking down the ball and this is when life
gets really good. Rick, I really can't wait for it.
It's been a long off season. Really appreciate the entire
layouts and the inspiration today and enjoy the rest of
your week and cannot wait for Sunday to get here.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
Yeah. I can't wait to be in the booth with
the best in the business this month. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
I appreciate that. All Right, that's gonna do it here,
Rick Venturrey. That'll settle things down for a Week one
and a look at the Dolphins on this edition of
Inside Football Now. Reminder Sunday's game starts at one o'clock
Eastern Time. Radio coverage begins ten am. Colts pregame Huddle
on ninety three five and one oh seven five the
Fan in ninety seven to one Hank FM and Indianapolis Countdown.
(40:38):
A kickoff that's gonna start at noon on the network
those same Indianapolis stations, but also network wide on the
Ascension Saint Vincent Radio network all over Colts Country and
then at one o'clock Colts and Dolphins Game number one.
And we will be back to break it all down
next week and preview Week two against the Broncos. But
(40:59):
until then, and thanks for listening everybody. I'm Matt Taylor
for Rick Venturrey. This has been Inside Football here on
the Colts Podcast channel.
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