bluephantom87

Frank is gone and Carolina is now playing much better....

Games like this show that our talent level is STILL mid tier at best... Wish Minshew could go against our PASSIVE defense cause Atlanta has been bringing heat!!!!

This game is baffling! Why does Gus WAIT till now to bring some pressure against a 6-8 team with a backup qb? Shane's playcalling has been REAL suspect today... I don't trust the league anymore ESPECIALLY with the legal sport's gambling now. I'm sure the NFL wants the Bills with Josh Allen and the Broncos with Payton coaching Wilson to helm the final two AFC playoff spots also. Just saying...

They are getting manhandled today!!

This is why I wanted Ridder to play... I knew Heinicke would provide the spark because he plays like the retired Fitzpatrick and the Colts have a habit of making backup qbs look like HOFs. Pittman being out REALLY hurt the passing game. This is the game in which Pierce SHOULD be our Tee Higgins as a high draft pick!! Our receiver room needs a couple more EXPLOSIVE ones....

Or that game in which he almost beat Brady and the Bucs in the playoffs. Heinicke is REAL streaky and if you let him get comfortable he can do damage but on the flip side he's also turnover prone. Kinda reminds me of the retired Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Falcons are still in the playoff hunt and have an outside shot at the division so the Colts must take care of business.

It's been an EXCITING season to say the least!! I hope we make the playoffs but even IF we don't the foundation is quickly being laid by Shane and staff. Job WELL done!! I must give Ballard a shout out too because the hc hire has paid dividends already. We saw the flashes of AR under Shane before his season ending injury, once onboard we also saw what JT would like in this offense (after Moss's success) and moreover how Pitt has turned into a BIG dawg on the receiving end but the biggest payoff was Minshew following Shane from Philly to Indy. The familiarity has allowed Shane to cater to Minshew's strengths while trusting him to make the big play EVEN after he's made a bad one. No handcuffs. Add a few more pieces and this team can become dangerous next season.

It's even more puzzling when you consider that in the ONLY season in which Shane was the official oc of the Chargers Justin Herbert burst on the scene as a rookie under Shane's guidance winning the ROY award. To this day Herbert speaks highly of Steichen and credits him for his early success that some say has not been matched since Shane's departure. The same can be said for Hurts and the Philly offense who look far less dominant and aggressive despite basically having the same cast. More and more the loss of Steichen is apparent as commentators have pointed the fact out. The dynamic plays that were a staple in their offense is now missing. I'm just glad we FINALLY hired that young rising star of a coach that can stand on his OWN merits. By the way Shane has assembled a nice coaching staff too. The o-line looks like a strength once again as they are starting to maul opponents and the often early maligned Fries is turning into a monster with a nasty streak right before your very eyes!!

I will ALWAYS take a win and enjoy it!! I can accept what THIS particular version of the team is and simply ride the fun wave. Now to your point....I'm not a fan of Gus's defense but I will root for him because he is the Colt's dc. Can he change some of his CAREER tendencies and adapt to his players on hand or scheme up some different looks according to opponents? His history hasn't shown that so far and ultimately it has led to his dismissal at various stops. I saw enough last season from Gus with Gilmore and Rodgers against GOOD offenses to know he's not the answer. That very soft zone will get dissected by MOST upper tier offenses. Like I said I EXPECTED our defense to handle a BAD Steeler offense who by the way fired its oc a few weeks back and are now helmed by the awful Mitch T as qb1. The Steelers have scored less than 20 pts in FIVE straight games and were coming off back to back losses against a PAIR of 2 win teams. One of those teams by the way were the Pats who our defense also looked good against. Instead of taking it for what it's worth some come on here throwing out stats like we dominated an upper tier offense thus my counter with the Cincy game. Gus is serviceable but not on a upper tier or special level that is needed to helm an elite defense. Now if it's a talent issue then that falls on your guy Ballard. Gus represents a list of coaches and staff for the Colts recently who were good guys but NOT good enough to elevate PAST mediocrity. On the other hand what Shane has accomplished so far in his young career is impressive. What he did with Herbert his rookie season (ROY), Hurts (2nd in MVP voting and a SB appearance), the promise shown from the raw rookie AR as qb1 before injury and he now has the sporadic Minshew (who followed Shane to Indy) playing his best meaningful football as qb1. All are DIFFERENT players with different traits but Shane has gotten the best from all by catering to their strengths. His unique playcalling and aggressive mindset on the field (which is now missing in Philly) is NEW and refreshing with the Colts. Shane is establishing a winning culture moving forward no matter WHO'S on the field. No one expected THIS team to be here with ALL the adversity it's faced so far but I say again good COACHING matters!! Play designs, schemes and weekly game plans matter too. Steichen understands what he has on offense. Is it Philly level? Of course not BUT he also knows that being aggressive has gotten us to this point and gives the team its best chance to win. Would Reich, Caldwell or Pagano get these results with this same team? I think we ALL know that answer so my point is stop settling for mediocrity and pursue greatness. Contend for SBs instead of being content for delayed gratification and so so seasons! Go Colts...

Really? That bad prevent defense was TORCHED just last week by a competent offense with skill players across the board. That same Cincy team barely beat the Vikings today in OT. Let's just take the win and enjoy because in ALL actuality the Steelers are a bad offense that FIRED their oc a few weeks ago! Mitch T is now their qb and the Steelers were coming off consecutive losses against a pair of TWO win teams. I EXPECTED the defense to hold against the suspect Steelers but I also knew they could lay an egg too. I understood the point @Solid84 was making but EVERYTIME you feel there's some underline dig at Ballard or Gus you pounce. This defense is serviceable with a couple of upper tier type players but make no mistake about it that very soft zone will get picked apart by most pass happy teams even ones with backups at the helm. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a 3rd and long garner 20+ yds under Gus including last season that saw this defense allow some epic comebacks. Oh by the way we also had the talented Gilmore and Rogers at corner so it is what it is. You can love / cheer for this team but also be able to recognize its shortcomings. Go Colts!

So true... Shane hit on that also because he's assembled an upper tier staff of coaches.

Amazing what a good offensive mind can do with the talent he has at hand.

So tired of that 3rd and long pass play just fill in the opposing qb's name!!!! Gus will keep teams in a game! Historic collapses last season with big bomb plays and that was WITH Gilmore and Rogers!

THIS team being conservative with so so talent and a bunch of backups would NOT even be in the playoff race!!!! Shane has been aggressive ALL season so keep doing what we do! That was his staple in Philly that rode it all the way to the SB! The mindset that Shane is establishing will do wonders once the talent level of the team elevates. That SAME mindset is also WHY we LEAD at halftime!!! Go Colts!

They got down there GOING for it....

Too many lower tier type guys on this team!!! You have to catch that pass uncontested.

Gus should've glanced at this post!!! Colt's had ZERO sacks and let Jake Browning finish with a 122.1 QBR despite tossing a pick six that went off his receiver's hands.... I saw ENOUGH of Gus last season with the epic collapses on defense to not want him as dc moving forward and that was WITH Gilmore and Rogers!!!

The Steelers are coming off back to back losses against 2 win teams! We will make the pitiful Mitch T look like Tom Brady if we don't pressure him and force turnovers. Their defensive gameplan will be to squeeze the run game and force Minshew into the short passing game while counting on that he'll make some mistakes. Look for Watt to play angry IF he clears protocol.

True but a lot of teams MIX the coverage and give alot of pre-snap looks to cause confussion. Is a blitz coming and from where? No team can play man to man on regular in today's NFL but you do need at least one shutdown corner and a ball hawking safety. Who's our elite DE? Yes the Colts collectively can get to the qb but how many times do they do it in a CRITICAL situation? Do you trust them to make a key stop against an upper tier team? Our sporadic defense is a COMBINATION of a young secondary that I'm not sure is even on the mid tier level. To hope that low level draft picks outside of Ju Ju (who's a question mark also) pan out is a huge gamble in itself. Gus's basic looks allow any qb to get comfortable EARLY. Can Minshew on a weekly basis just sit back and pick apart opposing defenses that ALLOW our receivers to come off the line UNTOUCHED with 10 yd cushions where they can run free into WIDE open lanes? The answer is no. I don't even see a lot of stunts from our front four. Gus also has a habit from time to time to rush only three on 3rd and long only to give up a 20 to 30 yd completion downfield. Yikes!! Is it the talent level or Gus's predictable D? I say it's a combination of both.

A solid to mediocre team that's sprinkled with a couple of upper tier types on both sides of the ball. That's fine if your goal is to be a .500 team on a yearly basis but it's NOT good enough to be a serious contender for a SB run. Better coaching overall including playcalling has elevated this so so team to be in a position to allow for some HOPE even with a backup qb. This team simply doesn't have ALL the horses right now. We beat the Ravens in a dogfight BUT let's not forget half their key pieces were out that game ESPECIALLY on offense. I feel like the Colts are settling for Gus as dc the same way they did for years with Reich, Pagano, Grigson and to a certain extent Ballard BASED on his subpar record that has garnered no division titles, ONE playoff win and question marks still at some KEY positions after being on the job for YEARS!! I saw enough of Gus last season with some of the epic and HISTORICAL collapses on defense by allowing teams to cash in on TDs at a record pace. Yes the offense stunk too but that staff is gone now. No we didn't CHOKE against Cincy we simply lost to a more talented team that appeared in a SB just a couple of seasons ago.

Ballard needs to change his team build approach moving forward in order for this team to reach the next level. A sense of urgency on his part would help too. This slow LONG term approach of drafting (by moving DOWN) mostly mid tier types in lower rds with high RAS scores that he HOPES will pan out or by filling out the roster with low cost FAs that come with the "low risk / high reward" tag. Buckner is the exception and is considered elite at the DT position. Hopefully with Shane as hc he will push for a couple of EXPLOSIVE receivers that have to be accounted for by the opposition. A speed guy that has open field suddenness who can take it to the house on any given play. On defense that secondary needs to be addressed because it's a weak link and I'm not so sure that some of these young guys are the answer anyway. It's also time to move on from Gus as dc. He represents the old school retread type of coach that appears to be stuck in his ways and unable to ADAPT to the modern day passing league. Receivers are faster and qbs (even backups) will pick apart ANY defense in which it allows it corners to sit 10 yds off the line of scrimmage on a regular. On the flip side Minshew doesn't get that luxury. The Colts have feasted on some BAD offenses as of late (Steelers next) but Cincy SHOWED there's more work that needs to be done but I'll take this season in a heartbeat because no one expected them to be relevant anyway.

Not a collapse but simple a better team!! Our offense is more methodical whereas Cincy has guys who can take it to the house on ANY given play and that's a BAD matchup for a solid but not great defense.

They have a lot of EXPLOSIVE players on O and this is what I was afraid of. Colts have been feasting on some BAD offenses as of late.... These are the type of games in which Gus's scheme gets exposed....

I'm quite sure Minshew and staff hope that Watt STAYS out because he's a terror coming off that end.

As of Friday the national media is split on the Colt's / Cincy game. I just hope for a win against the Bengals because the Steelers (our opponent next week) seem to be teetering on a full meltdown with consecutive losses to a couple of two win teams. Not only that but there are reports of in fighting amongst the Steeler players. If we can somehow win the next two games our chances look great to keep a playoff spot ESPECIALLY when tiebreakers come into play later on.