The Last Word, the Colts’ offseason radio show, returns this week with a breakdown of the team’s 2025 regular season schedule. Jeffrey Gorman and Matt Taylor discuss the Colts’ chances of a strong start—with four of their first six games at home—the toughest stretches of the schedule, and the impact of extensive road travel this season. The show also features an interview with rookie quarterback Riley Leonard from Notre Dame, who recaps his rookie mini-camp experience and shares how his skill set fits into Shane Steichen’s offensive system in the NFL.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
The NFL never sleeps.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
The roster is ever evolving, and it's all about finding
the edge. This is the last word the off season
home of the Indianapolis Colts. Now here's Jeffrey Gorman and
Matt Taylor.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Welcome inside the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio studio. I'm
Jeffrey Gorman, joined by voice of the Colts, Matt Taylor.
How are you, sir?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
A fantastic Happy Friday, Sir weather. It is great fast
Friday at the Indianapolis Motors Speedway Qualifications this weekend. Life
is good. The Pacers are back in the Eastern Conference. Finally,
about what or could you want?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Well, how about an NFL schedule release one? You shall
receive him an icing on the cake there. Yeah. We
are going to break down the twenty twenty five regular
season schedule and the preseason schedule as well as well
what the heck you know? We're also going to discuss
the Colts linebacking situation in the spring. Top two linebackers
Ira Franklin and Jalen Carlis on the shelf this time
(01:04):
of year due to off season surgeries. Also coming up.
Riley Leonard, the rookie quarterback out of Notre Dame. He's
going to talk about the rookie minicamp, but maytay, if
I could start with the schedule with you, we will
get to those linebackers. What's your first your first take
of this thing when you looked at it as a whole.
Are there any areas that you go, Oh, I don't
really like this stretch too much.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah, there's a couple of parts where I like it.
There's peaks, there's valleys, if you will. I mean, for
the most part, I think it's a good schedule. I
like the fact that you're starting at home, back to
back home games against Miami and Denver. Four of your
first six are at Lucas Oil Stadium. But there is
a stretch there in the middle of the season. We
talked about it yesterday. You're gonna be away from Lucas
(01:46):
Oil Stadium in terms of playing true home games in
front of your fan base in Indianapolis for over a month,
thirty five days. I think it's Week nine through thirteen
you're away from home. So you come back home and
you play the Texans week thirteen, but starting week nine
on the road against Pittsburgh, Week ten in Berlin. Even
(02:08):
though that's technically a cult home game, but it's in Germany.
Week eleven, You've got the bye Week twelve on the
road against Kansas City. All of that is away from home,
if you will. But you know the other part of
the schedule we talked about yesterday, Towards the end of
the season. You come back after the bye. The bye
is week eleven, but from weeks twelve to seventeen, you
(02:29):
play four of your last seven on the road, and
those final seven games are against pretty darn good established quarterbacks.
I do like the fact that the AFC South has
backloaded this year four of your last six or against
the division. I'd rather have that than front loaded at
the beginning of the season. So all in all, I
think it's a good schedule. Those long road trips two
(02:49):
to LA one to Seattle, the other one to Germany,
they're kind of spaced out. You can negotiate them throughout
the course of the season. But yeah, it's good that
the schedule is finally here and we can start to
play where this team tries to improve next year.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Let's let's let's backtrack for just one second. The backload
of the AFC South games in the backside of the schedule.
I love that you talked about it just a minute ago.
I think it's very important, Matt, because you're getting Tennessee
out of the way quite early, but then you got
the rest of those AFC South teams at the back
end of the scene where you can really make them. Hey,
if there's a run for this title.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
And every team wants to be playing their best football
at the end of the season, and hopefully the Colts
can be doing that while also, you know, playing in
these games that count is double you win and they lose,
and start to really distance yourself in the AFC South
towards the end of the season. But this backloading concept here,
it's very much a reversal of a recent trend for
(03:41):
the Colts, and I'm here for it because in each
of the last three years, the Colts played at least
four of their six AFC South games before Week nine.
These end of the year AFC South games, they're gonna
feel like playoff games. They're gonna have a ton of
magnitude about them, and I think they could be make
or break games for you know, whichever team doesn't handle
their business accordingly in the first half of the season.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
That's Matt Taylor, Voice of the Colts. This is the
last word here in ninety three five one oh seven
five the fan Matty last night, let me tell you
what happened. I'm over at BW three and I'm choking
down some wings. Okay, our old what sauce, our old buddy,
I go dry upe, our old buddy. Chris Anderson comes
up to me. Who's there? Just didn't know it? He says, Hey,
I'm not happy with the primetime games. Okay, so what
are you talking about? We got one?
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Chris is always sawd We're hosting always Sol.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
I'm like, we're hosting one. My point is this, you
are who your record is. You know what I'm saying.
We have one division titles, haven't won a lot of
playoff games in the last decade, So frigin one like this.
I think it fits. Matt, You're okay with one primetime game.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
I thought it was going to be one primetime game,
and I actually thought it was going to be a
Thursday night game on the road instead of a Monday
night home game. So I'm actually kind of pleasantly surprised.
So you can tell Chris that I don't think the
Colts got screwed out of home games for prime time because, uh, listen,
you got to earn those primetime matchups, right It's all
about quarter back matchups. And right now, it goes without
(05:02):
saying the Colts have some uncertainty there at that position
between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson. So here's a nugget
for you, the Colts. The Colts have played the twentieth
most total primetime games the last ten years twenty fifteen
to twenty twenty four. But the Colts have lost five
straight primetime games and ten of their last fifteen primetime
(05:24):
matchups have been on the road. So there's only one
way to fix that, and that start winning and start
to be more of a marquee drawl on a national level.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Stay there for a minute, Hot Hot starts our key
in the NFL. We're hosting two games right now. First
one up, you got two ed quarterback. Next one up,
you got Sean Payton and bow Nicksugh, just look at
those two really quick. Can this team jump out to
a two one o star Well hopefully.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
I mean that's that's been the biggest bugaboo for this franchise.
Maybe that and not being able to win on the
road at Jacksonville against the Jaguars. So you would like
to hope that, you know, those two trends disappear this season.
But you know last year the Colts were oh and
T two. Haven't won a season opener since twenty thirteen.
Good chance to get off to a good start this year.
(06:07):
Four of your first six are at Lucas Oil Stadium.
But we talked about this earlier in the week. I mean,
you start the season at home Miami and Denver, I
think two winnable games. But Jeffrey mean those two teams
are AFC Conference opponents, and what's the tiebreaker at the
end of the season record within your conference? Two very
(06:28):
important games, and if the Colts can grab those, I
think they're going to be setting themselves up for a
huge advantage towards the end of the season when you're
inevitably going to be jocking for a position in the
playoffs with some other teams of the conference.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
And lastly, if I may just put a finishing touch
on this, I think in my crystal ball that this
game against the forty nine ers December the twenty second,
this place will be going nuts. Colts have to win
one of their last two to make the playoffs, win
them both, they win the division. What do you think, Baddy,
I'm just looking at the crystal ball and this town,
by the way, is going nuts at that time.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
So you in the season San Francisco Jacksonville at Houston. Yes, yeah,
one of those games on prime time. I'm right there
with you.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
You know, I'm just trying to put it out in
the universe.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Man.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Two of your last three are at home. I mean,
I think at Houston to end the season. I think
that's got the potential to be you know, what do
we say a de facto AFC South Championship game. Hopefully
that game has that type of magnitude for the hype
and playoff expectations for both of these teams going into
the season. So I think it's a really good schedule,
(07:31):
I really do. But I think it's deceptively tougher than
most people think because the road schedule's tough. Five of
your eight road games next year are against teams that
made the playoffs. You have to play six games on
the road this year against teams that won at least
ten games, and you've got all those quarterbacks at the
end of the season that if you're not on your
p's and q's, they can beat you on any given Sunday.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
And a road game right in the heart of the
season at Pittsburgh could be Aaron Rodgers. Who knows, but
I'm just saying, Maddy, this is a bus of office.
You had your good stuff more information at Colts dot com.
Let's talk some injuries when it comes to the Colt
roster right now at the linebacker corps, Matt, Yeah, we've
got a couple guys that are dinged up, not dinged up.
They'll be ready for the season, but when it comes
to the offseason stuff, we're talking about surgery for Jalen
(08:13):
Carlies as well as surgery for ZAYR. Franklin. How are
we looking right now with this linebacking corps.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Yeah, it's that's not ideal. You know. I don't know
if I'm worried, but it's it's a little disappointing that
you're gonna have your your top two linebackers missing the
spring when you have a new defense that's being installed.
That's valuable time on the grass that Franklin and car
Lies will not be getting and that will not help
them get up to speed instinctially within this defense before
(08:42):
training camp starts.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Let me ask, let me, I'm trying not to stop
you here, but like, who's playing these positions right now
out on the grass bat that's fifty feet away from
us at these OTAs. Who's filling in for zir, who's
filling in for Carlies?
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Well, that's it. I mean, it's a huge opportunity for guys,
you know, the likes of shagu Aloubi and Can mcgro
and Liam Anderson and Joe Bachi who they just picked
up a couple of weeks ago and in free agency,
and you know, a couple of undrafted options guys that
are gonna have a chance to really show what they
can do and get a lot of run out there.
And that may not be the end of the world,
(09:15):
because you are testing depth a little bit in terms
of experience going into the season. Based on personnel. We
talked about this last week. Zaire Franklin has sixty five
career starts. Everybody else at linebacker, including Jalen Carlis, has
combined for eighteen and.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
A full start combined for eighteen.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
So we also have to throw out we have to
be fair the linebacker situation within this defense under lou
Ana Rumo, it's gonna be a little bit different. We're
gonna see a lot of man de man defense, a
lot of nickel, We're gonna see more dime. So the
linebacker usage and the personnel groupings are gonna be pretty
fluid this year. So that's why I'm not panicking. But again,
(09:55):
ideally you'd like to have your top two linebackers on
the grass in the spring when you're installing a new defense.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
And by the way, both of those guys will shine
in sweet Louse scheme. You know it and I know it.
I mean ziraon Franklin's gonna be one of those guys.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
That's why I said, like, mentally, I think they're gonna
be okay. The more you do something, the more instincts
kick in. That's why I said, instinctially, I think that's
where the biggest opportunity is lost.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
That's Matt Taylor Voice the Colts. I'm Jeffrey Gorman. This
is the last word. Colts twenty twenty five single game tickets.
They are on sale now. Head to Colts dot com
slash tickets to purchase tickets through ticket Master, The official
marketplace of the Colts and the NFL. When we come back,
We're gonna be joined by Colts rookie quarterback Riley Leonard
from Notre Dame. He joined Matt Taylor last week during
(10:38):
the Colts rookie camp. They discussed his transition to the NFL,
staying in the Hoosier State, and why he and Shane
Steichen have hit it off so fast. That's coming up
with a whole lot more. This is the last word
ninety three five, one oh seven five the fan.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
We're giving you all you need to know on the Colts.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
This is the last word with Jeffrey Gorman and Matt
Taylor from the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio studio.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Oh mate, Yeah, I got Lott groove going here.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
What'd you think?
Speaker 3 (11:08):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Well, this is your poll. I have to tip my
cap to you on This is.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Blue Cheer from nineteen seventy and I'm glad you're playing
this groove right now, brother, because I didn't know that
the fans that are listening right now would also be
privy to that. But yeah, go back in the archives.
In nineteen seventy I had heard I had heard of
Blue Cheer yeah, but probably not digging this one up
on my own.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
So I always appreciate the assist every now and again.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Hey, you're rolling your eyes driving down four to sixty
five right now, don't do it. Don't just trust this one.
Let it play out for.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
YouTube hits on this song or going through the roof.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Right now, join Matt Taylor and the rest of the
Colts in Berlin. That's right, Join the voice of the
Colts and the Colts. She got that one right, Manny, Yes, sir,
we're going to Berlin anyway we want you to go.
You can place a deposit to unlock early access to
official Colts Germany ticket and travel packages. Visit on location
exped dot com slash Colts German for more information. Time
(12:02):
to figure out what's going on with Riley Leonard, the
talented quarterback from Notre Dames.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Can I just say I mean to interrupt?
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Do you go right ahead?
Speaker 1 (12:09):
But this kid is impressive?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Yes, Kiley Leonard.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
You know some people have been put on this earth
to do certain things. Riley Leonard was put on this
earth to play quarterbacks and to lead men.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Okay, let's go. Hey, that is a great, great description
of this young quarterback playing one year at Notre Dame,
Matt Taylor sat down with Riley Leonard talk about things
after the rookie mining camp and his first taste of
the NFL.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Yeah, I'm still waiting for like the the rookie moment
for sure. You know, we're not in full paths yet
or anything. Right, I think it's been a very easy transition,
given the fact that the coaches are very welcoming. Now,
don't get me wrong, there are a lot of parts
of my game and and the offense that I'm still learning,
but they've done a great job of adapting to who
(12:54):
we are as people and who we are as players,
and uh, you know, really just coming back to Indiana's
it's it's it's a very hospitable place to be. You know,
everybody greets to you, looks you in the eye, shakes
your hand, and is happy for you to be here.
So I'm very thankful for that.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Was that a little bit of a blessing that you
were drafted back into the Hoosier State if.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
You will, absolutely, I mean, there's no better place to
get drafted because there aren't many, Like most states besides
Indiana probably hate Notre Dame and.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Half the people in.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Half the people still hate Notre Dame. At least we've
got half the state. So I think it's been it's
been great to be back here.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
You know, you had great speaking of your your draft process.
You had great interaction with Shane Stike and I know
he was up watching you at the Notre Dame pro day.
How much did you guys you know, for lack of
a better term, just just hit it off right away. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
I think, uh, you know, our history kind of stems
back to who we know. Obviously, him and Philip Rivers
are very close, and Philip lives right down the road
from me in Fairhope, Alabama, And uh, you know, my agent,
Jim Detton and him are close as well. So I
think there's just a lot of people in our circle
that they know each other. So we got to you know,
(14:05):
I feel like I knew him before I even met him,
But when I met him, it was you know, obviously
the respect given to him throughout, you know, all the
great things that he's done in his career was there. Yeah,
but it was also like a talking to a friend
and talking to a guy who wants to just wants
you to reach your full potential and wants to help
you get there. There wasn't like a hierarchy like I'm
(14:28):
better than you, Riley because I'm the head coach. It
was Hey, you know, if we become teammates, you know
in the future, uh right, like coach and player, it's
more like a teammate relationship. Then we're both just trying
to build each other.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, Riley Leonard is with us. You mentioned that relationship
with Philip Rivers. I talked with Philip last week about you,
and he just obviously gushed about your playing style, your leadership,
your athleticism. You know, you brought some of your Notre
Dame receivers down to work out with him down in
Alabama because you didn't have time to get to know
those guys like you. I wanted to before the Notre
(15:01):
Dame season. Is that just you just leadership just come
naturally to you.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
That's a good question, and I don't know if I'm
qualified to answer that. I think that's maybe a question
you'd have to ask the people around me, right, because
you know, I think Jalen Hurts said one time leaders
lead because their peers let them.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Well, you know, anybody can.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Sit up here and say that they're a great leader.
But you know, the most authentic.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
I think the fact that I'm even asking you that
question is it means yes, from the outside, I'll take.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
That as a huge compliment that you're asking me that.
But maybe somebody else can answer that for me.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
I understand. All right, talk to me about this offense.
I mean, Shane Stikeen as a person, as a coach,
what is it about this system that you think can
accentuate you as a quarterback?
Speaker 4 (15:41):
Yeah, well, I'm on tier like zero point zero one
of the offense. I understand, but I have learned a
few things. I think it's very quarterback friendly and there's
always it seems to be like there's always an out,
Like if you make the wrong read, there's always a
second read that's complimentary to your mistake. I don't know
if that makes sense. That seems to be you know
(16:03):
what I feel like so far?
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Yeah, Riley Leonard with us, what do you make of
this quarterback room? What are your first impressions. I know
you probably haven't had a ton of time on task
with these guys, but just watching them from afar, Anthony
Richardson and Daniel Jones and you know sort of their
similar but yet different skill sets.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Yeah, I love the guys so far. Obviously, I know
Daniel really well because of the Duke relationship and we
trained together. However, I haven't even seen him since I've
gotten here, is that right? I shook hands with Anthony
one time, and then me and Jason have been together
this whole or communic camp, which has been a lot
of fun so so far. You know, I couldn't couldn't
ask for a better room. It's probably a younger room. Yeah,
(16:42):
prayed to the most teams in the NFL, but I
think we all just are very competitive and here to
help each other.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Did you know Daniel before you were at Duke? I mean,
was there any relationship there?
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Yeah, So we trained together when I was in high
school once or twice. That was it, and then I
committed to Duke and you know, continue to grow our relationship.
And obviously throughout this draft process, I've been down there
training and I've got to see him and go out
to eat with him. Yeah, you know, once or twice,
which is cool.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
As soon as you were drafted, obviously, you know, you
start flooding yourself with information on who you guys are.
You know, your your basketball highlights are just unbelievable. How
much how much was basketball in play for you? I mean,
when did you start to focus on football being your
professional path.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Yeah, it's funny you bring that up.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
It always gives me like street creds in a new
locker room.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Right.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
So I was just messing with the one of the
receivers here and we were talking about who has a
better basketball teape. So that always gets me a little
bump of respect athletically. But yeah, after my junior year,
COVID hit. But if COVID hadn't hit, you know, I
had made an eybl team. I probably had a ratio
of nine to one basketball and football coaches in my phone,
(17:56):
and and that kind of just tells me, okay, like right,
I guess I'm going to play basketball. So that was
the plan. After my junior year, Wow, COVID hit and
everything got shut down and I didn't pick up the
offers I'd wanted or had expected. Certainly had a few,
but fortunately David Morris had played for coach Cutcliff at
Duke and pretty much just you know, kind of threw
(18:18):
me a bone almost in the offer, and uh, the
rest is history.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Did you have any aspirations of playing a duke at all?
I mean absolutely to crossover absolutely that with you.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Coach Cutt, if you're watching the should have let me.
I don't even know if I had the confidence to
go up there and ask him, but that was certainly
something that you know.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
It was coach K's last year too.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Okay, Yeah, and uh, every chance I could, I would
sneak into Cameron and hoop with Paula Bancaro all those guys. Yeah,
we would go in there and do that, which is
a lot of fun. But dang, I wish I had
done it.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Yeah, no question. I mean, based on what I saw,
I think you could have. I wouldn't have played. I
wouldn't have played a minute. But you're enough to be
on the team now.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Putting on the jersey goes to at the end of
the bench, to the guys.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
On Division one athlete right here in multiple ways. All right,
last couple of things. You ran for over two thousand
yards in your college career. You were really good at
avoiding tacklers and causing mistackles. How much do you think
that part of your game can translate to the NFL.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Shoot I guess We're gonna have to find out when
we put on pads. But I don't know if that's necessarily,
you know, gonna be my bread and butter.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
You know, obviously, you know, the game's at another level.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
So I'm looking to improve myself inself in different categories.
And you know, if I need, you know, my legs
to bail me out once or twice, sure, but that's
not going to be my instincts going into the game.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Riley Leonard with us. I know you're you're all over
the place here during this rookie mini camp. So last thing,
what was it like explain to the common fan what
it's like to start at quarterback at Notre Dame at
a national champions Oh.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
You know, it's funny because my whole time before I
went to Notre Dame, I had thought about what's it
like to do it? What's it like to start?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
And uh, you know, it's as cool as you might seem.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
It might seem, but it's also as maybe anti climatic,
as as as you could think. And it's hard to
it's hard to say that, but you know, if you
live for football, you know, then then dying is is
losing right in the National Championship, and I didn't feel like,
you know, my spirit died at all. And this is
actually a sermon that I learned from my pastor a
(20:30):
few weeks ago. But if you live, you know, say
you live for for money, then dying is you know,
not getting a promotion. But if you live for Christ,
all right, then dying is actually living because you get
to spend the rest of your eternal life of course
Jesus Christ. So that was a wild answer, but I
think it's just important to know that, you know, I
can try to give people perspective like it's awesome, it's
(20:54):
everything I ever dreamed of, and I still felt like
there was something missing internally and spiritually, and and you know,
I have found Christ for a long time. But you know,
leaving sure or having one of my teammates if somebody
gets get baptized or something like that, it's a different
feeling kind of than walking into a National Championship game.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
But it makes total sense. Don't get me wrong.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
It was great, like nat he was nice, sick, But yeah,
I just don't want people to think that like that's everything.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
Of course, no doubt, no doubt. There's still plenty of
chapters to be written here about Riley Leonard, especially starting
this journey with the Indianapolis Cults. Congratulations again, welcome to
Indianapolis and all the best.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Mayte. Philip Rivers just oozes oozes about this young man
and his ability to be a franchise quarterback. I want
Colts fans to hear me again, Philip Rivers thinks this
kid has the ability to be a franchise quarterback.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Well, listen, I mean Riley was drafted in the sixth round.
You know, he's got some things that he has to
work on, obviously as a rookie. All rookies do. But
in terms of the intangible, that's why I let off
with what I said. There are certain people that were
just born and bred to play quarterback that just sort
of get it. Riley Leonard is a guy that you
(22:11):
can see why it's so easy for people to galvanize
around him because of how he handles himself, how he talks,
how he presents himself, and I think what all quarterbacks do.
Richardson and Daniel Jones too. But the extra steps that
you go through, fully embrace the extra responsibility that comes
(22:31):
with playing quarterback. That's what Riley Leonard did at Duke
and Notre Dame and you can see it early on
in his rookie minute camp here.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
With the Colts. Colts have a good one if you
want to watch Riley Leonard. The preseason's coming up, and
I just want to reiterate the Colts are at Baltimore
in week one of the preseason or hosting Green Bay
in week two and then travel to Cincinnati. We will
see Riley Leonard and the boys. But we're gonna keep
you caught up to date getting you ready for training
camp coming up at the end of July. Colts dot
com has all the information and also the Colts have
(22:59):
teamed up with Anthem, Blue Cross and Blue Shield to
recognize school teachers, administrators, nurses and staff members who go
above and beyond. If you know a classroom quarterback, nominate
yours today at Colts dot com slash Classroom Quarterbacks. When
we come back, we've got the form Credit Union Question
of the Week, which centers around all the travel the
Colts will be making next season. They're set to travel
(23:19):
over twenty five thousand miles to and from games next season.
The question is who would you least want to I
don't like this question. I'm gonna tell you that much
right now, Taylor, who would you least want to sit
on a plane next to all that time? It better
not include our radio crew here at the Colts, because
I think I'm gonna be odd man out this long
and hard Boys of the Colts, Matt Taylor. I'm Jeffrey Gorman.
(23:42):
This is the last Word. We're coming back with more
here on ninety three five one oh seven five the Fan.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
We now return to the offseason home of the Colts.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
The Last Words with Jeffrey Gorman and Matt Taylor from
the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio Studio.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
All right, you're joined back by the Carpenters and Matt Taylor.
Who is this abba? What are we doing here? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Yeah, I'm ready for a great weekend. Now I'll tell
you what this is slowhand, mister Eric Clapton. Oh my gosh,
it's promises.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
Lest I heard Clapton has got Okay, it's what they said,
remember that. Hey, we're being brought to you by our
friends at Meyer, the Carpenters. No it's not the carpenter
Sorry about that. Meyer, your official supercenter of the Indianapolis
Colts proud sponsored one hundreds of local sports teams across
the Midwest. Get this, guys, high school girls flag football.
It is here and it is coming on strong. The
(24:38):
Colts commitment to the girl through high school girls flag
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school girls flag football teams by the fall of twenty
twenty five. Colts are providing up to ten grand in resources.
It's easy to learn more. Get involved visit Colts dot com,
slash girls Flag all Right forum Credit Union Question of
the Week I haven't ready yet. The Colts are set
to travel over twenty five thousand miles next season the
(25:00):
air two and from games. The Colts will play La twice,
Seattle and Germany. Those trips alone will make up over
twenty one thousand air miles. For context, Casey, it takes
twenty four nine one miles to fly around the world.
Colts are doing more than that next year. Now. The
question is, considering all the flying the Cults will be
doing next season, which member of the last word team
(25:22):
would you least Oh my god, you ers, which member
of the last word team would you least want to
be stuck with on a long flight? Next to Jeffery.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
You get to start. Let me start this, Okay, Carol,
careful where you go, all right?
Speaker 3 (25:37):
I know, I mean some friendships are going in right here.
Oh god, Okay, I'm taking Casey and I'm kicking you
out because all right, the reason is only as he
lasts at my jokes more than you do. That's it.
That's the only reason I will. I hate kicking you aside.
I love you, mate, but I have to and this
one I'm taking you.
Speaker 5 (25:56):
Case I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go right with Jeffrey,
and I'm gonna have Jeffrey sitting next to me.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Because of this.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
This is Hey, this is actually a positive thing towards
Matt damn, because I'm assuming that this trip is going
to be all business for Matt, and he's got to
is not going to say a single word to be
as I'm like, hey, Matt, look at this, and he'll go,
oh yeah whatever.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
And so I think Jeffy will at least knowledge that
I am so in lockstep with you guys. If I
were you guys, I would pick me too, because that's
eight to nine hours of listening to me, listen to brothers.
And last week's game that I'm fidgety, all right, I
need to move I need to move around. I don't
sleep on planes, So.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
I got a bowl that's sitting next to you. You'd
hate traveling next to me, I promise.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
And plus, can we also agree now that we're on
this topic, right, Yeah, we've all been on a long
flight or someone in front of you leans back. Don't
lean back on a plane, Matt.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
It's the rules. Then then then take away the option.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Would you want somebody doing it to you? Would you
want somebody leaning back into your space for five six
straight hour?
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Is this before? It's the airlines, bro, it's nothing to
do with the guys.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Don't listen if you lean back. If you're listening to
this and you're a lean back person, don't be.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
It's just like that what's that button the Indian racers
hit when they're to push the pass? Yeah, it's like
having that button, Matt, in your car. But hey, don't
you dare?
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Don't you do it?
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Well? Crap, everybody's gonna hit no one, everybody.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
No one wants the person in front of them to
lean back.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
That guy, I am the guy that's leaning back, and
I'm eating and I'm eating two day old fish out
of a plastic bag. Worse, this is the forum. Oh,
you can go to coast dot com interact with other
fans online. Probably won't get this question there. You want
to travel with Dorman around the world in fish lean
(27:46):
in your lab?
Speaker 1 (27:47):
Yeah, what's the name of that thread on the website?
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Someone is someone gassy in this area. I don't even
want to go there with.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
His shoes off. I'm doing game prep. I'm leaving the
light on the whole time while you're trying to sleep
over the Atlantic Ocean. Screw you.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Looking forward to these My gosh, I'm going on spait
air by myself.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Saving some money. That's right.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Post a topic, participating in various discussions unlike this one
regarding your cult forum credit Union helping members live their
financial dreams. ESPN Radio is coming up, followed by track
Side Beyond the Bricks. That's all coming out next year.
The NFL never sleeps.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
The roster is ever evolving, and it's all about finding
the edge. This is the last word the off season
home of the Indianapolis Colts. Now here's Jeffrey Gorman and
Matt Taylor.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Welcome inside the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio studio. I'm
Jeffrey Gorman, joined by voice of the Colts, Matt Taylor.
How are you, sir?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
A fantastic Happy Friday, Sir weather. It is great fast
Friday at the Indianapolis Motors Speedway Qualifications this weekend. Life
is good. The Pacers are back in the Eastern Conference. Finally,
about what or could you want?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Well, how about an NFL schedule release one? You shall
receive him an icing on the cake there. Yeah. We
are going to break down the twenty twenty five regular
season schedule and the preseason schedule as well as well
what the heck you know? We're also going to discuss
the Colts linebacking situation in the spring. Top two linebackers
Ira Franklin and Jalen Carlis on the shelf this time
(01:04):
of year due to off season surgeries. Also coming up.
Riley Leonard, the rookie quarterback out of Notre Dame. He's
going to talk about the rookie minicamp, but maytay, if
I could start with the schedule with you, we will
get to those linebackers. What's your first your first take
of this thing when you looked at it as a whole.
Are there any areas that you go, Oh, I don't
really like this stretch too much.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah, there's a couple of parts where I like it.
There's peaks, there's valleys, if you will. I mean, for
the most part, I think it's a good schedule. I
like the fact that you're starting at home, back to
back home games against Miami and Denver. Four of your
first six are at Lucas Oil Stadium. But there is
a stretch there in the middle of the season. We
talked about it yesterday. You're gonna be away from Lucas
(01:46):
Oil Stadium in terms of playing true home games in
front of your fan base in Indianapolis for over a month,
thirty five days. I think it's Week nine through thirteen
you're away from home. So you come back home and
you play the Texans week thirteen, but starting week nine
on the road against Pittsburgh, Week ten in Berlin. Even
(02:08):
though that's technically a cult home game, but it's in Germany.
Week eleven, You've got the bye Week twelve on the
road against Kansas City. All of that is away from home,
if you will. But you know the other part of
the schedule we talked about yesterday, Towards the end of
the season. You come back after the bye. The bye
is week eleven, but from weeks twelve to seventeen, you
(02:29):
play four of your last seven on the road, and
those final seven games are against pretty darn good established quarterbacks.
I do like the fact that the AFC South has
backloaded this year four of your last six or against
the division. I'd rather have that than front loaded at
the beginning of the season. So all in all, I
think it's a good schedule. Those long road trips two
(02:49):
to LA one to Seattle, the other one to Germany,
they're kind of spaced out. You can negotiate them throughout
the course of the season. But yeah, it's good that
the schedule is finally here and we can start to
play where this team tries to improve next year.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Let's let's let's backtrack for just one second. The backload
of the AFC South games in the backside of the schedule.
I love that you talked about it just a minute ago.
I think it's very important, Matt, because you're getting Tennessee
out of the way quite early, but then you got
the rest of those AFC South teams at the back
end of the scene where you can really make them. Hey,
if there's a run for this title.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
And every team wants to be playing their best football
at the end of the season, and hopefully the Colts
can be doing that while also, you know, playing in
these games that count is double you win and they lose,
and start to really distance yourself in the AFC South
towards the end of the season. But this backloading concept here,
it's very much a reversal of a recent trend for
(03:41):
the Colts, and I'm here for it because in each
of the last three years, the Colts played at least
four of their six AFC South games before Week nine.
These end of the year AFC South games, they're gonna
feel like playoff games. They're gonna have a ton of
magnitude about them, and I think they could be make
or break games for you know, whichever team doesn't handle
their business accordingly in the first half of the season.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
That's Matt Taylor, Voice of the Colts. This is the
last word here in ninety three five one oh seven
five the fan Matty last night, let me tell you
what happened. I'm over at BW three and I'm choking
down some wings. Okay, our old what sauce, our old buddy,
I go dry upe, our old buddy. Chris Anderson comes
up to me. Who's there? Just didn't know it? He says, Hey,
I'm not happy with the primetime games. Okay, so what
are you talking about? We got one?
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Chris is always sawd We're hosting always Sol.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
I'm like, we're hosting one. My point is this, you
are who your record is. You know what I'm saying.
We have one division titles, haven't won a lot of
playoff games in the last decade, So frigin one like this.
I think it fits. Matt, You're okay with one primetime game.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
I thought it was going to be one primetime game,
and I actually thought it was going to be a
Thursday night game on the road instead of a Monday
night home game. So I'm actually kind of pleasantly surprised.
So you can tell Chris that I don't think the
Colts got screwed out of home games for prime time because, uh, listen,
you got to earn those primetime matchups, right It's all
about quarter back matchups. And right now, it goes without
(05:02):
saying the Colts have some uncertainty there at that position
between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson. So here's a nugget
for you, the Colts. The Colts have played the twentieth
most total primetime games the last ten years twenty fifteen
to twenty twenty four. But the Colts have lost five
straight primetime games and ten of their last fifteen primetime
(05:24):
matchups have been on the road. So there's only one
way to fix that, and that start winning and start
to be more of a marquee drawl on a national level.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Stay there for a minute, Hot Hot starts our key
in the NFL. We're hosting two games right now. First
one up, you got two ed quarterback. Next one up,
you got Sean Payton and bow Nicksugh, just look at
those two really quick. Can this team jump out to
a two one o star Well hopefully.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
I mean that's that's been the biggest bugaboo for this franchise.
Maybe that and not being able to win on the
road at Jacksonville against the Jaguars. So you would like
to hope that, you know, those two trends disappear this season.
But you know last year the Colts were oh and
T two. Haven't won a season opener since twenty thirteen.
Good chance to get off to a good start this year.
(06:07):
Four of your first six are at Lucas Oil Stadium.
But we talked about this earlier in the week. I mean,
you start the season at home Miami and Denver, I
think two winnable games. But Jeffrey mean those two teams
are AFC Conference opponents, and what's the tiebreaker at the
end of the season record within your conference? Two very
(06:28):
important games, and if the Colts can grab those, I
think they're going to be setting themselves up for a
huge advantage towards the end of the season when you're
inevitably going to be jocking for a position in the
playoffs with some other teams of the conference.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
And lastly, if I may just put a finishing touch
on this, I think in my crystal ball that this
game against the forty nine ers December the twenty second,
this place will be going nuts. Colts have to win
one of their last two to make the playoffs, win
them both, they win the division. What do you think, Baddy,
I'm just looking at the crystal ball and this town,
by the way, is going nuts at that time.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
So you in the season San Francisco Jacksonville at Houston. Yes, yeah,
one of those games on prime time. I'm right there
with you.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
You know, I'm just trying to put it out in
the universe.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Man.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Two of your last three are at home. I mean,
I think at Houston to end the season. I think
that's got the potential to be you know, what do
we say a de facto AFC South Championship game. Hopefully
that game has that type of magnitude for the hype
and playoff expectations for both of these teams going into
the season. So I think it's a really good schedule,
(07:31):
I really do. But I think it's deceptively tougher than
most people think because the road schedule's tough. Five of
your eight road games next year are against teams that
made the playoffs. You have to play six games on
the road this year against teams that won at least
ten games, and you've got all those quarterbacks at the
end of the season that if you're not on your
p's and q's, they can beat you on any given Sunday.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
And a road game right in the heart of the
season at Pittsburgh could be Aaron Rodgers. Who knows, but
I'm just saying, Maddy, this is a bus of office.
You had your good stuff more information at Colts dot com.
Let's talk some injuries when it comes to the Colt
roster right now at the linebacker corps, Matt, Yeah, we've
got a couple guys that are dinged up, not dinged up.
They'll be ready for the season, but when it comes
to the offseason stuff, we're talking about surgery for Jalen
(08:13):
Carlies as well as surgery for ZAYR. Franklin. How are
we looking right now with this linebacking corps.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Yeah, it's that's not ideal. You know. I don't know
if I'm worried, but it's it's a little disappointing that
you're gonna have your your top two linebackers missing the
spring when you have a new defense that's being installed.
That's valuable time on the grass that Franklin and car
Lies will not be getting and that will not help
them get up to speed instinctially within this defense before
(08:42):
training camp starts.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Let me ask, let me, I'm trying not to stop
you here, but like, who's playing these positions right now
out on the grass bat that's fifty feet away from
us at these OTAs. Who's filling in for zir, who's
filling in for Carlies?
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Well, that's it. I mean, it's a huge opportunity for guys,
you know, the likes of shagu Aloubi and Can mcgro
and Liam Anderson and Joe Bachi who they just picked
up a couple of weeks ago and in free agency,
and you know, a couple of undrafted options guys that
are gonna have a chance to really show what they
can do and get a lot of run out there.
And that may not be the end of the world,
(09:15):
because you are testing depth a little bit in terms
of experience going into the season. Based on personnel. We
talked about this last week. Zaire Franklin has sixty five
career starts. Everybody else at linebacker, including Jalen Carlis, has
combined for eighteen and.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
A full start combined for eighteen.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
So we also have to throw out we have to
be fair the linebacker situation within this defense under lou
Ana Rumo, it's gonna be a little bit different. We're
gonna see a lot of man de man defense, a
lot of nickel, We're gonna see more dime. So the
linebacker usage and the personnel groupings are gonna be pretty
fluid this year. So that's why I'm not panicking. But again,
(09:55):
ideally you'd like to have your top two linebackers on
the grass in the spring when you're installing a new defense.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
And by the way, both of those guys will shine
in sweet Louse scheme. You know it and I know it.
I mean ziraon Franklin's gonna be one of those guys.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
That's why I said, like, mentally, I think they're gonna
be okay. The more you do something, the more instincts
kick in. That's why I said, instinctially, I think that's
where the biggest opportunity is lost.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
That's Matt Taylor Voice the Colts. I'm Jeffrey Gorman. This
is the last word. Colts twenty twenty five single game tickets.
They are on sale now. Head to Colts dot com
slash tickets to purchase tickets through ticket Master, The official
marketplace of the Colts and the NFL. When we come back,
We're gonna be joined by Colts rookie quarterback Riley Leonard
from Notre Dame. He joined Matt Taylor last week during
(10:38):
the Colts rookie camp. They discussed his transition to the NFL,
staying in the Hoosier State, and why he and Shane
Steichen have hit it off so fast. That's coming up
with a whole lot more. This is the last word
ninety three five, one oh seven five the fan.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
We're giving you all you need to know on the Colts.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
This is the last word with Jeffrey Gorman and Matt
Taylor from the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio studio.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Oh mate, Yeah, I got Lott groove going here.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
What'd you think?
Speaker 3 (11:08):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Well, this is your poll. I have to tip my
cap to you on This is.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Blue Cheer from nineteen seventy and I'm glad you're playing
this groove right now, brother, because I didn't know that
the fans that are listening right now would also be
privy to that. But yeah, go back in the archives.
In nineteen seventy I had heard I had heard of
Blue Cheer yeah, but probably not digging this one up
on my own.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
So I always appreciate the assist every now and again.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Hey, you're rolling your eyes driving down four to sixty
five right now, don't do it. Don't just trust this one.
Let it play out for.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
YouTube hits on this song or going through the roof.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Right now, join Matt Taylor and the rest of the
Colts in Berlin. That's right, Join the voice of the
Colts and the Colts. She got that one right, Manny, Yes, sir,
we're going to Berlin anyway we want you to go.
You can place a deposit to unlock early access to
official Colts Germany ticket and travel packages. Visit on location
exped dot com slash Colts German for more information. Time
(12:02):
to figure out what's going on with Riley Leonard, the
talented quarterback from Notre Dames.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Can I just say I mean to interrupt?
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Do you go right ahead?
Speaker 1 (12:09):
But this kid is impressive?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Yes, Kiley Leonard.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
You know some people have been put on this earth
to do certain things. Riley Leonard was put on this
earth to play quarterbacks and to lead men.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Okay, let's go. Hey, that is a great, great description
of this young quarterback playing one year at Notre Dame,
Matt Taylor sat down with Riley Leonard talk about things
after the rookie mining camp and his first taste of
the NFL.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Yeah, I'm still waiting for like the the rookie moment
for sure. You know, we're not in full paths yet
or anything. Right, I think it's been a very easy transition,
given the fact that the coaches are very welcoming. Now,
don't get me wrong, there are a lot of parts
of my game and and the offense that I'm still learning,
but they've done a great job of adapting to who
(12:54):
we are as people and who we are as players,
and uh, you know, really just coming back to Indiana's
it's it's it's a very hospitable place to be. You know,
everybody greets to you, looks you in the eye, shakes
your hand, and is happy for you to be here.
So I'm very thankful for that.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Was that a little bit of a blessing that you
were drafted back into the Hoosier State if.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
You will, absolutely, I mean, there's no better place to
get drafted because there aren't many, Like most states besides
Indiana probably hate Notre Dame and.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Half the people in.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Half the people still hate Notre Dame. At least we've
got half the state. So I think it's been it's
been great to be back here.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
You know, you had great speaking of your your draft process.
You had great interaction with Shane Stike and I know
he was up watching you at the Notre Dame pro day.
How much did you guys you know, for lack of
a better term, just just hit it off right away. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
I think, uh, you know, our history kind of stems
back to who we know. Obviously, him and Philip Rivers
are very close, and Philip lives right down the road
from me in Fairhope, Alabama, And uh, you know, my agent,
Jim Detton and him are close as well. So I
think there's just a lot of people in our circle
that they know each other. So we got to you know,
(14:05):
I feel like I knew him before I even met him,
But when I met him, it was you know, obviously
the respect given to him throughout, you know, all the
great things that he's done in his career was there. Yeah,
but it was also like a talking to a friend
and talking to a guy who wants to just wants
you to reach your full potential and wants to help
you get there. There wasn't like a hierarchy like I'm
(14:28):
better than you, Riley because I'm the head coach. It
was Hey, you know, if we become teammates, you know
in the future, uh right, like coach and player, it's
more like a teammate relationship. Then we're both just trying
to build each other.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, Riley Leonard is with us. You mentioned that relationship
with Philip Rivers. I talked with Philip last week about you,
and he just obviously gushed about your playing style, your leadership,
your athleticism. You know, you brought some of your Notre
Dame receivers down to work out with him down in
Alabama because you didn't have time to get to know
those guys like you. I wanted to before the Notre
(15:01):
Dame season. Is that just you just leadership just come
naturally to you.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
That's a good question, and I don't know if I'm
qualified to answer that. I think that's maybe a question
you'd have to ask the people around me, right, because
you know, I think Jalen Hurts said one time leaders
lead because their peers let them.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Well, you know, anybody can.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Sit up here and say that they're a great leader.
But you know, the most authentic.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
I think the fact that I'm even asking you that
question is it means yes, from the outside, I'll take.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
That as a huge compliment that you're asking me that.
But maybe somebody else can answer that for me.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
I understand. All right, talk to me about this offense.
I mean, Shane Stikeen as a person, as a coach,
what is it about this system that you think can
accentuate you as a quarterback?
Speaker 4 (15:41):
Yeah, well, I'm on tier like zero point zero one
of the offense. I understand, but I have learned a
few things. I think it's very quarterback friendly and there's
always it seems to be like there's always an out,
Like if you make the wrong read, there's always a
second read that's complimentary to your mistake. I don't know
if that makes sense. That seems to be you know
(16:03):
what I feel like so far?
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Yeah, Riley Leonard with us, what do you make of
this quarterback room? What are your first impressions. I know
you probably haven't had a ton of time on task
with these guys, but just watching them from afar, Anthony
Richardson and Daniel Jones and you know sort of their
similar but yet different skill sets.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Yeah, I love the guys so far. Obviously, I know
Daniel really well because of the Duke relationship and we
trained together. However, I haven't even seen him since I've
gotten here, is that right? I shook hands with Anthony
one time, and then me and Jason have been together
this whole or communic camp, which has been a lot
of fun so so far. You know, I couldn't couldn't
ask for a better room. It's probably a younger room. Yeah,
(16:42):
prayed to the most teams in the NFL, but I
think we all just are very competitive and here to
help each other.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Did you know Daniel before you were at Duke? I mean,
was there any relationship there?
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Yeah, So we trained together when I was in high
school once or twice. That was it, and then I
committed to Duke and you know, continue to grow our relationship.
And obviously throughout this draft process, I've been down there
training and I've got to see him and go out
to eat with him. Yeah, you know, once or twice,
which is cool.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
As soon as you were drafted, obviously, you know, you
start flooding yourself with information on who you guys are.
You know, your your basketball highlights are just unbelievable. How
much how much was basketball in play for you? I mean,
when did you start to focus on football being your
professional path.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Yeah, it's funny you bring that up.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
It always gives me like street creds in a new
locker room.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Right.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
So I was just messing with the one of the
receivers here and we were talking about who has a
better basketball teape. So that always gets me a little
bump of respect athletically. But yeah, after my junior year,
COVID hit. But if COVID hadn't hit, you know, I
had made an eybl team. I probably had a ratio
of nine to one basketball and football coaches in my phone,
(17:56):
and and that kind of just tells me, okay, like right,
I guess I'm going to play basketball. So that was
the plan. After my junior year, Wow, COVID hit and
everything got shut down and I didn't pick up the
offers I'd wanted or had expected. Certainly had a few,
but fortunately David Morris had played for coach Cutcliff at
Duke and pretty much just you know, kind of threw
(18:18):
me a bone almost in the offer, and uh, the
rest is history.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Did you have any aspirations of playing a duke at all?
I mean absolutely to crossover absolutely that with you.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Coach Cutt, if you're watching the should have let me.
I don't even know if I had the confidence to
go up there and ask him, but that was certainly
something that you know.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
It was coach K's last year too.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Okay, Yeah, and uh, every chance I could, I would
sneak into Cameron and hoop with Paula Bancaro all those guys. Yeah,
we would go in there and do that, which is
a lot of fun. But dang, I wish I had
done it.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Yeah, no question. I mean, based on what I saw,
I think you could have. I wouldn't have played. I
wouldn't have played a minute. But you're enough to be
on the team now.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Putting on the jersey goes to at the end of
the bench, to the guys.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
On Division one athlete right here in multiple ways. All right,
last couple of things. You ran for over two thousand
yards in your college career. You were really good at
avoiding tacklers and causing mistackles. How much do you think
that part of your game can translate to the NFL.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Shoot I guess We're gonna have to find out when
we put on pads. But I don't know if that's necessarily,
you know, gonna be my bread and butter.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
You know, obviously, you know, the game's at another level.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
So I'm looking to improve myself inself in different categories.
And you know, if I need, you know, my legs
to bail me out once or twice, sure, but that's
not going to be my instincts going into the game.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Riley Leonard with us. I know you're you're all over
the place here during this rookie mini camp. So last thing,
what was it like explain to the common fan what
it's like to start at quarterback at Notre Dame at
a national champions Oh.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
You know, it's funny because my whole time before I
went to Notre Dame, I had thought about what's it
like to do it? What's it like to start?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
And uh, you know, it's as cool as you might seem.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
It might seem, but it's also as maybe anti climatic,
as as as you could think. And it's hard to
it's hard to say that, but you know, if you
live for football, you know, then then dying is is
losing right in the National Championship, and I didn't feel like,
you know, my spirit died at all. And this is
actually a sermon that I learned from my pastor a
(20:30):
few weeks ago. But if you live, you know, say
you live for for money, then dying is you know,
not getting a promotion. But if you live for Christ,
all right, then dying is actually living because you get
to spend the rest of your eternal life of course
Jesus Christ. So that was a wild answer, but I
think it's just important to know that, you know, I
can try to give people perspective like it's awesome, it's
(20:54):
everything I ever dreamed of, and I still felt like
there was something missing internally and spiritually, and and you know,
I have found Christ for a long time. But you know,
leaving sure or having one of my teammates if somebody
gets get baptized or something like that, it's a different
feeling kind of than walking into a National Championship game.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
But it makes total sense. Don't get me wrong.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
It was great, like nat he was nice, sick, But yeah,
I just don't want people to think that like that's everything.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
Of course, no doubt, no doubt. There's still plenty of
chapters to be written here about Riley Leonard, especially starting
this journey with the Indianapolis Cults. Congratulations again, welcome to
Indianapolis and all the best.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Mayte. Philip Rivers just oozes oozes about this young man
and his ability to be a franchise quarterback. I want
Colts fans to hear me again, Philip Rivers thinks this
kid has the ability to be a franchise quarterback.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Well, listen, I mean Riley was drafted in the sixth round.
You know, he's got some things that he has to
work on, obviously as a rookie. All rookies do. But
in terms of the intangible, that's why I let off
with what I said. There are certain people that were
just born and bred to play quarterback that just sort
of get it. Riley Leonard is a guy that you
(22:11):
can see why it's so easy for people to galvanize
around him because of how he handles himself, how he talks,
how he presents himself, and I think what all quarterbacks do.
Richardson and Daniel Jones too. But the extra steps that
you go through, fully embrace the extra responsibility that comes
(22:31):
with playing quarterback. That's what Riley Leonard did at Duke
and Notre Dame and you can see it early on
in his rookie minute camp here.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
With the Colts. Colts have a good one if you
want to watch Riley Leonard. The preseason's coming up, and
I just want to reiterate the Colts are at Baltimore
in week one of the preseason or hosting Green Bay
in week two and then travel to Cincinnati. We will
see Riley Leonard and the boys. But we're gonna keep
you caught up to date getting you ready for training
camp coming up at the end of July. Colts dot
com has all the information and also the Colts have
(22:59):
teamed up with Anthem, Blue Cross and Blue Shield to
recognize school teachers, administrators, nurses and staff members who go
above and beyond. If you know a classroom quarterback, nominate
yours today at Colts dot com slash Classroom Quarterbacks. When
we come back, we've got the form Credit Union Question
of the Week, which centers around all the travel the
Colts will be making next season. They're set to travel
(23:19):
over twenty five thousand miles to and from games next season.
The question is who would you least want to I
don't like this question. I'm gonna tell you that much
right now, Taylor, who would you least want to sit
on a plane next to all that time? It better
not include our radio crew here at the Colts, because
I think I'm gonna be odd man out this long
and hard Boys of the Colts, Matt Taylor. I'm Jeffrey Gorman.
(23:42):
This is the last Word. We're coming back with more
here on ninety three five one oh seven five the Fan.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
We now return to the offseason home of the Colts.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
The Last Words with Jeffrey Gorman and Matt Taylor from
the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio Studio.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
All right, you're joined back by the Carpenters and Matt Taylor.
Who is this abba? What are we doing here? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Yeah, I'm ready for a great weekend. Now I'll tell
you what this is slowhand, mister Eric Clapton. Oh my gosh,
it's promises.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
Lest I heard Clapton has got Okay, it's what they said,
remember that. Hey, we're being brought to you by our
friends at Meyer, the Carpenters. No it's not the carpenter
Sorry about that. Meyer, your official supercenter of the Indianapolis
Colts proud sponsored one hundreds of local sports teams across
the Midwest. Get this, guys, high school girls flag football.
It is here and it is coming on strong. The
(24:38):
Colts commitment to the girl through high school girls flag
football that continues. Teams goal a launch one hundred high
school girls flag football teams by the fall of twenty
twenty five. Colts are providing up to ten grand in resources.
It's easy to learn more. Get involved visit Colts dot com,
slash girls Flag all Right forum Credit Union Question of
the Week I haven't ready yet. The Colts are set
to travel over twenty five thousand miles next season the
(25:00):
air two and from games. The Colts will play La twice,
Seattle and Germany. Those trips alone will make up over
twenty one thousand air miles. For context, Casey, it takes
twenty four nine one miles to fly around the world.
Colts are doing more than that next year. Now. The
question is, considering all the flying the Cults will be
doing next season, which member of the last word team
(25:22):
would you least Oh my god, you ers, which member
of the last word team would you least want to
be stuck with on a long flight? Next to Jeffery.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
You get to start. Let me start this, Okay, Carol,
careful where you go, all right?
Speaker 3 (25:37):
I know, I mean some friendships are going in right here.
Oh god, Okay, I'm taking Casey and I'm kicking you
out because all right, the reason is only as he
lasts at my jokes more than you do. That's it.
That's the only reason I will. I hate kicking you aside.
I love you, mate, but I have to and this
one I'm taking you.
Speaker 5 (25:56):
Case I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go right with Jeffrey,
and I'm gonna have Jeffrey sitting next to me.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Because of this.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
This is Hey, this is actually a positive thing towards
Matt damn, because I'm assuming that this trip is going
to be all business for Matt, and he's got to
is not going to say a single word to be
as I'm like, hey, Matt, look at this, and he'll go,
oh yeah whatever.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
And so I think Jeffy will at least knowledge that
I am so in lockstep with you guys. If I
were you guys, I would pick me too, because that's
eight to nine hours of listening to me, listen to brothers.
And last week's game that I'm fidgety, all right, I
need to move I need to move around. I don't
sleep on planes, So.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
I got a bowl that's sitting next to you. You'd
hate traveling next to me, I promise.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
And plus, can we also agree now that we're on
this topic, right, Yeah, we've all been on a long
flight or someone in front of you leans back. Don't
lean back on a plane, Matt.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
It's the rules. Then then then take away the option.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Would you want somebody doing it to you? Would you
want somebody leaning back into your space for five six
straight hour?
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Is this before? It's the airlines, bro, it's nothing to
do with the guys.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Don't listen if you lean back. If you're listening to
this and you're a lean back person, don't be.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
It's just like that what's that button the Indian racers
hit when they're to push the pass? Yeah, it's like
having that button, Matt, in your car. But hey, don't
you dare?
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Don't you do it?
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Well? Crap, everybody's gonna hit no one, everybody.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
No one wants the person in front of them to
lean back.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
That guy, I am the guy that's leaning back, and
I'm eating and I'm eating two day old fish out
of a plastic bag. Worse, this is the forum. Oh,
you can go to coast dot com interact with other
fans online. Probably won't get this question there. You want
to travel with Dorman around the world in fish lean
(27:46):
in your lab?
Speaker 1 (27:47):
Yeah, what's the name of that thread on the website?
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Someone is someone gassy in this area. I don't even
want to go there with.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
His shoes off. I'm doing game prep. I'm leaving the
light on the whole time while you're trying to sleep
over the Atlantic Ocean. Screw you.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Looking forward to these My gosh, I'm going on spait
air by myself.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Saving some money. That's right.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Post a topic, participating in various discussions unlike this one
regarding your cult forum credit Union helping members live their
financial dreams. ESPN Radio is coming up, followed by track
Side Beyond the Bricks. That's all coming out next year.
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