SR711

- Going into this game, the script which had been established in order to compete with and possibly beat some the better teams (like Jax) that we would play was to run the ball, stop the run and most importantly win the turnover battle. The Colts completely really did only one of those things today. As others have pointed on here and the game day thread, the game plan had a lot to do with that as Minshew was asked to throw the ball way too much. How much of that was due to the Jags stacking 8 in the box, who knows, but I still think Steichen is going how have to figure out ways to run the ball against loaded boxes because I guarantee most teams going forward are going to prove Minshew can hurt them deep. - The defense rebounded pretty nicely after giving up TDs on Jacksonville 1st two drives of the game, but I really wished they had started the game better especially with things like jumping offsides and gifting Jax a 1st down on a 3rd and short. - Jax is probably going to win this division and, IMO, has a chance to be a dark horse team winning the conference so no real shame in losing to them twice this year. Bottom line, we are not where they are and need some things to be developed, other things added especially offensively before we can realistically have an expectation to beat them.

This was/is the problem the minute AR went down. I fully expected him to have some games like Minshew is having today. Heck even Manning had more than a few of those his rookie year in 1998. The difference is that these types of games would serve as growing experiences that ultimately help him get to where you want him to be. With Minshew, he is what he is at this point. If we don’t win, there is really to take away/build on.

That last one was an awful airmail, overthrow of Pittman…didn’t see the replay enough of the first one to see what happened. Even of the other throws have been off…on the 1st drive MacKenzie had to deal with a high ball. Pierce bailed him out on the 3rd down,

Minshew has been bad today…no way to sugar coat it.

I like the usage of Taylor split wide. Gets him a chance to get the ball in space.

So far the key to this game is the 2 turnovers on Minshew…one possibly took 3 points of the board for us and another set them up to get 7. Not winning a lot of games with a -2 turnover differential

This really the only pathway to having an effective offense with Minshew on the field. He’s not the kind of qb who can generate explosive plays when nothing is there.

Ballard is probably fine in terms of his job security, Irsay seems to hold him in high regard and now he has the AR injury card to play as an excuse

Defense has gotta step up here and force a punt or TO. Not the type of offense with Minshew that put a ton of points quickly, generate a lot of explosive plays so deficits are that much harder to overcome

Good points and I agree with what you said. I guess my whole irritation with the read option stuff is that there is a lot of data, historical examples where teams that rely on those plays routinely in their offense usually end up with a dinged up QB and, subsequently, it’s hard for the offense to be effective and thrive. Off hand Jalen Hurts is only example I can think of and he’s only in beginning of his 3rd year starting. Kaepernick is another one I guess, but IIRC he was also missing a decent number of games towards the end of his run there at SF.

1) Its unlikely that he needs surgery if its only an AC sprain. Xrays would've indicated a more severe type of injury for which surgery would be necessary. However, the MRI will tell if the ligaments are torn and/or if there is any other soft tissue injury involving the shoulder joint. If its AC sprain requiring no surgery, my best guess is that he is out 2-4 weeks. 2) Do not, without exception, put AR back on the field until he is absolutely pain free throwing a football with all throws. We do not as a franchise or fanbase need a repeat of the Andrew Luck 2015 season which altered his career. 3) At the risk of belaboring a point, no more read option plays in this offense. If Richardson busts a run off a broken pass play, fine. However, its pretty clear that using him as a RB is going to lead to problems long term. If he can't be developed into a guy that can win throwing the football (which BTW I absolutely think he can), then we drafted the wrong guy anyways.

There are ways to use his legs, speed, elusiveness without designed runs. I just think having your QB run the ball especially on designed runs is playing with fire…eventually the odds catch up.

Yeah…let’s not do that. Remember that’s what caused Lucks problems. Ironically, that was a game against the Titans as well

Richardson injury is 100% on Steichen and his ridiculous insistence on having his QB play as a running back…. the warning signs were there the 1st 4 games.. history (look like guys like Cam, RGIII and even Lamar) show that long term running your QB as an RB does not lead to any good in terms of long term health for the QB and yet here we are still calling QB draws even with two backs like Taylor and Moss who can carry the load. Sorry, this is 100% on the organization and is unacceptable considering they clearly did not learn anything from what happened with Luck.

- To be 2-2 is pretty good so far. I do think the team is better overall than the 4-12-1 last year would seem to indicate. If the defense can continue to play well as they did for much of the 1st 3 games, the offense doesn't turn it over or take a ton of sacks, there is a formula for this club to be competitive for one of the playoff spots which I think would be a reasonable goal to aim for this year. - Have to wonder how much better the team would be if they had a happy, healthy JT in the lineup. I think we definitely win that Jags game at the very least. Hopefully, things work themselves out either way here soon with that. - Instead of read option stuff, I want to see more AR continuing to his speed, athleticism, etc for lateral pocket escape to set up downfield passing as we saw yesterday in the 2nd half. This is really an area of his game I can see becoming a weapon for him rather quickly as seems to be accurate when throwing on the run. - The defense (especially against good QBs, elite passing game) is going to as far as the front 4 goes, if they can generate consistent pressure with those guys, the secondary gets a major boost. When it does not happen like yesterday, the inexperience, lack of talent back there gets exposed.

1. Was not a fan of the offensive play calling to start the game and most of the 1st half.... the offense looked a lot better in the 2nd half when they actually called some deeper router and allowed Richardson to take some shots. 2. As unremarkable as AR looked in the 1st half, I was really happy with the 2nd half. Getting a game into OT from a 23 point in the 2nd half is pretty impressive considering it was only his 3rd start as a pro. Also, he was real close to hitting some throws on the last drive in OT that could have put us in FG range for example 1st down to Pittman which got tipped. 3. At the end of day, games like this even if it ends up in a L are going to pay dividends down the road for helping AR meet his potential, which ultimately is going to be what determines whether this team gets back to being a contender.

AR has had the two best throws of his young NFL career in this game with the rope to Downs in the 1st half and the TD pass to MAC.

The problem is that historically, the most effective QBs do their damage from the pocket. Yes, its nice that Richardson has wheels and size, but at the end of the day, its his play from the pocket, quickly diagnosing what the defense is doing and where to go with the ball, that is ultimately going to determine how good he is going to be in his career IMO.

You're correct...McVay clearly has taken his foot off the gas a little in the 2nd quarter. I can't really blame him.

I can live with the lack of execution and talent. We all knew this was going to be a rebuilding, retooling year. However, the lack of focus, mental discipline irritates me. Speed with the late hit and now Pittmans false start stand out.

I would like to Steichen open up the passing game more. No point in running Richardson on these QB draws, designed runs which just expose him to hits. The only way we are getting back into this game is with some chunk plays on offense. Either way its good for his development to get some reps on reading defenses, making accurate throws, etc.

I know its been said before, but Minshew is as good as some of the starting QBs in this league. Really impressed with his decision making, getting rid of the ball quickly and ability to keep his focus downfield even when there is pressure. Nice drive

Yeah Granson especially... if he can hold his block, Pittman may have had a chance on the 3rd down screen

Nice job of Minshew not getting distracted by the pressure and keeping his eyes downfield. Gotta make 4-5 of those types of plays in the pass game out of broken pockets if we are going to have any chance in winning this game.

I would argue the main priority of this season is getting Richardson the confidence, reps, experience of how to harness his physical talents to make winning plays. Its hard to see that happening when he has to carry lesser talent around him. Just my opinion, but that is the kind of thing that leads to him "trying to do too much" which in turn can lead to injury, etc. The last drive of the game on Sunday for the Colts and some of hits he was taking on his last two snaps trying to extend the play is an example of the above. It is easier to positively develop AR into what we want him to be for this franchise if he is taking snaps for a team that is winning games (especially ones they had a clear shot to win like Sunday) more often than they are losing them. Hence, that is why I would rather have guys in the building who make that path easier (like JT) even if it means they aren't necessarily in the long-term plans of the AR era. As far me having "zero information" and "making assumptions" about the teams/Ballards stance with JT , as a fan/outsider I can only go by what is reported by those who cover the team and what is said by Ballard and Irsay publicly so I don't really know what else I am supposed to form an opinion off of. If you want to argue that those who cover the team (like Holder) are reporting what they are getting from one side only, that's fair. However, Ballards comments at the end of his recent press conference during the exchange with James Boyd with the "we won four games last year" do not seem like something someone would say if they had or were willing to come off their initial stance or make any concessions.