1 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,479 Speaker 1: Hello Colts fans, and welcome into this week's episode of 2 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: the Two Minute Dril podcast on Indianapolis Colts Podcast. As always, 3 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Amanda Foster. Back this week with Casey 4 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: Valier and Casey we have a lot to talk about 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,639 Speaker 1: this week. Friday, it was it was a busy. It 6 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: was a busy five days and not even Friday. Because 7 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: if someone had told me even four days ago on 8 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: Monday that we would be sitting here talking about Philip 9 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: Rivers potentially starting for the Colts, first of all, I 10 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 1: would have said you were crazy. And then second of all, 11 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 1: I would have followed it up by asking how old 12 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: Philip Rivers is, because I don't mean to make people 13 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: feel old, but I was almost not even two years 14 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: old when he was drafted. So this is just like, 15 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: it's a very strange. Obviously it's strange for everybody. It 16 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: was like I didn't I was barely alive when Philip 17 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: Rivers started playing in the NFL. So it's a very 18 00:00:57,720 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: it's been it's been a week for sure. 19 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: Now you've just made me feel old, So I appreciate 20 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 2: you doing that. 21 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: That's why I prefaced it with I'm not trying to 22 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: do that. It's just I got to give some perspective. 23 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 2: I understand completely. 24 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: No, So that's I mean, we got a lot to 25 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: talk about. First off, we'll start with the injuries, as 26 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: we do every Friday, decent amount of injury updates as well. 27 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 1: Sauce Gardner has been ruled out for the second consecutive 28 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: week with that calf injury that he sustained in Week thirteen. 29 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 1: Brandon Smith has been ruled out with a concussion, so 30 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: expecting rookie Jaylen Travis to make his start on the 31 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 1: offensive line against the Seahawks this weekend. Anthony Gould has 32 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 1: been ruled out with a foot injury, so that means 33 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: that the Colts are now out Anthony Gould and Ashton 34 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: dul And who's still on injured reserve, so special teams 35 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: kick return could look a little bit different. And then 36 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: also the Colts opened the Forest Buckner's twenty one day 37 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: practice window to come off injured reserve after he's got 38 00:01:57,760 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: that neck injury, but does not sound like he will 39 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: be activated for this weekend. And then finally, cornerback Tarvarius 40 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: Ward was placed on injured reserve at the beginning of 41 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 1: this week after coming in on Monday reporting concussion symptoms. 42 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: That was the third time he was put in concussion protocol. 43 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: The Colts have now put him in on injured reserve 44 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: twice with concussion slash concussion symptoms, and so he will 45 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: be out for at least the next four games, which 46 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: will be the final four games at the season. And 47 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: then it kind of goes without saying that Daniel Jones 48 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 1: has also been placed on injured reserve with his season 49 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: ending Achilles' injury. So a lot of things going on 50 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: outside of Philip Rivers this week as well, Kathie. 51 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 2: No absolutely and one other injury to note as well. 52 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 2: When you talk about special teams, Chris Lamons is placed 53 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 2: on IR as well this week, and you know, he 54 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 2: has also been a guy especially from a special team standpoint, 55 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 2: But then when you also start talking about you know, 56 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 2: Sauce Gardner and Sharvarius Ward, he has given this team 57 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,799 Speaker 2: some meaningful reps there at corner at times when they 58 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 2: have been, you know, continue to be decimated at injuries there. 59 00:02:59,919 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 2: So Chrys Lamon's injury maybe from you know, surface level, 60 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 2: it's not on the same level as a starting quarterback 61 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 2: or you know, a starting corner, but you know, he 62 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 2: adds a pretty big impact there special teams and also 63 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 2: depth that corner spot. So yeah, when you talk about 64 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 2: it from an injury standpoint, it was a busy, busy 65 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 2: week for the Colts, which is it's always tough when 66 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 2: you can you combine that with you know, it's the 67 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,839 Speaker 2: last four games in this playoff push, and you start 68 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 2: looking to the guys that are not going to be playing, 69 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 2: it's definitely a tough one to overcome. If you're the Colts. 70 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 2: You know, you're looking at what the obstacle is in Seattle. 71 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 2: It's a lot of injuries to overcome this weekend for sure. 72 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: Right And I mean it's like every time we get 73 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: on here, we talk about the secondary and the corners 74 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: and just the revolving door that keeps happening essentially with 75 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: put these guys getting injured because you look at the 76 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: room right now, you've got Kenny Moore of the second, 77 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 1: Jaylen Jones with Kai Blackman, Jonathan Edwards and Cameron Mitchell 78 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: or you're healthy guys, so you're you know, the the 79 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: idea of seeing SoftCard intravarious Ward on the field at 80 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: the same time has unfortunately kind of passed for this moment. 81 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: So it's you know, like you said, especially with the 82 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: Seahawks this weekend, a really good defense, a really good offense, 83 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: this playoff push. There's a lot to think about outside 84 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 1: of the quarterback position. But of course, the main idea 85 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 1: today is to talk about the quarterback position because we 86 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: have to right as as of right now on Friday, 87 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: we still do not know who will be starting for 88 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: the Colts on Sunday in Seattle, whether it's going to 89 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:31,720 Speaker 1: be Riley Leonard or Philip Rivers. And I mean, we 90 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: could get into the relationship between those two, but that 91 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 1: would take like an hour to cover all of the 92 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: different connections here. But essentially Colts are working through kind 93 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: of what you know, what Philip Rivers looks like at 94 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: practice this week, what Riley Leonard looks like at practice 95 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 1: because he had a knee injury after he reported a 96 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 1: knee injury after the game against the Jaguars this past 97 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 1: weekend as well. So a lot of things still a 98 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: little bit up in the air for Sunday, which makes 99 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: it more exciting, but also you know, we're everyone's kind 100 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: of just sitting and waiting and wondering what Sunday is 101 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: really going to look like for this team. 102 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 2: No, absolutely, And you talk about that, you know, all 103 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 2: the uncertainty about what Sindea look like on a Friday, 104 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 2: You really haven't had a lot of that at all 105 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: this season. You know, typically on Friday you have a 106 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 2: pretty good idea of what the majority of the game plan. 107 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 2: You may have one or two questions as far as 108 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 2: the roster spot has gone, but that that definitely does 109 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: not play into the colts favor this week. And you 110 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 2: talk about Riley Leonard, he did log practices every day 111 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: this week. We know that the the knee injury was 112 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: reported from you know, not from the Colts, but by 113 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 2: some other you know, the you know, some of the 114 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 2: national reporters that it was a PCL strain. We haven't 115 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: heard anything concrete from the Colt staff, but ultimately him 116 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 2: being able to log full participations in and practice makes 117 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 2: me think that, you know, maybe the injury wasn't as 118 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 2: severe as what they were anticipating it being. But yeah, 119 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 2: so that's going to be interesting to see where that 120 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 2: knee is for Riley because that is one area of 121 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 2: his game that he really offers. That's a little bit 122 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 2: different from you know, maybe what you were anticipating in 123 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 2: your backup quarterback because Daniel Jones is mobile. But the 124 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 2: last couple of weeks, you know, he has been hampered 125 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 2: by you know, the the ankle injury or leg injury 126 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 2: that he was dealing with before that Achille, so he 127 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:18,839 Speaker 2: wasn't as mobile as what he would have been. And 128 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:20,679 Speaker 2: he saw a little bit more of that when Riley 129 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 2: Leonard into the game. You know, he has that mobility 130 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 2: and that's kind of part of his game. So one 131 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 2: of those big questions was if he is immobile, if 132 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:30,359 Speaker 2: he cannot move around, what does that mean for his 133 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 2: style of play? But with the three you know, three 134 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 2: practices this week, he looked, you know a little bit 135 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 2: more like the Riley Leonard we all became accustomed to. 136 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 2: So we'll see what that looks like moving into Sunday. 137 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:43,359 Speaker 2: But then talking about Philip Rivers, I mean, you know, 138 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 2: from the outside looking in, everybody had a similar reaction. 139 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 2: Whether you were inside the building outside of the building, 140 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 2: everybody was like, wait a minute, am I reading this right? 141 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 2: Is that the right? Is that real? 142 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: You know? 143 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 2: Is it parody? But I mean that's where we are. 144 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 2: I mean, Philip Rivers, if you dive into everything I thought, 145 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 2: you know, in the Indie Star Nathan Brown had a 146 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 2: good job of kind of putting out all of the 147 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 2: available guys, and you put their resumes up against Philip 148 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: Rivers and it doesn't compare. I mean, this guy has 149 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 2: you know, he was on the Hall of Fame list, 150 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 2: you know, this year because of what he has done 151 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 2: in the NFL. Yeah, I know it was five years ago, 152 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 2: but you think about this as an offense he ran 153 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 2: essentially his entire career. He essentially established this offense, so 154 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 2: you don't have that learning curve of you know, what 155 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 2: the playbook is going to look like. And I you know, 156 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 2: I've heard it mentioned a couple of times, like his 157 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 2: brain and Shane's brain are essentially the same exact thing, 158 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 2: so they both kind of know where they're supposed to 159 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 2: be at all times. So I think the biggest question 160 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 2: mark is just physically, how is he going to be 161 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 2: able to hold up? You know, he's forty four, hasn't 162 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 2: played an NFL games since the you know, the twenty 163 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 2: twenty season. It was in twenty twenty one, you know, 164 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 2: if you look at it from a calendar standpoint, the 165 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 2: last time he played, But it has been some time, 166 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 2: so we'll see, yeah, you know that pocket mobility, because 167 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 2: Philip has never been a guy who's going to get 168 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 2: out of the pocket and roll and do all that. 169 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 2: It's just how well, yeah, how well can he you know, 170 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 2: kind of do what Philip Rivers has always done inside 171 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 2: the pocket and you know, being able to extend to 172 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 2: play a little bit more, you know than what you know, 173 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 2: the statue, uh some people might label a forty four 174 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 2: year old quarterback coming out of retirement would be. 175 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: Right well, and that's I mean, first of all, talking 176 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: to the Forrest Buckner Yesterday's like, if anybody could do 177 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: this and come back and play at forty four years old, 178 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: it would be Philip Rivers. And that's the sentiment that 179 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 1: you hear from a lot of these guys. There are 180 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 1: fourteen of them in the locker room that played with 181 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: Phil in twenty twenty. And you know, you hear the 182 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 1: same thing from Michael Pittman, who first of all said 183 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: that Philip kind of taught him everything he knows about 184 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: how to be a professional and play the game of 185 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,959 Speaker 1: football at the NFL, which is a big statement in itself. 186 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: But it's like, yeah, shoot, why not, Like it's Philip Rivers. 187 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 1: Of course, like the general belief in this locker room 188 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: is that like, yeah, okay, we'll see what happens. But 189 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: there is a great sense of belief that I've gotten 190 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: from talking to these guys just because of the reputation 191 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 1: that Philip has built in is what seventeen years in 192 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,319 Speaker 1: the league leading up to this, and I would say 193 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: it will be. 194 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, and real quick, if I want to interject here, 195 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 2: I would say that if you asked a lot of 196 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 2: people coming out of that twenty twenty season, it didn't 197 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,959 Speaker 2: look like it was the last hurrah for Philip. I mean, 198 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 2: he had a really good statistical year, and you know, 199 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 2: it wasn't like I feel like a lot of us, 200 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 2: you know, definitely that were you know, covering this team 201 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 2: at the time when he announced his retirement, we were 202 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 2: a little shocked because we thought it might be a 203 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 2: multiple year you know, with him being the starting quarterback 204 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 2: for the Colts. So I think there was still left 205 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 2: you know, there was some stuff still left in the tank. 206 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 2: But you put it into context that it's been five 207 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 2: years since he's done it, that that adds a little 208 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 2: bit of a different wrinkle to it, for sure. But 209 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 2: I think that is one thing that the last time 210 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:50,719 Speaker 2: we saw him play football, it was at a very 211 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 2: high level. I mean, led a team to the playoffs 212 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 2: and you know, you know, a couple of little things 213 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 2: changed here and there, and they win that game in Buffalo. 214 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 2: So there's a lot of things that you look at 215 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 2: at what his last time on the field was, and 216 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 2: it wasn't like you know, the you know, the whole 217 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 2: walking up eighteen and this is it for him, So 218 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 2: there is that little appeal as well. 219 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, absolutely, And I mean that kind of leads 220 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 1: into what I wanted to get into just in the 221 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 1: perspective of this weekend, Say Philip does play, and obviously 222 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 1: we know how important the last four games of the 223 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: regular season are for the Colts in terms of playoff standings, 224 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 1: and you know the caliber of the teams that they're playing, 225 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,439 Speaker 1: and so looking at looking at this weekend and not 226 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 1: necessarily knowing how Philip will, like you said, be able 227 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: to move in the pocket, respond to taking hits and everything, 228 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: I think I wanted to talk about how important the 229 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: offensive line and the protection around Philip will be assuming 230 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: that if he is the one that's out there, Uh, 231 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: because Moley Cox was talking about it, and he kind 232 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 1: of joked about it, but it's true. It's like, we 233 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: just have to make sure he stays standing if he's 234 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:50,839 Speaker 1: out there, and it's like, that's kind of that's kind 235 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 1: of it. But we have seen in recent weeks maybe 236 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: some of the weaknesses of the offensive line, and I 237 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: think we've talked about this a little bit where they 238 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: have quite looked the way that they looked in the 239 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 1: beginning of the season, and we've seen that kind of 240 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:06,319 Speaker 1: reflect and how Jonathan Taylor has been used as well. 241 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: So it's going to be interesting to see, first of all, 242 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: how they perform and then also just what the strategy 243 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: is with running Jonathan Taylor versus letting the quarterback, whether 244 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,199 Speaker 1: it's Riley Leonard or Philip Rivers. But in this scenario, 245 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: kind of assuming it would be Philip Rivers, from my 246 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: standpoint of just like laying out what could happen is 247 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: just how they decide to run the offense. Essentially, if 248 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: you do have Shane Stakin and Philip Rivers back together again. 249 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,320 Speaker 2: Well, I think we heard Philip Rivers talk about on Wednesday, 250 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 2: We're gonna run the football a lot, We're gonna play 251 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 2: some good defense, if he's under center. So I think 252 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 2: that is part of it too. I think you bring 253 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 2: up Jonathan Taylor, I think he is kind of the 254 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 2: most important piece in this whole puzzle here because you have. 255 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 1: To be as that is the key. 256 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 2: I mean, if you look at the games this year, 257 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 2: Matt Taylor did some research and when Jonathan Taylor runs 258 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 2: for ninety plus yards, the culture eight no, and he 259 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 2: doesn't go there, you go there's the end. So it 260 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 2: all it's a little easier said than done, and that's 261 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 2: not the end all be all, But I think establishing 262 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 2: Jonathan Taylor is going to be vital because you know Seattle, 263 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 2: if you look at him offensively, you think about Jackson 264 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 2: Smith and Jigbah and Sam Darnold and they're putting up 265 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 2: crazy numbers. But defensively, I would make an argument they're 266 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 2: a better defense than they are an offense. So that 267 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 2: is going to be the biggest challenge for this Colts 268 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 2: team because this defense on all three levels is really 269 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 2: really good. But it all starts with their front four. 270 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 2: They don't blitz a lot, yet they get home with 271 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 2: the front four. So you talk about the offensive line 272 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 2: being able to protect, you've got to be able to protect. 273 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 2: You've got to open up some lanes for Jonathan Taylor 274 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 2: to be able to give yourself an opportunity in this 275 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 2: game on Sunday, because I think, regardless if it's Philip 276 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 2: or if it's Riley, the offensive line and Jonathan Taylor 277 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 2: are going to be the most important parts to both 278 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 2: of those if you ask my honest opinion, I think 279 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 2: it's going to going to really depend on how will 280 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 2: the offensive line. And it looks like, you know, Jalen 281 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 2: Travis is gonna get his first career start there at 282 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 2: right tackle. It's gonna be important to see this offensive 283 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 2: line and Jonathan Taylor be able to establish themselves in 284 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,599 Speaker 2: this game to give yourself an opportunity to win the 285 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,360 Speaker 2: football game in a tough environment in Seattle, where it's 286 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 2: louder than any place you'll ever play. It's you know, 287 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 2: they're known for their twelfth man. This is a team 288 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 2: that's ten and three there. You know, motions and everything 289 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 2: is super super high out in Seattle, so you know, 290 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 2: the environment's gonna be raucous, it's gonna be crazy. So 291 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 2: all of that stuff plays into it. You gotta have 292 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 2: good communication and you gotta be you know no, no, 293 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 2: none of those penalties. This is one of those games 294 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:43,839 Speaker 2: you gotta play very very clean and offensive line and 295 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 2: Jonathan Taylor kind of have to be if you ask me, 296 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 2: you know, they've got to be the most important play 297 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 2: when you look back at the end of the game 298 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 2: and you say the Colts won this game and it's 299 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 2: because the offensive line and Jonathan Taylor. 300 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, I completely agree. And one last thing I 301 00:13:57,960 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 1: did just want to touch on, and you know, make 302 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: sure that the fans and people listening have have the 303 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 1: perspective on this is that after Sunday's game the locker room, 304 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: everybody talking about Riley Leonard at that point, assuming that 305 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,439 Speaker 1: Riley would be the one that would be quarterbacking this 306 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: team for the rest of the season. There was no 307 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 1: lack of belief. There was no lack of faith in 308 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: what he was capable of. And so it's not like 309 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 1: the impression that we've gotten from the Colts is not 310 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: necessarily that bringing Philip Rivers in is any sort of 311 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 1: indictment on Riley Leonard himself for Riley Leonard's talent. It's 312 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: it's more of a show, like you said earlier, just 313 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: this is where this team is at. And they want 314 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: to make the playoffs. And when you have a guy 315 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: like Philip Rivers available and willing to come back and 316 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: play for you, you're going to have him do that. 317 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 1: And so I just wanted to wanted to make sure that, 318 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: you know, everybody, everybody has the right perspective, because if 319 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: it is Riley playing on Sunday, that's not a bad thing. 320 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: You know, this team isn't going to go out and say, 321 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, it's Riley instead of Philip blah blah blah, 322 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 1: because they've played together, they practiced together. Everybody really likes Riley. 323 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 1: That's one of the reasons that you know, he gets 324 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: along with everybody so well locker room and why he 325 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 1: was able to come in relatively seamlessly on Sunday after 326 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: Daniel Jones left with the injury. So just wanted to 327 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: put that out there, depending on you know, who we 328 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: see on Sunday, that everybody has the right perspective on 329 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: how the Colts are approaching the situation. 330 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 2: No, absolutely, And you know, you bring up a good 331 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 2: point because at the end of the day, the Colts 332 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 2: drafted Riley Leonard because they really liked all that Riley 333 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 2: Leonard was but yeah, they drafted Riley Leonard in the 334 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 2: sixth round, and it's because he wasn't quite ready to 335 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 2: go right now. It was you know that that's one 336 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 2: of the big narratives in the NFL I've you know, 337 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 2: we've seen definitely over the last handful of years, is 338 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 2: you select a young quarterback and you throw them into 339 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 2: the fire and if they don't make it, you just 340 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 2: move on and add somebody new. You know. One of 341 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 2: the things that I think has been lost in just 342 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 2: the NFL in general is the learning of the game, 343 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 2: the growth that some of these guys need to bake. 344 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 2: And ultimately that's what the Colts were banking on with 345 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 2: Riley Leonard. They knew they had Anthony Richard to Daniel 346 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 2: Jones before the year, so it was hey, Riley, we're 347 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 2: drafting you, and the plan is, ultimately, we don't want 348 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 2: you to play really much at all this year because 349 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 2: we got the two guys in front of you that 350 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 2: if something happens, those would be the two guys to play. 351 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 2: So it's not at all an indictment on Riley Leonard. 352 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 2: And this is not one of those things where the 353 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 2: Colts don't believe in him at all. I think, ultimately 354 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 2: what you saw last Sunday was the moment wasn't too 355 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 2: big for him. Yes, he's got some areas to grow, 356 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 2: but I think you really liked what you saw when 357 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 2: he's thrown into a really tough environment, a tough you know, 358 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 2: you're in Jacksonville, where everybody knows, a place the Colts 359 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 2: haven't won since twenty fourteen. You come into the game 360 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 2: and you're trailing, and you got to be able to 361 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 2: try to write the ship. That's a really, really tough 362 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 2: situation for Riley Leonard to enter the NFL, and I 363 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 2: thought he handled himself pretty well. So all of that 364 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 2: saying that this is not at all an indictment on him, 365 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 2: I think what it is is you got eight wins. Ultimately, 366 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 2: I think if you get to ten, you really put 367 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 2: yourself in a really good opportunity to make the playoffs, 368 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 2: and they look at it and go, if we can 369 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 2: potentially get two wins when from Philip Rivers, we'll give 370 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 2: it a try. And that's what I think this is. 371 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 2: This is not at all we don't believe in Riley Leonard. 372 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:08,159 Speaker 2: So I'm glad you brought that up because I'm right 373 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:09,640 Speaker 2: there with you. I do not think that's at all 374 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 2: an indictment on Riley. Leonard is not ready and not 375 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 2: capable of doing this. I think that he just still 376 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 2: needs to mature a little bit, and Philip Rivers is 377 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 2: going to offer even more of a you know, a 378 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 2: sounding board for Riley to continue that growth in that 379 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 2: maturation process. 380 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, we know that they trained together in 381 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 1: the offseason and everything that their neighbors in Alabama, but 382 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: this is a whole different level to have him in 383 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 1: the meeting rooms and have him right next to you, 384 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 1: So it'll it'll be interesting, and I mean, you know, 385 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:38,359 Speaker 1: I think it's safe to say that this might be 386 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:42,199 Speaker 1: the most highly anticipated game of the weekend, depending on, 387 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:44,920 Speaker 1: you know, how this all shakes out and who ends 388 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 1: up getting the ball on Sunday. So with that, I mean, Casey, 389 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: thank you as always of course insight and your knowledge. 390 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: Appreciate you joining me again this week. Thanks everybody for 391 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 1: tuning in. Be sure to keep up with all the 392 00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:58,920 Speaker 1: news on colts dot com leading up to the game, 393 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: because there's still a lot that we gotta figure out. 394 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: So for Casey Valier, I've been Amanda Foster and we'll 395 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: be back next week to talk about whatever exciting news 396 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:07,920 Speaker 1: might arise next.