1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to know your foe on Colts dot Com and 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: in depth look at the upcoming matchup. Here are your hosts, 3 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: Casey Valier and former Colts wide receiver Bill Brooks. Welcome 4 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: in to know your phoe right here on Colts dot com. 5 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: I am your host Casey Vallee, and I am joined 6 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: by culturing of honormember Bill and Brooks. It's a short week, 7 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: Thursday night football, the Colts on the road in Denver 8 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: to square off against the Broncos and to get us 9 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: caught up on everything Bronchos. Is Dick Kosmeider, who covers 10 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: the Broncos for the Athletic Nick. Thank you so much 11 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: for the time, and I really appreciate you joining us. No, 12 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: I'm glad to be with you guys. Thank you well. 13 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: As I mentioned earlier, short week, and both these teams 14 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: kind of have a similar start to the year. Both 15 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: of them really haven't gotten off to the fast starts 16 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: we expected, both offenses kind of struggling out of the gate. 17 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: Before we dive into the product on the field, I 18 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: want to start with a new head coach in Nathaniel Hackett. 19 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: There in Denver. We saw the outpour from the week 20 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: one decision for the sixty four yard field who attempt 21 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: What have been the overall impressions of Nathaniel Hackett through 22 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: its four games, Yeah, well you you mentioned it, certainly. 23 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: I think Nathaniel Hackett began his young NFL coaching career 24 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: here with a bit of a firestorm. As you mentioned, 25 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: the Broncos were trailing the sel Seahawks by one point 26 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:16,960 Speaker 1: late in the fourth quarter of their Week one matchup 27 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: in Seattle. Russell Wilson, after ten years with the Seahawks 28 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 1: going back to play his old team for the first time. Um, 29 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: you know, sort of supposed to kind of be his 30 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: his game winning drive to lead and they're at a 31 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: fourth and five at the forty six yard line and 32 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: Nathaniel Hackett elects to kick a forty six yard field 33 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: goal with a minute still left on the clock. And 34 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: you know, that was followed by the Week two win, 35 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: kind of a grinding win over the Texans, in which 36 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: there was a lot more sort of operational errors, right, 37 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: like a couple delay of game penalties, just a general 38 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: you know, struggle with game management in that game, and so, um, 39 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:59,279 Speaker 1: there was a lot of criticism. He has since hired 40 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: a former Baltimore Ravens assistant Jerry Rossberg to be a 41 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: kind of a game day manager voice for him and 42 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: that calms things from that perspective a little bit. And 43 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: but now it's just again you mentioned a little bit 44 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 1: about getting this offense on track. So I think he's 45 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: he's faced some some criticism. I think players are sticking 46 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,799 Speaker 1: behind him because you know, he's been he's been transparent 47 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: with about his own mistakes with them, and I think 48 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: that's resonated. But he certainly has to continue to show 49 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: here in his first season that he can fix some 50 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 1: of the early mistakes from the first four games. Now, 51 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: one of the things we just kind of alluded to 52 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 1: is that slow start, and I want to talk about 53 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: Russell Wilson future Hall of Famer. Is the transition a 54 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: little slower than people thought? Is that just a national 55 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: view or you watch this team every day? Is that 56 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: kind of the correct assumption that we have seen with 57 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: Russell Wilson and his offense. Yeah, I think there there 58 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: has been sort of the view that this offense certainly 59 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: isn't operating at the way that they thought that it 60 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,080 Speaker 1: would early on in the season. And I think it 61 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: it would have been naive um And you know, I 62 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: certainly did not try to frame it as though there 63 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: wouldn't be some learning curve involved in it, right, because 64 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: even some of the best quarterbacks m in the league 65 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 1: who have happened to change teams, Guys like uh, Tom Brady, 66 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: guys like Peyton Manning who also came here to Denver 67 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: Um as you guys well know they have they've had 68 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 1: struggles in those early in those early moments. You know, 69 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: matt Ryan's going through some of the same stuff. Uh, 70 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 1: you know we saw with Matthew Stafford before they kind 71 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: of got going last year in the RAM. So I 72 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,399 Speaker 1: think some of this is to be expected. It's it's 73 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: you know, we just expect these guys because they've been 74 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: great quarterbacks. Hey hop over here and do they do 75 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: the same thing. There is an adjustment period, and I 76 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: think Russell Wilson has shown some real flashes. I mean, 77 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: he had some just really phenomenal plays and they're then 78 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: they're loss to the Raiders on Sunday, particularly in the 79 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: first half, he was eleven for twelve with one hundred 80 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: forty yards, ended up throwing two touchdown passes running for another. 81 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: So we saw a lot of that Russell Wilson in 82 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: that game. I think now it's a matter of them 83 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 1: putting it consistently together, not being so boom or bust. 84 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: You know that they have the largest percentage of their 85 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: drives in the league that end in punts, and yet 86 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: they still are sort of a middle of the road 87 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: offense because they have this really big strike capability. So 88 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: it's about for them kind of erasing these walls that 89 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: they go through in games where they're punting three or 90 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: four times in a row on a consistent basis. Now, Nick, 91 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: with the unfortunate loss of Davante Williams for the season 92 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: with a knee injury, what are the expectations from the 93 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 1: running back group with Melvin Gordon the rest of the season. Yeah, well, 94 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: that you mentioned, that's certainly a tremendous loss for the Broncos. 95 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:42,359 Speaker 1: Javante Williams one of the kind of up and coming 96 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: young running backs in the NFL. Kind of a complete 97 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: back who you know they liked as a pass protector, 98 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: can catch the ball in the backfield, and just a 99 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: really strong physical runner who kind of brought that physical 100 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,919 Speaker 1: tone to the offense. So that's going to be, you know, 101 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: tough to replace now at almost any other time in 102 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: his career that the idea of going to having Melvin 103 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: Gordon be the guy that replaces you're starting running back 104 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 1: would be a very comforting running guy. Who This is 105 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: a guy who in his career has I mean, he's 106 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: among the active leaders among active running backs at rushing yards, touchdowns, 107 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 1: you name it. He's he's been that kind of guy 108 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: throughout his career. But he is right now going through 109 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 1: just a pretty incredible, um, you know, fumble problem that 110 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 1: has plagued him just really strongly this year. We're talking 111 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,840 Speaker 1: four fumbles in forty five touches. And I went back 112 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: and looked, and since two thousand, there's only been fourteen 113 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: non quarterbacks who have fumbled four times in their first 114 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: four games, and none of them had his few touches 115 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: to have those fumbles as has had this year, and 116 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: three of his fumbles. He's had three fumbles in his 117 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: last eleven games as a player that have been returned 118 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: for touchdowns. And so these are just these are just 119 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: you know, kind of almost unfathomable results. So he has 120 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 1: got to get through that because now they're leading on him. 121 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: He's got to be the guy that they that carries 122 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: them through this absence of Javontay Williams. And you know, 123 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: I think at this point it's a mental thing, but 124 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: he's going to have to He's gonna kind of have 125 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: to battle through. Now, Nick, I want to move out 126 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: to the wide receivers. Now, Courtland Sutton is the clear 127 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: number one receiver for the Broncles. But what are the 128 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: overall thoughts on Jerry Judy to this point in his 129 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: young career. I think with Jerry Judy, it's all about consistency. 130 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 1: He's a guy that shows some tremendous flashes, can make 131 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 1: some great plays down the field. He saw it from 132 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: week one. He had a sixty seven yard touchdown catch 133 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: from Russell Wilson in which you know, he really wrestled 134 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 1: the ball and went up over rookie cornerback Kobe Bryant 135 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 1: for the Seahawks and then outran everybody into the end zone. 136 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:45,919 Speaker 1: So it was one of those kind of you know, 137 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 1: jaw dropping plays that they really thought that he could 138 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: provide when they drafted him in the first round back 139 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty. The problem with Jerry Judy is that 140 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:57,359 Speaker 1: those moments have not been strung together. He has he 141 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: has an incredible ability, but I think he's still learning 142 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: how to kind of, you know, be a pro on 143 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: a play to play basis and make sure that he's 144 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: doing his exact job every single play, so that so 145 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: that those kind of catches are not like exceptions, they're 146 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: they're more kind of a consistent contribution that that he 147 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: is making. You know, he already he has two touchdowns 148 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: this year, which is already two more than he had 149 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: last year. He played in ten games, had an ankle injury, 150 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: but never found the end zone. Um so already does 151 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: have two touchdown catches this season, and I think has 152 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 1: shown shown that this could be the best year of 153 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: his career. He just has to kind of consistently put 154 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: it together because again, this offense it needs to find 155 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: like consistent traction, and I think one way that they 156 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: can do that is by having Jerry Judy become a 157 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: consistent pass catching presence for Russell Wilson. We're talking with 158 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: Nick Cosmider, who covers the Broncos for the Athletic. I 159 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: want to flip over the defensive side of the ball. 160 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 1: Bradley Chubb looks like he's really bounced back after kind 161 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: of a down year. Last year and only then played 162 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: in seven games but didn't have any sacks. I think 163 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: very few quarterback hits. Have you noticed a big increase 164 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: in Bradley Chubb's play, Yeah, he's Bradley Chubb has been 165 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: been excellent and teammates and coaches really saw this from 166 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 1: the very start of the off season. This was the 167 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: first offseason he's really had since after his rookie year 168 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 1: in which he wasn't rehabbing an injury, so he got 169 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: to just fully focus on, you know, kind of his 170 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: individual development of getting better, of getting ramped up for 171 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: the season, and he has just been kind of a 172 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: you know, he's been a great leader for that defense. 173 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 1: You see him before every practice, he's walking up and 174 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: down the stretch line, you know, high five and everybody, 175 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 1: the guy that gets everybody going for for practice. So 176 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 1: he's he's not only had the opportunity to be healthy 177 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 1: and have that kind of factor into his off season, 178 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 1: but he has really taken the leadership mantle. You know 179 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: now that von Miller is no longer a Denver Bronco 180 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: after getting traded to the deadline last year, So I 181 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: think that's been a really positive development to see Bradley Chubb, 182 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: you know, again healthy going in. This is a contract 183 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: year for him, so he's he's kind of playing for 184 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: that second contract and he's shown up so far. You know, 185 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: he's again you mentioned three sacks, two of those came 186 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: in the opener, but but he's been able to apply 187 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: consistent pressure. The question now will be Randy Gregory, who 188 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: the big free agent acquisition, who opposite Bradley Chubb, was 189 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: playing really well, had two sacks, two strip bumbles, and 190 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: was among the league leaders in pressure rate. He went 191 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: down with a knee injury against the Raiders on Sunday, 192 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: went to ir He won't be back until at least 193 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: November thirteenth. So can Bradley Chubb continue to you know, 194 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 1: provide that pressure without Gregory taking some of that weight 195 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: off of him on the other side. Now that brings 196 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 1: me right to my next point. With the loss of Gregory, 197 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 1: who do you anticipate kind of stepping into that spot 198 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: and do you do you see maybe a slip from 199 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: what the progression has been from Hub to this point. Well, 200 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 1: you know, I think that they have found ways in 201 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: the past to one thing, that defensive coordinat igio Everro 202 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: has done well. Is sort of mix up as pressures. 203 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: They've had a lot of times where you'll see three 204 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: outside linebackers on the field. Sometimes will even line up 205 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: on the same side and and he'll bring blitz pressure 206 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: from from the other side. He's really kind of mixed 207 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: that up so that he can get um, you know, 208 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: one on one matchups for for Bradley Um. But there, 209 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 1: but there will be a drop off from what Randy 210 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 1: Gregory has provided. There's just no way around that. But 211 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: a guy that they are excited about is Baron Browning. 212 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,439 Speaker 1: Now he's he was a third round draft pick out 213 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: of Ohio State in twenty twenty one. Played inside linebacker 214 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: last year, got moved to the outside this offseason because 215 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 1: the new staff, you know, looking at his tape saw this, 216 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 1: you know, saw this bend as a pass rusher that 217 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 1: they thought would make him really good on the outside. 218 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: And he was arguably Denver's best player during the preseason. 219 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: Had done some good things as the number three pass rusher, 220 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: but now Evro said he's going to get a lot 221 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 1: more pass rush opportunities than he did in the first 222 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: four games, simply because he's going to be starting opposite 223 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 1: Bradley Chubbs. So I'm I'm definitely intrigued to see what 224 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 1: he can do with a more consistent role because we 225 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: saw some of his talent during the preseason and nick 226 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 1: back to the secondary. Now, last year, cornerback Pat Surtan 227 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 1: had a standout rookie season, and it looks like he's 228 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: having a great season this year. What improvements have you 229 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 1: seen in this young man this season? Yeah, you know, 230 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:13,719 Speaker 1: Pat Surtan might be the team's MVP right now. I 231 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,719 Speaker 1: think it's either he or Courtland Sutton. Um. He has 232 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,680 Speaker 1: been phenomenal. Um. You know, you saw it on Sunday 233 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:23,200 Speaker 1: against Davante Adams. I think they were matched up on 234 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: on eight targets M four Adams and he only allowed 235 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 1: four of those to be completed for for forty forty 236 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 1: two yards, I believe, um and and had three pass 237 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 1: deflections among those incomplete passes. Um And a coach Everro 238 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: said afterwards, you know that's about as good as you 239 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 1: can do against that, right, Yeah, And so I think 240 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: that kind of just went to show that he I 241 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,440 Speaker 1: think the biggest improvement in Pat Urtan is just him 242 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: knowing who he is, Like he under he understands that 243 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: he is one of the best cornerbacks already in this game. 244 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: And it's sort of carrying himself that way. He's taking 245 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 1: it upon himself to to really sort of um own 246 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: these own these matchups that he isn't in on the outside. 247 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 1: Um and and and I think other guys are sort 248 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 1: of feeding off of that, that confidence that he that 249 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,439 Speaker 1: he has had because the secondary has played really well 250 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: up to this point this season. And again it's it's 251 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: one of those deals where you saw last year four interceptions, um, 252 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: you know was an all rookie sellection. But but he 253 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: has he has been far and away even better this season. 254 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 1: Now you mentioned that the secondary has been playing well 255 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 1: this year, and Justin Simmons, one of the leaders on defense, 256 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,319 Speaker 1: has been sidelined due to injury, but the defense is 257 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 1: still playing well. What is the reason for their good 258 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: play against the past this season? Well, I think part 259 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: of it is there's a lot of continuity in the scheme, right. Uh. 260 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:45,559 Speaker 1: You know, Gerald Everro worked for Vic Fangio, the former 261 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: coach and defensive play caller. Um, you know about a 262 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: you know, ten years or so ago in San Francisco, 263 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: and he really kind of adopted that too high safety 264 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 1: defense as his own. Um. So there's a lot of 265 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: continuity there um. But I also just think you've got 266 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 1: players who you have been playing together. Now. You mentioned 267 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 1: Justin Simmons got hurt in the opener, he's been out, 268 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: but the guy that replaced him, Kaden Stearns, his second 269 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: year in the defense, playing alongside Kareem Jackson, the veteran 270 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: who this is his fourth year, you know, in that 271 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 1: same defense, Ronald Darby his second year, So there's a 272 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 1: lot of continuity. And then the free agent that they 273 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: brought in nickelback Kawan Williams. He's been a big addition. 274 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 1: He's he sets a physical tone. He's a guy that 275 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 1: you know, forces fumbles, he had a sack against the Raiders. 276 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 1: Kind of just is that that Swiss army knife player 277 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: who does a little bit of everything. And I think 278 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: he's been been a solid addition as well. So that 279 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 1: that's what I would say. I think the biggest thing 280 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 1: is just the continuity, and because patsur Tan is so 281 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: good as in an individual one on one basis, it 282 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: allows them to sort of commit a lot of resources 283 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 1: elsewhere and and sort of prevent a lot of the 284 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 1: big plays that could happen from you know, getting guys 285 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: on an island. Well final thing with Nick Cosminer, who 286 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 1: covers the Broncos for the Athletic. It's a short week 287 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: in both teams probably in not desperate need, but both 288 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: could use a victory with all the injury concerns we 289 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,679 Speaker 1: have heading into this short week. What are your expectations 290 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: for Thursday? To be honest, my expectations are that it's 291 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: going to be kind of a slog you know. I 292 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 1: think these are two teams that are offensively trying to 293 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: find themselves right now, and so you add that to 294 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 1: what is a short week, um some key players for 295 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: both teams being unavailable, I think you're gonna see kind 296 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: of a you know, a gritty, grinded out game that 297 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 1: will come down to the fourth quarter, and I think 298 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: it will ultimately be decided by you know, which team 299 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 1: makes fewer mistakes. Both both teams have been plagued by 300 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: that to a degree, with the fumbling and things of 301 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: that nature. So if you're looking for a work of arts, 302 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: I wantn't necessarily a point to this game Sunday, Yeah, 303 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: but I do think it'll be entertaining and that again, 304 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: two teams as you mentioned, maybe just shy of that 305 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: desperation mode. Um really need both really need to win 306 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: to kind of get their seasons back on track. And 307 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: I think that'll turn into some some really dramatic moments. 308 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 1: If not, you know, purely beautiful ones. Well there you go. 309 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: We'll see what happens on Thursday. That's Nick Kosmier of 310 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: The Athletic who covers the Bronchos. Nick, thank you so 311 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 1: much and enjoy the game. Yeah, I really appreciate you, guys. 312 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: Thank you. As we've mentioned, it's a short week for 313 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 1: the Colts as they traveled to Denver to take on 314 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 1: the Broncos on Thursday Night Football. The team will get 315 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 1: a mini buys. They have the weekend off before getting 316 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 1: back on the field next Sunday and the Jacksonville Jaguars 317 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: come to town. And to help us dive into the Jags, 318 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 1: we're gonna talk with Demitrius Harvey, who was a Jag 319 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 1: reporter for the Florida Times Union and Jacksonville dot Com. 320 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: But prior to that, the Colts take on the Broncos 321 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: on Thursday Night Football. For Bill Brooks, I'm Casey Valley, 322 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 1: Bill Colts