June 28, 2025 • 30 mins
This week on The Last Word, the Colts’ offseason radio show, Matt Taylor and Casey Vallier continue their “Burning Questions” positional series with a focus on wide receivers and tight ends. The guys discuss whether Michael Pittman Jr. is poised for a bounce-back season, the projected roles of Alec Pierce and AD Mitchell and chat with Josh Downs about his consistent production so far and his goals moving forward. The show wraps with a look at rookie Tyler Warren’s ceiling and how the quarterback competition could impact tight end production in 2025.
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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.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
This is the Last Word.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
The off season home of the Indianapolis Colts.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
It is the last Friday of June, and we're fired
up getting you in the know on the Colts. Here
in the Last Word, the last local show of the week.
Here on ninety three five one oh seven five the Fan,
the off season home of the Colts. Casey valets here.
I'm Matt Taylor. Welcome inside the Indiana Union Construction Industry
Radio studio. Case you like a cold frosty I do.
(00:44):
Where does the back deck beer on a Friday night
rank among the great beers you enjoy?
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Man, That's probably number one.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yeah, Friday night beer.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
So there's something about just sitting down in a chair,
kicking my feet up and having a nice cold beer.
There's something there about that. So that's probably up there
on probably first, maybe second, but second would only be
just like a pool beer.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
There you go. Pool Beer's good. Yeah, the power rankings
of beer. The deck beer on Friday night. Pool beer
is always good. Lake beer, beach beer, steaking a beer.
I'm a big yard work beer guy, like you get
done with yard work, maybe take a shower. Maybe you
don't even take a shower, you just crack open a
beer and admire your artwork inside the yard.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
See right now, with how hot it is, it's hard.
It's hard to do the shower after yard work because
then you get out of the shower and you're still
you need another shower, you need exactly.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
It's kind of like, you know what, forget it.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
We'll do this later summertime in Indianapolis and we're talking Beers, Colts,
Brots football, and we are with you for the next
half hour or so here on the fan. What's coming
up tonight, big show currently with the Colts in the
summertime between now and the end of July, when the
team reports for training camp up at Grand Park and Westfield.
(01:55):
We're gonna break down each position group. We have been
doing that here on the Last Word you up to
the start of the season. Last week we talked all
things quarterbacks and running backs. Tonight, we're going to take
a deep dive into the guys that catch the ball
pass catchers, wide receivers, tight ends. We're gonna hear from
Josh Downs on the show regarding his first two very
(02:16):
impactful years in the NFL. And we're also going to
talk about training camp right now, Casey, because earlier this
week the Colts schedule for training camp dropped, and here
are the details. Everything brought to you by Course and
Fire and Security once again this year, so appreciate their sponsorship.
Training Camp kicks off Wednesday, July twenty third, and things
(02:36):
will wrap up with a joint practice with the Green
Bay Packers on August the fourteenth. We talked about this
extensively yesterday on the Colts Daily Update, but head to
Colts dot com slash camp to claim your tickets and
see a full rundown of the calendar and the training
camp dates and everything you need to know about training
camp online. But you know, we talked about this again yesterday.
(02:56):
You know, this is very unofficial on my part, but
I did some research, and Casey, what I came up
with is the Colts are one of only six teams
left that still you know, go away if you will
for training camp, either go to a local college or
somewhere like Graham Park in the case of the Colts,
and they are going to practice on a routine basis
in front of the fans, away from their team facility.
(03:19):
Why do you think the Colts continue to be one
of the teams on that shortlist that continue to prioritize
the fans before the regular season.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
And that's it, it's the fans. I do think that
we have heard that time and time again from Chris
Ballard when he talks about how much they enjoy being
at Grand Park but being able to have the fans
there every single day. And then also just that team
aspect of your staying in a hotel together. You're doing
all of these things, I mean, your lockstep with your
teammates and it's a really great way to really bond
(03:50):
as you head into you know, what is a it's
a marathon, what the season is. So you're getting the
ends and the outs of everybody on your team. But
it's that team affinity that is so big for this
fan base that I love.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
The Colts do this.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Yeah, it's all about the fans, very grassroots effort and
like we said, those the simple ones are the best ones.
And go away for a training camp. I know it's
a big lift. I know it's a big undertaking. Just
ask the equipment guys. They've been packing for weeks.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
No doubt about it.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
So they have the heavy lifting you know, pun intended there,
but to be able to do this and build fan
loyalty and give back to the community by making it accessible,
there's something to do for fans literally of all ages
up at training camp. So again, we hope to see
you up there at Grand Park in Westfield late July
and August. Colts dot com slash camp for the tickets,
(04:39):
all of the dates and everything you need to know
about training camp. All right, let's go wide receiver burning questions.
We'll transition into that now. Casey, the Colts last year
they had some studs. They had three receivers a year
ago over eight hundred receiving yards. So we'll begin with
Michael Pittman Junior, right, a guy last year that had
a little bit of a statistically anyway down season, sixty
(05:02):
nine catches, a little bit over eight hundred yards. He
had averaged ninety nine catches and over one thousand yards
the three seasons before last year. But last year, as
we know, played with that nagging back, fractured back that
stemmed all the way from training camp, but he gutted
through it. Do you think we're going to see a
quote unquote bounce back performance from Michael Pittman Junior this
(05:24):
upcoming season.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Yeah, I do.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I think one of the things too, when I think
about the production that Pittman offers, I don't think it's
ever going to be like wow numbers. I think he's
just such a consistent, reliable option. I think the area
that you're going to see in improvement is the touchdowns.
He had three touchdowns last year, and it was interesting
because he spoke with the media before last year talking
(05:46):
about the tiers of receivers, you know, like, you know,
tier one are the guys that are having you know,
fourteen hundred yards and all of this. Someone asked what
is kind of holding him back from being that number,
and he said, it's touchdowns, and he really wanted to
emphasize being able to get into the end zone. I
know last year you had the back injuries, and we've
talked about the quarterback inconsistencies.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
So I think the.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
Three touchdown number you had last year, expect that one
to balloon up. And I think just with that, you're
going to see an improvement in Pittman in year twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, as far as the bat goes, I'm happy for him.
He was able to kind of clear that up over
the offseason. Hopefully that's behind him and he's excited to
become this team's number one option again in the passing game.
Here's what he said in the offseason about how he
reflects on the hardships, if you will, of last year.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, obviously I look at last
year that just wasn't up to my personal standard for
my personal goals, and I know that I have so
much more and like nobody cares about the situation that
I had last year. You know what I'm saying, Like
the external factors I shouldn't matter in a performance driven league.
So all that is behind me. There's no excuses, there's
(06:55):
no back there's nothing. That was what it was and
this year I just have to be a lot better
every single way.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
It's Michael Pittman Junior, not making excuses for last season.
But listen, the back was it was there?
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Yeah yeah right?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
And also two, to be fair, the quarterback carousel hit
him again. Pittman's worked with eight different starting quarterbacks Casey
in five years. Yes, Daniel Jones would make nine if
he starts this upcoming season, So you know, Pittman's gonna
do his job. He's gonna do everything that he can
for the quarterbacks to feel comfortable, and hopefully that pays
off in some more you know, some some bigger numbers
(07:28):
statistically for Pittman as this team's top receiver option in
twenty twenty five. What about Alec Pierce Casey last year
his unbelievable season in terms of the big play ability
twenty two point three yards per catch, the league's highest
number since Deshaun Jackson averaged twenty two and a half
(07:49):
yards per catch in twenty ten, so literally the best
yards per catch number for a season in fifteen years,
ten years in the NFL. He also had seven catches
last year over forty yards. That was the second most
in the NFL behind Jamar Chase is eight. What's the
next step for Alec Pierce? Can he be more than
just one of the best deep ball targets in the NFL?
Speaker 4 (08:10):
I think he can be. I think that's one of
the things that he's really improved on. It's kind of
that route tree. He's showing that he can do more
than just be the deep ball guy. You see what
he can do in that part of the game. And
you don't want it all limit that because it opens
up so much in your offense when you're able to
take the top off the defense like Alec Pierce is
(08:31):
able to do. But I do think that there is
an effort that he has made during this offseason to
make himself a little bit more reliable in those intermediate routes,
being able to go across in the middle and do
stuff like that. If it opens up his game, the
amount of production that he can put up, if he
can continue to evolve the rest of his game, I mean,
he can be thought of as one of those elite
(08:53):
receivers because right now he might be arguably the top
five deep ball guys in all of football.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Yeah, here's what he said about how he he's attacking
the offseason trying to get better for this upcoming season.
Speaker 6 (09:03):
Strictly for me, it's it's just like, you know, working
on drill work, cleaning up my cuts, just trying to
make him as christ as possible, be as efficient in
and out of breaks, no o wasted steps. And then
I've been like kind of figuring out and working on
some catching tripe drills, just like running through the catch,
Like I don't know, if you guys have ever played Madden,
(09:24):
but like, I feel like that you have an option
to catch the ball the one button and it kind
of like secures the catch and the other button. They
sometimes drop it, but they really like run through it
and they like you catch a slant with that, it
usually ends up being a big game. So I've tried
to been really trying to like work on running through
the catch and be aggressive kind of like stabbing the
ball at the air and not kind of like like
slowing down and stopping my feet.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
He's got the mindset for it now, right, He's got
the personality. He's starting to come into his own a
little bit more. And you heard it right there, working
on his cuts, his footwork, the route running, stab in
the ball. Here's a little fun fact about Alec Pierce,
because every time the ball is in the air, it's
somewhat of a fifty to fifty ball. That's what he
excels in, right, those deep shots down the sideline, jocking
(10:07):
for position. You know who's gonna come down with it
is going to be Pierce or the defender, and you're
surprised when Alec doesn't come down with it. Right, those
fifty to fifty balls for him are more like seventy
thirty thirty. Yeah, but here's the deal. Of his one
hundred and ten career catches, twenty nine of them have
gained at least twenty yards. So that's over a quarter
(10:27):
of his career catches have been big play receptions.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
And that's part of it when you talk about the maturation.
If he can excel in that other part of his game.
I mean, there's nothing that he can't do as a receiver.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
All right, burning questions on the receivers here in this
first segment, let's go to a d Mitchell. He provided
some of the biggest splash plays this spring, going in
a year number two, trying to kind of even out
his play after a rocky first season as a rookie
draft into the second round last year, twenty three catches,
three hundred and twelve yards, no touchdowns. Case, what is
the next step for Mitchell going into year number two
(11:02):
trying to find some more consistency.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
I think it's I mean consistency for sure, but it's
you know, making sure you have that relationship down with
both quarterbacks so that make sure you're in the right
spots all of that stuff. Because we saw all last year,
we saw it in the spring, we saw it again
here in this spring that getting open is not a
problem for Addie Mitchell. So you just have to be
able to be in sync with the quarterback because once
(11:26):
you make that connection, you know his ceiling is. It's
through the roof what this guy can do as far
as potential goes. You just got to be able to
make that connection and get the ball in his hand.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Yeah, A.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
D Mitchell on what the next steps are for him
heading into you number two.
Speaker 7 (11:38):
I'm always taking accountability of my actions. And you know,
the thing that I did well, I've been doing well, you.
Speaker 6 (11:45):
Know, my whole life.
Speaker 7 (11:46):
So you know the things that I didn't do well
necessarily just finishing plays and just being on the same
page with a quarterback. That's really the main things that
I really focused on during the offseason. So cause I
mean this this football, the runner routs isn't hard, Like
getting open isn't hard, So you know everything else, I
(12:07):
feel like I'll just take care of it.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
So ad Mitchell right there, last year played every game,
had a catch in twelve games, but just twenty three
catches on fifty five targets, just a forty one percent
catch rate, if you will. But again, we've talked about
this in the past. Case you don't look back at
his rookie season and say, hey, this guy can't play
like like you said. He gets open, yeah, and when
(12:29):
he made plays you were left with some wow, holy
cow moments. It was just frequently not being able to
make the plays consistently because of you know, rookie struggles.
Maybe he hit the rookie wall and quarterbacks. You know,
to be fair, quarterback inconsistencies around him happened last year
as a rookie too.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
It almost felt like it was more honestly targeted towards
Ad when those inconsistencies happened, because there were a handful
of times he's open and you know it's an air
and pass or it's short. It doesn't it all come
down to watching his rookie year and say, this guy
can't make it. Because this guy can get open, and
he gets open at an elite level. You just have
(13:07):
to be able to find that continuity with the quarterbacks
to be able to get the ball in his hands.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
That's a d Mitchell looking for more consistency. How about
mister consistency as it relates to the Colts wide receivers
in each of the last two years, I think Casey
for me, Josh Downs is that guy.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Yes, he to me is.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
The most consistent receiver the Colts have. Do you think
that's gonna continue to be the case for next season?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
I do.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
I mean, he is such a great security blanket. He
does so many good things. He's the perfect slot receiver
for this Colts offense. And I love what Josh Downs
can do. And I don't think at all that's gonna
go away in this year. It's only gonna grow.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Yeah, he's wise beyond his years, great football. IQ understands
the game really holistically, you know, for a guy has
a better understanding of that for someone his age. And
you know, while their guys had their big moments contributing
to the offense, Downs has been the steady force no
matter who the quarterback has been out there, and earlier
this soft season, during the team's ota period, we sat
(14:02):
down with Josh Downs. We began by talking about his
first two years in the NFL and if he's satisfied
with his impact that he's provided the Cults so far.
Last year terrific sophomore campaign, if you will led the
team with seventy two catches. You have the third most
catches by a Coults receiver in your first two years
with the team. I mean, by all accounts, you're off
(14:23):
to a terrific start in your career. But always interested
in how you feel about things. How do you assess
the way your first two years in the NFL has
gone so far?
Speaker 8 (14:32):
It's been good. I feel like I can always improve,
just personal goals, but definitely a blessing. I mean, I've
come out these two years pretty healthy, have definitely produced.
But yeah, just I want to get better of course,
and just want to keep building and get to the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
You know, you're always hard on yourself though, I mean
that's the thing. I mean, where does that critical eye
come from? And what are some things that you're focusing
in on this offseason in order to keep growing and
getting better and becoming the best reason of yourself?
Speaker 8 (15:01):
Just having a love for the game, I'd say, And
then you know, just I guess that's just how I
was born, how I was raised, you know, just family.
For the athletes, we just very competitive. That's the main thing.
When when you're really competitive, it's just hard to just
be like average and be okay with it. Really competitive,
you always want to be the best version yourself, but
you also want to be better than whoever's in front
of you and whoever you're going against. So I feel
(15:23):
like those two things and then for me just improving
just continuously just get healthy because best ability is availability,
and I missed about three games last year, so trying
to play a full season this year, God willing, and
just go from there.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
You know, for you third year in this same offense
under Shane Steichen Jim Bob Cooter, the quarterbacks have certainly
fluctuated and gone back and forth. But where are you
with this offense in terms of terminology and really understanding
it like the back of your hand?
Speaker 8 (15:49):
Yeah, I mean, third year. Definitely good to have the
same coaching staff for the third year in a row,
same offense. So I feel like that is something that's
very beneficial to me. I don't have to relearn anything.
I mean, of course refreshed because it's been a while,
but I don't have to like learn a whole new playbook.
I know the plays. They're gonna add certain wrinkles, of course,
you're right, year, but I don't have to learn a
(16:10):
whole new playbook, so that's great. And then the quarterback thing,
I'm excited for that. We'll see how it goes. Just
go from there.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Yeah, that that quarterback competition, How does it affect you
the first teams? The first team, You guys still have
to go out there and perform and produce and catch balls.
How does that affect you when you're trying to get
acclimated within the first team between two different guys.
Speaker 8 (16:30):
I mean it just you gotta work with both guys.
Of course, you don't get the every single rep with
with the guy yet because you don't know. But it's
good to get reps with both because they are too
high caliber quarterbacks. You never know. You one guy could
be starting the whole way through and then god willing,
nothing happens. But you know this, injuries are probat of
this game. So you can go down and the other
(16:50):
one comes in something like that. So it's good to
get reps with both. And then I gotta let the
coaches make the decision from there. And then once we
do know it's a starter, then it's really good to
hone in on name keep getting extra reps.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
But the good thing is I mean, the compliment to
you is that you have stayed productive and a huge
part of this offense despite playing with three different quarterbacks.
Could before what steps do you have to take in
order to maintain your steadiness and your production within this
offense with multiple different quarterbacks throwing you passes.
Speaker 8 (17:21):
Yeah, just get on the same page. I'm no arr
for a minute, So just got to keep throwing with
him and then Daniel, I mean, just just get that
relationship going. Just talking to him every day, getting to
know him better, working with him, doing extra reps with
him as well.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
You talked about that relationship that you have with Anthony Richardson.
This is what he's about to go through. It's gonna
be I mean, it's serious, it's competitive. It's going to
be demanding, taxing on him mentally and physically. Your relationship
with him, because you guys are very close, you came
in the same draft class. How can you help him
get through just the grueling nature of all that comes
(17:58):
with a quarterback battle.
Speaker 8 (18:00):
Yeah, it's just it's a competitive battle. At the end
of the day. You just got to like ask how
somebody's doing mentally. More than anything, I feel like a
lot of people overlook that. Like, physically it's gonna be,
of course a grind, but sure, I feel like mentally
is the is the one that people try to overlook.
So just just check on the human being more than anything.
Don't even the competition gonna go one way or another,
(18:20):
but you just got to check on how the person
is doing mentally.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
All right, last couple of things with Josh Downs last year,
yourself over eight hundred receiving yards, three total receivers over
eight hundred receiving yards within this offense. What is it
about the amount of talent you guys have the diversity
that makes this wide receiver group so formidable and so
hard to deal with because you guys are all productive,
but you get it done doing different things in different ways.
Speaker 8 (18:45):
Yeah, like you said, we just got different skill sets.
I mean, everybody can do different things, so just got
to keep building off that. We got a good receiver
group so or we're young as well, so just keep
getting more experienced there. But we're like you said, we
all got different talents and I feel like even things
that we haven't shown, we do have that in our
(19:05):
bag as well, So hopefully we can open that up
even more and then let us lose.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
No doubt about that.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
All right, Last one, Josh Downs putting you on the
hot seat, give me your signature moment so far that
you personally have had in the NFL. I know there's
bigger and better things to come, there's no question, but
your favorite moment, whether it's a catch or a score
or a win, just your your your signature moment that
you've had so far in two years.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
With the Colts.
Speaker 8 (19:31):
Favorite moment would have to be that catch I had
against the Texans last year.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Yeah, and I like that.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
I was.
Speaker 8 (19:38):
I was like that when I watched it over, I was.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Like the wide open walk in touchdown. Oh no, no, no no,
there was multiple catches in that game. Jumped when I
when I got the pylon.
Speaker 8 (19:48):
Yeah, that was my favorite. That was probably like one
of That's my favorite catch I've ever had.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Should have been a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
I wish it was at such you got Rob Brother.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Yeah, replay did not do that catch justice.
Speaker 8 (19:59):
They gave it the JA, So I was like, you
know what, you can have a j JT's my guys.
I'm not worried.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
I had the running back stats right there. All right,
Josh Downs always appreciate your time, all the best the
rest of the spring workout period, and we'll see in
training camp.
Speaker 8 (20:11):
Yes, sir, thank you.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
That's Josh Downs on his most memorable parts of his
career to this point. Obviously, there's only more highs to
come with him as he progresses into year number three. Hey,
Colts single game tickets are on sale now. Head to
Colts dot com slash tickets to purchase your tickets through
ticket Master, the official marketplace of the Colts and the NFL.
(20:32):
When we come back, we're gonna talk about the burning
questions going into the season at tight end. What's the
ceiling for Tyler Warren, how many tight ends can make
the roster, and how does the Colts quarterback situation impact
that tight end group. We'll discuss all of that when
we come back.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Stay with us.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
This is the last word on ninety three to five
and one oh seven five the Fan.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
We're giving you all you need to know on the Colts.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
This is the last word from the Indiana Union Construction
Industry Radio Studio.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
I think it's the first time we've had the talk
box on the last word here, Casey Vallier with a
greatness of Frampton, Peter Frampton Last Word returns the offseason
home of the Indianapolis Colts. We're inside the Indiana Union
Construction Industry Radio Studio. I'm Matt Taylor with Casey Valley.
Ay Reminder, registration for the thirteenth annual Colts five K
(21:21):
Are Run a Walk and the second annual Blues Fun
Run is now open. Both events are going to take
place at Lucas Oil Stadium coming up on Saturday, September sixth.
They're going to lead into the season opener, the home
opener against the Miami Dolphins coming up the following day.
And for more information and the register head to Colts
dot com Slash five K. We're taking a look at
(21:42):
the position groups in the summertime here breaking down our
Burning Questions series. We already talked about wide receivers in
segment number one. Let's talk about tight ends. Casey focus
on that position here on segment number two. It all
starts with Tyler Warren drafted in the first round, fourteenth overall.
Case how do you pinpoint what he can be? What's
(22:03):
his ceiling as a rookie?
Speaker 4 (22:04):
Do you think, I mean it's gonna be really really
hard to say what a ceiling is because I don't
think he's ever gonna reach it as a rookie, because
I think this guy's gonna continue to just be impressive
as he moves on. But I think what he's going
to open up in the middle of the field is
going to be kind of that part of the Colts
offense that was missing last year. He's going to be
able to offer something that we haven't seen last couple
(22:24):
of years, and that's gonna make everything in the Colts
offense better. I think Tyler Warren is going to have
a massive impact as a rookie. I don't want to
put a number on it, but I think when you
look at the impact at the end of the year,
when you say who was the most consistent, most impactful player,
Tyler Warren's probably not gonna be very far up any numbers.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Casey numbers.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
I'm gonna say he's gonna have fifty plus receptions for
five hundred plus yards and a handful of touchdown.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
And we talked about this last week.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
You know, prior to this this latest draft, there were
twenty eight tight ends draft in the first round since
two thousand and only seven of them went over five
hundred yards. As a rookie, right, but I think he
is that good to be able to do that. I
think five hundred yards is I'm with you, that's kind
of on the low end of what I think we're
going to see. So and that would be a great season.
(23:15):
Like we said, that's that would be the best tight
end season for a cult since Jack Doyle in twenty nineteen.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Okay, So that does put.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Things into perspective a little bit. Also putting things into
perspective as it relates to tight ends. Casey is this
quarterback situation, How does the quarterback battle between Anthony Richardson
and Daniel Jones? How does that change or impact how
you forecast the production from what you're going to see
from the tight ends next season?
Speaker 4 (23:43):
It makes a massive impact. And how honestly, I think
that is where the competition comes down to, can Anthony
Richardson make that next step to be able to complete this.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Part of the footbook. It's a great point. That is
where it is you complete that next step.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Consistency in the intermediate part the passing game, which is
where tight.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
Ends fast, where tight ends are getting and that's what
it is I think ultimately, and Anthony Richardson would tell
you the same thing. I've got to be better there.
You've got to be able to hit those layups if
you want to be a successful quarterback throughout an entire career.
And that's what I think this competition is. It is
trying to get Anthony Richardson to be that consistent player.
And then you look at Daniel Jones and that's kind
of where he thrives is in that area. You're going
(24:24):
to know with this battle how successful the tight ends
are going to be based on what this quarterback competition goes.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
That's well said.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
Again, I think if Daniel Jones is the quarterback for
most of the season, then I would say that group's
gonna get a lot of balls.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Yeah, agreed.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
If Richardson's the quarterback, there's still some uncertainty there just
because we haven't seen him consistently work it to tight
ends in his first two years. I mean last year
in ten games, he only completed eighteen passes to tight ends.
Last season and year number two. Lastly, how many tight
ends can make this roster? So last year the Colts
kept four tight ends. That was Kylon Grantson, Moiley co
(25:00):
Drew Ogletree and Mallory, and I'm assuming that the number
is probably three, maybe four. Yeah, but you're gonna get
to that number crunch, and what Tyler Warren is going
to be able to offer from a blocking and pass
catching standpoint probably impacts that. Moley Cox has been a
guy who has been a staple, and then Drew Ogletree
(25:22):
and Will Mallory are both guys who have shown that
promise but haven't been able to be consistently relied upon.
At you are this tight end, so I think three,
but you might be able to scratch out a fourth.
But then you also, we haven't mentioned Jelannie Woods in
that mix, and he's a guy who a couple of
years ago you were like, here's your guy. And so
(25:42):
after missing the last two seasons, is gonna be a
hardhal for him to climb to try to make this
roster as well. And also too, I mean the Colts
they don't like to skimp in the trenches, no, and
so they're always gonna go heavy there. They can maybe
keep six receivers, they can maybe keep six cornerbacks. Considering
how deep you are there so extra numbers at one
of those spots. Maybe you keep a third quarterback. Yeah,
(26:05):
I mean that could eat at how many tight ends
you have on this roster. But I just wouldn't be
surprised if that position gets crunched because of numbers elsewhere
and because of how much playing time. I think we're
gonna see from Tyler Warren right away because of.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
All that he can do.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
He can offer you. You want to have Tyler Warren
on the field because you don't tip your hand, run
or pass either way, because of how good he is
doing a lot of things within the offense. Hey, the
Colts have teamed up with Anthon, Blue Cross and Blue
Shield to recognize school teachers, administrators, nurses and staff members
who go above and beyond. Do you know a classroom quarterback?
(26:43):
Nominate yours at colts dot com slash Classroom Quarterbacks. When
we come back, we're kind of up against it on time,
but we'll give you the Forum Credit Union Question of
the Week, which will center around Super Bowl droughts in
the NFL. That's coming up next. Stay with us on
the Last Word.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
I didn't get enough football. You're in the right place.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
This is the offseason radio home of the Indianapolis Colts.
The Last Word from the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio Studio.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
Welcome back the Last Word, brought to you by Meyer,
the official Supercenter of the Colts Center, proud sponsor of
hundreds of local sports teams across the Midwest. We're closing
it out here on the last word, Casey Vallee along.
I'm Matt Taylor, and we're leaving room for the Foreign
Credit Union question of the week, which is this Casey.
The Oklahoma City Thunder won their second NBA championship in
(27:37):
team history. Keep it going, baby boo them all day.
Game seven Pacers didn't have their top guy man into
ay forty five year drought for the Thunder franchise without
a title when they won Game seven over the Pacers.
They of course were the SuperSonics when they won the
championship back in nineteen seventy nine. But it leads into
(27:58):
this as it relates to football. Which NFL team has
the longest active Super Bowl winning drought among teams that
have won a Super Bowl once before in franchise history?
So you had to have had one Super Bowl. What's
the longest active drought between Super Bowl teams that haven't
(28:18):
gotten it done lately? You follow me?
Speaker 1 (28:20):
I am gonna say like.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
Think think East Coast, think big, big Appe Giants, Okay, big,
So it's gotta be the Jets.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
It's the Jets.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
The New York Jets have the longest active Super Bowl
winning drought among teams that have won a Super Bowl.
That drought is now fifty six seasons. They want it
member Super Bowl three Joe, namea you know, going off
the field with the finger point and the guarantee and
all that nineteen sixty eight. Five other Super Bowl winning
(28:51):
franchises have a thirty plus season active drought. Any guesses
there quickly? Dolphins Dolphins, Yes, yeah, the Dolphins haven't won
a playoff game at a long time either. And then think, uh,
think West Coast. It's been a long time now. For
the San Francisco forty nine ers, they've been close, obviously
very close. Chicago, the Chicago Bears gotta done in nineteen
(29:13):
eighty five, haven't won one since.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
And Washington Commanders.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
They get commanders, and the Redskins back in the day
had a handful, but they haven't had a long time.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
There.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
You go visit the forum credit Union fanforum section of
Colts dot com to interact with other fans online. There
You can post a topic and participate in various discussions
on the Colts Forum credit Union helping members live their
financial dreams. Casey, we gotta go, But what's going on
this weekend for you?
Speaker 4 (29:38):
I got a bachelor party up in Michigan City. I'm
heading out after this show, so wish me luck.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Brown Man bachelor bar we go? How old is this
guy's thirty five?
Speaker 1 (29:48):
All right? I went to college with him. Better late
than never, Better late than never.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
As I always say, Casey, there's a lid for every pot,
all right. I'm living proof of that. I'm an acquired
taste SAMs. It's all the all the praise.
Speaker 7 (30:02):
In the world.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
But my wife loves me and I love her for that.
Speaker 6 (30:05):
All right.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
That's gonna do it for us. We gotta run, Stay
cool out there, enjoy the weekend. ESPN Radio is coming
up next.
The NFL never sleeps.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
The roster is ever evolving, and it's all about finding
the edge.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
This is the Last Word.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
The off season home of the Indianapolis Colts.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
It is the last Friday of June, and we're fired
up getting you in the know on the Colts. Here
in the Last Word, the last local show of the week.
Here on ninety three five one oh seven five the Fan,
the off season home of the Colts. Casey valets here.
I'm Matt Taylor. Welcome inside the Indiana Union Construction Industry
Radio studio. Case you like a cold frosty I do.
(00:44):
Where does the back deck beer on a Friday night
rank among the great beers you enjoy?
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Man, That's probably number one.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yeah, Friday night beer.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
So there's something about just sitting down in a chair,
kicking my feet up and having a nice cold beer.
There's something there about that. So that's probably up there
on probably first, maybe second, but second would only be
just like a pool beer.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
There you go. Pool Beer's good. Yeah, the power rankings
of beer. The deck beer on Friday night. Pool beer
is always good. Lake beer, beach beer, steaking a beer.
I'm a big yard work beer guy, like you get
done with yard work, maybe take a shower. Maybe you
don't even take a shower, you just crack open a
beer and admire your artwork inside the yard.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
See right now, with how hot it is, it's hard.
It's hard to do the shower after yard work because
then you get out of the shower and you're still
you need another shower, you need exactly.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
It's kind of like, you know what, forget it.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
We'll do this later summertime in Indianapolis and we're talking Beers, Colts,
Brots football, and we are with you for the next
half hour or so here on the fan. What's coming
up tonight, big show currently with the Colts in the
summertime between now and the end of July, when the
team reports for training camp up at Grand Park and Westfield.
(01:55):
We're gonna break down each position group. We have been
doing that here on the Last Word you up to
the start of the season. Last week we talked all
things quarterbacks and running backs. Tonight, we're going to take
a deep dive into the guys that catch the ball
pass catchers, wide receivers, tight ends. We're gonna hear from
Josh Downs on the show regarding his first two very
(02:16):
impactful years in the NFL. And we're also going to
talk about training camp right now, Casey, because earlier this
week the Colts schedule for training camp dropped, and here
are the details. Everything brought to you by Course and
Fire and Security once again this year, so appreciate their sponsorship.
Training Camp kicks off Wednesday, July twenty third, and things
(02:36):
will wrap up with a joint practice with the Green
Bay Packers on August the fourteenth. We talked about this
extensively yesterday on the Colts Daily Update, but head to
Colts dot com slash camp to claim your tickets and
see a full rundown of the calendar and the training
camp dates and everything you need to know about training
camp online. But you know, we talked about this again yesterday.
(02:56):
You know, this is very unofficial on my part, but
I did some research, and Casey, what I came up
with is the Colts are one of only six teams
left that still you know, go away if you will
for training camp, either go to a local college or
somewhere like Graham Park in the case of the Colts,
and they are going to practice on a routine basis
in front of the fans, away from their team facility.
(03:19):
Why do you think the Colts continue to be one
of the teams on that shortlist that continue to prioritize
the fans before the regular season.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
And that's it, it's the fans. I do think that
we have heard that time and time again from Chris
Ballard when he talks about how much they enjoy being
at Grand Park but being able to have the fans
there every single day. And then also just that team
aspect of your staying in a hotel together. You're doing
all of these things, I mean, your lockstep with your
teammates and it's a really great way to really bond
(03:50):
as you head into you know, what is a it's
a marathon, what the season is. So you're getting the
ends and the outs of everybody on your team. But
it's that team affinity that is so big for this
fan base that I love.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
The Colts do this.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Yeah, it's all about the fans, very grassroots effort and
like we said, those the simple ones are the best ones.
And go away for a training camp. I know it's
a big lift. I know it's a big undertaking. Just
ask the equipment guys. They've been packing for weeks.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
No doubt about it.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
So they have the heavy lifting you know, pun intended there,
but to be able to do this and build fan
loyalty and give back to the community by making it accessible,
there's something to do for fans literally of all ages
up at training camp. So again, we hope to see
you up there at Grand Park in Westfield late July
and August. Colts dot com slash camp for the tickets,
(04:39):
all of the dates and everything you need to know
about training camp. All right, let's go wide receiver burning questions.
We'll transition into that now. Casey, the Colts last year
they had some studs. They had three receivers a year
ago over eight hundred receiving yards. So we'll begin with
Michael Pittman Junior, right, a guy last year that had
a little bit of a statistically anyway down season, sixty
(05:02):
nine catches, a little bit over eight hundred yards. He
had averaged ninety nine catches and over one thousand yards
the three seasons before last year. But last year, as
we know, played with that nagging back, fractured back that
stemmed all the way from training camp, but he gutted
through it. Do you think we're going to see a
quote unquote bounce back performance from Michael Pittman Junior this
(05:24):
upcoming season.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Yeah, I do.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I think one of the things too, when I think
about the production that Pittman offers, I don't think it's
ever going to be like wow numbers. I think he's
just such a consistent, reliable option. I think the area
that you're going to see in improvement is the touchdowns.
He had three touchdowns last year, and it was interesting
because he spoke with the media before last year talking
(05:46):
about the tiers of receivers, you know, like, you know,
tier one are the guys that are having you know,
fourteen hundred yards and all of this. Someone asked what
is kind of holding him back from being that number,
and he said, it's touchdowns, and he really wanted to
emphasize being able to get into the end zone. I
know last year you had the back injuries, and we've
talked about the quarterback inconsistencies.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
So I think the.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
Three touchdown number you had last year, expect that one
to balloon up. And I think just with that, you're
going to see an improvement in Pittman in year twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, as far as the bat goes, I'm happy for him.
He was able to kind of clear that up over
the offseason. Hopefully that's behind him and he's excited to
become this team's number one option again in the passing game.
Here's what he said in the offseason about how he
reflects on the hardships, if you will, of last year.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, obviously I look at last
year that just wasn't up to my personal standard for
my personal goals, and I know that I have so
much more and like nobody cares about the situation that
I had last year. You know what I'm saying, Like
the external factors I shouldn't matter in a performance driven league.
So all that is behind me. There's no excuses, there's
(06:55):
no back there's nothing. That was what it was and
this year I just have to be a lot better
every single way.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
It's Michael Pittman Junior, not making excuses for last season.
But listen, the back was it was there?
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Yeah yeah right?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
And also two, to be fair, the quarterback carousel hit
him again. Pittman's worked with eight different starting quarterbacks Casey
in five years. Yes, Daniel Jones would make nine if
he starts this upcoming season, So you know, Pittman's gonna
do his job. He's gonna do everything that he can
for the quarterbacks to feel comfortable, and hopefully that pays
off in some more you know, some some bigger numbers
(07:28):
statistically for Pittman as this team's top receiver option in
twenty twenty five. What about Alec Pierce Casey last year
his unbelievable season in terms of the big play ability
twenty two point three yards per catch, the league's highest
number since Deshaun Jackson averaged twenty two and a half
(07:49):
yards per catch in twenty ten, so literally the best
yards per catch number for a season in fifteen years,
ten years in the NFL. He also had seven catches
last year over forty yards. That was the second most
in the NFL behind Jamar Chase is eight. What's the
next step for Alec Pierce? Can he be more than
just one of the best deep ball targets in the NFL?
Speaker 4 (08:10):
I think he can be. I think that's one of
the things that he's really improved on. It's kind of
that route tree. He's showing that he can do more
than just be the deep ball guy. You see what
he can do in that part of the game. And
you don't want it all limit that because it opens
up so much in your offense when you're able to
take the top off the defense like Alec Pierce is
(08:31):
able to do. But I do think that there is
an effort that he has made during this offseason to
make himself a little bit more reliable in those intermediate routes,
being able to go across in the middle and do
stuff like that. If it opens up his game, the
amount of production that he can put up, if he
can continue to evolve the rest of his game, I mean,
he can be thought of as one of those elite
(08:53):
receivers because right now he might be arguably the top
five deep ball guys in all of football.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Yeah, here's what he said about how he he's attacking
the offseason trying to get better for this upcoming season.
Speaker 6 (09:03):
Strictly for me, it's it's just like, you know, working
on drill work, cleaning up my cuts, just trying to
make him as christ as possible, be as efficient in
and out of breaks, no o wasted steps. And then
I've been like kind of figuring out and working on
some catching tripe drills, just like running through the catch,
Like I don't know, if you guys have ever played Madden,
(09:24):
but like, I feel like that you have an option
to catch the ball the one button and it kind
of like secures the catch and the other button. They
sometimes drop it, but they really like run through it
and they like you catch a slant with that, it
usually ends up being a big game. So I've tried
to been really trying to like work on running through
the catch and be aggressive kind of like stabbing the
ball at the air and not kind of like like
slowing down and stopping my feet.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
He's got the mindset for it now, right, He's got
the personality. He's starting to come into his own a
little bit more. And you heard it right there, working
on his cuts, his footwork, the route running, stab in
the ball. Here's a little fun fact about Alec Pierce,
because every time the ball is in the air, it's
somewhat of a fifty to fifty ball. That's what he
excels in, right, those deep shots down the sideline, jocking
(10:07):
for position. You know who's gonna come down with it
is going to be Pierce or the defender, and you're
surprised when Alec doesn't come down with it. Right, those
fifty to fifty balls for him are more like seventy
thirty thirty. Yeah, but here's the deal. Of his one
hundred and ten career catches, twenty nine of them have
gained at least twenty yards. So that's over a quarter
(10:27):
of his career catches have been big play receptions.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
And that's part of it when you talk about the maturation.
If he can excel in that other part of his game.
I mean, there's nothing that he can't do as a receiver.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
All right, burning questions on the receivers here in this
first segment, let's go to a d Mitchell. He provided
some of the biggest splash plays this spring, going in
a year number two, trying to kind of even out
his play after a rocky first season as a rookie
draft into the second round last year, twenty three catches,
three hundred and twelve yards, no touchdowns. Case, what is
the next step for Mitchell going into year number two
(11:02):
trying to find some more consistency.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
I think it's I mean consistency for sure, but it's
you know, making sure you have that relationship down with
both quarterbacks so that make sure you're in the right
spots all of that stuff. Because we saw all last year,
we saw it in the spring, we saw it again
here in this spring that getting open is not a
problem for Addie Mitchell. So you just have to be
able to be in sync with the quarterback because once
(11:26):
you make that connection, you know his ceiling is. It's
through the roof what this guy can do as far
as potential goes. You just got to be able to
make that connection and get the ball in his hand.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Yeah, A.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
D Mitchell on what the next steps are for him
heading into you number two.
Speaker 7 (11:38):
I'm always taking accountability of my actions. And you know,
the thing that I did well, I've been doing well, you.
Speaker 6 (11:45):
Know, my whole life.
Speaker 7 (11:46):
So you know the things that I didn't do well
necessarily just finishing plays and just being on the same
page with a quarterback. That's really the main things that
I really focused on during the offseason. So cause I
mean this this football, the runner routs isn't hard, Like
getting open isn't hard, So you know everything else, I
(12:07):
feel like I'll just take care of it.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
So ad Mitchell right there, last year played every game,
had a catch in twelve games, but just twenty three
catches on fifty five targets, just a forty one percent
catch rate, if you will. But again, we've talked about
this in the past. Case you don't look back at
his rookie season and say, hey, this guy can't play
like like you said. He gets open, yeah, and when
(12:29):
he made plays you were left with some wow, holy
cow moments. It was just frequently not being able to
make the plays consistently because of you know, rookie struggles.
Maybe he hit the rookie wall and quarterbacks. You know,
to be fair, quarterback inconsistencies around him happened last year
as a rookie too.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
It almost felt like it was more honestly targeted towards
Ad when those inconsistencies happened, because there were a handful
of times he's open and you know it's an air
and pass or it's short. It doesn't it all come
down to watching his rookie year and say, this guy
can't make it. Because this guy can get open, and
he gets open at an elite level. You just have
(13:07):
to be able to find that continuity with the quarterbacks
to be able to get the ball in his hands.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
That's a d Mitchell looking for more consistency. How about
mister consistency as it relates to the Colts wide receivers
in each of the last two years, I think Casey
for me, Josh Downs is that guy.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Yes, he to me is.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
The most consistent receiver the Colts have. Do you think
that's gonna continue to be the case for next season?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
I do.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
I mean, he is such a great security blanket. He
does so many good things. He's the perfect slot receiver
for this Colts offense. And I love what Josh Downs
can do. And I don't think at all that's gonna
go away in this year. It's only gonna grow.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Yeah, he's wise beyond his years, great football. IQ understands
the game really holistically, you know, for a guy has
a better understanding of that for someone his age. And
you know, while their guys had their big moments contributing
to the offense, Downs has been the steady force no
matter who the quarterback has been out there, and earlier
this soft season, during the team's ota period, we sat
(14:02):
down with Josh Downs. We began by talking about his
first two years in the NFL and if he's satisfied
with his impact that he's provided the Cults so far.
Last year terrific sophomore campaign, if you will led the
team with seventy two catches. You have the third most
catches by a Coults receiver in your first two years
with the team. I mean, by all accounts, you're off
(14:23):
to a terrific start in your career. But always interested
in how you feel about things. How do you assess
the way your first two years in the NFL has
gone so far?
Speaker 8 (14:32):
It's been good. I feel like I can always improve,
just personal goals, but definitely a blessing. I mean, I've
come out these two years pretty healthy, have definitely produced.
But yeah, just I want to get better of course,
and just want to keep building and get to the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
You know, you're always hard on yourself though, I mean
that's the thing. I mean, where does that critical eye
come from? And what are some things that you're focusing
in on this offseason in order to keep growing and
getting better and becoming the best reason of yourself?
Speaker 8 (15:01):
Just having a love for the game, I'd say, And
then you know, just I guess that's just how I
was born, how I was raised, you know, just family.
For the athletes, we just very competitive. That's the main thing.
When when you're really competitive, it's just hard to just
be like average and be okay with it. Really competitive,
you always want to be the best version yourself, but
you also want to be better than whoever's in front
of you and whoever you're going against. So I feel
(15:23):
like those two things and then for me just improving
just continuously just get healthy because best ability is availability,
and I missed about three games last year, so trying
to play a full season this year, God willing, and
just go from there.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
You know, for you third year in this same offense
under Shane Steichen Jim Bob Cooter, the quarterbacks have certainly
fluctuated and gone back and forth. But where are you
with this offense in terms of terminology and really understanding
it like the back of your hand?
Speaker 8 (15:49):
Yeah, I mean, third year. Definitely good to have the
same coaching staff for the third year in a row,
same offense. So I feel like that is something that's
very beneficial to me. I don't have to relearn anything.
I mean, of course refreshed because it's been a while,
but I don't have to like learn a whole new playbook.
I know the plays. They're gonna add certain wrinkles, of course,
you're right, year, but I don't have to learn a
(16:10):
whole new playbook, so that's great. And then the quarterback thing,
I'm excited for that. We'll see how it goes. Just
go from there.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Yeah, that that quarterback competition, How does it affect you
the first teams? The first team, You guys still have
to go out there and perform and produce and catch balls.
How does that affect you when you're trying to get
acclimated within the first team between two different guys.
Speaker 8 (16:30):
I mean it just you gotta work with both guys.
Of course, you don't get the every single rep with
with the guy yet because you don't know. But it's
good to get reps with both because they are too
high caliber quarterbacks. You never know. You one guy could
be starting the whole way through and then god willing,
nothing happens. But you know this, injuries are probat of
this game. So you can go down and the other
(16:50):
one comes in something like that. So it's good to
get reps with both. And then I gotta let the
coaches make the decision from there. And then once we
do know it's a starter, then it's really good to
hone in on name keep getting extra reps.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
But the good thing is I mean, the compliment to
you is that you have stayed productive and a huge
part of this offense despite playing with three different quarterbacks.
Could before what steps do you have to take in
order to maintain your steadiness and your production within this
offense with multiple different quarterbacks throwing you passes.
Speaker 8 (17:21):
Yeah, just get on the same page. I'm no arr
for a minute, So just got to keep throwing with
him and then Daniel, I mean, just just get that
relationship going. Just talking to him every day, getting to
know him better, working with him, doing extra reps with
him as well.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
You talked about that relationship that you have with Anthony Richardson.
This is what he's about to go through. It's gonna
be I mean, it's serious, it's competitive. It's going to
be demanding, taxing on him mentally and physically. Your relationship
with him, because you guys are very close, you came
in the same draft class. How can you help him
get through just the grueling nature of all that comes
(17:58):
with a quarterback battle.
Speaker 8 (18:00):
Yeah, it's just it's a competitive battle. At the end
of the day. You just got to like ask how
somebody's doing mentally. More than anything, I feel like a
lot of people overlook that. Like, physically it's gonna be,
of course a grind, but sure, I feel like mentally
is the is the one that people try to overlook.
So just just check on the human being more than anything.
Don't even the competition gonna go one way or another,
(18:20):
but you just got to check on how the person
is doing mentally.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
All right, last couple of things with Josh Downs last year,
yourself over eight hundred receiving yards, three total receivers over
eight hundred receiving yards within this offense. What is it
about the amount of talent you guys have the diversity
that makes this wide receiver group so formidable and so
hard to deal with because you guys are all productive,
but you get it done doing different things in different ways.
Speaker 8 (18:45):
Yeah, like you said, we just got different skill sets.
I mean, everybody can do different things, so just got
to keep building off that. We got a good receiver
group so or we're young as well, so just keep
getting more experienced there. But we're like you said, we
all got different talents and I feel like even things
that we haven't shown, we do have that in our
(19:05):
bag as well, So hopefully we can open that up
even more and then let us lose.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
No doubt about that.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
All right, Last one, Josh Downs putting you on the
hot seat, give me your signature moment so far that
you personally have had in the NFL. I know there's
bigger and better things to come, there's no question, but
your favorite moment, whether it's a catch or a score
or a win, just your your your signature moment that
you've had so far in two years.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
With the Colts.
Speaker 8 (19:31):
Favorite moment would have to be that catch I had
against the Texans last year.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Yeah, and I like that.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
I was.
Speaker 8 (19:38):
I was like that when I watched it over, I was.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Like the wide open walk in touchdown. Oh no, no, no no,
there was multiple catches in that game. Jumped when I
when I got the pylon.
Speaker 8 (19:48):
Yeah, that was my favorite. That was probably like one
of That's my favorite catch I've ever had.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Should have been a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
I wish it was at such you got Rob Brother.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Yeah, replay did not do that catch justice.
Speaker 8 (19:59):
They gave it the JA, So I was like, you
know what, you can have a j JT's my guys.
I'm not worried.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
I had the running back stats right there. All right,
Josh Downs always appreciate your time, all the best the
rest of the spring workout period, and we'll see in
training camp.
Speaker 8 (20:11):
Yes, sir, thank you.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
That's Josh Downs on his most memorable parts of his
career to this point. Obviously, there's only more highs to
come with him as he progresses into year number three. Hey,
Colts single game tickets are on sale now. Head to
Colts dot com slash tickets to purchase your tickets through
ticket Master, the official marketplace of the Colts and the NFL.
(20:32):
When we come back, we're gonna talk about the burning
questions going into the season at tight end. What's the
ceiling for Tyler Warren, how many tight ends can make
the roster, and how does the Colts quarterback situation impact
that tight end group. We'll discuss all of that when
we come back.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Stay with us.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
This is the last word on ninety three to five
and one oh seven five the Fan.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
We're giving you all you need to know on the Colts.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
This is the last word from the Indiana Union Construction
Industry Radio Studio.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
I think it's the first time we've had the talk
box on the last word here, Casey Vallier with a
greatness of Frampton, Peter Frampton Last Word returns the offseason
home of the Indianapolis Colts. We're inside the Indiana Union
Construction Industry Radio Studio. I'm Matt Taylor with Casey Valley.
Ay Reminder, registration for the thirteenth annual Colts five K
(21:21):
Are Run a Walk and the second annual Blues Fun
Run is now open. Both events are going to take
place at Lucas Oil Stadium coming up on Saturday, September sixth.
They're going to lead into the season opener, the home
opener against the Miami Dolphins coming up the following day.
And for more information and the register head to Colts
dot com Slash five K. We're taking a look at
(21:42):
the position groups in the summertime here breaking down our
Burning Questions series. We already talked about wide receivers in
segment number one. Let's talk about tight ends. Casey focus
on that position here on segment number two. It all
starts with Tyler Warren drafted in the first round, fourteenth overall.
Case how do you pinpoint what he can be? What's
(22:03):
his ceiling as a rookie?
Speaker 4 (22:04):
Do you think, I mean it's gonna be really really
hard to say what a ceiling is because I don't
think he's ever gonna reach it as a rookie, because
I think this guy's gonna continue to just be impressive
as he moves on. But I think what he's going
to open up in the middle of the field is
going to be kind of that part of the Colts
offense that was missing last year. He's going to be
able to offer something that we haven't seen last couple
(22:24):
of years, and that's gonna make everything in the Colts
offense better. I think Tyler Warren is going to have
a massive impact as a rookie. I don't want to
put a number on it, but I think when you
look at the impact at the end of the year,
when you say who was the most consistent, most impactful player,
Tyler Warren's probably not gonna be very far up any numbers.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Casey numbers.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
I'm gonna say he's gonna have fifty plus receptions for
five hundred plus yards and a handful of touchdown.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
And we talked about this last week.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
You know, prior to this this latest draft, there were
twenty eight tight ends draft in the first round since
two thousand and only seven of them went over five
hundred yards. As a rookie, right, but I think he
is that good to be able to do that. I
think five hundred yards is I'm with you, that's kind
of on the low end of what I think we're
going to see. So and that would be a great season.
(23:15):
Like we said, that's that would be the best tight
end season for a cult since Jack Doyle in twenty nineteen.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Okay, So that does put.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Things into perspective a little bit. Also putting things into
perspective as it relates to tight ends. Casey is this
quarterback situation, How does the quarterback battle between Anthony Richardson
and Daniel Jones? How does that change or impact how
you forecast the production from what you're going to see
from the tight ends next season?
Speaker 4 (23:43):
It makes a massive impact. And how honestly, I think
that is where the competition comes down to, can Anthony
Richardson make that next step to be able to complete this.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Part of the footbook. It's a great point. That is
where it is you complete that next step.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Consistency in the intermediate part the passing game, which is
where tight.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
Ends fast, where tight ends are getting and that's what
it is I think ultimately, and Anthony Richardson would tell
you the same thing. I've got to be better there.
You've got to be able to hit those layups if
you want to be a successful quarterback throughout an entire career.
And that's what I think this competition is. It is
trying to get Anthony Richardson to be that consistent player.
And then you look at Daniel Jones and that's kind
of where he thrives is in that area. You're going
(24:24):
to know with this battle how successful the tight ends
are going to be based on what this quarterback competition goes.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
That's well said.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
Again, I think if Daniel Jones is the quarterback for
most of the season, then I would say that group's
gonna get a lot of balls.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Yeah, agreed.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
If Richardson's the quarterback, there's still some uncertainty there just
because we haven't seen him consistently work it to tight
ends in his first two years. I mean last year
in ten games, he only completed eighteen passes to tight ends.
Last season and year number two. Lastly, how many tight
ends can make this roster? So last year the Colts
kept four tight ends. That was Kylon Grantson, Moiley co
(25:00):
Drew Ogletree and Mallory, and I'm assuming that the number
is probably three, maybe four. Yeah, but you're gonna get
to that number crunch, and what Tyler Warren is going
to be able to offer from a blocking and pass
catching standpoint probably impacts that. Moley Cox has been a
guy who has been a staple, and then Drew Ogletree
(25:22):
and Will Mallory are both guys who have shown that
promise but haven't been able to be consistently relied upon.
At you are this tight end, so I think three,
but you might be able to scratch out a fourth.
But then you also, we haven't mentioned Jelannie Woods in
that mix, and he's a guy who a couple of
years ago you were like, here's your guy. And so
(25:42):
after missing the last two seasons, is gonna be a
hardhal for him to climb to try to make this
roster as well. And also too, I mean the Colts
they don't like to skimp in the trenches, no, and
so they're always gonna go heavy there. They can maybe
keep six receivers, they can maybe keep six cornerbacks. Considering
how deep you are there so extra numbers at one
of those spots. Maybe you keep a third quarterback. Yeah,
(26:05):
I mean that could eat at how many tight ends
you have on this roster. But I just wouldn't be
surprised if that position gets crunched because of numbers elsewhere
and because of how much playing time. I think we're
gonna see from Tyler Warren right away because of.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
All that he can do.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
He can offer you. You want to have Tyler Warren
on the field because you don't tip your hand, run
or pass either way, because of how good he is
doing a lot of things within the offense. Hey, the
Colts have teamed up with Anthon, Blue Cross and Blue
Shield to recognize school teachers, administrators, nurses and staff members
who go above and beyond. Do you know a classroom quarterback?
(26:43):
Nominate yours at colts dot com slash Classroom Quarterbacks. When
we come back, we're kind of up against it on time,
but we'll give you the Forum Credit Union Question of
the Week, which will center around Super Bowl droughts in
the NFL. That's coming up next. Stay with us on
the Last Word.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
I didn't get enough football. You're in the right place.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
This is the offseason radio home of the Indianapolis Colts.
The Last Word from the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio Studio.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
Welcome back the Last Word, brought to you by Meyer,
the official Supercenter of the Colts Center, proud sponsor of
hundreds of local sports teams across the Midwest. We're closing
it out here on the last word, Casey Vallee along.
I'm Matt Taylor, and we're leaving room for the Foreign
Credit Union question of the week, which is this Casey.
The Oklahoma City Thunder won their second NBA championship in
(27:37):
team history. Keep it going, baby boo them all day.
Game seven Pacers didn't have their top guy man into
ay forty five year drought for the Thunder franchise without
a title when they won Game seven over the Pacers.
They of course were the SuperSonics when they won the
championship back in nineteen seventy nine. But it leads into
(27:58):
this as it relates to football. Which NFL team has
the longest active Super Bowl winning drought among teams that
have won a Super Bowl once before in franchise history?
So you had to have had one Super Bowl. What's
the longest active drought between Super Bowl teams that haven't
(28:18):
gotten it done lately? You follow me?
Speaker 1 (28:20):
I am gonna say like.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
Think think East Coast, think big, big Appe Giants, Okay, big,
So it's gotta be the Jets.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
It's the Jets.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
The New York Jets have the longest active Super Bowl
winning drought among teams that have won a Super Bowl.
That drought is now fifty six seasons. They want it
member Super Bowl three Joe, namea you know, going off
the field with the finger point and the guarantee and
all that nineteen sixty eight. Five other Super Bowl winning
(28:51):
franchises have a thirty plus season active drought. Any guesses
there quickly? Dolphins Dolphins, Yes, yeah, the Dolphins haven't won
a playoff game at a long time either. And then think, uh,
think West Coast. It's been a long time now. For
the San Francisco forty nine ers, they've been close, obviously
very close. Chicago, the Chicago Bears gotta done in nineteen
(29:13):
eighty five, haven't won one since.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
And Washington Commanders.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
They get commanders, and the Redskins back in the day
had a handful, but they haven't had a long time.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
There.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
You go visit the forum credit Union fanforum section of
Colts dot com to interact with other fans online. There
You can post a topic and participate in various discussions
on the Colts Forum credit Union helping members live their
financial dreams. Casey, we gotta go, But what's going on
this weekend for you?
Speaker 4 (29:38):
I got a bachelor party up in Michigan City. I'm
heading out after this show, so wish me luck.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Brown Man bachelor bar we go? How old is this
guy's thirty five?
Speaker 1 (29:48):
All right? I went to college with him. Better late
than never, Better late than never.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
As I always say, Casey, there's a lid for every pot,
all right. I'm living proof of that. I'm an acquired
taste SAMs. It's all the all the praise.
Speaker 7 (30:02):
In the world.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
But my wife loves me and I love her for that.
Speaker 6 (30:05):
All right.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
That's gonna do it for us. We gotta run, Stay
cool out there, enjoy the weekend. ESPN Radio is coming
up next.
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